Achieve the arrangement of land uses depicted in the City of Indio General Plan, consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan;

Provide standards for the orderly growth and development of the city, and guide and control the use of land to foster a safe, harmonious, convenient, attractive, and workable relationship among land uses;

Ensure that public and private lands ultimately are used for the purposes which are most appropriate and most beneficial to the city as a whole;

Ensure consideration of natural environmental features in the development and use of land within the city;

Revitalize and connect neighborhoods to preserve and enhance quality of life in the city;

Facilitate the appropriate location of community facilities, institutions, transportation, and parks and recreational areas;

Promote economic growth and the creation of jobs;

Promote high-quality design in the development process so that new development enhances the appearance of the city as it matures;

Encourage infill development in existing sections of the city and provide for innovative and sustainable development in undeveloped areas;

Define duties and powers of administrative bodies and officers responsible for implementation of the Code.

Compliance with the requirements of this Code is necessary for any private person, firm, corporation or organization or public agency to lawfully establish, construct, occupy, maintain, reconstruct, alter, expand, or replace any use of land or structure. Any governmental agency shall be exempt from the provisions of this Code only to the extent that such property may not be lawfully regulated by the City of Indio (e.g., Federal or Tribal lands that are not subject to local land use regulations).

No permit or business license shall be issued by the City unless the proposed project or activity complies with all applicable provisions of this Code and all other applicable provisions of law.

Each subdivision of land approved within the City shall comply with the minimum lot size requirements of Article 2 (Zone Regulations), the City's subdivision regulations in Article 5 (Subdivision Regulations), the Subdivision Map Act, and all applicable requirements of this Code.

The following uses and conditions are exempt from modification by this Code:

All proposed housing developments that qualify under California Government Code Section 65915 for a density increase and other incentives, and any qualified land transfer under California Government Code Section 65915 shall be eligible to apply for a density bonus (including incentives and/or concessions) consistent with the requirements, provisions and obligations set forth in California Government Code Section 65915, as may be amended. See Indio Municipal Code Chapter 154 (Density Bonuses and Other Incentives for Low Income and Senior Housing).

Nothing in this Code eliminates the need for obtaining any other permits required by the City, or any permit, approval or entitlement required by any other applicable special district or agency, and/or the regulations of any County, State, or Federal agency. No use that is illegal under local or State law shall be allowed in any zone within the city.

Legally created substandard lots on record prior to the adoption of this Code shall be deemed in compliance with the minimum lot area requirements. The lot area per dwelling unit, however, shall remain as specified in the applicable zone. In no instance shall these provisions prevent the erection of a single-family dwelling on any substandard residential lot.

The Director shall have the responsibility and authority to interpret the meaning and applicability of all provisions and requirements of this Code. Whenever the Director determines that the meaning or applicability of any of the requirements of this Code are subject to interpretation generally, or as applied to a specific case, the Director may issue an official interpretation or refer the question to the Planning Commission for determination. If ambiguity arises concerning the appropriate classification of a particular use or regulation within the meaning and intent of this Code with respect to any matters regulated by this Code based on established or unforeseen circumstances, including technological changes in processing or application of materials, the Director shall have the authority to interpret the regulation based on understanding of the Code. Appeals on any such official interpretation by the Director may be filed and heard consistent with Article 6 (Administration and Procedures); see Table 6.02.04-1 (Summary of Review Authorities for Decisions and Appeals) for the specific review/appeal hierarchy.

When this Code provides for discretion on the part of a City official or body, that discretion may be exercised to impose conditions on the issuance of any City entitlements, consistent with Article 6 (Administration and Procedures).

The provisions of this Code shall be minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, and general welfare. Where this Code provides for more discretion on the part of a City official or body, that discretion may be exercised to impose more stringent requirements than set forth in this Code, as may be determined by the applicable Review Authority, if it is deemed necessary to promote health and safety, orderly land use development, and the other purposes of this Code.

The regulations of this Code and requirements or conditions imposed pursuant to this Code shall not supersede any other regulations or requirements adopted or imposed by the Indio City Council, the State of California, or any Federal agency that has jurisdiction by law over uses and development authorized by this Code. All uses and development authorized by this Code shall comply with all other such regulations and requirements. Where conflict occurs between the provisions of the Code and any other City ordinance, chapter, resolution, guideline, or regulation, the more restrictive provisions shall control, unless otherwise specified.

The provisions of this Code are not intended to revoke, annul, or impair any easements, codes, covenants and restrictions or other existing agreement between parties, which are more restrictive than the provisions of this Code. Where this Code imposes a greater restriction or higher standard than that required by private agreement, this Code shall control. The City shall not enforce any private covenant or agreement unless it is a party to the covenant or agreement.

Standards adopted as part of any development agreement or specific plan shall control over any conflicting Code requirements adopted subsequent to the development agreement or specific plan.

Whenever a number of days is specified in the Code, or in any permit, condition of approval, or notice provided in compliance with the Code, the number of days shall be consecutive calendar days. A time limit shall extend to 5:00 p.m. on the following working day where the last of the specified number of days falls on a weekend or holiday.

Language used in this Code shall be understood as follows:

Images, photos, and diagrams in this Code are not intended to be interpreted literally; they are provided to illustrate regulations and assist in understanding the desired character or proposed implementation of a standard (e.g., measurement/calculation, range of scale, intensity, site organization, streetscape, building design). In case of conflict between the text and a figure, illustration, heading, caption, diagram, or graphic, the text controls.

When property outside of the City limits is submitted for annexation to the City, zoning of the property shall be determined by the City and shall be incorporated into the Official Zoning Map upon adoption.

Amendments to the Official Zoning Map shall follow the process established in Chapter 6.06 (General Plan and Zoning Amendments).

Zone boundaries approximately following the right-of-way shall be construed to follow the proximate property line or right-of-way line.

If a zone boundary does not follow a property line, or where a zone boundary divides a property, the location scale on the Official Zoning Map shall be used to determine the location of the boundaries, unless the boundaries are indicated by dimensions.

Where a zone boundary divides a property, each portion of the property shall be developed in accordance with the applicable zoning designation. If more than 80 percent of the property falls under one zoning designation, the property owner may choose to develop the entire property according to that designation.

Zone boundaries shown within a right-of-way that do not follow the outside right-of-way line(s) shall be construed to follow the centerline of such rights-of-way.

Vacated, abandoned, or non-occupancy uses (e.g., dedicated circulation rights-of-way, utility or maintenance easement/corridors, creek easements, railroad rights-of-way, or similar uses) shall be treated in one of the following ways:

Dedicated circulation rights-of-way, utility or maintenance easement/corridors, creek easements, railroad rights- of-way, or similar non-occupancy uses shown within a designated zone shall be deemed to be unclassified and shall not be used for development or structural purposes inconsistent with the established right-of-way use. In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3.03 (Parking and Loading), off-street automobile parking may be permitted within such unclassified rights-of-way, provided that such parking is constructed in accordance with all applicable standards and all necessary permits and approvals are obtained. Railroad rights-of-way shall be used solely for the purpose of accommodating tracks, signals, other operative devices, and the movement of rolling stock, unless otherwise vacated.

Find the property on the City's Official Zoning Map to determine which zone applies.

See the "allowed land uses" table applicable to the zone to determine what uses are allowed on the site and what types of permit(s) are required. See Article 2 (Zone Regulations) for allowed land use tables for each zone.

Follow the application requirements identified in Article 6 (Administration and Procedures).

See the Chapters applicable to the zone to determine the development standards, operational standards, and all other provisions applicable to and required by the zone, per Table 1.02.03-1 (Base Zones and Overlay Zones).

Apply the design standards or other standards applicable to the zone or land use, if any. Supplemental development and design standards can be found by zone in Article 2 (Zone Regulations). Standards applicable to all uses or zones can be found in Article 3 (Citywide Regulations). Standards for special uses can be found in Article 4 (Regulations for Special Uses). Density bonus regulations and incentives for affordable housing can be found in Indio Municipal Code Chapter 154 (Density Bonuses and Other Incentives for Low Income and Senior Housing).

Provide at least the minimum required parking spaces as regulated by Chapter 3.03 (Parking and Loading).

Submit an application for processing, in compliance with Article 6 (Administration and Procedures).