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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

==> picture [216 x 199] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Optional
Residential
Optional Required
Residential Commercial
Front
PL 50% of lot PL
Optional
Residential
Optional Required
Residential Commercial
Front
PL 30' of lot PL
----- End of picture text -----

  • (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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Contents — San Diego Zoning Code
San Diego Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 9
  2. Division 2 — House Numbers
  3. Division 3 — Advertising Displays Adjacent to Scenic Freeways,…
  4. Division 1 — General Provisions and Definitions
  5. Division 2 — Financing Facilities
  6. Division 3 — Bonds
  7. Division 1 — Housing Code
  8. Division 2 — Mobilehome Parks and Special Occupancy Parks
  9. Division 3 — San Diego Housing Commission
  10. Division 4 — Interim School Facilities Financing Ordinance
  11. Division 6 — Housing Impact Fees On Commercial Development
  12. Division 7 — Residential Tenant Protections
  13. Division 8 — Prohibition of Discrimination Based on a Tenant’s…
  14. Division 9 — Notice of Tenant’s Right to Operate a Daycare Home
  15. Division 10 — Affordable Housing Preservation
  16. Division 11 — Prohibition of Anti-Competitive Automated Rent P…
  17. Division 12 — Residential Tenant Utility Fees
  18. Division 1 — In General
  19. Division 2 — Responsibilities of City Council
  20. Division 3 — Administration of Program
  21. Division 5 — Designation of Residential Rehabilitation Areas a…
  22. Division 6 — Limitations on Amount of Loan
  23. Division 7 — Terms of Conventional RAP Loans
  24. Division 9 — Miscellaneous Provisions
  25. Division 19.7 — The Centre City Planned District
  26. Division 19.8 — The Centre City Planned District
  27. Division 2 — Land Development Authorities and Advisory Boards
  28. Division 2 — Fees and Deposits
  29. Division 3 — Notice
  30. Division 4 — Public Hearings
  31. Division 5 — Decision Process
  32. Division 1 — Definitions
  33. Division 2 — Rules for Calculation and Measurement
  34. Division 2 — Enforcement Authorities For the Land Development …
  35. Division 4 — Procedures For Abatement of Unsafe, Dangerous,
  36. Division 1 — Adoption And Amendment Procedures for Land Use Pl…
  37. Division 1 — Zoning and Rezoning Procedures
  38. Division 3 — Zoning Use Certificate Procedures
  39. Division 5 — Residential High Occupancy Permit
  40. Division 6 — Mobile Food Truck Permit
  41. Division 1 — General Subdivision Procedures
  42. Division 2 — Certificate of Compliance
  43. Division 4 — Tentative Maps (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.)
  44. Division 5 — Parcel Maps (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; eff…
  45. Division 6 — Final Maps
  46. Division 7 — Merger of Parcels (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S…
  47. Division 8 — Reversion to Acreage
  48. Division 9 — Public Right-of-Way Vacations
  49. Division 10 — Easement Vacations
  50. Division 3 — Conditional Use Permit Procedures
  51. Division 4 — Neighborhood Development Permit Procedures (Added…
  52. Division 5 — Site Development Permit Procedures
  53. Division 6 — Planned Development Permit Procedures (Added 12-9…
  54. Division 8 — Variance Procedures
  55. Division 1 — General Review Procedures for Previously Conformi…
  56. Division 2 — Review Procedures for Previously Conforming Signs
  57. Division 1 — General Procedures and Authorities for Implementa…
  58. Division 2 — Procedures for Determination of
  59. Division 3 — Procedures for Preparation and Review of Environm…
  60. Division 1 — General Construction Permit Authority and Procedu…
  61. Division 2 — Building Permit Procedures
  62. Division 3 — Electrical Permit Procedures (Added 12-9-1997 by …
  63. Division 4 — Plumbing/Mechanical Permit Procedures
  64. Division 6 — Grading Permit Procedures (Added 12-9-1997 by O-1…
  65. Division 7 — Public Right-of-Way Permits
  66. Division 9 — Fire Permit Procedures
  67. Division 4 — Residential Base Zones
  68. Division 5 — Commercial Base Zones
  69. Division 6 — Industrial Base Zones
  70. Division 7 — Mixed-Use Base Zones
  71. Division 2 — Airport Approach Overlay Zone
  72. Division 3 — Airport Environs Overlay Zone
  73. Division 6 — Sensitive Coastal Overlay Zone
  74. Division 7 — Mobilehome Park Overlay Zone (Added 12-9-1997 by …
  75. Division 8 — Parking Impact Overlay Zone
  76. Division 9 — Residential Tandem Parking Overlay Zone
  77. Division 10 — Transit Area Overlay Zone
  78. Division 11 — Urban Village Overlay Zone
  79. Division 12 — Mission Trails Design District
  80. Division 13 — Clairemont Height Limit Overlay Zone
  81. Division 15 — Airport Land Use Compatibility Overlay Zone
  82. Division 16 — Community Enhancement Overlay Zone

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