Title 24
Santa Cruz Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-07 · Santa Cruz
ZONING
Detailed Tables of Contents, Listing Individual Sections, Can Be Found at the Beginning of Each Chapter.
| Chapters: | Page | |
|---|---|---|
| 24.02 | INTRODUCTION | 24-5 |
| 24.04 | ADMINISTRATION | 24-7 |
| 24.06 | ZONING MAP AND TEXT AMENDMENTS | 24-25 |
| Part 1: | General Procedures | |
| Part 2: | Historic District Designation | |
| Part 3: | Annexation of Territory | |
| Part 4: | Specific Plan Preparation | |
| 24.08 | LAND USE PERMITS AND FINDINGS | 24-29 |
| Part 1: | Use Permits | |
| Part 2: | Variances | |
| Part 3: | Coastal Permit | |
| Part 4: | Reserved* | |
| Part 5: | Design Permit | |
| Part 6: | Sign Permit | |
| Part 7: | Conditional Fence Permit | |
| Part 8: | Planned Development Permit | |
| Part 9: | Slope Regulations Modifications (Applies Outside the | |
| Coastal Zone) | ||
| Part 9A: | Slope Regulations Modifications (Applies in the | |
| Coastal Zone) | ||
| Part 10: | Historic Alteration Permit | |
| Part 11: | Historic Demolition Permit | |
| Part 12: | Repealed | |
| Part 13: | Nonresidential Demolition Authorization Permits | |
| Part 14: | Residential Demolition/Conversion Authorization | |
| Permits | ||
| Part 15: | Relocation Permit | |
| Part 16: | Mobilehomes: Certificate Of Compatibility | |
| Part 17: | Mobilehome Park Conversions | |
| Part 18: | Mobilehomes, Small Coaches and Recreational Vehicles | |
| Part 19: | Repealed | |
| Part 20: | Reconstruction Permit | |
| Part 21: | Watercourse Development Permit |
24-1
(Supp. No. xx – 2/9/2023)
ZONING – TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Part | 22: | Watercourse Variance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part | 23: | Repealed | |
| Part | 25: | Development Agreements | |
| 24.10 | LAND USE DISTRICTS | 24-69 | |
| Part | 1: | Establishment and Designation of Districts | |
| Part | 2: | Application of Regulations to Districts Generally | |
| Part | 3: | R-S Residential Suburban District | |
| Part | 4: | R-1 Single-Family Residence District | |
| Part | 5: | R-L Multiple Residence – Low-Density District | |
| Part | 6: | R-M Multiple Residence – Medium-Density District | |
| Part | 6A: | R-H Multiple Residence – High-Density District | |
| Part | 7: | R-T Tourist Residential District | |
| Part | 7A: | R-T(A) Subdistrict A – Medium-Density Residential | |
| Part | 7B: | R-T(B) Subdistrict B – Motel Residential | |
| Part | 7B.1: | R-T(B)/PER – Motel Residential Performance Overlay | |
| Part | 7C: | R-T(C) Subdistrict C – Beach Commercial | |
| Part | 7C.1: | R-T(C)/PER: Subdistrict C – Beach Commercial/ | |
| Performance Overlay Zone | |||
| Part | 7D: | R-T(D) Subdistrict D – Beach Residential | |
| Part | 7E: | R-T(E) Subdistrict E – Beach Medium/High Density | |
| Residential | |||
| Part | 8: | C-C Community Commercial District | |
| Part | 9: | Repealed | |
| Part | 9A: | MU-H Mixed-Use High-Density District | |
| Part | 9D: | MU-VH Mixed-Use Visitor-Serving High-Density | |
| District | |||
| Part | 9E: | MU-VA Mixed-Use Visitor-Serving Additional Height | |
| District | |||
| Part | 10: | C-T Thoroughfare Commercial | |
| Part | 11: | C-N Neighborhood Commercial District | |
| Part | 12: | C-B Beach Commercial District | |
| Part | 13: | P-A Professional And Administrative Office District | |
| Part | 14: | SC-H Small Craft Harbor District | |
| Part | 14A: | C-D/R – Coastal Dependent/Related District | |
| Part | 15: | Reserved | |
| Part | 16: | I-G General Industrial District | |
| Part | 16A: | I-G/Per: General Industrial District/Performance | |
| Overlay Zone | |||
| Part | 16B: | IG/Per-2: General Industrial District/Performance | |
| District | |||
| Part | 17: | Repealed |
24-2
(Supp. No. xx – 2/9/2023)
ZONING – TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Part | 18: | Repealed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part | 18A: | P-K Parks District | |
| Part | 18B: | P-F – Public Facilities District | |
| Part | 19: | E-A Exclusive Agricultural District | |
| Part | 20: | OF-R Ocean Front (Recreational) District | |
| Part | 21: | F-P Floodplain District | |
| Part | 22: | H-O Historic Overlay District | |
| Part | 23: | Repealed | |
| Part | 24: | Central Business District (CBD) | |
| Part | 24(A): | Repealed | |
| Part | 25: | SP-O Shoreline Protection Overlay District | |
| Part | 26: | CZ-O Coastal Zone Overlay District | |
| Part | 27: | Mixed Use Overlay District | |
| Part | 28: | FP-O Floodplain Overlay District | |
| Part | 29: | Repealed | |
| Part | 30: | Reserved | |
| Part | 31: | CON – Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District | |
| Part | 42: | West Cliff Drive Overlay District | |
| Part | 43: | Mission Street Urban Design Overlay District | |
| 24.12 | Community Design | 24-127 | |
| Part | 1: | General | |
| Part | 2: | General Site Design Standards | |
| Part | 3: | Off-Street Parking and Loading Facilities* | |
| Part | 4: | Advertising Devices, Signs and Billboards | |
| Part | 5: | Historic Preservation | |
| Part | 6: | Mobilehomes | |
| Part | 7: | Animals | |
| Part | 8: | Underground Utilities | |
| Part | 9: | Bed-and-Breakfast Inns | |
| Part | 10: | Service Station Regulations | |
| Part | 11: | Single-Room Occupancy Housing | |
| Part | 12: | Alcoholic Beverage Sales | |
| Part | 13: | Vehicle Repair in Residential Districts | |
| Part | 14: | Commercial Medical and Adult Use Cannabis | |
| Regulations | |||
| Part | 15: | Wireless Telecommunications Facilities | |
| Part | 16: | Small Ownership Unit Housing | |
| Part | 17: | Emergency Shelters | |
| Part | 18: | Residential Short-Term Rentals |
24-3
(Supp. No. xx – 5/14/2026)
ZONING – TABLE OF CONTENTS
| 24.14 | Environmental Resource Management | 24-177 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part | 1: | Conservation Regulations | |
| Part | 2: | Performance Standards | |
| Part | 3: | Environmental Review Regulations | |
| Part | 4: | Floodplain Management | |
| 24.15 | Green Building Regulations | 24-198.5 | |
| 24.16 | Affordable Housing Provisions | 24-200 | |
| Part | 1: | Inclusionary Housing Requirements | |
| Part | 2: | Accessory Dwelling Units | |
| Part | 3: | Density Bonus Provisions for Residential Units | |
| Part | 4: | Fee Waivers for Affordable Units | |
| 24.18 | Nonconforming Uses and Structures | 24-211 | |
| 24.20 | Zoning Map | 24-215 | |
| 24.22 | Definitions | 24-217 |
24-4
(Supp. No. xx – 5/14/2026)
24.02.060
General Plan and the Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan.
Discretionary Uses. Land uses which are permitted by discretionary approval shall be deemed to be consistent with the General Plan, provided the approving body makes a finding of consistency before approving the use.
Maintaining Consistency. Whenever an amendment to the General Plan is adopted, then, within a reasonable period of time after the amendment’s final adoption, an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance shall be considered, where necessary, to maintain consistency. Any amendment to the Zoning Ordinance enacted after December 14, 1995, the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section, must be consistent with the General Plan or the General Plan must be amended prior to or concurrently with the Zoning Ordinance change. (Ord. 95-31 § 2, 1995).