Zoning › California › Los Angeles County › Santa Clarita

Santa Clarita, CA Zoning

Euclidean-zoning. 12 districts · 16 overlays · 7 applicable state preemptions.

Overview

Code type
euclidean
Naming convention
use-type-index

Standard Euclidean code organized by zone (non-urban, urban residential, commercial/industrial, mixed use, special standards). California sub-flag triggers state-preemption overlay pass regardless of code type. Specific-plan-heavy sub-flag captures the reality that Old Town Newhall, North Valencia, Town Center, and Corridor Plans (Ch.17.37) substitute base-district standards for large portions of the city.

Worth knowing
  • UDC naming is tier-index — UR1–UR5 are numerically ordered by maximum density (2, 5, 11, 18, 30 du/ac) but the numbers are NOT a lot-size or du/ac formula; treat as use-type / intensity index with a lookup. UR5 uniquely carries a minimum density floor (18 du/ac) in addition to the 30 du/ac cap. [confirmed — Ch.17.33 purpose clauses]
  • Overlay-heavy zoning: 15+ overlay types identified (SEA, RP, FP, FHSZ, BR, ES, JC, MP, SMP, MOC, MR, MU, PD, VDS, VS, CP). Base district standards are frequently modified or superseded by overlay provisions and Specific Plans. [confirmed]
  • Extensive fire-hazard coverage: CalFire FHSZ maps extensive canyon/foothill WUI coverage across Santa Clarita (Placerita, Sand, Mint, San Francisquito, Bouquet canyons plus Santa Susana foothills). Large fractions of UR1 and Non-Urban parcels are VHFHSZ, which (a) imposes WUI construction requirements and (b) triggers SB 9 exclusion. [confirmed — CalFire FHSZ]

+ 5 more in Quirks & notes

Districts

res_sf 3res_mf 3com 3emp 1ind 1spec 1
CodeNameCategory Min lotHeight CoverageFAR Du/acParking Setbacks F/S/R
UR1Urban Residential 1res_sf—[4]35 ft[5]——2[6]2[7]—[1] / —[2] / —[3]
UR2Urban Residential 2res_sf—[11]35 ft[12]——5[13]2[14]—[8] / —[9] / —[10]
UR3Urban Residential 3res_mf—[18]35 ft[19]——11[20]2[21]—[15] / —[16] / —[17]
UR4Urban Residential 4res_mf—[25]45 ft[26]——18[27]1.75[28]—[22] / —[23] / —[24]
UR5Urban Residential 5res_mf—[32]55 ft[33]——[18, 30][34]1.5[35]—[29] / —[30] / —[31]
NUNon-Urban Zoneres_sf—[36]35 ft[37]———[38]2[39]— / — / —
CNNeighborhood Commercialcom—35 ft[40]————[41]— / — / —
CCCommunity Commercialcom—50 ft[42]————[43]— / — / —
CRRegional Commercialcom—65 ft[44]————[45]— / — / —
BPBusiness Parkemp—50 ft[46]————— / — / —
ICIndustrial Commercialind—50 ft[47]————— / — / —
OSOpen Spacespec——————— / — / —

Confidence: confirmed partial under review not found

Overlays

SEA
Significant Ecological Area Overlay
ENV
Title 17 + LA County SEA mapping; Santa Clarita Conservation & Open Space Element · p
RP
Ridgeline Preservation Overlay
ENV
Title 17 Ch.17.39 (Special Standards Districts) + Hillside Development Standards · p§17.39
FP
Floodplain (FEMA SFHA)
FP
Title 17 floodplain management provisions + adopted FEMA FIRM panels · c
FHSZ
Wildfire Hazard (VHFHSZ / Fire Hazard Severity Zone)
ENV
Title 17 + CA PRC §4201–4204 / GC §51175–51189 (CalFire / LACoFD Fire Hazard Severity Zone mapping) · c
BR
Billboard Relocation Overlay
COR
Title 17 sign regulation / billboard relocation provisions · p
ES
Homeless Shelter / Emergency Shelter Overlay (SB 2 / SB 639)
spec
Title 17 emergency shelter provisions (SB 2 implementation) · p
JC
Jobs Creation Overlay
SPD
Title 17 economic development incentive provisions · p
MP
Mobilehome Park Overlay
SPD
Title 17 mobilehome park provisions · p
SMP
Senior Mobilehome Park Overlay
SPD
Title 17 age-restricted mobilehome park provisions · p
MOC
Mineral / Oil Conservation Area Overlay
ENV
Title 17 mineral resource conservation provisions · p
MR
Movie Ranch Overlay
SPD
Title 17 movie ranch / film production provisions · p
MU
Mixed Use Overlay
MIX
Title 17 Ch.17.35 (Mixed Use) · p§17.35
PD
Planned Development Overlay
PD
Title 17 planned development / specific plan mechanism · p
VDS
Vehicle Dealer Sales Overlay
COR
Title 17 vehicle dealer sales provisions · p
VS
Vehicle Services Overlay
COR
Title 17 vehicle services provisions · p
CP
Corridor Plan Designation
COR
Title 17 Ch.17.37 (Corridor Plans) · c§17.37

State preemptions

CA-ADU-GC§66411.7-66411.8applies
Qualifying condition
Statewide by-right. Santa Clarita has residential zones UR1–UR5 and Non-Urban; state ADU law applies by-right to any residential or mixed-use parcel. Cannot require minimum lot size; size caps 1,200 sf detached / 500 sf JADU; no parking required near transit / in historic districts / within existing structure. Santa Clarita Planning Commission considering local ADU ordinance amendments March 2026.
CA-SB9-GC§65852.21-66411.7applies
Qualifying condition
Santa Clarita has SF-zoned parcels (UR1, UR2, and Non-Urban where SF is primary use). SB 9 applies per-parcel conditional on: not in a designated historic district (Old Town Newhall landmark parcels likely SB 9 excluded), not in a very-high fire hazard severity zone (extensive canyon-edge coverage per CalFire FHSZ — large fractions of UR1 canyon parcels are SB 9 excluded), not in FEMA SFHA, and not within a delineated Alquist-Priolo fault zone (San Gabriel Fault Zone / San Andreas zone northeast of city; per-parcel check).
CA-DensityBonus-GC§65915applies
Qualifying condition
Statewide. Applies to any Santa Clarita project meeting affordability thresholds (5% VLI, 10% LI, 10% moderate for-sale, or 100% affordable). Eligible base districts include UR3, UR4, UR5, CN, CC, CR (with MU overlay), BP (mixed-use where permitted), and MU sites. Santa Clarita 2023 local affordability ordinance requires 10% affordable on 10+ unit projects (local inclusionary) — state density bonus layers on top.
CA-AB2097applies
Qualifying condition
Santa Clarita is served by Metrolink Antelope Valley Line (Newhall, Santa Clarita, and Via Princessa stations) — heavy rail stations qualify as 'major transit stops' under PRC §21064.3. Additionally local Santa Clarita Transit and LA Metro bus service along Bouquet Canyon, McBean Pkwy, Soledad Canyon, and Sierra Highway may qualify at specific intersections depending on peak-hour headway. Parcel-level ½-mile radii around Newhall / Santa Clarita / Via Princessa Metrolink stations are confirmed qualifying; arterial-intersection analysis required elsewhere.
Retrieval issue
Metro / Metrolink GTFS headway at specific Santa Clarita Transit intersections not fetched live.
CA-SB423-GC§65913.4applies
Qualifying condition
HCD_DATA (trusted, orchestrator-supplied, reviewed_date 2023-08-22): Santa Clarita is at SB 35/423 10% tier — subject to streamlined ministerial approval for qualifying projects with ≥10% affordable units. Inputs: city.sb423_tier='10%', city.housing_element_status='In'. Threshold compared: project.moderate_income_unit_pct_for_ownership_or_low_income_rental ≥ 10. Eligible base zone categories present in Santa Clarita: res_mf (UR3, UR4, UR5), mu (MU overlay on CN/CC/CR where applied), com (CN, CC, CR). Vintage: 2023-08-22 HCD determination.
CA-AB2011-GC§65912.100applies
Qualifying condition
Santa Clarita has qualifying commercial corridors (Lyons Ave, Newhall Ave, Soledad Canyon Rd, Bouquet Canyon Rd, Sierra Highway, McBean Pkwy) with commercially-zoned parcels (CN, CC, CR, BP) along them. 100% affordable multifamily projects are ministerial on any commercial site; mixed-income multifamily is ministerial on corridor sites.
CA-SB2-SB639-ESapplies
Qualifying condition
All CA cities must identify a zone or zones where emergency shelters are permitted by-right with capacity to meet unsheltered need per Housing Element (GC §65583(a)(4)). Santa Clarita Housing Element (June 2023 revised draft) identifies designated zone(s) layered on commercial / industrial parcels.
Non-applicable laws (2)
CA-BuildersRemedy-GC§65589.5(d)(5)not_applicable
Qualifying condition
HCD_DATA (trusted, orchestrator-supplied, reviewed_date 2023-08-22): Santa Clarita Housing Element compliance_status='In' — certified compliant by HCD. Trigger predicate city.housing_element_status ∈ ['Out', 'Enforcement Out'] evaluates FALSE. Inputs: city.housing_element_status='In', HCD reviewed_date='2023-08-22', builders_remedy_subject=false. Santa Clarita's revised 6th-cycle Housing Element (submitted June 2023) received HCD certification by 2023-08-22, flipping status from the earlier 2023-02-14 'Out' draft letter to 'In' compliance.
CA-SB10not_applicable
Qualifying condition
SB 10 is permissive — it authorizes but does not require cities to zone up to 10 units / parcel near transit. Applies only if Santa Clarita has adopted an SB 10 resolution. No such resolution identified.

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.

Amendment history

DateKindCitation
adoption
supplement effective

Quirks & notes

  • UDC naming is tier-index — UR1–UR5 are numerically ordered by maximum density (2, 5, 11, 18, 30 du/ac) but the numbers are NOT a lot-size or du/ac formula; treat as use-type / intensity index with a lookup. UR5 uniquely carries a minimum density floor (18 du/ac) in addition to the 30 du/ac cap. [confirmed — Ch.17.33 purpose clauses]
  • Overlay-heavy zoning: 15+ overlay types identified (SEA, RP, FP, FHSZ, BR, ES, JC, MP, SMP, MOC, MR, MU, PD, VDS, VS, CP). Base district standards are frequently modified or superseded by overlay provisions and Specific Plans. [confirmed]
  • Extensive fire-hazard coverage: CalFire FHSZ maps extensive canyon/foothill WUI coverage across Santa Clarita (Placerita, Sand, Mint, San Francisquito, Bouquet canyons plus Santa Susana foothills). Large fractions of UR1 and Non-Urban parcels are VHFHSZ, which (a) imposes WUI construction requirements and (b) triggers SB 9 exclusion. [confirmed — CalFire FHSZ]
  • Multiple adopted and draft Specific Plans (Old Town Newhall May 2022, North Valencia, North Newhall, Town Center April 2024 draft) supersede base zoning within their boundaries. Development feasibility requires Specific Plan review. [confirmed]
  • Corridor Plan (CP) designation under Ch.17.37 entirely replaces base district within adopted corridor-plan footprint — allowable uses, intensity, and form are set by the corridor plan document, not Title 17. [confirmed — §17.37]
  • Metrolink Antelope Valley Line has 3 heavy-rail stations within city limits (Newhall, Santa Clarita, Via Princessa) — each is a PRC §21064.3 major transit stop, triggering AB 2097 parking-mandate elimination within ½ mile. Old Town Newhall Specific Plan area is well-covered. [confirmed]
  • Santa Clarita 6th-cycle Housing Element: draft found NOT in compliance (HCD letter 2023-02-14); revised draft submitted June 2023; HCD certified compliance 2023-08-22 (orchestrator HCD_DATA). Builder's Remedy DORMANT while certification persists. SB 423 applies at 10% tier (streamline ≥10% affordable). [confirmed via HCD_DATA]
  • UDC was wholesale adopted June 11, 2013 (effective July 11, 2013) replacing legacy zoning — city is on its first generation of UDC with ordinance-based amendments since. [confirmed]

Formulas

Definitions

height
Grade to highest point of structure. Verification of rooftop equipment exclusions required from Ch.17.51–17.57.
lot_coverage
Building footprint / lot area.
far
Gross floor area / lot area.
du_ac
Dwelling units per gross acre.
setback_front
Front property line to nearest building face.
setback_side
Side property line to nearest building face.
setback_rear
Rear property line to nearest building face.
parking
Spaces per dwelling unit unless noted.

Capacity calculations

max_footprint_sf
lot_area_sf * lot_coverage
max_gfa_sf
lot_area_sf * far
max_units_from_density
lot_area_sf * du_ac / 43560
parking_required
units * parking

Massing explorer

Interactive 3D comparison across every district. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, use the slider to walk districts, and toggle applicable overlays in the right-side panel.

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Setbacks (F / S / R)
— ft
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Parking
— /unit
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Max density
— du/ac
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Min lot size
— sf
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District Category Height FAR Coverage Setbacks Parking Density Min lot Overlays

Sources & references

Citations
  1. [1] i§17.51
  2. [2] i§17.51
  3. [3] i§17.51
  4. [4] i§17.33.010
  5. [5] i§17.51
  6. [6] §17.33.010
  7. [7] i§17.51
  8. [8] i§17.51
  9. [9] i§17.51
  10. [10] i§17.51
  11. [11] i§17.33.020
  12. [12] i§17.51
  13. [13] §17.33.020
  14. [14] i§17.51
  15. [15] i§17.51
  16. [16] i§17.51
  17. [17] i§17.51
  18. [18] i§17.33.030
  19. [19] i§17.51
  20. [20] §17.33.030
  21. [21] i§17.51
  22. [22] i§17.51
  23. [23] i§17.51
  24. [24] i§17.51
  25. [25] i§17.33.040
  26. [26] i§17.51
  27. [27] §17.33.040
  28. [28] i§17.51
  29. [29] i§17.51
  30. [30] i§17.51
  31. [31] i§17.51
  32. [32] i§17.33.050
  33. [33] i§17.51
  34. [34] §17.33.050
  35. [35] i§17.51
  36. [36] i§17.32
  37. [37] i§17.51
  38. [38] i§17.32
  39. [39] i§17.51
  40. [40] i§17.52
  41. [41] i§17.52
  42. [42] i§17.52
  43. [43] i§17.52
  44. [44] i§17.52
  45. [45] i§17.52
  46. [46] i§17.54
  47. [47] i§17.54

Research status

Publication gates

primary url presentpassedcode_source populated: https://www.codepublishing.com/CA/SantaClarita/html/SantaClarita17/SantaClarita17.html (canonical Code Publishing portal for Santa Clarita Title 17).
no aggregator citedpassedNo Zoneomics, Steadily, SitePlanGuide, SitePlanCreator, Propwire, Zonara, or Unzoned citations. All citations are to Code Publishing primary source, CA Gov Code sections, CalFire FHSZ, HCD primary letters/datasets, Metrolink station list, FEMA FIRM, and LA County SEA mapping.
confidence tags full formpassedEvery confirmed district-density cap carries c§17.33.0X0 form. Inferred dimensional standards carry explicit i§ status with section reference. Confirmed overlays (FHSZ, CP) carry c citations; partial overlays carry p citation with retrieval_failure_reason. No bare 'city code' citations.
overlays have parameters trigger confidencepassedAll 15 overlays (SEA, RP, FP, FHSZ, BR, ES, JC, MP, SMP, MOC, MR, MU, PD, VDS, VS, CP) carry non-empty parameters objects, explicit geographic_trigger strings, and status + citation. Where live re-retrieval was blocked, retrieval_failure_reason is recorded.
preempt section city specificpassedstate_preemptions_applicable[] contains 9 per-law entries with city-specific qualifying_condition_checked. HCD_DATA (trusted, 2023-08-22 vintage) resolves the two previously under_review atoms: SB 423 confirmed at 10% tier (city.sb423_tier='10%'); Builder's Remedy not_applicable (city.housing_element_status='In', builders_remedy_subject=false). Every preemption entry carries numeric/categorical inputs, vintage/date, and threshold compared — not link-stubs.

Data quality

44%completeness20 confirmed20 partial32 inferred
Documented gaps
  • Code Publishing portal returns 403 to scripted WebFetch — section-by-section live re-verification of Ch.17.32 (non-urban), Ch.17.33 (UR), Ch.17.34 (commercial/industrial), Ch.17.35 (MU), Ch.17.37 (corridor), Ch.17.39 (special standards), Ch.17.51–17.57 (development standards tables) was not possible this pass.
  • UR1–UR5 dimensional tables (min lot, setbacks front/side/rear, lot coverage, FAR, precise max height) not live-retrieved; inferred values carry i§ status.
  • Commercial / industrial dimensional tables (CN, CC, CR, BP, IC) not live-retrieved.
  • Non-Urban sub-zones (NU1–NU5 or similar tier structure) not enumerated at sub-zone level this pass.
  • Mixed Use Ch.17.35 detailed density/height tiers not retrieved.
  • Specific Plan standards (Old Town Newhall development standards table, North Valencia Chapter 7, Town Center draft) referenced but not fully extracted.
  • HCD SB 35/423 tier determination resolved: 10% tier (orchestrator HCD_DATA, reviewed 2023-08-22) — no longer a gap.
  • HCD Housing Element compliance resolved: In compliance (orchestrator HCD_DATA, reviewed 2023-08-22) — no longer a gap.

Known issues

freshness:volatiledata:gaps-present

Verification

last_verified_at2026-04-19T09:29:00Z
verification_resultpartial
atomic_claims_checked29
atomic_claims_passed27
notesPass 1 (2026-04-19 early) atomized 27 claims. Pass 2 (this refresh, 2026-04-19 09:29 UTC) added 2 atoms repairing SB 423 tier and Builder's Remedy applicability from trusted HCD_DATA (reviewed 2023-08-22: compliance_status=In, sb423_tier=10%, builders_remedy_subject=false). Atoms verified: UR1–UR5 density caps (c§17.33.0X0), CP supersession (c§17.37), 15 overlay existences, SB 423 10% tier (c via HCD_DATA), Builder's Remedy N/A (c via HCD_DATA). 2 atoms remain inferred (dimensional standards Ch.17.51–17.57 — Code Publishing 403 persists).

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