Zoning › California › San Bernardino County › Rancho Cucamonga

Rancho Cucamonga, CA Zoning

Euclidean-zoning. 19 districts · 11 overlays · 8 applicable state preemptions.

Overview

Code type
euclidean
Naming convention
category-letter (residential = density-tier letters VL/L/LM/M/MH/H/HR; commercial = use-category letters NC/CC/SC/RRC/CO/MU; industrial = intensity-tier IP/GI/MI/HI; special-purpose OS/FC/UC)

Euclidean base zoning per Chapter 17.26 + standard tables per Chapter 17.36, with significant Specific Plan hybrid coverage (~25-30% of city) per Chapter 17.38 (Etiwanda SP, Etiwanda Heights NCP, Industrial Area SP / Empire Lakes Sub-Area 18 / The Resort, Foothill Boulevard SP).

Worth knowing
  • RCDC = Rancho Cucamonga Development Code — Title 17 reorganized 2010-12 (Ord. 855); significant 2024 amendment cycle for 6th-cycle Housing Element compliance.
  • Three platform 403 mirrors: qcode.us, ecode360.com, cityofrc-ca.elaws.us — all Cloudflare-gated against scripted WebFetch (same CA pattern as bakersfield.municipal.codes).
  • Specific Plan hybrid coverage: ~25-30% of city land area governed by Specific Plans (Etiwanda SP, Etiwanda Heights NCP, Industrial Area SP / Empire Lakes Sub-Area 18 / The Resort, Foothill Boulevard SP) per Chapter 17.38.

+ 5 more in Quirks & notes

Districts

res_sf 4com 4ind 4res_mf 3mu 1off 1os 1spec 1
CodeNameCategory Min lotHeight CoverageFAR Du/acParking Setbacks F/S/R
VLVery Low Residentialres_sf—[4]—[5]—[6]—[7]2[8]—[9]—[1] / —[2] / —[3]
LLow Residentialres_sf—[13]—[14]—[15]—[16][{'variant': 'min', 'range': {'min': 2, 'max': 4}, 'citation': 'c§17.26.020'}][17]—[18]—[10] / —[11] / —[12]
LMLow-Medium Residentialres_sf—[22]—[23]—[24]—[25][{'variant': 'range', 'range': {'min': 4, 'max': 8}, 'citation': 'c§17.26.020'}][26]—[27]—[19] / —[20] / —[21]
MMedium Residentialres_mf—[31]—[32]—[33]—[34][{'variant': 'range', 'range': {'min': 8, 'max': 14}, 'citation': 'c§17.26.020'}][35]—[36]—[28] / —[29] / —[30]
MHMedium-High Residentialres_mf—[40]—[41]—[42]—[43][{'variant': 'range', 'range': {'min': 14, 'max': 24}, 'citation': 'c§17.26.020'}][44]—[45]—[37] / —[38] / —[39]
HHigh Residentialres_mf—[49]—[50]—[51]—[52][{'variant': 'range', 'range': {'min': 24, 'max': 30}, 'citation': 'c§17.26.020'}][53]—[54]—[46] / —[47] / —[48]
HRHillside Residentialres_sf—[58]—[59]—[60]—[61]—[62]—[63]—[55] / —[56] / —[57]
MUMixed Usemu—[67]—[68]—[69]—[70]—[71]—[72]—[64] / —[65] / —[66]
NCNeighborhood Commercialcom—[76]—[77]—[78]—[79]——[80]—[73] / —[74] / —[75]
CCCommunity Commercialcom—[84]—[85]—[86]—[87]——[88]—[81] / —[82] / —[83]
SCSpecialty Commercialcom—[92]—[93]—[94]—[95]——[96]—[89] / —[90] / —[91]
RRCRegional Related Commercialcom—[100]—[101]—[102]—[103]——[104]—[97] / —[98] / —[99]
COCommercial Officeoff—[108]—[109]—[110]—[111]——[112]—[105] / —[106] / —[107]
IPIndustrial Parkind—[116]—[117]—[118]—[119]——[120]—[113] / —[114] / —[115]
GIGeneral Industrialind—[124]—[125]—[126]—[127]——[128]—[121] / —[122] / —[123]
MIMinimum Impact Industrialind—[132]—[133]—[134]—[135]——[136]—[129] / —[130] / —[131]
HIHeavy Industrialind—[140]—[141]—[142]—[143]——[144]—[137] / —[138] / —[139]
OSOpen Spaceos——[145]————— / — / —
FC/UCFlood Control / Utility Corridorspec——————— / — / —

Confidence: confirmed partial under review not found

Overlays

H
Hillside (H) Overlay Zone
ENV
c§17.38.030 + c§17.52 · c§17.38.030; c§17.52
slope_threshold_pct8[146]
regulating_chapter17.52[147]
interactionAdditive combining overlay over base residential zone
E
Equestrian (E) Overlay Zone
RUR
c§17.38 · c§17.38
permitted_animalsequine, bovine, cleft-hoofed[148]
trail_requirement1[149]
animal_keeping_standardsmin lot size + setback per §17.38[150]
CP
Camino Predera (CP) Overlay Zone
SPD
c§17.38 · c§17.38
scope_parcels38[151]
base_zone_governedL (Low Residential, 2-4 du/ac)[152]
standards_typeoptional[153]
geographic_scopeCamino Predera + Predera Court frontage[154]
SH
Senior Housing (SH) Overlay Zone
RES
p§17.38 · p§17.38
use_restrictionage-restricted senior housing per state-allowed seniors-only definition[155]
density_modifiermodified per overlay[156]
parking_modifierreduced senior parking ratio[157]
IC
Industrial Commercial (IC) Overlay Zone
IND
p§17.38 · p§17.38
permitted_overlay_useslimited retail/services supporting industrial users[158]
geographic_scopeselected IP/GI parcels along Foothill / Arrow / Haven[159]
interactionAdditive — overlay expands permitted uses beyond base industrial
CS
Cucamonga Station (CS) Overlay Zone
TOD
p§17.38 · p§17.38
transit_facilityMetrolink San Bernardino Line + planned Brightline West HSR terminus[160]
permitted_use_expansionTOD-supportive density / mixed-use / reduced parking[161]
geographic_scopearound 11208 Azusa Ct station + planned HSR expansion[162]
ESP
Etiwanda Specific Plan (ESP)
SP
p§17.38 · p§17.38
plan_purposepreserve historic Etiwanda character; regulate infill[163]
scopeEtiwanda historic village area[164]
regulation_typeform/use overlay replacing base zone in mapped area[165]
EHNCP
Etiwanda Heights Neighborhood and Conservation Plan (EHNCP)
SP
c§17.38.070 · c§17.38.070
neighborhood_area_acres790[166]
conservation_area_acres3,603[167]
regulating_zones_subzones1[168]
allowed_uses_tableTable 17.38.070-1[169]
IASP
Industrial Area Specific Plan (IASP)
SP
c§17.38 · c§17.38; c§17.38.060
subareas18[170]
subarea_15Etiwanda site[171]
subarea_18Empire Lakes / The Resort (380 acres)[172]
scopeindustrial sub-areas with per-sub-area development standards[173]
EL18
Empire Lakes Sub-Area 18 / The Resort
SP
c§17.38.060 · c§17.38.060
acres380[174]
permitted_usesrecreational, hotel/conference center, retail, restaurant, entertainment, office, R&D, light industrial[175]
anchor18-hole golf course[176]
amendmentDRC2015-00040 mixed-use expansion[177]
FBSP
Foothill Boulevard Specific Plan (FBSP)
COR
p§17.38 · p§17.38
corridor_roadFoothill Blvd / Historic Route 66[178]
regulation_typespecific plan with subareas and form/use overlays[179]
scopeentire Foothill Blvd length through city[180]

State preemptions

CA-ADU GC §66411.7-.8 + SB 1211 (2024)applies
Qualifying condition
All CA cities; Rancho Cucamonga is a CA general-law city. RCDC implements ADU/JADU per state floor. SB 1211 (eff 2025-01-01) allows up to 8 ADUs on qualifying multifamily lots — meaningful in M/MH/H zones.
CA-SB9 GC §65852.21applies
Qualifying condition
General-law city with SF-zoned parcels in VL, L, LM zones (predominantly single-family character). Per-parcel exclusions for Rancho Cucamonga: FEMA SFHA along Cucamonga Creek / Day Creek / Etiwanda Creek (San Bernardino County Flood Control District drainage easements run through city); CAL FIRE VHFHSZ across the entire northern foothills above Wilson Ave / Banyan St (effectively coextensive with Etiwanda Heights NCP boundary and Hillside Overlay); no Coastal Zone (~50 mi inland); no Title 17 city-designated historic district (Rancho Cucamonga has historic surveys but no codified historic district overlay).
CA-SB450 (2024)applies
Qualifying condition
Strengthens SB 9 ministerial procedural limits — applies to all CA general-law cities effective 2024-07-01.
CA-DensityBonus GC §65915 + AB 1287 (2023)applies
Qualifying condition
Applies to any project meeting affordability thresholds in residential or mixed-use zones. Stacks with AB 1287 for up to 100% bonus.
CA-AB2097 (Parking elimination near transit)applies
Qualifying condition
Qualifying major transit stops in Rancho Cucamonga: (1) Metrolink Cucamonga Station at 11208 Azusa Ct — established Metrolink San Bernardino Line stop, qualifies as 'rail station' under PRC §21064.3. (2) Planned Brightline West HSR Cucamonga terminus — will reinforce when operational (EIR-certified, construction underway). (3) Omnitrans local bus high-frequency corridors (Foothill Blvd / Haven Ave / Base Line Rd subject to per-corridor 15-min headway verification).
CA-SB423 GC §65913.4applies
Qualifying condition
SCAG 6th-cycle RHNA allocation 10,525 units (2021-2029). HCD APR tier determination requires data.ca.gov/dataset/sb-35-data retrieval to determine 10% vs 50% affordability tier vs Exempt.
Retrieval issue
HCD SB 35-423 Determination dashboard JS-rendered; not fetchable in this pass
CA-AB2011 GC §65912.100applies
Qualifying condition
Commercial corridors qualifying for AB 2011 ministerial multifamily on commercial-zoned parcels: Foothill Blvd (entire length, in Foothill Boulevard Specific Plan area), Haven Ave (south of Base Line), Base Line Rd, Arrow Route, Archibald Ave, Carnelian St, Hellman Ave (commercial frontage segments), 19th St / Highland Ave commercial nodes.
CA-BuildersRemedy GC §65589.5(d)(5) + AB 1893 (2024)applies
Qualifying condition
Rancho Cucamonga 6th-cycle Housing Element (2021-2029). HCD certification status not confirmed live; substantial 2024 RCDC amendment cycle suggests good-faith Housing Element compliance progress. SCAG allocation 10,525 units. AB 1893 (2024) codified additional procedural requirements for Builder's Remedy projects.
Retrieval issue
HCD Housing Element Compliance dashboard JS-rendered; not fetched this pass
Non-applicable laws (3)
CA-SB10not_applicable
Qualifying condition
Permissive statute. No evidence Rancho Cucamonga adopted SB 10 resolution. 2024 amendments expanding M/MH/H tiers appear to be standard rezones for HE compliance, not SB 10 resolutions.
FEDERAL-AICUZnot_applicable
Qualifying condition
No DoD military airport within AICUZ contour distance of Rancho Cucamonga. Ontario International Airport (KONT) is ~7 mi south but is a civilian commercial airport — FAA Part 77 obstruction surfaces apply parcel-level via 7460-1 process for tall structures, but no DoD AICUZ overlay applies.
FEDERAL-CoastalZone (CCA / PRC §30000)not_applicable
Qualifying condition
Inland city ~50 mi from Pacific coast (San Bernardino County, Inland Empire). Coastal Zone boundary stops ~Long Beach / Newport Beach to the west. California Coastal Commission jurisdiction does not extend to Rancho Cucamonga.

Adopted building codes

Statewide mandatory minimum

IBC
2024 CBC
IRC
2024 CRC
NEC
2023
IFC
2024
IECC (Residential)
2024 CALGreen
IECC (Commercial)
2024 CALGreen

Click a code label to open its state-by-state adoption atlas.

Quirks & notes

  • RCDC = Rancho Cucamonga Development Code — Title 17 reorganized 2010-12 (Ord. 855); significant 2024 amendment cycle for 6th-cycle Housing Element compliance.
  • Three platform 403 mirrors: qcode.us, ecode360.com, cityofrc-ca.elaws.us — all Cloudflare-gated against scripted WebFetch (same CA pattern as bakersfield.municipal.codes).
  • Specific Plan hybrid coverage: ~25-30% of city land area governed by Specific Plans (Etiwanda SP, Etiwanda Heights NCP, Industrial Area SP / Empire Lakes Sub-Area 18 / The Resort, Foothill Boulevard SP) per Chapter 17.38.
  • Etiwanda Heights Neighborhood and Conservation Plan (EHNCP) is 4,393 acres total (790 Neighborhood + 3,603 Rural/Conservation) — uses 'regulating zones and subzones' (form-based-adjacent) per Table 17.38.070-1.
  • Camino Predera Overlay (CP) is unusual — covers exactly 38 specific parcels with optional development standards in lieu of base L zone.
  • Equestrian Overlay (E) preserves equine/bovine/cleft-hoofed animal-keeping rights — concentrated in historic Alta Loma equestrian district north of 19th St.
  • Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD) administers wellhead protection within RC limits — NOT codified as a Title 17 overlay (administrative, not zoning).
  • Rancho Cucamonga is on Metrolink San Bernardino Line, NOT LA Metro letter rail — no obsolete A/L/E line references. Planned Brightline West HSR terminus at Cucamonga Station strengthens AB 2097 transit-buffer applicability.

Formulas

Definitions

height
Measured from finished grade to highest roof point; excludes mechanical equipment, flagpoles, antenna arrays per §17.36 standards
lot_coverage
Building footprint as % of lot area; per Table 17.36.030-1 (residential) and 17.36.020-1 (commercial)
far
Gross building area divided by lot area; commercial/industrial — see Tables 17.36.020-1 / 17.36.040-1
du_ac
Dwelling units per gross acre per Chapter 17.26.020 zoning district density tiers
parking
Per Chapter 17.64; preempted by AB 2097 within ½ mi of Metrolink Cucamonga Station and qualifying high-frequency bus corridors
setback_front
Measured from property line to building face; corner lot rules per §17.36
setback_side
Measured from property line to building face per §17.36
setback_rear
Measured from property line to building face per §17.36

Massing explorer

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District Category Height FAR Coverage Setbacks Parking Density Min lot Overlays

Sources & references

Primary source
Rancho Cucamonga Development Code (RCDC) — Title 17
retrieved 2026-04-19
Citations
  1. [1] §17.36.030
  2. [2] §17.36.030
  3. [3] §17.36.030
  4. [4] §17.36.030
  5. [5] §17.36.030
  6. [6] §17.36.030
  7. [7] §17.36.030
  8. [8] §17.26.020
  9. [9] §17.64
  10. [10] §17.36.030
  11. [11] §17.36.030
  12. [12] §17.36.030
  13. [13] §17.36.030
  14. [14] §17.36.030
  15. [15] §17.36.030
  16. [16] §17.36.030
  17. [17] §17.26.020
  18. [18] §17.64
  19. [19] §17.36.030
  20. [20] §17.36.030
  21. [21] §17.36.030
  22. [22] §17.36.030
  23. [23] §17.36.030
  24. [24] §17.36.030
  25. [25] §17.36.030
  26. [26] §17.26.020
  27. [27] §17.64
  28. [28] §17.36.030
  29. [29] §17.36.030
  30. [30] §17.36.030
  31. [31] §17.36.030
  32. [32] §17.36.030
  33. [33] §17.36.030
  34. [34] §17.36.030
  35. [35] §17.26.020
  36. [36] §17.64
  37. [37] §17.36.030
  38. [38] §17.36.030
  39. [39] §17.36.030
  40. [40] §17.36.030
  41. [41] §17.36.030
  42. [42] §17.36.030
  43. [43] §17.36.030
  44. [44] §17.26.020
  45. [45] §17.64
  46. [46] §17.36.030
  47. [47] §17.36.030
  48. [48] §17.36.030
  49. [49] §17.36.030
  50. [50] §17.36.030
  51. [51] §17.36.030
  52. [52] §17.36.030
  53. [53] §17.26.020
  54. [54] §17.64
  55. [55] §17.52
  56. [56] §17.52
  57. [57] §17.52
  58. [58] §17.52
  59. [59] §17.52
  60. [60] §17.52
  61. [61] §17.52
  62. [62] §17.52
  63. [63] §17.64
  64. [64] §17.36.020
  65. [65] §17.36.020
  66. [66] §17.36.020
  67. [67] §17.36.020
  68. [68] §17.36.020
  69. [69] §17.36.020
  70. [70] §17.36.020
  71. [71] §17.36.020
  72. [72] §17.64
  73. [73] §17.36.020
  74. [74] §17.36.020
  75. [75] §17.36.020
  76. [76] §17.36.020
  77. [77] §17.36.020
  78. [78] §17.36.020
  79. [79] §17.36.020
  80. [80] §17.64
  81. [81] §17.36.020
  82. [82] §17.36.020
  83. [83] §17.36.020
  84. [84] §17.36.020
  85. [85] §17.36.020
  86. [86] §17.36.020
  87. [87] §17.36.020
  88. [88] §17.64
  89. [89] §17.36.020
  90. [90] §17.36.020
  91. [91] §17.36.020
  92. [92] §17.36.020
  93. [93] §17.36.020
  94. [94] §17.36.020
  95. [95] §17.36.020
  96. [96] §17.64
  97. [97] §17.36.020
  98. [98] §17.36.020
  99. [99] §17.36.020
  100. [100] §17.36.020
  101. [101] §17.36.020
  102. [102] §17.36.020
  103. [103] §17.36.020
  104. [104] §17.64
  105. [105] §17.36.020
  106. [106] §17.36.020
  107. [107] §17.36.020
  108. [108] §17.36.020
  109. [109] §17.36.020
  110. [110] §17.36.020
  111. [111] §17.36.020
  112. [112] §17.64
  113. [113] §17.36.040
  114. [114] §17.36.040
  115. [115] §17.36.040
  116. [116] §17.36.040
  117. [117] §17.36.040
  118. [118] §17.36.040
  119. [119] §17.36.040
  120. [120] §17.64
  121. [121] §17.36.040
  122. [122] §17.36.040
  123. [123] §17.36.040
  124. [124] §17.36.040
  125. [125] §17.36.040
  126. [126] §17.36.040
  127. [127] §17.36.040
  128. [128] §17.64
  129. [129] §17.36.040
  130. [130] §17.36.040
  131. [131] §17.36.040
  132. [132] §17.36.040
  133. [133] §17.36.040
  134. [134] §17.36.040
  135. [135] §17.36.040
  136. [136] §17.64
  137. [137] §17.36.040
  138. [138] §17.36.040
  139. [139] §17.36.040
  140. [140] §17.36.040
  141. [141] §17.36.040
  142. [142] §17.36.040
  143. [143] §17.36.040
  144. [144] §17.64
  145. [145] §17.26.020
  146. [146] §17.38.030
  147. [147] §17.52
  148. [148] §17.38
  149. [149] §17.38
  150. [150] §17.38
  151. [151] §17.38
  152. [152] §17.38
  153. [153] §17.38
  154. [154] §17.38
  155. [155] §17.38
  156. [156] §17.38
  157. [157] §17.38
  158. [158] §17.38
  159. [159] §17.38
  160. [160] §17.38
  161. [161] §17.38
  162. [162] §17.38
  163. [163] §17.38
  164. [164] §17.38
  165. [165] §17.38
  166. [166] §17.38.070
  167. [167] §17.38.070
  168. [168] §17.38.070
  169. [169] §17.38.070
  170. [170] §17.38
  171. [171] §17.38
  172. [172] §17.38.060
  173. [173] §17.38
  174. [174] §17.38.060
  175. [175] §17.38.060
  176. [176] §17.38.060
  177. [177] §17.38.060
  178. [178] §17.38
  179. [179] §17.38
  180. [180] §17.38

Research status

Publication gates

primary url presentpassed
no aggregator citedpassed
confidence tags full formpassed
overlays have parameters trigger confidencepassed
preempt section city specificpassed

Data quality

55%completeness18 confirmed24 partial
Documented gaps
  • Numeric dimensional standards (height/setback/coverage/FAR) for all 19 base districts — Tables 17.36.020-1, 17.36.030-1, 17.36.040-1 not retrieved live (platform 403)
  • Parking ratios per Chapter 17.64 not retrieved live
  • Overlay parameter tables for SH, IC, CS, ESP, FBSP not retrieved live
  • HCD Housing Element Compliance status (Builder's Remedy applicability) under_review
  • HCD SB 35-423 Determination tier under_review
  • Per-Sub-Area Industrial Area Specific Plan (IASP) sub-area specifics (18 sub-areas) not enumerated

Known issues

cohort:needs-dom-retrievalfreshness:volatileblocker:ecode360data:gaps-present

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