General Plan Designations
- RL – Residential – Low (1.0 du/ac)
The Low Density Residential category has been designated for the steep terrain along the northerly boundary of Yorba Linda as well as the historical “agricultural” areas that are centrally located within the planning area. Approximately 10% of the land allocated to residential uses in the planning area falls within this designation. The average density of this designation is 1.0 dwelling unit per acre. Excessive grading to the natural hillside landform is discouraged. - RML – Residential – Medium Low (1.8 du/ac)
The Medium-Low Density Residential category is intended for spacious single-family environments at an average density of 1.8 dwelling units per acre. Approximately one-third of the designated residential land in the Yorba Linda planning area is allocated to this land use designation. This significantly contributes to the low density character of the City; lot sizes per acre typically range from one-half to one-third of an acre per dwelling unit. The Medium-Low Density designation prioritizes lower density development in the neighborhoods located in the northern and eastern portions of the City, as well as in some instances to respond to terrain with topographical constraints. This designation easily accommodates equestrian activities and properties permitting the keeping of horses. - RM – Residential – Medium (3.0 du/ac)
The Medium Density Residential category accounts for approximately 28% of the designated residential land in the planning area. The Medium Density designation accommodates an average density of 3.0 dwelling units per acre, allowing typical single-family detached residential subdivisions and more innovative clustered developments that include community recreational facilities and preserve of common open space area. This provides a degree of flexibility in the execution of this land use designation, which is prevalent in the central and eastern portions of the City. - RMH – Residential – Medium High (4.0 du/ac)
The Medium High Density Residential designation represents approximately 20% of the designated residential land in the planning area. Many of the older portions of the City on the west side, as well as newer development in the central and eastern portions of the City located in close proximity to the major Esperanza Road and La Palma Avenue east-west arterial, are designated for Medium High Density Residential development. This designation permits an average density of 4.0 dwelling units per acre, with minimum lot size of 7,500 square feet. Development conditions include limited acreage for residential development, proximity to arterial roadways and non-residential development, and property with locational restrictions which prevents high density development. - RH – Residential – High (4 – 30 du/ac)
High Density Residential areas permit a variety of dwelling types ranging from single-family detached homes to attached products and apartments. The High Density Residential designation permits a density range of 4.0 to 30.0 dwelling units per acre. The appropriate housing type is determined based on the site, location, and adjacent land uses. Clustering of buildings allows for the development of appropriate private recreational and open space amenities. High density designations have been advantageously located throughout the planning area for proximity to retail, commercial, and employment opportunities. These designations also provide a rational land use transition between lower density residential areas and nonresidential land uses. A number of high density residential developments are established in the eastern portion of Yorba Linda, reflecting less traditional site planning techniques such as zero lot line, patio homes, and condominium ownership attached products. The High Density Residential designation also includes sites identified under the City’s Measure H and Measure I to meet the State requirements of Housing Element law.
Note: This designation is proposed to be modified in the revised Housing Element to allow up to 60du/ac in certain specified areas in Savi Ranch. - C – Commercial – General (0.25 FAR)
General Commercial uses include a full range of retail, furniture and appliances, convenience goods, restaurants, automotive establishments, and professional offices. Commercial services and entertainment uses, such as travel agents, dry cleaners, hair salons, sports clubs, movie theaters, and visitor services are also appropriate at these locations. Concentrations of General Commercial areas are located along ImperialHighway in the vicinity of Bastanchury Road and Valley View Avenue, at the intersection of Yorba Linda Boulevard and Richfield Road, along Yorba Linda Boulevard in the eastern portion of the City, and two centers along La Palma Avenue in the southeast section of the City. General Commercial is also designated as a use within portions of Savi Ranch. - IM – Light Industrial/Business Park (0 .40 FAR)
The Light Industrial is primarily concentrated in the Savi Ranch area and along La Palma Avenue in close proximity to the AT&SF Railroad and the 91 Riverside Freeway in the southeast portion of the City. Industrial uses are also found in the vicinity of Prospect Avenue and Imperial Highway. Industrial uses in Yorba Linda are appropriate for research and development, assembly and/or storage of products and wholesale facilities. The Light Industrial designation also permits commercial uses that support industrial uses, similar to uses in Savi Ranch.
AP – Area Plans
Area Plans contain a certain degree of specialized policy direction and are not their own independent land use categories. Each Area Plan is comprised of one or more types of land uses (e.g., residential, open space, commercial, or other), and they are intended to supplement the land use policies that apply to each Area Plan’s boundaries. The policies outlined for a specific Area Plan supersede the other policies outlined in the General Plan. If an Area Plan is not identified, the general land use policies identified within the General Plan apply.
Zoning Code Designations
- Residential agricultural (R-A) zone
This zone is intended as an area for general agricultural purposes and low density residential uses with a minimum lot size of one acre and maximum density of one unit per acre. The areas included within this land use designation are characterized by large lots and may consist of large rural estates with abundant open space on each lot, or large parcels devoted to commercial or noncommercial agriculture and/or grazing Farms, ranches, and wholesale nurseries, as well as single-family residential, are all permitted uses within the R-A zone. - Residential low-density (RLD) zone
This zone is intended as an area for low-density residential use with a minimum lot size of 39,000 square feet and maximum density of one unit per acre. Large estate and equestrian-oriented estates are characteristic uses within the RLD zone. The residential neighborhoods within this zone district are usually characterized by ample setbacks, and may include agricultural or other agrarian uses such as commercial farms or ranches, wholesale nurseries, and the keeping of equine or cleft-hoofed animals. The RLD zone tends to be more residentially oriented than the R-A zone district. - Residential estate (R-E) zone
This zone is intended as an area for residential estates with minimum lot sizes of 15,000 square feet and maximum densities of 1.8 units per acre. While agrarian uses and the keeping of equine, cleft-hoofed and other animals are permitted in this zone district, these uses are clearly incidental and accessory to the primary single-family residential use. Residential areas within the R-E zone are characterized by large, custom and semi-custom homes. - Residential suburban (R-S) zone
This zone is intended as an area for suburban residential development on minimum lot sizes of 10,000 square feet and maximum densities of three units per acre. The homes in the R-S zone district neighborhoods, while not necessarily custom, are individually constructed, often have the appearance of custom homes and are located on large lots. - Residential urban (R-U) zone
This zone is intended as an area for urban residential development on minimum lot sizes of 7,500 square feet and maximum densities of four units per acre. Homes within the R-U zone are characterized as tract construction with entire neighborhoods built in the same time period. While individual homes may appear the same as those constructed in the R-S zone, the R-U zone dwellings are on smaller lots, giving the appearance of a slightly denser neighborhood. Some R-U zone neighborhoods have been constructed as “townhouse” units, which share common walls, but are located on individual lots, often with small rear yards, and/or front and rear courtyards. - Residential multiple-family (R-M) zone
This zone is intended as an area for the development of garden apartments with provisions for adequate light, air, open space and landscaped areas at maximum densities of 10 units per acre. The required minimum lot size is 7,500 square feet. In addition to garden apartments, the R-M zone permits construction of clustered single-family dwellings, townhouses and, in some cases, stacked condominiums. - Residential multiple-family 20 (R-M-20) zone
This district is intended to promote the development of multi-family rental and ownership dwelling units up to 20 units per acre. The required minimum lot size is one acre. Permitted uses include cluster homes, townhouses, rowhouses, triplexes, fourplexes, apartments, stacked condominiums, and group housing. RM-20 residential neighborhoods are characterized as either individually owned or as rental units. Attached units include common open areas and recreational facilities, such as swimming pools, tennis courts and clubhouses. - Residential multiple-family 30 (R-M-30) zone
The purpose of the Multi-Family Residential district, also known as the R-M-30 district, is to provide space for multiple family residential developments commonly found in a dense urban environment. The R-M-30 district is intended for intensive residential uses up to 30 dwelling units per acre at readily accessible urban locations. With the exception of the Yorba Linda Water District (YLWD) Site, located at 4622 Plumosa Drive, the required minimum lot size is one acre. Permitted uses include apartments, stacked condominiums, studios, and group housing. R-M-30 residential neighborhoods are characterized as either individually owned or as rental units with common open areas and homeowner park and recreational facilities, such as swimming pools, tennis courts and clubhouses. - Commercial-general (C-G) zone
This zone is intended as an area for the location of retail and wholesale commercial activities. - Planned Development (PD) zone
The PD planned development zone is designed to allow for large-scale community planning across multiple parcels of land and create attractive environments. The PD zone diversifies land uses as they relate to each other in a physical and environmental arrangement. This zone encompasses various types of land uses, such as single-family residential developments, multiple housing developments, professional and administrative office areas, commercial centers, industrial parks or any public or semipublic use or combination of uses. The PD zone helps facilitate development of infill areas and permits greater flexibility and more creative and imaginative designs for developments compared to those under conventional zoning or subdivision regulations. The PD zone also promotes more economical and efficient use of the land while providing a harmonious variety of housing choices, a higher level of urban amenities and preservation of natural and scenic qualities of open spaces. - Imperial Highway (I) Combining zone
The purpose and intent of the Imperial Highway (I) Combining zone is to provide for the development, redevelopment, maintenance and enhancement of commercial uses related to automobiles and the needs of the motoring public. The intent is to restrict major vehicle repair and similar automotive uses to the (I) portions of the CG zone only and require approval of a conditional use permit. - Purpose of the Affordable Housing Overlay (AFO) zone
The purposes of the Affordable Housing Overlay zone are to facilitate the construction of lower-cost, smaller-lot housing, assist in providing affordable housing to all segments of the community, and make additional land available for multi-family and condominium housing development. - Purpose of the Congregational Lands Overlay (CLO) zone
The purpose of the Congregational Land Overlay zone is to encourage the construction of affordable housing in conjunction with religious institutions, which provide important social and community services to the Yorba Linda community. This enables these institutions to further their mission to serve disadvantaged populations while improving utilization of land resources which may go unused for large portions of the week. This aligns with State law AB 1851 (2020). - Purpose of the Mixed-Use Overlay (MUO) zone
The purposes of the Mixed-Use Overlay zone are to increase the housing stock of the City that is affordable to households at different income levels, spur revitalization and investment, improve the utilization of land, and decrease vehicular use by permitting the construction of housing on sites which contain community-serving retail and service uses.