Imperial County, CA Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- County general-plan bonus
- up to 20% density increase
- State-law bonus (alt.)
- up to 25%, affordable units
- Eligible zones
- R-1, R-2, R-3
- Requires
- community water & sewer service
- Bonuses combine?
- no: one bonus only
Summary
Imperial County's general plan allows up to a 20% density bonus for qualifying residential projects with full water and sewer infrastructure, separate from the state's 25% affordable-housing bonus.
Under the policies of the county's general plan a density bonus of not to exceed twenty percent (20%) may be allowed for specified residential projects that provide complete infrastructure improvements including community water distribution and sewer collection, as well as, treatment systems. Under State law, a density bonus of twenty-five percent (25%) may be granted for specified residential projects of five or more units within which at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the units are affordable to persons and/or families of low or moderate income and/or ten percent (10%) of the units are affordable to lower income households. Only one of the above density bonuses may apply to any qualifying project and they may not be used cumulatively.
(Prior code § 90305.00)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 62 - 9-25).
Full Breakdown
Imperial County's general plan authorizes a density bonus of up to 20% above the maximum density allowed by the general plan land-use category, for qualified low-, very-low-income, or elderly housing projects in the R-1, R-2, or R-3 zones, but only where the project delivers full infrastructure: community water distribution, sewer collection, and treatment systems. A separate, higher 25% bonus tracks state law for projects with income-restricted units, and a developer may use only one of the two bonuses, never both.
Violations & Fines
Projects claiming a density bonus without an approved density-bonus permit, or without providing the required community water and sewer infrastructure, are denied; no development may proceed under this chapter until the permit is approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stack the county and state density bonuses?
Does the county bonus apply anywhere in the county?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Imperial County
California rules heatmap·Compare Imperial County to another location·View the California zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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