Burbank Zoning Intelligence
Zoning, permitted uses, ADU rules, and development potential for Burbank, California. 36 districts analyzed.
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How is Burbank zoned?
- Total zoning districts36
- Single-family permitted2
- Multifamily permitted5
- ADU under local ordinance0
- Commercial use permitted18
Statewide law - applies to all California cities, not specific to Burbank.
- California state ADU lawApplies statewide
- SB-9 lot split eligibilityPer parcel review
- SB-79 (transit-oriented housing)Near transit, from Jul 2026
- Density Bonus Law (state)Eligible projects
- Local impact / permittingVerify with Burbank planning
What should developers know about Burbank zoning?
Burbank's zoning is shaped by three forces that don't coexist in most cities: a sprawling single-family residential base, a major airport, and the media-production economy. Single Family Residential (R-1) is the largest developed district at roughly 3,237 acres, with the R-1-H Horsekeeping variant adding a distinctive equestrian-residential layer. But the city's defining feature is its dedicated Media District - a full suite of MDC, MDM, and MDR zones covering commercial, industrial production, and medium- and high-density residential land tailored to the studio economy. That overlay of purpose-built production zoning is rare and central to how Burbank develops.
The employment and commercial land is substantial and finely tiered. Manufacturing General Industries (M-2) covers about 439 acres and Manufacturing Limited Industries (M-1) roughly 99 acres, while the Burbank Center and Magnolia Park districts each carry their own graduated commercial zones (BCC-1 through BCC-3 and BCCM; MPC-1 through MPC-3). General commercial intensity steps up from C-2 through the Commercial Unlimited Business (C-4) zone. The Airport (AP) district occupies roughly 419 acres and the Open Space (OS) designation a large hillside expanse, both meaningfully constraining where and how new development can occur. Planned Development (PD) zones add roughly 600 acres of tailored growth land.
For a developer, the practical read is that Burbank's best higher-intensity and mixed-use opportunity clusters in the Media District (especially the MDR-3 and MDR-4 residential zones) and the Burbank Center and Magnolia Park commercial cores, while airport-influence areas and hillside open space carry height, noise, and development constraints to diligence early. The recorded building controls cover FAR, density, coverage, lot width, height, and all setbacks. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
What can you build in Burbank?
Share of Burbank's 36 zoning districts that permit each use, based on permitted-land-use analysis.
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Try ArchiWise free →Burbank, 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 | Zone Type | Permitted Uses | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
AD Auto Dealership | Special | - | 0.5 ac |
AP Airport | Special | - | 418.6 ac |
BCC-1 Burbank Center Commercial Retail Professional | Commercial |
| 6.7 ac |
BCC-2 Burbank Center Commercial Limited Business | Commercial |
| 34.3 ac |
What are the building controls in Burbank?
Setback, height, FAR, lot area, and density controls enforced across Burbank zoning districts.
- Assorted
- Far control
- Lot control
- Multi control
- Density control
- Coverage control
- Pervious control
- Lot width control
- Rear setback control
- Side setback control
- Front setback control
- Building height control
Cities near Burbank
Burbank zoning: frequently asked questions
What is Burbank's Media District and why does it matter for development?
The Media District is a dedicated cluster of zones tailored to the studio economy, spanning commercial (MDC-2 through MDC-4), media-production industrial (MDM-1), and medium- and high-density residential (MDR-3, MDR-4) land. It is one of Burbank's most distinctive entitlement environments and concentrates much of the city's higher-intensity mixed-use and residential opportunity. Review the specific Media District standards rather than the generic base zones for these parcels.
Where is higher-density housing allowed in Burbank?
The clearest higher-density capacity is in the Media District Residential zones - Medium Density (MDR-3) and High Density (MDR-4) - plus the mixed-use intensity available within the Burbank Center commercial districts. Most of the rest of the city is Single Family Residential (R-1), the largest district at roughly 3,237 acres. Target the MDR zones and commercial cores for apartment and condominium product.
How does Burbank Airport affect nearby development?
The Airport (AP) district occupies roughly 419 acres, and airport influence drives height limits, noise considerations, and safety-zone restrictions on surrounding parcels. Development near the airport should treat these as gating constraints, not afterthoughts. Confirm the applicable height and noise overlays early in feasibility for any site in the airport's vicinity.
What commercial and industrial options does Burbank offer?
Considerable depth and granularity. Manufacturing General (M-2) covers about 439 acres, and the city tiers its commercial land through the Burbank Center (BCC-1 to BCC-3, BCCM) and Magnolia Park (MPC-1 to MPC-3) districts plus C-2 through Commercial Unlimited Business (C-4). This range supports everything from neighborhood retail to general industry and media production.
Do ADUs and SB-9 lot splits work on Burbank's R-1 lots?
California's statewide ADU and SB-9 provisions apply to qualifying single-family parcels citywide, including Burbank's large R-1 base and the R-1-H Horsekeeping zone. Local design standards and any airport-influence or hillside overlays still shape siting on a given lot. Verify Burbank's ADU ordinance and applicable overlays before assuming an added unit or two-lot split is feasible on a specific parcel.
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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Burbank planning department before acquisition or design.