Skip to content

Earlier editions: 2026-09

Title 20 — ZONING ORDINANCE›Division II — MENDOCINO COUNTY COASTAL ZONING CODE

Mendocino County Municipal Code Ch. 20.406 Ghmu—gualala Highway Mixed Use District

Mendocino County Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Mendocino County

Cite as: Mendocino County Municipal Code Chapter 20.406 · Text as of 2026-10-04

Sec. 20.406.005 - Intent of the GHMU District.

The intent of this district is to provide for commercial and residential development on parcels adjacent to Highway 1 that is attractively sited, designed and landscaped. Restrictions on development in the district are intended to limit traffic generation and to lessen the potential for vehicular congestion on Highway 1.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.010 - Principal Uses for GHMU District.

The following use types are permitted in a GHMU District, subject to obtaining a Coastal Development Permit and all necessary building permits and approvals.

(A) Coastal Residential Use Types.

Family Residential: Single Family;

Family Residential: Two-Family;

Family Residential: Multi-Family;

Family Residential: Boarding House.

(B) Coastal Civic Use Types.

Ambulance Services;

Clinic Services;

Cultural Exhibits and Library Services;

Day Care Facilities/Small Schools;

Fire and Police Protection Services;

Group Care.

(C) Coastal Commercial Use Types.

Administrative and Business Offices;

Animal Sales and Services: Household Pets;

Animal Sales and Services: Veterinary (Small animals);

Automotive and Equipment: Parking;

Building Maintenance Services;

Business Equipment Sales and Services;

Communications Services;

Eating and Drinking Establishments;

Food and Beverage Preparation: Without Consumption;

Food and Beverage Retail Sales;

Funeral and Interment Services;

Laundry Services;

Medical Services;

Neighborhood Commercial Services;

Personal Services;

Repair Services: Consumer;

Retail Sales: General;

Wholesaling, Storage and Distribution: Mini-warehouses;

Wholesaling, Storage and Distribution: Light.

(D) Coastal Visitor Accommodations and Services Use Types.

Bed and Breakfast Accommodation;

Visitor-Oriented Eating and Drinking Establishments;

Visitor-Oriented Retail Sales.

(E) Coastal Open Space Use Types

Passive Recreation.

For purposes of appeals to the California Coastal Commission, pursuant to Section 20.544.020(B)(4) of the Coastal Zoning Code and Section 30603(a)(4) of the Coastal Act, the Principal Permitted Use (PPU) is commercial use.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.015 - Conditional Uses for GHMU District.

The following use types are permitted in the GHMU District, subject to obtaining a Coastal Development Use Permit and necessary building permits and approvals:

(A) Coastal Residential Use Types.

Mobile Home Park.

(B) Coastal Civic Use Types.

Administrative Services: Government;

Alternative Energy Facilities: On-site;

Community Recreation;

Educational Facilities;

Major Impact Services and Utilities;

Minor Impact Utilities.

(C) Coastal Commercial Use Types.

Automotive and Equipment: Cleaning;

Automotive and Equipment: Fleet Storage;

Automotive and Equipment: Gasoline Sales;

Automotive and Equipment: Repairs, Light;

Automotive and Equipment: Repairs, Heavy;

Automotive and Equipment: Sales/Rentals;

Automotive and Equipment: Storage, Recreational Vehicles and Boats;

Commercial Recreation: Indoor Sports and Recreation;

Commercial Recreation: Indoor Entertainment;

Commercial Recreation: Outdoor Sports and Recreation;

Commercial Recreation: Water-Dependent—Recreation;

Construction Sales and Services;

Recycling Centers;

Research Services.

(D) Coastal Visitor Accommodations and Services Use Types.

Hostel;

Hotel;

Inn;

Motel. (E)

Coastal Open Space Use Type.

Active Recreation.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.020 - Minimum Lot Area in GHMU District.

Six thousand (6,000) square feet.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.025 - Maximum Density for Residential Uses in GHMU District.

(A) Single family dwelling units per parcel, or portion thereof, shall be limited to a density of ten (10) units per acre.

(B) Multiple and two-family dwelling units per parcel, or portion thereof, shall be limited to a density of twenty-five (25) units per acre.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.030 - Maximum Visitor Accommodations and Services Density in GHMU District.

Density of visitor accommodation units shall not exceed fifteen (15) units per acre, not to exceed twenty (20) units.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.035 - Site Development Standards: East and West of Highway 1 in GHMU District.

(A) Maximum Building Height. Structures shall be limited to twenty-eight (28) feet in height. Lesser heights may be required where it is found that building heights would have adverse impacts to community character, open space or public views.

Exceptions to the strict application of maximum building heights on the east side of Highway 1 may be allowed for church steeples, flag poles, water towers, utility poles and other towers and architectural features not for human habitation, where such exceptions are consistent with the intent of the zoning district and a variance is obtained.

(B) Maximum Lot Coverage. The maximum lot coverage for all uses shall be twenty percent (20%).

(C) Maximum Floor-Area Ratio. A maximum floor-area ratio of thirty percent (30%) shall be permitted for commercial uses. For mixed uses where more than half of the total floor area is dedicated to residential uses, no floor-area ratio shall apply. No floor-area ratio shall apply to residential uses.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.040 - Minimum Building Setbacks in GHMU District.

Minimum building setbacks along Highway 1 of fifty (50) feet from the centerline are required. Rear setbacks of ten (10) feet are required. At a minimum, a twenty (20) foot-wide landscape buffer shall be provided within the front setback.

Where a parcel in the GHMU District is adjacent to a property which is not in either the GVMU, GHMU, GPD or GI districts, a setback of ten (10) feet shall be required between the subject parcel and the adjoining property. All commercial development shall be buffered from adjoining properties with RR, SR or RMR designations by fencing or plant screening or other approved mitigating devices.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.045 - Minimum Usable Activity Space Requirements for Residential Uses in…

At a minimum, ten percent (10%) of the total lot area shall consist of usable activity space in each residential development. Areas within the required building setbacks may contribute to this requirement.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.050 - Off-Street Parking Requirements for Residential Uses in GHMU District.

For studio and one-bedroom dwelling units: minimum of one and a half (1.5) on-site parking spaces per unit.

For two- or more bedroom dwelling units: minimum of two (2) on-site parking spaces per unit.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.055 - Off-Street Parking Requirements for Non-Residential Uses in GHMU…

Off-street parking for non-residential uses shall be provided in accordance with the standards established in the "Off-street Parking" chapter of the Coastal Zoning Code. Shared parking arrangements shall be permitted in accordance with the standards established in the Coastal Zoning Code and subject to obtaining a variance.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.060 - Prohibition of "Drive Through" Facilities in GHMU District.

To discourage development of commercial uses which generate high traffic volumes and would result in high peak hour turning movements, no "drive through" commercial facilities, except car washes, shall be permitted in the GHMU districts.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.065 - Vehicle Access Requirements in GHMU District.

Shared driveway access between neighboring uses and parcels shall be encouraged. Wherever possible, driveway access shall be provided at the property boundary to permit future negotiations of shared access agreements when adjoining parcels are developed. Where shared access is provided, a ten percent (10%) reduction in the required parking spaces for all commercial uses shall be permitted for each participating parcel.

Driveway access to Highway 1 shall be limited to one driveway per parcel except in instances where more than one access/egress point can be clearly justified.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.070 - Pedestrian Access Requirements in GHMU District.

All new development shall be required, where feasible, to provide an on-site pedestrian walkway along the Highway 1 frontage and local street frontages. The walkway shall be a minimum of five (5) feet in width and shall be constructed of concrete. Walkways may be located within the landscaping/walkway corridors of the public rights-of-way, as indicated on the Highway 1 Streetscape Map of the Gualala Town Plan. The specific location of pedestrian walkways shall be determined by each property owner. However, narrow linear strips of landscaping between walkways and streets shall be discouraged. Required walkways shall connect to existing walkways on adjacent properties, and where such adjacent walkways have not been developed, the required walkways shall be located in areas where the future continuation of the walkway across adjoining properties is feasible.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.075 - Landscaping Requirements in GHMU District.

A landscaping plan shall be required for development proposals in the GHMU District in accordance with the On-Site Landscaping policies in the "Design Guidelines" chapter of the Gualala Town Plan.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.080 - Exterior Lighting Regulations.

Exterior lighting regulations are contained in the "Visual Resource and Special Treatment Areas" chapter of the Coastal Zoning Code and the "Design Guidelines" chapter of the Gualala Town Plan and shall apply to development in the GHMU District.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.085 - Sign Regulations.

Sign regulations are contained in the "Sign Regulations" chapter of the Coastal Zoning Code and the "Design Guidelines" chapter of the Gualala Town Plan and shall apply to development in the GHMU District.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20.406.090 - Development Fee Requirements in GHMU District.

Ordinances requiring dedications or "in lieu" development fees may be adopted by the Board of Supervisors for the acquisition and development of open space, public facilities, pedestrian access facilities and streetscape improvements identified in the Gualala Town Plan. Development in the GHMU District shall be required to participate once a fee schedule is adopted by the Board of Supervisors.

(Ord. No. 4083 (part), adopted 2002)

Exceptions & meaning →

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

Ask AI about this code
▸Contents — Mendocino County Municipal Code

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.