Chapter 21.28 — C-2 GENERAL COMMERCIAL ZONE
Carlsbad Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Carlsbad
§ 21.28.010. Permitted uses. ¶
A. In a C-2 zone, notwithstanding any other provision of this title, only the uses listed in Table A, below, shall be permitted, subject to the requirements and development standards specified by this chapter, and subject to the provisions of Chapter 21.44 of this title governing off-street parking requirements.
B. The uses permitted by conditional use permit, as indicated in Table A, shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 21.42 of this title.
C. A use similar to those listed in Table A may be permitted if the City Planner determines such similar use falls within the intent and purposes of this zone, and is substantially similar to the specified permitted uses.
D. A use category may be general in nature, where more than one particular use fits into the general category (ex. in some commercial zones "office" is a general use category that applies to various office uses). However, if a particular use is permitted by conditional use permit in another zone, the use shall not be permitted in this C-2 general commercial zone (even under a general use category) unless it is specifically listed in Table A of this chapter as permitted or conditionally permitted.
Table A
Permitted Uses
In the table, below, subject to all applicable permitting and development requirements of the municipal code: "P" indicates use is permitted. (See note 1 below)
"CUP" indicates use is permitted with approval of a conditional use permit. (See note 1 below)
1 = Minor Conditional Use Permit (Process One), pursuant to Chapter 21.42 of this title.
2 = Conditional Use Permit (Process Two), pursuant to Chapter 21.42 of this title.
3 = Conditional Use Permit (Process Three), pursuant to Chapter 21.42 of this title.
"Acc" indicates use is permitted as an accessory use.
| Use | P | CUP | Acc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessory dwelling unit (subject to Section21.10.030; defned: Section 21.04.121) |
X | ||
| Adult and/or senior day care and/or recreation facility (private or non- private) |
1 | ||
| Alcoholic treatment centers | 2 | ||
| Amusement parks | 3 | ||
| Any use permitted in the C-1 zone | X | ||
| Aquaculture (defned: Section21.04.036) | 1 | ||
| Aquaculture stands (display/sale) (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(10)) | 1 | ||
| Arcades—coin-operated (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(15); defned: Section21.04.091) |
1 | ||
| Use | P | CUP | Acc |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Athletic clubs, gymnasiums, health clubs, and physical conditioning businesses |
X | ||
| Auto repair | X | ||
| Bars, cocktail lounges (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(20); defned: Section21.04.041) (see note 1 below) |
2 | ||
| Biological habitat preserve (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(30); defned: Section21.04.048) |
2 | ||
| Blueprinting, photocopying and duplicating services | X | ||
| Bowling alley (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(35); defned: Section 21.04.057) |
1 | ||
| Breweries with retail accessory use, including tasting rooms | 3 | ||
| Car wash (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(45)) | 1 | ||
| Churches, synagogues, temples, convents, monasteries, and other places of worship |
2 | ||
| Clubs—nonproft, business, civic, professional, etc. (defned: Section 21.04.090) |
1 | ||
| Columbariums and mausoleums (not within a cemetery) | 2 | ||
| Commercial printing and photoengraving | X | ||
| Delicatessen (defned: Section21.04.106) | X | ||
| Drive-thru facilities (excluding restaurants) | 1 | ||
| Educational facilities, other (defned: Section21.04.137) | X | ||
| Educational institutions or schools, public/private (defned: Section 21.04.140) |
2 | ||
| Fairgrounds | 3 | ||
| Farmworker housing complex, small (subject to Section21.10.125) (defned: Section21.04.148.4) |
1 | ||
| Gas stations (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(65)) | 2 | ||
| Greenhouses > 2,000 square feet (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(70)) | 1 | ||
| Group homes (serving seven or more persons and requiring state licensing) (defned: Section21.04.163) |
X | ||
| Hospitals (defned: Section21.04.170) | 2 | ||
| Hospitals (mental) (defned: Section21.04.175) | 2 | ||
| Hotels and motels (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(80)) | 3 | ||
| Liquor store (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(85); defned: Section 21.04.203) |
1 | ||
| Mixed use developments (defned: Section21.28.015) | X | ||
| Mobile buildings (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(90); defned: Section 21.04.265) |
1 | ||
| Mortuaries | 2 | ||
| Nightclubs, dance clubs, and other establishments that play live or recorded music or make regular use of amplifed sound (see note 1 below) |
3 | ||
| Outdoor dining (incidental) (subject to Section21.26.013; defned: Section 21.04.290.1) |
X | ||
| Use | P | CUP | Acc |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Packing/sorting sheds > 600 square feet (subject to Section 21.42.140(B) (70)) |
1 | ||
| Parking facilities (primary use; i.e., day uses, short-term, non-storage) | 1 | ||
| Pawnshops (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(105)) | 3 | ||
| Personal services (defned: Section 21.04.291.1) | X | ||
| Pet shops | X | ||
| Pool halls, billiard parlors (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(110); defned: Section 21.04.292) |
1 | ||
| Public meeting halls, exhibit halls, and museums | 2 | ||
| Public/quasi-public buildings and facilities and accessory utility buildings/facilities (defned: Section 21.04.297) |
2 | ||
| Racetracks | 3 | ||
| Radio/television/microwave/broadcast station/tower | 2 | ||
| Recreation facilities | 1 | ||
| Recycling collection facilities, large (subject to Chapter21.105of this title) (defned: Section21.105.015) |
2 | ||
| Recycling collection facilities, small (subject to Chapter21.105of this title) (defned: Section21.105.015) |
1 | ||
| Religious reading room | 1 | ||
| Residential uses (subject to Section21.28.015of this title) | X | ||
| Retail, wholesale or service businesses catering directly to the consumer | X | ||
| Satellite television antennae (subject to Sections21.53.130through 21.53.140) (defned: Section 21.04.302) |
X | ||
| Signs (subject to Chapter21.41) | X | ||
| Stadiums | 3 | ||
| Tattoo parlors (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(140)) | 3 | ||
| Theaters (motion picture or live) — Indoor | 2 | ||
| Theaters, stages, amphitheaters — Outdoor | 3 | ||
| Thrift shops (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(150)) | 1 | ||
| Transit passenger terminals (bus and train) | 2 | ||
| Upholstering shops | X | ||
| Veterinary clinic/animal hospital (small animals) (defned: Section 21.04.378) |
1 | ||
| Welfare and charitable services (private or semi-private) with no permanent residential uses (e.g., Goodwill, Red Cross, Traveler's Aid) |
1 | ||
| Windmills (exceeding height limit of zone) (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(160)) |
2 | ||
| Wireless communication facilities (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(165)) | 1 / 2 | ||
| Youth organizations (e.g., Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, YWCA, except lodgings) |
1 |
Note:
- Any use meeting the definition of an entertainment establishment, as defined in Section 8.09.020 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code (CMC), shall be subject to the requirements of CMC