Understanding Zoning Maps

There are multiple options for viewing the Town Zoning Map

1. Go directly to our interactive Zoning Map.

2. Download a comprehensive, color-coded PDF copy of the 2025 Town Zoning Map (PDF) for easy viewing and navigating.

3. You can also use the Zoning Map Index and 31 separate map sheets covering the entire Town to locate your property. To find out the zoning on your property (that is, what zoning district your property is located) using the Index Map, go through the following steps:

  • Look at the Index Map to determine which map sheet your property can be found. Your neighborhood will be located within a dark-lined rectangle that has a number; this number is the map sheet number.
  • Go to that map sheet and locate your property. The map sheets show all property lines, streets, and street names, and you should be able to easily find your property.
  • Zoning district boundaries are identified on the map by a bold line, and your property will be encompassed within the boundaries of one of these zoning districts. To determine the zoning district, look for the large bold letters within the zoning district boundaries - this is the zoning district designation.
  • The zoning district designation is an abbreviation of the PRIMARY ZONING DISTRICT. Look in the legend on this page for the description of the zoning district designation. Your property will have only one primary zoning district unless it is cut in half by a zoning district boundary.
  • If your zoning district designation has two parts separated by a hyphen (-), you have a specific RESIDENTIAL DENSITY applied to your property. The second part of the designation after the hyphen is the residential density; look in the legend on this page for your property's density.
  • Your property may also be located in an OVERLAY DISTRICT. An overlay district is applied to properties that have special zoning regulations (e.g. historic preservation district, snow avalanche areas) above and beyond the zoning regulations established by the primary zoning district. If your property may be located in an overlay district, there will be a note on the right side of the map sheet referring you to another sheet. Go to that map sheet and locate your property. If you property is located within the overlay district boundaries, your property is in that Overlay District. Overlay districts are shown at the end of a zoning district designation separated by a hyphen.

Legend of Zoning District Abbreviations

Primary Zoning Districts

  • RR - Rural Residential
  • RL - Low Density Residential
  • RM - Medium Density Residential
  • RH - High Density Residential
  • DRL - Downtown Low Density Residential
  • DRM - Downtown Medium Density Residential
  • DRH - Downtown High Density Residential
  • CN - Neighborhood Commercial
  • CG - General Commercial
  • CH - Highway Commercial
  • CS - Service Commercial
  • M - Manufacturing
  • DC - Downtown Commercial
  • DM - Downtown Manufacturing/Industrial
  • DMU - Downtown Mixed Use
  • CMU - Corridor Mixed Use
  • NMU - Neighborhood Mixed Use
  • RC - Resource Conservation
  • OS - Open Space
  • REC - Recreation
  • PF - Public Facilities
  • PC - Planned Community
  • DMP - Downtown Master Plan
  • RTC - Railroad Transportation Corridor

Overlay Districts

Residential Densities

The range indicates the minimum and maximum range. Where no range is provided, the density is considered both the minimum and maximum. For medium density residential projects in the Tahoe Donner Subdivision, reference Development Code Section 18.12.050.D.

  • X Further subdivision is prohibited
  • 0.05 1 dwelling unit per 20 acres
  • 0.10 1 dwelling unit per 10 acres
  • 0.20 1 dwelling unit per 5 acres
  • 0.50-1 1 dwelling unit per 1-2 acres
  • 0.5 1 dwelling unit per 2 acres
  • 1-2 dwelling units per acre
  • 1-6 dwelling units per acre
  • 2 dwelling units per acre
  • 3-6 dwelling units per acre
  • 6-12 dwelling units per acre
  • 7-14 dwelling units per acre
  • 12-18 dwelling units per acre
  • 12-24 dwelling units per acre
  • 15 dwelling units per acre
  • 18-24 dwelling units per acre