Maywood — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Maywood regulates what you can do on land (uses) through its zoning ordinance, which groups properties into districts like residential, commercial, manufacturing, and public facilities. The ordinance uses a citywide “use table” and district-specific standards (density, floor area ratio, lot size, height, and yards) to control how land is used and how intensely it can be developed. Start at the Maywood zoning & planning overview and the district map, then confirm allowed uses in the ordinance’s Appendix A matrix and the district rules below .

Key rule: If a FAR or density number is shown as a suffix on the zoning map (for example, CM0.40, M-0.35, or R3-RS-48), that number governs; otherwise the district’s default limits apply per the code. See § 4030.70.B.3 and § 4040.80.A; for the RS overlay, § 4020.70 explains how Council-set densities appear on the map or are set by site plan review when no number is shown .

How Maywood defines “permitted,” “accessory,” and “conditional” uses

• The city’s Appendix A: Regulation of Uses by Zone District is the controlling “use table.” It explains symbols such as P (permitted), A (accessory), C (conditional use permit), and X (prohibited), plus overlays and administrative permits. Use “U” means the underlying zone controls the decision in an overlay. The table covers districts R-3, RS (overlay), CC (overlay), C, CM, M, OS, and PF .
• Each district article points you to Appendix A for the actual list of uses that are permitted, accessory, or conditional in that district (e.g., § 4010.20 R‑3; § 4030.20.C C/CM; § 4040.20 M; § 4060.20 PF) .

District-by-district land use standards

R-3 — Residential

• Purpose: Provide “high quality, attractive, and livable” neighborhoods at up to 20 dwelling units per acre, accommodating single-family detached/attached dwellings and related residential activity (§ 4010.10, § 4010.80) .
• Typical permitted uses: Residential uses; customary residential accessory uses; home occupations; see Appendix A for the full set (§ 4010.20, § 4010.30) .
• Conditional uses: Uses that need discretionary review (e.g., accessory parking serving adjacent commercial/industrial uses) per Appendix A (§ 4010.40) .
• Key dimensional standards:
  • Minimum lot area: 5,000 sq ft (§ 4010.50) .
  • Minimum lot width: 40 ft for lots with only one unit or a primary + second unit (§ 4010.60) .
  • Maximum lot coverage: 65% (§ 4010.70) .
  • Maximum density: 20 du/ac, with a step table by lot size (§ 4010.80) .
  • Height: 2 stories or 35 ft (whichever is greater) (§ 4010.90) .
  • Yards, privacy/open space, accessory structures, and fencing are regulated in §§ 4010.100–200 (see Maywood Development Standards) .
• Where it applies: Wherever the zoning map shows R-3. Senior-housing overlays (RS) may also apply in mapped areas (see below) .
• Notes: “Second units” are allowed per Appendix C, Section 10; see Maywood ADUs for plain-English guidance (§ 4010.210) .

RS — Residential, Specialty (Overlay)

• Purpose: Increase opportunities for higher-density senior housing near services and medical care (§ 4020.10) .
• Typical permitted uses: Senior citizen housing is the primary permitted use; the underlying zone controls other uses unless Appendix A says otherwise (§ 4020.20) .
• Qualifications: All units must be occupied by at least one person aged 55+; the project must record a deed restriction (§ 4020.30) .
• Key dimensional standards (modify R‑3 where stated):
  • Baseline: R‑3 standards apply unless modified (§ 4020.40) .
  • Minimum lot area: 10,000 sq ft (§ 4020.50) .
  • Maximum lot coverage: 70% (§ 4020.60) .
  • Maximum density: Up to 48 du/ac, set by City Council and shown as a suffix on the map (R3‑RS‑48); if no number is shown, density is set by Site Plan Review (§ 4020.70) .
  • Height: 50 ft or 4 stories, whichever is greater (§ 4020.80) .
• Where it applies: Where the zoning map shows the RS overlay; confirm the mapped density suffix before designing a project (see Maywood Overlay Districts) (§ 4020.70) .

C — Town Center Commercial

• Purpose: Accommodate neighborhood- to region-serving retail and services; all uses must operate in enclosed buildings (§ 4030.10, § 4030.20.A) .
• Typical permitted uses: Local and community-serving commercial. The official list is in Appendix A (§ 4030.20.C) .
• Conditional uses: As listed in Appendix A (§ 4030.40) .
• Key dimensional standards:
  • Minimum lot area/width: 5,000 sq ft / 50 ft (§ 4030.50) .
  • Maximum lot coverage: 90% (§ 4030.60) .
  • FAR: 0.30 (§ 4030.70.A) .
  • Height: 3 stories or 45 ft, whichever is less (§ 4030.80) .
  • Yards: None required for front/rear; special side-yard landscaping when abutting ROW or residential (§ 4030.90–110) .
• Where it applies: Areas mapped C; verify if a suffix (rare for C) or an overlay also applies (see Maywood Zoning) (§ 4030.90) .

CM — General Commercial/Manufacturing

• Purpose: Permits the complete range of commercial uses and limited, small-scale industrial/wholesale uses in enclosed buildings (§ 4030.20.B) .
• Typical permitted/conditional uses: See Appendix A; “CM” supports broader commercial and some light industrial compared with C (§ 4030.20.C) .
• Key dimensional standards:
  • Minimum lot area/width: 5,000 sq ft / 50 ft (§ 4030.50) .
  • Maximum lot coverage: 90% (§ 4030.60) .
  • FAR: 0.25–0.50 as set by Council and shown as a suffix (e.g., CM0.40); if no suffix, 0.30 (§ 4030.70.B.1–3) .
  • Height: 3 stories or 45 ft, whichever is less (§ 4030.80) .
  • Yards: None by default; landscaped side yard when abutting ROW and stepbacks next to residential (§ 4030.100.B) .
• Where it applies: Areas mapped CM; confirm any FAR suffix on the map before calculating project size (§ 4030.70.B.3) .

M — Manufacturing

• Purpose: Provide space for manufacturing/industrial processes while protecting the city’s predominantly residential character; emphasizes well-designed buildings (§ 4040.10) .
• Typical permitted uses: Light manufacturing without excessive noise/odor/particulates; certain accessory outdoor storage; see Appendix A for specifics (§ 4040.20, § 4040.30) .
• Conditional uses: Certain retail and other uses may be allowed by CUP (§ 4040.40) .
• Key dimensional standards:
  • Minimum lot area/width: 5,000 sq ft / 50 ft (§ 4040.50–60) .
  • Maximum lot coverage: 90% (§ 4040.70) .
  • FAR: Council-set with map suffix (e.g., M‑0.35); if none shown, 0.40 (§ 4040.80.A) .
  • Height: 3 stories or 45 ft, whichever is less (§ 4040.90) .
  • Yards: No front yard; landscaped side yard when abutting ROW (§ 4040.100–110.A) .
• Where it applies: Areas mapped M; verify any FAR suffix before massing the project (§ 4040.80.A) .

PF — Public Facilities

• Purpose/uses: Public and quasi-public facilities; Appendix A lists permitted, accessory, and CUP uses; CUPs are processed per § 5100 as referenced in PF rules (§ 4060.20, § 4060.40) .
• Key dimensional standards:
  • Minimum lot area/width: 7,500 sq ft / 50 ft (§ 4060.50–60) .
  • FAR: 0.50 (§ 4060.70) .
  • Height: 3 stories or 45 ft, whichever is less (§ 4060.80) .
  • Yards: 10 ft front and 10 ft rear; side yard landscaping 5 ft along ROW; 15 ft minimum where a side abuts residential (§ 4060.90–110) .
• Where it applies: Properties mapped PF; confirm whether supplemental standards in Appendix D apply (§ 4060.90) .

OS — Open Space

• Purpose/uses: Not found in retrieved materials; headings indicate standards exist in § 4050.10–70. See Appendix A and verify with the jurisdiction. Not found in retrieved materials .

CC — Civic Center (Overlay)

• Purpose/uses: Not found in retrieved materials; headings indicate § 4065.10–80 exist. Appendix A indicates CC is an overlay; where “U” appears, the underlying zone controls use permissions. Verify mapped CC boundaries and any CC-specific standards before relying on base-district rules. Not found in retrieved materials .

Selected, decision-relevant standards by district

Appendix A snapshots: how specific uses map to zones

These examples are pulled directly from the use matrix. For complete coverage, consult Appendix A (and any overlay notes).

• Adult Entertainment Business: C in C, CM, M; X in R‑3, OS, PF; “U” in CC (underlying zone governs) (Appendix A; see also § 4030.20.C and § 4040.20 for reliance on Appendix A) .
• Alcoholic Beverage Sales and Service: C* in C, CM, M (special conditions in Appendices B/C) (Appendix A) .
• Ambulance Service: C in CM; P in M (Appendix A) .
• Animal Hospital: P in CM and M (Appendix A) .
• Agricultural Equipment Sales/Service: P in CM and M (Appendix A) .
• Abrasives Manufacture: P in M (Appendix A) .
• Adhesives Manufacture: C in M (Appendix A) .
• Animal Shelter: P in M (Appendix A) .

For parking ratios, lot design, and off-site parking allowances, see Maywood Parking (§ 4100.30–50) . Some projects also trigger Maywood Design Review (e.g., condominium developments referenced in § 4010.230) and planned development options exist for affordable housing within the RS overlay (§ 5125) .

Checklist

• Identify the base district and any overlays on the parcel (e.g., RS, CC) on the zoning map; note any FAR/density suffixes like CM0.40 or R3‑RS‑48 (§ 4030.70.B.3; § 4040.80.A; § 4020.70) .
• Confirm your intended use in Appendix A (P, A, C, X) for the mapped district(s) (§ 4010.20; § 4030.20.C; § 4040.20; § 4060.20) .
• If “C,” plan for a Conditional Use Permit and related findings; coordinate with Maywood Variances and Exceptions if relief is needed.
• Check dimensional caps: lot area/width, coverage, FAR or density, height, and required yards for your district (see district sections above).
• Verify adjacency rules: extra side-yard landscaping/stepbacks when commercial or PF abuts residential (§ 4030.100.B; § 4060.100.B) .
• Confirm parking compliance and whether any allowed reductions apply (e.g., RS/PUD allowances in § 4020.120; § 5125.20.2) .
• If proposing senior housing or mixed formats in RS, verify eligibility (age 55+ occupancy, deed restriction) and mapped density (§ 4020.20–30; § 4020.70) .
• If planning a condominium, note the explicit CUP and design review references (§ 4010.230) .
• For existing sites, confirm whether your use/building is legal nonconforming and what changes are allowed (see Maywood Nonconforming Uses).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Maywood’s land-use rules center on what’s allowed in each district and how big you can build. First find your zone and any overlays, then check the Appendix A matrix to see if your use is permitted, accessory, conditional, or prohibited. Next, apply the district’s limits (lot size, FAR or density, height, and yards). Watch for suffixes on the zoning map that set the exact FAR/density, for adjacency rules next to homes, and for special overlays like RS for senior housing. For parking, design review, and relief routes, use the linked topic pages.

Source References

• § 4010 (R‑3 Residential: uses and standards) — § 4010.10; § 4010.20–40; § 4010.50–95; § 4010.100–200; § 4010.210–240 .
• § 4020 (RS Residential, Specialty Overlay: senior housing; standards) — § 4020.10–120; § 4020.70 density suffix rule .
• § 4030 (Commercial/CM: purposes, uses, FAR, height, yards) — § 4030.10–170; § 4030.70.B suffix rule .
• § 4040 (Manufacturing: uses and standards; FAR suffix rule) — § 4040.10–170; § 4040.80.A .
• § 4050 (Open Space) — headings only; substantive content not found in retrieved materials .
• § 4060 (Public Facilities: uses and standards) — § 4060.20; § 4060.40–160 .
• § 4065 (Civic Center Overlay) — headings only; substantive content not found in retrieved materials .
• § 4070 (Development Standards Applicable to All Districts) — encroachments/corner cut-offs referenced by other sections (§ 4070.90; § 4070.100) .
• § 4100 (Parking and Loading) — applicability, site plan, on-/off-site parking location (§ 4100.30–50) .
• Appendix A: Regulation of Uses by Zone District — use matrix and symbol definitions (R‑3, RS, CC, C, CM, M, OS, PF) .

Retrieved passages

• Maywood Zoning Code (Section 10) High relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code (Section 4070.100.) High relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code (Section 5100) High relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code (Section 88.02.a.) High relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• § 4010 (R‑3 Residential: uses and standards) — § 4010.10; § 4010.20–40; § 4010.50–95; § 4010.100–200; § 4010.210–240 . (§ 4010)
• § 4020 (RS Residential, Specialty Overlay: senior housing; standards) — § 4020.10–120; § 4020.70 density suffix rule . (§ 4020)
• § 4030 (Commercial/CM: purposes, uses, FAR, height, yards) — § 4030.10–170; § 4030.70.B suffix rule . (§ 4030)
• § 4040 (Manufacturing: uses and standards; FAR suffix rule) — § 4040.10–170; § 4040.80.A . (§ 4040)
• § 4050 (Open Space) — headings only; substantive content not found in retrieved materials . (§ 4050)
• § 4060 (Public Facilities: uses and standards) — § 4060.20; § 4060.40–160 . (§ 4060)
• § 4065 (Civic Center Overlay) — headings only; substantive content not found in retrieved materials . (§ 4065)
• § 4070 (Development Standards Applicable to All Districts) — encroachments/corner cut-offs referenced by other sections (§ 4070.90; § 4070.100) . (§ 4070)
• § 4100 (Parking and Loading) — applicability, site plan, on-/off-site parking location (§ 4100.30–50) . (§ 4100)
• Appendix A: Regulation of Uses by Zone District — use matrix and symbol definitions (R‑3, RS, CC, C, CM, M, OS, PF) .
• Maywood_ZoningCode.md

• Official Maywood code library