Winters — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page explains what the Winters Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) allows and requires for land use in each local zoning district and in the downtown form-based districts. It summarizes permitted (P), conditionally permitted (C), and prohibited uses, key dimensional standards (lot size, setbacks), and where to look in the code for parcel‑specific rules. For the downtown area you must also follow the form‑based code and design review standards. § 17.04.010; § 17.52.010; § 17.58.010.

How the Winters code organizes land use

• The city uses a Land Use/Zone Matrix to show which uses are Permitted (P), Conditional (C) or Not permitted (N) in each zone; consult the matrix in § 17.52.020 and Table 2 for the full matrix.
• Permitted uses are allowed without discretionary review if they meet development standards; conditional uses require a use permit (Chapter 17.20) and public hearing. § 17.52.010(B)–(D); § 17.20.030.
• Accessory uses are allowed in all districts; uses not listed are classified by the community development director and may be treated as prohibited if not similar to an allowed category. § 17.52.010(D)–(E).
• The zoning map is adopted by reference; parcel‑level application requires checking the official map and possibly the Planned Development (P‑D) overlay. § 17.04.060; Chapter 17.48.

Note: Off‑street parking standards are in a separate table (Table 6) and are enforced with land use approvals. See Table 6 and § 17.72.020 for calculation rules. /us/california/winters/parking § 17.72.020.

District‑by‑district breakdown

Below each district is summarized with its purpose, typical permitted uses (high‑level), key dimensional standards drawn from the code tables, and where that district’s rules live in Title 17. Always verify a parcel’s exact zoning, the Land Use/Zone Matrix box for the specific use, and any overlays that apply.

Notes on sources: the base district list and cross references are in Table 1; the full Land Use/Zone Matrix is in § 17.52.020 (Table 2); lot standards are in Table 3B; setbacks and building standards are in Table 4.

A-1 (General Agriculture) — § 17.44.010

• Purpose: Preserve agricultural uses and low‑intensity rural uses. § 17.44.010.
• Typical permitted uses: agricultural operations, crop production, some animal production (see Land Use/Zone Matrix for details). § 17.52.020 (Table 2).
• Key dimensional standards: Minimum lot area: 5 acres; minimum width 300 ft (Table 3B).
• Where it applies: uses mapped as A‑1 on the city zoning map; agricultural parcels and fringe lands. § 17.04.060.

R‑R (Rural Residential) — § 17.44.020

• Purpose: Low‑density residential/rural lots. § 17.44.020.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family homes and limited accessory uses; check Table 2 for conditional uses (e.g., some small agricultural activities). § 17.52.020.
• Key dimensional standards: Minimum lot area: 1 acre; minimum width 100 ft (Table 3B).

R‑1 (Single‑Family Residential) — § 17.44.030

• Purpose: Conventional single‑family development at low density. § 17.44.030.
• Typical permitted uses: detached single‑family residential, accessory dwellings (see ADU rules), home occupations (subject to limits). § 17.52.020.
• Key dimensional standards: Minimum lot area: 7,000 sf average (6,000 sf absolute minimum); minimum width 60 ft (Table 3B). § 17.44.030; Table 3B.
• Practical note: ADUs must also comply with state ADU law and local ADU rules—see Winters ADUs and California ADU law. /us/california/winters/adu /us/california/california-adu-laws

R‑2 (One‑ and Two‑Family Residential) — § 17.44.040

• Purpose: Medium density for single‑ and two‑family units. § 17.44.040.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family, duplexes (with special lot size rules), accessory uses. § 17.52.020.
• Key dimensional standards: Minimum lot area: 6,000 sf average (5,000 sf absolute minimum); minimum width 50 ft (Table 3B). § 17.44.040; Table 3B.

R‑3 (Multi‑Family Residential) — § 17.44.050

• Purpose: Medium/high density multifamily housing. § 17.44.050.
• Typical permitted uses: townhouses, apartments, and accessory uses; density and lot standards vary (see Table 3B and § 17.60 for subdivisions/density bonus rules). § 17.52.020; § 17.60.020.
• Key dimensional standards: Lot sizes and widths: see Table 3B (6,000/10,000 sf; 60/80 ft depending on unit type).

R‑4 (High‑Density Multi‑Family) — § 17.44.060

• Purpose: Highest residential density in the city. § 17.44.060.
• Typical permitted uses: higher‑rise multifamily structures subject to density limits and design review where applicable. § 17.52.020.
• Key dimensional standards: Minimum lot area: 10,000 sf; minimum width 80 ft (Table 3B).

C‑1 (Neighborhood Commercial) — § 17.44.070

• Purpose: Small‑scale retail and services serving neighborhood needs. § 17.44.070.
• Typical permitted uses: retail sales, personal services, offices, small restaurants (see the matrix for where restaurants are P vs C). § 17.52.020.
• Key dimensional standards: Minimum lot area: 10,000 sf; minimum width 80 ft (Table 3B).

C‑2 (Central Business District) — § 17.44.080

• Purpose: Downtown/commercial core; note the downtown form‑based code (Chapter 17.58) overlays parts of this. § 17.44.080; Chapter 17.58.
• Typical permitted uses: broader range of retail, offices, restaurants; downtown rules (D‑A and D‑B) set building form and use allowances—see Table 17.58‑2 for downtown permitted uses. § 17.58.015; Table 17.58‑2.
• Key standards: downtown has maximum 45 ft height in many areas, 20 dwelling units/acre cap in downtown, and form‑based setbacks/entrances; design review is mandatory for qualifying projects. § 17.58.060; § 17.58.015.

C‑H (Highway Service Commercial) — § 17.44.090

• Purpose: Commercial uses oriented to highway frontage (service stations, motels). § 17.44.090.
• Typical permitted uses: service stations, drive‑up services where allowed (confirm downtown ban on drive‑thru). § 17.52.020; § 17.58.070 (downtown drive‑thru ban).

O‑F (Office) — § 17.44.100

• Purpose: Professional, administrative, and similar office uses. § 17.44.100.
• Typical permitted uses: office, small support services. § 17.52.020.
• Key dimensional standards: Minimum lot area: 10,000 sf; width 80 ft (Table 3B).

B/P (Business/Industrial Park) — § 17.44.110

• Purpose: Light industrial/business park development with planned site design. § 17.44.110.
• Typical permitted uses: light manufacturing, offices, warehousing with limits on nuisance impacts. § 17.52.020.
• Key dimensional standards: Minimum lot area: 10,000 sf; width 80 ft (Table 3B).

M‑1 (Light Industrial) — § 17.44.120

• Purpose: Light industrial operations generally enclosed and with low nuisance potential. § 17.44.120.
• Typical permitted uses: manufacturing, light assembly, limited outdoor storage (screened), office in support of primary industrial use. § 17.56.030; § 17.52.020.
• Key dimensional standards: Minimum lot area: 10,000 sf; width 80 ft (Table 3B).

M‑2 (Heavy Industrial) — § 17.44.130

• Purpose: Heavy industrial activities, outdoor storage and uses that may produce impacts; sited to minimize conflicts. § 17.44.130.
• Typical permitted uses: heavier manufacturing and outdoor storage—many uses may require conditional approval or specific siting. § 17.52.020.
• Key standards: Minimum lot area: 1 acre; width 100 ft (Table 3B).

PQP (Public/Quasi‑Public) — § 17.44.140

• Purpose: Government, institutional, nonprofit facilities (schools, hospitals, civic). § 17.44.140.
• Typical permitted uses: civic buildings, public utilities, public schools, parks (see Table 2). § 17.52.020.

P‑R (Parks & Recreation) — § 17.44.150

• Purpose: Preserve parks, recreation lands and features. § 17.44.150.
• Typical permitted uses: parks, recreational facilities; development standards and allowed uses cross‑referenced to Tables 2–4.

O‑S (Open Space/Public Open Space) — § 17.44.160

• Purpose: Preserve habitat, flood control, drainage, and open space buffers. § 17.44.160.
• Typical permitted uses: habitat preservation, passive recreation; special rules apply.

P‑D (Planned Development Overlay) — Chapter 17.48

• Purpose: Flexible overlay to allow site‑specific mixes of uses and customized standards where the project demonstrates overall conformity with the General Plan. § 17.48.010–.030.
• Typical permitted uses: any uses found consistent with an approved P‑D permit; the P‑D can include residential, commercial, and industrial uses. § 17.48.030.
• Key rules: P‑D projects must show net lot area minimums (Table 2B), density limits per General Plan, and the application materials listed in § 17.48.050(B). § 17.48.040; Table 2B.

Downtown form‑based districts D‑A / D‑B (Regulating plan & Chapter 17.58)

• Purpose: Preserve historic downtown character with form‑based standards and tailored allowed uses. § 17.58.010–.015.
• Typical permitted uses: see Table 17.58‑2 (neighborhood commercial, retail, offices, sit‑down restaurants common; some uses conditional or restricted by street zone). Drive‑thrus are expressly prohibited in the downtown form‑based area. § 17.58.015; Table 17.58‑2; § 17.58.070(A)(2)(d).
• Key dimensional standards: Maximum height commonly 45 ft, maximum downtown residential intensity 20 du/acre, and design standards are mandatory; design review applies to qualifying projects. § 17.58.060; § 17.58.015. /us/california/winters/design-review

Quick reference table — selected decision‑relevant uses & standards

For the full Land Use/Zone Matrix and the complete Table 3B (lot standards) and Table 4 (setbacks), see § 17.52.020 and Tables 2–4.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for a land use application)

• Confirm parcel zoning on the official zoning map and check for overlays (P‑D, historic, etc.). § 17.04.060; Chapter 17.48.
• Verify the use classification in the Land Use/Zone Matrix (P, C, or N). § 17.52.020.
• If the use is C, prepare a Use Permit application and environmental review per § 17.20. § 17.20.020–.030.
• Demonstrate compliance with development standards: lot area, widths, setbacks, height, lot coverage (see Table 3B and Table 4). /us/california/winters/development-standards § 17.44.*; Table 3B; Table 4.
• Provide required off‑street parking spaces per Table 6 and parking calculations. /us/california/winters/parking § 17.72.020; Table 6.
• If in downtown D‑A/D‑B, submit for design review and meet form‑based design standards. /us/california/winters/design-review § 17.58.015; § 17.58.060.
• For proposed industrial or outdoor storage, show screening/landscaping per landscaping/screening standards. /us/california/winters/landscaping-and-screening § 17.?? (see city) — Verify with the jurisdiction.
• If proposing ADUs, follow local ADU chapter plus state ADU law. /us/california/winters/adu /us/california/california-adu-laws § 17.* (local ADU rules). Verify.
• Ensure plan compliance with Calif. Building Standards (Title 24) at building permit stage. /us/california/building-codes

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Winters’ zoning code tells you which activities are allowed on a property by looking up its zone on the official map and reading the Land Use/Zone Matrix: P = allowed by right, C = allowed only after a use permit and hearing, and N = not allowed. Residential zones (R‑1 through R‑4) set lot sizes and setbacks, commercial zones allow retail and offices, industrial zones allow light or heavy industry, and downtown has a special form‑based chapter with design review and a ban on drive‑thrus. Always check the matrix box for your specific use, the numeric tables (lot area, setbacks, parking), and any overlays that apply before designing the project. § 17.52.020; Table 3B; Table 4; Chapter 17.58.

Information Gaps (what could not be confirmed in retrieved materials)

• Full numeric values of the Table 4 setback/building‑structure matrix across every column were truncated in the retrieved file excerpts; confirm the full Table 4 in the official code. Table 4 not fully visible.
• Complete contents of the Land Use/Zone Matrix (Table 2) are large; while examples (downtown Table 17.58‑2) were retrieved, the full matrix should be read in the official code for any specific use/zone box. § 17.52.020 (Table 2) truncated in excerpts.
• Local ADU chapter cross‑references and exact local ADU numeric exceptions (if any) were not fully displayed in the excerpts—verify with the local ADU page and planning staff. Not found in retrieved materials.

Source References

• Winters Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) — Introductory provisions: § 17.04.010; § 17.04.060.
• Land Use/Zone Matrix and rules on Permitted/Conditional/Temporary/Accessory uses: § 17.52.010; § 17.52.020 (Table 2 — Land Use/Zone Matrix).
• Planned Development (P‑D): Chapter 17.48 (including § 17.48.030 principal permitted uses and § 17.48.040 development standards).
• Downtown form‑based code and permitted uses: Chapter 17.58 (including § 17.58.010, § 17.58.015, § 17.58.060, Table 17.58‑2).
• Use permits and process: Chapter 17.20; § 17.20.030 (planning commission action).
• Lot development standards (Table 3B): see Table 3B in Chapter 17.44 and related text.
• Setbacks and accessory building rules (Table 4 and accessory standards): see Table 4 and accessory building provisions in Title 17.
• Off‑street parking requirements (Table 6) and parking calculation rules: Chapter 17.72; § 17.72.020; Table 6.

If you want direct PDF or web links to the official Winters municipal code pages (complete Table 2, Table 3B, Table 4 and the full downtown Table 17.58‑2), tell me and I’ll fetch the exact code pages or confirm any parcel‑specific rules. Verify any ambiguous numeric detail with the City of Winters Community Development Department before final design submittal.

Retrieved passages

• Winters Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Winters Zoning Code (§ 8-1.5117) High relevance show source text
• Winters Zoning Code (§ 8-1.5302) High relevance show source text
• Winters Zoning Code (§ 8-1.5117) High relevance show source text
• Winters Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Winters Zoning Code (§ 8-1.5114) High relevance show source text
• Winters Zoning Code (title and) Medium relevance show source text
• Winters Zoning Code (Section 17.58.070) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Winters Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) — Introductory provisions: **§ 17.04.010**; § 17.04.060. (Title 17)
• Land Use/Zone Matrix and rules on Permitted/Conditional/Temporary/Accessory uses: **§ 17.52.010**; **§ 17.52.020** (Table 2 — Land Use/Zone Matrix). (§ 17.52.010)
• Planned Development (P‑D): Chapter **17.48** (including § 17.48.030 principal permitted uses and § 17.48.040 development standards). (§ 17.48.030)
• Downtown form‑based code and permitted uses: Chapter **17.58** (including **§ 17.58.010**, **§ 17.58.015**, **§ 17.58.060**, Table 17.58‑2). (§ 17.58.010)
• Use permits and process: Chapter **17.20**; § 17.20.030 (planning commission action). (§ 17.20.030)
• Lot development standards (Table 3B): see Table 3B in Chapter 17.44 and related text. (Chapter 17.44)
• Setbacks and accessory building rules (Table 4 and accessory standards): see Table 4 and accessory building provisions in Title 17. (Title 17.)
• Off‑street parking requirements (Table 6) and parking calculation rules: Chapter **17.72**; § 17.72.020; Table 6. (§ 17.72.020)
• Winters_ZoningCode.md

• Official Winters code library