Chapter 38 — ZONING ORDINANCE›Part I — General Provisions›Article 2
Sec. 38-6. Applicability of Land Use and Development Regulations.
Monterey Zoning Code · 2026-07 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · Monterey
A. Zoning Designation System. Land use and development regulations applicable to specific sites shall be shown on the zoning map by zoning designations consisting of classes of letter and number designators:
A land use regulations designator, indicating the principal land uses permitted or conditionally permitted in each district, shall be a component of all zoning designations. For example, the letter “R” indicates a residential district.
A residential density or dwelling type designator, indicating a subdistrict with a specific range of dwelling unit densities or a type of dwelling consistent with the General Plan is a component of certain residential zoning designations. For example, in the R-1 District, the “-1" signifies a single-family district.
Overlay district designators shall be included in a zoning designation if the provisions of one or more overlay districts are applicable to a site. An example is the “-H,” indicating that the Historic Overlay District regulations apply.
References to Classes of Districts. References to R districts refer to all residential districts; references to C districts refer to all commercial districts; and references to I districts refer to all industrial districts.
B. Establishment of Base Zoning Districts. Base zoning districts into which the city is divided are established as follows:
| Base | ||
|---|---|---|
| District | Base District Name | Article |
| Designator | ||
| R-E | Residential Estate District | 5 |
| R-1 | Residential Single-Family District | 5 |
The Monterey City Code is current through Ordinance 3716, passed February 3, 2026.
Page 13 of 310
Ch. 38 Zoning Ordinance | Monterey City Code
| Base | ||
|---|---|---|
| District | Base District Name | Article |
| Designator | ||
| R-2 | Residential Low-Density Multifamily District | 5 |
| R-3 | Residential Medium-Density Multifamily District | 5 |
| C-1 | Neighborhood Commercial District | 6 |
| C-2 | Community Commercial District | 6 |
| C-3 | General Commercial District | 6 |
| CO | Ofce and Professional District | 6 |
| CR | Cannery Row Commercial District | 6 |
| VAF | Visitor Accommodation Facility District | 7 |
| IR | Industrial Administration and Research District | 8 |
| O | Open Space District | 9 |
| P | Parking District | 10 |
| PC | Planned Community District | 11 |
C. Establishment of Overlay Zoning Districts. Overlay zoning districts, one or more of which may be combined with a base district, are established as follows:
| Overlay | ||
|---|---|---|
| District | Overlay District Name | Article |
| Designator | ||
| PC-D | Planned Community Downtown | 11 |
| PC-LH | Planned Community Lighthouse | 11 |
| PC-NF | Planned Community North Fremont | 11 |
| AP | Administrative-Professional Overlay District | 12 |
| D | Design and Development Control Overlay District | 13 |
| S | Special Setback Overlay District | 14 |
The Monterey City Code is current through Ordinance 3716, passed February 3, 2026.
Page 14 of 310
Ch. 38 Zoning Ordinance | Monterey City Code
| Overlay | ||
|---|---|---|
| District | Overlay District Name | Article |
| Designator | ||
| H | Historic Overlay District | 15 |
| SC | Planned Commercial Overlay District | 16 |
| RA | Religious Assembly in the Garden Rd. I-R-130 Zoning District Overlay | 16A |
| District | ||
| ES | Emergency Shelter Overlay District | 16B |
| MF | Multifamily Residential Overlay District | 16C |
| CB | Cannabis Business Overlay District | 16D |
| RHNA | Regional Housing Needs Assessment Overlay District | 16E |
(Ord. 3688 § 3, 2024; Ord. 3674 §§ 12, 13, 2023)
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