Westmorland — Overlay Districts

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Westmorland’s zoning ordinance establishes a single overlay district: the Recreational Vehicle Park (-RV) Overlay. When mapped, the -RV overlay adds RV park-specific allowances and standards on top of the base zoning district, and the stricter of the two sets of rules governs (§ 3.04; ). The overlay appears as a suffix on the zoning map (for example, C-RV), and its placement is adopted by zoning map amendment (§ 3.04; § 2.03; § 5.05; ).

Plain-English core rule: Where the -RV overlay is applied, it adds RV parks as a conditionally permitted use and imposes RV-park-specific standards; if overlay and base-zone rules conflict, the more stringent standard wins (§ 3.04; ).

This page focuses only on overlay content. For base-district allowances and dimensional rules, see the citywide Westmorland Zoning and Westmorland Development Standards.

-RV Recreational Vehicle Park Overlay

• Purpose and where it applies

  • Allows recreational vehicle (RV) parks “in areas suitable for such use,” mapped as a suffix to any underlying zoning district (e.g., C-RV) (§ 3.04; ). Applicability is established through a zoning map amendment; the official map is maintained by the City Clerk (§ 2.03; § 5.05; ).
  • Overlay regulations apply in addition to the principal zone; in any conflict, the stricter regulation controls (§ 3.04; ).

• What it allows (all require a CUP)

  • Recreational vehicle parks (two or more RVs stored and/or occupied as temporary residences) (§ 3.04; ).
  • Accessory uses: one on-site manager’s residence, vending, and recreation facilities for park occupants (§ 3.04; ).
  • Commercial activity necessary for park operation is allowed, but no signs for that commercial activity may be visible from a public street (§ 3.04; ).
  • All overlay uses are subject to a Conditional Use Permit per § 5.02 (§ 3.04(c); § 5.02; ). For CUP process steps and appeals, see Westmorland Design Review for related procedural context and the CUP procedures in § 5.02.

• Key dimensional/operational standards

  • Minimum parcel area 1.5 acres; minimum width 150 ft (§ 3.04(d); ).
  • Minimum RV site size 1,200 sq ft (§ 3.04(d); ).
  • Setbacks: front 15 ft; side yard none except as required by the building code for structure separation, plus 10 ft on street side of a corner lot; a 20 ft landscaped area is required on any side or rear yard adjoining an “R” zone (§ 3.04(d); ). Structure-separation references are to the adopted California Building Standards Code.
  • 10 ft separation between RV parking pads (§ 3.04(d); ).
  • Max building height 35 ft; max lot coverage 80% (§ 3.04(d); ).
  • Landscaping: all required yards must be landscaped (§ 3.04(d); ). See also Westmorland Landscaping and Screening.
  • Recreation area: minimum 5,000 sq ft, with potential for pools, playgrounds, picnic areas, and service building(s) with toilets, showers, laundry (§ 3.04(d); ).
  • Sanitation: toilets, lavatories, showers, laundry, trailer dump stations, and trash enclosures at specified ratios and distances (§ 3.04(d); ).
  • Visitor parking: 1 space per 15 RV sites; general off-street parking standards in § 4.05 also apply where relevant (§ 3.04(d); § 4.05; ).
  • Fences/walls/hedges per § 4.07 and citywide Westmorland Signage standards per § 4.08 also apply in addition to the overlay’s “no external advertising” rule for internal commercial activity (§ 4.07; § 4.08; § 3.04; ).

• Relationship to the base zone

  • All underlying permitted uses remain; the overlay adds RV parks and related standards. If overlay rules are stricter than base-zone rules (for example, a larger landscaped buffer next to “R” zones), the stricter rule applies (§ 3.04; ).
  • If a proposal cannot meet a specific development standard, the city’s variance process in § 5.04 may be available on a case-by-case basis (§ 5.04; ). Also see Westmorland Variances and Exceptions.

• How it’s shown and adopted

  • The official zoning map is the controlling record; the -RV suffix is appended to the base zoning (e.g., C-RV), and adoption/amendment follows the zoning map/text amendment procedures in § 5.05 (§ 2.03; § 3.04; § 5.05; ). For broader policy context, see Westmorland Land Use and the citywide Westmorland zoning & planning overview.

Key -RV Overlay Standards and Uses

Checklist

• Confirm your parcel is mapped with the -RV overlay on the official zoning map (§ 2.03; ).
• Prepare a complete Conditional Use Permit application addressing all overlay standards, including sanitation and recreation facilities (§ 3.04(c)-(d); § 5.02; ).
• Demonstrate compliance with setbacks, separation distances, and buffers (10 ft RV-to-RV; 20 ft landscaped area next to “R” zones) (§ 3.04(d); ).
• Provide required recreation area (5,000 sq ft) and visitor parking (1 per 15 sites) (§ 3.04(d); ).
• Prepare landscaping and signage plans consistent with overlay and citywide standards (§ 3.04(d); § 4.07; § 4.08; ).
• If your design relies on relief from a standard, evaluate variance eligibility (§ 5.04; ).
• Coordinate base-district requirements alongside overlay rules; the more stringent standard applies (§ 3.04; ).
• If an existing RV-related use doesn’t meet current standards, assess status under nonconforming use rules (§ 5.03; ).

Risks & Ambiguities

Information Gaps

• Other overlay districts beyond -RV: Not found in retrieved materials (§ 3.04 is the only overlay listed in the ordinance table of contents; ).
• Geographic extent or specific parcels currently mapped with -RV: Not found in retrieved materials; consult the official zoning map (§ 2.03; ).
• Any City-administered design review thresholds specific to RV parks: Not found in retrieved materials; Verify with the jurisdiction.

Plain-English Summary

Westmorland uses one overlay, the -RV Recreational Vehicle Park Overlay, to enable RV parks where the City maps it. If your parcel has the -RV suffix, you can apply for a CUP to build an RV park, but you must meet specific site size, buffers, separation, sanitation, and recreation-area rules, plus citywide parking, signage, and landscaping standards. The stricter rule—overlay or base zone—always applies.

Source References

• § 3.04 Recreational Vehicle Park (-RV) Overlay Zone; standards, permitted uses, CUP trigger, suffix mapping
• § 2.03 Zoning Map; official map custody and effect
• § 5.05 Zoning Map and Text Amendments; adoption/amendment procedures
• § 5.02 Conditional Use Permits; process, findings, appeals, revocation
• § 4.05 Off-Street Parking Requirements; citywide standards
• § 4.07 Fences, Walls and Hedges
• § 4.08 Signs
• § 5.03 Nonconforming Uses
• § 5.04 Variances
• Ordinance No. 13-01 Table of Contents noting § 3.04 as the only overlay section

Retrieved passages

• CBC § 5.02 (Section 5.02) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 5.02 (section 5.02) High relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (Section 4.7) High relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (Section 18907) Medium relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (Section 4.5) Medium relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (Section 4.5) Medium relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (SECTION 6.00-ADDITIONAL) Medium relevance show source text
• Westmorland Zoning Code (SECTION 5.02) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• § 3.04 Recreational Vehicle Park (-RV) Overlay Zone; standards, permitted uses, CUP trigger, suffix mapping (§ 3.04)
• § 2.03 Zoning Map; official map custody and effect (§ 2.03)
• § 5.05 Zoning Map and Text Amendments; adoption/amendment procedures (§ 5.05)
• § 5.02 Conditional Use Permits; process, findings, appeals, revocation (§ 5.02)
• § 4.05 Off-Street Parking Requirements; citywide standards (§ 4.05)
• § 4.07 Fences, Walls and Hedges (§ 4.07)
• § 4.08 Signs (§ 4.08)
• § 5.03 Nonconforming Uses (§ 5.03)
• § 5.04 Variances (§ 5.04)
• Ordinance No. 13-01 Table of Contents noting § 3.04 as the only overlay section (§ 3.04)
• Westmorland_ZoningCode.md