Skip to content

Division 1 — Generally›Chapter 33›Article 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS

§ 33-8 Building.

Escondido Zoning Code · 2026-05 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Escondido

  • (1) "Building" means any structure for the shelter, housing or enclosure of any person, animal, article or chattel and when any portion thereof is completely separated from every other portion thereof by a division wall or fire wall, without openings, each such portion shall be a separate building.

  • (2) "Building height" (also structure height ) means the vertical distance measured from the average level of the highest and lowest point of that portion of the lot covered by the building or structure to the top of the building or structure. When a basement element or underground structures exist or are proposed, height is measured from the finished grade (exterior grade adjacent to the structure) provided the finished grade is at or below the previous natural grade. All portions of the building/structure shall be located at or below the height limit of the underlying zone. Allowable projections listed in section 33-1075 need not be included in the building/structure height calculation.

  • (3) "Building site" means the ground area of: (A) all or a portion of a lot or parcel of land; or (B) all or a portion of two or more lots or parcels of land, when used in combination for a building or group of buildings, together with all yards and open spaces required by this chapter.

  • (4) "Main building" means one or more buildings on a lot or building site designed or used to accommodate the primary use to which the premises are devoted.

"Business or commerce" means the purchase, sale or other transaction involving the handling or disposition of any article, substance or commodity or service for profit or livelihood.

"Carport" means a permanently covered motor vehicle shelter, consisting of a roof and supporting members such as columns or beams, which are affixed to a permanent foundation per applicable building codes. A carport must be open on two or more sides except for structural supports. Carports as used in this chapter do not include temporary shelters or canopies. Any structure designed or used for the storage of motor vehicles which does not meet this definition must comply with all regulations relating to a garage.

"Commercial dairy" means any land whereupon is kept or maintained for any length of time, more than two milk cows where milk or milk products are produced for, or intended for sale to the public.

"Common area" means the total area within a development that is not designed for the exclusive use of owners or tenants and which is available for common use by all owners, tenants or groups of tenants.

"Consignment shop" is a retail establishment primarily engaged in the retail sale of nondonated, second-hand merchandise, and the merchandise is placed for sale with the establishment by the owner of the merchandise. Upon sale of the merchandise the purchase price is divided between the consignment shop owner and the owner of the merchandise. The establishment shall be limited to one type of merchandise, including, but not limited to, clothing and related accessories, children's apparel and furniture, sporting equipment, or furniture and related home furnishings. This use does not include the sale of guns, appliances, mattresses, or vehicles.

"Court" means an open unoccupied space, other than a yard, on the same lot with a building or buildings and which is bounded on two or more sides by such building or buildings and a lot line, including the open space in a bungalow court or court apartment providing access to the units thereof.

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/ES4926 on 2026-05-23

City of Escondido, CA

ESCONDIDO CODE

§ 33-8

§ 33-8

"Cul-de-sac" means a street or portion of a street that terminates without providing vehicular access to adjacent streets and includes pavement at its terminus to accommodate vehicles exiting in a forward manner by a single turning motion without reversing.

"Density" means the number of residential dwelling units per acre of lot area but shall exclude areas of remainder parcels; areas of nonresidential development; the panhandle portion of a flag lot; and areas of dedication for street rights-of-way, adjustments for floodways as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA — see Flooding Map) or the city, slope categories, and other environmental factors as designated. Minimum and maximum density calculations for an individual site shall utilize the net lot area to determine the applicable number of dwelling units. Any density calculation that results in a fractional unit shall be rounded down to the next whole number.

"Detached dwelling" means a dwelling that is structurally independent and separated from the existing primary dwelling by a minimum of 10 feet.

"Director" means the director of development services.

"Drive-through business" means any building, establishment, or facility that provides a specified "drive-through" lane or driveway where customers receive a service or purchase goods while remaining in a motor vehicle in designated stacking aisles. Products or services are typically provided or dispensed through an attendant at a service window, order kiosk, and/or an automated machine. Drive-through businesses may operate as the primary use, such as in restaurants, eating establishments and coffee shops or accessory use of a business in combination with other uses, such as pharmacies, financial institutions, personal service shops, and other retail or customer-based service uses. A drive-through business does not include an automated car-wash service or gas pump island; however, they may be regulated similarly.

te as the primary use, such as in restaurants, eating establishments and coffee shops or accessory use of a business in combination with other uses, such as pharmacies, financial institutions, personal service shops, and other retail or customer-based service uses. A drive-through business does not include an automated car-wash service or gas pump island; however, they may be regulated similarly.

"Driveway" means a permanently surfaced area providing direct access for vehicles between a street and a permitted off-street parking or loading area and extending to a maximum width equal to the curb cut approved by the city engineer.

Dwelling.

  • (1) "Dwelling" means one or more rooms in a building used for occupancy by one family for living or sleeping purposes and having only one kitchen.

  • (2) "Grouped dwelling" means a group of two or more detached or semi-detached one-family, two-family, three-family or multiple dwellings occupying a parcel of land in one ownership and having any yard or court in common, including bungalow courts and apartment courts, but not including recreational vehicle or campgrounds.

  • (3) "Multiple dwelling" means a building or portion thereof used for occupancy by four or more families living independently of each other, and containing four or more dwellings.

  • (4) "One-family or single-family dwelling" means a detached or semi-detached building designed for or occupied exclusively by one family.

  • (5) "Two-family dwelling and duplex" means a detached or semi-detached building designed for or occupied exclusively by two families.

  • (6) "Three-family dwelling and triplex" means a detached or semi-detached building designed for or occupied by three families.

  • (7) "Primary dwelling" means the principal single-family dwelling located on a lot where an

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/ES4926 on 2026-05-23

City of Escondido, CA § 33-8

ZONING

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
▸ Contents — Escondido Zoning Code
Escondido Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 6
  2. Division 2 — Routing
  3. Division 2 — Weed and Rubbish Abatement Program
  4. ▸ Division 1 — Generally
    Overview
    1. § 11-53. Created and established.
    2. § 11-54. Purpose.
    3. § 11-55. Membership.
    4. § 11-56. Members in classified service and subject to civil se…
    5. § 11-57. Personnel to obey fire chief and rules and regulation…
    6. § 11-63. Appointment; tenure.
    7. § 11-64. Qualifications.
    8. § 11-65. Status of employment.
    9. § 11-66. General authority.
    10. § 11-67. To perform duties prescribed by city manager.
    11. § 11-68. To aid enforcement of ordinances, report violations.
    12. § 11-69. Duty to promulgate and enforce rules, regulations for…
    13. § 11-70. Authority, duty to inspect buildings, premises and or…
    14. § 11-71. Right of entry to make inspections.
    15. § 11-72. Duty to investigate fires, maintain records.
    16. § 11-73. Duty to preserve order at fires.
    17. § 11-74. Provide instruction for department in first aid, etc.
    18. § 11-75. Duty to call fire drills; purpose of drills.
    19. § 11-76. Responsible for conduct of and property of department.
    20. § 11-77. Duty to recommend disciplinary action.
    21. § 11-78. Duty to make reports; contents.
    22. § 11-79. To submit annual budget.
    23. Chapter 20
    24. Chapter 32
    25. ▸ Chapter 33
      Overview
      1. § 33-1313. Penalty provisions.
      2. ▸ Article 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS
        Overview
        1. § 33-1. Short Title.
        2. § 33-2. Authority for the zoning chapter.
        3. § 33-3. Purpose.
        4. § 33-4. Replacement of other ordinances.
        5. § 33-5. Reference to any portion of this chapter.
        6. § 33-6. Interpretation.
        7. § 33-7. Permits and licenses required.
        8. § 33-8. Definitions.
        9. § 33-8 Building.
        10. § 33-8 accessory dwelling unit is existing or proposed.
        11. § 33-8 flowers or other tender plants.
        12. § 33-8 preparation counter, and storage cabinets.
        13. § 33-8 unit.
        14. § 33-13 technology to identify, sort, collect, and process use…
        15. § 33-13. Determination of permitted uses.
        16. § 33-14. Zoning districts.
        17. § 33-15. Zoning district boundary uncertainty.
        18. § 33-16. Processing of concurrent applications for permits, an…
      3. Article 2 — OPEN SPACE AND HAZARDOUS LANDS GENERALLY
      4. Article 3 — OPEN SPACE (OS) ZONE
      5. Article 4 — FLOOD PLAIN (FP) OVERLAY ZONE
      6. Article 5 — OPEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
      7. Article 6 — RESIDENTIAL ZONES
      8. Article 9 — ANIMAL OVERLAY (AO) ZONE
      9. Article 11 — (RESERVED)
      10. Article 13 — (RESERVED)
      11. Article 16 — COMMERCIAL ZONES
      12. Article 18 — SPECIFIC PLAN (S-P) ZONE
      13. Article 19 — PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (P-D) ZONE
      14. Article 24 — (RESERVED)
      15. Article 25 — PARKING OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN RESIDENTIAL Z…
      16. Article 26 — INDUSTRIAL ZONES
      17. Article 27 — EMERGENCY SHELTER OVERLAY
      18. Article 30 — HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL OVERLAY (H-C-O) ZONE
      19. Article 31 — SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT (S-T-P) OVERLAY ZONE
      20. Article 32 — BED AND BREAKFAST FACILITIES
      21. Article 33 — RECYCLING FACILITIES
      22. Article 34 — COMMUNICATION ANTENNAS
      23. Article 35 — OUTDOOR LIGHTING
      24. Article 36 — CARGO CONTAINER RESTRICTIONS
      25. Article 37 — PUBLIC ART
      26. Article 38 — MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
      27. Article 39 — OFF-STREET PARKING
      28. Article 40 — HISTORICAL RESOURCES
      29. Article 41 — SENIOR HOUSING
      30. Article 42 — ADULT BUSINESSES
      31. Article 43 — ABANDONED SERVICE STATIONS
      32. Article 44 — HOME OCCUPATIONS
      33. Article 45 — MOBILEHOME PARKS
      34. Article 46 — TRAVEL TRAILER PARKS
      35. Article 47 — ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
      36. Article 48 — RELOCATION OF BUILDINGS
      37. Article 49 — AIR SPACE CONDOMINIUM AND COMMUNITY APARTMENT PRO…
      38. Article 52 — FREEWAY SIGN CONTROL
      39. Article 55 — GRADING AND EROSION CONTROL
      40. Article 56 — MISCELLANEOUS DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
      41. Article 57 — MISCELLANEOUS USE RESTRICTIONS
      42. Article 58 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
  5. Division 1
  6. Division 2 — Variances and Administrative Adjustments
  7. Division 3 — Nonconforming Uses and Structures
  8. Division 4 — Amendments and Zone Changes
  9. Division 5 — Reasonable Accommodation
  10. Division 6 — Public Hearings, Notices, Fees and Appeals
  11. Division 7 — Enforcement and Penalties
  12. Division 8 — Plot Plans
  13. Division 9 — Zoning Administrator

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.