Twentynine Palms · Land use · Church or place of worship
Where is a church or other place of worship allowed in Twentynine Palms?
In Twentynine Palms, a church or other place of worship is needs a conditional use permit in 17 (RL-1, RL-2.5, RL-5, RS-4, RS-3 and 12 more, 9 with a condition) (Twentynine Palms use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: RL-1, RL-2.5, RL-5, RS-4, RS-3, RS-2, RS-1, RS-E and 9 more
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Twentynine Palms Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a church or other place of worship can go
Twentynine Palms's code calls this use “Churches, synagogues, temples and other religious facilities”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| RL-1 Rural Living | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: All institutional uses shall be located within 1,000 feet of an expressway, arterial street or collector street, and have an adequate, improved private drive. | § 19.08.030 |
| RL-2.5 Rural Living | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: All institutional uses shall be located within 1,000 feet of an expressway, arterial street or collector street, and have an adequate, improved private drive. | § 19.08.030 |
| RL-5 Rural Living | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: All institutional uses shall be located within 1,000 feet of an expressway, arterial street or collector street, and have an adequate, improved private drive. | § 19.08.030 |
| RS-4 Single-Family Residential | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: All institutional uses shall be located within 1,000 feet of an expressway, arterial street or collector street, and have an adequate, improved private drive. | § 19.10.030 |
| RS-3 Single-Family Residential | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: All institutional uses shall be located within 1,000 feet of an expressway, arterial street or collector street, and have an adequate, improved private drive. | § 19.10.030 |
| RS-2 Single-Family Residential | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: All institutional uses shall be located within 1,000 feet of an expressway, arterial street or collector street, and have an adequate, improved private drive. | § 19.10.030 |
| RS-1 Single-Family Residential | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: All institutional uses shall be located within 1,000 feet of an expressway, arterial street or collector street, and have an adequate, improved private drive. | § 19.10.030 |
| RS-E Single-Family Residential | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: All institutional uses shall be located within 1,000 feet of an expressway, arterial street or collector street, and have an adequate, improved private drive. | § 19.10.030 |
| RM Multi-Family Residential | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 2: All institutional uses shall be located within 1,000 feet of an expressway, arterial street or collector street, and have an adequate, improved private drive. | § 19.12.030 |
| R-HD High Density Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.14.030 |
| CO | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.16.030 |
| CG | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.16.030 |
| CN | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.16.030 |
| CT | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.16.030 |
| CS Service Commercial | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.18.030 |
| IC Community Industrial | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.18.030 |
| P Public | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.22.030 |
What else applies
- State law: Federal law (RLUIPA) bars zoning rules that treat religious assembly worse than other assembly uses.
- Not covered here: Blank cells (e.g. F column in S8, a few CG blanks in S5) are not defined by the code legend and were left out.; S5 notes 1 and 2 are not in the packet text (notes start at 3); note 1 is cited on CT child care.. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Twentynine Palms
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the RL-1 zone in Twentynine Palms?
Only with a conditional use permit. Twentynine Palms's use table lists it that way in RL-1 (Rural Living) (§ 19.08.030). The code adds a condition: “All institutional uses shall be located within 1,000 feet of an expressway, arterial street or collector street, and have an adequate, improved private drive.”
General information, not legal advice.
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