San Dimas — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the San Dimas zoning and planning ordinance actually says about land use: allowed and conditional uses, the city's specific-plan areas, principal zoning districts, key dimensional/property standards, and where to look for discretionary review. The city's zoning ordinance is codified as Title 18; for the city's general zoning menu see San Dimas Zoning. The guidance below stays strictly to the local ordinance text and points you to the exact controlling code sections for verification.

How to read this page

• District names, numeric standards and the code sections you need to check are shown in bold.
• Links below are the city's internal topic pages you will likely need while applying (parking, development standards, design review, overlays, ADUs, and the state building code) and are placed the first time each related topic is mentioned in context.

District-by-district breakdown

Note: the San Dimas code uses conventional zones (residential, public/semi-public, industrial) and several city-specific Specific Plans that replace or refine base zoning within their boundaries. Where available the ordinance gives the legal purpose, permitted/conditional uses, location, and key dimensional or development standards.

Specific Plan — Area I (Commercial Neighborhood)

• Purpose: provide an attractively developed neighborhood commercial entry and downtown edge. § 18.544.100.
• Typical permitted uses: retail commercial, office and service businesses; restaurants (including take‑out); financial institutions (including drive‑thru); off‑sales of alcoholic beverages permitted as an accessory use to primary retail (§ 18.544.110) .
• Key dimensional / design standards:
  • Setbacks: along East Bonita Ave and San Dimas Canyon Rd — 15 ft minimum for structures up to 20 ft tall; 40 ft for structures over 20 ft and within 50 ft of ROW (§ 18.544.210) .
  • Max height: 35 ft unless taller approved via conditional use permit (§ 18.544.220) .
  • Landscape: minimum 10% landscaped coverage of the lot; street setback landscaping (min 20 ft from curb face) is required along certain frontages (§ 18.544.230) . See San Dimas Development Standards for how these interact with general standards.
• Where it applies: the Specific Plan map shows Area I boundaries; uses must be in substantial conformance with the specific plan maps and text (§ 18.544.090–110) .

Specific Plan — Area II (High Residential / Multi‑family)

• Purpose: allow higher‑density multiple‑family residential up to 30 dwelling units per acre (apartments, condos, townhomes) (§ 18.544.300) .
• Permitted uses: apartments, condominiums, townhomes, and noncommercial open space/recreation (§ 18.544.310) .
• Key dimensional standards: building setbacks and other property development standards are spelled out under the Area II development standards and must also comply with the general property development standards in Article VI (§ 18.544.340–380) .
• Where: Area II is bounded by East Bonita Ave and San Dimas Canyon Rd (see the Specific Plan exhibits) (§ 18.544.290) .

Specific Plan — Area III (Mixed Use / Highway Commercial Center)

• Purpose & allowed uses differ by specific plan; for example, certain Specific Plan chapters list permitted industrial/commercial uses for Area II of that plan and a separate Area III for highway/commercial centers. See the particular specific plan chapter for the accurate list; e.g., Area III of Specific Plan No. 18 lists permitted and conditional uses in its Article IV (§ 18.530.100–120) .

Specific Plan No. 17 — Service Station Area

• Purpose: permit an aesthetically controlled service station and limited accessory commercial uses (§ 18.528.050) .
• Permitted use: service station with the development standards of the chapter (§ 18.528.050(A)) .
• Conditional uses (examples): convenience stores accessory to gas station and accessory sale of beer/wine with CUP; many retail uses (food markets, pharmacies) are explicitly prohibited (§ 18.528.050(B–C)) .
• Key development standards: 25 ft landscaped building/parking setback from San Dimas Ave and Via Verde; building height limits typically 20 ft in Area I (exceptions limited) (§ 18.528.090(C–D)) .

Industrial Park — I‑P (Industrial Park)

• Purpose: low‑impact industrial uses emphasizing research & development, fabrication, and administrative facilities in a landscaped campus setting (§ 18.508.110) .
• Typical permitted uses: the I‑P allows research & development, electromechanical/electronic manufacturing, precision machine shops, assembly tied to on‑site R&D, administrative/professional/medical offices as accessory functions (§ 18.508.080(A) and related lists) .
• Accessory uses: cafeterias, auditoriums, restaurants (as accessory), and accessory massage in certain medical offices (§ 18.508.080(B)) .
• Conditional uses: animal hospitals/research, chemical labs, heliports, certain manufacturing, tasting rooms, outdoor uses ancillary to permitted activities (CUP required) (§ 18.508.080(C)) .
• Dimensional controls & site design: maximum height 35 ft unless CUP; max ground coverage 50%; setbacks and landscape buffers are specified by parcel and Covina Blvd frontage standards (§ 18.508.120(D–E)) .

Public / Semi‑Public — PS

• Purpose: protect and designate public and semipublic land (government agencies, libraries, fire stations, civic centers, utility facilities, parks) and allow joint public/private opportunities (§ 18.132.010) .
• Permitted uses: a broad list including public uses, governmental maintenance yards, water reservoirs, parking facilities, parks, wireless communication facilities (subject to Chapter 18.150) and certain accessory uses (§ 18.132.020(B)) .
• Special rules: most uses must be contained within enclosed buildings unless specifically allowed; emergency shelters have programmatic limits (e.g., 12 beds max, parking to Chapter 18.156) (§ 18.132.020(B)(12)) .

Specific Plan No. 24 (Commercial / Light Industrial Redevelopment)

• Location: bounded by the 210 Freeway and Lone Hill Ave; the plan area is approx 26.5 acres (§ 18.540.030–040) .
• Uses: generally commercial and industrial as designated in the general plan; the chapter states that uses not expressly provided are not permitted without a director determination (§ 18.540.040(G)) .
• Process: all projects in the Specific Plan area are subject to state specific‑plan procedures and CEQA review (§ 18.540.040(C, G)) .

Residential Zones (city lists)

• The municipal code treats residential zones collectively in Chapter 18.20: SF, SFA, SFDR, SFH, AL, MFD, MF, MF30, MF‑D are defined as "residential zones" (§ 18.20.010) .
• Permitted residential uses and accessory uses are controlled by those zone chapters and specific plans that permit residential (including live/work in certain areas) (§ 18.140.090(A) for specific plan mixed‑use Area 3) .
• ADUs and state‑mandated by‑right multi‑family rules: the code references state law and provides that certain multi‑family developments are allowed “by‑right” pursuant to Government Code § 65583.2; for specifics about ADUs consult the San Dimas ADUs page and California ADU law (§ 18.508.080(A)(16) indicates state‑law conformity) .

Overlay Districts — Scenic Highway Overlay (SHO)

• Application: properties adjacent to designated scenic highways receive the SHO overlay appended to the base zone (e.g., C‑H(SHO)) (§ 18.108.030) .
• Key overlay standards: special setbacks (e.g., Foothill Blvd 25 ft, Via Verde 50 ft in many locations), underground utilities, landscaping to protect visual appearance, and building siting to preserve views (§ 18.108.040) .

Quick reference table — decision‑relevant permitted uses & standards

Process notes & discretionary review

• Development plan review or design review is required for most non‑single‑family developments; the application contents are listed in the development plan review rules (site plan, elevations, parking, landscape, circulation) (§ 18.12.030) — consult San Dimas Design Review when preparing submittals.
• Conditional uses require a CUP (see Chapter 18.200) and many specific plans list uses allowed only as conditional; director determinations of similarity are appealable under the code (§ 18.192.040 mentions the director authority). Not every use is automatically covered — see the specific plan text for the area you are in.

While the zoning ordinance governs land use and discretionary review, building construction standards remain in the California Building Standards Code (Title 24); the local specific plans also require compliance with those codes. Link to the California Building Standards Code for construction‑level questions. (Not covered here: Title 24 specifics.)

Also note parking requirements are governed by the city's parking chapter (see San Dimas Parking and Chapter 18.156) and the specific plan chapters frequently cross‑reference those standards (e.g., Area I parking rate: 1 space / 225 sf of gross floor area) (§ 18.544.280) .

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

• Verify the parcel's base zone or specific‑plan designation on the official zoning map (§ 18.16.010).
• Confirm the proposed use is listed as permitted or conditional in the applicable chapter/area text (specific plan or zone chapter) — if conditional, prepare CUP materials (§ 18.544.110, § 18.508.080(C)).
• Prepare a development plan package per § 18.12.030 (site plan, elevations, parking layout, landscaping, drainage, signage) and submit with fees.
• Comply with dimensional standards: setbacks, height, lot coverage and landscaping percentages as specified in the area chapter (e.g., 15 ft / 40 ft setbacks, 35 ft heights for Area I; 25 ft setback for service station area).
• Meet parking / loading standards from Chapter 18.156 and any specific plan parking ratios (e.g., 1 space / 225 sf in Area I) — see San Dimas Parking.
• Meet landscaping & screening requirements (minimum landscaped area, setbacks, screening of parking) — see the area chapter and San Dimas Development Standards (§ 18.544.230).
• If within an overlay (e.g., SHO), apply the overlay setbacks and undergrounding/landscaping requirements (§ 18.108.040).
• If the director must make a similarity determination for an unspecified use, be prepared to document operational characteristics (traffic, hours, noise) for the finding; planning commission appeals are permitted (§ 18.192.040 referenced throughout).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

San Dimas governs land use through Title 18: each parcel is either in a base zone (residential, I‑P, PS, etc.) or in a Specific Plan area that replaces base rules; permitted versus conditional uses and concrete dimensional rules (setbacks, heights, coverage, landscaping, parking) are spelled out in the specific chapter for that zone or plan. Always check the specific plan chapter for your site (for example § 18.544 for the downtown specific plan and § 18.528 for the service station area) because that text controls what you can build and what review is required.

Source References

• Zoning ordinance definition and general rules: § 18.14. and definitions (Title 18) — zoning is codified as Title 18.
• Downtown Specific Plan (Areas I–III): § 18.544.090–380 (Area I permitted uses, setbacks, height, landscaping; Area II residential rules; parking standards)
• Specific Plan No. 17 (San Dimas & Via Verde) — service station area: § 18.528.030–090 (uses, setbacks, height)
• Specific Plan No. 18 (corporate business park / Area II uses): § 18.530.100–120 (permitted / conditional / prohibited uses listings)
• Industrial Park (I‑P) zone uses and standards: § 18.508.080–120 (permitted/accessory/conditional uses; property development standards)
• Public / Semi‑Public zone: § 18.132.010–020 (purposes, permitted uses, emergency shelter rules)
• Scenic Highway Overlay (SHO): § 18.108.030–040 (overlay application and special yards/requirements)
• Development plan review requirements and application contents: § 18.12.030 (what to submit) — see San Dimas Design Review for procedural steps.
• Parking references and Area I parking ratio: § 18.544.280 and Chapter 18.156 (parking chapter) — see San Dimas Parking.
• Specific Plan No. 24 general notes and applicability: § 18.540.030–040 (location, uses, CEQA notes)
• Residential zone applicability: § 18.20.010 (list of residential zones) and specific plan mixed‑use Area 3 rules: § 18.140.090(A).

If you need the exact language of any cited § above, the municipal code (Title 18) contains the full chapter text and exhibits; specific‑plan exhibit maps are on file with the city clerk as described in the specific plan chapters (verify exhibit numbers for parcel boundaries).

Retrieved passages

• San Dimas Zoning Code (§ 1B) High relevance show source text
• San Dimas Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• San Dimas Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• CPC § 1 (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• San Dimas Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• San Dimas Zoning Code (§ 795.4) High relevance show source text
• San Dimas Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• San Dimas Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Zoning ordinance definition and general rules: **§ 18.14.** and definitions (Title 18) — zoning is codified as Title 18. (§ 18.14.)
• Downtown Specific Plan (Areas I–III): **§ 18.544.090–380** (Area I permitted uses, setbacks, height, landscaping; Area II residential rules; parking standards) (§ 18.544.090)
• Specific Plan No. 17 (San Dimas & Via Verde) — service station area: **§ 18.528.030–090** (uses, setbacks, height) (§ 18.528.030)
• Specific Plan No. 18 (corporate business park / Area II uses): **§ 18.530.100–120** (permitted / conditional / prohibited uses listings) (§ 18.530.100)
• Industrial Park (I‑P) zone uses and standards: **§ 18.508.080–120** (permitted/accessory/conditional uses; property development standards) (§ 18.508.080)
• Public / Semi‑Public zone: **§ 18.132.010–020** (purposes, permitted uses, emergency shelter rules) (§ 18.132.010)
• Scenic Highway Overlay (SHO): **§ 18.108.030–040** (overlay application and special yards/requirements) (§ 18.108.030)
• Development plan review requirements and application contents: **§ 18.12.030** (what to submit) — see San Dimas Design Review for procedural steps. (§ 18.12.030)
• Parking references and Area I parking ratio: **§ 18.544.280** and Chapter **18.156** (parking chapter) — see San Dimas Parking. (§ 18.544.280)
• Specific Plan No. 24 general notes and applicability: **§ 18.540.030–040** (location, uses, CEQA notes) (§ 18.540.030)
• Residential zone applicability: **§ 18.20.010** (list of residential zones) and specific plan mixed‑use Area 3 rules: **§ 18.140.090(A)**. (§ 18.20.010)
• SanDimas_ZoningCode.md

• Official San Dimas code library