After more than a year and a half of community input, Cathedral City has its first comprehensive Development Code update since 1981.
The City of Cathedral City has reached a historic milestone. At its October 28, 2026 meeting, the City Council adopted the new Development Code, the first comprehensive update to the City’s zoning and subdivision regulations since 1981. The new code brings these standards together into a single, unified, and modern framework that will guide how Cathedral City grows for decades to come.
The vote follows a recommendation from the Planning Commission and caps a community effort that began with the first open house in March 2025.
A Code Built for Today’s Cathedral City
The City’s previous zoning rules were written more than four decades ago, for a very different city. As directed by the City Council, the new Development Code is designed to:
- Modernize and streamline the development review process
- Establish clear and easy-to-understand development standards
- Reflect current development preferences and community priorities
- Encourage housing development and infill opportunities
- Incorporate objective design standards
- Ensure consistency with the 2040 General Plan
- Comply with changes in State and Federal law
For residents, business owners, and builders alike, the result is a more predictable process and clearer rules about what can be built and where.
Shaped by the Community
This code is stronger because of the many residents, business owners, and community members who took part. Over more than a year and a half, the City and its Consultant Team, Mintier Harnish, hosted community open houses and workshops, led three design and development walking tours, and held a public comment period on the draft code. The Development Code Steering Committee and the Planning Commission also reviewed the draft through multiple study and working sessions.
Comments were collected and considered throughout the process, and a complete record of the comments received is available on the project website.
The City thanks the Planning Commission and Steering Committee for their many hours of review, and everyone who attended a meeting, joined a walking tour, or shared a comment. Your input helped shape the future of Cathedral City.
What Happens Next
The new Development Code takes effect on January 11, 2027. Until then, the current code remains in place. The January start gives the City time to prepare its systems and help residents and builders get familiar with the new rules.
Learn More
To view the Development Code, visit zonecathedralcity.com. Questions may be sent to DCU@cathedralcity.gov.
