Local zoning · Westmorland

Westmorland — Zoning

Q: Where can recreational vehicle parks go?

Only where the -RV Overlay is mapped over a base zone, and only with a Conditional Use Permit. Standards include a 1.5-acre minimum site, 1,200 sf per RV site, 10 ft separation between RVs, and required recreation/sanitation facilities (§ 3.04).

Q: Are there special rules near residential zones for commercial or industrial sites?

Yes. In C , sides/rears next to or across from an “R” zone require extra setbacks (typically 10–15 ft). In I , sides and rears adjacent to “R” zones increase (15–25 ft). Confirm if alleys/ROWs create adjacency (§ 3.05(d), § 3.06(d)).

Zoning under the Westmorland local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Westmorland regulates land use through its citywide zoning ordinance adopted as Ordinance No. 13-01, which establishes base zones, an RV overlay, a zoning map, and development standards that control what can be built and where. The city’s official zoning map is adopted by reference and kept by the City Clerk; all parcels must comply with their mapped zone and any applicable overlay. See the Westmorland zoning & planning overview for context and how zoning fits with broader land use policy. Map adoption/process and zone classifications are set in § 2.01–2.05 .

You can only use land or construct/alter a structure in Westmorland if the zoning ordinance permits it; everything else is prohibited unless authorized under a listed process (§ 1.04).

Zoning Map and How It Works

The city establishes zones and locations on the official zoning map; amendments are dated and a certified copy is kept with the City Clerk (§ 2.02–2.03). Zone boundaries generally follow streets/alleys/lot lines; if uncertain, the City Council determines their location (§ 2.04). Newly annexed land defaults to R-1 unless prezoned (§ 2.05).
Base zones listed in § 2.01: R-1, R-2, R-2-T, R-3, R-4, C, I, OS; plus an -RV Overlay. Detailed standards are provided for most, but not all, of these designations (see Information Gaps).

District-by-District Standards and Guidance

R-1 — Single Family Residential

Purpose: Low-density single-family areas on lots not less than 6,000 sf; protect from incompatible uses (§ 3.01(a)).
Typical permitted uses: Single-family dwellings; on very large lots (>15,000 sf), a detached second dwelling unit with at least 20 ft separation; accessory structures (§ 3.01(b)).
Conditional uses: Second dwelling units under legacy criteria, churches, schools, public services, parks, utilities, home occupations (§ 3.01(c)). Note: second-unit rules here predate current state ADU law; see Westmorland ADUs and California ADU law (§ 3.01(c)).
Key development standards: Front 20 ft (carport encroachment possible with Planning Commission approval if open-frame and safe sight lines), side 5 ft (corner side 8 ft), rear 20 ft, height 35 ft, lot coverage 50%; lot width 50 ft; text shows a second “lot width 120 ft” line that functions as a lot depth 120 ft minimum—verify with staff (§ 3.01(d)). Off-street parking per § 4.05; fences § 4.07; signs § 4.08.
Where it applies: As mapped on the zoning map (§ 2.03).

R-2 — Low/Medium Density Multi-Family

Purpose: Multi-family at low/medium densities; minimum lot area 6,000 sf (§ 3.02(a)).
Permitted: Any R-1 use; two- and three-family dwellings; accessories (§ 3.02(b)).
Conditional: 4+ unit buildings (less than 15), churches, schools, public services, parks, utilities, home occupations (§ 3.02(c)).
Standards: Density ≥ 2,000 sf/unit; lot area 7,000 sf; width 50 ft; depth 140 ft; front 20 ft; side 5 ft (corner 8 ft); rear 20 ft; height 35 ft; coverage 50%; parking/signs/fences cross-refer to § 4.05/4.08/4.07 (§ 3.02(d)).
Where: As mapped (§ 2.03).

R-3 — Medium/High Density Residential

Purpose/uses/standards: Not found in retrieved materials beyond its listing in the city’s classification of zones (§ 2.01).
Where: As mapped (§ 2.03). Verify with the jurisdiction.

R-4 — High Density Multi-Family

Purpose: Enable high-density multi-family development (§ 3.03(a)).
Permitted: Single-family dwellings; mobile home parks subject to § 4.10; accessories (§ 3.03(b)).
Conditional: Multi-family up to four units; 4+ family dwellings; churches; schools; public services; parks; utilities; home occupations (§ 3.03(c)).
Standards: Density ≥ 1,500 sf/unit; lot area 7,500 sf; width 50 ft; depth 140 ft; front 15 ft; side 5 ft (corner 8 ft); rear 20 ft; height 35 ft; coverage 50%; parking/fences/signs per § 4.05/4.07/4.08 (§ 3.03(d)).
Where: As mapped (§ 2.03).

C — Commercial

Purpose: Serve retail, office, lodging, and compatible commercial services.
Permitted: Retail; financial/professional offices; commercial recreation; private nonprofit institutions; hotels/motels; parking lots; transportation terminals (§ 3.05(b)).
Conditional: Auto repair/paint/wash; churches; schools; heavy ag equipment sales/rental; public services; parks; utilities; wholesale distributors; storage of empty bee hives (§ 3.05(c)).
Standards: Lot 7,500 sf; width 50 ft; depth 150 ft; front 10 ft; side none except per the California Building Standards Code for building separation; corner side 10 ft; 15 ft side/rear where abutting or across from an R zone; height 35 ft; coverage 80%; parking/loading/signs/fences per § 4.05/4.06/4.08/4.07 (§ 3.05(d)).
Where: Downtown corridors and mapped commercial sites; confirm on the zoning map (§ 2.03).

I — Industrial

Purpose: Wholesale, assembly, processing, and uses needing large storage areas (§ 3.06(a)).
Permitted: General manufacturing/processing not obnoxious; wholesale/warehouse; manufacturing; storage of empty bee hives; tractor/truck repair/paint/wash (§ 3.06(b)).
Conditional: Large public assemblages; commercial storage of oil/gas/petroleum (§ 3.06(c)).
Standards: Front 15 ft; side 10 ft on corner street side; 15 ft where adjoining any R zone; rear 25 ft where abutting/across rear street from any R zone; height 50 ft; no minimum lot area; parking/loading/signs/fences per § 4.05/4.06/4.08/4.07 (§ 3.06(d)).
Where: Mapped industrial areas; verify adjacency to residential as setbacks increase near “R” zones (§ 3.06(d)).

OS — Open Space

Purpose: Preserve resources, enable managed production, outdoor recreation, and protect health/safety (§ 3.07(a)).
Permitted: Agriculture, habitat preservation, hazard management areas, outdoor recreation/parks/utility easements (§ 3.07(b)).
Conditional: Commercial recreation; residential uses on parcels ≥ 10 acres; public utilities; city civic facilities (§ 3.07(c)).
Where: Mapped OS areas, riparian and utility corridors per the zoning map (§ 2.03).

-RV — Recreational Vehicle Park Overlay

Purpose: Allows RV parks in suitable areas on top of an underlying zone; more stringent rules control in conflicts (§ 3.04(a)). All RV park uses require a CUP (§ 3.04(c)).
Key standards: Min site 1.5 acres; width 150 ft; RV site size 1,200 sf; front 15 ft; side/rear: no minimum except building separation and increased landscaped buffers next to “R” zones; 10 ft separation between RVs; height 35 ft; coverage 80%; required recreation area (5,000 sf+), sanitation, trash, and visitor parking (1 per 15 sites) (§ 3.04(d)).
Where: Any base zone mapped with an “-RV” suffix (e.g., C-RV) on the city zoning map (§ 3.04(a); § 2.03).

Citywide Rules That Often Affect Your Project

Front yard averaging and height exceptions: limited averaging when adjacent front setbacks are less than required, and certain vertical projections are exempt from height limits (§ 4.03(a)–(b)).
Access: every new building must front a public street with safe service and parking access (§ 4.02; § 4.05). Residential parking minimum is 1.5 spaces per unit, plus other use-specific counts in § 4.05.
Accessory uses, fences/walls/hedges, and signage: see § 4.04, § 4.07, § 4.08.
Home occupations: regulated citywide (§ 4.09). Not found in retrieved materials beyond the title; verify details with the City.
Mobile home park standards: see § 4.10; cross-references state rules (Title 25), plus fencing/screening and parking requirements (§ 4.10).
Use classification, nonconforming uses, and variances and exceptions: § 5.01, § 5.03, § 5.04.
Housing density bonus and concessions for income-restricted/senior housing: § 6.04 (percentages and incentives). Always align with current California housing laws if updated after the ordinance.

Quick Standards Snapshot

District	Min Lot Area / Density	Key Setbacks (front/side/rear)	Height	Lot Coverage	Example Permitted Uses	Code Reference
R-1	6,000 sf; legacy “second unit” rules on >15,000 sf lots	20 ft / 5 ft (8 ft corner) / 20 ft	35 ft	50%	Single-family; accessory structures	§ 3.01(b), § 3.01(d)
R-2	7,000 sf; ≥2,000 sf/unit	20 ft / 5 ft (8 ft corner) / 20 ft	35 ft	50%	Duplex/triplex; R-1 uses	§ 3.02(b)–(d)
R-4	7,500 sf; ≥1,500 sf/unit	15 ft / 5 ft (8 ft corner) / 20 ft	35 ft	50%	Single-family; mobile home parks	§ 3.03(b)–(d)
C	7,500 sf	10 ft / 0 ft (see building separation), 10 ft corner; 15 ft next to R	35 ft	80%	Retail, offices, lodging	§ 3.05(b)–(d)
I	None	15 ft / 10 ft corner; 15 ft side and 25 ft rear when near R	50 ft	n/a	Manufacturing, wholesale	§ 3.06(b)–(d)
OS	Not specified	Case-by-case via CUP for non-open-space	n/a	n/a	Agriculture, preservation, recreation	§ 3.07(a)–(c)
-RV	1.5 acres (park); 1,200 sf per RV site	15 ft front; landscaped buffers next to R; 10 ft between RVs	35 ft	80%	RV parks + accessory services (CUP)	§ 3.04(c)–(d)

Checklist

Confirm your parcel’s base zone and any overlays on the city’s zoning map (§ 2.03).
Verify the use is permitted or conditionally permitted; if unlisted, seek a “Classification of Use” (§ 5.01) or a CUP (§ 5.02).
Apply the base district’s lot size, density, setbacks, height, and coverage; then layer in citywide rules like parking, signage, and fences (§ 3.01–3.07, § 4.05, § 4.08, § 4.07).
Check for special averaging/height exceptions (§ 4.03) and whether a variance is needed (§ 5.04).
If housing with affordable or senior units, assess eligibility for density bonus/incentives (§ 6.04).
If proposing a second/“accessory” unit on an R-1 lot, compare legacy local rules (§ 3.01(c)) with current state ADU law; follow the most current rules.
For projects in the -RV overlay or mobile home parks, use § 3.04 and § 4.10.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
R-3 standards missing	The ordinance lists an R-3 zone in classifications but no dedicated standards section was retrieved	Ask Planning for the operative R-3 standards or confirm if superseded (§ 2.01).
R-1 “Lot Width 120 ft” line	The table appears to mislabel what likely is “lot depth”	Confirm minimum lot depth for R-1 with staff (§ 3.01(d)).
Older “second unit” rules in R-1	Local criteria pre-date modern ADU law; conflicts can change approvals	Use current California ADU law and city ADU guidance; do not rely solely on § 3.01(c).
Yard reductions via averaging	Averaging under § 4.03(a) is narrow; misapplication leads to noncompliance	Document adjacent setbacks and confirm averaging eligibility with Planning.
Commercial/industrial yards by “proximity to R”	Extra yards trigger when abutting or across rights-of-way from “R”	Map adjacency carefully and apply the larger yard where required (§ 3.05(d); § 3.06(d)).
Home occupation, landscaping specifics	Only headings or partial text were retrieved	Obtain the full text for § 4.09 and city landscaping and screening standards.
Zoning map currency	Entitlements depend on the latest map	Confirm your parcel’s current zone/overlays with the City Clerk’s certified map (§ 2.03).

Plain-English Summary

Zoning in Westmorland tells you what you can build on your lot and the size and placement rules to follow. Find your zone on the official map, check the base rules for setbacks, height, and coverage, then layer in citywide items like parking, signage, and any overlays. If you need a use not listed, there’s a path to request a determination or a conditional use permit; if you hit a hardship on setbacks or height, a variance may be possible.

Source References

Ordinance No. 13-01, Purpose/Compliance/Definitions: § 1.01–1.05
Establishment of Zones/Map/Boundaries/Annexations: § 2.01–2.05
Zones and Standards: R-1 § 3.01 ; R-2 § 3.02 ; R-4 § 3.03 ; -RV Overlay § 3.04 ; C § 3.05 ; I § 3.06 ; OS § 3.07
Supplementary Provisions: § 4.01–4.10 (access, averaging/height exceptions, accessory uses, parking, loading, fences, signage, home occupations, mobile home park standards)
Procedures: § 5.01–5.06 (use classification, CUPs, nonconforming uses, variances and exceptions, amendments, enforcement)
Additional Residential Provisions: § 6.01–6.04 (second units, shelters, reasonable accommodation, density bonus)

Information Gaps

Detailed standards for the R-3 zone: Not found in retrieved materials (only listed in § 2.01). Verify with the jurisdiction.
Full text of § 4.09 Home Occupation Regulations and any comprehensive landscaping/screening standards: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Westmorland Zoning Code (ARTICLE I.) High relevance
Westmorland Zoning Code (SECTION 1.04) High relevance
Westmorland Zoning Code (SECTION 5.02) High relevance
CBC § 4.5 (Section 4.5) High relevance
Westmorland Zoning Code (Section 4.5) High relevance
Westmorland Zoning Code (SECTION 2.03) High relevance
CRC § 1.02 (Article I.) High relevance
Westmorland Zoning Code (Section 4.5) High relevance

Cited sections

Ordinance No. 13-01, Purpose/Compliance/Definitions: **§ 1.01–1.05** (§ 1.01)
Establishment of Zones/Map/Boundaries/Annexations: **§ 2.01–2.05** (§ 2.01)
Zones and Standards: **R-1 § 3.01** ; **R-2 § 3.02** ; **R-4 § 3.03** ; **-RV Overlay § 3.04** ; **C § 3.05** ; **I § 3.06** ; **OS § 3.07** (§ 3.01)
Supplementary Provisions: **§ 4.01–4.10** (access, averaging/height exceptions, accessory uses, parking, loading, fences, signage, home occupations, mobile home park standards) (§ 4.01)
Procedures: **§ 5.01–5.06** (use classification, CUPs, nonconforming uses, variances and exceptions, amendments, enforcement) (§ 5.01)
Additional Residential Provisions: **§ 6.01–6.04** (second units, shelters, reasonable accommodation, density bonus) (§ 6.01)
Westmorland_ZoningCode.md

Frequently asked questions

What can I build on an R-1 lot in Westmorland?

A single-family home is permitted on a lot at least 6,000 sf. Setbacks are 20 ft front, 5 ft side (8 ft on a corner), and 20 ft rear; height max is 35 ft and lot coverage 50%. On lots over 15,000 sf, a detached second unit can be allowed with special conditions, but current ADU law may supersede some local limits (§ 3.01).

How many units can I put on an R-2 parcel?

Two- and three-family dwellings are permitted; 4 or more units (but fewer than 15) require a Conditional Use Permit. Minimum density is 2,000 sf of lot area per unit, and a typical parcel must be at least 7,000 sf (§ 3.02(d)).

What are the key setbacks for R-4 high-density sites?

R-4 front yards are 15 ft, sides 5 ft (8 ft on corners), and rear yards 20 ft. Height is capped at 35 ft; lot coverage at 50%; density is at least 1,500 sf of lot area per unit (§ 3.03(d)).

Are auto repair shops allowed in Westmorland?

Yes, but generally as a Conditional Use in the Commercial zone. Auto repair, painting, and washing are listed CUPs in C; in I zones, broader industrial activities are permitted by right (§ 3.05(c), § 3.06(b)).

What if my project needs less front setback than the zone requires?

There is a limited “front setback averaging” allowance when both adjacent lots have smaller setbacks; also, vertical projections like chimneys may exceed height limits. Check the exact criteria in § 4.03 before relying on these exceptions.

Where can recreational vehicle parks go?

Only where the -RV Overlay is mapped over a base zone, and only with a Conditional Use Permit. Standards include a 1.5-acre minimum site, 1,200 sf per RV site, 10 ft separation between RVs, and required recreation/sanitation facilities (§ 3.04).

Do I need a variance or a CUP for a use not listed?

If your use isn’t listed, you can request a “Classification of Use” to see if it’s similar to a permitted use (§ 5.01). Otherwise, you may need a Conditional Use Permit (§ 5.02) or, for relief from dimensional standards due to hardship, a variance (§ 5.04).

What are the parking requirements for housing?

Provide at least 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit unless other standards apply. Commercial/industrial parking counts and all dimensional criteria (9 ft x 20 ft spaces) are in § 4.05. Always check if your specific use has a higher requirement (§ 4.05).

Are there special rules near residential zones for commercial or industrial sites?

Yes. In C, sides/rears next to or across from an “R” zone require extra setbacks (typically 10–15 ft). In I, sides and rears adjacent to “R” zones increase (15–25 ft). Confirm if alleys/ROWs create adjacency (§ 3.05(d), § 3.06(d)).

Does Westmorland require design review?

Not found in retrieved materials. Some projects may undergo discretionary review via CUPs or map/text amendments; verify any design review triggers with Planning (§ 5.02, § 5.05).

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