Santa Clarita City Zoning Code

The non-urban, urban residential, commercial, industrial, mixed use, open space, public/institutional, specific plan, and corridor plan zones are established to achieve the following purposes:

The zoning designations contained within this code shall correspond and be consistent with the zoning map as approved by Council ordinance.

The non-urban 1 (NU1) zoning designation identifies lands in the planning area that are distinguished by significant environmental features and extreme development constraints. Lands in this designation are largely undeveloped and consist of rolling hillside areas, steep slopes, and remote mountain lands with limited access. Uses in this designation include single-family homes at a maximum density of one (1) dwelling unit per twenty (20) acres, agriculture, equestrian uses, private recreation, filming, and public and institutional facilities serving the local area.

The non-urban 2 (NU2) zoning designation identifies lands in the planning area that include environmental features and are not appropriate for intense development requiring urban services. Lands in this category are largely undeveloped and consist of rolling hillside areas, slopes, and mountain lands with limited access. Uses in this designation include single-family homes at a maximum density of one (1) dwelling unit per ten (10) acres, agriculture, equestrian uses, private recreation, and public and institutional facilities serving the local area.

The non-urban 3 (NU3) zoning designation identifies lands in the planning area that include environmental features and are not appropriate for intense development requiring urban services. Lands in this category are undeveloped or partially developed and consist of rolling hillside areas with limited access. Uses in this designation include single-family homes at a maximum density of one (1) dwelling unit per five (5) acres, agriculture, equestrian uses, private recreation, and public and institutional facilities serving the local area.

The non-urban 4 (NU4) zoning designation provides for the maintenance and expansion of rural communities in the planning area that are distinguished by large lot sizes (generally two (2) acres or greater), agricultural and equestrian uses, and an absence of urban services. Uses in this designation could include single-family homes at a maximum density of one (1) dwelling unit per two (2) acres, agriculture, equestrian uses, private recreation, and public and institutional facilities serving the local area.

Supportive commercial uses serving the local area, such as grocery stores, restaurants, personal services, and retail sale of specialty goods for rural residents, such as feed and tack stores, may be allowed in "activity areas" within this designation without a General Plan amendment; provided, that the size, location, design, and use types are determined to be compatible with the surrounding area. Such "activity centers" must be at least one (1) mile from any commercial land use designation and must not exceed five (5) acres in size.

The non-urban 5 (NU5) zoning designation provides for the maintenance and expansion of rural communities in the planning area that are distinguished by large lot sizes (generally one (1) acre or greater), agricultural and equestrian uses, and the absence of urban services. Uses in this designation include single-family homes at a maximum density of one (1) dwelling unit per acre, agriculture, equestrian uses, private recreation, and public and institutional facilities serving the local area.

Supportive commercial uses serving the local area, such as grocery stores, restaurants, personal services, and retail sale of specialty goods for rural residents, such as feed and tack stores, may be allowed in "activity areas" within this designation without a General Plan amendment; provided, that the size, location, design, and use types are determined to be compatible with the surrounding area. Such "activity centers" must be at least one (1) mile from any commercial land use designation and must not exceed five (5) acres in size.

The urban residential 1 (UR1) zoning designation provides for residential neighborhoods at densities that require urban services. Many of these neighborhoods provide a transition between higher density, urban development and rural communities throughout the planning area, and this designation is appropriate in such urban/rural interface areas. Uses in this designation include single-family homes and other residential uses at a maximum density of two (2) dwelling units per acre.

The urban residential 2 (UR2) zoning designation provides for residential neighborhoods that typify much of the planning area. Uses in this designation include single-family homes and other residential uses at a maximum density of five (5) dwelling units per acre. Specific allowable uses and development standards shall be determined by the underlying zoning designation.

The urban residential 3 (UR3) zoning designation provides for neighborhoods of single-family attached and detached housing, and small-scale attached multifamily dwellings such as duplexes and triplexes. Allowed uses include single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes and small-scale multifamily dwellings of a scale and character that complement and are consistent with a single-family residential neighborhood at a maximum density of eleven (11) dwelling units per acre provided associated recreational facilities are provided.

The urban residential 4 (UR4) zoning designation provides for mixed residential neighborhoods of detached and attached dwellings. Allowable uses in this designation include detached and attached single-family homes, duplexes, multiple-family dwellings, and other residential uses at a maximum density of eighteen (18) dwelling units per acre.

The urban residential 5 (UR5) zoning designation provides for medium to high-density apartment and condominium complexes in areas easily accessible to transportation, employment, retail, and other urban services. Allowable uses in this designation include multiple-family dwellings at a minimum density of eighteen (18) dwelling units per acre and a maximum density of thirty (30) dwelling units per acre.

The community commercial (CC) zoning designation is intended for businesses providing retail and service uses that primarily serve the local market. Representative uses include restaurants, clothing stores, hardware and auto parts stores, grocery markets, pharmacies, banks and financial services, specialty retail, theaters and nightclubs, day care centers, and medical services. These areas are typically located along arterial streets or at the intersections of high traffic corridors. Multiple-family dwellings (including live/work units) may be permitted in this zone.

The neighborhood commercial (CN) zoning designation provides for small neighborhood commercial districts that serve the short-term needs of residents in the immediate area. Allowable uses in this designation include supermarkets; drug stores; restaurants; personal services; repair services; light automotive services; day care centers; and other local-serving shops and services for neighborhood residents. Multiple-family dwellings (including live/work units) may be permitted in this zone.

The regional commercial (CR) zoning designation is applied to central and regional commercial districts in the planning area, generally located around the Valencia Town Center and other major community centers. This designation is intended to promote the development of regional focal points for commercial, entertainment, cultural, and business uses serving the public and drawing from a market area encompassing the entire Santa Clarita Valley. Multiple-family dwellings (including live-work units) may be allowed in this zone.

The business park (BP) zoning designation provides for mixed employment districts in areas accessible to transportation and visible from freeways and major arterials and is intended to promote the development of master-planned environments with a high quality of design and construction.

The industrial (I) zoning designation provides for industrial districts in areas with adequate access, infrastructure, and services and is intended to accommodate the most intensive types of industrial uses allowed in the planning area. Heavy industrial uses that involve processing of raw materials, generation or treatment of large amounts of hazardous substances, or that result in an excessive emission of odors, fumes, pollutants, vibration, noise, or other noxious, hazardous, or nuisance conditions, will not be allowed.

This zone is intended for mixed use development, which is encouraged along specified commercial corridors in which revitalization of underutilized parcels or aging buildings is desired, subject to the applicable requirements of the code. Mixed uses along corridors may be either vertical or horizontal; provided, that residential units in these areas should be protected from adverse impacts of high-volume arterial streets, and will typically be located an appropriate distance from the roadway. Nonresidential uses consistent with this district include those in the neighborhood commercial (CN) and community commercial (CC) districts. The residential density range in mixed use corridors shall be a minimum of eleven (11) to a maximum of thirty (30) dwelling units per acre, and maximum floor area ratio for the nonresidential portion of the development shall be 1.0.

This zone is intended for mixed use development, which is encouraged in order to create neighborhoods that integrate residential uses with complementary commercial services, including retail and office uses. Mixed use neighborhoods should be designed in consideration of surrounding development patterns, proximity to public transit, providing roadway and trail linkages to adjacent development where appropriate. Nonresidential uses consistent with this district include those in the neighborhood commercial (CN) and community commercial (CC) districts. The residential density range in mixed use neighborhoods shall be a minimum of six (6) to a maximum of eighteen (18) dwelling units per acre, and maximum floor area ratio for the nonresidential portion of the development shall be 0.5. Building heights shall not exceed fifty (50) feet.

This zone is intended for transit-oriented urban villages that are located in proximity to commuter rail and bus transfer stations, which is encouraged in order to promote compact, connected environments for residents to live, work, shop, access needed services, and recreate, without having to use their vehicles. Either vertical or horizontal mixed uses are allowed, subject to the applicable requirements of the zoning ordinance. Nonresidential uses consistent with this district include those in the neighborhood commercial (CN), community commercial (CC), and regional commercial (CR) districts. Single-use residential or commercial projects which do not contain mixed uses will be allowed in these districts only if such projects are designed to integrate with other uses in the area so as to create interconnected, walkable neighborhoods, and do not include incompatible uses or design features contrary to the intent of the district. The residential density range in urban villages shall be a minimum of nineteen (19) to a maximum of fifty (50) dwelling units per acre and the maximum floor area ratio (FAR) for the nonresidential portion of the development shall be 3.0.

The open space (OS) zoning designation is intended to identify and reserve land for passive, natural and active open space uses, including public and private parks, conservancy lands, nature preserves, wildlife habitats, water bodies and adjacent riparian habitat, wetlands areas dedicated to open space use, drainage easements, cemeteries, golf courses, and other open space areas dedicated for public or private use. Typical uses include recreation, trails, trailheads, paseos, horticulture, limited agriculture, animal grazing, and habitat preservation.

The open space—agriculture (OS-A) zoning designation identifies privately owned lands in the planning area within the National Forest. For privately held lands within the National Forest (in-holdings), allowable uses in this designation include single-family homes at a maximum density of one (1) dwelling unit per five (5) acres, agriculture, equestrian uses, private recreation, privately owned commercial recreation with or without support facilities such as lodging and dining, filming and public and institutional facilities serving the local area in accordance with the goals set forth in the Angeles National Forest Land Management Plan.

The open space—National Forest (OS-NF) zoning designation identifies lands in the planning area within the National Forest.

The open space—Bureau of Land Management (OS-BLM) zoning designation identifies lands in the planning area owned by the United States Bureau of Land Management.