San Diego Municipal Code Div. 5 Coastal Height Limit Overlay Zone

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

The purpose of the Coastal Height Limit Overlay Zone is to provide a supplemental height limit for specific coastal areas as enacted by the voters of the City of San Diego. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

(a) This overlay zone applies to the coastal area that is described in Section 132.0505(b) and is shown on Map No. C-380, filed in the office of the City Clerk as Document No. 743737. This area is shown generally on Diagram 132-05A.

(b) Table 132-05A shows the sections that contain the supplemental regulations
and the type of permit required by this division, if any, for specific types of
development proposals in this overlay zone.

Table 132-05A
Coastal Height Limit Overlay Zone Applicability

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 13: Zones (7-2024)

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 13: Zones (7-2024)

(a) Notwithstanding any section to the contrary, no building or addition to a building shall be constructed with a height in excess of thirty feet within the Coastal Zone of the City of San Diego.

(b) The words “Coastal Zone” as used within this section shall mean that land and
water area of the City of San Diego from the northern City limits, south to the
border of the Republic of Mexico, extending seaward to the outer limits of
City jurisdiction and extending inland to the location of Interstate 5 on
January 1, 1971. This limitation shall not apply to:

(1) that land area of the Coastal Zone bounded by National City on the
south, San Diego Bay on the west and Laurel Street or the
southwesterly projection of Laurel Street on the north or,

(2) that the land area of the Coastal Zone bounded by Ingraham Street on
the west, Sea World Drive on the south, Mission Bay on the north and
the boat ramp access road in South Shores Park on the east or

(3) that land area of the Coastal Zone approximately bounded on the north
and west by Camino de la Plaza, on the south by the international
border with the Republic of Mexico, and on the east by Virginia
Avenue, including that adjacent strip of land of approximately forty by
520 feet which is located south of Camino de la Plaza and east of
Virginia Avenue, all as more particularly described as Document No.
OO-18836, a copy of which is on file with the City Clerk; and

(4) that land area of the Coastal Zone within the Midway-Pacific Highway
Community Plan area approximately bounded by the San Diego River
on the north; San Diego International Airport and Laurel Street on the
south; Interstate 5 on the east; and Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway
Drive, Kemper Street, Rosecrans Street, and Lytton Street, including
the Kemper Neighborhood Village and the Lytton District, on the
west; as more particularly described in Document No. OO-21508, a
copy of which is on file with the City Clerk.

(c) The base of measurement of the height shall be in accordance with the
Uniform Building Code of 1970.

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13 2 5 3

San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 13: Zones (7-2024)

(d) Other than the restoration of the chimney and rooftop cupola as part of the historic restoration of the 1915 Agar/Mission Brewery Building located at Washington and Hancock Streets in San Diego, California, and as described in sections 132.0505(b)(1) through (b)(4), there shall be no exception to the provisions of this section.

(e) No building or structure or addition to a building or structure within the land
described in exception section 132.0505(b)(2), shall exceed one-half the
height of the existing Sea World Sky Tower on that land using the base of
measurement in accordance with the Uniform Building Code of 1970.

(f) No taxpayer funds shall be spent for any improvements in connection with a
building or structure or addition to a building or structure within the land
described in exception section 132.0505(b)(2).

(g) The exception set forth in section 132.0505(b)(2) shall remain in effect as
long as the land described therein is used for recreational, exhibition,
educational, research and scientific purposes.

(h) No more than five acres of the approximately sixty-six acre site described in
section 132.0505(b)(3) may contain buildings or structures, or additions to
buildings or structures, measuring up to 150 feet in height. No more than five
additional acres of the remaining portion of the property may contain
buildings or structures, or additions to buildings or structures, measuring up to
eighty feet in height. As to the remaining portion of the property, no buildings
or structures, or additions to buildings or structures, shall exceed fifty feet in
height. The footprint of the entire building or structure shall be used to
calculate the five acres, whether or not the entire building or structure
measures 150 feet or eight feet in height. The measurement of height shall
use the base of measurement in accordance with the Uniform Building Code
of 1970.

(i) This section may be amended, including an amendment to make an exception
to the thirty-foot height limitation, only by a majority vote of the voters of the
City of San Diego.

[Editor’s Note: Section 132.0505 is a codification of Proposition D, which was adopted by the people of the City of San Diego and became effective on December 7, 1972. Section 132.0505 was amended by Proposition L adopted on November 8, 1988; amended by Proposition D on November 3, 1998; and, amended by Proposition C adopted on November 7, 2000.] (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 13: Zones (7-2024)

(Amended 7-24-2020 by O-21220 N.S.; effective 12-8-2020.)
[Editor’s Note: Section 132.0505 was amended by Measure E and adopted on
December 8, 2020.]

(Amended 7-29-2022 by O-21508 N.S.; effective 12-12-2022.)
(Amended 6-11-2024 by O-21811 N.S.; effective 7-11-2024.)

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 13: Zones (6-2000)

Article 2: Overlay Zones