Selma — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Selma’s municipal zoning ordinance (Title XI) actually requires about land use: what is allowed in each zone, when a discretionary permit is required, and where to find the controlling rules. It focuses on Selma’s zoning districts (residential, commercial, industrial, open space) and combining/overlay rules and links you to the city pages you will need for parking, setbacks / development standards, design review, overlays, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code for building-only rules. Key procedural authorities and permit types (site plan review, director review, and conditional use permits) are covered so you can tell if a proposed use is ministerial or discretionary. See the ordinance text for parcel-specific verification before filing. § 11-2 and related sections govern the districts and uses.

(Links: parking, setbacks/development standards, design review, overlays, ADUs, and Title 24 are linked inline above to the local menu pages.)

District-by-district breakdown

Below are Selma-specific summaries. Each subsection names the Selma district, the ordinance purpose language, the typical permitted uses, and where the code sets dimensional or procedural controls. Where numeric dimensional standards were not visible in the retrieved materials I state "Not found in retrieved materials" and point you to the controlling tables/sections to verify.

Notes about permit codes used in the zoning tables: P = permitted; SPR = site plan review; DRA = director review and approval; CUP = conditional use permit; TUP = temporary use permit; – = prohibited. These designations are explained in the ordinance. § 11-2.2 and associated tables.

R-1-12 (R-1-Estate)

• Purpose: Very low / low density single-family residential; preserve neighborhood character and limit nonresidential impacts. § 11-2.2.
• Typical permitted uses: Single-family residences, Duplexes, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Junior ADUs, Home occupations (minor/major via DRA), Supportive/Transitional housing (where listed). See Table 2-2 for the full use list. § 11-2.2.
• Key dimensional standards: District development standards are listed in Table 2-3 (Development Standards) and general development rules in § 11-3.1. For ADU-specific ministerial standards see § 11-4.2. If specific numeric front/side/rear setback values are required for R‑1-12, Verify with the city: Not found in retrieved materials (see Table 2-3).

R-1-9, R-1-7, R-1-4 (R-1 Low / Medium Low / Medium)

• Purpose & uses: Same program as R-1-12 but with higher allowable residential density moving down from R-1-9 to R-1-4. ADUs and junior ADUs are permitted in each. See Table 2-2 and § 11-2.2.
• Dimensional controls: See Table 2-3 (district development standards) and citywide rules § 11-3.1 for how standards apply across zone boundaries. Numeric values: Not found in retrieved materials — check Table 2-3 in the ordinance PDF.

R-2 / R-2-A, R-3 / R-3-A, R-4 (Multi-Family)

• Purpose: Medium to high density multifamily and mixed housing types; allow compatible mixed uses. § 11-2.3.
• Typical permitted uses: Multi-family dwellings, Accessory structures/ADUs, Community open space, Supportive housing, and mixed-use elements where noted (see Table 2-4/2-5). § 11-2.3.
• Dimensional standards: Multi-family open-space and common space minima (e.g., 300 sf per unit common open space, at least 25% site area in common open space) are required for multi-family projects; see § 11-2.3 and illustrative figures. Detailed lot coverage/setback/FAR numbers: Not found in retrieved materials — check Table 2-6 / Table 2-5 and § 11-3.1.

C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial), C-2 (Community Commercial), C-3 (Commercial Service), C-R (Commercial Regional), C-H (Highway Commercial), CBD (Central Business District), P-M-D (Planned Medical Development)

• Purpose: Provide neighborhood-to-regional retail, services, professional offices, and specialty commercial; CBD encourages downtown business uses; P-M-D clusters medical uses. § 11-2.4.
• Typical permitted uses: Retail shops, offices, restaurants (often CUP for alcohol sales), service businesses, medical offices (P‑M‑D), plazas and civic uses. See Table 2-11 and commercial use tables. § 11-2.4.
• Key controls: Restaurants and alcohol-related sales require a CUP and must meet additional findings in § 11-4.7. Off-street parking rules apply (see § 11-3.4). Numerical setbacks/height and parking ratios are in district development tables; numeric specifics: Not found in retrieved materials — see Table 2-3 / Table 2-11.

M-1 (Light Manufacturing) and M-2 (Heavy Manufacturing)

• Purpose: M-1 for light industrial/manufacturing, processing, warehousing; M-2 for heavier industrial uses and fabrication. § 11-2.5.
• Typical permitted uses: Manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, automotive services and some commercial-support uses. Many uses in M zones require SPR or CUP; the ordinance’s Table 2-9 lists use-specific permit requirements. § 11-2.5.
• Key controls: All new industrial uses are subject to site plan review and must submit professionally prepared elevations; sidewalks and access per city standards are required. See § 11-2.5 and § 11-6.5 for site plan review. Specific numeric standards (heights, setbacks): Not found in retrieved materials — check Table 2-9 and district development tables.

OS (Open Space)

• Purpose: Parks, recreation, infrastructure uses and quasi-public facilities. § 11-2.7.
• Typical permitted uses: Parks & recreational facilities, community gardens, trails, public facilities, some small supporting retail (e.g., concession stands) — see Table 2-11 for specifics. § 11-2.7.

PV (Pioneer Village) Combining / Overlay Zone

• Purpose: A combining overlay that imposes special historic/visitor-oriented rules; uses often require a CUP and a Master Plan; the overlay restricts uses to those consistent with a master plan and historic display purposes. § 11-2.6 (PV Zone).
• Key procedural and development requirements: Master plan, site design, required parking established at time of CUP, and specific landscaping / access requirements. Verify parking and master plan expectations when proposing anything in the PV overlay. § 11-2.6.

Quick reference table — common decision-relevant permitted uses (examples)

(For full, line-by-line permitted-use tables consult the ordinance’s Tables 2-2, 2-5, 2-9, and 2-11 in Chapter 2; the excerpted tables in the retrieved materials show the format and many entries.)

Rules that govern how a use is reviewed or approved

• If a use is listed as P, it is allowed subject to the district restrictions. § 11-2.2.
• If a use is SPR, it requires site plan review (ministerial/non-discretionary). See § 11-6.5 and the site plan application checklist.
• If a use is DRA, it requires director review and approval. See § 11-6.6. Not all DRA procedures are identical—check the director’s submittal checklist.
• If a use is CUP, it requires a discretionary Conditional Use Permit with public hearing before the Planning Commission; findings in § 11-6.7 must be made. Alcohol sales and several sensitive uses (adult businesses, some cannabis uses) are explicitly subject to CUP.

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy (common items)

• Confirm the parcel’s zoning district and base permitted uses (see Table 2‑2 / Table 2‑11 / Table 2‑9). § 11-2.x.
• Determine whether the use is P / SPR / DRA / CUP in that district; if not listed, request a classification under § 11-8.2. § 11-8.2.
• Prepare site plan and elevations (site plan review is mandatory for most commercial and industrial projects). § 11-6.5 and § 11-2.5.
• Check required parking counts and design (see § 11-3.4 and the city parking standards page). § 11-3.4.
• Verify setbacks, heights, lot coverage and open space minima in the controlling district table (Table 2-3 or district-specific tables) and citywide development rules § 11-3.1. § 11-3.1.
• If proposing an ADU, follow ministerial ADU rules and the 60‑day ministerial review timelines in § 11-4.2. § 11-4.2.
• If proposing an alcohol outlet or other specially regulated use, prepare CUP submittal and the additional findings in § 11-4.7 and § 11-6.7. § 11-4.7, § 11-6.7.
• If property sits in an overlay (e.g., PV Pioneer Village), include required Master Plan elements and overlay-specific standards. § 11-2.6.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Selma’s zoning code (Title XI) lists permitted uses zone-by-zone in Chapter 2: residential R-1 zones allow single-family homes and ADUs; multi-family zones allow apartments and related open-space standards; commercial and industrial zones allow progressively broader retail, service, and manufacturing uses, but many uses require site plan review or a conditional use permit. The city’s general development rules (setbacks, parking, height) are in Chapter 3; special overlays like Pioneer Village impose additional master-plan requirements. Always verify the district table entries and numeric standards for your parcel before applying. § 11-2; § 11-3.1; § 11-6.7.

Source References

• Selma Zoning ordinance — Title XI, Chapter 2 (Zoning districts and allowable uses): § 11-2.1 – § 11-2.7 (Single-family, Multi-family, Commercial, Industrial, Open Space, Combining Zones).
• Permitted-use tables (excerpted): Table 2-2 (Single-Family Permitted Uses); Table 2-9 (Industrial Permitted Uses); Table 2-11 (Public/Open Space Permitted Uses). See § 11-2.2, § 11-2.5, § 11-2.7.
• Conditional Use Permit procedures and findings: § 11-6.7 (CUP process).
• General development standards applicable to all zones: § 11-3.1 (development standards, parcels split by district).
• Off-street parking reference: § 11-3.4 (Off-street parking).
• ADU and Junior ADU provisions: § 11-4.2 (ADUs/Jr ADUs, ministerial permit and deed restriction language).
• Use classifications and definitions: § 11-8.2 and Chapter 8 (Definitions/Use Classifications).
• Pioneer Village Combining Zone and Master Plan requirements: § 11-2.6.

For the city’s public menu pages referenced at the top (parking, development standards, design review, overlays, ADU guidance) use the Selma site menu pages linked earlier in this document; building construction details are governed by the California Building Standards (Title 24) — consult the state code page for building-only matters. Not all numeric district-specific setback and lot-coverage figures were visible in the retrieved excerpts; consult the ordinance PDF or Community Development for parcel-specific numbers. Not found in retrieved materials: explicit numeric district setback/lot coverage tables for every district — check Table 2-3 and district pages.

Retrieved passages

• Selma Zoning Code (Section 11-8.2) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code (Section 11-8.2) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code (Chapter is) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code (Chapter 20) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code (Section 11-8.2) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Selma Zoning ordinance — Title XI, Chapter 2 (Zoning districts and allowable uses): **§ 11-2.1 – § 11-2.7** (Single-family, Multi-family, Commercial, Industrial, Open Space, Combining Zones). (Title XI)
• Permitted-use tables (excerpted): **Table 2-2 (Single-Family Permitted Uses)**; **Table 2-9 (Industrial Permitted Uses)**; **Table 2-11 (Public/Open Space Permitted Uses)**. See **§ 11-2.2**, **§ 11-2.5**, **§ 11-2.7**. (§ 11-2.2)
• Conditional Use Permit procedures and findings: **§ 11-6.7** (CUP process). (§ 11-6.7)
• General development standards applicable to all zones: **§ 11-3.1** (development standards, parcels split by district). (§ 11-3.1)
• Off-street parking reference: **§ 11-3.4** (Off-street parking). (§ 11-3.4)
• ADU and Junior ADU provisions: **§ 11-4.2** (ADUs/Jr ADUs, ministerial permit and deed restriction language). (§ 11-4.2)
• Use classifications and definitions: **§ 11-8.2** and Chapter 8 (Definitions/Use Classifications). (§ 11-8.2)
• Pioneer Village Combining Zone and Master Plan requirements: **§ 11-2.6**. (§ 11-2.6)
• Selma_ZoningCode.md

• Official Selma code library