Pomona — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Pomona's Zoning & Development Code (the local Land Development Ordinances) regulates about land use: how uses are classified and permitted, the city’s allowed-use matrix, when a conditional use is required, and how form/dimensional rules interact with use permissions. The primary rules for permitted and conditional uses are in § 520 (Allowed Uses) and the Use Module intents in § 510; the process for conditional approvals is in § 1160.D.

Note: parking, design review, overlays, and ADUs are referenced here where they affect land-use decisions — see the inline links on first mention for those topics.

How Pomona organizes land use rules (short)

• Uses are organized by Use Modules (district-like categories such as R1, RX1, CX1, CX2, CX3, CX4, CX5, IX1, I1–I3, P1–P2, OS1–OS2) — intents and scale limits are in § 510.
• The definitive Allowed Use Table (what is P, C, or not allowed in each module) is in § 520.C (Allowed Use Table); use-specific standards live in § 540 and definitions in § 530.
• Dimensional controls (height, setbacks, coverage, building width) are set by Form and Frontage Modules in Part 3 (Subpart 3B) — see building coverage § 370, setbacks § 370.C, and building width/height rules § 390 and the specific Form Modules (e.g., § 320, § 330, § 350).

(First mentions: parking, development standards, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, California Building Standards Code are linked inline.)

• See Pomona zoning & planning overview for context, Pomona Zoning for the code menu, Pomona Development Standards for Dimensional/Form modules, Pomona Parking for parking requirements, Pomona Design Review for architectural/site review process, Pomona Overlay Districts for overlays that alter uses, Pomona ADUs for accessory dwelling unit rules, and the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) for building-code matters.

District-by-district (Use Module) breakdown

Below each Use Module is a plain-English synthesis of: purpose, typical permitted uses (decision-relevant examples), key use limits that come directly from the code, and where dimensional rules are found. Always verify the actual parcel’s applied Form/Frontage Module on the zoning map — measuring standards come from those Form Modules (Part 3).

Note: the official matrix showing permitted (P) vs conditional (C) uses is the Allowed Use Table in § 520.C; the table below highlights the decision-relevant entries and cites the code.

R1 (Residential 1)

• Purpose: accommodate a wide variety of housing types in a predominantly residential setting. § 510.A.
• Typical permitted uses: Dwelling Unit (P), accessory residential uses (see § 550), family day care (often with standards). See Allowed Use Table § 520.C for full list.
• Key use rules: most household living is permitted by-right; other nonresidential uses are generally not allowed or are conditional. Use interpretation rules apply if a proposed use is not listed — the Development Services Director determines similarity per § 530.
• Dimensional / where it applies: setbacks, coverage and height are set by the applied Form Module (often House modules such as HN1 — see § 320 for House Narrow examples, building coverage rules § 370, and setbacks § 370.C). Example: HN1 shows typical max height 2.5 stories / 32 ft and max building coverage around 45% in the module illustration.

RX1 (Residential-Mixed 1)

• Purpose: residential with limited office uses for neighborhood-serving mixed uses § 510.B.
• Typical permitted uses: dwelling units (P), limited office and small-scale live/work (often P or P*), subject to use standards § 540. See § 520.C.
• Key limits: many non-residential uses are limited in size (use-module establishment size caps described in § 510 — e.g., CX modules below list commercial size caps). Dimensional controls from Form Modules apply (see § 370, § 390).

CX1 (Commercial-Mixed 1)

• Purpose: small-scale neighborhood commercial (ground-floor establishments generally up to 2,000 sq ft) and housing mixes § 510.C.
• Typical permitted uses: neighborhood retail and services, small restaurants, short-term rentals with standards (P*). Larger commercial uses are conditional or not allowed — see § 520.C for which uses require a Conditional Use Permit (§ 1160.D).
• Dimensional: building form and height are determined by the applied Form Module; commercial tenant-size limit is a key use control in § 510.C.

CX2 (Commercial-Mixed 2)

• Purpose: supports broader neighborhood and visitor-serving uses (ground-story commercial up to 5,000 sq ft) § 510.D.
• Typical permitted uses: wider range of retail, offices, small civic uses; hotels/motels often require conditional approval (see § 520.C).

CX3 (Commercial-Mixed 3)

• Purpose: allows still-larger ground-floor commercial (typical ground-story cap 10,000 sq ft) and mixed housing § 510.E.
• Typical permitted uses: medium-scale commercial, some public facilities, and mixed-use buildings; certain high-intensity uses need a CUP. See § 520.C and related use standards § 540.

CX4 / CX5

• Purpose and use-intents progressively allow larger commercial establishments and broader mixes. See § 510 and the Allowed Use Table (§ 520.C) for where uses become permitted vs conditional.

IX1, I1–I3 (Industrial / Industrial-Mixed)

• Purpose: industrial and production uses; IX1 is mixed industrial, I1–I3 increase in intensity. See § 510 and production use definitions (Part 5 / § 540.F).
• Typical permitted uses: production, artisan manufacturing, warehouses and distribution are permitted in industrial modules (often P or P*), while heavy or waste-oriented industrial uses may be conditional or limited to specific industrial modules per § 520.C.

P1–P2 (Public / Institutional)

• Purpose: public/civic campus-style uses. Many civic uses are permitted or conditional depending on size and campus format — refer to § 520.C.

OS1–OS2 (Open Space)

• Purpose: urban and private open spaces; OS2 intended to protect natural resources and passive recreation on private parkland. Uses like nature reserves and public open space are allowed per § 520.C and OS2 description in § 510.

Quick decision table — high-value, frequently needed references

Practical guidance / synthesis (plain-English)

• Start with the Allowed Use Table in § 520.C to see whether your proposed use is P (by-right), C (requires CUP), or not allowed in the property’s Use Module — that matrix is the first decision filter.
• If the table shows P: confirm that your proposed size, accessory elements, and any starred use standards (the * symbol) are met (standards live in § 540).
• If the table shows C: you must obtain a Conditional Use Permit and the approving authority must make the findings listed in § 1160.D; expect conditions to address scale, parking, noise, and site design.
• Dimensional questions (setbacks, height, coverage) are set by the Form Module applied to the parcel — the Use Module controls what goes on the land, and the Form Module controls how buildings are sized/placed. See § 370 and § 390 for measurement rules and relief/variance pathways.
• Overlays (for example, the Fairplex Overlay (-F) and cannabis overlays) can change whether a use is allowed or add extra requirements; always check overlay notes in the Allowed Use Table and the overlay sections § 820 / § 830.

Practical cross-checks: confirm whether the use triggers specific use standards in § 540 (food & beverage alcohol rules, EV charging, manufacturing size limits, etc.), whether an overlay applies, and what Form Module governs the dimension rules for your lot.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy before proposing a land-use change)

• Consult the Allowed Use Table (§ 520.C) to confirm permitted/conditional status for the property’s Use Module.
• If the use is not listed, request a Similar Use determination under § 530.
• If the use is C, prepare a Conditional Use Permit application addressing the findings required by § 1160.D.
• Confirm the parcel’s applied Form/Frontage Module (zoning map) and check the Form Module dimensional standards: coverage § 370, setbacks § 370.C, building width/height § 390 (and the specific Form Module pages).
• Check overlay districts that may alter permissions (e.g., -F, -C, -S) — see Overlay sections and the Allowed Use Table notes.
• Review use-specific standards in § 540 (food & beverage, manufacturing, EVCS, etc.) and plan to meet starred-use requirements (shown as * in the matrix).
• Determine parking obligations early (see Pomona Parking); note ADU parking exceptions in § 830.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary (for a homeowner)

Pomona’s zoning code groups parcels into Use Modules (like R1 for mostly homes or CX1 for neighborhood shops). The Allowed Use Table in § 520.C tells you whether a use is allowed by-right (P), needs the Planning Commission’s approval (C), or is prohibited; dimensional rules (how tall or close to the lot line you can build) come from the Form Module assigned to the parcel — check both before you design anything.

Source References

• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Use Modules and intents: § 510.
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Allowed Uses and the Allowed Use Table: § 520 / § 520.C.
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Use Definitions and similarity/determination procedures: § 530.
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Use Standards (starred standards referenced in matrix): § 540.
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Conditional Use Permit procedures and findings: § 1160.D.
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Building coverage and setbacks: § 370 and § 370.C.
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Building width and related form rules: § 390.
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Form Modules examples (House Narrow HN1 § 320, Low-Rise Medium LM1 § 330, Special/Mid-Rise § 350).
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Accessory Dwelling Unit rules (ADUs): § 830.
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Overlays (Fairplex -F, Cannabis -C, SB330 -S) referenced in overlay sections § 820/overlay notes in the Use Table.

Information Gaps / Things not found in retrieved materials

• The parcel-specific mapping showing which Use Module and Form Module is applied to each address (the zoning map) is not contained in the retrieved file text here. Verify with the City’s official zoning map or the Development Services Department. Not found in retrieved materials.
• The full image version of the Allowed Use Table (visual matrix) was omitted in the file excerpts; consult § 520.C in the official code for the complete matrix.

Retrieved passages

• Pomona Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Pomona Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Pomona Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Pomona Zoning Code (Section 21000) High relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Pomona Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Pomona Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Pomona Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Pomona Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Pomona Zoning Code (section prohibits) High relevance show source text
• Pomona Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Pomona Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
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Cited sections

• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Use Modules and intents: **§ 510**. (§ 510)
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Allowed Uses and the Allowed Use Table: **§ 520** / **§ 520.C**. (§ 520)
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Use Definitions and similarity/determination procedures: **§ 530**. (§ 530)
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Use Standards (starred standards referenced in matrix): **§ 540**. (§ 540)
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Conditional Use Permit procedures and findings: **§ 1160.D**. (§ 1160.D)
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Building coverage and setbacks: **§ 370** and **§ 370.C**. (§ 370)
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Building width and related form rules: **§ 390**. (§ 390)
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Form Modules examples (House Narrow HN1 **§ 320**, Low-Rise Medium LM1 **§ 330**, Special/Mid-Rise **§ 350**). (§ 320)
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Accessory Dwelling Unit rules (ADUs): **§ 830**. (§ 830)
• Pomona Zoning & Development Code — Overlays (Fairplex -F, Cannabis -C, SB330 -S) referenced in overlay sections **§ 820**/overlay notes in the Use Table. (§ 820)
• Pomona_ZoningCode.md

• Official Pomona code library