Chapter 19.23 — COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE USE REGULATIONS
Imperial Beach Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Imperial Beach
§ 19.23.010. Land use table. ¶
The following land uses are allowed in the C/MU-1, C/MU-2, and C/MU-3 zones as uses that are expressly permitted, uses that require a conditional use permit, or uses that are permitted only if in compliance with specific location requirements. Any use not listed is prohibited unless the City Council determines it to be compatible with the zone.
| Key to Land Use Tables | Key to Land Use Tables |
|---|---|
| P | Expressly permitted |
| C | Permitted with conditional use permit |
| N | Not permitted |
Notes: Per the City's zoning code, hotels consist of various types and are defined as follows:
| H-1 | A site area of a minimum of thirty-fve thousand square feet; at least thirty guest rooms; facilities for conference, meeting, or public use; and a full-service restaurant on-site. |
|---|---|
| H-2 | A "motel," which is an establishment providing guest rooms, for periods less than thirty days, with most rooms gaining access from an exterior walkway. |
| H-3 | A lot, parcel, or segment of real property dedicated to "timeshare units," as defned in Section19.04.756of the Imperial Beach Municipal Code. |
H-4 A "bed and breakfast" lodging place containing no more than six guest rooms and one kitchen. H-5 An "inn" means a commercial establishment that affords public lodging to travelers, for periods less than thirty days. A kitchen and dining area may also be included to provide meal and beverage service to guests and to the general public.
| C/MU-1 | C/MU-2 | C/MU-3 | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Uses | ||||
| Adult bookstore, adult hotel/motel, adult mini-motion picture theater, adult motion picture arcade, adult motion picture theater, sexual encounter studio, rap parlor, model studio |
P | N | N | See defnitions. Subject to requirements for adult- oriented businesses in Chapter19.60. |
| Antique store | P | P | P | See defnition. |
| Arcades and game centers | C | C | C | See defnition. |
| Art studio, gallery, museum | P | P | P | See defnition. |
| Athletic and health clubs | P | P | P | See defnition. |
| Bars or cocktail lounges | C | C | N | See defnition. |
| with live entertainment | C | C | N | See defnition. |
| Beach equipment rental, bike rental, surf shop, fshing supply |
P | P | N | |
| Body piercing establishment | C | N | N | See defnition. Subject to Section 19.26.020(B)(1). |
| Bookstore | P | P | P | |
| Boutique | P | P | P | |
| Cabaret | C | N | N | See defnition. Subject to Chapter19.60. |
| Campsites | C | N | N | See defnition. |
| Cannabis permitted use | P | N | N | See defnition and number allowed in Chapter4.60. Subject to the requirements of Chapters 19.61and4.60. |
| Child day care center | P | P | P | See defnition. |
| Clinic | P | P | P | See defnition. |
| Dancehall | C | N | N | See defnition. Subject to Chapter19.60. |
| Department store | P | N | N | |
| Drive-in restaurant | P | P | N | See defnition. |
| Drive-through establishment | C | N | C | See defnition. |
| Fortune telling establishment | C | N | N | See defnition. Subject to Section 19.26.020(B)(3). |
| Hostel | C | C | N | See defnition. |
| C/MU-1 | C/MU-2 | C/MU-3 | Notes | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Kennel | C | N | N | See defnition. Subject to Section19.74.050. |
| Kiosk | P | P | P | See defnition. In C/MU-2: Subject to Section 19.27.020(A)(2). |
| Liquor store | C | C | N | See defnition. |
| Massage therapy establishment |
P | P | P | See defnition. Per Senate Bill 731. |
| Mortuary | C | N | N | |
| Motor vehicle sales | C | N | N | Subject to Section 19.74.070. |
| Palm reading establishment | C | N | N | See defnition. Subject to Section 19.26.020(B)(3). |
| Pawnshop | C | N | C | See defnition. |
| Personal convenience services |
P | P | P | See defnition. |
| Pool or billiard hall | C | C | N | See defnition. |
| with live entertainment | C | C | N | See defnition. |
| Postal services, private | P | P | P | |
| Professional offces, fnancial institutions, and real estate |
P | P | P | |
| Restaurant | P | P | P | See defnition. |
| with live entertainment | C | C | C | See defnition. |
| Retail food store | P | P | P | |
| Retail sales | P | P | P | See defnition. |
| Sales of secondhand or used merchandise |
N | N | N | See defnition. |
| Single-family detached | N | N* | N | *Only permitted in Seacoast Mixed- Use/Residential Overlay Zone. |
| Tattoo establishment | C | N | N | See defnition. Subject to Section 19.26.020(B)(4). |
| Residential and Similar Uses | ||||
| Accessory building, structures, private garages |
C | C | C | See defnition of accessory building. |
| Boarding house | C | N | N | See defnition. |
| Emergency shelter | P | N | N | See defnition. |
| Hostel | N | C | N | See defnition. |
| Hotel, motel, bed and breakfast lodging, inn (H-1, H-2, H-3, H4, H-5) |
P | P | P | See defnitions above. |
| Live/work unit | P | P | P | See defnition. |
| Mixed-use development | P | P | P | See defnition. |
| C/MU-1 | C/MU-2 | C/MU-3 | Notes | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Motor home/manufactured housing community |
N | N | N | See defnitions. |
| Multiple-family dwellings | P | P | P | See defnition. See requirement for active commercial uses on ground foor per Sections 19.26.020(A)(1), 19.27.020(A)(1), 19.28.020(A)(1). |
| Second-family units | N | N | N | |
| Senior housing, nursing home, retirement home |
C | C | C | See defnitions. |
| Short-term rental | P | P | P | See defnition. |
| Single-family detached | N | N* | N | *Only permitted in Seacoast Residential Overlay Zone. |
| Single-room occupancy units | C | N | N | |
| Timeshare | C | C | N | See defnition. |
| Light Industrial Uses | ||||
| Automobile dismantling or wrecking yard |
N | N | N | See defnition. |
| Automobile repair or automobile body shop |
C | N | N | See defnitions. |
| Automobile sales lot | C | N | N | See defnition. |
| Automobile service station/gas station |
C | N | C | See defnition. |
| Energy facility | C | N | N | See defnition. |
| Equipment rental yard | C | N | N | |
| Incidental manufacturing | C | C | C | See defnition. |
| Light manufacturing, manufacturing, industrial |
N | N | N | |
| Public and Semi-Public Uses | ||||
| Campsites | N | N | N | See defnition. |
| Clubs, fraternal/veteran/service organizations |
C | C | C | Subject to Sections 19.26.020(B)(2), 19.27.020(A)(3), 19.28.020(A)(2). |
| with live entertainment | C | C | C | |
| Educational institutions | C | C | N | |
| Governmental or quasi-public building |
P | P | P | |
| Library | P | P | P | |
| Religious assembly | C | C | C | See defnition. Subject to Sections 19.26.020(B)(2), 19.27.020(A)(3), 19.28.020(A)(2). |
| C/MU-1 | C/MU-2 | C/MU-3 | Notes | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Public parking lot | P | P | P | |
| Theatre/assembly | C | C | C | |
| Wireless communication facility |
C | C | C | See defnition. Subject to Chapter19.90. |
| Green Building Utilities | ||||
| Green building utilities | P | P | P | See defnition. Subject to Chapter19.92. |
| Open Space and Recreation | ||||
| Passive public parks | P | P | P | |
| Playground and recreation areas |
C | C | C | Permitted if incidental and accessory to a permitted use. |
| Public riding and hiking trails | P | P | P |
(Ord. 2012-1130 § 1; Ord. 2013-1140 § 1; Ord. 2016-1155 § 5; Ord. 2018-1174 § 4)