Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 17 — ZONING›Division II — DISTRICT REGULATIONS
Morro Bay Municipal Code Ch. 17.09 Industrial Districts (ip)
Morro Bay Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Morro Bay
Cite as: Morro Bay Municipal Code Chapter 17.09 · Text as of 2026-10-04
17.09.010 - Purpose and applicability.¶
The purposes of the industrial districts are to:
A. Designate adequate land for businesses, professional offices, and industrial growth consistent with the general plan/LCP land use plan to maintain and strengthen the city's economic resources;
B. Provide a range of employment opportunities to meet the needs of current and future residents;
C. Provide areas for a wide range of manufacturing, industrial processing, and service commercial uses and protect areas where such uses now exist; and
D. Preserve appropriately sited land for uses which must be located near the coast to function.
Industrial-General (IG). The IG district is intended to provide areas for a variety of industrial and service uses. Retail, service, and other supporting uses serving employees and businesses are also allowed. This district implements the general (light) industrial general plan/LCP land use plan land use designation.
Industrial-Coastal-Dependent (ICD). The ICD district is intended to provide areas for coastal dependent industrial land uses that are given priority by the California Coastal Act for location adjacent to the coastline. This district implements the coastal-dependent industrial general plan/LCP land use plan land use designation.
(Ord. No. 662, § 2, 12-13-23)
17.09.020 - Land use regulations.¶
Table 17.09.020, Land Use Regulations—Industrial Districts, sets the land use regulations for industrial districts. The regulations for each district are established by letter designation as follows:
"P" designates permitted uses.
"M" designates use classifications that are permitted after review and approval of a minor use permit pursuant to Chapter 17.40, Use Permits.
"C" designates use classifications that are permitted after review and approval of a conditional use permit pursuant to Chapter 17.40, Use Permits.
"(#)" numbers in parentheses refer to specific limitations listed at the end of the table.
"-" designates uses that are not permitted.
For all uses, approval of a coastal development permit pursuant to Chapter 17.39, Coastal Development Permits (IP), may be required.
Land uses are defined in Chapter 17.53, Land Use Classifications. In cases where a specific land use or activity is not defined, the director shall assign the land use or activity to a classification that is substantially similar in character. Land uses not listed in the table or not found to be substantially similar to the uses below are prohibited. Section numbers in the right hand column refer to specific regulations applicable to the particular use classification located in other sections of this code.
TABLE 17.09.020: LAND USE REGULATIONS—INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS P: Permitted Use; M: Minor Use Permit Required; C: Conditional Use Permit Required; -: Use Not Allowed Note: A Coastal Development Permit may be required, See Chapter 17.39 , Coastal Development Permits
| Land Use Classification | IG | ICD | Additional Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Uses | Residential Uses | Residential Uses | Residential Uses |
| Residential Housing Types | Permitted if existing. New units not allowed. | Permitted if existing. New units not allowed. | |
| Caretaker Unit | P | - | |
| Public/ |
Public/ |
Public/ |
Public/ |
| Colleges and Trade Schools | P | - | |
| Government Offices | P | P(1) | |
| Harbor, Port, and Marina Facilities | - | P | |
| Instructional Services | P | - | |
| Park and Recreation Facilities | M | - | |
| Commercial Uses | Commercial Uses | Commercial Uses | Commercial Uses |
| Animal Care, Sales, and Services | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below |
| Animal Daycare | P | - | |
| Animal Shelter and Boarding | P | - | |
| Veterinary Services | P | - | |
| Agriculture | - | P(1) | |
| Automobile/ |
See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below |
| Automobile/ |
P | - | See Section 17.30.070 , Automobile/ |
| Automobile/ |
P | - | See Section 17.30.070 , Automobile/ |
| Automobile/ |
P | - | See Section 17.30.070 , Automobile/ |
| Automobile/ |
P | - | See Section 17.30.070 , Automobile/ |
| Large Vehicle and Equipment Sales, Service, and Rental | P | P(1) | See Section 17.30.070 , Automobile/ |
| Service Stations | P | - | See Section 17.30.070 , Automobile/ |
| Towing and Impound | P | - | See Section 17.30.070 , Automobile/ |
| Washing | P | C(1) | See Section 17.30.070 , Automobile/ |
| Business Services | P | - | |
| Food Preparation | P | - | |
| Maintenance and Repair Services | P | C(1) | |
| Nonpermanent Vending | See Section 17.30.140 , Nonpermanent Vending | See Section 17.30.140 , Nonpermanent Vending | See Section 17.30.140 , Nonpermanent Vending |
| Offices | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below |
| Business and Professional | P | P(1) | |
| Retail Sales | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below |
| Food and Beverage Sales | P | - | |
| General Retail | P | P(1) | |
| Industrial Uses | Industrial Uses | Industrial Uses | Industrial Uses |
| Construction and Material Yards | P | - | |
| Custom Manufacturing | P | - | |
| Food and Beverage Manufacturing | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below |
| Limited/ |
P | - | |
| General/ |
M | - | |
| General Industrial | M | M(1) | |
| Light Industrial | P | P(1) | |
| Oil and Gas Explorations and Development Offshore | - | C | See Section 17.30.150 , Off-Shore Oil Development |
| Recycling Facilities | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below |
| Recycling Collection Facilities | P | - | See Section 17.30.210 , Recycling Facilities |
| Recycling Processing Facilities | C | - | See Section 17.30.210 , Recycling Facilities |
| Research and Development | P | C(1) | |
| Salvage and Wrecking | C | C(1) | |
| Warehousing and Storage | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below | See subclassifications below |
| Indoor Warehousing and Storage | P | P(1) | |
| Outdoor Storage | C | C(1) | |
| Self Storage | C | - | See Section 17.30.190 , Self Storage |
| Wholesaling and Distribution | P | P(1) | |
| Transportation, Communication, and Utility Uses | |||
| Docks, Piers, and other Coastal-Related Infrastructure | - | P | |
| Light Fleet-Based Services | P | - | |
| Public Works and Utilities | P | P | |
| Telecommunication Facilities | See Section 17.30.250 , Telecommunication Facilities | See Section 17.30.250 , Telecommunication Facilities | See Section 17.30.250 , Telecommunication Facilities |
| Transportation Passenger Terminals | P | - | |
| Other Uses | Other Uses | Other Uses | Other Uses |
| Accessory Uses and Structures | See Section 17.23.020 , Accessory Structures, and Section 17.30.030 , Accessory Uses | See Section 17.23.020 , Accessory Structures, and Section 17.30.030 , Accessory Uses | See Section 17.23.020 , Accessory Structures, and Section 17.30.030 , Accessory Uses |
| Nonconforming Use | See Chapter 17.26 , Nonconforming Uses, Structures, and Lots | See Chapter 17.26 , Nonconforming Uses, Structures, and Lots | See Chapter 17.26 , Nonconforming Uses, Structures, and Lots |
| Recharging Station | See Section 17.30.200 , Recharging Stations | See Section 17.30.200 , Recharging Stations | See Section 17.30.200 , Recharging Stations |
| Renewable Energy Systems | See Section 17.30.240 , Renewable Energy Systems | See Section 17.30.240 , Renewable Energy Systems | See Section 17.30.240 , Renewable Energy Systems |
| Temporary Use | See Section 17.30.260 , Temporary Uses | See Section 17.30.260 , Temporary Uses | See Section 17.30.260 , Temporary Uses |
| Specific Limitations: 1. Limited to coastal-dependent and coastal-related uses. Development priority shall be given to coastal-dependent uses. |
(Ord. No. 662, § 2, 12-13-23)
17.09.030 - Development standards.¶
Table 17.09.030, Development Standards—Industrial Districts, prescribes the development standards for industrial districts. Additional regulations are denoted in the right hand column. Section numbers in this column refer to other sections of this code.
TABLE 17.09.030: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS—INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS
| Standard | IG | ICD | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Height (ft) | 30 | 30 | See Section 17.02.030 C, Measuring Height and Section 17.23.070 , Heights and Height Exceptions |
| Minimum Setbacks (ft) | |||
| Front | 25 | 25 | See Section 17.02.030 J, Determining Setbacks (Yards), and Section 17.23.050 , Encroachments into Required Setbacks |
| Interior Side | 0, 10 adjacent to a Residential District | 0, 10 adjacent to a Residential District | See Section 17.02.030 J, Determining Setbacks (Yards), and Section 17.23.050 , Encroachments into Required Setbacks |
| Corner Side | 10 | 10 | See Section 17.02.030 J, Determining Setbacks (Yards), Section 17.23.050 , Encroachments into Required Setbacks, and Section 17.27.100 F, Driveway Length and Accessibility |
| Rear | 0, 10 adjacent to a Residential District | 0, 10 adjacent to a Residential District | See Section 17.02.030 J, Determining Setbacks (Yards), and Section 17.23.050 , Encroachments into Required Setbacks |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) | 0.5 | 0.65 | See Section 17.02.030 G, Determining Floor Area Ratio |
(Ord. No. 662, § 2, 12-13-23)
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