Chapter 30
ZONING ORDINANCE1

Sections:

ARTICLE I. INTRODUCTION

30.1.10    Statement of intent.

30.1.20    Short title.

30.1.30    Application of the Zoning Ordinance.

30.1.40    Relationship of the Zoning Ordinance and the general plan.

30.1.50    Fee schedule.

ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS

30.2.10    Word construction.

30.2.20    Definitions.

ARTICLE III. DESIGNATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONING DISTRICTS

30.3.10    Designation of zoning districts.

30.3.20    Designation of combining districts.

30.3.30    Establishment of districts.

30.3.40    Zoning map.

30.3.50    Determination of zone boundaries.

ARTICLE IV. A1 AGRICULTURAL AND RR RURAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

30.4.10    A1 agriculture district.

30.4.20    Rural residential district.

ARTICLE V. R1 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

30.5.10    Statement of intent.

30.5.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.5.30    Site and building requirements.

30.5.40    Density.

30.5.50    Site design requirements.

ARTICLE VI. R2 TWO (2) FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

30.6.10    Statement of intent.

30.6.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.6.30    Site and building requirements.

30.6.40    Density.

30.6.50    Site design requirements.

ARTICLE VII. R3 MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

30.7.10    Statement of intent.

30.7.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.7.30    Site and building requirements.

30.7.40    Density.

30.7.50    Site design requirements.

ARTICLE VIII. R4 HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

30.8.10    Statement of intent.

30.8.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.8.30    Site and building requirements.

30.8.40    Density.

30.8.50    Site design requirements.

ARTICLE IX. RH RESIDENTIAL HILLSIDE DISTRICT

30.9.10    Statement of intent.

30.9.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.9.30    Site and building requirements.

30.9.40    Density.

30.9.41    Resubdivision of single-family residential hillside lots.

30.9.50    Bonuses.

30.9.60    Hillside development guidelines.

30.9.70    Exceptions.

ARTICLE X. ND NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT

30.10.10    Statement of intent.

30.10.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.10.30    Site and building requirements.

30.10.40    Density.

30.10.50    Site design requirements.

ARTICLE XI. RESIDENTIAL USE TABLES

30.11.10    Residential use table.< span class="updated">Amended Ord. 2023-04

30.11.20    Residential site and building requirement table.

ARTICLE XII. PO PROFESSIONAL OFFICE DISTRICT

30.12.10    Statement of intent.

30.12.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.12.30    Site and building requirements.

ARTICLE XIII. C1 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT

30.13.10    Statement of intent.

30.13.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.13.30    Site and building requirements.

ARTICLE XIV. DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICTS

SUBARTICLE 1. DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT (DHD)

30.14.10    Statement of intent.

30.14.11    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.14.12    Site and building requirements.

30.14.13    Density.

30.14.14    Railroad corridor.

SUBARTICLE 2. DOWNTOWN EXPANSION DISTRICT (DED)

30.14.20    Statement of intent.

30.14.21    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.14.22    Site and building requirements.

30.14.23    Density.

30.14.24    Railroad corridor.

SUBARTICLE 3. CIVIC/CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT (CCA)

30.14.30    Statement of intent.

30.14.31    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.14.32    Site and building requirements.

30.14.33    Density.

SUBARTICLE 4. TRANSITIONAL DISTRICT (TD)

30.14.40    Statement of intent.

30.14.41    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.14.42    Site and building requirements.

30.14.43    Density.

SUBARTICLE 5. CANNERY DISTRICT (CD)

30.14.50    Statement of intent.

30.14.51    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.14.52    Site and building requirements.

30.14.53    Density.

30.14.54    Railroad corridor.

SUBARTICLE 6. GATEWAY DISTRICT (GD)

30.14.60    Statement of intent.

30.14.61    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.14.62    Site and building requirements.

30.14.63    Density.

30.14.64    Railroad corridor.

ARTICLE XV. C3 SHOPPING CENTER COMMERCIAL DISTRICT

30.15.10    Statement of intent.

30.15.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.15.30    Site and building requirements.

ARTICLE XVI. HC HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT

30.16.10    Statement of intent.

30.16.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.16.30    Site and building requirements.

ARTICLE XVII. CM COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT

30.17.10    Statement of intent.

30.17.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.17.30    Site and building requirements.

ARTICLE XVIII. RESERVED

ARTICLE XIX. COMMERCIAL TABLES

30.19.10    Commercial use table.

30.19.20    Commercial site and building requirement table.

ARTICLE XX. M1 LIMITED INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT

30.20.10    Statement of intent.

30.20.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.20.30    Site and building requirements.

30.20.40    Murray-Las Animas Avenue overlay combining district.

ARTICLE XXI. M2 GENERAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT

30.21.10    Statement of intent.

30.21.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.21.30    Site and building requirements.

ARTICLE XXII. CI CAMPUS INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT

30.22.10    Statement of intent.

30.22.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.22.30    Site and building requirements.

ARTICLE XXIII. INDUSTRIAL TABLES

30.23.10    Industrial use table.

30.23.20    Industrial site and building requirement table.

ARTICLE XXIV. OPEN SPACE DISTRICT

30.24.10    Statement of intent.

30.24.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.24.30    Site and building requirements.

30.24.40    Lands environmentally unfit for development.

30.24.50    Special regulations.

ARTICLE XXV. PF PARK/PUBLIC FACILITIES DISTRICT

30.25.10    Statement of intent.

30.25.20    Permitted and conditional uses.

30.25.30    Site and building requirements.

ARTICLE XXVI. PUD PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT COMBINING DISTRICT

30.26.10    Statement of intent.

30.26.20    Permitted and conditional uses.

30.26.30    Site and building requirements.

30.26.40    Establishment of combining district.

30.26.50    Development approval required.

ARTICLE XXVII. HISTORIC SITE AND NEIGHBORHOOD COMBINING DISTRICTS

30.27.10    Statement of intent.

30.27.20    Permitted uses and conditional use permits.

30.27.30    Establishment of historic site and neighborhood combining districts.

30.27.40    Design review procedures.

30.27.50    Demolition procedures.

30.27.51    Historic neighborhood demolition procedures.

30.27.52    Historic site demolition procedures.

30.27.53    General demolition procedures.

ARTICLE XXVIII. ADULT BUSINESSES

30.28.10    Definitions.

30.28.20    Prohibition.

30.28.30    Locational regulations.

30.28.40    Measurement of distance.

30.28.50    Use permits.

30.28.60    Appeal.

30.28.70    Judicial review.

30.28.80    Applicability to other regulations.

30.28.90    Conduct constituting a public nuisance.

30.28.95    Severability.

ARTICLE XXIX. HECKER PASS SPECIAL USE DISTRICT

30.29.10    Statement of intent.

30.29.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.29.30    Site and building requirements.

30.29.40    Density.

30.29.50    Site design requirements.

ARTICLE XXX. GLEN LOMA RANCH SPECIAL USE DISTRICT

30.30.10    Statement of intent.

30.30.20    Permitted uses and conditional uses.

30.30.30    Site and building requirements.

30.30.40    Density.

30.30.50    Site design requirements.

ARTICLE XXXI. OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS

30.31.10    Statement of intent.

30.31.20    Parking space requirements.

30.31.21    Residential use off-street parking requirements.

30.31.22    Recreational use off-street parking requirements.

30.31.23    Institutional use off-street parking requirements.

30.31.24    Office, medical and financial uses.

30.31.25(a)    Retail and commercial uses.

30.31.25(b)    Downtown specific plan parking requirements.

30.31.26    Industrial uses.

30.31.30    General off-street parking requirements.

30.31.40    Off-street parking dimension table.

30.31.50    Special parking requirements.

30.31.60    Off-street parking design criteria.

30.31.70    Nonconforming parking.

30.31.80    Additional requirements.

30.31.100    Expired.

30.31.101    Expired.

30.31.102    Expired.

30.31.103    Expired.

ARTICLE XXXII. YARDS

30.32.10    Statement of intent.

30.32.20    Yard requirements.

30.32.30    Exceptions.

ARTICLE XXXIII. TRAILERS AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

30.33.10    Statement of intent.

30.33.20    Repealed.

30.33.30    Storage, all residential zones.

ARTICLE XXXIV. FENCES AND OBSTRUCTIONS

30.34.10    Statement of intent.

30.34.20    Required fencing.

30.34.30    Location and height.

30.34.35    Monitored perimeter security fence system.

30.34.40    Prohibited materials.

ARTICLE XXXV. WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES, ANTENNAS AND WINDMILLS

30.35.10    Purpose and intent.

30.35.11    Definitions.

30.35.12    Applicability.

30.35.13    Exemptions.

30.35.14    Permits required.

30.35.15    Preapplication.

30.35.16    Minimum application requirements.

30.35.17    General requirements.

30.35.18    Modifications constituting a “substantial change.”

30.35.19    Structural, design and environmental standards.

30.35.20    NIER exposure.

30.35.21    Required findings for wireless telecommunication facilities.

30.35.22    Implementation and monitoring costs.

30.35.23    Operation and maintenance standards.

30.35.24    Telecommunications Act exception procedures.

30.35.25    Appeal procedures.

30.35.26    Transfer of operation.

30.35.27    Revocation of permit.

30.35.28    Indemnity and liability.

ARTICLE XXXVI. SWIMMING POOLS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER

30.36.10    Statement of intent.

30.36.20    Swimming pool, hot tub, and spa locations.

30.36.30    Swimming pool fencing.

30.36.40    Swimming pool mechanical equipment.

ARTICLE XXXVII. SIGN REGULATIONS

30.37.10    Statement of intent.

30.37.20    Sign permits.

30.37.30    Regulations in all districts.

30.37.40    Signs in residential and agricultural districts.

30.37.50    Signs in commercial and industrial districts.

30.37.51    Freeway-oriented signs.

30.37.52    Master shopping center signs.

30.37.53    Professional office group signs.

30.37.54    Industrial group signs.

30.37.55    Service station signs.

30.37.56    Commercial and industrial real estate signs.

30.37.57    Automobile dealerships (new car sales).

30.37.58    Regional-serving commercial development.

30.37.60    Special sign permits.

30.37.70    Maintenance.

30.37.80    Amortization.

30.37.90    Portable freestanding open house real estate signs and A-frame signs.

ARTICLE XXXVIII. LANDSCAPING, WATER EFFICIENCY, AND STORM WATER RETENTION AND TREATMENT

30.38.10    Purpose.

30.38.20    Applicability.

30.38.30    Definitions.

30.38.40    General landscape standards.

30.38.50    Residential zone landscape standards.

30.38.60    Commercial zone landscape standards.

30.38.70    Industrial zone landscape standards.

30.38.80    Landscape documentation review process.

30.38.90    Elements of the landscape documentation package.

30.38.100    Water efficient landscape worksheet—Completion of worksheet.

30.38.110    Soil management report.

30.38.120    Landscape design plan.

30.38.130    Irrigation design plan.

30.38.140    Grading design plan.

30.38.150    Certificate of completion.

30.38.160    Irrigation scheduling.

30.38.170    Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule.

30.38.180    Irrigation audit, irrigation survey, and irrigation water use analysis.

30.38.190    Irrigation efficiency.

30.38.200    Recycled water.

30.38.210    Graywater systems.

30.38.220    Storm water management and rainwater retention.

30.38.230    Public education.

30.38.240    Provisions for existing landscapes.

30.38.250    Water waste prevention.

30.38.260    Penalties.

30.38.270    Protected tree removal.

ARTICLE XXXIX. ACCESSORY STRUCTURES

30.39.10    Statement of intent.

30.39.20    Permitted zones for accessory structures.

30.39.30    Accessory structures in residential zones.

30.39.40    Decks.

ARTICLE XL. HOME OCCUPATION

30.40.10    Statement of intent.

30.40.20    Permitted uses for home occupations.

30.40.30    Home occupations requiring a conditional use permit.

30.40.40    Uses not permitted as home occupations.

30.40.50    Nonconformance to criteria.

ARTICLE XLI. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

30.41.10    Statement of intent.

30.41.20    General provisions.

30.41.30    Specific provisions—Hazardous material storage.

30.41.31    Specific provisions—Noise.

30.41.32    Specific provisions—Emergency shelters.Amended Ord. 2023-04

30.41.40    Enforcement.

30.41.41    Disaster and utility failures.

ARTICLE XLII. RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (RV) PARK DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS

30.42.10    Statement of intent.

30.42.20    Permitted zones for recreational vehicle parks.

30.42.30    Guidelines.

30.42.40    Length of stay.

30.42.41    Compliance hearings.

30.42.50    Nonconformance to criteria.

ARTICLE XLIII. STREET MERCHANDISING

30.43.10    Statement of intent.

30.43.20    Permitted where.

ARTICLE XLIV. STREET FURNITURE OBJECTS

30.44.10    Statement of intent.

30.44.15    Street furniture objects defined.

30.44.20    Permitted where.

ARTICLE XLV. GENERAL REGULATIONS

30.45.10    Adherence to zoning regulations.

30.45.15    Zoning clearance.

30.45.20    Prezone of land prior to annexation.

30.45.30    Legislative findings and statement of purpose—Prohibition of marijuana cultivation, processing, delivery and dispensary uses.

30.45.40    Prohibited activities.

30.45.45    Indoor cultivation for personal use.

30.45.50    Public nuisance.

30.45.60    Violations.

ARTICLE XLVI. EXCEPTIONS

30.46.10    Public service exceptions.

30.46.20    Residential lot area requirement exceptions.

30.46.30    Lot coverage exceptions.

30.46.40    Density bonus for affordable housing developments.

30.46.41

30.46.48    Repealed.

ARTICLE XLVII. TEMPORARY USES

30.47.10    Temporary uses.

30.47.20    Temporary construction buildings.

30.47.30    Sales offices.

30.47.40    Outdoor sales on public property.

30.47.50    Other temporary uses.

ARTICLE XLVIII. NONCONFORMING USES AND BUILDINGS

30.48.10    Criteria.

30.48.20    Expansion, enlargement and discontinuance.

30.48.30    Extension.

30.48.40    Revocation of automatic variance.

30.48.50    Public hearing.

ARTICLE XLIX. POWERS OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THE HISTORIC HERITAGE COMMITTEE

30.49.10    Powers of the zoning administrator.

30.49.11    Duties.

30.49.20    Powers of the planning commission.

30.49.21    Interpretation of uses.

30.49.22    Other policies, rules and regulations.

30.49.30    Powers of the historic heritage committee.

30.49.31    Committee membership.

30.49.32    Committee powers.

ARTICLE L. PLANNING DEPARTMENT APPLICATIONS

30.50.10    Designation.

30.50.20    Variances and minor deviations.

30.50.23    Reasonable accommodation.

30.50.30    Conditional use permits.

30.50.35    Downtown use permits.

30.50.40    Architectural and site review.

30.50.41    Review.

30.50.42    Filing of application.

30.50.43    Scope of review.

30.50.44    Conditions.

30.50.45    Inspection prior to use and occupancy.

30.50.46    Notification of approval.

30.50.47    Terms of approval.

30.50.50    Planned unit development approval.

30.50.60    Residential development.

30.50.70    Right to downtown operations.

ARTICLE LI. APPLICATION REVIEW PROCEDURES

30.51.10    Applications.

30.51.20    Filing fees.

30.51.30    Public hearing.

30.51.40    Planning commission decision and findings.

30.51.50    Appeal procedure.

30.51.60    City council public hearing.

30.51.70    City council decision and findings.

30.51.80    Revocation.

30.51.90    Expiration.

ARTICLE LII. AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE

30.52.10    Amendments.

30.52.20    Initiation.

30.52.30    Planning commission public hearing.

30.52.40    Planning commission findings.

30.52.41    Notice of decision of denial.

30.52.42    Finality of denial.

30.52.50    Appeal to city council.

30.52.55    City council public hearing.

30.52.60    City council findings.

30.52.61    Notice of decision.

30.52.62    Finality of decision.

30.52.70    Withdrawal.

30.52.80    Reapplication.

ARTICLE LIII. ENFORCEMENT OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE

30.53.10    Vested duty.

30.53.20    Penalty and fine.

30.53.30    Declaration of nuisance.

ARTICLE LIV. ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS

30.54.10    Purpose and intent.

30.54.20    General requirements.

30.54.30    Single-family residential accessory dwelling unit standards.

30.54.40    Junior accessory dwelling unit standards.

30.54.50    Multifamily and duplex residential accessory dwelling unit standards.

30.54.60    Definitions.


1

Code reviser’s note—At the November 8, 2016, election, voters approved Measure H, the Gilroy Urban Growth Boundary Initiative, amending the General Plan and establishing geographic limits for long-term development. The measure is effective December 19, 2016, pursuant to Ord. No. 2016-18.