Whittier — Overlay Districts

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Whittier’s zoning ordinance establishes a small set of overlay tools that modify how underlying zones are used or developed. The code explicitly uses the P (Parking) and PD (Planned Development) overlays and also implements a built-in housing overlay expressed as the C‑2‑HO (General Commercial with Housing Overlay) zone. The ordinance explains how overlays are shown on the official zoning map, what each overlay permits or restricts, and the basic development standards that apply where the overlay is the controlling regulation. See the citywide Whittier zoning & planning overview and the municipal Whittier Zoning pages for context.

Overlay districts in Whittier — district-by-district

P (Parking) overlay

Purpose and where shown

• The P overlay is created and shown on the official zoning map by adding “(P)” after the existing zoning symbol; it is created in the same manner as a rezone (§ 18.36.010) .

Typical permitted uses

• A lot in the P overlay may be used, in lieu of its underlying zone, exclusively for off‑street parking that serves a principal use located within 100 feet of the parking lot boundaries (§ 18.36.020) .

Key development rules and standards

• Off‑street parking facilities must comply with the off‑street parking chapter (Chapter § 18.48) and applicable design standards (§ 18.36.020(A)) .
• Required yard areas from the underlying zoning must still be observed and must be landscaped and permanently maintained, including installation of permanent irrigation (§ 18.36.020(B)) .
• No lot may be classified P unless vehicular/pedestrian access is controlled (e.g., by conveyance of access rights to the city or other measures) to avoid unsafe traffic or unreasonable impacts on adjacent residential streets (§ 18.36.030) .

Practical guidance

• Use P to provide remote or shared parking for nearby commercial or institutional uses; you'll need to show the relationship to the principal use and follow Chapter 18.48 parking standards. See the city’s Whittier Parking page for procedural context.

PD (Planned Development) overlay

Purpose and where shown

• The PD overlay is applied by adding “(PD)” after the parent zoning symbol on the zoning map; PDs are created the same way a property is reclassified (§ 18.42.010) .
• The PD mechanism is intended to provide flexibility for controlled development, preserve natural features, or allow projects with unique design elements (e.g., private common facilities, senior housing) while ensuring general plan and neighborhood compatibility (§ 18.42.020) .

Typical permitted uses

• Uses in a PD are the uses allowed by the underlying zone; nothing in a PD permits a use disallowed by the underlying base zone (§ 18.42.030) .
• Accessory uses allowed in the underlying zone are also allowed within a PD (§ 18.42.030) .

Key development rules and standards

• A development plan is required for PDs; the ordinance sets out submittal, plan content and review requirements (see § 18.42.040 for the required development plan items and procedure) (§ 18.42.040) .
• PDs are intended to permit deviations from numerical standards only as approved in the development plan process; any such flexibility must still be consistent with the general plan and specific plan (if applicable) (§ 18.42.020 & § 18.42.040) .

Practical guidance

• Use PD when a development needs tailored standards or site‑specific design exceptions (common in large multifamily, senior housing or master‑planned projects). Expect a formal development plan and the required public review; consult the city’s Whittier Design Review and Whittier Variances and Exceptions pages early.

C‑2‑HO (General Commercial with Housing Overlay)

Note: this is a zone that incorporates a housing overlay into the commercial district rather than a parenthetical overlay symbol, but it functions as an overlayed regulatory regime for the C‑2 land use type (§ 18.08.010) .

Purpose and where shown

• C‑2‑HO implements the General Commercial with Housing Overlay land use and appears as a distinct zone on the zoning map (§ 18.08.010) .

Typical permitted uses

• The overlay allows mixed‑use development and a broad range of commercial uses combined with residential. The allowable uses and approval requirements are presented in Table 18.30.040‑B (e.g., Mixed‑Use Development: P, accessory dwelling units: A, certain alcohol sales require CUP) (§ 18.30.040‑B) .

Key dimensional and design standards (decision‑relevant highlights)

• The development standards for C‑2‑HO are in Table 18.30.040‑C. Notable controls include:
  • Maximum density: 25 du/ac (§ 18.30.040‑C) .
  • Maximum FAR: 0.75 (§ 18.30.040‑C) .
  • Maximum primary building height: 40 ft (accessory structures 25 ft) (§ 18.30.040‑C) .
  • Front setback (build‑to): 15 ft minimum; street side: 5 ft minimum; rear: 5 ft minimum (with step‑back requirements where adjacent to single‑family zones) (§ 18.30.040‑C) .
  • Private + common open space: 300 sf/du minimum combined (§ 18.30.040‑C) .
  • Parking rules allow reductions for mixed‑use subject to shared/joint use provisions; stand‑alone nonresidential uses must supply parking per § 18.48.020 (§ 18.30.040‑C) .

Design controls and step‑backs

• Buildings on C‑2‑HO parcels must provide a building step back at the third story and above where adjacent to single‑family uses; no portion of the building (excluding parapets) may extend above an imaginary 45‑degree plane measured from the single‑family property line (§ 18.30.040‑C(3)) .

Practical guidance

• If you are developing residential over commercial in a C‑2‑HO area, expect to comply with the numeric limits above, provide the minimum open space, and satisfy the step‑back and landscaping rules; consult the Whittier Development Standards and Whittier Parking pages early. Design review thresholds and how discretionary review is handled are in the development review chapter (§ 18.56) and design review board rules (§ 18.56.045) .

Quick comparison (overlay functions)

• P (Parking): temporary/functional overlay that changes permitted use to shared/remote parking for an identified principal use (§ 18.36.010–.030) .
• PD (Planned Development): flexible overlay allowing site‑specific standards and design via a development plan; retains underlying allowed uses (§ 18.42.010–.040) .
• C‑2‑HO: a commercial zone variant that embeds housing allowances and tailored development standards (density, FAR, height, setbacks, step‑backs) in Tables 18.30.040‑B/C (§ 18.30.040‑B/C) .

Key standards and permitted uses (decision table)

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy (basic)

• Confirm overlay designation on the official zoning map and underlying base zone (verify parcel) (§ 18.08.020) . Verify with the jurisdiction.
• For P: demonstrate the principal use is within 100 ft, show access controls and comply with Chapter 18.48 parking standards (§ 18.36.020–.030) .
• For PD: prepare a complete development plan per § 18.42.040 and demonstrate consistency with the general plan and any applicable specific plan (§ 18.42.020–.040) .
• For C‑2‑HO: check allowable uses in Table 18.30.040‑B and confirm dimensional compliance with Table 18.30.040‑C (density, FAR, height, setbacks, open space) (§ 18.30.040‑B/C) .
• Determine whether the project triggers design review or planning commission review (see § 18.56.045) and route accordingly (§ 18.56.045) .
• Prepare required parking, landscaping/irrigation, and step‑back/adjacency treatments per the cited tables and Chapters 18.48 and 18.99/18.93 as applicable (§ 18.30.040‑C and § 18.48) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Whittier uses a few clear overlay tools: P lets a lot be used for off‑site parking for a nearby principal use; PD is a flexible planned‑development overlay that lets the city approve site‑specific standards via a development plan while keeping the underlying uses; and C‑2‑HO is the General Commercial district that explicitly allows housing and sets density, FAR, height, setback and open‑space rules. Refer to the cited code sections for exact limits and bring plans to the city early — verify parcel‑specific overlay status. See the Whittier Development Standards and Whittier Parking pages for related procedures.

Source References

• Table of zones and overlay note (P and PD may be applied to certain zones): § 18.08.010
• Parking Overlay (creation, permitted uses, access and landscaping): § 18.36.010, § 18.36.020, § 18.36.030
• Planned Development (PD) overlay — creation, purpose, uses and development plan requirement: § 18.42.010, § 18.42.020, § 18.42.030, § 18.42.040
• General Commercial with Housing Overlay — allowable uses and approval requirements: Table 18.30.040‑B (§ 18.30.040)
• General Commercial with Housing Overlay — development standards (density, FAR, height, setbacks, open space, parking): Table 18.30.040‑C (§ 18.30.040)
• Development review and design review thresholds and procedure (who reviews): § 18.56.040–.045, § 18.56.050
• Off‑street parking standards and joint/shared parking rules: Chapter § 18.48 (referenced throughout)

Retrieved passages

• Whittier Zoning Code (Title or) Medium relevance show source text
• Whittier Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text
• Whittier Zoning Code (chapter shall) Medium relevance show source text
• Whittier Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Whittier Zoning Code (title or) Medium relevance show source text
• Whittier Zoning Code (Chapter 18.47) Medium relevance show source text
• Whittier Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance show source text
• Whittier Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Table of zones and overlay note (P and PD may be applied to certain zones): § **18.08.010**
• Parking Overlay (creation, permitted uses, access and landscaping): § **18.36.010**, § **18.36.020**, § **18.36.030**
• Planned Development (PD) overlay — creation, purpose, uses and development plan requirement: § **18.42.010**, § **18.42.020**, § **18.42.030**, § **18.42.040**
• General Commercial with Housing Overlay — allowable uses and approval requirements: Table **18.30.040‑B** (§ **18.30.040**)
• General Commercial with Housing Overlay — development standards (density, FAR, height, setbacks, open space, parking): Table **18.30.040‑C** (§ **18.30.040**)
• Development review and design review thresholds and procedure (who reviews): § **18.56.040–.045**, § **18.56.050** fileciteturn0file8
• Off‑street parking standards and joint/shared parking rules: Chapter **§ 18.48** (referenced throughout) (§ 18.48)
• Whittier_ZoningCode.md

• Official Whittier code library