Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Salinas, CA (2026)
2 verified zoning overlays & bonuses rules for Salinas, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Density Bonus Law
Salinas Municipal Code Section 37-50.060 grants density bonuses under state law for residential projects that set aside affordable units. A five-unit-or-larger project earns a twenty percent density bonus by making five percent of units affordable to very-low income households or ten percent to lower income households, with bonuses scaling up to thirty-five percent as the affordable share increases.
Salinas Density Bonus for Affordable Housing
Some RestrictionsSalinas, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 37-50.060(c) (Density Bonus: State Density Bonuses, Incentives, and Concessions)
(c)State Density Bonuses, Incentives, and Concessions for Construction of Affordable and Senior Housing.(1)Basic Density Bonus in Accordance with State Law (Very-low and Lower Income Units). A residential development is eligible for a twenty percent density bonus if it includes at least five dwelling units, and the applicant seeks a density bonus and agrees to construct at least one of the foll...
Downtown Design Guide
Salinas Municipal Code Section 37-40.330 sets design standards for the Downtown Core (DC) overlay area covering yards, building mass, roofs, and signs. Ground-floor residential fronting Main Street is barred except for lobbies; buildings over 75 feet must step back above the 50-foot level; and pole signs and can-type signs are prohibited citywide in the district.
Salinas Downtown Core Design Standards
Some RestrictionsSalinas, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 37-40.330(b), (e) (Design Standards for the Downtown Core (DC) Area: Yards/Setbacks, Mass and Scale)
(b)Yards/Setbacks.(1)Buildings with ground floor residential uses shall have a maximum front yard and corner side yard of ten feet to accommodate stairs, landings, porches, covered architectural entry features, and similar building features. Ground floor residential uses are prohibited on properties fronting Main Street except for entry lobbies, foyers, courtyards, and similar areas that provid...
Looking for Monterey County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Salinas city rules.
Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Monterey County →