Division 5 — Commercial Base Zones
§131.0540 Maximum Permitted Residential Density and Other Residential Regulations
San Diego Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · San Diego
The following regulations apply to residential development within commercial zones where indicated in Table 131-05B:
(a) Residential Development as a Permitted Use. Residential development is permitted in commercial zones only where it is identified in Table 131-05B.
(b) Mixed-Use or Multi-Use Requirement. Residential development is permitted only when a commercial structure exists on the premises or is a part of the proposed development .
(c)
Ground Floor Restrictions.
(1) Residential use and residential parking are prohibited on the ground floor in the front half of the lot , except in the CC-3-4, CC-3-5, CC-3-6, CC-3-7, CC-3-8, CC-3-9, CC-3-10, CC-3-11, CC-4-4, CC-4-5, CC-4-6, CC-5-4, CC-5-5, CC-5-6, CN-1-6, CO-3-1, and CV-1-2 zones, where these uses are prohibited on the ground floor in the front 30 feet of the lot as shown in Diagram 131-05A. In the CN-1-6 and CO-3-1 zones, residential use and residential parking are limited to 70 percent of the street frontage along the front property line . Interim ground floor residential uses may be permitted with a Neighborhood Use Permit in accordance with Section 141.0309.
Ch. Art. Div. 13 1 5 39
San Diego Municipal Code
Chapter 13: Zones
(3-2026)
Diagram 131-05A
Ground Floor Restriction
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Optional
Residential
Optional Required
Residential Commercial
Front
PL 50% of lot PL
Optional
Residential
Optional Required
Residential Commercial
Front
PL 30' of lot PL
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(2) Within the Coastal Overlay Zone
(A) Required parking cannot occupy more than 50 percent of the ground floor in the CV-1-1 or CV-1-2 zones.
(B) Residential uses are not permitted on the ground floor.
(d) Residential Development . Where residential development is permitted, the development regulations of the RM-1-1, RM-2-5, RM-3-7, RM-3-8, RM-3-9, RM-4-10, and RM-4-11 zones apply as appropriate according to the maximum permitted residential density , except that the lot area, lot dimensions, setback , floor area ratio , and structure height requirements of the applicable commercial zone apply.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.)
(Amended 10-18-1999 by O-18691 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Amended 11-28-2005 by O-19444 N.S.; effective 2-9-2006.) (Amended 3-1-2006 by O-19467 N.S.; effective 8-10-2006.) (Amended 6-18-2013 by O-20261 N.S.; effective 7-19-2013.) (Amended 5-5-2015 by O-20481 N.S.; effective 6-4-2015.) (Amended 7-10-2015 by O-20512 N.S.; effective 8-9-2015.) (Amended 3-22-2018 by O-20917 N.S.; effective 4-21-2018.) (Amended 10-10-2018 by O-20991 N.S.; effective 11-9-2018.)
Ch. Art. Div. 13 1 5 40
San Diego Municipal Code
Chapter 13: Zones
(3-2026)
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-20991 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies O-20991 N.S. as a Local Coastal Program Amendment.
Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-20991-SO.pdf]
(Amended 8-9-2019 by O-21114 N.S.; effective 9-8-2019.)
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-21114 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment.
Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-21114-SO.pdf ]
(Amended 2-1-2021 by O-21288 N.S.; effective 3-3-2021.) (Amended 4-14-2021 by O-21305 N.S.; effective 5-29-2021.) (Amended 9-17-2024 by O-21866 N.S.; effective 12-1-2024.)
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- Chapter 9
- Division 2 — House Numbers
- Division 3 — Advertising Displays Adjacent to Scenic Freeways,…
- Division 1 — General Provisions and Definitions
- Division 2 — Financing Facilities
- Division 3 — Bonds
- Division 1 — Housing Code
- Division 2 — Mobilehome Parks and Special Occupancy Parks
- Division 3 — San Diego Housing Commission
- Division 4 — Interim School Facilities Financing Ordinance
- Division 6 — Housing Impact Fees On Commercial Development
- Division 7 — Residential Tenant Protections
- Division 8 — Prohibition of Discrimination Based on a Tenant’s…
- Division 9 — Notice of Tenant’s Right to Operate a Daycare Home
- Division 10 — Affordable Housing Preservation
- Division 11 — Prohibition of Anti-Competitive Automated Rent P…
- Division 12 — Residential Tenant Utility Fees
- Division 1 — In General
- Division 2 — Responsibilities of City Council
- Division 3 — Administration of Program
- Division 5 — Designation of Residential Rehabilitation Areas a…
- Division 6 — Limitations on Amount of Loan
- Division 7 — Terms of Conventional RAP Loans
- Division 9 — Miscellaneous Provisions
- Division 19.7 — The Centre City Planned District
- Division 19.8 — The Centre City Planned District
- Division 2 — Land Development Authorities and Advisory Boards
- Division 2 — Fees and Deposits
- Division 3 — Notice
- Division 4 — Public Hearings
- Division 5 — Decision Process
- Division 1 — Definitions
- Division 2 — Rules for Calculation and Measurement
- Division 2 — Enforcement Authorities For the Land Development …
- Division 4 — Procedures For Abatement of Unsafe, Dangerous,
- Division 1 — Adoption And Amendment Procedures for Land Use Pl…
- Division 1 — Zoning and Rezoning Procedures
- Division 3 — Zoning Use Certificate Procedures
- Division 5 — Residential High Occupancy Permit
- Division 6 — Mobile Food Truck Permit
- Division 1 — General Subdivision Procedures
- Division 2 — Certificate of Compliance
- Division 4 — Tentative Maps (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.)
- Division 5 — Parcel Maps (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; eff…
- Division 6 — Final Maps
- Division 7 — Merger of Parcels (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S…
- Division 8 — Reversion to Acreage
- Division 9 — Public Right-of-Way Vacations
- Division 10 — Easement Vacations
- Division 3 — Conditional Use Permit Procedures
- Division 4 — Neighborhood Development Permit Procedures (Added…
- Division 5 — Site Development Permit Procedures
- Division 6 — Planned Development Permit Procedures (Added 12-9…
- Division 8 — Variance Procedures
- Division 1 — General Review Procedures for Previously Conformi…
- Division 2 — Review Procedures for Previously Conforming Signs
- Division 1 — General Procedures and Authorities for Implementa…
- Division 2 — Procedures for Determination of
- Division 3 — Procedures for Preparation and Review of Environm…
- Division 1 — General Construction Permit Authority and Procedu…
- Division 2 — Building Permit Procedures
- Division 3 — Electrical Permit Procedures (Added 12-9-1997 by …
- Division 4 — Plumbing/Mechanical Permit Procedures
- Division 6 — Grading Permit Procedures (Added 12-9-1997 by O-1…
- Division 7 — Public Right-of-Way Permits
- Division 9 — Fire Permit Procedures
- Division 4 — Residential Base Zones
-
▸ Division 5 — Commercial Base Zones
Overview- §131.0501 Purpose of Commercial Zones
- §131.0502 Purpose of the CN (Commercial--Neighborhood) Zones
- §131.0503 Purpose of the CR (Commercial--Regional) Zones
- §131.0504 Purpose of the CO (Commercial--Office) Zones
- §131.0505 Purpose of the CV (Commercial--Visitor) Zones
- §131.0506 Purpose of the CP (Commercial--Parking) Zone
- §131.0507 Purpose of the CC (Commercial--Community) Zones
- §131.0515 Where Commercial Zones Apply
- §131.0520 Use Regulations of Commercial Zones
- §131.0522 Use Regulations Table for Commercial Zones
- §131.0530 Development Regulations of Commercial Zones
- §131.0531 Development Regulations Tables for Commercial Zones
- §131.0540 Maximum Permitted Residential Density and Other Resi…
- §131.0541 Supplemental Commercial Regulations for CO Zones
- §131.0543 Setback Requirements for Commercial Zones
- §131.0546 Maximum Floor Area Ratio
- §131.0548 Ground-floor Height
- §131.0550 Pedestrian Paths
- §131.0552 Transparency
- §131.0554 Building Articulation
- §131.0555 Parking Restriction
- §131.0556 Parking Lot Orientation
- Division 6 — Industrial Base Zones
- Division 7 — Mixed-Use Base Zones
- Division 2 — Airport Approach Overlay Zone
- Division 3 — Airport Environs Overlay Zone
- Division 6 — Sensitive Coastal Overlay Zone
- Division 7 — Mobilehome Park Overlay Zone (Added 12-9-1997 by …
- Division 8 — Parking Impact Overlay Zone
- Division 9 — Residential Tandem Parking Overlay Zone
- Division 10 — Transit Area Overlay Zone
- Division 11 — Urban Village Overlay Zone
- Division 12 — Mission Trails Design District
- Division 13 — Clairemont Height Limit Overlay Zone
- Division 15 — Airport Land Use Compatibility Overlay Zone
- Division 16 — Community Enhancement Overlay Zone