Loomis — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Town of Loomis zoning ordinance (Title 13) actually says about allowed land uses, permit types, and the district-level rules you need to check before proposing a project. It is strictly drawn from the Loomis zoning tables and chapters that identify permitted (P), minor use permit (MUP), use permit (UP) and special (S) uses, and from the district purpose and development standard tables. Verify parcel-specific questions with the town; this page synthesizes the code but does not replace a zoning clearance.

How the code controls land use (quick rules)

• Allowed uses are listed in the land-use tables: Table 2-2 (residential), Table 2-6 (commercial), and Table 2-9 (industrial/public). The tables identify whether a use is P, MUP, UP, S, or not allowed. See § 13.22.030.
• A use not shown in the tables is not allowed unless the director finds it is similar and compatible by following the findings in § 13.22.030(A)(3) (and can be referred to the commission).
• All approved uses must also meet the town’s site-level development standards (setbacks, height, lot coverage), and Division 3 standards such as landscaping and parking; those standards are applied from the development-tables in Chapters 13.24, 13.26, and 13.28 and Division 3. Link to the Loomis development standards when confirming setbacks and lot coverage.

(Links: first mention only) When you see references to parking, consult Loomis’ Parking rules; for setbacks and numeric development standards consult Loomis Development Standards. If your project may trigger architectural review, consult Loomis Design Review. Overlay rules can modify the base district—check Loomis Overlay Districts. If your site has a pre-existing nonconforming use, see Loomis Nonconforming Uses. Accessory dwelling units follow Loomis’ ADU chapter—see Loomis ADUs. Building permits are governed by the California Building Standards Code. Landscaping requirements are in Loomis Landscaping and Screening.

District-by-district breakdown

Below are the primary zoning districts established by Title 13. Each subsection states the district purpose (what the code intends), typical permitted use categories (high‑level — check the tables for detailed use-by-use permitting), key dimensional standards called out in the ordinance, and where that district is applied or special notes you must verify.

Note: every numeric standard below is drawn from the zoning tables and chapter language; the controlling table/section is cited at the end of each district subsection.

RA — Residential Agricultural

• Purpose: preserve agricultural uses (orchards, vineyards, grazing) and very low‑density housing. Maximum density: 1 unit per 4.6 acres (4.6 acres/unit).
• Typical permitted uses: agricultural production, single‑family dwellings, accessory structures; see Table 2-2 for the complete list.
• Key dimensional standards: minimum lot area 4.6 acres; front setback 50 ft is typical for RA per Table 2-3. Verify exact setbacks for your parcel in Table 2-3.
• Where it applies: mapped as RA on the zoning map (Chapter 13.20).

RE — Residential Estate

• Purpose: large‑lot single‑family plus small‑scale agriculture; maximum density: 1 unit per 2.3 acres. Typical agricultural and single‑family uses allowed; accessory units subject to ADU rules. See Table 2-2 and § 13.24.020.

RR — Rural Residential

• Purpose: large lot single‑family with some agricultural character; maximum density: 1 unit per 1 acre. Large animal keeping limited to 1‑acre+ parcels. See § 13.24.020 and Table 2-3.

RS — Single‑Family Residential (including RS-20, RS-10, etc.)

• Purpose: neighborhoods of single‑family homes; density varies by numeric suffix shown on the zoning map (e.g., RS‑20 = 20,000 sf minimum lot). The numeric suffix controls minimum lot size and site coverage as set in Table 2‑5 and discussed in § 13.24.050.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family homes, accessory dwellings (see ADUs rules), limited home‑business uses; use categories are in Table 2‑2.
• Key dimensional examples (check the suffix on the zoning map): RS‑20 minimum lot: 20,000 sf; RS lot coverage example: 25% (see Table 2‑5 / § 13.24.050). Verify exact suffix for your parcel on the zoning map.

RM — Medium‑Density Residential

• Purpose: mix of housing types (small‑lot single family, duplexes, multifamily); density range: ~6–10 units/acre, actual allowed density set by numeric suffix on the zoning map. Multifamily uses are allowed per permit levels in Table 2‑2.

RH / RH‑20 — High‑Density Residential (and RH‑20 special)

• Purpose: multifamily housing; RH standard: ~10–15 units/acre; RH‑20: minimum 20 units/acre up to 25 units/acre by right to encourage affordable housing. The code explicitly allows alternative standards to facilitate affordable units under RH‑20. See § 13.24.020, § 13.24.050, and § 13.42.250.

CO — Office Commercial

• Purpose: office and professional uses with related compatible services. Typical development standards: front setback 15 ft (min); FAR up to 0.60 in some commercial tables; setbacks and height limits appear in Table 2‑7. See § 13.26.020 and Table 2‑7.

CG — General Commercial

• Purpose: retail and service uses serving residents; mixed‑use projects may include residential at 2–10 units/acre in mixed‑use configurations (subject to general plan guidance). See § 13.26.020 and Table 2‑7.

CC — Central Commercial

• Purpose: historic downtown core — pedestrian retail on ground floors, residential above. Height and coverage limits are tailored to downtown character in Table 2‑7 (for example, height limits ~30–35 ft, lot coverage and FAR vary by district). See § 13.26.020 and Table 2‑7.

CT — Tourist / Destination Commercial

• Purpose: lodging, conference, traveler‑serving uses and mixed entertainment/retail; some uses (e.g., drive‑throughs, large retail) carry special permit requirements. See § 13.26.020 and Table 2‑6 for use‑by‑use permit levels.

BP — Business Park

• Purpose: office/business‑park uses; development standards (min lot size, setbacks) in Table 2‑10. Residential density limited to caretaker units only. See § 13.28.040 and Table 2‑10.

ILT / IL — Limited Industrial / Light Industrial

• Purpose: ILT buffers industrial uses from residential neighborhoods (limited uses allowed); IL accommodates broader manufacturing, warehousing and heavier industrial uses (subject to performance limits on noise, odor, etc.). See § 13.28.030 and notes in Table 2‑9 and Table 2‑10.

PI — Public/Institutional

• Purpose: public facilities (schools, libraries, government offices). Uses listed in Table 2‑9; development standards are in Chapter 13.28.

PD — Planned Development

• Purpose: PD districts are tailored by ordinance and must specify allowed uses; they can supersede base standards where the PD ordinance so states. Establishment and required findings are in § 13.29.030–.050. If your property is zoned PD check the PD ordinance number on the zoning map for the definitive permitted uses.

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant items

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy (before building permit)

• Confirm base zoning district and any numeric suffix on the zoning map (Chapter 13.20). Verify PD ordinance if zoned PD.
• Determine the exact use designation in Table 2‑2, Table 2‑6, or Table 2‑9 and identify whether the use is P, MUP, UP or S (§ 13.22.030).
• If the use is not listed, request a similar/compatible-use determination per § 13.22.030(A)(3) (director or commission).
• Confirm development standards (minimum lot area, setbacks, height, lot coverage) in the appropriate table (Tables 2‑3, 2‑4, 2‑7, 2‑10). Link to Loomis Development Standards.
• Verify parking and loading requirements in the Parking chapter and whether any parking reductions apply (density bonuses cite § 13.24.025).
• Check for required design review per Loomis Design Review and any overlay constraints via Overlay Districts.
• Determine if the project affects nonconforming uses/amortization (see Nonconforming Uses).
• If proposing an ADU, follow Loomis ADU rules and California ADU law where state preemption applies; check Loomis ADUs and California ADU law.
• Obtain any required building permits consistent with the California Building Standards Code.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Loomis’ zoning ordinance lists allowed uses in three land‑use tables (residential, commercial, industrial/public) and ties each use to an approval type — allowed (P), allowed with a Minor Use Permit (MUP), allowed with a Use Permit (UP), or subject to specific regulations (S). Districts (RA, RE, RR, RS with suffixes, RM, RH, CO, CG, CC, CT, BP, ILT, IL, PI, PD) each have stated purposes and tabled dimensional standards (lot size, setbacks, height, coverage) you must meet; consult the exact table row for your use and the zoning map for suffixes. Verify overlays, PD ordinance text, and nonconforming status before applying.

Source References

• Loomis Municipal Code (Title 13 — Zoning): Allowable land uses and permit types, § 13.22.030.
• Exemptions from land‑use permit requirements, § 13.22.040.
• Residential district purposes and uses, § 13.24.010–.040 and Table 2‑2, Table 2‑3, Table 2‑4, § 13.24.025 (residential incentives), and § 13.24.050 (RS & RM suffixes / Table 2‑5).
• Commercial district purposes and uses, § 13.26.010–.040, Table 2‑6, Table 2‑7 (CO/CG/CC/CT).
• Industrial & public district uses and standards, § 13.28.030–.040, Table 2‑9, Table 2‑10 (BP, ILT, IL, PI).
• Planned Development district establishment and findings, § 13.29.030–.050.
• Master development plan and permit implementation time limits, Chapter 13.64.

(If you need the ordinance text or a PDF with the exact tables for your parcel, request the full code extract or the Loomis zoning map and I will pull the table rows that apply to your parcel. Verify parcel‑specific items with the Town — some standards are suffix‑ or PD‑specific.)

Retrieved passages

• Loomis Zoning Code (Section 13.42.260) High relevance show source text
• Loomis Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Loomis Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Loomis Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Loomis Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• CBC § 13.22.040 (§ 13.22.040.) High relevance show source text
• Loomis Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Loomis Zoning Code (Section G.) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Loomis Municipal Code (Title 13 — Zoning): Allowable land uses and permit types, **§ 13.22.030**. (Title 13)
• Exemptions from land‑use permit requirements, **§ 13.22.040**. (§ 13.22.040)
• Residential district purposes and uses, **§ 13.24.010–.040** and **Table 2‑2**, **Table 2‑3**, **Table 2‑4**, **§ 13.24.025** (residential incentives), and **§ 13.24.050** (RS & RM suffixes / Table 2‑5). (§ 13.24.010)
• Commercial district purposes and uses, **§ 13.26.010–.040**, **Table 2‑6**, **Table 2‑7** (CO/CG/CC/CT). (§ 13.26.010)
• Industrial & public district uses and standards, **§ 13.28.030–.040**, **Table 2‑9**, **Table 2‑10** (BP, ILT, IL, PI). (§ 13.28.030)
• Planned Development district establishment and findings, **§ 13.29.030–.050**. (§ 13.29.030)
• Master development plan and permit implementation time limits, **Chapter 13.64**. (Chapter 13.64)
• Loomis_ZoningCode.md

• Official Loomis code library