Avalon, California Zoning Map
Zoning, overlays and hazards on every parcel — and an answer to what the code actually lets you build. Compiled from current zoning data for all 9 districts.
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What's in the Avalon dataset
Every field below is available for any Avalon parcel, on the map and through the AI.
Zoning
- District code & full name
- Parcel boundary & APN
- All 9 districts mapped
Building controls
- Maximum building height
- Floor area ratio (FAR)
- Front setback
- Side setback
Overlays, hazards & AI
- Flood hazard & environmental layers
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- Powered by live parcel data
Where uses are permitted in Avalon
Share of Avalon's zoned land where each use is permitted.
- Single-family
- 4.57%
- Multi-family
- 3.48%
- Two-family
- 1.09%
- Retail
- 4.47%
- Eating & drinking
- 9.04%
- Office
- 2.14%
- Hotel / motel
- 7.67%
- Industrial
- 1.20%
- Storage & warehouses
- 1.20%
- Short-term rental
- 2.14%
Avalon, California Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?
Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type and which uses it permits.
| Zone Code | Category | Area | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
C Commercial | - | 16.7 ac | Standards & uses → |
HD-R High Density Multiple Residential | - | 34 ac | Standards & uses → |
HD-R-CH High Density Multiple Residential Community Housing | - | 3.2 ac | Standards & uses → |
LD-R Low Density Residential And Low Intensity Recreational | - | 24.3 ac | Standards & uses → |
Showing 4 of 9 districts
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What should developers know about Avalon zoning?
Avalon, the only incorporated city on Santa Catalina Island, has one of the most distinctive zoning footprints in California. By area the map is overwhelmingly No Zoning (NZ) at roughly 1,609 acres - the largely undeveloped island land around the town - while the actual built community occupies a tight cluster of small districts measured in the tens of acres. That contrast is the whole story: developable, zoned ground in Avalon is genuinely scarce and concentrated in a compact harbor town, which makes nearly every project an infill, redevelopment, or reuse play rather than a greenfield build.
Within the town, residential capacity is weighted toward density to fit the constrained land base: High Density Multiple Residential (HD-R, about 34 acres) is the largest residential district, joined by Medium Density (MD-R), the High Density Community Housing variant (HD-R-CH), and a Low Density Residential and Low Intensity Recreational (LD-R) district. The economy's tourism backbone shows in the Resort and Recreation (RR) district at about 38 acres - the largest non-NZ classification - plus a compact Commercial (C) core and a Special Commercial (SC) district, with Public (P) facilities rounding out the map. For developers and investors, the practical reality is acute scarcity, an island logistics premium, and a strong resort orientation, all of which put redevelopment and hospitality at the center of the opportunity set. Form is regulated through FAR, density, coverage, lot-width, height, and full setback controls.
This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
Avalon zoning: frequently asked questions
Why is most of Avalon mapped as No Zoning?
The No Zoning (NZ) classification covers roughly 1,609 acres - the largely undeveloped Catalina Island land surrounding the town - while Avalon's actual built community sits in a compact cluster of small districts. This means the supply of conventionally zoned, developable ground is very limited and concentrated in the harbor town. Treat NZ land as effectively off the table for standard development until you confirm its status directly.
What does Avalon's island setting mean for development feasibility?
Developable land is scarce and concentrated, and the island location adds a real logistics and construction-cost premium for materials, labor, and access. As a result, most projects are infill, redevelopment, or adaptive reuse within the existing town rather than ground-up greenfield builds. Investors should underwrite both the land scarcity and the elevated cost of building on an island.
How is residential development structured in Avalon?
Given the constrained land base, residential zoning leans toward density. High Density Multiple Residential (HD-R) is the largest residential district at about 34 acres, supplemented by Medium Density (MD-R), a High Density Community Housing variant (HD-R-CH), and a Low Density Residential and Low Intensity Recreational (LD-R) district. Higher-density and community-housing districts are the most realistic venues for adding units.
What role does tourism play in Avalon's zoning?
Tourism is central. The Resort and Recreation (RR) district, at roughly 38 acres, is the largest non-NZ classification and is dedicated to the hospitality and recreation uses that drive the island economy. Combined with the compact Commercial (C) core and Special Commercial (SC) district, this orients the city's commercial development around visitor-serving uses. Hospitality and resort projects fit Avalon's zoning intent most naturally.
Where can commercial projects locate in Avalon?
Commercial activity is concentrated in a small Commercial (C) district of about 17 acres at the town core, with a Special Commercial (SC) district adding targeted capacity, and the broader Resort and Recreation (RR) district handling hospitality. Because the commercial footprint is so compact, new retail or service uses typically come through redevelopment or reuse of existing harbor-town space rather than new commercial ground.
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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Avalon planning department before acquisition or design.