Community & Economic Development

The mission of the Los Banos Community & Economic Development Department is to guide the physical development of the City in a manner that will foster positive social and economic growth, which is consistent with the goals of the General Plan and build a stronger community by planning, promoting, and facilitating economic development; increasing, improving, and preserving existing jobs and creating new ones; working to implement the City’s General Plan; and – to as great a degree as possible – working with owners and tenants to increase entrepreneurial opportunity and property values in the community.

The purpose of the City’s Community & Economic Development Department is to anticipate and provide for the orderly development of land within and around the City of Los Banos. Zoning implements planning and can be defined as the division of a land area (i.e. a city) into districts which specifies categories of use and parameters for development.

Specifically, the City of Los Banos is divided into various commercial and residential zoning districts. The zoning code defines which activities or uses are permitted in which zones and provides general development guidelines. For example, the zoning code identifies a single family residence as a permitted use in the R-1 (Low Density Residential) zoning district and specifies setbacks from property lines and the maximum height allowance.

If you are planning to open a commercial business, the zoning code will tell you if your business is permitted in the location and zone you have chosen. A Planner can help you determine whether or not your business is allowed in a specific area and whether any proposed changes or additions to the site or building will require additional parking spaces or other types of improvements. If you are planning new development, you will need to work closely with the Community & Economic Development Department throughout the development process. Call (209) 827-7000 ext. 2432 to speak to a Planner for more information.

It is recommended that all parties intending to fill out an application contact the Community & Economic Development Department prior to doing so to have a brief preliminary review with a Planner.

All applications can be typed but signatures must be original and fees must be included; no electronic submittals will be accepted. Please note that the fee schedule is attached to the Cost Recovery Contract.

The City Council recently adopted Resolution No. 6131 which established and amended certain user fees including fees for planning entitlements and permits. The amended fee schedule was adopted on September 18, 2019 and went into effect on December 1, 2019. Click here to view this amended fee schedule.

• Uniform Application
• Environmental Information
• Cost Recovery Contract

• Annexation Application Packet

• Area Plan Application Packet

• Block Party Permit Application Packet

• Conditional Use Permit Application Packet

• Cottage Food Operation Permit Application Packet

• Farmers’ Market Permit Application Packet

• Final Development Plan Application Packet

• General Plan Amendment, Rezone, Prezone Application Packet

• Lot Line Adjustment Application Packet

• Master Signage Plan Application Packet

• Mobile Food Vendor Permit Application Packet

• Parcel Map/Minor Subdivision Application Packet

• Parcel Merger Application Packet

• Planned Development Reclassification Application Packet

• Sidewalk Vendor Permit Application Packet

• Sign Review Application Packet

• Site Plan Review Application Packet

• Special Event Permit Application Packet

• Temporary Use Permit Application Packet

• Tentative & Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map Application Packet

• Variance Application Packet

Impact fees are meant to help pay for the infrastructure needed to support new development in the City. There are several ways that a project may trigger the requirement to pay impact fees. It is highly encouraged that you contact a Planner in the Community & Economic Development Department to completely understand the impact fees for your project. You can reach the Community & Economic Development Department at (209) 827-2433.

City of Los Banos Community Design Standards (28.2 MB)

Rail Trail Corridor Regulating Code (10.7 MB)

*Pending LAFCO Approval

Ordinance No. 1095 (5.88 MB)

Zoning Map Oct 20, 2010 (634 KB)

To contact the Community & Economic Development Department by phone:
(209) 827-7000 ext. 2433

Community & Economic Development Department:

City Hall
520 J Street
Los Banos, CA 93635

To contact us via e-mail:

Stacy Souza Elms
Community & Economic Development Director
stacy.elms@losbanos.org

Zoning is the division of the City into districts and the application of different regulations in each district. According to Section 9-3.302 of the Los Banos Municipal Code, no person shall use any land, building, or structure, nor shall any building or structure be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, moved, or used, in any district shown on the zoning map, except in accordance with the provisions pertaining to each zoning district. The following is a list of the several districts into which the City is divided and the provisions associated with each district:

• Planned Development (P-D)
• Rail Corridor (R-C)
• Low Density Residential (R-1)
• Medium Density Residential (R-2)
• High Density Residential (R-3)
• Mixed Use (M-X)
• Professional Office (P-O)
• Neighborhood Commercial (C-N)
• General Commercial (C-1)
• Highway Commercial (H-C)
• Light Industrial (L-I)
• General Industrial (I)

There are more than 800 acres within the City limits zoned for light to heavy industry; over 40 percent is vacant and available in parcels ranging in size from 1 to 200 acres. Included in this area are two industrial parks, one on the northwest side of the community, the second, approximately 250 acres is zoned for Highway Commercial (HC) and light industrial uses. The terrain is flat. Drainage is good. Subsoil is clay loam, and piling is not required. Sizes of water mains range from 4 to 12 inches. Sizes of sewer lines range from 6 to 24 inches.

The G Street Industrial Park, home of Kagome Foods, offers many condominium style offices still available to the public, as well as a 23,000 sq. ft. building formerly housed by Fisher Laboratories.

• Mercey Springs Road Apartments Initial Study
• Sunrise Ranch Initial Study
• New Los Banos Police Station Initial Study
• Los Banos General Plan Draft SEIR
• Los Banos General Plan Draft SEIR Appendices
• Los Banos Draft Environmental Impact Report 9/25/2007 (67 MB)
• Los Banos Final Environmental Impact Report 12/20/2007 (3.84 MB)
• Zoning Ordinance and Map Negative Declaration (679 KB)
• AMG Industrial Annexation IS/MND

A Housing Element is one of the seven required elements of the General Plan. The Housing Element is also the only document that is standalone. The Housing Element includes a needs assessment, an analysis of opportunities and constraints, a review of past performance, a zoning classification for emergency homeless shelters or special needs housing and finally a policy program to implement. The Housing Element will be in effect from 2009 through 2014.

In efforts to update the City of Los Banos 2014-2023 Housing Element, staff conducted a City wide Housing Condition Survey from Tuesday, March 12, 2019 and completed the survey on Monday, March 25, 2019. The Housing Condition Survey consisted of 1,202 housing units randomly selected throughout the City. The housing units ranged from single family homes, duplexes, triplexes, multi-family units and accessory dwelling units. Click the link below to view the survey results.

Now is an exciting time for the City of Los Banos as the City embarks upon a targeted update to its 2009 General Plan, to help guide development and conservation in the city over the next 20 years. Specifically, the City is undertaking a comprehensive update to the major policy documents that guide the city’s economic and physical growth as well as preservation of natural and agricultural resources. While the 2009 General Plan is not quite yet 10 years old, those years have seen significant economic, political, and technological changes, with more on the horizon. The General Plan Update 2040 will position Los Banos to respond to those changes and gear up for the future.

The General Plan Update 2040 will focus on the City’s most important issues: economic development, growth management, Downtown, agricultural mitigation, and water supply. In addition, the General Plan will fulfill recent State required updates that have been enacted since the last update.

Click the link below to find out more about this exciting update.