The 2026 Inland Zoning Code Update was adopted by City Council on March 17, 2026 and goes into effect on April 17, 2026.2026 Inland Zoning Code Update Overview(Design Standards & Design Review Upd

The 2026 Inland Zoning Code Update was adopted by City Council on March 17, 2026 and goes into effect on April 17, 2026.2026 Inland Zoning Code Update Overview(Design Standards & Design Review Updates and General Cleanup Amendment)What is the 2026 Inland Zoning Code Update?The 2026 Inland Zoning Code Update combines general cleanup of the Inland Zoning Code (EMC Chapter 155) with targeted amendments to design standards and the design review process. The update includes: (1) strengthened, objective design standards and related changes to how design review is conducted, and (2) targeted, non-design-related zoning amendments responding to State law, City Council direction, Planning Commission input, and implementation experience.While these amendments apply only to inland areas, they are intended to inform a future comprehensive update to the Coastal Zoning Code.Links to Code UpdatesUpdates are shown in redline format, except for 155.312, 155.314, and 155.348.Updated 155.312 (Building Design Standards): Revisions to strengthen and expand objective design standards for public-facing building façades.Updated Version of 155.312Previously Adopted Version of 155.312Crosswalk outlining the substantive differences between the previous and new versions of 155.312New 155.314 (Large Site Development): A new section establishing standards tailored to large development sites, with an emphasis on neighborhood connections and transitions, internal circulation, and communal open space.New 155.348 (Wireless Telecommunication Facilities): A new section replacing Eureka Municipal Code Chapter 159 (last amended in 2010) with updated wireless facility regulations. A crosswalk summary of changes to wireless facility regulationsOther Changes to Article 3 (changes shown in redline edits) including modifications to:155.304 (Supplemental Use Regulations) 155.308 (General Standards) 155.316 (Accessory Dwelling Units)155.324 (Parking)155.344 (Density Bonus)Changes to Article 2 (changes shown in redline edits) including proposed modifications to:155.204 (Residential Zones) 155.208 (Mixed Use Zones) 155.212 (Industrial Zones)155.216 (Public Zones)155.220 (Resource Zones)155.224 (Overlay Zones)Changes to Article 4 (changes shown in redline edits) including proposed modifications to:155.404 (Administrative Responsibility)155.408 (Permit Procedures)155.412 (Specific Permits and Approvals)155.416 (Appeals)155.420 (Post Approvals Provisions)155.424 (Nonconformities)Changes to Article 5 (changes shown in redline edits) including proposed modifications to:155.504 (Land Use Classifications)155.508 (Defined Terms)Staff has prepared tables describing each proposed change and its rationale:Change summary table for Article 2Change summary table for Article 3Change summary table for Article 4Change summary table for Article 5