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Visalia City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 17

06 ZONE CLASSIFICATIONS

17.06.010 Establishment of zone names.

   A.   In order to classify, regulate, restrict and segregate the uses of land and buildings, to regulate and restrict the height and bulk of buildings and to regulate the area of yards and other open spaces about buildings, and to regulate the density of population, several classes of zones are established to be known as follows:
   1.   Agricultural zone, abbreviated as A;
   2.   Single-family residential zone – 20,000 square foot minimum site area, abbreviated as R-1-20;
   3.   Single-family residential zone – 12,500 square foot minimum site area, abbreviated as R-1-12.5;
   4.   Single-family residential zone – abbreviated as R-1;
   5.   Multi-family residential zone – 3,000 square foot minimum site area, abbreviated as R-M-2;
   6.   Multi-family residential zone – 1,200 square foot minimum site area, abbreviated as R-M-3;
   7.   Neighborhood commercial zone, abbreviated as C-N;
   8.   Regional commercial zone, abbreviated as C-R;
   9.   Service commercial zone, abbreviated as C-S;
   10.   Mixed use commercial zone, abbreviated as C-MU;
   11.   Mixed used downtown zone, abbreviated as D-MU;
   12.   Professional/administrative office zone, abbreviated as O-PA;
   13.   Office conversion zone, abbreviated as O-C;
   14.   Business research park zone, abbreviated as BRP;
   15.   Light industrial zone, abbreviated as I-L;
   16.   Industrial zone, abbreviated as I;
   17.   Airport zone, abbreviated as AP;
   18.   Quasi-public zone, abbreviated as QP;
   19.   Open space zone, abbreviated as OS.
   B.   The R-1-20, R-1-12.5, and R-1 zones may be collectively identified as Single-family Residential zones, and abbreviated as R-S.
   C.   The R-M-2 and R-M-3 zones may be collectively identified as Multi-family Residential zones, and abbreviated as R-M.
(Ord. 2025-15 § 2 (part), 2025: Ord. 2017-01 (part), 2017: prior code § 7226)

17.06.020 Establishment of zones by map.

   The location and boundaries of the various zones are established, shown, and delineated on the "Official Zoning Map of the City of Visalia," which is made a part hereof, on file in the planning and community preservation department.
(Ord. 2024-07 § 2 (part), 2024: Ord. 2017-01 (part), 2017: prior code § 7227)

17.06.030 Division of the zoning map.

   The zoning map may, for convenience, be divided into parts and each such part may, for purposes of more readily identifying areas within the zoning map, be subdivided into units that may be separately employed for purposes of amending the zoning map or for any official reference to the zoning map. (Ord. 2017-01 (part), 2017: prior code § 7228)

17.06.040 Uncertainty of zone boundaries.

   Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of any of the aforesaid zones as shown on said zoning map, the city planner, upon written application or upon own initiative, shall determine the location of such boundaries. (Ord. 2017-01 (part), 2017: prior code § 7229)

17.06.050 Boundary changes because of annexation or right-of-way abandonment.

   A.   All territory that is annexed to the city shall be classified to a zone that is consistent with the general plan as adopted by the city.
   B.   All territory that is unzoned or becomes unzoned through abandonment of a public street, alley or railroad right-of-way, shall be classified to the centerline the same as the property adjoining the street, alley or railroad right-of-way. (Ord. 2017-01 (part), 2017: prior code § 7230)

17.06.060 Designated housing element sites (HE) overlay.

   A.   Purpose. The purpose of the designated housing element sites (HE) overlay district is to establish the maximum density requirements and ministerial review rights for certain properties that are designated for lower income housing pursuant to California Housing Law as part of the city's housing element, consistent with Government Code § 65583.2(c), (h), and (i).
   B.   Designation of HE Overlay Sites. The HE overlay is applied to the following parcels.
   1.   The following parcels have been identified in the 2007-2014, 2015-2023, and/or 2023-2031 housing elements as potential sites for lower income housing:
Map ID
Location
Site Address
APN
Zoning Designation
Acres
Map ID
Location
Site Address
APN
Zoning Designation
Acres
Lower Income Household sites identified on current & past versions of Site Inventories (Program 1.1)
104
S Demaree St, West side S of Noble Ave
 
087090035
R-M-3
1.35
106
S Santa Fe St & E Paradise Ave, SWC
 
097272032
R-M-3
1.46
111
E Goshen Ave & Virmargo St, SEC
2505 E Goshen Ave
098060027
R-M-3
0.50
112
Goshen Ave & Virmargo St, SEC
2541 E Goshen Ave
098060038
R-M-3
1.00
113
Goshen Ave & Virmargo St, SEC
 
098060043
R-M-3
3.15
114
Goshen Ave & Virmargo St, SEC
2603 E Goshen Ave
098340042
R-M-3
9.68
115
E Tulare Ave & S Ben Maddox Way, SWC
 
100390001
R-M-3
4.62
116
E Tulare Ave & S Ben Maddox Way, SEC
1641 E Tulare Ave
100390002
R-M-3
3.81
132
N Santa Fe & E Grove Ave
 
094110013
CMU
2.00
133
500 E Race Ave
 
094100037
CMU
1.4
145
535 N Burke St
 
094250015
CMU
0.84
154
730 E Mineral King Ave
 
094222029
CMU
3.42
155
700 E Mineral King Ave Unit A
 
094222030
CMU
1.09
156
715 1/2 E Acequia Ave Unit A
 
094222019
CMU
1.14
157
721 E Acequia Ave
 
094222018
CMU
1.31
158
815 E Acequia Ave
 
094222006
CMU
0.65
159
940 E Main St
 
094201019
CMU
0.68
160
1040 E Main St
 
094201026
CMU
0.73
161
620 E Center Ave
 
094240029
CMU
0.86
 
   2.   The following parcels have been identified within annexation sites as potential sites for lower income housing:
 
Map ID
Location
Entitlement
APN
Zoning Designation
Acres
Lower Income Household sites identified on portions of Annexation Sites (Program 1.7)
2
N Demaree St & W River Way Ave, NW Corner
Crandell / Belissa
077050018
R-M-3
43.19
5
N Shirk St & W Riggin Ave, NE Corner
Carleton Acres
077100108
R-M-3
156.00
 
   C.   Allowed Uses.
   1.   Permitted uses. Permitted uses on HE overlay sites are as indicated in the corresponding zone classification sections of the properties. (Visalia Municipal Code Sections 17.16.020 and 17.16.040 for the R-M-3 zoned properties and Visalia Municipal Code Section 17.25.030 for the C-MU and O-MU zoned properties).
   2.   By-Right Approval for Lower Income Residential Projects. Development projects on properties in the HE overlay and zoned R-M-3, C-MU, or O-MU zone classification that provide twenty (20) percent or more of the units affordable to lower-income households shall only be subject to a site plan review permit under Visalia Municipal Code Section 17.28.040. The site plan review staff shall declare their intention to allow the project to proceed upon making a finding that the project complies with Visalia Municipal Code Section 17.28.040B. and complies with all applicable objective provisions of the zoning ordinance, municipal code, general plan, and any applicable specific plans or city regulations/ standards. No conditional use permit, as described in Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 17.38, shall be required.
   D.   Development Standards.
   1.   The development standards for the properties in the HE overlay are as indicated in the corresponding zone classification chapters of the properties. (Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 17.16 for the R-M-3 zoned properties and Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 17.19 for the C-MU and O-MU zoned properties).
   2.   For sites listed in Subsection B.1. of this section as having been on one or more previous housing elements as potential sites for lower income housing, the use shall be allowed by-right (without discretionary approval) when twenty (20) percent or more of the units in the corresponding zone are made affordable to lower income households.
   3.   For sites listed in Subsection B.2. of this section as completing annexation during the 2023-2031 housing element cycle, owner-occupied and rental multi-family uses shall be allowed by-right (without discretionary approval) when twenty (20) percent or more of the units in the corresponding zone are made affordable to lower income households, allow for at least twenty (20) dwelling units per acre, at least sixteen (16) dwelling units per site, require a minimum density of twenty (20) units per acre and up to one hundred (100) percent residential floor area in mixed use zones and require that residential uses occupy at least fifty (50) percent of the total floor area of a mixed use project.
   4.   In no case shall the development standards, including those for height or lot coverage, allow for less than twenty (20) dwelling units per acre on the properties designated HE overlay when proposed for housing development with twenty (20) percent or more of the units affordable to lower income households. (Ord. 2024-17 (part), 2025)

17.06.070 Large housing element sites (HE) affordable housing overlay.

   A.   Purpose. The purpose of the large housing element sites (HE) affordable housing overlay district is to establish a waiver of the tentative parcel map and the associated hearing requirements before the city planning commission for certain properties that are in excess of ten (10) acres in size and are listed on the regional housing needs allocation sites inventory of the city’s housing element with a designation for moderate or lower income housing pursuant to California Housing Law or having a zone designation of R-M-2 or R-M-3.
   B.   Designation of HE Affordable Housing Overlay Sites. The HE affordable housing overlay is applied to the following parcels, as identified in the Year 2023-2031 (6th Cycle) housing element as potential sites for lower income housing.
Sites larger than 10 acres with Lower and Moderate Income Capacity and R-M-2 / R-M-3 Zoning
Map ID
Location
APN
Zoning
Acres
Map ID
Location
APN
Zoning
Acres
44
Riverway Ave & Linwood St
077-060-024
R-1-5, R-M-2
72.49
51
Lovers Lane & Packwood Creek
101-050-041
O-PA, QP, R-1-5, R-M-2
35.06
70
E Houston Ave & N Irma St
098-050-005
QP, R-M-2
11.01
76
2639 E Noble Ave
100-080-003
C-MU, R-M-2
13.45
77
Ivanhoe Dr & Comstock St
103-020-068
R-1-5, R-M-2
12.10
97
Visalia Pkwy & Woodland St
121-440-002
QP, R-M-2, R-M-3
23.02
100
Cameron Ave & Vintage St
122-340-002
C-R
18.63
107
1818 E Goshen Ave
098-050-002
C-N, R-M-2, R-M-3
11.36
108
E Douglas Ave & N O’Malley St
098-050-003
R-M-2, R-M-3
11.35
116
1641 E Tulare Ave
100-390-002
R-1-5, R-M-3
10.16
118
E Caldwell Ave & S Santa Fe St
123-220-044
C-MU, R-M-3
12.38
123
Cameron & Stonebrook
122-340-001
R-M-3
10.43
125
Riggin & Roeben
077-100-100
R-M-3
29.31
 
   C.   Ministerial Approval of Parcel Map.
   1.   Ministerial approval. A parcel map is eligible for ministerial review if the parcel is for any parcel in the HE affordable housing overlay or for any portion of a parcel in the HE affordable housing overlay that was previously subdivided and the parcel meets the performance standards under Subsection B. of Section 17.06.070. No tentative parcel map shall be required.
   2.   Advisory agency. For parcels maps that are ministerially reviewed under this article, the site plan review staff shall be the advisory agency referred to in Article 2 of the Subdivision Map Act that is charged with the duty of making investigations and reports on the design and improvement of proposed divisions of land. The city planner and city engineer shall make a finding in support of approval of a parcel map that the proposed map is consistent with the Municipal Code, the Map Act, and other applicable law with respect to parcel size, zoning, and density.
   3.   Review by site plan review staff. Review of parcel maps under this article shall include ministerial review by the site plan review staff in accordance with Subsection B. of Section 16.28.030.
   4.   Final parcel map. Once the site plan review staff declares their intention to allow the project to proceed to filing of a final parcel map, the applicant shall proceed with filing a final parcel map in accordance with Section 16.28.120.
   D.   Development Standards. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the site plan review staff shall ministerially approve a parcel map only if it determines that the parcel map meets all the following requirements.
   1.   The parcel map subdivides an existing parcel to create no more than four (4) new parcels.
   2.   All newly created parcels are no smaller than one-half (0.5) acre and no larger than ten (10) acres. (Ord. 2025-15 (part), 2025)