PROJECT UPDATE 8/27/25:

Thank you for reaching out with your comments, questions, and concerns. We understand the importance of ensuring that all community members have meaningful opportunities to engage and have designed the process to be accessible in multiple formats.

• What has been released are very drafts and there is much work to come. The Community Meeting #3 Boards and proposed Zoning Map shown below are very early drafts designed to get the community engaged and conversing about their vision for our future. Our consultants have just begun drafting the actual rules for the code, and we are planning for another round of outreach later this year. More information about where and how development can occur will be provided in those draft rules. Nothing will be before PC or Council for formal decision until spring 2026.

• How do we grow a sustainable community? Zoning helps implement the community’s vision set forth in the City’s General Plan to plan for future growth while also complying with Federal and State law. Palm Springs is running out of space to grow and needs more diverse, affordable housing. To address this, we need to identify where taller buildings could be allowed along commercial corridors. In doing so, it’s also important to evaluate factors such as access to transit, walkability, and the capacity of existing infrastructure. Our team has identified some of these potential areas of growth in the draft zoning maps.
  

• We want your feedback! To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to provide their feedback on the Community Meeting #3 Boards and proposed Zoning Map, we have extended the comment period to close at 5:00 p.m. on 9/21/25.

These boards and zoning map were presented in a series of community meetings in the Spring of 2025 and linked here is a virtual recording to help guide you. A new Zoning Code Update flyer addressing the key topics being explored and a Frequently Asked Questions document have also been prepared to provide additional information.

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Looking ahead, there will be additional opportunities to participate via in-person and virtual community meetings, ongoing opportunities to comment online or by email, and formal public hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council. We are committed to making the process inclusive and accessible, and public input will continue to play an important role in shaping the future zoning code.

Thank you again for taking the time to engage with us!

Planning for our Future

The City of Palm Springs is updating its Zoning Code to better reflect today’s needs and accommodate future growth. This is the City’s first comprehensive update to the Zoning Code since 1988 and will incorporate General Plan 2040 updated in 2025 and the 2021-2029 Housing Element updated in 2024 (click here for more on the General Plan Update).

The Zoning Code is Palm Springs' rules for how land can be used. It determines what types of activities and buildings are allowed in different areas--such as residential, commercial, or industrial uses--and manages development cohesively. The Zoning Code strives to find the best ways to foster a compatible pattern of land uses and development that furthers the City’s vision and goals. This modernization of the Zoning Code is also intended to make it more flexible, user-friendly, and responsive to the needs of the diverse communities that make Palm Springs Like No Place Else!

Click here to learn more with our Zoning 101 flyer.

Project GoalS

How You Can Help

The motto of the City of Palm Springs is “The People are the City”, and we are committed to involving all residents and citizens in the decisions that build the community. Public participation in the Zoning Code update process is very important and there will be many opportunities to get involved and provide meaningful input. Please sign-up for updates by clicking on the "Stay Informed" widget located on the right hand side of this page and contact us with questions and engagement opportunities.

Planning Department Phone: (760) 323-8245

Email: ZonePS@PalmSpringsCA.gov

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

Community Meeting #3: New Zoning Districts & Zoning Map

March 31 & April 1, 2025

If you missed our third round of in-person community meetings, please view the Zoom webinar recording or presentation. to get a first look at the early draft of the new Zoning Districts and Zoning Map and comment on the boards below.

Community Meeting #3 Boards

Building on previous public outreach efforts and the findings of the zoning code audit (a diagnostic analysis of the current zoning regulations, available on this website), a proposal for new zoning districts and an updated zoning map was presented at our Community Meeting #3 (held March 31–April 1).

The proposed zoning map and districts, along with their intended purposes and key metrics, are displayed on the boards below. A set of targeted questions was provided to help guide public input. Note: The materials presented on the boards are a draft and for discussion purposes only. Public comments on the boards and map shown below will close at 5:00 p.m. on 9/21/25. If would you like to submit a comment after the deadline, please email us at zoneps@palmspringsca.gov. Thank you for taking the time to engage with us and provide your feedback.

Palm springs zoning map: proposed changes

Slide to compare the existing zoning map (left) with proposed zoning map (right). Click on a parcel to view its zoning district, and leave a comment on the proposed zoning map changes!

Community Meeting #2: Zoning Code Audit & Approach

October 16, 2024

Our second community meeting discussed what we've learned as part of the audit of Palm Springs' current zoning and outlined our approach as to how we could modernize the code going forward.

Review the meeting materials including the presentation, posters, and Code Audit.

Zoning code Audit

The Code Audit shown below and linked here outlines our proposed approach to updating the Palm Springs Zoning Code. Public comments are now closed but please reach out to us if you have any questions!

Community Meeting #1: Project Kick-Off

June 6, 2024

This house open project kick-off meeting provided an overview of the project and allowed the community to share their priorities in updating the zoning code and planning for the future of Palm Springs. Click to view the in-person presentation and meeting boards. View the July 16, 2024 virtual meeting presentation here in English and Spanish.

Project Timeline

The Zoning Code Update launched in April 2024 and is expected to be adopted by March 2026.

Click here to view an enlarged version of the below timeline.

Connect with us!

Planning Department Phone: (760) 323-8245

Email: zoneps@palmspringsca.gov