Loomis Zoning, Planning & Building Codes

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Loomis’s zoning and land‑use rules are codified in the town’s municipal Zoning Title using chapters numbered in the 13.x series (the Zoning Title and its chapters govern districts, standards, permit procedures, and review authorities) — see § 13.70.020 for the planning agency framework and § 13.60.010 for permit procedure authority. The ordinance is organized as a single zoning title (chapters 13.20–13.78 and related chapters) that contains the zoning districts and tables, city‑wide standards (height, setbacks, coverage), special‑use standards, administrative procedures, and review authority tables.

This head page gives a Loomis‑specific map of where to find the rules you’ll need: district families and their controlling tables, where height and setback rules live, the chapters that control design review and discretionary permits, the ADU rules and how state ADU law is implemented locally, and the building‑permit path. For targeted topics see the town’s pages on parking, setbacks and development standards, design review, overlays, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code linked below. Loomis Parking Loomis Development Standards Loomis Design Review Loomis Overlay Districts Loomis ADUs California Building Standards Code.

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How Loomis's code is organized

• Zoning title and chapters: Loomis’s zoning provisions are codified in the municipal code chapters using the 13.x chapter numbering (the zoning title’s administrative and procedural chapters appear in the 13.60–13.78 range). See § 13.60.010 (permit filing and processing) and § 13.70.020 (planning agency).
• Divisions and tables: District regulations and development standards are presented by district in “Table” formats (for example the RS/RM/RH tables and RS density table), referenced directly in the code (see § 13.24.050 for RS/RM density and Table 2‑5).
• Where major rules live (navigation pointers you’ll use):
  • District use lists and permit requirements are in Division 2 and the district tables (see Table 2‑4 / Table 2‑5 references and § 13.24.050).
  • Citywide dimensional standards (height, measurement rules and exceptions) are in § 13.30.050 (Height Limits and Exceptions) and setbacks exceptions in § 13.30.110.
  • Chapter 13.34 covers landscaping requirements, 13.36 covers parking and loading, and 13.38 governs signs.
  • Specific‑use standards (alcohol sales, adult businesses, accessory structures, etc.) are in Chapter 13.42 — Standards for Specific Land Uses with individual sections per use.
  • Administrative review, approval authority, and Table 6‑1 (who decides what) are in Chapter 13.60 (Permits) and the director/commission/council roles in § 13.70.030–050.

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Zoning district families (citywide)

Loomis groups zones into conventional families; the code names and sample controlling references are below (bolded district names are the town’s actual map symbols):

• Residential families and suffixes: RA, RE, RR (rural/agricultural types); RS (single‑family with numeric suffixes such as RS‑20, RS‑10), RM (medium density), RH and RH‑204 (high density standards and special RH rules). Development densities, minimum parcel sizes and coverage are set by Table 2‑5 and the RS/RM tables in § 13.24.050. § 13.24.050.

• Commercial & employment families: CC (Central Commercial), CT (Tourist/Destination Commercial), CO (Office/Commercial area such as the I‑80/King Road site), CG (General Commercial), and BP (Business Park). Each district has a specific table of setbacks, FAR, lot coverage and height limits (see the CC/CT and CO district tables and § 13.26.050 for CO standards).

• Public / institutional / industrial: PI (Public/Institutional) district standards are in Table 2‑11; BP and other business/industrial designations have site‑specific standards (see Table 2‑11 and § 13.28–13.29 series).

• Special & flexible districts: PD (Planned Development) is a flexible district that must be established by ordinance and a PD plan; PD districts are labeled “PD” with the adopting ordinance number on the zoning map and governed by Chapter 13.29 (PD findings, procedures and required findings). § 13.29.010–040.

Notes: district tables explicitly attach numeric suffixes to RS/RM zones (for example RS‑20) and reference specific sections for accessory units and density; see § 13.24.050 and the table notes.

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Citywide development standards (high level)

Where to look and representative Loomis numbers:

• Height and measurement: General height rules and exceptions are in § 13.30.050; district tables then set the maximums (for example many RS districts are limited to 35 ft / 2 stories, RM to 30 ft, RH up to 45 ft in some subzones). § 13.30.050; see district tables in § 13.24.050 and Tables 2‑4/2‑5.

• Setbacks and exceptions: Setbacks and exceptions are administered through § 13.30.110 and the individual district tables (for example several commercial fronts require 15 ft or are placed at the property line depending on street—see the CC/CT notes for Taylor Road and Horseshoe Bar Road). § 13.30.110; see the CC/CT table text. Loomis Development Standards.

• Lot coverage / FAR / density: Each district table lists maximum lot coverage and FAR where applicable (examples: many commercial zones show up to 60% coverage or FAR caps such as 0.60 or higher where noted in the tables). See the district tables in § 13.24.050 and related table sections.

• Parking & loading: Parking rules and counting formulas are in Chapter 13.36; ADU parking exceptions and ADU parking specifics are spelled out in the ADU chapter (for example one ADU parking space is required unless exempt). For the town’s parking rules see Loomis Parking. Chapter 13.36; ADU parking § references in the ADU chapter.

• Landscaping, screening, and signs: Landscaping standards are in Chapter 13.34, signage in Chapter 13.38, and screening/landscaping cross‑references appear in the district tables. Chapter 13.34; Chapter 13.38.

• Specific‑use standards: Uses that produce external impacts (alcohol sales, adult businesses, accessory retail, agricultural structures, etc.) are regulated in Chapter 13.42 — this chapter adds siting and operational conditions beyond the district table. Chapter 13.42.

Practical navigation tip: start with the zoning map to identify the zone, read the district table for that zone (Table 2‑3 / 2‑4 / 2‑5 or the district’s section) for setbacks/height/coverage, then check Chapters 13.30/13.34/13.36/13.42 for measurements, landscaping and use‑specific rules.

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Specific plans & overlays

• Planned Development (PD): The PD district is implemented through a PD ordinance and a two‑step approval (preliminary development plan and specific development plan); PD districts are identified on the zoning map as PD plus ordinance number. See § 13.29.020–050 for PD establishment, findings, and process. § 13.29.030–050.

• Area‑specific district rules: The code includes area‑specific district standards (for example CO standards for the I‑80/King Road southwest corner, and BP business‑park site planning instructions) — see § 13.26.050 (CO district) and the BP district text. § 13.26.050.

• Overlays & historic preservation: The code cross‑references overlay and conservation controls (riparian/wetland protections and other resource prerequisites for permits are in Chapter 13.54 and wetland/grading prerequisites are in § 13.58.060). For overlay summaries see Loomis Overlay Districts and Loomis Historic Preservation. Chapter 13.54; § 13.58.060.

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Building permits & review (the practical path)

• Pre‑application and filing: The code strongly encourages a pre‑application conference with the director and requires applications to be filed on town forms with required materials; see § 13.60.030 (application contents and pre‑application conference). § 13.60.030.

• Who decides what: Review authority (ministerial vs discretionary) is set by the Review Authority Table (Table 6‑1) in Chapter 13.60; the planning director handles ministerial approvals such as zoning clearances, some design review and minor permits while the planning commission and town council handle conditional use permits, major discretionary approvals, and PD decisions. See § 13.60.020 and the director/commission/council roles in § 13.70.030–050. § 13.60.020; § 13.70.030–050.

• Design review & master plans: Design review procedures and standards (and where design review is required) are codified in the design review chapter and cross‑referenced from many use sections (for example accessory retail uses require design review — see § 13.42.040 referencing § 13.62.040). A Master Development Plan process is established where required and is decided by the council after planning commission recommendation (see § 13.62.070). § 13.42.040; § 13.62.070. Loomis Design Review.

• Nonconforming situations: Rules that govern continuation, alteration, or termination of prior lawful uses and structures are in Chapter 13.72 (Nonconforming Uses, Structures and Parcels). Chapter 13.72.

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State housing law in Loomis

Summary and how the Loomis code implements or references state law:

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs / JADUs): Loomis has a detailed ADU chapter and local ADU standards (referenced as § 13.42.270 and related subsections) that implement ministerial ADU rules, size/height/setback rules for detached and attached ADUs, and parking exemptions; the ADU chapter states a detached ADU maximum of 1,200 sq ft, attached ADU limits (up to 1,200 sq ft or a percentage of main dwelling with minimums), a 16 ft height cap for many detached ADUs outside downtown with 4 ft side/rear setbacks, and a 25 ft downtown ADU height cap. See the ADU provisions at § 13.42.270 and the ADU chapter text. § 13.42.270. Loomis ADUs.

  • Parking for ADUs: Loomis requires one on‑site parking space per ADU unless an exemption applies; garage demolition/conversion parking replacement rules and allowed tandem parking are in the ADU chapter. § 13.42.270.

  • ADU ministerial process: The ADU chapter establishes ministerial review criteria and notes that where a conflict exists between district standards and the ADU chapter, the ADU chapter controls for ADU approvals (i.e., local ADU standards take precedence where specified). § 13.42.270.

• Density bonus / affordable housing incentives: The code includes provisions to facilitate affordable housing in certain RH subzones (for example RH‑20 allows a minimum of 20 units/acre and up to 25 units/acre by right with use of alternative standards to facilitate affordable housing — see the RH notes and § 13.24.040 / § 13.42.250 references). The code language explicitly allows flexibility to facilitate affordable housing in RH areas. § 13.24.040; § 13.42.250.

• SB 9 / ministerial lot splits / two‑unit laws and statewide density rules: Specific SB 9 / ministerial lot‑split language or California Government Code cross‑references beyond the ADU references were not found in the retrieved materials; verify current implementation with the planning department. Not found in retrieved materials.

• Rent control / tenant protections: No Loomis local rent‑control ordinance text was found in the zoning chapters provided; the municipal zoning title focuses on land use, not rent regulation. Verify with the town’s municipal code or housing department for any rent protections. Not found in retrieved materials.

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Practical orientation (quick checklist)

• Find the zone on the Loomis zoning map (the zoning map references the numeric zone suffixes used in § 13.24.050). § 13.24.050.
• Read that district’s development table for setbacks, height, coverage and density. (See the district tables referenced throughout Chapter 13.24.)
• Check Chapters 13.30, 13.34, 13.36, 13.38 and 13.42 for measurement rules, landscaping, parking, signs and use‑specific standards. § 13.30.050; Chapter 13.34; Chapter 13.36; Chapter 13.42.
• For discretionary approvals, follow Chapter 13.60 and consult Table 6‑1 (review authority); use pre‑application meetings to reduce surprises. § 13.60.030; § 13.60.020.

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Information Gaps / Things to verify with Loomis planning

• Current implementation of SB 9 / ministerial lot splits is not visible in the retrieved zoning chapters — confirm with planning staff. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Local implementation of the state density bonus program (explicit cross‑references to Gov. Code §65915) was not visible in the retrieved excerpts; check the housing element and zoning amendments for explicit density‑bonus provisions. Not found in retrieved materials.

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Source References

• Loomis Zoning Title and procedural chapters — Chapter 13.60 (Permit Procedures), § 13.60.010–030.
• Planning agency and review authorities — § 13.70.020–050 (Town council, planning commission, planning director).
• Planned Development (PD) district — Chapter 13.29, §§ 13.29.010–050.
• District development tables and RS/RM/RH density rules — § 13.24.050 and Table 2‑4/2‑5 references.
• Height and setback rules — § 13.30.050 (height) and § 13.30.110 (setback exceptions); district tables (e.g., CC/CT tables).
• ADU chapter and standards — § 13.42.270 (Accessory Dwelling Units) and ADU subsections (sizes, heights, setbacks, parking).
• Parking, landscaping, specific uses and wetland/grading prerequisites — Chapter 13.36, Chapter 13.34, Chapter 13.42, and § 13.58.060.