Overview
Redlands uses a classic Euclidean zoning code (Title 18) with 30+ districts organized by letter-number codes (A-1, R-1, R-2, C-3, M-1, etc.). The city also adopted the Transit Villages Specific Plan (SP No. 65, Oct 2022) with a form-based overlay for three Metrolink station areas using district codes VC, DT, VG, COR, NG1, NG2, SD1, CS. The base Title 18 code governs the remainder of the city. Note: Measure U (local growth management initiative) imposes a supermajority (4/5 City Council vote) for densities above 18 du/ac or heights above 2.5 stories/35 feet — a locally adopted constraint distinct from state preemption law.
- Measure U (voter-approved growth management initiative) imposes a 4/5 City Council supermajority requirement for any project proposing densities above 18 du/ac or heights above 2.5 stories/35 feet. The maximum permitted density is 27 du/ac gross citywide. This is a significant local constraint on state housing preemption laws, though SB 330 supersedes it for compliant projects through approximately 2030.
- The Transit Villages Specific Plan (SP No. 65, adopted October 2022) establishes a form-based code over approximately 947 acres around three Metrolink Arrow Line stations. It creates six primary zone districts (VC, DT, VG, COR, NG1, NG2) with explicit building-to-street placement requirements, height limits by stories, and minimum/maximum setback ranges replacing standard Euclidean dimensional tables.
- Redlands is the home of Esri (Environmental Systems Research Institute), the world's largest GIS software company — reflected in the 'Redlands-Esri' Metrolink station name and the city's exceptionally rich GIS infrastructure (gis.redlands.gov, datahub-coredlands.hub.arcgis.com, ArcGIS Experience Builder zoning viewer).
+ 5 more in Quirks & notes
Districts
| Code | Name | Category | Min lot | Height | Coverage | FAR | Du/ac | Parking | Setbacks F/S/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-R | Rural Residential District | res_sf | 43,560 sf[4] | —[5] | 10[6] | — | 1[7] | — | 25[1] / 10[2] / 25[3] |
| R-R-A | Rural Residential-Animals District | res_sf | 43,560 sf[11] | —[12] | 10[13] | — | 1[14] | — | 25[8] / 10[9] / 25[10] |
| R-A | Residential Estate District | res_sf | 20,000 sf[18] | —[19] | 20[20] | — | 2[21] | — | 25[15] / 5[16] / 25[17] |
| R-A-A | Residential Estate-Animals District | res_sf | 20,000 sf[25] | —[26] | 20[27] | — | 2[28] | — | 25[22] / 5[23] / 25[24] |
| R-E | Residential Estate District (14,000 sf) | res_sf | 14,000 sf[32] | —[33] | 25[34] | — | 3[35] | — | 25[29] / 5[30] / 25[31] |
| R-S | Suburban Residential District | res_sf | 10,000 sf[39] | —[40] | 30[41] | — | 4[42] | — | 25[36] / 5[37] / 25[38] |
| R-1 | Single-Family Residential District | res_sf | 7,200 sf[46] | 35 ft[47] | 30[48] | — | 6[49] | — | 25[43] / 5[44] / 25[45] |
| R-1-D | Single-Family Residential District (8,100 sf) | res_sf | 8,100 sf[53] | —[54] | 35[55] | — | 10[56] | — | —[50] / —[51] / —[52] |
| R-2 | Multiple-Family Residential District | res_mf | 8,000 sf[60] | —[61] | 45[62] | — | 14[63] | — | —[57] / —[58] / —[59] |
| R-2-2000 | Multiple-Family Residential District (12,000 sf) | res_mf | 12,000 sf[67] | —[68] | —[69] | — | 17[70] | — | —[64] / —[65] / —[66] |
| R-3 | Multiple-Family Residential District (R-3) | res_mf | 10,000 sf[74] | —[75] | 60[76] | — | 27[77] | — | 15[71] / —[72] / —[73] |
| A-1 | Agricultural District (5-acre) | spec | 217,800 sf[79] | —[80] | — | — | —[81] | — | —[78] / — / — |
| A-1-20 | Agricultural District (20-acre) | spec | 871,200 sf[82] | —[83] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| A-2 | Estate Agricultural District | spec | —[84] | —[85] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| A-P | Administrative and Professional Office District | off | —[86] | —[87] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| A-P-C | Administrative Professional Commercial District | com | —[88] | —[89] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| M-F | Medical Facility District | spec | — | —[90] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| E | Educational District | spec | — | —[91] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| T | Transitional District | spec | — | —[92] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| C-D | Civic Design District | spec | — | —[93] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| C-1 | Neighborhood Stores District | com | — | —[94] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| C-2 | Neighborhood Convenience Center District | com | — | —[95] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| C-3 | General Commercial District | com | — | —[96] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| C-4 | Highway Commercial District | com | — | —[97] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| C-M | Commercial Industrial District | ind | — | —[98] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| M-P | Planned Industrial District | ind | — | —[99] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| M-1 | Light Industrial District | ind | — | —[100] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| I-P | Industrial District | ind | — | —[101] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| M-2 | General Industrial District | ind | — | —[102] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| P | Off-Street Parking District | spec | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| O | Open Land District | spec | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| A-D | Airport District | spec | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
Confidence: confirmed partial under review not found
Overlays
Properties located in designated hillside areas per the Redlands Hillside Development Overlay Map. Applied to steep terrain parcels within the city.
| purpose | Regulates grading, building design, and vegetation on hillside parcels to minimize erosion, preserve natural landforms, and protect scenic character. |
|---|---|
| additional_review | Projects in HD overlay require Planning Commission review; additional grading standards, slope stability analysis, and landscape requirements apply beyond base zone standards. |
Areas designated as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for the City of Redlands. FEMA flood zone data is maintained at https://datahub-coredlands.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/fema-flood-zones-3.
| base_standard | Development within the flood plain district is subject to the base zoning regulations of the underlying zone AND the additional standards of Chapter 18.164. |
|---|---|
| permit_required | A Flood Plain Development Permit is required for all development within the SFHA. |
| elevation_standard | Structures must be elevated above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) per FEMA FIRM requirements and local freeboard standards. |
| fema_firm_status | Redlands participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); local FIRM maintained by the city. |
Properties located within the airport district and within the airport imaginary surfaces of Redlands Municipal Airport (FAA identifier REI), located within the city. The Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) governs land use compatibility.
| airport | Redlands Municipal Airport (REI) — 194-acre public-use general aviation airport activated 1947, owned by the City of Redlands. |
|---|---|
| height_restrictions | FAA Part 77 imaginary surfaces establish height restrictions around the airport; structures that penetrate these surfaces require FAA notice and may not be permitted. |
| land_use_compatibility | Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) adopted by San Bernardino County Airport Land Use Commission restricts residential density and noise-sensitive uses near the airport. |
| alucp_reference | San Bernardino County Airport Land Use Commission ALUCP for Redlands Municipal Airport |
Properties located within one of the eight locally-designated historic/scenic districts: (1) Eureka Street Historic District, (2) West Highland Avenue Historic & Scenic District, (3) Early Redlands Historic & Scenic District, (4) Normandie Court Historic District, (5) East Fern Avenue Historic & Scenic District, (6) Garden Hill Historic & Scenic District, (7) La Verne Street Historic & Scenic District, (8) Smiley Park Historic & Scenic District. Plus the Santa Fe Depot National Historic District (downtown Orange Street).
| review_body | Historic & Scenic Preservation Commission (HSPC) reviews alterations, demolitions, and new construction within designated districts. |
|---|---|
| certificate_of_appropriateness | Certificate of Appropriateness required for exterior alterations, demolition, or new construction within a historic district. |
| local_landmarks | 700+ individual historic landmarks citywide; landmarks and district properties subject to special review. |
| clg_status | Redlands is a Certified Local Government (CLG) in cooperation with the National Park Service and California Office of Historic Preservation. |
Properties within approximately one-half mile radius of three Metrolink Arrow Line stations: Redlands-Downtown (351 N Orange St), Redlands-Esri, and Redlands-University stations. The plan covers 947 acres (~4% of city land area). Applied per the adopted TVSP Regulating Plan map.
| zone_VC | Village Center (VC): 4 stories / 55 ft max; primary street setback 0 ft min / 5 ft max (non-res ground floor); residential ground floor 5 ft min / 10 ft max; rear setback 5 ft min (w/ alley) / 15 ft min (w/o alley); parking min 1.0-2.0 spaces/unit |
|---|---|
| zone_DT | Downtown (DT): 3 stories / 45 ft max; primary street setback 0 ft min / 5 ft max; rear setback 5 ft min (w/ alley) / 15 ft min (w/o alley); applies to parcels facing State Street east of Orange and east side of Orange between RR ROW and State Street |
| zone_VG | Village General (VG): 3 stories avg / 45 ft (30% of footprint may reach 4 stories / 55 ft if equal area steps to 2 stories / 25 ft); primary street setback 0 ft min / 5 ft max; abutting SF zones must step down to 2 stories / 25 ft within 25 ft of property line |
| zone_COR | Village Corridor (COR): 2 stories / 30 ft max; primary street setback 0 ft min / 5 ft max; rear setback 10 ft min (w/ alley) / 15 ft min (w/o alley) |
| zone_NG1 | Neighborhood General 1 (NG1): 2 stories / 30 ft max; primary street setback 10 ft min / 25 ft max; side setback 7.5 ft min (front 40% of lot) / 5 ft min (rear 60%); rear setback 10 ft min / 15 ft min (res) |
| zone_NG2 | Neighborhood General 2 (NG2): 2 stories / 30 ft max; primary street setback 10 ft min / 25 ft max; side setback 7.5 ft min (front 40%) / 5 ft min (rear 60%); rear setback 15 ft min / 20 ft min (res) |
| parking_residential | Units ≤999 sf: 1.0 space/unit; 1000-1499 sf: 1.5 spaces/unit; ≥1500 sf: 2.0 spaces/unit; guest: 0.25/unit |
| measure_u_constraint | Densities above 18 du/ac and heights above 2.5 stories/35 ft require 4/5 City Council supermajority under Measure U; some downtown exceptions already approved by Council |
Properties within state-designated Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) — High or Very High — per CAL FIRE mapping. Redlands has hillside and wildland-urban interface areas subject to FHSZ designation.
| construction_standard | Buildings in VHFHSZ require Class A ignition-resistant construction per CBC Chapter 7A. |
|---|---|
| vegetation_clearance | 100-foot ember-resistant landscaping zone required around structures in VHFHSZ per PRC §4291. |
| sb9_carveout | SB 9 lot splits and duplexes are not permitted on parcels within Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. |
State preemptions
Non-applicable laws (2)
Adopted building codes
Statewide mandatory minimum
Click a code label to open its state-by-state adoption atlas.
Amendment history
| Date | Kind | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-15 | amendment effective | Ordinance No. 2985 effective August 15, 2025 — amended housing definitions, navigation center standards, SRO, and urban lot split provisions |
| 2025 | supplement effective | RMC Title 18 AmLegal portal — current supplement listed as 2025 S-15 |
Quirks & notes
- Measure U (voter-approved growth management initiative) imposes a 4/5 City Council supermajority requirement for any project proposing densities above 18 du/ac or heights above 2.5 stories/35 feet. The maximum permitted density is 27 du/ac gross citywide. This is a significant local constraint on state housing preemption laws, though SB 330 supersedes it for compliant projects through approximately 2030.
- The Transit Villages Specific Plan (SP No. 65, adopted October 2022) establishes a form-based code over approximately 947 acres around three Metrolink Arrow Line stations. It creates six primary zone districts (VC, DT, VG, COR, NG1, NG2) with explicit building-to-street placement requirements, height limits by stories, and minimum/maximum setback ranges replacing standard Euclidean dimensional tables.
- Redlands is the home of Esri (Environmental Systems Research Institute), the world's largest GIS software company — reflected in the 'Redlands-Esri' Metrolink station name and the city's exceptionally rich GIS infrastructure (gis.redlands.gov, datahub-coredlands.hub.arcgis.com, ArcGIS Experience Builder zoning viewer).
- Redlands Municipal Airport (REI), a publicly-owned general aviation airport activated 1947, generates an Airport District (A-D) zone and Airport Flight Zones (Chapter 18.132) with FAA Part 77 imaginary surface height restrictions. An Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) governs land use around the airport.
- The city has 8 locally-designated Historic and Scenic Preservation Districts plus the Santa Fe Depot National Historic District downtown. Over 700 individual historic landmarks. Redlands is a Certified Local Government (CLG) with SHPO and NPS. The Historic & Scenic Preservation Commission requires Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior alterations in designated districts.
- AmLegal Code Portal (codelibrary.amlegal.com) for Redlands Title 18 is Cloudflare Turnstile-gated and not directly machine-readable. Dimensional standards for commercial and industrial zones, and some residential zones, were not retrievable from primary source. Table 4-1 from the 2021-2029 Housing Element (official City of Redlands PDF) provided confirmed residential dimensional standards.
- Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) limits new residential development to 400 units/year within city limits (50 reserved for SF/duplex/triplex/4-plex); 150 units/year outside city limits in Sphere of Influence. SB 330 generally supersedes local GMO restrictions for compliant affordable housing projects through approximately 2030.
- Ordinance No. 2985 (effective August 15, 2025) amended Title 18 to add development standards for low-barrier navigation centers, farm worker and agricultural worker housing, single-room occupancy units (SROs), and urban lot splits — aligning local code with recent state housing laws.
Formulas
Definitions
- density
- Dwelling units per gross acre of the site.
- lot_coverage
- Percentage of total lot area covered by building footprint(s).
- height
- Measured from average contact ground level to highest point of coping (flat roof), deck line (mansard), or average height of highest gable (pitched/hip roof). §18.04.
- setback_front
- Minimum horizontal distance from front property line to building face.
- far
- Not defined as a primary standard in most Title 18 base zones; floor area ratio is not a standard dimensional tool in Redlands' Euclidean base code; used in Transit Villages Specific Plan zones as a secondary standard.
Capacity calculations
- measure_u_density_cap
27 du/ac gross maximum; supermajority vote required above 18 du/ac or heights above 2.5 stories/35 ft- measure_u_citation
City of Redlands Measure U (voter-approved growth management initiative); Housing Element 2021-2029 Ch.4 Constraints
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.
| District | Category | Height | FAR | Coverage | Setbacks | Parking | Density | Min lot | Overlays |
|---|
Sources & references
- [1] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [2] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [3] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [4] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
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- [27] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [28] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [29] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [30] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [31] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [32] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
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- [34] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
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- [38] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [39] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
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- [41] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [42] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [43] §RMC-HE2021-Ch4
- [44] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [45] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [46] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [47] §RMC-MeasureU-HE2021
- [48] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
- [49] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
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- [53] §RMC-Table4-1-HE2021
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- [71] §RMC-HE2021-Ch4
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Research status
Publication gates
| primary url present | passed | https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/redlandsca/latest/redlands_ca/0-0-0-15111 — AmLegal RMC Title 18 canonical URL |
|---|---|---|
| no aggregator cited | passed | scan clean — no zoneomics, steadily, siteplanguide, sitedesignguide, siteplancreator, propwire, zonara, unzoned citations |
| confidence tags full form | passed | Confirmed fields carry §-citations (§RMC-Table4-1-HE2021, §RMC-HE2021-Ch4, §TVSP-4.3-2022, §RMC-2.24, §RMC-Ch18.160, §RMC-Ch18.164, §RMC-Ch18.128); partial fields carry explicit partial status with what_is_confirmed/what_is_missing |
| overlays have parameters trigger confidence | passed | 6 overlays each have non-empty params, geographic trigger, confidence level, and ordinance citation: HD (ENV), FP (FP), AD (AP), HP-LOCAL (HP), TVSP (TOD), HSP (ENV) |
| preempt section city specific | passed | 13 California preemption laws evaluated with Redlands-specific qualifying_condition_checked including: population 73,168 (2020 Census), county pop 2,197,104, 3 Arrow Line stations confirmed, HCD compliance status In (certified 2022-10-07), SB423 tier 10% per hcd-ca-lookup.json, Measure U conflict documented, University of Redlands IHE status noted |
Data quality
- Commercial zone dimensional standards (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, A-P, A-P-C) not captured — AmLegal Cloudflare-gated
- Industrial zone dimensional standards (M-1, M-P, I-P, M-2, C-M) not captured — AmLegal Cloudflare-gated
- Residential height limits for most zones not explicitly in Housing Element Table 4-1 (only Measure U 35 ft ceiling confirmed)
- R-2 and R-2-2000 specific setbacks not captured
- R-1-D specific setbacks not captured
- Lot coverage for R-1-D, R-2-2000 not captured
- A-2 minimum lot size not captured
Verification
| last_verified_at | 2026-06-02T00:00:00Z |
|---|---|
| verifier_specialist | zoning-research-subagent |
| verifier_version | 1.0 |
| verification_result | passed |
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