Local zoning · Lompoc

Lompoc — Zoning

Zoning under the Lompoc local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the City of Lompoc organizes land by zoning districts, where to find the map, and the most decision‑relevant dimensional and overlay rules in the City’s Zoning Code (Title 17). It synthesizes district purposes, typical permitted uses, and the key development standards you’ll need to check before a project. For definitions and technical development standards see Lompoc Development Standards and for parking requirements see Lompoc Parking.

How Lompoc’s Zoning is organized (short)

  • The City adopts a Zoning Map and a set of base zones (e.g., RA, R-1, R-2, R-3, MH, CC, CB, OTC, PCD, I, BP, MU, PF, OS, SP) (Table 17.204.010.A; § 17.204.010). The Zoning Map is incorporated by reference and boundary rules are in § 17.204.020–030.
  • Each base zone has an associated development‑standards table (setbacks, heights, lot area, FAR, coverage) referenced in its chapter (e.g., Table 17.208.040.A for residential zones; Table 17.212.040.A for commercial zones). See Lompoc Development Standards.
  • Overlay zones (Airport AO, Cultural Resources CRO, Southside SO, Planned Development PD, Special Event SEO, H Street HSO) layer additional requirements; overlay rules and prohibited activities are in Chapter 17.224. See Lompoc Overlay Districts.

District-by-district breakdown

Below each district is given a short purpose, the typical permitted uses (plain English, with where the official lists live), and the key dimensional standards you must check for a parcel. Always confirm parcel‑specific values on the official Zoning Map and the applicable development table in Title 17; where a table is cited, that is the controlling standard.

Note: every district name below is shown bolded and each first mention of a related topic is linked inline to the specified site pages.

Residential zones (Chapter 17.208)

  • RA — Residential Agriculture

    • Purpose: Semi‑rural fringe lots allowing light agricultural activities and large lots.
    • Typical permitted uses: single‑family residences, limited agricultural accessory uses; official lists are in Table 17.208.030.A (Allowed Uses). Verify with the table in § 17.208.030.
    • Key standards (Table 17.208.040.A / § 17.208.040): Lot area min 20,000 s.f., front setback 20 ft, height max 35 ft or 2 stories. Confirm specifics on the parcel.

  • R-1 — Single‑Family Residential

    • Purpose: Preserve single‑family neighborhood character.
    • Typical permitted uses: primary single‑family homes, customary accessory structures (see § 17.304.020 for accessory rules). Allowed uses appear in Table 17.208.030.A.
    • Key standards (Table 17.208.040.A / § 17.208.040): the R‑1 category includes lot‑size variants shown as 10‑R‑1 and 7‑R‑1. Typical numbers: lot area min 10,000 s.f. (10‑R‑1) or 7,000 s.f. (7‑R‑1), front setback 15 ft, side interior typically 5 ft (with %‑of‑width rules), height max 30 ft. See Lompoc Development Standards and accessory rules in § 17.304.020.

  • R-2 — Medium Density Residential

    • Purpose: Medium density housing near services and schools.
    • Typical permitted uses: duplexes, small multi‑family; full lists in Table 17.208.030.A.
    • Key standards (Table 17.208.040.A): lot area min 6,000 s.f., front setback 15 ft, height max 30 ft, lot coverage and landscaped area rules.

  • R-3 — High Density Residential

    • Purpose: Multi‑family and higher density housing, with flexibility for affordable housing.
    • Typical permitted uses: multi‑family dwellings, apartments; consult Table 17.208.030.A.
    • Key standards (Table 17.208.040.A): lot area min ~7,000 s.f., front setback 15 ft, height max 35 ft, density ranges and minimum landscaped open area per unit apply. Note: special rules for sites rezoned for RHNA may override standards to allow required unit counts (see notes).

  • MH — Mobile Home Park

    • Purpose: Regulation of mobile home parks and RV parks per state Health & Safety Code. See § 17.208.020.E.
    • Key standards: Table 17.208.040.A (lot area, density measured in spaces/acre).

(Residential development standards and measurement rules are in Chapter 17.208 and Chapter 17.304; setbacks and allowed encroachments are in § 17.304.030–040.)

Commercial zones (Chapter 17.212)

  • CC — Convenience Center

    • Purpose: Neighborhood shopping adjacent to homes.
    • Typical uses: small retailers, personal services; full permitted‑use lists are in Table 17.212.030.A (Allowed Uses).
    • Key standards (Table 17.212.040.A / § 17.212.040): lot area min 7,000 s.f., front setback min 10 ft, height typical 30 ft, FAR 0.5 (commercial). See Lompoc Parking for parking ratios.

  • CB — Central Business

    • Purpose: Downtown/commercial core with retail, offices, and mixed services.
    • Typical uses: wide variety of retail, office, visitor‑oriented businesses; check Table 17.212.030.A.
    • Key standards: lot width min 60 ft (in some cases), height up to 50 ft or 4 stories in core, FAR ~0.5 commercial; when adjoining residential, special side/rear setback rules apply.

  • OTC — Old Town Commercial

    • Purpose: Pedestrian‑oriented Old Town; ground‑floor commercial with residential above.
    • Key standards: lot area min 5,000 s.f., rear setback as low as 5 ft, height max ~45 ft.

  • PCD — Planned Commercial Development

    • Purpose: Flexible, site‑specific standards for larger highway or corridor commercial projects; many standards set by Preliminary Development Plan. § 17.212.020.D; Table 17.212.040.A.

(Full allowed‑use tables and the commercial development standard table are in § 17.212.030–040.)

Industrial zones (Chapter 17.216)

  • I — Industrial

    • Purpose: General industrial uses. Typical standards in Table 17.216.040.A: lot area min 7,000 s.f., height max 35 ft, FAR max 0.75, setbacks vary (no front setback unless adjacent to residential). See § 17.216.040.

  • BP — Business Park

    • Purpose: Business park uses with larger lots and landscaped buffers. Key numbers: lot area min 2 acres, lot frontage min 150 ft, height generally 35 ft (with airport adjacency exceptions). See Table 17.216.040.A.

(Industrial performance rules and permanent outdoor storage standards appear in § 17.216.050.)

Other zones (Chapter 17.220)

  • MU — Mixed Use

    • Purpose: Infill near transit and corridors encouraging mixed residential + commercial. See § 17.220.020.A. Standards in Table 17.220.040.A: height up to 45 ft, FAR commercial 0.75, mixed‑use 1.5 (with residential cap rules), density up to 44 du/net acre.

  • PF — Public Facilities & Institutional

    • Purpose: Schools, civic buildings, public service uses. Setbacks and special adjacency rules when abutting residential (see § 17.220.040.A and notes).

  • OS — Open Space

    • Purpose: Protect natural resources and river/creek setbacks; Santa Ynez River setback 100 ft; other creeks 50 ft (see § 17.220.050.A). See Lompoc Landscaping and Screening.

  • SP — Specific Plan Zone

    • Purpose: Areas governed by an adopted specific plan; development standards are established by that plan. (See § 17.220.020.D.)

Overlay zones (Chapter 17.224)

  • AO — Airport Overlay

    • Purpose: Protect airport operations and safety. Key constraints: prohibits illuminated signs and glare, clear‑zone height limit 15 ft above airport elevation, and projects within AO require Airport Land Use Commission review before building/grading permits (see § 17.224.050.A.1–4). See Lompoc Overlay Districts.

  • CRO — Cultural Resources Overlay

    • Purpose: Protect archaeological and cultural resources; streamlines review in archaeologically sensitive south‑side areas. See § 17.224.020.B.

  • SO — Southside Overlay

    • Purpose: Recognizes special historic/planning circumstances for Southside Residential Properties; properties are deemed legal conforming regardless of underlying density. See § 17.224.020.C.

  • PD — Planned Development Overlay

    • Purpose: Allows flexible, project‑level standards through a Preliminary Development Plan (PDP). See § 17.532 for PDP procedures and § 17.224.020.D for PD overlay.

  • SEO — Special Event Overlay

    • Purpose: Applied to industrial areas that host tourist/wine‑tasting activities to permit events with special rules. See § 17.224.020.E.

  • HSO — H Street Overlay

    • Purpose: H Street Corridor infill area standards; see Table 17.212.040.A notes and Chapter 17.224 references for specific H Street rules.

(Overlay allowed uses are summarized in table(s) and the AO has specific performance standards for uses in the clear/approach zones; see § 17.224.050.)

Decision‑relevant quick table

Zone Typical permitted uses (plain English) Key standards (common values) Code reference
R-1 Single‑family homes; accessory structures Lot area min 7,000–10,000 s.f., front setback 15 ft, height max 30 ft § 17.208.020, Table 17.208.040.A
R-2 Duplexes, small multi‑family Lot area min 6,000 s.f., front 15 ft, height 30 ft Table 17.208.040.A
R-3 Multi‑family, higher density Lot area ~7,000 s.f., height 35 ft, density rules Table 17.208.040.A
CC / CB / OTC Neighborhood and downtown retail/office Lot area min 5–7k s.f., heights 30–50 ft, FAR 0.5 (typ.) § 17.212.020–040, Table 17.212.040.A
I / BP Industrial, business park Lot area I: 7,000 s.f., BP: 2 acres, height 35 ft, FAR 0.75 (I) Table 17.216.040.A
MU Mixed residential + commercial Height up to 45 ft, mixed‑use FAR up to 1.5, density up to 44 du/ac Table 17.220.040.A
AO (overlay) Adds safety/height/lighting limits near airport No illuminated signs; height clear zone 15 ft; ALUC review required § 17.224.050.A

Notes: parking requirements are in Chapter 17.308; landscaping/screening in Chapter 17.312; accessory structure and setback encroachment rules are in § 17.304.020–040. See Lompoc Parking, Lompoc Landscaping and Screening, and Lompoc Development Standards.

Practical guidance / interpretation notes

  • The Code incorporates the Zoning Map by reference; if a boundary is unclear the boundary follows the nearest street or lot line, or the map scale is used; unresolved disputes escalate to the Director or Planning Commission (see § 17.204.030). Always pull the official map and confirm with staff. Verify with the jurisdiction.
  • Many zones have conditional or administrative uses listed in tables (e.g., Tables 17.208.030.A, 17.212.030.A). For any use not plainly allowed, consult the Allowed Uses tables in the relevant chapter.
  • Planned Development (PD/PCD) overlays and Preliminary Development Plans allow deviations from base standards; these require specific review and findings (see Chapter 17.532 and § 17.604 for amendment/finding rules). If your project seeks flexibility, plan for a PDP or zoning map amendment.
  • Airport Overlay restrictions are strict about glare, lights, and heights — projects in AO require ALUC clearance before permits are issued (§ 17.224.050.A.4).
  • If your property was rezoned to meet RHNA obligations, the Code includes notes that development standards cannot be enforced to the extent they physically preclude required unit counts for rezoned sites (see notes to Table 17.208.040.A and Table 17.220.040.A).

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for most development permit searches)

  • Confirm the parcel’s base zone on the City’s official Zoning Map and read § 17.204.020–030 for boundary rules.
  • Confirm whether any overlay(s) apply (AO, CRO, SO, PD, SEO, HSO) and read their constraints (Chapter 17.224).
  • Pull the zone’s Allowed Uses table (e.g., Table 17.208.030.A or 17.212.030.A) and confirm whether the proposed use is permitted, administrative, or conditional.
  • Check all dimensional standards (lot size, setbacks, height, lot coverage, FAR) in the zone’s development table (e.g., Table 17.208.040.A, 17.212.040.A, 17.216.040.A, 17.220.040.A).
  • Confirm parking requirements (Chapter 17.308) and landscaping/screening (Chapter 17.312). See Lompoc Parking and Lompoc Landscaping and Screening.
  • Identify if design review or architectural/site review is required (see Chapter 17.512 and Lompoc Design Review) and whether the application will be minor or major.
  • If seeking deviations: prepare for a Minor Modification (20% cap), Variance, PD, or Zoning Map Amendment (Chapters 17.528, 17.604); assemble findings and CEQA review as needed.
  • For properties near the airport, secure ALUC land‑use clearance before permits are issued. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Zone boundary ambiguity A development standard or permitted use can change at the line; map reading rules may shift which standards apply Confirm boundary on the official Zoning Map and apply § 17.204.030 rules; if ambiguous, get Director’s written interpretation.
Overlay layering (AO, CRO, SO, etc.) Overlays can add prohibitions or stricter standards (e.g., AO glare/height bans) Verify overlays on the map and read Chapter 17.224; AO requires ALUC review.
Planned Development / PCD flexibility A site in PCD/PD may have site‑specific rules — base tables may not apply Check whether a Preliminary Development Plan exists that supersedes base zone standards (see § 17.532 and Table notes).
Parcel‑specific exceptions (e.g., 7‑R‑1 vs 10‑R‑1) R‑1 has subcategories with different lot minimums Confirm which subcategory applies to the parcel in Table 17.208.040.A.
ADU rules vs local zoning standards State ADU laws limit what local rules may require or deny (parking, owner‑occupancy, setbacks) Local ADU-specific ordinance text not explicit in these retrieved materials — consult the City and Lompoc ADUs; see the statewide ADU handbook (uploaded) for state constraints. Not all city ADU provisions were found in retrieved materials.

Plain‑English Summary

Lompoc’s zoning is Title 17: every parcel sits in a base zone (like R‑1, CB, I) with a short, specific development table (setbacks, heights, lot sizes) and may also sit inside overlay(s) (airport, cultural resources, Southside, etc.) that add constraints; consult the official Zoning Map and the zone’s table in Title 17 before designing, and expect overlay rules and design review to change what’s allowed. Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel‑specific interpretations.

Source References

  • City of Lompoc Zoning Code, Title 17 (short title and applicability): § 17.104.030–040.
  • Zones established, Table 17.204.010.A and Zoning Map rules: § 17.204.010–050.
  • Residential zones and development standards: § 17.208.020 and Table 17.208.040.A (Residential Zones Development Standards).
  • Commercial zones and development standards: § 17.212.020–040, Table 17.212.040.A.
  • Industrial zones and standards: § 17.216.040–050, Table 17.216.040.A.
  • Other zones (MU, PF, OS, SP) and Table 17.220.040.A: § 17.220.020–050.
  • Overlay zones and Airport Overlay specifics: Chapter 17.224, § 17.224.020 and § 17.224.050 (AO limits and ALUC requirement). See Lompoc Overlay Districts.
  • Setback, accessory structure, and measurement rules: § 17.304.020–040.
  • Design review, PDP and minor modification procedures: Chapters 17.512, 17.532, 17.528, and amendment/hearing rules in § 17.604.
  • State ADU guidance (uploaded handbook): 2025 California ADU handbook (state law summaries; useful for where state law limits local zoning rules).

Also see these internal resources on GoCodebook for complementary topics: Lompoc zoning & planning overview, Lompoc Land Use, Lompoc Development Standards, Lompoc Parking, Lompoc Design Review, Lompoc Overlay Districts, Lompoc ADUs, California Building Standards Code.

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • CBC § 66314 (§ 66314) High relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code (§ 11) High relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code High relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code (§ 17.204.030.) High relevance
  • CBC § 66321 (§ 66321) High relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code (§ 11) High relevance
  • CGBSC § A5.103 (SECTION A5.103) Medium relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code Medium relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code (§ 11) High relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code (§ 11) High relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code (Section 17.304.050.B.) High relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code (§ 11) High relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code (§ 11) High relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code (§ 11) High relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code (§ 11) High relevance
  • Lompoc Zoning Code (§ 11) High relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What can I build on an R-1 lot in Lompoc?

In Lompoc R-1 zones the code intends single‑family residential use; the Code allows a principal single‑family dwelling and customary accessory structures and lists allowable accessory and conditional uses in the zone’s Allowed Uses table (see § 17.208.020 and Table 17.208.030.A). Check the development table for lot‑size and setback limits (Table 17.208.040.A) and accessory rules in § 17.304.020.

What are Lompoc setback requirements for single‑family homes?

Setbacks vary by residential subcategory. Typical numbers in Table 17.208.040.A: front setback 15 ft, side interior commonly 5 ft (with percent‑of‑width rules for some lots), rear 10–15 ft; accessory and projection rules are in § 17.304.040. Always read the specific row in Table 17.208.040.A that applies to your parcel.

Do I need design review for my Lompoc project?

Design review requirements depend on project type and zone. Architectural Design and Site Development Review is codified in Chapter 17.512; minor design review may be administrative while major review requires noticing/hearing (see Table 17.608.010.A for noticing rules). Check Chapter 17.512 and Lompoc Design Review.

Where is the official Lompoc Zoning Map and how are boundary disputes settled?

The Zoning Map is adopted by reference (see § 17.204.020) and contains the official boundaries; when a boundary is uncertain the code deems it along the nearest street or lot line or measured by the map scale, with any remaining ambiguity resolved per § 17.108.030 (Director’s interpretation). Verify with the City and request an official map extract.

What special rules apply if my property is inside the Airport Overlay (AO)?

In the AO the code prohibits certain signs and glare, sets clear‑zone height limits (no structures over 15 ft above the stated airport elevation in the clear zone), and requires Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) review/clearance before city grading/building permits are issued (see § 17.224.050.A.1–4). Expect strict processing and safety findings.

Can I rely on base‑zone tables if my lot is in a PD or PCD?

Not always. PD/PCD areas commonly use a Preliminary Development Plan to set site‑specific standards; in many cases the PDP controls instead of the base table (see § 17.532 and the PCD notes in Table 17.212.040.A). If a PDP exists, read it closely and confirm which standards apply.

How do overlay zones interact with allowed uses — can an overlay prohibit a use that the base zone allows?

Yes. Overlays layer additional limitations and may prohibit or condition uses permitted by the base zone (see Chapter 17.224 for overlay allowed uses and AO prohibitions). Always check both the base zone’s Allowed Uses table and any overlay tables/sections that apply to the parcel.

Where are parking rules in Lompoc’s zoning code?

Parking ratios and standards are collected in Chapter 17.308 (see the cross‑references in the development tables). Consult Lompoc Parking and Chapter 17.308 for parking counts and design standards.

Does the Zoning Code address river and creek setbacks for Open Space?

Yes — the OS zone includes required setbacks: 100 ft from the Santa Ynez River and 50 ft from certain creeks (Salsipuedes, San Miguelito, Sloans Canyon, Davis Creek) with limited exceptions; see § 17.220.050.A.

Are accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules set by the City or state limits zoning?

State ADU law constrains what local zoning can require (e.g., certain limits on setbacks, parking, owner occupancy). The City’s Title 17 addresses accessory structures and setbacks (see § 17.304.020–040), but the uploaded state ADU handbook explains state limitations; for Lompoc’s local ADU procedures consult Lompoc ADUs or City staff — local ADU specifics were not fully found in the retrieved files.

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