Published zoning research
Municipal zoning overview
Anaheim regulates land use through Title 18 of the Anaheim Municipal Code, with separate chapters for single-family, multifamily, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, public/special-purpose, and overlay zoning. The source set confirms that the city also uses special planning tools such as specific plans and overlay zones, including the Scenic Corridor Overlay and Platinum Triangle Mixed Use Overlay. Available materials show a broad zoning framework citywide, but the research packet only provides detailed standards for selected areas and topics rather than a complete citywide use-and-dimension matrix.
Last researched May 2026
Zoning Districts in Anaheim, CA
RH-1
Single-family hillside residential zone.
Allowed uses: Single-family residential use
RH-2
Single-family hillside residential zone.
Allowed uses: Single-family residential use
RH-3
Single-family hillside residential zone.
Allowed uses: Single-family residential use
RS-1
Single-family residential zone.
Allowed uses: Single-family residential use
RS-2
Single-family residential zone with published city handout development standards.
Allowed uses: Single-family residential homes, Accessory structures, Detached ADUs referenced in development standards handout
C-R
Commercial zoning designation that implements the General Plan Regional Commercial land use designation.
Allowed uses: Stores, Restaurants, Limited professional offices
I Industrial Zone
Industrial zone used for industrial land uses and, in some areas, subject to overlay standards such as the Platinum Triangle Mixed Use Overlay.
Allowed uses: Industrial uses, Outdoor uses subject to parking standards, Other uses as permitted or conditionally permitted by Chapter 18.10
Mixed-Use Zone
Mixed-use zoning category recognized in Chapter 18.12.
SP 90-1 Anaheim Hills Festival Specific Plan
Specific plan zoning area integrated into the zoning code as Chapter 18.108, used for the Anaheim Hills Festival area.
Allowed uses: Retail commercial and entertainment uses in DA 2, Office uses in DA 4, Retail and food service uses in DA 4, Senior residential uses in DA 4 with conditional use permit
Recent Zoning Changes
The strongest recent change signal in the source set is the June 2025 Anaheim Hills Festival Specific Plan Amendment EIR, which discusses a proposed amendment tied to a housing pipeline concept in the specific plan area. The materials also reference the city’s 2021-2029 Housing Element and a conceptual design review filing for up to 600 units in the Anaheim Hills Festival area. Based on the provided material, these appear to be under review or proposed planning changes rather than clearly adopted zoning text amendments.
Setbacks, Lot Size & Height Limits in Anaheim, CA
The source packet contains only partial dimensional standards, with the most detailed information coming from the RS-2 development standards handout and a partial Chapter 18.04 height table. Citywide commercial, industrial, multifamily, and mixed-use dimensional tables were not included in the provided excerpts.
| District | Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| RH-1 | maximum structural height | 25 feet/2 stories |
| RH-2 | maximum structural height | 25 feet/2 stories |
| RH-3 | maximum structural height | 25 feet/2 stories — Certain areas subject to subsection .040 below per source excerpt. |
| RS-1 | maximum structural height | 35 feet/2-1/2 stories — Non-residential land uses permitted by conditional use permit may exceed this height when additional setbacks are provided, per source excerpt. |
| RS-2 | front setback | 25 feet or 25% of the depth of the lot, whichever is less |
| RS-2 | side setback | 5 feet — Street side setback is "9-feet" for a reversed corner lot or reversed building frontage lot. |
| RS-2 | rear setback | 25 feet — May be reduced to "10 feet" if no more than "35%" of the rear setback area is covered. |
| RS-2 | maximum rear yard setback coverage | 35% — Applied when proposing a "10’ rear yard setback." |
| RS-2 | maximum height | 35 feet / 2 ½ stories — Structures inside required setback areas such as non-ADU detached structures cannot exceed "one (1) story or sixteen (16) feet, whichever is less." |
| RS-2 | minimum floor area | 1,225 sq. ft. — Applies only to single family residential homes within the RS-2 Zone. |
| RS-2 | total maximum floor area for detached accessory structures | 1,225 sq. ft. — Required detached garage spaces are not counted; detached ADUs count toward this limitation. |
| Regional Commercial General Plan designation implemented by C-R | FAR intensity | 0.3 to 0.5 — This is stated as the General Plan intensity range for Regional Commercial in the EIR discussion. |
| PTMU Overlay (example from variance record) | minimum setback requirement along Katella Avenue | 18 feet — Referenced in variance resolution as Platinum Triangle minimum setback requirement. |
| PTMU Overlay (example from variance record) | minimum setback requirement along Lewis Street | 20 feet — Referenced in variance resolution as Platinum Triangle minimum setback requirement. |
ADU, Rental & Special Use Rules in Anaheim, CA
ADU
Anaheim maintains a dedicated ADU program page, and the RS-2 development standards expressly reference detached ADUs as part of accessory structure calculations.
- Detached ADUs count toward the RS-2 total maximum floor area for detached accessory structures of "1,225 sq. ft."
- Non-ADU detached structures within required setback areas cannot exceed "one (1) story or sixteen (16) feet, whichever is less," implying ADUs may be governed by separate standards not included in the handout.
- A dedicated city ADU webpage exists, but detailed standards were not visible in the provided content excerpt.
Senior residential uses
Within DA 4 of the Anaheim Hills Festival Specific Plan, senior residential uses are allowed only with conditional use permit approval.
- Conditional use permit required
- Applies within DA 4 business commercial development area
Overlay Districts in Anaheim, CA
Scenic Corridor (SC) Overlay Zone
A named overlay zone in Title 18, Chapter 18.18.
Platinum Triangle Mixed Use (PTMU) Overlay Zone
A special overlay zone in Title 18, Chapter 18.20, with its own development standards that apply in the Platinum Triangle area.
Parking Requirements in Anaheim, CA
- Single-family dwelling units (5 or fewer bedrooms)4 spaces per unit (2 in a garage)
- Single-family dwelling units (6 or more bedrooms)4 spaces per unit (2 in a garage) plus 1 additional space per bedroom over 5 bedrooms
- Studio multifamily unit1.25
- 1-bedroom multifamily unit2.0
- 2-bedroom multifamily unit2.25
- 3 or more bedroom multifamily unit3.0 (plus .5 for each additional bedroom)
- Automotive-Parts Sales4 spaces per 1,000 square feet of GFA
- Automotive-Repair & Modification3.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of GFA, or 5 spaces, whichever is greater
- Business & Financial Services4 spaces per 1,000 square feet of GFA
- Convenience Stores4 spaces per 1,000 square feet of GFA
Anaheim, CA Zoning FAQ
Are ADUs allowed in Anaheim, CA?
Anaheim maintains a dedicated ADU program page, and the RS-2 development standards expressly reference detached ADUs as part of accessory structure calculations.
What are the setback requirements in Anaheim, CA?
Setbacks vary by district. Examples — RS-2 front setback: 25 feet or 25% of the depth of the lot, whichever is less; RS-2 side setback: 5 feet (conditions apply); RS-2 rear setback: 25 feet (conditions apply); RS-2 maximum rear yard setback coverage: 35% (conditions apply). Always confirm the exact yard requirements for your district with Anaheim, CA.
How tall can buildings be in Anaheim, CA?
Height limits are set per district — RH-1 maximum structural height: 25 feet/2 stories; RH-2 maximum structural height: 25 feet/2 stories; RH-3 maximum structural height: 25 feet/2 stories (conditions apply); RS-1 maximum structural height: 35 feet/2-1/2 stories (conditions apply).
What are the parking requirements in Anaheim, CA?
Parking minimums vary by use — Single-family dwelling units (5 or fewer bedrooms): 4 spaces per unit (2 in a garage); Single-family dwelling units (6 or more bedrooms): 4 spaces per unit (2 in a garage) plus 1 additional space per bedroom over 5 bedrooms; Studio multifamily unit: 1.25; 1-bedroom multifamily unit: 2.0.
What zoning districts are in Anaheim, CA?
Anaheim, CA includes districts such as RH-1, RH-2, RH-3, RS-1, RS-2, C-R, I Industrial Zone, Mixed-Use Zone.
Are there flood zones or overlay districts in Anaheim, CA?
The source set confirms that flood-zone review is relevant in Anaheim and that the city maintains public flood-hazard information. The Anaheim Hills Festival EIR also situates planning analysis within an environmental review context.
Have there been recent zoning changes in Anaheim, CA?
The strongest recent change signal in the source set is the June 2025 Anaheim Hills Festival Specific Plan Amendment EIR, which discusses a proposed amendment tied to a housing pipeline concept in the specific plan area.
Common questions about Anaheim, CA zoning
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Deal-fit, approval path & risk flags for Anaheim, CA
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- [PDF] 4.11 land use and planning - Anaheim.net — Provided project-area planning context, C-R description, SP 90-1 specific plan information, Regional Commercial FAR range, and recent housing pipeline discussion.
- Title 18 ZONING — Confirmed Anaheim’s zoning code structure, district chapters, and existence of overlay chapters including SC and PTMU.
- 18.04.100 STRUCTURAL SETBACKS. — Despite title mismatch in the scraped excerpt, it provided Chapter 18.04 residential height table excerpts for RH and RS zones.
- [PDF] RS-2 Zone Development Standards - Anaheim.net — Provided detailed RS-2 setbacks, height, floor area, landscaping, parking, fence, and accessory structure standards.
- Microsoft Word - Parkinghandout — Provided parking ratios for single-family, multifamily, office, restaurant, industrial, hotel, medical, and other common uses.
- 18.56.070 NONCONFORMING PARKING AND LANDSCAPING. — Confirmed existence of a nonconforming parking and landscaping section, though the substantive text was not captured.
- 18.60.100 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING. — Confirmed Anaheim has codified public hearing procedures in Chapter 18.60.
- Attachment 2 - Variance Resolution — Provided a concrete Planning Commission precedent on variance denial, PTMU setbacks, screening, and hearing procedure.
- Flood Zones & Flood Hazard Awareness | Anaheim, CA - Official Website — Confirmed the city maintains flood hazard mapping and flood-related planning information.
- ADU Anaheim | Anaheim, CA - Official Website — Confirmed an active city ADU program page exists, supporting the relevance of ADUs in Anaheim.
- Forms & Applications | Anaheim, CA - Official Website — Confirmed the city publishes planning forms for discretionary and administrative permits.
- Applications and Forms | Anaheim, CA - Official Website — Supplemental city applications/forms source confirming development review intake materials exist.
This summary is AI-generated from public municipal sources and is not legal, engineering, or land-use advice. Always verify zoning with Anaheim, CA officials before making decisions.