Red Bluff — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Red Bluff’s zoning ordinance (commonly organized under a Title/Chapter that establishes use districts, combining districts, and maps) divides the city into named districts (residential, commercial, industrial, airport, and public agency) and several combining/overlay districts. The ordinance adopts a single official zoning map and ties district-specific permitted uses and dimensional standards to charts and articles referenced throughout the code. Confirm your parcel’s district on the city zoning map and then read the district column for permitted/conditional uses and the lot-standards charts for setbacks, coverage, and density (§ 25.13, § 25.14, § 25.02.1) .

Note: for site-level parking requirements consult the city’s parking rules; see the city’s parking rules here for procedural context parking (see § 25.09.22 and Article XXIII) .

How the code is organized (quick guide)

• The classes of districts (RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, HR, C-1, C-2, C-3, F-C, HC, M-1, M-2, P-1, A-V, P-A) are listed in the code and each district has a short purpose statement and points to a “zones and permit requirements” or lot-standards chart for the full rules (§ 25.02.1; § 25.06 et seq.) .
• Combining/overlay districts (AA, AG, FP, FW, AZ, MHCA, NFS, NR, OSZ, RPZ, etc.) are set out separately and modify or layer on top of base zones (§ 25.11) . See the city’s overlay descriptions at overlay districts.
• Numerical standards (setbacks, heights, lot area, density, coverage) are shown in the lot-standards charts referenced in the residential, commercial and industrial articles — for residential charts see § 25.53; for industrial see § 25.93; for permit lists see § 25.52 and § 25.92 (§ 25.46–25.49; § 25.86–25.93) .

District-by-district breakdown

Notes on reading these subsections: Where the ordinance supplies a concise purpose statement I quote the intent and cite the exact controlling §. For permitted uses and dimensional specifics the ordinance points you to the code’s charts (§ 25.52, § 25.53, § 25.92, § 25.93); where the numeric table entries were not present in the retrieved materials I mark that as Not found in retrieved materials and point you to the controlling §.

RE — Rural Residential Estates

• Purpose: Lands intended for low-density residential uses where topography, environmental sensitivity, or greenways warrant careful siting (§ 25.40) .
• Typical permitted uses: Low‑density single-family homes and accessory buildings; specific uses are listed under the RE column in the residential permit chart (§ 25.52) .
• Key dimensional rules: Lot-area/density and setbacks follow the residential lot standards chart (§ 25.53). Numeric values: Not found in retrieved materials — verify with § 25.53 and the Community Development Department (§ 25.46–25.48) .
• Where it applies: Areas mapped as “R‑L” on the General Plan land-use diagram and as shown on the zoning map (§ 25.40; § 25.13) .

R-1 — Single-Family Residential

• Purpose: Single-family parcels; applied in subdivisions planned for one dwelling per lot (§ 25.41) .
• Typical permitted uses: Single-family dwellings, accessory buildings, and those uses listed in the R-1 column of § 25.52; ADU rules are governed by the ADU chapter and state ADU law — see ADUs and California ADU law (§ 25.52) .
• Key dimensional rules: See the residential lot standards (setbacks, height, lot coverage) in § 25.53; numeric specifics: Not found in retrieved materials — verify with § 25.53 and the Development Standards (city resolution) .
• Where it applies: All lands mapped R‑1 on the zoning map (and any unmapped lands default to R‑1) (§ 25.13; § 25.16) .

R-2 — Two-Family Residential

• Purpose: Areas where duplex/two-family development is intended (§ 25.42) .
• Typical permitted uses: Duplexes and uses listed in the R-2 column of § 25.52. Numeric site standards: see § 25.53 (§ 25.42) .

R-3 — Neighborhood Apartment

• Purpose: Areas for single or multiple dwelling units in one or more buildings; corresponds to “R-M” general plan land-use designation (§ 25.43) .
• Permitted uses and standards: Listed in § 25.52 and § 25.53 respectively; density maximums and lot area rules appear in those charts (§ 25.46–25.47) .

R-4 — General Apartment

• Purpose: Higher-density apartments and small‑scale professional offices where appropriate; see § 25.44 (§ 25.44) .
• Permitted uses & standards: Refer to the R-4 column in § 25.52 and to § 25.53 for numeric standards.

HR — Historic Residential

• Purpose: Protect historically significant residences and related land uses; intended where historic residences predominate (§ 25.45) .
• Permitted uses: HR column of § 25.52; development in HR will commonly trigger historic review — see Historic Preservation and the HR-specific rules (§ 25.45) .

C-1, C-2, C-3 — Neighborhood / Central / General Commercial

• Purpose: Incrementally broader commercial districts from neighborhood-serving (C-1) to general commercial (C-3); each district points to the commercial permit chart and commercial lot standards (§ 25.02.1; articles for commercial zones) .
• Typical permitted uses: Retail, service businesses, offices — see the commercial chart in § 25.52 for the precise allowed/conditional designations. Design-review and signage rules apply; see design review and signage (§ 25.09.28; Article on signs) .

F‑C — Freeway‑oriented Commercial; HC — Historic Commercial

• Purpose & uses: F‑C accommodates highway-oriented retail/auto‑oriented uses; HC protects and manages commercial historic areas. Permitted uses and any special allowances are in the commercial permit chart (§ 25.52) and in the HC/Historic articles §§ 25.?? (See the HC references in the commercial permit rules) .

M‑1 / M‑2 — Light and General Industrial

• Purpose: Industrial/manufacturing and related uses; P‑I is a planned industrial park designation (§ 25.09 series) .
• Typical permitted uses: The industrial permit chart lists uses. The code includes a detailed industrial use table that explicitly lists many uses (including cannabis-related uses and accessory uses) and indicates whether they are Permitted (P) or Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in M‑1, M‑2, and P‑I (§ 25.92) — see the industrial uses table for examples such as testing labs and distributors (some cannabis uses are listed as P or P* depending on zone) (§ 25.92) .
• Key dimensional rules: Industrial lot standards, setbacks, heights, landscape requirements are in § 25.93 and referenced in §§ 25.86–25.91 (§ 25.86–25.91) .

A‑V — Airport District and P‑A — Public Agency

• Purpose: Airport-related districts (A‑V) reflect lands near the airport; public streets/alleys are designated P‑A automatically per the map rules (§ 25.13(A) and § 25.02.1) .
• Combining airport safety overlays such as AZ (approach zone), OSZ, and RPZ are described in the combining district list and must be checked for airport-related constraints (§ 25.11) .

Quick reference table (decision-relevant summary)

(For the full, parcel‑specific permitted/conditional lists and numeric setback/height/coverage values consult § 25.52, § 25.53, § 25.92, § 25.93 in the ordinance; many sections point to tables rather than printing numbers inline) .

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy before developing

• Confirm the parcel's current zoning on the official zoning map and any combining overlays (§ 25.13) .
• Verify permitted vs conditional uses in the appropriate chart (residential/commercial/industrial) — see § 25.52 and § 25.92 (§ 25.52; § 25.92) .
• Check lot standards (minimum lot area, setbacks, heights, coverage, FAR if used) in § 25.53 (residential) or § 25.93 (industrial) — numeric details: Verify with the code charts (§ 25.53; § 25.93) .
• Confirm parking requirements per Article XXIII (off‑street parking); see the parking rules parking and § 25.09.22 .
• Determine whether design review applies and follow the design-review submittal (see design review and district design-review callouts such as § 25.09.30) .
• Check overlays (floodplain, airport, RPZ) and any restrictions; overlays are listed in § 25.11 and can trigger additional standards (overlay districts) .
• For signage, follow the City of Red Bluff Development Standards and the sign articles; see signage and § 25.09.28 .
• If proposing an ADU, follow city ADU rules and state ADU law — see ADUs and California ADU law. If a use permit or variance is needed, apply per the processes in Article IV (§ 25.18–25.25) .
• If the site is within a historic district or involves a historic resource, consult the historic preservation rules and likely design review (Historic Preservation).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Red Bluff’s zoning code names specific base zones (for example R‑1, C‑2, M‑1) and overlay/combing districts; the ordinance adopts a formal zoning map and points users to district tables for permitted/conditional uses and to lot‑standards charts for setbacks, heights, density, and parking. For any project you must: identify your parcel’s zone and overlays, read the district column in § 25.52/§ 25.92, check the numeric lot standards in § 25.53/§ 25.93, and confirm whether design review, a use permit, or an overlay constraint applies (§ 25.13; § 25.52; § 25.53) .

Source References

• § 25.02.1 — Classes of districts (lists RE, R‑1, R‑2, R‑3, R‑4, HR, C‑1, C‑2, C‑3, F‑C, HC, M‑1, M‑2, P‑1, A‑V, P‑A) .
• § 25.11 — Additional combining districts (AA, AG, AZ, FP, FW, MHCA, NFS, NR, OSZ, RPZ) .
• § 25.13 / § 25.14 / § 25.16 — Zoning map adoption, boundaries, and default to R‑1 for unmapped lands .
• § 25.39–25.53 — Residential district intents, permit references, and lot standards (see especially § 25.40–25.45 and § 25.52–25.53) .
• § 25.86–25.93 — Industrial district standards and the industrial permit table (cannabis entries and examples appear in § 25.92) .
• § 25.137–25.146 — Planned development use permits and procedures, site area and density rules for PDs .
• § 25.09.22 / § 25.09.28 / § 25.09.30 — Off‑street parking reference to Article XXIII, signage reference to City Development Standards, and district design-review applicability .
• City resource pages for procedural/context links: Red Bluff zoning & planning overview, Red Bluff Land Use, Red Bluff Development Standards, Red Bluff Parking, Red Bluff Design Review, Red Bluff Overlay Districts, Red Bluff Historic Preservation, Red Bluff Signage, Red Bluff ADUs, California Building Standards Code — linked where those topics are first discussed above.

Retrieved passages

• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.14.1) High relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (chapter for) High relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.14.3) High relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (chapter and) High relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.06.1) High relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (Section 25.137) High relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.02.2) High relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.199) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• § 25.02.1 — Classes of districts (lists **RE, R‑1, R‑2, R‑3, R‑4, HR, C‑1, C‑2, C‑3, F‑C, HC, M‑1, M‑2, P‑1, A‑V, P‑A**) . (§ 25.02.1)
• § 25.11 — Additional combining districts (AA, AG, AZ, FP, FW, MHCA, NFS, NR, OSZ, RPZ) . (§ 25.11)
• § 25.13 / § 25.14 / § 25.16 — Zoning map adoption, boundaries, and default to **R‑1** for unmapped lands . (§ 25.13)
• § 25.39–25.53 — Residential district intents, permit references, and lot standards (see especially § 25.40–25.45 and § 25.52–25.53) . (§ 25.39)
• § 25.86–25.93 — Industrial district standards and the industrial permit table (cannabis entries and examples appear in § 25.92) . (§ 25.86)
• § 25.137–25.146 — Planned development use permits and procedures, site area and density rules for PDs . (§ 25.137)
• § 25.09.22 / § 25.09.28 / § 25.09.30 — Off‑street parking reference to Article XXIII, signage reference to City Development Standards, and district design-review applicability . (§ 25.09.22)
• City resource pages for procedural/context links: Red Bluff zoning & planning overview, Red Bluff Land Use, Red Bluff Development Standards, Red Bluff Parking, Red Bluff Design Review, Red Bluff Overlay Districts, Red Bluff Historic Preservation, Red Bluff Signage, Red Bluff ADUs, California Building Standards Code — linked where those topics are first discussed above.
• RedBluff_ZoningCode.md

• Official Red Bluff code library