Gilroy, 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 24 districts.
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What's in the Gilroy dataset
Every field below is available for any Gilroy parcel, on the map and through the AI.
Zoning
- District code & full name
- Parcel boundary & APN
- All 24 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 Gilroy
Share of Gilroy's zoned land where each use is permitted.
- Single-family
- 42.30%
- Multi-family
- 42.30%
- ADU
- 42.30%
- Two-family
- 40.88%
- Retail
- 63.41%
- Eating & drinking
- 20.89%
- Office
- 18.71%
- Hotel / motel
- 23.32%
- Industrial
- 11.05%
- Storage & warehouses
- 18.27%
Gilroy, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
A1 Agriculture | - | 142.5 ac | Standards & uses → |
C1 Neighborhood Commercial | - | 21.7 ac | Standards & uses → |
C3 Shopping Center Commercial | - | 382.4 ac | Standards & uses → |
CM Commercial Industrial | - | 342.9 ac | Standards & uses → |
Showing 4 of 24 districts
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What should developers know about Gilroy zoning?
Gilroy, at the southern end of Santa Clara County, runs a zoning code shaped by three forces: a large single-family residential base, significant industrial land, and a set of major specific plans guiding the city's growth edges. Single Family Residential (R1) is overwhelmingly the largest district at roughly 2,357 acres, with Residential Hillside (RH) close behind at about 1,198 acres - a clear signal that hillside development constraints are central to entitlement on the city's slopes. Open Space (OS) and Park Public Facilities (PF) together preserve well over 2,600 acres.
Gilroy's growth is heavily orchestrated through specific plans. The Downtown Specific Plan alone is split into multiple character districts - Cannery (DSP-C), Civic and Cultural Arts (DSP-CC-A), Expansion (DSP-E), Gateway (DSP-G), Historic (DSP-H), and Transitional (DSP-T) - giving the core a finely tuned, district-by-district framework. On the edges, the Glen Loma Ranch Specific Plan (GL-SP, about 384 acres) and the Hecker Pass Specific Plan (HP-SP, about 424 acres) are the master-planned areas where coordinated residential and mixed development is directed. For industrial users, General Industrial (M2) is a major district at roughly 836 acres, with Limited Industrial (M1) and Commercial Industrial (CM) adding capacity.
Multifamily housing is graduated through R2 (Two Family), R3 (Medium Density), and R4 (High Density), while commercial demand is served by Shopping Center (C3), Highway (HC), and Neighborhood (C1) districts plus Professional Office (PO). Notably, Gilroy's building controls do not include the broad 'Assorted' or 'Multi' categories some cities use, but the standard dimensional levers - FAR, density, height, coverage, lot, and setback regulation - apply throughout. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
Gilroy zoning: frequently asked questions
What are the main specific plans shaping development in Gilroy?
Three frameworks dominate. The Downtown Specific Plan subdivides the core into character districts - Cannery, Civic and Cultural Arts, Expansion, Gateway, Historic, and Transitional. On the city's edges, the Glen Loma Ranch Specific Plan (GL-SP, about 384 acres) and the Hecker Pass Specific Plan (HP-SP, about 424 acres) govern master-planned growth. Any project within these boundaries must be evaluated against the controlling plan, not just base zoning.
How do hillside constraints affect development in Gilroy?
Significantly. Residential Hillside (RH) is the second-largest district in the city at roughly 1,198 acres, indicating that a large share of Gilroy's residential land sits on slopes subject to hillside development standards. Projects in RH areas typically face grading, density, and design limits tied to topography, so slope analysis should be part of early due diligence.
Where can multifamily housing be developed in Gilroy?
Gilroy offers a graduated multifamily framework: R2 (Two Family Residential), R3 (Medium Density Residential), and R4 (High Density Residential). The downtown specific-plan districts and the Neighborhood District (ND) also accommodate higher-intensity and mixed residential uses. These districts, plus state ADU law applied to single-family parcels, define where added density is achievable.
Is Gilroy a strong location for industrial development?
Yes. General Industrial (M2) is one of the largest districts in the city at about 836 acres, complemented by Limited Industrial (M1) near 273 acres and Commercial Industrial (CM) near 343 acres. This depth of employment land, combined with Gilroy's Highway 101 access, supports manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution uses.
How is downtown Gilroy zoned?
Downtown is governed entirely by the Downtown Specific Plan, which divides the core into six character districts: Cannery (DSP-C), Civic and Cultural Arts (DSP-CC-A), Expansion (DSP-E), Gateway (DSP-G), Historic (DSP-H), and Transitional (DSP-T). Each carries tailored use and design standards, so the development path downtown depends on which DSP district a parcel falls within.
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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Gilroy planning department before acquisition or design.