Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Riverside, CA (2026)
3 verified zoning overlays & bonuses rules for Riverside, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Specific Plans Overview
Riverside uses adopted specific plans for downtown, Magnolia Avenue, La Sierra, and other areas to layer zoning, design, and circulation rules on top of the base General Plan, guiding development beyond what the standard zoning code alone allows.
Riverside specific plans and General Plan overlays
Some RestrictionsDensity Bonus Law
California density bonus law gives Riverside developers extra units, height, and concessions in exchange for affordable, senior, or veteran housing set-asides, applying citywide on top of base zoning and stacking with state ADU and SB 9 rules.
State density bonus law in Riverside projects
Some RestrictionsCal. Gov. Code § 65915 (State Density Bonus Law)
65915. (a) (1) When an applicant seeks a density bonus for a housing development within, or for the donation of land for housing within, the jurisdiction of a city, county, or city and county, that local government shall comply with this section. A city, county, or city and county shall adopt an ordinance that specifies how compliance with this section will be implemented. Except as otherwise p...
Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC)
Riverside encourages higher-density mixed-use development near Metrolink stations downtown and at La Sierra, with reduced parking minimums and design standards favoring walkability, served by Riverside Transit Agency bus lines feeding the rail network.
Transit-oriented development around Riverside Metrolink
Some RestrictionsLooking for Riverside County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Riverside city rules.
Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Riverside County →