Selma — Development Standards

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page extracts and explains the City of Selma's local zoning development standards (setbacks, height, lot coverage, density rules and related controls) from the Selma Zoning Ordinance (Title XI). It focuses only on what the municipal code requires for site development and dimensional control — not building code, permitting procedure, or tenant/housing law. Where the code text is silent, the entry notes the gap and flags items to verify with the City. See the ordinance for full legal text § 11-1.1 .

Note: the code organizes most numeric development standards in district tables and a chapter called Development Standards; the tables repeatedly instruct to “See Section 11‑3‑1 (Development Standards)” (or variants shown in the code as § 11-3.1 / § 11-3-1) for controlling measurement rules and projections .

Important internal links (first natural mention only): development and dimensional topics here reference Selma’s zoning overview, land-use, parking, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, landscaping and screening, and the California Building Standards Code.

How the ordinance structures "Development Standards"

• The code defines “development standard” including height, setback, floor‑area ratio (FAR), lot coverage and parking requirements § 11‑4.10 style definitions appear in the ordinance glossary and density-bonus chapter; the zoning tables direct users to a central Development Standards section for measurement rules .
• Numeric limits for each zoning district are given in the district development tables (examples: Table 2‑6, Table 2‑10, Table 3‑7) and are cross‑referenced to § 11‑3.1 / § 11‑3‑1 (Development Standards) for measurement/projection rules and exceptions .

Where the page says “See” it is pointing you to the controlling code text; always verify specific parcel questions with the City.

District-by-district breakdown

Note: numeric standards below are quoted from the district development tables in the Selma Zoning Code; each numeric item is controlled by the Development Standards article and the district tables (see the cited § references and the code excerpts) .

R‑1 (Single‑Family Residential variants: R-1-12, R-1-9, R-1-7, R-1-4)

• Purpose / typical uses: Intended for detached single‑family homes; accessory uses allowed per district and ADU rules. See district permitted‑uses tables (Table references in the code) and objective design standards for larger subdivisions § 11‑1.1 .
• Key dimensional standards (examples pulled from each R‑1 variant):
  • Minimum Lot Size: R-1-12 = 12,000 sq ft, R-1-9 = 7,000 sq ft, R-1-7 = 5,000 sq ft, R-1-4 = 4,000 sq ft (district tables) — see § 11‑3.1 .
  • Maximum Building Height: 35 ft in R‑1 variants; Maximum accessory building height = 16 ft — see § 11‑3.1 .
  • Minimum Yards: Typical front yard 15–35 ft (varies by R‑1 subzone and by whether the measurement is to living space or garage), side yards 4–10 ft (corner street side often 10–15 ft; garage/carport exceptions), rear yard 10 ft — see § 11‑3.1 .
  • Max Lot Coverage: typical 40% for R‑1 variants (table entries) — see § 11‑3.1 .
• Where it applies: established single‑family neighborhoods and new single‑family subdivisions unless overlaid by a combining zone. See the Code’s R‑1 tables and objective design standards for projects of 10+ units .

Practical guidance: front‑setback depth in R‑1s varies if a porch/garage is involved — check the district table entry and the measurement rule in § 11‑3.1 before preparing plans.

R‑2 / R‑2‑A (Lower‑density multi‑family)

• Purpose / uses: duplexes, small multi‑family developments and typical residential uses listed in the multi‑family permitted‑use tables (see Table 2‑6) .
• Key dimensional standards:
  • Minimum Lot Size: 6,000 sq ft (R‑2 / R‑2‑A) — see § 11‑3.1 .
  • Minimum Lot Dimensions: typical widths 60 ft with deeper depth requirements and special widths for corner/reverse corner/cul‑de‑sac lots — see § 11‑3.1 .
  • Max Lot Coverage: 40% (Table 2‑6) — see § 11‑3.1 .
  • Max Building Height: 45 ft noted in the multi‑family table (refer back to Development Standards for projections) — see § 11‑3‑1 .
  • Setbacks: front yard 20 ft or 25% of lot depth whichever is less, side yards interior 5 ft (multi‑story 10 ft), rear 10 ft; greater setbacks apply where lots back onto freeway/railroad — see § 11‑3‑1 .
• Where it applies: corridors and neighborhoods planned for small multifamily projects; check multi‑family objective standards for open‑space / separation rules .

Note on multi‑story: when adjacent to single‑family zones, additional yard spacing and design articulation rules apply (see multi‑family objective standards) .

R‑3 / R‑3‑A and R‑4 (Higher‑density residential)

• Purpose / uses: medium to higher‑density multi‑family housing; R‑4 permits the highest residential intensity (and mixed‑use footprints where allowed).
• Key dimensional standards (from Table entries):
  • Minimum Lot Size: R‑3 = 8,000 sq ft, R‑4 = 10,000 sq ft (Table 2‑10) — see § 11‑3.1 .
  • Maximum Lot Coverage: R‑3 = 55% (with stated exceptions); R‑4 = 65% (code allows Community Development Director discretion for exceedances; see notes) — see § 11‑3.1 .
  • Maximum Building Height: R‑3 typically 35 ft (height exceedance may require CUP); R‑4 up to 45 ft — see § 11‑3.1 and cross‑references to Conditional Use Permit rules § 11‑6.7 .
  • Accessory building height: 16 ft across multi‑family zones — see § 11‑3.1 .
• Where it applies: areas slated for multifamily redevelopment or where the General Plan supports increased density; density bonus rules (Chapter 11‑4.10) can increase allowable density and relax some standards when conditions are met .

Practical guidance: R‑3 projects seeking extra height rely on CUP authority; review § 11‑6.7 and the Development Standards table before assuming higher building envelopes .

C zones (Commercial) — C‑1, C‑2 (brief)

• Purpose / uses: neighborhood and community commercial uses; permitted uses and special requirements listed in the commercial permitted‑use tables (see the code’s Tables in Chapter 2). Numeric standards for commercial lots default to the Development Standards article or specific district tables — see § 11‑3.1 and the commercial tables (Table references in the code) .
• Typical controls to check: front/side/rear setbacks (often reduced in downtown or mixed‑use contexts), signage rules (see the Signage chapter), parking and loading standards (see the Off‑Street Parking chapter) .

M‑1 / M‑2 (Industrial / Manufacturing)

• Purpose / uses: light (M‑1) and general industrial (M‑2) uses, with special rules when adjacent to residential areas.
• Key dimensional standards from Table 3‑7:
  • Minimum lot size: 10,000 sq ft (both M‑1 and M‑2) — see § 11‑3.1 .
  • Maximum lot coverage: M‑1 = 80%, M‑2 = 90% — see § 11‑3.1 .
  • Maximum building height: 45 ft typical — see § 11‑3.1 .
  • Landscape yard setbacks: 20 ft adjacent to arterials and 10 ft for collectors/local streets; additional screening and walls required where industries abut residences or rail lines — see § 11‑3.1 and Additional Regulations .
• Where it applies: industrially‑zoned parcels, with extra landscape and screening obligations when adjoining residential zones.

Mobile Home Park standards (separate table)

• The code contains a dedicated Mobile Home Park development table (Table 3‑7 / Development Standards for mobile home parks): minimum park size, minimum pad size, maximum lot coverage (75%), building heights and yard setbacks are explicitly listed — see § 11‑3.1 and Table 3‑7 .

Key numeric development standards (quick reference table)

(Always cross‑check the district table for the specific subzone. Drawings must dimension to the definitions in the Development Standards article.)

Rules that commonly affect projects (and where to look)

• Projections (eaves, chimneys, bay windows): measured and limited by the Development Standards article and Height/Projections tables § 11‑3.1 / Table 3‑1 .
• Setbacks and special freeway/railroad buffering: rear/side setbacks increase when lots back on freeway/railroad; subdivisions adjacent to rail must provide a 7‑ft block wall in certain situations .
• Lot coverage exceedances: limited administrative variances (Community Development Director discretion) are permitted in narrow circumstances (existing structures adding coverage or where aesthetics/safety aren’t compromised) — see the explanatory notes to the district tables § 11‑3.1 .
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): state‑required allowances are implemented with local objective standards (setbacks, heights, sizes). See the ordinance ADU chapter for the specific yard and size rules and the general ADU rules in § 11‑2.3(E); ADU guidance interacts with the main development standards and the state ADU law . For your permit packet include ADU setbacks and separation from the primary dwelling and check the ADU page for guidance on allowed types and limits (e.g., detached ADU max 18 ft peak, side/rear setbacks commonly 4 ft) .
• Design review and site plan review: conforming projects that meet objective standards may be ministerially approved; discretionary projects trigger design review and/or site plan review under the Site Plan Review chapter § 11‑6.5 and application requirements § 11‑6.2 .

Mentions of “parking,” “signage,” “landscaping,” and “overlay” should be checked with the corresponding chapters: Off‑Street Parking § 11‑3‑4 (tables), the Signage chapter, Landscaping and Screening chapter, and the Combining/Overlay zones (Pioneer Village, etc.) — see the overlay chapter for additional overlay rules .

Checklist

• Confirm property base zone and any overlay/combining zones that add standards (e.g., Pioneer Village) — see overlay rules § 11‑2.6 .
• Pull the exact district development table for that zone (Tables in Chapter 2/3) and note the numeric controls (lot size, setbacks, height, lot coverage) — see § 11‑3.1 .
• Measure proposed building envelope to the Development Standards measurement rules and projections table (height projection rules) — see § 11‑3.1 and Table 3‑1 .
• Verify accessory building/ADU setbacks and heights against the ADU standards § 11‑2.3(E) and accessory structures section — see ADU chapter .
• Prepare required parking calculations from the Off‑Street Parking chapter and include them in the site plan — see Off‑Street Parking § 11‑3‑4 .
• If seeking higher lot coverage or height, confirm whether a minor variance or CUP is required and the approval authority (Community Development Director or Planning Commission) — see the variance/conditional use rules § 11‑6.7 and table of permit authorities .
• Include landscape, screening and trash enclosure plans per the Landscaping & Screening chapter — see Landscaping and Screening page and code references .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

Selma’s zoning tables set numeric limits on setbacks, heights, lot coverage, and lot sizes for each zone; the Development Standards article (and its projections and measurements tables) controls how those numbers are measured on a parcel. Common values: R‑1 front setbacks generally 15–35 ft and max heights 35 ft; multi‑family zones allow higher coverage and heights (up to 45 ft in some subzones); accessory buildings commonly limited to 16 ft. Always cross‑check the district table with the Development Standards article and any overlays before finalizing plans § 11‑3.1 .

Source References

• Selma Zoning Code (Title XI) — Development Standards references and district tables (Tables 2‑6, 2‑10, 3‑7, etc.), see § 11‑3.1 / § 11‑3‑1 .
• Purpose, applicability and general provisions: § 11‑1.1 (Purpose) .
• Multi‑family Objective Design and Development Standards and ADU rules: § 11‑2.3(E) (ADU and multi‑family objective standards) .
• Off‑Street Parking chapter and parking tables: § 11‑3‑4 and the Off‑Street Parking tables (see chapter table of contents) .
• Industrial and mobile‑home park development standards: Table 3‑7 and Additional Regulations (Development Standards) .
• Density bonus mechanics and incentives: Chapter 11‑4.10 (Density Bonus) and tables of bonus amounts § 11‑4.10 .
• Site Plan Review and application requirements: § 11‑6.5 and § 11‑6.2 (Site Plan Review; materials required) .

Retrieved passages

• CBC § 11 (Section 11-3-1) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code (Section 4100) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code (Section 11-) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 11 (Section 11-3-1) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code (Section 11-3.1) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code (Section 11-6.8) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Selma Zoning Code (Title XI) — Development Standards references and district tables (Tables 2‑6, 2‑10, 3‑7, etc.), see **§ 11‑3.1** / **§ 11‑3‑1** fileciteturn0file6turn0file0. (Title XI)
• Purpose, applicability and general provisions: **§ 11‑1.1** (Purpose) . (§ 11)
• Multi‑family Objective Design and Development Standards and ADU rules: **§ 11‑2.3(E)** (ADU and multi‑family objective standards) . (§ 11)
• Off‑Street Parking chapter and parking tables: **§ 11‑3‑4** and the Off‑Street Parking tables (see chapter table of contents) . (chapter and)
• Industrial and mobile‑home park development standards: Table 3‑7 and Additional Regulations (Development Standards) fileciteturn0file7turn0file10.
• Density bonus mechanics and incentives: Chapter 11‑4.10 (Density Bonus) and tables of bonus amounts **§ 11‑4.10** . (Chapter 11)
• Site Plan Review and application requirements: **§ 11‑6.5** and **§ 11‑6.2** (Site Plan Review; materials required) . (§ 11)
• Selma_ZoningCode.md

• Official Selma code library