Highland Zoning Intelligence
Zoning, permitted uses, ADU rules, and development potential for Highland, California. 26 districts analyzed.
Explore Highland parcels, zoning, and hazards
Search any Highland address, inspect parcels and zoning on the live map, and ask the AI what you can build - right here.
How is Highland zoned?
Permitted uses vary by district. Search a Highland parcel on the map above to see exactly what you can build there.
- Total zoning districts26
- Residential districts7
- Commercial districts5
- Industrial districts1
Statewide law - applies to all California cities, not specific to Highland.
- 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 Highland planning
What should developers know about Highland zoning?
Highland is a San Bernardino Valley city whose largest single district is Planned Development (PD) at 3,526 acres - a figure that signals a built environment heavily shaped by master-planned tracts rather than conventional by-right zoning. The R-1 Single Family Residential districts collectively account for over 3,100 acres across several minimum lot-size variants (standard R-1, R-1(10000), R-1(15000), R-1(20000)), making large-lot suburban ownership housing the dominant land use character. Multifamily capacity is limited but present through R-3 and R-4 districts totaling roughly 116 acres, supplemented by small Mixed Use (MU, 70 acres), R-2/R-2C corridor residential, and specialty zones like East Highland Village and Village Residential.
For developers, the 474-acre A/EQ Agricultural Equestrian Residential district and the large Open Space designation (nearly 2,988 acres) define significant portions of the city where density is constrained and entitlement paths involve more discretion. Commercial opportunity concentrates in General Commercial (150 acres), Business Park (343 acres), Neighborhood Commercial, and Planned Commercial, with nearly 97 acres of Industrial providing light industrial options. Building controls span the full toolkit - FAR, density, lot, coverage, setback, and height - applied across all districts. Several specific plan overlays (Glenrose Ranch, Mediterra, Green Village) indicate precedent for custom entitlement packages in targeted areas.
This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
Run a full feasibility study for any Highland parcel - zoning, FAR, height limits, and development potential in seconds.
Try ArchiWise free →Highland, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
A/EQ Agricultural Equestrian Residential | - | - | 474.4 ac |
BP Business Park | - | - | 343.2 ac |
CC Civic Center | - | - | 5.7 ac |
CG General Commercial | - | - | 150.5 ac |
What are the building controls in Highland?
Setback, height, FAR, lot area, and density controls enforced across Highland zoning districts.
- Assorted
- Far control
- Lot control
- Density control
- Coverage control
- Pervious control
- Lot width control
- Rear setback control
- Side setback control
- Front setback control
- Building height control
Cities near Highland
Highland zoning: frequently asked questions
What role do Planned Development (PD) zones play in Highland?
The PD designation covers the largest block of land in Highland at 3,526 acres and represents master-planned communities where development standards are set by individual approvals rather than standard zoning tables. Any project within a PD overlay must be reviewed against the original plan document, which governs allowed uses, densities, and design standards for that specific area.
Where is multifamily residential development possible in Highland?
R-3 (Multifamily Residential) covers approximately 50 acres and R-4 covers about 66 acres - together the primary multifamily districts in the city. The R-2 (Two Family Residential) at 171 acres and R-2C Corridor Residential at 26 acres offer duplex-scale density. The Mixed Use (MU) district at 70 acres also accommodates residential above commercial and is worth investigating for transit-adjacent infill.
How does the Business Park (BP) district work for light industrial or R&D users?
The BP district totals 343 acres and is positioned between commercial and industrial on the use-type spectrum, typically permitting office, research and development, and compatible light manufacturing. It sits alongside the 97-acre Industrial (I) district, giving a combined employment land base of over 440 acres - meaningful for distribution, flex-tech, or back-office users seeking Inland Empire locations.
Can ADUs be built across the residential zones in Highland?
California state ADU law applies throughout Highland, allowing attached and detached accessory dwelling units on parcels with existing or proposed single-family and multifamily residential uses. Building controls in all residential zones specify setback, coverage, and height parameters that constrain ADU placement, but state law preempts local requirements that would effectively prohibit ADU construction.
What is the development context for the Agricultural Equestrian Residential (A/EQ) district?
The A/EQ zone at 474 acres is concentrated in the lower-density hillside and foothill edges of Highland, where equestrian uses, large-lot residential, and agricultural activities coexist. Subdivision and infill in this zone typically involves environmental review given proximity to hillside terrain, and minimum lot sizes tend to be substantial - making it better suited for estate-style residential or conservation projects than conventional tract development.
Analyze any Highland parcel in 60 seconds
Enter any Highland address to get full zoning analysis, FAR, height limits, and development potential.
Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Highland planning department before acquisition or design.