Zoning Library › California › Fresno, CA
Fresno, CA zoning: where a drive-thru restaurant is allowed
Is a drive-thru allowed in Fresno, CA?
We have not confirmed any zoning district in Fresno, CA where a drive-thru restaurant is allowed by right.
It needs a conditional or special use approval in: BP, CC, CG, CH, CMX, CRC, IH, IL, NMX, O, RMX.
It is not allowed in 34 districts (mostly residential; see the table).
38 districts are not confirmed yet.
Drive-thru restaurant rule by zoning district
| District | Drive-thru restaurant | What the code says | Section | Source | Read on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-1 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| A-2 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| A-C | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| AE5 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| AE20 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| AE40 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| AE160 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| AL20 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| AL40 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| BP | Conditional | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': C in CC, CR, CG, CH, CRC, O, BP, RBP, IL, IH; C(15) in NMX, CMX, RMX; '-' in CMS. C = Conditional Use Permit required everywhere it is allowed; standards in Sec. 15-2728. | Citywide Development Code use tables; Sec. 15-2728 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| C-1 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| C-2 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| C-3 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| C-4 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| C-6 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| C-M | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| C-P | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| C-R | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| CC | Conditional | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': C in CC, CR, CG, CH, CRC, O, BP, RBP, IL, IH; C(15) in NMX, CMX, RMX; '-' in CMS. C = Conditional Use Permit required everywhere it is allowed; standards in Sec. 15-2728. | Citywide Development Code use tables; Sec. 15-2728 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| CG | Conditional | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': C in CC, CR, CG, CH, CRC, O, BP, RBP, IL, IH; C(15) in NMX, CMX, RMX; '-' in CMS. C = Conditional Use Permit required everywhere it is allowed; standards in Sec. 15-2728. | Citywide Development Code use tables; Sec. 15-2728 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| CH | Conditional | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': C in CC, CR, CG, CH, CRC, O, BP, RBP, IL, IH; C(15) in NMX, CMX, RMX; '-' in CMS. C = Conditional Use Permit required everywhere it is allowed; standards in Sec. 15-2728. | Citywide Development Code use tables; Sec. 15-2728 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| CMS | Not allowed | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': '-' (not allowed) in this district. Not allowed. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| CMX | Conditional | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': C(15) in NMX, CMX, RMX. Conditional Use Permit with footnote 15 limits (not read). | Citywide Development Code use tables; Sec. 15-2728 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| CRC | Conditional | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': C in CC, CR, CG, CH, CRC, O, BP, RBP, IL, IH; C(15) in NMX, CMX, RMX; '-' in CMS. C = Conditional Use Permit required everywhere it is allowed; standards in Sec. 15-2728. | Citywide Development Code use tables; Sec. 15-2728 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| DTC | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| DTG | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| DTN | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| FRSL | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| FRVC | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| IH | Conditional | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': C in CC, CR, CG, CH, CRC, O, BP, RBP, IL, IH; C(15) in NMX, CMX, RMX; '-' in CMS. C = Conditional Use Permit required everywhere it is allowed; standards in Sec. 15-2728. | Citywide Development Code use tables; Sec. 15-2728 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| IL | Conditional | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': C in CC, CR, CG, CH, CRC, O, BP, RBP, IL, IH; C(15) in NMX, CMX, RMX; '-' in CMS. C = Conditional Use Permit required everywhere it is allowed; standards in Sec. 15-2728. | Citywide Development Code use tables; Sec. 15-2728 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| M-1 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| M-2 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| M-3 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| M-H-P | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| M-P | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| M-U | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| NMX | Conditional | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': C(15) in NMX, CMX, RMX. Conditional Use Permit with footnote 15 limits (not read). | Citywide Development Code use tables; Sec. 15-2728 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| NV | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| O | Conditional | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': C in CC, CR, CG, CH, CRC, O, BP, RBP, IL, IH; C(15) in NMX, CMX, RMX; '-' in CMS. C = Conditional Use Permit required everywhere it is allowed; standards in Sec. 15-2728. | Citywide Development Code use tables; Sec. 15-2728 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| OS | Not allowed | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': '-' (not allowed) in this district. Not allowed. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| P | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| P-C-C | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| P-F | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| PI | Not allowed | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': '-' (not allowed) in this district. Not allowed. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| PR | Not allowed | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': '-' (not allowed) in this district. Not allowed. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| PV | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| R-1 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-1-MD | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-1-PRD | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-1AH | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-1B | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-1C | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-1E | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-1EH | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-2 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-2A | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-3 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-3A | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-4 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-A | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| R-T | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| RC | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| RC40 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| RC160 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| RCC | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| RE | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| RM-1 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| RM-2 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| RM-3 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| RMX | Conditional | Use table 'Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities': C(15) in NMX, CMX, RMX. Conditional Use Permit with footnote 15 limits (not read). | Citywide Development Code use tables; Sec. 15-2728 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| RP | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| RR | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| RR5 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| RS | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| RS-1 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| RS-2 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| RS-3 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| RS-4 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| RS-5 | Not allowed | Drive-In and Drive-Through Facilities not listed for residential districts. Residential district. | Citywide Development Code use tables | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
| TP | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| TPZ | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 | |
| U-C | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-14 |
"By right" means permitted with site plan and building permit review only. Overlay districts, planned developments (PD/PUD) and conditions attached to a past rezoning can change the answer for a single parcel.
Official zoning map layer
To find the district for a parcel, query the jurisdiction's own GIS zoning layer: https://services3.arcgis.com/ivgOteCWSY7ZTRyd/arcgis/rest/services/Fresno_County_Zoning/FeatureServer/0 (district field: ZONE_BASE)
Fresno zoning layer (field ZONE_BASE; ZONE_CONDI carries conditions). Mixes city and county district codes - city codes used here.
Sources
How to confirm before you buy
- Look up the parcel on the official zoning map to get its district and any overlay.
- Open the code section linked in the table and read the use table and the drive-thru standards.
- Call the planning office and ask whether a drive-thru restaurant needs anything beyond site plan review at that address.
Why this library exists
I'm Luke Smith. I find land for drive-thru brands like 7 Brew, Ellianos Coffee and Starbucks, sign the tenant, build the shop and sell it as a net lease property. Every deal starts with the same question: is the use allowed here without a rezoning? Getting that answer takes too long, so we read the codes (with AI research help), and I publish what we find with a link back to every source so you can check it yourself.
If you have a site that fits a drive-thru, or you want to learn how these deals are put together, join the free Reverse Deal Finder community on Skool, see cap rates and land prices by brand, or call 1-760-392-1525. Brokers welcome: I pay commissions.