Maywood — Overlay Districts

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Maywood’s zoning ordinance uses two overlay districts to tailor land-use rules in specific areas without replacing the base zone: the Residential, Specialty (RS) Overlay and the Civic Center (CC) Overlay. These overlays “sit on top” of an underlying district (e.g., R-3, C), adding or modifying standards and allowed uses where the overlay is mapped on the official zoning map. The overlays are formally established in the list of zones and applied “where mapped” on the City’s adopted zoning map. See § 3010.10 and § 3020.10 .

Plain-English rule of thumb: an overlay never erases the base zone — it adds special rules. If the overlay is silent on a topic, the underlying district’s standards still apply (e.g., RS defers to R-3 unless modified; CC defers to the underlying zone). See § 4020.40 and § 4065.30 .

Use this page with the broader Maywood zoning & planning overview, the base-district rules in Maywood Zoning, and cross-references to Maywood Development Standards, Maywood Parking, Maywood Design Review, Maywood Nonconforming Uses, and Maywood Variances and Exceptions.

What are Maywood’s overlay districts?

• The ordinance establishes two overlay districts: RS (Residential, Specialty [Overlay]) and CC (Civic Center [Overlay]). See the official list of zones in § 3010.10; mapping is per the adopted zoning map in § 3020.10 .

District-by-District Breakdown

Residential, Specialty (RS) Overlay

Purpose and where it applies

• Purpose: create opportunities for higher-density senior housing near services, with tailored standards to meet accessibility and affordability needs. See § 4020.10 .
• Mapping and density suffix: RS is mapped as an overlay on the zoning map; maximum density is shown as a suffix (e.g., “R3-RS-48”). Where no number is mapped, density is set through Site Plan Review. See § 4020.70 .
• Relationship to base district: unless modified by the RS section, R-3 development standards apply. See § 4020.40 .

Typical permitted uses

• Primary permitted use: senior citizen housing. Other uses follow the underlying zone’s allowance (Appendix A) unless otherwise indicated. See § 4020.20 .
• Note on very low/lower income housing: the ordinance also authorizes non-senior affordable housing in the RS Overlay under the City’s density bonus program; the RS overlay remains primarily for seniors. See § 4025.10 and the policy note directing that § 4025.70 does not exclude senior housing from RS .

Key dimensional and design standards

• Minimum lot: 10,000 sf. See § 4020.50 .
• Lot coverage: up to 70%. See § 4020.60 .
• Maximum density: up to 48 du/ac (mapped suffix governs; otherwise set by Site Plan Review). See § 4020.70 .
• Height: up to 50 ft or 4 stories, whichever is greater. See § 4020.80 .
• Minimum unit sizes: bachelor 350 sf, 1-bed 500 sf, 2-bed 650 sf, 3+ bed 800 sf. See § 4020.90 .
• Medical facilities within a project: limited to 20% of GFA and for residents only. See § 4020.110 .
• Parking: per Chapter 4100, with up to a 20% reduction when justified; an additional 5% reduction allowed with a maintained alternative transportation program for residents (max total reduction 25%). See § 4020.120 .
• Accessibility and amenities: accessible on-site facilities; at least 10% of units adaptable for persons with disabilities; elevators required in buildings over one story; common recreation provided. See § 4020.100(A)–(D) .
  • Note: the 10% adaptable-unit standard references state building standards; coordinate with the California Building Standards Code during design.

Special program inside RS: Planned Unit Development (PUD)

• PUDs are intended to promote integrated, affordable multi-family housing within the RS Overlay, allowing flexible design (e.g., courtyards, shared facilities). See § 5125.10 .
• PUD height transitions: staff/Commission apply guidelines; max heights vary by adjacency — up to 45 ft next to commercial, 35 ft next to R-3, and 50 ft next to RS, limited to half the site depth from each edge; where overlaps occur, the lesser height controls. See § 5125.20 .
• PUD review includes referral to the Design Review Board under the City’s Maywood Design Review process. See § 5125.40 .

Practical siting notes

• Expect Site Plan Review for multi-family and for density setting where no suffix is mapped. See § 4020.70 and § 5120.20 .
• Base R-3 development standards fill any gaps not addressed by RS. See § 4020.40 .

Civic Center (CC) Overlay

Purpose and where it applies

• Purpose: facilitate civic buildings (e.g., City Hall, police/fire, community facilities) where overlaid on base districts. See § 4065.10 and § 4065.20 .
• Relationship to base district: uses allowed in the underlying zone remain allowed; CC expressly permits civic buildings and applies targeted standards. See § 4065.20 and § 4065.30 .

Typical permitted uses

• Underlying zone uses continue; civic buildings for City business (City Hall, police/fire stations, recreation buildings, civic auditoriums) are allowed. See § 4065.20 .

Key dimensional and design standards

• Minimum lot: 10,000 sf for civic uses. See § 4065.40 .
• FAR: up to 0.50 for civic uses. See § 4065.50 .
• Height: civic buildings may reach 3 stories or 45 ft, whichever is greater; all other buildings follow the underlying zone’s height. See § 4065.60 .
• Yards: civic buildings use Commercial (C) yard standards. See § 4065.70 .
• Parking: per Chapter 4100, with up to a 20% reduction supported by demand studies and impact findings. See § 4065.80 .

Practical siting notes

• Because CC defers to the underlying zone for most standards, confirm base-district front/side/rear yards, FAR limits (if any), and use allowances in Maywood Zoning. Commercial yard baselines are in C/CM standards, with citywide Maywood Development Standards applying. See cross-refs in § 4065.30 and commercial standards in § 4030.90–.110 .

Quick-reference standards across overlays

Checklist

• Confirm the site’s base district and whether an RS or CC overlay is mapped on the zoning map; note any RS density suffix (e.g., “R3-RS-48”). See § 3010.10, § 3020.10, § 4020.70 .
• If in RS, verify senior-occupancy qualifications (55+) and recordation requirement; confirm minimum lot area, coverage, density/height, unit sizes, and any medical-facility component. See § 4020.30, § 4020.50–.90, § 4020.110 .
• For RS projects, evaluate eligibility for the PUD path and any adjacency-based height transitions; anticipate referral to the Design Review Board. See § 5125.10–.20, § 5125.40 .
• Calculate parking per Chapter 4100 and document any reduction requests (RS: up to 25% with program; CC: up to 20% with study). See § 4020.120, § 4065.80 and Maywood Parking .
• Apply citywide standards (setbacks/encroachments, performance) from § 4070–§ 4080 where overlays are silent. See Maywood Development Standards .
• If strict compliance is impractical, discuss relief mechanisms early (Administrative Modification/Variance). See Maywood Variances and Exceptions and § 5110 for administrative modifications .
• If an existing use/structure becomes nonconforming due to an overlay, confirm rules under Maywood Nonconforming Uses.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Maywood’s overlays are add-on zoning layers. In the RS overlay, you can build senior housing at higher densities with specific standards (bigger coverage and height, smaller unit sizes, and some parking relief), and you can use a flexible PUD path to fit housing next to different neighbors. In the CC overlay, civic buildings are allowed with their own FAR, height, yard, and parking rules while other projects follow the base zone.

Source References

• Zones established; Zoning Map adoption: § 3010.10, § 3020.10
• RS Overlay purpose, uses, standards (lot size, coverage, density, height, unit sizes, medical facilities, accessibility/amenities, parking): § 4020.10–.120
• Density bonus framework and RS overlay note on non-senior affordable housing: § 4025.10 (and reference to § 4025.70)
• PUD within RS Overlay (intent, guidelines, DRB referral, approval standards): § 5125.10–.50
• CC Overlay purpose, uses, and standards (lot size, FAR, height, yards, parking): § 4065.10–.80
• Citywide development standards cross-references: § 4070–§ 4080 (general applicability)
• Administrative Modification of Standards (relief mechanism): § 5110

Retrieved passages

• Maywood Zoning Code (Section 4100) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 4020.10 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code (Section 4070.90.) Medium relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code (Section 4100) Medium relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code (Section 4070.100.) Medium relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code (Section 5100) Medium relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code (Section 4010) High relevance show source text
• Maywood Zoning Code 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 4100.) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Zones established; Zoning Map adoption: **§ 3010.10**, **§ 3020.10** (§ 3010.10)
• RS Overlay purpose, uses, standards (lot size, coverage, density, height, unit sizes, medical facilities, accessibility/amenities, parking): **§ 4020.10–.120** (§ 4020.10)
• Density bonus framework and RS overlay note on non-senior affordable housing: **§ 4025.10** (and reference to § 4025.70) (§ 4025.10)
• PUD within RS Overlay (intent, guidelines, DRB referral, approval standards): **§ 5125.10–.50** (§ 5125.10)
• CC Overlay purpose, uses, and standards (lot size, FAR, height, yards, parking): **§ 4065.10–.80** (§ 4065.10)
• Citywide development standards cross-references: **§ 4070–§ 4080** (general applicability) (§ 4070)
• Administrative Modification of Standards (relief mechanism): **§ 5110** (§ 5110)
• Maywood_ZoningCode.md

• Official Maywood code library