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Chapter 14.04 — GENERAL PROVISIONS

Carpinteria Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-06 · Carpinteria

14.04.010 - Adoption.

The city's official zoning maps, hereby incorporated by reference, and the regulations as set forth in this title are adopted.

(Ord. 315 § 1 (part), 1981)

14.04.020 - Purpose and necessity.

1.

This title classifies and regulates the uses of land, buildings, and structures in the city and thus implements the coastal land use plan and the general plan of the city in accordance with the requirements of the applicable provisions of the Government Code and the Public Resources Code of the state.

The regulations contained in this title are necessary, pursuant to the coastal land use plan, to assure orderly, balanced utilization and conservation of coastal resources; to protect, maintain, and where feasible, enhance and restore the overall quality of the coastal zone environment and its natural and manmade resources; to provide for public access to the coast and public recreational opportunities in the coastal zone consistent with sound resources conservation principles and constitutionally protected rights of private property owners; and to assure priority for coastal-dependent and coastal-related development over other development on the coast.

3.

These regulations are also necessary to assure orderly, balanced, and beneficial development for the city's citizens and landowners; to encourage the most appropriate uses of land; to maintain and stabilize the value of property; to reduce fire hazards and improve public safety; to safeguard the public health; to prevent undue concentration of population; to decrease traffic congestion and its accompanying hazards, and to create a comprehensive and stable pattern of land uses upon which to plan transportation, water supply, sewerage, school, park, and other facilities and public utilities.

(Ord. 315 § 1 (part), 1981)

14.04.030 - Applicability.

a.

Any development for which the city's regulation of the same is preempted or precluded by any valid state or federal law, rule or regulation and then only to the extent of such preemption or preclusion;

b.

Any regulation or provision contained in this title preempted or precluded by any valid state or federal law, rules or regulation and then only to the extent of such preemption or preclusion.

Where compliance with only the objective standards of this local coastal program is required under state housing law for a proposed residential or mixed-use development and where an applicable coastal resource protection policy or provision of this local coastal program contains objective and subjective components, the objective portion(s) shall apply such that adverse impacts to coastal resources shall be avoided. Within five years of May 14, 2025, the city will apply for a local coastal program amendment to incorporate coastal resource protection and hazard minimization development standards that are objective standards to ensure that qualifying projects subject to only the objective standards of this local coastal program under state housing laws are consistent with the Coastal Act. The local coastal program amendment to incorporate such standards shall be developed in coordination with coastal commission staff. Nothing in this paragraph, including, without limitation, the five-year deadline to apply for a local

coastal program amendment, shall provide rights to third parties or the public to challenge the city's local coastal program.

(Ord. 315 § 1 (part), 1981)

(Ord. No. 793, § 2, 5-27-2025)

14.04.040 - Regulation of use, height, area, yards, and open space.

Except as provided in this title no land shall be used and no building, structure, or improvement shall be used, erected, constructed, moved, altered, enlarged, or rebuilt which is designed, arranged, or intended to be used or maintained for any purpose or in any manner except in accordance with the use, height, area, yard and space regulations established in the district in which such land, building, structure or improvement is located, and in accordance with all other applicable regulations of this title.

(Ord. 315 § 1 (part), 1981)

14.04.050 - Zoning districts.

1.

The zoning districts and symbols used to represent the districts established by this title are as follows:

Districts Symbol
Agricultural Districts
Agriculture A
Residential Districts
Single-family Residential R-1
Planned Multiple Residential PRD
Planned Unit Development PUD
Mobile/ Modular Home
Subdivision /Planned Unit
Development MHS/PUD
Mobile Home Park Planned
Development MHP
Commercial Districts
Commercial Planned Development CPD
Central Business District CB
Resort RES
Industrial Districts
General Industry M
Industrial/Research Park M-RP
Coastal Dependent Industry M-CD
Other Districts
Recreation REC
Public Utility UT
Community Facility CF

2.

The regulations of this title shall be applied to the land within the foregoing districts upon the adoption of this title. The boundaries of districts and the district symbol are delineated on the official zoning maps.

(Ord. 315 § 1 (part), 1981)

14.04.060 - Overlay districts.

1.

In addition to the regulations governing the foregoing districts, the following overlay districts and the symbols used to represent them on the official zoning maps are established as follows:

ADU Beach Neighborhood ADU-
Beach
Coastal Appeals Area CA
Ellinwood Parcel Ellinwood
Environmentally Sensitive Habitat ESH
Flood Hazard Area FH
Residential R
Specifc Plan S
Transportation Corridor Wetland TCW
Vacation Rental VR
Visitor-Serving/Highway Commercial V
Whitney Site Whitney

2.

The regulations of the overlay district shall apply to the land in the same manner as specific district regulations. Overlay regulations shall apply wherever the symbol and the boundaries of the area are shown on the official zoning maps. When a symbol for an overlay district is added to a district symbol, the provisions of the overlay district shall be effective in addition to the applicable district regulations. If any of the provisions of the overlay district conflict with provisions of the specific district regulations, the provisions which are most restrictive shall govern.

(Ord. No. 708, § 3, 4-24-2017; Ord. 556 § 4, 1999; Ord. 315 § 1 (part), 1981)

(Ord. 758, § 4, 1-23-2023)

14.04.070 - Zoning maps.

Zoning maps delineating the boundaries of districts set forth in this title and designating by symbols the zoning district and overlay districts shall become a part of this title and shall have the same form and effect as if the boundaries, location, and lines of the district and territory therein delineated and all notations, references, and other information set forth and shown on said maps were specifically and fully set out and described herein.

(Ord. 315 § 1 (part), 1981)

14.04.080 - Uncertainties in district boundaries.

Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of any districts shown on the official zoning maps, the following rules shall apply:

a.

Where district boundaries approximately follow lot, alley, or street lines, such lot lines and street and alley centerlines shall be construed as the district boundaries.

b.

If a district boundary divides a parcel and the boundary line location is not otherwise designated, the location of the boundary shall be determined by use of the scale appearing on the zoning map.

c.

Where a public street or alley is officially vacated or abandoned, the property formerly in said street or alley shall be included within the district or districts of the adjoining property on either side of said vacated or abandoned street or alley centerline.

(Ord. 315 § 1 (part), 1981)

14.04.090 - Fees.

The city council shall set by resolution a schedule of fees for processing the various applications required by this title. All required fees shall be paid at the time of filing and no processing shall commence until the fee is paid.

(Ord. 315 § 1 (part), 1981)

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Contents — Carpinteria Zoning Code
Carpinteria Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 14.04 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 14.04 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  3. Chapter 14.08 — DEFINITIONS
  4. Chapter 14.12 — R-1 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
  5. Chapter 14.14 — PRD PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
  6. Chapter 14.14 — PRD PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
  7. Chapter 14.16 — PUD PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
  8. Chapter 14.17 — MHS/PUD MOBILE/MODULAR HOME SUBDIVISION/ PLANN…
  9. Chapter 14.17 — MHS/PUD MOBILE/MODULAR HOME SUBDIVISION/ PLANN…
  10. Chapter 14.18 — MHP MOBILE HOME PARK PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTR…
  11. Chapter 14.18 — MHP MOBILE HOME PARK PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTR…
  12. Chapter 14.20 — CPD COMMERCIAL PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
  13. Chapter 14.20 — CPD COMMERCIAL PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
  14. Chapter 14.22 — CB CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
  15. Chapter 14.22 — CB CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
  16. Chapter 14.24 — RES RESORT DISTRICT
  17. Chapter 14.24 — RES RESORT DISTRICT
  18. Chapter 14.26 — M-RP INDUSTRIAL/RESEARCH PARK DISTRICT
  19. Chapter 14.26 — M-RP INDUSTRIAL/RESEARCH PARK DISTRICT
  20. Chapter 14.28 — M GENERAL INDUSTRY DISTRICT
  21. Chapter 14.28 — M GENERAL INDUSTRY DISTRICT
  22. Chapter 14.30 — M-CD COASTAL INDUSTRY DISTRICT
  23. Chapter 14.30 — M-CD COASTAL INDUSTRY DISTRICT
  24. Chapter 14.32 — A AGRICULTURE DISTRICT
  25. Chapter 14.32 — A AGRICULTURE DISTRICT
  26. Chapter 14.34 — CF COMMUNITY FACILITY DISTRICT
  27. Chapter 14.34 — CF COMMUNITY FACILITY DISTRICT
  28. Chapter 14.36 — UT PUBLIC UTILITIES DISTRICT
  29. Chapter 14.36 — UT PUBLIC UTILITIES DISTRICT
  30. Chapter 14.38 — REC RECREATION DISTRICT
  31. Chapter 14.38 — REC RECREATION DISTRICT
  32. Chapter 14.40 — FH FLOOD HAZARD OVERLAY DISTRICT
  33. Chapter 14.40 — FH FLOOD HAZARD OVERLAY DISTRICT[[1]]
  34. Chapter 14.41 — WHITNEY SITE OVERLAY DISTRICT
  35. Chapter 14.41 — WHITNEY SITE OVERLAY DISTRICT
  36. Chapter 14.42 — ESH ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE HABITAT AREA OVE…
  37. Chapter 14.42 — ESH ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE HABITAT AREA OVE…
  38. Chapter 14.43 — ELLINWOOD PARCEL (APN 004-013-026) OVERLAY DIS…
  39. Chapter 14.43 — ELLINWOOD PARCEL (APN 004-013-026) OVERLAY DIS…
  40. Chapter 14.45 — TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR WETLAND OVERLAY DISTRICT
  41. Chapter 14.45 — TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR WETLAND OVERLAY DISTRICT
  42. Chapter 14.46 — S SPECIFIC PLAN OVERLAY DISTRICT
  43. Chapter 14.46 — S SPECIFIC PLAN OVERLAY DISTRICT
  44. Chapter 14.47 — VACATION RENTAL OVERLAY DISTRICT
  45. Chapter 14.47 — VACATION RENTAL OVERLAY DISTRICT
  46. Chapter 14.54 — PARKING REGULATIONS
  47. Chapter 14.54 — PARKING REGULATIONS
  48. Chapter 14.56 — WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
  49. Chapter 14.56 — WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS[[3]]
  50. Chapter 14.58 — SIGN REGULATIONS
  51. Chapter 14.58 — SIGN REGULATIONS
  52. Chapter 14.59 — PERSONAL USE AND COMMERCIAL CANNABIS REGULATIONS
  53. Chapter 14.59 — PERSONAL USE AND COMMERCIAL CANNABIS REGULATIO…
  54. Chapter 14.61 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCEDURES
  55. Chapter 14.61 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCEDURES
  56. Chapter 14.62 — CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
  57. Chapter 14.62 — CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
  58. Chapter 14.64 — TEMPORARY USE PERMIT
  59. Chapter 14.64 — TEMPORARY USE PERMIT
  60. Chapter 14.66 — EMERGENCY PERMITS
  61. Chapter 14.66 — EMERGENCY PERMITS
  62. Chapter 14.68 — DEVELOPMENT PLAN
  63. Chapter 14.68 — DEVELOPMENT PLAN
  64. Chapter 14.70 — VARIANCES
  65. Chapter 14.70 — VARIANCES
  66. Chapter 14.71 — ADULT-ORIENTED BUSINESSES
  67. Chapter 14.71 — ADULT-ORIENTED BUSINESSES
  68. Chapter 14.72 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY …
  69. Chapter 14.73 — RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNIT DEMOLITION
  70. Chapter 14.73 — RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNIT DEMOLITION
  71. Chapter 14.74 — OWNERSHIP CONVERSIONS AFFECTING APARTMENTS; CO…
  72. Chapter 14.75 — INCLUSIONARY HOUSING REQUIREMENT
  73. Chapter 14.75 — INCLUSIONARY HOUSING REQUIREMENT
  74. Chapter 14.76 — NOTICING REQUIREMENTS
  75. Chapter 14.76 — NOTICING REQUIREMENTS
  76. Chapter 14.77 — DENSITY BONUS
  77. Chapter 14.77 — DENSITY BONUS[[8]]
  78. Chapter 14.78 — APPEALS
  79. Chapter 14.78 — APPEALS
  80. Chapter 14.80 — REAPPLICATIONS
  81. Chapter 14.80 — REAPPLICATIONS
  82. Chapter 14.82 — NONCONFORMING USES
  83. Chapter 14.82 — NONCONFORMING USES
  84. Chapter 14.84 — LEGAL ISSUES AND PROCEDURES
  85. Chapter 14.84 — LEGAL ISSUES AND PROCEDURES

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