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Chapter 17.32 — SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONING DISTRICTS Revised 3/26

Capitola Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Capitola

Sections:

17.32.010 Purpose of the special purpose zoning districts.

17.32.020 Land use regulations (effective within coastal zone).

17.32.020 Land use regulations (effective outside coastal zone). Revised 3/26

17.32.030 Development standards.

17.32.010 Purpose of the special purpose zoning districts.

A. Community Facility (CF). The CF zoning district provides areas for public and community facilities serving Capitola residents and visitors. Land uses permitted in the CF zoning district include public uses such as governmental offices, police and fire stations, community centers, schools, libraries, and other similar uses. The CF zoning district implements the public/quasi-public land use designation in the general plan.

B. Parks and Open Space (P/OS). The P/OS zoning district provides parks, recreational facilities, and open space for the use and enjoyment of the community and visitors. The P/OS zoning district also protects and preserves environmentally sensitive natural areas and habitat in Capitola. The P/OS zoning district implements the parks and open space land use designation in the general plan. (Ord. 1043 § 2 (Att. 2), 2020)

17.32.020 Land use regulations (effective within coastal zone).

A. Permitted Uses. Table 17.32-1 identifies land uses permitted in the CF and P/OS zoning districts.

B. Commercial Uses in the P/OS Zoning District. Commercial uses that are accessory to a permitted use in the P/OS zoning district are permitted with a conditional use permit as long as the park, recreation, and open space purposes are met by the overall development.

C. Visitor Accommodations in New Brighton State Beach. Visitor accommodations and campground uses are permitted in the New Brighton State Beach.

D. P/OS Standards. The following standards apply to uses in the P/OS zoning district:

  1. Any structure, land use, or removal of vegetation or natural materials that in the opinion of the community development director is inconsistent with the purpose of the P/OS zoning district is prohibited. 2. Development shall be subordinate to its recreational, scenic, or natural resource purpose consistent with the local coastal program (LCP). Natural resource protection shall include protection of arroyos; creeks, riparian corridors, and other environmentally sensitive habitat; and woodlands.

  2. No new structures are permitted on the open, sandy beach area of Capitola except for appropriate public facilities (e.g., the flume and jetties), required shoreline protective structures (approved beach erosion control structures), and structures required for public health and safety (e.g., lifeguard stands) if otherwise consistent with the local coastal program.

Table 17.32-1: Permitted Land Uses in the CF and P/OS Zoning Districts

Key
P
Permitted Use		 Key
P
Permitted Use		 Key
P
Permitted Use		 Zoning District Zoning District Zoning District
CF P/OS Additional
Regulations
A
Administrative Permit
required
M
Minor Use Permit required
C
Conditional Use Permit
required
–
Use not allowed
Public andQuasi-Public Uses
Colleges and Trade Schools C –
Community Assembly P [1] –
Cultural Institutions P [1] –
Day Care Centers P [1] –
Government Offices P –
Parks and Recreational Facilities P [1] P [1]
Public Paths and Coastal Accessways P P
Public SafetyFacilities P –
Schools, Public or Private P –
Transportation,Communication,and Utilities Uses
RecyclingCollection Facilities C – Section
17.96.130
Utilities, Major C C
Utilities, Minor P P
Wireless Telecommunications Facilities See Chapter
17.104
Other Uses
Accessory Uses and
Structures		 See Chapter
17.52
Temporary Uses and
Structures		 See Section
17.96.180
Urban Agriculture
Community Gardens M [1] M [1]

Note:

[1] Publicly owned and/or operated facilities only.

(Ord. 1066 § 2 (Att. 1), 2024; Ord. 1043 § 2 (Att. 2), 2020)

17.32.020 Land use regulations (effective outside coastal zone). Revised 3/26

A. Permitted Uses. Table 17.32-1 identifies land uses permitted in the CF and P/OS zoning districts.

B. Commercial Uses in the P/OS Zoning District. Commercial uses that are accessory to a permitted use in the P/OS zoning district are permitted with a conditional use permit as long as the park, recreation, and open space purposes are met by the overall development.

C. Visitor Accommodations in New Brighton State Beach. Visitor accommodations and campground uses are permitted in the New Brighton State Beach.

D. P/OS Standards. The following standards apply to uses in the P/OS zoning district:

  1. Any structure, land use, or removal of vegetation or natural materials that in the opinion of the community development director is inconsistent with the purpose of the P/OS zoning district is prohibited. 2. Development shall be subordinate to its recreational, scenic, or natural resource purpose consistent with the local coastal program (LCP). Natural resource protection shall include protection of arroyos; creeks, riparian corridors, and other environmentally sensitive habitat; and woodlands.

  2. No new structures are permitted on the open, sandy beach area of Capitola except for appropriate public facilities (e.g., the flume and jetties), required shoreline protective structures (approved beach erosion control structures), and structures required for public health and safety (e.g., lifeguard stands) if otherwise consistent with the local coastal program.

Table 17.32-1: Permitted Land Uses in the CF and P/OS Zoning Districts

Key
P
Permitted Use		 Key
P
Permitted Use		 Key
P
Permitted Use		 Zoning District Zoning District Zoning District
CF P/OS Additional
Regulations
A
Administrative Permit
required
M
Minor Use Permit required
C
Conditional Use Permit
required
–
Use not allowed
Public andQuasi-Public Uses
Colleges and Trade Schools C –
Community Assembly P [1] –
Cultural Institutions P [1] –
Day Care Centers P [1] –
Government Offices P –
Parks and Recreational Facilities P [1] P [1]
Public Paths and Coastal Accessways
[2]		 P P
Public SafetyFacilities P –
Schools, Public or Private P –
Transportation,Communication,and Utilities Uses
RecyclingCollection Facilities C – Section
17.96.130
Utilities, Major C C
Utilities, Minor P P
Wireless Telecommunications Facilities See Chapter
17.104
Other Uses
Accessory Uses and
Structures		 See Chapter
17.52
Temporary Uses and
Structures		 See Section
17.96.180
Urban Agriculture
Community Gardens M [1] M [1]

Note:

[1] Publicly owned and/or operated facilities only.

[2] Coastal armoring to support public paths and coastal accessways along Cliff Drive is allowable. See Capitola LCP policy II-4 and VII-12.

(Ord. 1074 § 3 (Exh. A), 2026; Ord. 1066 § 2 (Att. 1), 2024; Ord. 1043 § 2 (Att. 2), 2020)

17.32.030 Development standards.

A. Floor Area Ratio. The maximum permitted floor area ratio (FAR) is 0.25 in the P/OS zoning district and as determined by the planning commission through the design review process in the CF zoning district.

B. Other Development Standards. Other development standards (e.g., setbacks, height, building coverage) in the CF and P/OS zoning districts shall be determined by the planning commission through the design review and coastal development permit (if in the coastal zone) process. (Ord. 1043 § 2 (Att. 2), 2020) Home Previous Next

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▸ Contents — Capitola Zoning Code
Capitola Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 17.04 — PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF ZONING CODE
  2. Chapter 17.08 — INTERPRETATION
  3. Chapter 17.12 — ZONING DISTRICTS AND MAP
  4. Chapter 17.16 — RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
  5. Chapter 17.20 — MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICTS
  6. Chapter 17.24 — COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS Rev…
  7. Chapter 17.28 — VISITOR SERVING OVERLAY ZONE
  8. Chapter 17.32 — SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONING DISTRICTS Revised 3/26
  9. Chapter 17.36 — PLANNED DEVELOPMENT ZONING DISTRICT
  10. Chapter 17.40 — RESIDENTIAL OVERLAY ZONES
  11. Chapter 17.44 — COASTAL OVERLAY ZONE
  12. Chapter 17.48 — HEIGHT, SETBACKS, AND FLOOR AREA
  13. Chapter 17.52 — ACCESSORY STRUCTURES AND USES
  14. Chapter 17.56 — ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES
  15. Chapter 17.57 — OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR CAPITOLA MALL R…
  16. Chapter 17.60 — FENCES AND WALLS
  17. Chapter 17.64
  18. Chapter 17.68
  19. Chapter 17.72 — LANDSCAPING
  20. Chapter 17.74 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
  21. Chapter 17.75 — SB 9 RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS
  22. Chapter 17.76
  23. Chapter 17.82
  24. Chapter 17.84 — HISTORIC PRESERVATION
  25. Chapter 17.88 — INCENTIVES FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS Revised 6/26
  26. Chapter 17.92 — NONCONFORMING USES
  27. Chapter 17.96 — SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS
  28. Chapter 17.100 — MOBILE HOME PARK CONVERSIONS
  29. Chapter 17.104 — WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
  30. Chapter 17.108 — ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY
  31. Chapter 17.112 — PERMIT APPLICATION AND REVIEW
  32. Chapter 17.114 — CONCEPTUAL REVIEW
  33. Chapter 17.116 — ADMINISTRATIVE PERMITS
  34. Chapter 17.120 — DESIGN PERMITS
  35. Chapter 17.128 — VARIANCES
  36. Chapter 17.132 — SIGN PERMITS
  37. Chapter 17.136 — MINOR MODIFICATIONS
  38. Chapter 17.140 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
  39. Chapter 17.144 — ZONING CODE AND LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AMENDME…
  40. Chapter 17.148 — PUBLIC NOTICE AND HEARINGS
  41. Chapter 17.156 — POST-DECISION PROCEDURES
  42. Chapter 17.160 — GLOSSARY Revised 6/26

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