South Pasadena — Overlay Districts

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Overlay districts in South Pasadena add site-specific rules on top of the base zoning to address neighborhood character, housing opportunities, corridor/mixed-use objectives, or project-specific processing. The overlay rules in the municipal code are in Division 36.250 (Overlay Zoning Districts) and apply in addition to the base district standards and Article 3 site standards; conflicts are resolved per the interpretation rules in the code. See the City overview for context: South Pasadena zoning & planning overview. § 36.250.010–.020

How the overlay rules work (short)

• Overlays are mapped as suffixes to the base district symbol on the Zoning Map and are applied by rezoning; they supplement (not replace) the underlying zone requirements. § 36.250.020
• Unless an overlay says otherwise, land uses allowed in the primary zoning district remain allowed but must also meet the overlay’s additional standards and any required approvals. § 36.250.020(B)

District-by-district breakdown

Altos de Monterey (AM) Overlay — purpose & standards

• Purpose: preserve the existing architectural character and neighborhood environment of the Altos de Monterey area and recognize CC&R obligations while adding local development standards. § 36.250.030(A)
• Where it applies: properties mapped with the AM suffix on the City Zoning Map. § 36.250.020(A)
• Typical permitted uses: uses allowed by the underlying residential district remain allowed, but the AM overlay imposes stricter design and lot standards and special nonconforming rules (see below). § 36.250.030(B–C)
• Key dimensional / development points (high‑priority for applicants):
  • Maximum lot coverage, parking, fence and accessory standards are set in the AM-specific Table 2‑7 (e.g., detached accessory structures: 15 ft clearance for some items; fence heights and visitor parking requirements are specified). See TABLE 2‑7 and accompanying text. § 36.250.030
  • Nonconforming rules: buildings/lots that became nonconforming because of the AM overlay are treated as legal nonconforming, but expansions that intensify the nonconformity are limited (e.g., 15% cap for certain enlargements); illegal pre‑existing buildings remain subject to abatement unless they meet the AM standards. § 36.360.120

Practical guidance: If your property is in AM, verify CC&Rs first (overlay expressly recognizes them) and use the AM table (Table 2‑7) as the checklist for fences, lot coverage, parking, and accessory structures. § 36.250.030

Mixed Use (MU) Overlay — purpose & standards

• Purpose: encourage mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development and implement General Plan corridor/neighborhood-center goals in commercial and business park areas; it may allow extensive residential development in formerly commercial districts. § 36.250.040(A)
• Where it applies: applied to CO, CG, and BP parcels shown as Mixed Use Core on the Land Use Map (except DTSP area). § 36.250.040(B)
• Typical permitted uses: broad range of commercial, office, entertainment, and housing uses; the code explicitly contemplates allowing 100% residential projects in CO and CG where consistent with the General Plan. § 36.230.020(D)
• Key dimensional / development points (from Mixed‑Use development standards, Table 2‑6):
  • Side setback: 4 ft (plus +1 ft for each story above the second). § 36.230.050 / TABLE 2‑6
  • Rear setback: 10 ft (or 5 ft where abutting an alley). § 36.230.050 / TABLE 2‑6
  • Parking location/design: parking is prioritized to the rear or underground, not above ground or within 30 ft of front/side property lines; the number of spaces follows SPMC 36.310 but reductions/ shared parking are possible with study/approval. § 36.230.050 / TABLE 2‑6 and 36.310
  • Height exceptions: the code allows limited footprint exceptions to height limits in the MU (see general height rules in 36.300.040(A)). § 36.300.040(A)

Practical guidance: Mixed‑use projects will commonly require design review and coordination with the City’s objective standards in Article 3; early coordination on parking strategy and design review expectations reduces surprises. See South Pasadena Development Standards and consult the South Pasadena Design Review page for process context. § 36.250.040; § 36.230.050

Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay — purpose & standards

• Purpose: implement higher‑intensity multifamily housing in targeted RM and RH corridors consistent with the housing element. § 36.250.050(A)
• Where it applies: parcels mapped as HO on the General Plan Land Use Map. § 36.250.050(B)
• Key numeric standards:
  • Maximum density: 70 dwelling units per acre. § 36.250.050(C)
  • Maximum height: 55 ft (measured per the City’s height measurement rules; see § 36.300.040(A)). § 36.250.050(D)
  • Multifamily projects in the HO district must otherwise comply with Division 36.220 residential rules and use the Residential‑Only standards from Table 2‑6 as applicable. § 36.250.050(E)

Practical guidance: HO increases allowable density and height but does not waive compliance with site, parking, or objective design standards—prepare parking and landscape plans early. See the City parking rules at South Pasadena Parking. § 36.250.050

Camino del Cielo (CDC) Overlay — purpose & standards

• Purpose: provide alternative development requirements and streamlined (ministerial) processing for certain housing projects that filed preliminary applications under Government Code § 65941.1 prior to housing-element certification (specific to Camino del Cielo initiative area). § 36.250.060(A)
• Applicability: only properties that (1) are in a single‑family zone and (2) have a qualifying preliminary application submitted before July 29, 2024. § 36.250.060(B)
• What it allows (ministerial path / limits):
  • Ministerial subdivision of one existing lot into no more than two approximately equal lots (parcel map + planning clearance required). § 36.250.060(C)(1)
  • On each resulting lot, ministerial approval permits one single‑family home plus one ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) subject to specific criteria. ADU rules and sale/rental restrictions (including affordable unit set‑aside) apply—see the ADU rules and Government Code references in the CDC text. § 36.250.060(C)(2)
  • Selected numerical limits for combined lots: max lot coverage 41% (excluding ADU); FAR 51% (excluding ADU); max primary height 28 ft; setbacks Front 10 ft; Side/Rear 5 ft; second‑floor stepbacks 3 ft from garage facade and 10 ft from ADU facade. § 36.250.060(C)(2)(b–f)
  • Affordability requirement: ≥20% of units developed under this provision must be rented or sold to lower‑income households, with at least one affordable unit on‑site and covenants recorded. § 36.250.060(C)(2)(a)

Practical guidance: If you have a qualifying preliminary application filed before the cutoff date, CDC offers a ministerial path but imposes developer obligations (affordability covenants, separate meters, fees). Coordinate ADU planning with the City’s ADU policies: South Pasadena ADUs. § 36.250.060

Decision‑relevant quick reference table

Checklist

• Confirm whether your parcel is mapped with an overlay on the City Zoning Map (Director can resolve boundary uncertainties). § 36.200.020
• Identify the applicable overlay: AM, MU, HO, or CDC, and read that overlay’s § text. § 36.250.010–.060
• Verify underlying base zone standards (setbacks, height, lot coverage, permitted uses) in Article 2 and Article 3 (site/development standards). See South Pasadena Development Standards. § 36.250.020(B)
• Prepare parking strategy per SPMC 36.310 and overlay parking rules; consider shared‑parking study if seeking reduction. See South Pasadena Parking. § 36.230.050; § 36.310
• Check design review triggers early—MU and some other projects may require design review or objective standard compliance. See South Pasadena Design Review. § 36.210.030; § 36.230.030
• If in CDC, verify preliminary application filing dates and affordability obligations; plan for separate meters and recorded covenants. § 36.250.060(C)(2)

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

South Pasadena’s overlay districts (AM, MU, HO, CDC) layer extra, location‑specific rules on top of the base zoning: AM protects neighborhood character and enforces CC&Rs, MU sets mixed‑use setbacks and parking rules and can allow residential in commercial zones, HO raises allowed density (up to 70 du/acre) and height for targeted corridors, and CDC offers a ministerial split + one house + one ADU path for qualifying pre‑filed housing projects (with numeric limits and affordability requirements). Read the overlay section that applies to your parcel and then the base district and Article 3 standards before preparing plans; verify mapping and any filing‑date contingencies with the City. § 36.250.010–.060

Source References

• South Pasadena Zoning Code, Division 36.250 (Overlay Zoning Districts): § 36.250.010–.020 (Purpose & Applicability).
• Altos de Monterey (AM) Overlay — § 36.250.030 (AM purpose, standards, and Table 2‑7) .
• Mixed Use (MU) Overlay — § 36.250.040 and Mixed‑Use Development Standards (Table 2‑6).
• Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay — § 36.250.050 (density 70 du/acre; height 55 ft).
• Camino del Cielo (CDC) Overlay — § 36.250.060 (ministerial split, numeric limits, affordability requirement).
• Parking rules: Division 36.310 (Parking & Loading).
• Nonconforming/AM special rules: § 36.360.120 (AM nonconforming provisions).
• Height measurement & exceptions: § 36.300.040(A).

Retrieved passages

• South Pasadena Zoning Code (§ 1.) High relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (Section 36.410.020) High relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (§ 1.) Medium relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (Article III) Medium relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (Section 65941.1) High relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (§ 1.) Medium relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (section that) Medium relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (Section 36.250.030) Medium relevance show source text
• South Pasadena Zoning Code (Section 36.300.030) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• South Pasadena Zoning Code, Division 36.250 (Overlay Zoning Districts): **§ 36.250.010–.020** (Purpose & Applicability). (§ 36.250.010)
• **Altos de Monterey (AM) Overlay** — **§ 36.250.030** (AM purpose, standards, and Table 2‑7) . (§ 36.250.030)
• **Mixed Use (MU) Overlay** — **§ 36.250.040** and Mixed‑Use Development Standards (Table 2‑6). (§ 36.250.040)
• **Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay** — **§ 36.250.050** (density 70 du/acre; height 55 ft). (§ 36.250.050)
• **Camino del Cielo (CDC) Overlay** — **§ 36.250.060** (ministerial split, numeric limits, affordability requirement). (§ 36.250.060)
• Parking rules: Division **36.310** (Parking & Loading).
• Nonconforming/AM special rules: **§ 36.360.120** (AM nonconforming provisions). (§ 36.360.120)
• Height measurement & exceptions: **§ 36.300.040(A)**. (§ 36.300.040)
• SouthPasadena_ZoningCode.md