Palm Desert · Land use · Church or place of worship
Where is a church or other place of worship allowed in Palm Desert?
In Palm Desert, a church or other place of worship is needs a conditional use permit in 10 (RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, PR and 5 more) and not allowed in 7 (Palm Desert use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, PR, OP, PC-2, SI and 2 more
- Not allowed: R-1M, HPR, PC-1, PC-3, PC-4, D and OS
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Palm Desert Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a church or other place of worship can go
Palm Desert's code calls this use “Institution, religious”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| RE | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.10.030 |
| R-1 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.10.030 |
| R-2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.10.030 |
| R-3 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.10.030 |
| PR Planned residential district | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.10.030 |
| OP Office Professional | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.16.030 |
| PC-2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.16.030 |
| SI Service Industrial | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.16.030 |
| DE | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.18.040 |
| P | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.22.030 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- State law: Federal law (RLUIPA) bars zoning rules that treat religious assembly worse than other assembly uses.
- Not covered here: Zone names are not stated in the packet (no zone list). Four matrices: S1 residential RE/R-1/R-2/R-3/R-1M/HPR/PR, S2 commercial/industrial OP/PC-1..PC-4/SI, S3 downtown D/D-O/DE/DE-O, S4 special P/OS.. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Palm Desert
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the RE zone in Palm Desert?
Only with a conditional use permit. Palm Desert's use table lists it that way in RE (§ 25.10.030).
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the R-1M zone in Palm Desert?
No. Palm Desert's use table does not allow it in R-1M (§ 25.10.030).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a church or other place of worship at an address in Palm Desert
Ask GoCodebook what the zoning at a specific address allows and get an answer that cites the section.
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