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Westminster Zoning, Planning & Building Codes

What you can build in Westminster depends on its local zoning and planning code, layered on the California Building Standards Code. Ask GoCodebook about any Westminster address.

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Key points

Zoning districts & allowed uses Setbacks & height limits FAR, lot coverage & density Building permits Remodels & change of use ADUs & JADUs Parking requirements Planning & design review

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Westminster's zoning and land‑use rules are codified as the Westminster Zoning Code, Title 17 of the Westminster Municipal Code — the city's primary implementation tool for the General Plan (§ 17.100.005 ). Title 17 organizes district‑level use tables and standards (Articles 2–4), city‑wide site and design rules (Article 3), and the permit/decision process (Article 5 and Article 6). The Code uses base zoning districts (residential, commercial, industrial, mixed‑use and special purpose) plus overlay districts and Specific Plans to customize rules on a site‑by‑site basis (§ 17.200.010; § 17.240.030; § 17.250.005) .

How Westminster's code is organized

  • Title name and purpose: the ordinance is the Westminster Zoning Code, Title 17; its stated purposes are to carry out the General Plan and set zoning procedures and standards (§ 17.100.005; § 17.100.010) .
  • Article/Chapter structure: Article 1 describes applicability and authority; Article 2 contains zoning districts, permitted uses, and district‑specific standards; Article 3 contains "Site Planning and General Development Standards" (Chapter 17.300) and related objective provisions; Article 4 sets specific‑use standards (Chapter 17.400); Article 5 covers applications and review procedures; Article 6 is zoning administration; Article 7 contains definitions (§ 17.300.005; § 17.400.125; § 17.500.005) .
  • Where to find major rules:
    • District lists and permitted‑use tables: § 17.200.010 and Tables in Article 2 (Tables 2‑1 through the land‑use tables) .
    • Citywide site and development standards (setbacks, circulation, landscaping, refuse, utilities): Chapter 17.300 (Article 3) and referenced sections such as § 17.300.020 for setbacks and exceptions and § 17.300.045 for refuse storage rules .
    • Standards for specific uses and accessory structures (including residential accessory structures): Chapter 17.400 (Article 4), e.g., § 17.400.130 and related subsections .
    • Permit procedures, review authority and timelines: Chapters 17.500 and 17.520 (Development Review), Administrative/Conditional Use Permits in § 17.550, and review authority table § 17.500.010 (Table 5‑1) .
    • Administration, boards and appeals: Chapter 17.600 (City Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Board, Director authority) .

Zoning district families

The Code establishes the following district families in Table 2‑1; the table and the statute give the official list and mapping to General Plan categories (§ 17.200.010 ):

  • Residential districts: R‑1 (Single‑Family), R‑2, R‑3, R‑4, R‑5 (multi‑family gradations with increasing density). See the residential development standards (Table 2‑3) for minimum lot sizes, densities and height caps, e.g., R‑1 maximum 2 stories / 35 ft and density tables in § 17.210.015 .
  • Commercial districts: CR (Restricted Commercial), C‑1 (Local Business), C‑2 (General Business), CM (Commercial‑Industrial) — purposes and permitted intensities described in Chapter 17.220 (§ 17.220.005) .
  • Industrial districts: M‑1 (Light Industrial), M‑2 (Medium Industrial) with performance standards (noise, emissions, etc.) set in the M‑district chapters (§ 17.200.010; § 17.210 notes) .
  • Mixed‑Use districts: MU36 and MU40 (36 and 40 du/acre envelopes) — density, height, FAR, setbacks and minimum unit sizes are detailed in § 17.260.015 and Table 2‑9 (for example, MU36 allows up to 5 stories / 75 ft for mixed‑use and MU40 up to 6 stories / 95 ft for mixed‑use projects) .
  • Special purpose/supplemental: P/SP, P/OS, CEM, PF, SP (Specific Plan), PD (Planned Development overlay) and other overlays such as Housing (H) and the Little Saigon overlay identified on the map; overlays are added as suffixes on the base zone symbol (e.g., C2‑LS‑PD) (§ 17.200.015; § 17.250.010) .

Citywide development standards (high level)

  • Where the standards live: Article 3 (Chapter 17.300) holds the city‑wide site planning and general development standards (access, yards and setbacks, landscaping, lighting, refuse, utilities) and applies in combination with the district tables in Article 2 (§ 17.300.005; § 17.300.010) . The Code instructs that district‑specific standards in Article 2 control where they conflict with Article 3 (§ 17.200.010) .

  • Setbacks and yards: residential and mixed‑use setback rules and exceptions are laid out in the district tables (e.g., Table 2‑3 for R‑zones and Table 2‑9 for MU zones) and cross‑referenced to § 17.300.020 for general setback regulations and exceptions (§ 17.300.020 referenced in exemptions and accessory structure rules) .

  • Height and FAR: district tables spell maximum heights and non‑residential FAR (for example, mixed‑use nonresidential FAR 1.0 and the height limits noted for MU36/MU40 in § 17.260.015 and Table 2‑9) .

  • Lot coverage / open space: district tables in Article 2 and the Article 3 standards govern lot coverage and open‑space minimums for particular zones (see the residential and mixed‑use tables in § 17.210.015 and § 17.260.015) .

  • Parking (basic rules and flexibility): off‑street parking access and layout standards live in Article 3 (Chapter 17.300, e.g., access rules § 17.300.015) and parking details for mixed‑use and residential are in the mixed‑use section; Westminster permits tandem parking for residential units where assigned, allows shared parking for mixed‑use with a shared parking agreement, and requires residential parking to be within 300 ft of the unit entrance (§ 17.300.015; parking specifics in the mixed‑use standards and parking chapter) . (See the city parking policy details in Westminster Parking.)

    • First mention of parking is linked here: parking.

  • Design guidance and required guidelines: many chapters refer projects to the Westminster Design Guidelines Manual for architectural and multi‑family standards (e.g., § 17.400.125 for multi‑family), but the Code's numeric standards govern if there is a conflict (§ 17.400.125; § 17.260.015) .

  • First mention of "development standards" is linked here: Westminster Development Standards.

Specific plans & overlays

  • Specific Plans: the SP district exists and the Code says you must refer to the individual Specific Plan for standards; a Specific Plan can replace or overlay the underlying zoning (§ 17.240.030) .

  • Planned Development overlay (PD): the PD Overlay provides a negotiated package of permitted uses and standards via a Comprehensive Plan and is applied to larger sites (minimum site area ½ acre) — see § 17.250.030 and Chapter 17.560 for Comprehensive Plan procedures (§ 17.250.030; § 17.560.010) .

  • Housing overlay (H): lots in the Housing Overlay are identified in the City's RHNA inventory and new residential development on H‑overlay lots must provide a minimum residential density of 30 du/net acre; projects on H sites may apply for the State density bonus under Government Code 65915 (the Code explicitly allows a density bonus application) (§ 17.250.035) .

  • Overlays are additive and the Code explains the overlay‑suffix convention and applicability (overlay rules govern when in conflict) — see § 17.250.010 and examples such as the Little Saigon overlay references (§ 17.250.010) .

  • First mention of "overlays" is linked here: Westminster Overlay Districts.

Building permits & review (how a project moves through Westminster)

  • Permit types and the first steps: the Code explains three basic permit paths for land uses shown in the use tables — permitted uses (require a Zoning Clearance § 17.515 or Development Review § 17.520), Administrative Use Permits, and Conditional Use Permits (Chapter 17.550) — the Director interprets the Code and conducts many administrative reviews (§ 17.200.010; § 17.500.010; § 17.550.020) .

  • Development Review: Development Review is required for nonresidential projects > 1,000 sq ft, new residential projects of 3+ units, all projects within MU36/MU40, and other categories listed in § 17.520.010; the chapter explains submittal content and design review purposes (§ 17.520.010) .

  • Who decides: Table 5‑1 (Chapter 17.500.010) identifies decision authority (Director, Planning Commission, City Council) and the Director may defer decisions to the Commission; appeals are to the City Council under Chapter 17.600 (§ 17.500.010; § 17.600.010) .

  • Design review and objective thresholds: the Design Review Board reviews larger projects or those specifically referred (e.g., new residential projects of 7+ units or nonresidential > 3,000 sq ft) as set out in § 17.600.020; Development Review Chapter 17.520 lists the review goals and standards to evaluate design, circulation, parking, landscaping and compatibility (§ 17.600.020; § 17.520.005) .

  • First mention of "design review" is linked here: Westminster Design Review.

  • Variances and adjustments: Administrative adjustments and variances are available under Chapter 17.555 with specific findings and limits (see Table 5‑2 for administrative adjustment categories and § 17.555.010 – § 17.555.025) .

  • Post‑approval & timing: permit validity, revocation, modification, and time limits are handled under Chapter 17.510 and the post‑approval subsections of Chapter 17.550 (§ 17.550.030) .

  • Building permits and state construction code: issuance of building and grading permits is tied to compliance with the zoning rules and other applicable laws; the Code requires that building permits be issued only when the proposed use and site comply with Title 17 and other applicable statutes/regulations (§ 17.100.020.C) .

  • First mention of the state building code is linked here: California Building Standards Code.

State housing law in Westminster

Westminster's Title 17 recognizes State law and incorporates state authority; where state housing laws apply, Westminster's zoning cannot conflict with state mandates (§ 17.100.015; § 17.100.020.F) .

  • Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and JADUs: Westminster's Title 17 contains accessory‑structure chapters (e.g., § 17.400.130 for accessory structures), but specific local ADU rules are not clearly present in the retrieved Title 17 excerpts. State ADU law imposes objective timelines, size/setback limits, and parking rules that local jurisdictions must follow (see the California ADU update summaries in the provided materials). Because local ADU provisions were not located in the retrieved Title 17 material, applicants should assume they must comply with State ADU requirements and follow the City's standard permit and building‑permit submittal rules; Westminster must process ADUs consistent with State ADU law (see the statewide summaries) and Title 17's statement that it does not exempt applicants from State law (§ 17.100.020.F; state ADU summaries) .

    • First mention of ADUs is linked here: Westminster ADUs.
    • For statewide ADU rules and the specific ministerial timelines and setback/parking limits, see the California ADU guidance in the supplied materials (state reference) .

  • SB 9 / lot splits & duplexes / density bonus: Title 17 does not repeal or override State housing acts — the Code signals that State law governs where applicable and that projects may be processed under Title 17 procedures but must conform to State requirements (§ 17.100.015; § 17.100.020.F) . Westminster also provides an explicit local path for density bonus consideration where applicable, for example in the Housing Overlay rules (§ 17.250.035) .

  • Rent‑control: Title 17 (the zoning code) does not establish rent‑control rules; nothing in the retrieved Title 17 excerpts establishes citywide rent control. Rent regulation, if any, would be found in other parts of the Municipal Code or state law (not found in the Title 17 excerpts) (Not found in retrieved materials) .

  • First mention of "California housing laws" is linked here: California housing laws.

Practical orientation — developer / owner checklist

  1. Confirm the property's base zone on the adopted Zoning Map and check for overlays (§ 17.200.015; § 17.200.010) .
  2. Read the applicable Article 2 district table for permitted uses and required permit type (P / AUP / CUP) and confirm whether a Zoning Clearance, Development Review (§ 17.520), or an Administrative/Conditional Use Permit (§ 17.550) is required (§ 17.200.010; § 17.520.010; § 17.550.020) .
  3. Pull Article 3 standards (Chapter 17.300) for circulation, setbacks, refuse, landscaping and parking; mixed‑use projects must follow mixed‑use standards in § 17.260.015 as well as Article 3 (§ 17.300.005; § 17.260.015) .
  4. Check whether design review thresholds apply (Design Review Board § 17.600.020) and whether the Director or Commission is the deciding body (Table 5‑1 in § 17.500.010) .
  5. For ADUs or other State‑regulated housing, follow the State ADU and housing statutes in tandem with Title 17 and bring those references to the pre‑application meeting because Title 17 defers to State law where applicable (§ 17.100.020.F; state ADU guidance) .

Information Gaps

  • Local ADU/JADU-specific ordinance text: the retrieved Title 17 excerpts reference accessory structures and state law compliance but do not include a clearly identifiable, complete local ADU code section. Local ADU procedural text and any locally tailored ADU standards (if adopted) were Not found in retrieved materials — confirm with the City’s Planning Division or the full codified Title 17 posted by the City (Not found in retrieved materials; verify with jurisdiction) .
  • Rent regulation: no rent‑control provisions were located in Title 17 excerpts; if present they would be in another Title or chapter of the Municipal Code (not found in retrieved Title 17 materials) (Not found in retrieved materials) .

Source References

  • Westminster Zoning Code (Title 17): Title page, Article 1 (purpose/applicability) — § 17.100.005, § 17.100.010
  • Establishment of districts and Zoning Map — § 17.200.010, § 17.200.015
  • Overlay zones and PD/H overlays — § 17.250.005, § 17.250.010, § 17.250.030, § 17.250.035
  • Article 3 — Site Planning & General Development Standards (Chapter 17.300) — § 17.300.005, § 17.300.015 (access) and related subsections including refuse and setbacks (§ 17.300.020 / § 17.300.045)
  • Mixed‑Use standards (MU36/MU40) — § 17.260.015 and Table 2‑9 (density, height, FAR, setbacks)
  • Development Review and permit procedures — § 17.520.005, § 17.520.010, § 17.500.010, § 17.550.020, § 17.550.030
  • Administrative responsibility / Boards / Director authority — § 17.600.015, § 17.600.020, § 17.600.025
  • Comprehensive Plans / PD process — Chapter 17.560, § 17.560.005, § 17.560.010
  • Cannabis and short‑term rental prohibitions referenced in Article 2 — § 17.200.022 and Chapter 9.74 referenced for STRs
  • State ADU/housing summaries provided in the uploaded materials (California ADU handbook summary) — state ADU rules and timelines (see supplied state summary) .

Where to read the Westminster code

The Westminster municipal and zoning code is published on eCode360 — view the official Westminster code library. That lets you read the ordinance section by section.

GoCodebook goes beyond browsing eCode360 (see how they compare): it reads the Westminster ordinance together with the California Building Standards Code and answers your question — zoning, setbacks, FAR, height, ADUs, permits — with the controlling citation for your parcel.

Who this affects

Westminster homeownersReal estate developersArchitects & designersReal estate agentsInvestorsGeneral contractorsADU buildersPermit consultants

Frequently asked questions

What zoning districts does Westminster have?

Westminster's official district list is in § 17.200.010 and Table 2‑1: major families include R‑1, R‑2, R‑3, R‑4, R‑5 (residential), CR, C‑1, C‑2, CM (commercial), M‑1, M‑2 (industrial), MU36, MU40 (mixed‑use), and special purpose zones such as PF, P/OS, CEM, SP plus overlays like PD and H (§ 17.200.010) .

Where are the permitted uses and how do I know whether something is allowed by right?

Permitted uses and the required permit type (P, AUP, CUP) are enumerated in the Article 2 use tables tied to each district; the Code says permitted uses may require a Zoning Clearance (§ 17.515) or Development Review (§ 17.520) before construction permits are issued (§ 17.200.010) .

Do I need a permit to remodel or add on to my house in Westminster?

Yes — Title 17 makes it unlawful to establish or construct new structures or land uses except in compliance with the Title and states building/grading permits are issued only when the proposed use and site satisfy Title 17 and other laws (§ 17.100.020.C). Many smaller accessory items are exempt (see § 17.110.010), but most additions will require plan review and a building permit tied to zoning compliance (§ 17.110.010; § 17.100.020) .

What are the basic height and setback caps for houses?

Residential district standards are in Table 2‑3 and related text: single‑family R‑1 is generally limited to 2 stories / 35 ft maximum height; setbacks and specific exceptions are cross‑referenced to the Article 3 setback rules (see § 17.210.015 and § 17.300.020) .

How does Westminster handle mixed‑use or higher‑density projects?

Mixed‑use zones MU36 and MU40 have their own development table in § 17.260.015 (Table 2‑9) with explicit density caps (36 du/ac and 40 du/ac), height limits for mixed‑use buildings (e.g., MU36 up to 5 stories / 75 ft, MU40 up to 6 stories / 95 ft for mixed‑use), unit‑size minimums and FAR limits for non‑residential uses — projects must also follow Article 3 standards such as parking and landscaping (§ 17.260.015) .

Are there overlay rules that change the base zoning?

Yes. Westminster uses overlay zones (Chapter 17.250) such as the PD (Planned Development) and Housing (H) overlays; overlays append as suffixes on the base zone and their provisions apply in addition to, and may govern over, the base district where noted (§ 17.250.010; § 17.250.030; § 17.250.035) .

Does Westminster have rent control?

No rent‑control provisions are contained in the retrieved Title 17 excerpts. Title 17 is the zoning code; rent‑control (if any) would be located elsewhere in the Municipal Code or be a separate ordinance. That specific regulatory text was Not found in the retrieved Title 17 materials — verify with the City Attorney or City Clerk for any non‑zoning rent ordinances (Not found in retrieved materials) .

How long will the city take to review a housing development application?

For certain housing development applications that are subject to specific housing provisions, the Code sets a 60‑day decision window in some housing sections (e.g., a housing development provision included in Title 17 states an application shall be considered and approved or denied within 60 days of a complete application; otherwise it is deemed approved) — see the housing processing and limitation subsection and applicable state housing timeframes; general development review and other permit timelines are in Chapter 17.500 and subchapters (§ 17.100.020.C; relevant housing subsections) .

Can I build an ADU on my property in Westminster?

Westminster's Title 17 contains accessory‑structure provisions (e.g., § 17.400.130) but a clear, complete local ADU ordinance was not located in the retrieved Title 17 excerpts. State ADU law sets ministerial rules (timelines, minimum sizes, setbacks and certain parking waivers) and Title 17 states it does not exempt applicants from State law (§ 17.100.020.F). Applicants should submit ADU proposals under both state ADU rules and City plan check and consult the Planning Division to determine the local procedure and any City‑specific requirements (local ADU text Not found in retrieved materials; see state ADU summaries) .

Who makes the final land use decision and how are appeals handled?

Decision authority is tabulated in Table 5‑1 (Chapter 17.500.010) — the Director, Planning Commission, or City Council are the typical decision‑making bodies; the Council is the final appeal body for decisions of the Commission or Director and has final authority for General Plan, Specific Plan and zoning map/code amendments (§ 17.500.010; § 17.600.010) .

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