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Chapter 9.12 — Zoning Map

Arcata Zoning Code · 2026-07 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Arcata

Sections:

9.12.010 Purpose

9.12.020 Zoning Map and Zoning Districts

9.12.030 Land Use Plan Map

9.12.010 Purpose

This Chapter establishes the zoning districts applied to property within the City and adopts the City’s Zoning Map, Land Use Plan Map, and Coastal Zone Boundaries maps.

9.12.020 Zoning Map and Zoning Districts

The Council hereby adopts the City of Arcata Zoning Map (hereinafter referred to as the "Zoning Map"), which is on file with the Department. The Zoning Map is hereby incorporated into this Land Use Code by reference as though it were fully included here.

The Zoning Map is hereby amended by Exhibit "1," attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter and incorporated herein, and the property identified in Exhibit 1 is hereby rezoned as shown in Exhibit 1.

A. Zoning districts established. The City of Arcata shall divide the zoning districts that implement the Arcata General Plan. The zoning districts shown in Table 1-1 are hereby established, and shall be shown on the Zoning Map. The purposes and requirements of each zoning district are in Article 2 (Zoning Districts and Allowable Uses).

Transportation rights-of-way such as streets, highways, bike lanes, trails or railroads without a specific zoning district shall have uses consistent with the Arcata General Plan: 2020 Transportation Element unless a Conditional Use Permit is obtained in conformance with Section 9.72.080 (Use Permit and Minor Use Permit).

B. Interpretation of zoning district boundaries. If there is uncertainty about the location of any zoning district boundary shown on the Zoning Map, the Zoning Administrator shall determine the location of the boundary, as follows.

  1. Where a boundary approximately follows alley or street lines, the street or alley center line shall be construed to be the boundary;

  2. Where a boundary approximately follows lot lines, the lot lines shall be construed to be the boundary;

  3. If a boundary divides a parcel and the boundary line location is not specified by distances printed on the Zoning Map, the location of the boundary will be determined by using the scale appearing on the Zoning Map; provided, that when unsubdivided acreage is subdivided, the location of the zoning boundary that divided the acreage shall be construed to be a new lot line or street center line within 20 feet of the location of the boundary, according to the scale of the map; and

  4. Where a public right-of-way is officially vacated or abandoned, the property that was formerly in the right-of-way shall be included within the zoning district of the adjoining property on either side of the vacated or abandoned right-of-way.

C. Zoning Map amendments. Any amendment to the Zoning Map shall comply with Chapter 9.92 (Amendments).

Table 1-1 - Zoning Districts

Zoning
District
Symbol
Name of Zoning District General Plan
Designation
Implemented by
Zoning District
General Plan
Designation
Implemented by
Zoning District
Agricultural and Resource Districts
AE Agricultural - Exclusive Agricultural - Exclusive
AR Agricultural - Residential Agricultural -
Residential
Zoning
District
Symbol
Name of Name of Zoning District Zoning District General Plan
Designation
Implemented by
Zoning District
General Plan
Designation
Implemented by
Zoning District
General Plan
Designation
Implemented by
Zoning District
NR-TP Natural Resource - Timber
Production
Natural Resource - TP
NR-PT Natural Resource - Public Trust Natural Resource - PT
Residential Districts
RVL Residential - Very Low Density Residential - Very Low
Density
RL Residential - Low Density Residential - Low
Density
RM Residential - Medium Density Residential - Medium
Density
RH Residential - High Density Residential - High
Density
Commercial Districts
CC Commercial - Central Commercial - Central
CG Commercial - General Commercial - General
CV Commercial - Visitor Serving Commercial - Visitor
Serving
CM Commercial - Mixed
Use Center
Commercial - Mixed
Use Center
Industrial and Public FacilityDistricts
IL Industrial - Limited Industrial - Limited
IG Industrial - General Industrial - General
PF Public Facility Public Facility
CombiningZones
:GB
:GH
:GC
:GN
Gateway
Gateway
Gateway
Gateway
Barrel District
Hub District
Corridor District

Neighborhood District
Commercial Mixed
Center
Commercial Mixed
Center
Commercial Mixed
Center
Commercial Mixed
Center

Use

Use

Use

Use
:HL Historic Landmark All
:CIZ Cannabis Innovation Zone Specific
Industrial -
Limited and
Industrial
- General properties -
See Section
9.28.130,
Figure 2-25.
Zoning
District
Symbol
Name of Zoning District General Plan
Designation
Implemented by
Zoning District
:NH Natural Hazards All
:NCA Neighborhood Conservation Area All
:PA Plaza Area Commercial - Central
:PD Planned Development All
:SCA
:SCNR
:SCR
:SCC
:SCI
:SCP
Special Considerations - Agricultural
Special Considerations - Resource
Special Considerations - Residential
Special Considerations - Commercial
Special Considerations - Industrial
Special Considerations - Public
Facility
Agricultural
Natural Resource
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Public Facility
:WP Wetland Protection Natural Resource -
WSP
:SP Stream Protection Natural Resource -
WSP
:MP Mobilehome Park Residential Medium
Residential High

(Ord. 1397, eff. 12/4/2009; Ord. 1432, eff. 12/20/2013; Ord. 1467, eff. 11/20/2015; Ord. 1468, eff. 4/1/2016; Ord. 1488, eff. 7/21/2017; Ord. 1496, eff. 12/20/2017; Ord. 1521, eff. 12/20/2019; Ord. 1569, eff. 10/4/2024)

9.12.030 Land Use Plan Map

A. Land Use Plan Map adopted. The official City map entitled "City and Sphere of Influence Land Use Plan Map" is hereby adopted, and incorporated into this Land Use Code by reference as though it were fully included here. This map supersedes and replaces the maps adopted by Ordinances 1071 and 1151, and all subsequent amendments to those maps.

B. Purpose and effect of Land Use Plan Map. The purpose and effect of this map is to show, for the unincorporated territory within the City’s Sphere of Influence adopted by the Humboldt County Local Agency Formation Commission, the potential zoning districts of this Land Use Code that the City intends to apply to the parcels that may be eventually annexed to the City. The land use designations shown on the Land Use Plan Map shall be effective immediately upon the annexation of each subject parcel to the City per Sections 9.92.060 and 9.94.040 of this Land Use Code.

C. Amendments. Amendments to the Land Use Plan Map shall comply with the criteria and procedures in Chapters 9.92 (Amendments), and 9.94 (Annexation).

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Contents — Arcata Zoning Code
Arcata Zoning Code
  1. Article 1 — Land Use Code Applicability
  2. Article 2
  3. Article 3 — Site Planning and Project Design Standards Revised…
  4. Article 4 — Standards for Specific Land Uses
  5. Article 5 — Resource Management
  6. Article 6 — Site Development Regulations
  7. Article 7 — Planning Permit Procedures
  8. Article 8
  9. Article 9 — Land Use Code Administration
  10. Article 10 — Glossary Revised 5/25
  11. Chapter 9.10 — Purpose and Applicability of Land Use Code
  12. Chapter 9.12 — Zoning Map
  13. Chapter 9.20 — Development and Land Use Approval Requirements
  14. Chapter 9.22 — Agricultural and Resource Zoning Districts
  15. Chapter 9.24 — Residential Zoning Districts
  16. Chapter 9.26 — Commercial, Industrial, and Public Facility Zon…
  17. Chapter 9.28 — Combining Zones
  18. Chapter 9.30 — Standards for All Development and Land Uses
  19. Chapter 9.31 — Density Bonuses Revised 5/25
  20. Chapter 9.32 — Inclusionary Zoning Revised 5/25
  21. Chapter 9.34 — Landscaping Standards
  22. Chapter 9.36 — Parking and Loading
  23. Chapter 9.38 — Signs
  24. Chapter 9.40 — Sex-Oriented Business Regulations
  25. Chapter 9.42 — Standards for Specific Land Uses
  26. Chapter 9.44 — Telecommunications Facilities
  27. Chapter 9.50 — Agricultural Preservation - Right-to-Farm
  28. Chapter 9.52 — Hillside Development
  29. Chapter 9.53 — Historic Resource Preservation
  30. Chapter 9.54 — Resource Conservation
  31. Chapter 9.56 — Solar Siting and Solar Access
  32. Chapter 9.58
  33. Chapter 9.59
  34. Chapter 9.60
  35. Chapter 9.62 — Geologic Hazard Review
  36. Chapter 9.64 — Grading, Erosion, and Sediment Control
  37. Chapter 9.66 — Urban Runoff Pollution Control
  38. Chapter 9.70 — Permit Application Filing and Processing
  39. Chapter 9.72 — Permit Approval or Disapproval
  40. Chapter 9.74 — Public Hearings
  41. Chapter 9.76 — Appeals
  42. Chapter 9.78 — Environmental Impact Assessment
  43. Chapter 9.79
  44. Chapter 9.80 — Applicability and Administration of Subdivision…
  45. Chapter 9.81 — Tentative Map Filing and Processing
  46. Chapter 9.82 — Parcel Maps and Final Maps
  47. Chapter 9.84 — Additional Subdivision Procedures Revised 5/25
  48. Chapter 9.86 — Dedications and Exactions
  49. Chapter 9.88 — Subdivision Design and Improvement Requirements
  50. Chapter 9.90
  51. Chapter 9.92 — Amendments
  52. Chapter 9.94 — Growth Management
  53. Chapter 9.96 — Enforcement and Penalties
  54. Chapter 9.100 — Definitions Revised 5/25
  55. Chapter 9.110 — Gateway Area Districts

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