§ 33-8 unit. — Escondido Zoning Code

"Mobilehome park street" means any roadway used or designed to be used for the general circulation of traffic within the mobilehome park.

"Mobilehome site" means any portion of a mobilehome park designed for the use or occupancy of one mobilehome or manufactured home.

"Modular home" means a dwelling that conforms to all local building codes, built in sections at a factory or other off-site location, and transported to the building site where the dwelling is assembled on-site on a permanent foundation.

Motel. See Hotel.

"Multi-family housing development" means a building designed for multiple dwelling unit occupancy in a multiple-residential zoning district (R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5) or mixed-use zoning district. Units in multifamily housing developments are not classified as single-unit attached structures.

"Nonconforming use" means a building or land occupied by a use that does not conform with the regulations of the use district in which it is situated.

"Off-street parking" means a site, or portion of a site, devoted to the parking of motor vehicles outside of the public right-of-way, including parking spaces, aisles, and access drives.

"Official zoning map" means a map which graphically shows all zoning district boundaries and classifications within the City of Escondido, as contained within the Escondido zoning code, which is signed by the director and on file in the Escondido planning department.

"Parcel of land" means a contiguous quantity of land in the same possession of, or owned by, or recorded as the property of, the same person or persons.

"Parking index" means the number of car parking spaces made available per 1,000 square feet of GLA (gross leasable area).

"Pawn shop" means a pawnbroker or business establishment that loans money, either for himself or herself, or for any other person, upon any personal property or personal security being purchased and resold to the vendor or other assignee at prices previously agreed upon. This use does not include the sale of guns, appliances, mattresses, or vehicles.

"Planning commission" means the planning commission of the City of Escondido.

"Recreational vehicle" means a vehicle on wheels which offers living accommodations in a mobile setting for travel or recreational purposes in compliance with provisions established by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Restaurant. See Restaurant, section 14-1.1 of Chapter 14.

"Rooming house" means a building containing three or more bedrooms or other rooms intended to be used, rented or leased, to be occupied by five or more individuals under five or more separate oral or written leases, subleases or any other contractual agreement designed to effectuate the same result, with or without meals, for compensation, as permanent guests pursuant to definite periods, by the month or greater term. A "rooming housing" does not require a property owner, or a manager, to be in residence. A "rooming house" shall have a central kitchen. A "rooming house" may or may not provide free access to common living areas beyond the bedrooms or guest rooms. A "room" means any rented, leased, let or hired living space or other square footage within the building that is used or designed to provide sleeping

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

City of Escondido, CA

ESCONDIDO CODE

§ 33-8

accommodations for one or more persons. A properly permitted accessory dwelling unit, shall not be considered a rooming house.

"Secondhand store (or second-hand dealer)" means conducting, managing, or carrying on the business of buying and selling used merchandise such as jewelry, watches, diamonds, clothing, musical instruments, luggage, sporting goods, furniture, etc. This use does not include the sale of guns, appliances, mattresses, or vehicles.

"Senior housing" means housing that is suitable for and targeted to the needs of an aging population, as set forth by Article 41.

"Sign" means any mark or painted character on any card, cloth, paper, metal, wood, plastic, or any other material visible from outside a structure, mounted to the ground or any tree, wall, bush, rock, fence or structure, either privately or publicly owned. "Sign" shall also mean any graphic announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration, statuary or insignia used to promote the interest of any person, product, activity or service when the same is placed outdoors in view of the general public.

"Single room occupancy (SRO) unit" means a living or efficiency unit, as defined by California Health and Safety Code section 17958.1, intended or designed to be used as a primary residence for a period of more than 30 consecutive days. Each SRO unit consists of one combined living and sleeping room with a closet, and may contain either a kitchen or separate private bathroom. The kitchen or bathroom, if not contained within the individual unit, shall be provided as a common facility within the same structure and shall be shared with the tenants of other SRO units within the same structure. An SRO may include an office for the purpose of managing the SRO units and common facilities. An SRO may include one self-contained dwelling unit with kitchen and bathroom facilities for a caretaker.

Site area. See Building site and Lot area.

"Staff development committee" means and shall be made up of representatives from the planning, engineering, building, fire and other departments which are associated with a given project or problem. Its purpose is to provide coordinated technical information and advice to the planning commission or city council.

Story.

(1) "Story" means that portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the floor next above it, or if there is no floor above it, then the space between such floor and the ceiling next above it.
(2) "Half story" means a story under a gable, hip or gambrel roof, the wall plates of which on at least two opposite exterior walls are not more than two feet above the floor of such story.

"Street" means a public or private thoroughfare which affords principal means of access to abutting property.

"Structural alterations" means any change in the supporting members of a building such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders, and floor joists or roof joists.

"Structure" means anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on the ground or attached to something having a location on the ground.

"Supportive housing" means housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied by the target population, and that is linked to an onsite or offsite service that assists the supportive housing resident in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status, and maximizing

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

City of Escondido, CA § 33-8

ZONING

§ 33-8

his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community. Supportive housing that is provided in single-, two- or multifamily dwelling units, group residential, residential care facilities, or boarding house uses shall be permitted, conditionally permitted or prohibited in the same manner as the other single-, two-, or multifamily dwelling units, group residential, residential care facilities, or boarding house uses under this code.

"Target population" means persons with low incomes who have one or more disabilities, including mental illness, HIV or AIDS, substance abuse, or other chronic health condition, or individuals eligible for services provided pursuant to the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Division 4.5, commencing with Section 4500 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) and may include, among other populations, adults, emancipated minors, families with children, elderly persons, young adults aging out of the foster care system, individuals exiting from institutional settings, veterans, and homeless people.

"Tattoo parlor" means any permanent premises where a tattoo artist does tattooing for a fee or for other consideration. Tattoo parlor establishments also include body piercing and other body art services, but do not include beauty salons including cosmetology involving ear piercing, permanent eye and lip lining.

"Thrift shop" is a retail establishment or non-profit organization primarily engaged in selling used merchandise which has been obtained through bulk-purchases, or through donations or gifts and where the donor receives no value upon the sale of such merchandise, and where the use is designed to sell donated merchandise at a price below reasonable market value. The second-hand sale of guns, appliances, mattresses, or vehicles is prohibited under this classification. This use does not include establishments which sell used merchandise on consignment

"Title 25" means Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations.

"Tow yard storage" means a business or offering the services of a vehicle towing service, whereby disabled motor vehicles are towed or otherwise removed from the place where they are disabled by a truck; automobile; or other vehicle so adapted to that purpose, such as tow truck dispatch centers; or in the business of storing disabled motor vehicles. Excluded are sales/rentals of vehicles (i.e. car dealerships) and junkyard or dismantling services.

"Transitional housing" means buildings configured as rental housing developments, but operated under program requirements that require the termination of assistance and recirculating of the assisted unit to another eligible program recipient at a predetermined future point in time that shall be no less than six months from the beginning of the assistance. Transitional housing that is provided in single-, two-, or multifamily dwelling units, group residential, residential care facilities, or boarding house uses shall be permitted, conditionally permitted or prohibited in the same manner as the other single-, two-, or multifamily dwelling units, group residential, residential care facilities, or boarding house uses under this code.

Travel trailer. See Recreational vehicle.

"Urban lot split" means the subdivision of any lot in a single-family residential zone or parcels designated for primarily single-family development in a specific plan into two lots and shall have he same meaning as stated in California Government Code Section 66411.7.

Use.

(1) "Use" means the purpose of which premises or a building thereon is designed, arranged or intended, or for which it is or may be occupied or maintained.
(2) "Accessory use" means a use or activity incidental and accessory to the principal use of a

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

City of Escondido, CA

ESCONDIDO CODE

§ 33-8

lot or of a building located upon the same lot as the accessory use or activity.

Vehicle repair services.

(1) "Commercial vehicle repair" includes uses that repair and maintain the mechanical components of the bodies of large trucks, mass transit vehicles, large construction or agricultural equipment, aircraft or boats. Commercial vehicle repair may also include general auto repair-type functions.
(2) "General vehicle repair" includes major repair of automobiles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, or light trucks. Examples of use include body and fender shops; brake shops; fullservice motor vehicle repair garages; machine shops; painting shops; towing services; and transmission shops. Does not include vehicle dismantling or salvage and tire retreading or recapping. General vehicle repair may also include limited vehicle repair-type functions.
(3) "Limited vehicle repair" includes minor repair of automobiles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, or light trucks, vans, or similar size vehicles. Examples of use include brake adjustments and repairs; installation of electronic equipment (e.g., alarms, stereos, etc.); servicing of cooling, electrical, fuel, and exhaust systems; oil and lube shops; tire sales and installation shops; wheel alignment and balancing; auto glass installation and services.

Vehicle sales.

(1) "Boutique car sales" means a business associated with sales of automobiles, light trucks, vans, small trailers, and small recreational vehicles subject to registration, licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with or without on-site vehicle inventory. Boutique car sales would allow a licensed dealer, that functions primarily as an office or broker, to store no more than two vehicles on site at any given time.
(2) "Car dealership" means a well-defined sales and service area or car lot primarily engaged in the sale, long term storage, or rental or leasing of automobiles, light trucks, vans, small trailers, and small recreational vehicles to the public with a vehicle dealers permit or rental company permit licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A car dealership may engage in auto retail sales, auto wholesales, auto broker sales, rental leasing, or any other DMV business partnership. Sales and leasing of heavy trucks and tractors are included within the category of "tractor or heavy truck sales, storage, rental."
(3) "Parts and accessories sale and supply" means an auto supply store or retailer specializing in new and rebuilt, package vehicle supplies, parts, and accessories, including the incidental assembling of customized items or parts onto vehicles.
(4) "Tractor or heavy truck sales" means an establishment primarily engaged in the sale, long term storage, or rental or leasing of tractor or heavy trucks, aircraft, marine crafts, large recreational vehicles and campers, equipment rental and leasing dealerships.

Vending machine.

(1) "Retail vending machine" means any self-service device offered to the public for commercial use used for displaying or storing articles for sale, rent, or lease, or delivery, which, upon insertion of payment, or by other means, dispenses commercial products, merchandise, food or beverage either in bulk or in package, without the necessity of replenishing the device between each vending operation.
(2) "Reverse vending machine" means an automated machine that utilizes advanced

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

City of Escondido, CA § 33-8

ZONING