Sierra Madre — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Sierra Madre zoning ordinance (Title 17) actually says about land use: which activities are permitted in each district, which require conditional or design-review permits, and the most decision-relevant dimensional limits the municipal code records. For every citation below I point to the controlling ordinance § and the retrieved code text. Verify parcel-specific issues with the city — some detailed standards (for example, parking and technical ADU specs) were not available in the retrieved materials.

How to use this page

If you need to check whether a proposed use is allowed, start by confirming the parcel's zoning and any overlays, then read the district chapter cited below for permitted/conditional uses and any special development standards.

District-by-district breakdown

R-1 — One-Family Residential (Chapter 17.20)

Purpose: to preserve single-family character and the "small‑town, mountainous" neighborhood qualities. (§ 17.20.010)

• Typical permitted uses: one-family dwellings (one per lot), home occupations, accessory buildings (garages, sheds), limited gardening/agriculture, public parks; second units permitted only if compliant with Chapter 17.22 (accessory dwelling units referenced). (§ 17.20.020)
• Key dimensional standards: minimum lot area 7,500 sq ft (base R‑1), with special map-designated variants R‑1‑9 = 9,000 sq ft, R‑1‑11 = 11,000 sq ft, R‑1‑15 = 15,000 sq ft; frontage and minimum widths vary by lot-size tiers and there is a 25 ft front‑yard reference used for width calculations. (§§ 17.20.080, 17.20.090, 17.20.100)
• Where it applies: mapped residential neighborhoods (refer to the city zoning map — see § 17.35.070 on inclusion of maps).

Practical note: ADU policy is referenced as Chapter 17.22 in the R‑1 chapter; the detailed ADU technical rules were not included in the retrieved materials — verify Chapter 17.22 text or use the city's ADU page for specifics. Sierra Madre ADUs

R-3-13 — Medium/High-Density Residential (Chapter 17.28)

Purpose: to allow multi‑family development while meeting general plan/housing objectives. (§ 17.28 preamble and § 17.28.030)

• Typical permitted uses: dwelling units (attached or detached) in tiered maximums by lot area (Tier 1 = 1 unit; Tier 2 = 2 units; Tier 3 = 3 units; Tier 4 = 4+ units with additional units per additional lot area) — see the tiered formula in § 17.28.050; accessory residential uses, transitional/supportive housing, residential care (≤6 residents), modular/manufactured homes, family day care, and ADUs per Chapter 17.22. (§ 17.28.050)
• Conditional/minor conditional uses: public parking areas (not serving on‑site residential), residential care facilities with 7+ residents, and other uses listed in § 17.28.060 (some items are allowed only in the R‑E overlay). (§ 17.28.060)
• Key dimensional/lot standards: minimum lot dimensions for new or reconfigured R‑3‑13 lots: 90 ft width, 140 ft depth, 12,600 sq ft minimum lot area. (§ 17.28.030)
• Design review / permit triggers: certain construction activities require a design review permit per § 17.28.070.

Practical note: reuse/renovation of existing single-family structures within R‑3‑13 is encouraged and the planning commission may relax setbacks if historic homes are preserved. (§ 17.28.040)

C — Commercial (Chapter 17.36)

Purpose: concentrate business areas in downtown, ensure project consistency with the general plan, and require design that supports the village/village‑core character. (§ 17.36.010)

• Permitted/conditional uses: the chapter uses a use table (the "Commercial Zone Use List") that marks many retail, service, restaurant, office and some residential uses as either P (permitted) or CUP (conditional) depending on use type and floor area thresholds. The ordinance requires enclosed‑building operation for many uses and sets floor‑area thresholds that change the permit required. (§ 17.36.020)
• Key limits: development in the downtown/core is subject to special limits from the voter empowerment chapter (no more than 2 stories and 30 ft height in the central core, and a density cap of 13 dwelling units per acre, with state‑law density bonus exceptions). (§§ 17.35.030, 17.35.040)
• Where it applies: downtown commercial core and mapped C zones. For larger sites (>1 acre) the code expects a comprehensive plan to accompany rezoning or major projects. (§ 17.36.010)

Practical note: the C zone contains a detailed use chart; read the chart in § 17.36.020 for whether a specific commercial use requires a CUP based on square footage. (§ 17.36.020)

CIV — Civic / Institutional (Chapter 17.18)

Purpose: accommodate public and non‑profit institutional uses such as civic buildings, schools, libraries, museums and related public facilities. (§ 17.18.010 and following)

• Typical permitted uses: civic buildings, non‑profits, educational facilities, libraries, government services, cultural facilities, parks, public sports facilities, and permitted wireless communications per the code. (§ 17.18.010)
• Where it applies: publicly‑oriented institutional parcels as mapped. (See chapter heading and permitted‑use list.)

O — Open Space (Chapter 17.16)

Purpose: protect natural resources, watershed, habitat, and undeveloped open land. (§ 17.16.020)

• Permitted uses: essentially unimproved land, parks, playgrounds, wildlife preserves, recreation areas, and accessory non‑habitable structures; agricultural cropping/horizontal uses allowed but no dwellings. (§§ 17.16.020–17.16.040)
• Conditional uses: public utility facilities (wells, reservoirs), substations, flood control channels and similar appurtenant functions when subject to standards. (§ 17.16.030)

I — Industrial (Chapter 17.38)

Purpose & key policy: the I zone requires demonstration of general plan consistency, adequate utilities and design that fits the village character for larger projects; master plan requirements apply for conditional use permit proposals in the I zone. (§ 17.36.010 and § 17.38.040)

• Permitted/conditional uses and specific dimensional standards: the ordinance contains use lists and master‑plan rules in Chapter 17.38, but the full use table and all thresholds were not fully captured in the retrieved materials. Verify the I‑zone use list in § 17.38.020 and the master plan requirements in § 17.38.040. (§ 17.38.040)

M — M (Manufacturing/Industrial) Zone (Chapter 17.40)

• The M zone contains construction-site and development standards intended to preserve residential character during construction and set on‑site requirements for staging, refuse, fencing, temporary services, and permits for right‑of‑way use. See § 17.40.090 for development/construction site standards.

Overlays and Special Chapters

• Kensington Specific Plan Overlay: a mapped overlay with its own development regulations; see § 17.41.010–.020 for geographic scope and specific plan adoption.
• R‑E (Residential‑Entrepreneurial) overlay: selectively permits small entrepreneurial businesses in R‑E areas (mentioned in § 17.28.060).
• Voter's Empowerment / Central Core chapter: tight downtown controls (max 2 stories, 30 ft height, 13 units/acre) in the central core; amendments require a vote in some circumstances. (§§ 17.35.030, 17.35.040, 17.35.140)

Link to the city page that aggregates overlay descriptions: Sierra Madre Overlay Districts

Quick table — decision‑relevant snapshot

Note: the C‑zone use table in § 17.36.020 contains multiple sub‑thresholds and subcategories; consult that table for a specific use and floor‑area threshold.

Permits & review triggers (land‑use side)

• If a use is not listed as permitted in the district chapter, it will be either prohibited or allowed only by conditional use permit (CUP); the code provides findings for CUPs (site adequacy, access, consistency with general plan, public interest) in § 17.60.040.
• Minor Conditional Use Permit and administrative procedures are described in Chapter 17.60 (see § 17.60.055 for minor CUPs).
• Design review is required for certain projects; administrative design review permit rules and findings are in § 17.60.041. Sierra Madre Design Review (§ 17.60.041)

Links you will use on a typical application

• Confirm parking requirements (not reproduced here) on the municipal parking rules page: Sierra Madre Parking
• Consult the city's Sierra Madre Zoning or general overview Sierra Madre zoning & planning overview for maps and zone labels.
• For development standards such as setbacks, lot coverage and height limits see Sierra Madre Development Standards.
• For ADU technical rules consult Sierra Madre ADUs and verify compatibility with state law at California ADU law.
• Building / construction technical compliance is with the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) — consult that separately for permit/building‑code details.

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy (land‑use side)

• Confirm the parcel's zoning and any overlays (verify mapped designation). (§ 17.35.070)
• Confirm the proposed use is listed as permitted in the district chapter; if not, determine if it is allowed by CUP or is prohibited. (See district chapter: e.g., § 17.20.020, § 17.28.050, § 17.36.020.)
• If a CUP is required, prepare findings that the site is adequate, streets/access are sufficient, the use won’t harm public welfare, and it’s consistent with the general plan. (§ 17.60.040)
• Check whether the project requires design review and satisfy the design‑review findings for scale, compatibility and impacts. (§ 17.60.041)
• Confirm core/downtown limits if the property is in the central core (max 2 stories / 30 ft / 13 du/acre). (§§ 17.35.030, 17.35.040)
• Provide required site plans, elevations and any narrative addressing design and compatibility (see plan effect and compliance rules). (§ 17.52.190)
• Confirm parking, landscaping, signage, and other development standards (see the city's parking, landscaping, signage chapters) — the parking chapter was not reproduced in the retrieved materials; verify local parking ratios. Sierra Madre Parking

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Sierra Madre's Title 17 divides the city into named zones (for example R‑1, R‑3‑13, C, CIV, O), each chapter spells out what uses are allowed as‑of‑right and what uses require conditional or design review permits; the downtown/core has voter‑adopted caps on height (30 ft / 2 stories) and density (13 du/acre). Always check the district chapter and any overlays before assuming a use is allowed. (§§ 17.20.020, 17.28.050, 17.36.020, 17.35.030, 17.35.040)

Information Gaps

• The full text of the C‑zone use table entries and numeric floor‑area thresholds was not fully present in the retrieved excerpts — consult § 17.36.020 (full table) for specifics.
• The complete accessory dwelling unit standards (Chapter 17.22) were referenced but not included in the retrieved materials — verify Chapter 17.22. (§ 17.20.020)
• Parking standards and numerical parking ratios were not available in the retrieved content — review the city's parking chapter or municipal parking tables. Not found in retrieved materials.

Source References

• Sierra Madre Municipal Code, Title 17 — R‑1 One‑Family Residential, permitted uses and purpose: § 17.20.010–17.20.020.
• Sierra Madre Municipal Code — R‑3‑13 rules, permitted uses and tiered unit limits: § 17.28.030, § 17.28.050, § 17.28.060.
• Sierra Madre Municipal Code — Commercial zone (C) use criteria and use table: § 17.36.010, § 17.36.020.
• Sierra Madre Municipal Code — Open Space (O) permitted/conditional uses: § 17.16.020–17.16.040.
• Sierra Madre Municipal Code — Design review and conditional use findings & procedures: § 17.60.040, § 17.60.041, § 17.60.055.
• Sierra Madre Municipal Code — Voter's Empowerment / Central Core limits: § 17.35.030, § 17.35.040, § 17.35.070.
• Sierra Madre Municipal Code — M zone development/construction site standards: § 17.40.090.

Retrieved passages

• Sierra Madre Zoning Code (Chapter 17.22.) High relevance show source text
• Sierra Madre Zoning Code (chapter is) High relevance show source text
• Sierra Madre Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Sierra Madre Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Sierra Madre Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Sierra Madre Zoning Code (§ 17) High relevance show source text
• Sierra Madre Zoning Code (chapter is) High relevance show source text
• Sierra Madre Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Sierra Madre Municipal Code, Title 17 — **R‑1 One‑Family Residential**, permitted uses and purpose: § **17.20.010**–**17.20.020**. fileciteturn0file10turn0file7 (Title 17)
• Sierra Madre Municipal Code — **R‑3‑13** rules, permitted uses and tiered unit limits: § **17.28.030**, § **17.28.050**, § **17.28.060**. fileciteturn0file19turn0file0
• Sierra Madre Municipal Code — **Commercial zone (C)** use criteria and use table: § **17.36.010**, § **17.36.020**.
• Sierra Madre Municipal Code — **Open Space (O)** permitted/conditional uses: § **17.16.020**–**17.16.040**.
• Sierra Madre Municipal Code — **Design review** and **conditional use** findings & procedures: § **17.60.040**, § **17.60.041**, § **17.60.055**. fileciteturn0file16turn0file5
• Sierra Madre Municipal Code — **Voter's Empowerment / Central Core** limits: § **17.35.030**, § **17.35.040**, § **17.35.070**. fileciteturn0file15turn0file6
• Sierra Madre Municipal Code — **M zone** development/construction site standards: § **17.40.090**.
• SierraMadre_ZoningCode.md

• Official Sierra Madre code library