Part 5 — R-L MULTIPLE RESIDENCE – LOW-DENSITY DISTRICT

To promote the development of multifamily townhouses, condominiums and apartments at a low to medium density of 10.1 to twentyseven units per acre, depending on unit mix; to stabilize and protect the residential characteristics of the district and to promote and encourage a suitable environment for the lives of

families and single persons. This section of the Zoning Ordinance is also part of the Local Coastal Implementation Plan.

(Ord. 2022-19 § 10, 2022; Ord. 96-37 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 94-33 § 30, 1994: Ord. 93-19 § 9, 1993: Ord. 85-05 § 1 (part), 1985).

The following uses are permitted outright if a design permit is obtained for new structures and environmental review is conducted in accordance with city and state guidelines. Design permits are not required for accessory structures and additions that are less than one hundred twenty square feet and less than fifteen feet in building height. (Numerical references at the end of these categories reflect the general use classifications listed in the city’s land use codes. Further refinement of uses within these categories can be found in the land use codes, but they are not intended to be an exhaustive list of potential uses.)

1. Multiple dwellings, townhouse dwelling groups, and condominium projects in one or more structure(s). (830, 840)

2. Community care facilities with six or fewer persons, but not including community care residential facilities.

3. Community care residential facilities, including foster family homes, within one or more existing dwelling units.

4. Retirement homes with six or fewer persons.

5. Small and large family daycare homes in residential units.

6. Two-family dwellings, subject to the density requirements in the General Plan.

7. Community garden.

8. Single-family dwellings, subject to the density requirements in the General Plan.

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9. Accessory uses are principally permitted when they are a subordinate use to the principal use of the lot.

a. Home occupations subject to home occupation regulations as provided in Section 24.10.160.

b. Park and recreational facilities.

c. Room and board for not more than two paying guests per dwelling unit, when located within principal building.

d. Residential accessory uses and buildings customarily appurtenant to a permitted use, subject to the provisions of Section 24.12.140, Accessory buildings and structures, and Section 24.10.430.

10. Accessory dwelling units subject to the provisions of Chapter 24.16, Part 2, except accessory dwelling units are not subject to approval of a design permit.

11. Supportive and transitional housing.

12. Junior accessory dwelling units on a parcel with an approved residential use that does not include a building containing two or more units other than accessory dwelling units, subject to the provisions of Chapter 24.16, Part 2, except junior accessory dwelling units are not subject to approval of a design permit. (Ord. 2025-15 § 8, 2025; Ord. 2024-24 § 6, 2025; Ord. 2022-19 § 10, 2022; Ord. 2020-22 § 11, 2020; Ord. 2019-03 § 4, 2019; Ord. 201611 § 15, 2016: Ord. 2005-15 § 1, 2005: Ord. 2003-17 § 5 (part), 2003; Ord. 2003-16 § 5 (part), 2003: Ord. 96-39 § 5, 1996: Ord. 93-19 § 9, 1993: Ord. 85-05 § 1 (part), 1985).

• Editor’s Note: Former Section 24.10.420, Accessory uses, previously codified herein and containing portions of Ords. 85-66 and 88-60, was repealed in its entirety by Ord. 93-19 § 9, 1993. See Section 24.10.410 for accessory uses.

1. The following uses are subject to approval of an administrative use permit and

may also require a design permit per Section 24.08.410:

a. Accessory buildings containing plumbing fixtures subject to the provisions of Section 24.12.140.

b. Temporary structures and uses.

c. Wireless telecommunications facilities, subject to the regulations in Chapter 24.12, Part 15.

2. The following uses are subject to approval of a special use permit and may also require a design permit per Section 24.08.410: a. Bed-and-breakfast inns, subject to requirements in Chapter 24.12, Part 9.

b. Community care facilities with seven or more persons, not including community care residential facilities.

c. Retirement homes with seven or more persons.

d. Nursing homes. e. Dormitories, fraternity/sorority residence halls, boardinghouses.

f. Health facilities for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care and treatment.

g. Off-street parking facilities accessory to a contiguous commercial property not to exceed one hundred feet from the boundary of the site it is intended to serve.

h. Noncommercial recreation areas, buildings, and facilities such as parks, country clubs, golf courses, and riding, swimming and tennis clubs.

i. Educational, religious, cultural, public utility or public service buildings and uses; but not including corporation yards, storage or repair yards, and warehouses.

j. Social halls, lodges, fraternal organizations, and clubs, except those operated for a profit.

(Ord. 2025-15 § 9, 2025; Ord. 2024-17 § 12, 2024; Ord. 2022-19 § 10, 2022; Ord. 2019-03 § 5, 2019; Ord. 2016-11 § 16, 2016: Ord. 200317 § 5 (part), 2003; Ord. 2003-16 § 5 (part), 2003: Ord. 2002-25 § 5, 2002: Ord. 93-19 § 9, 1993; Ord. 88-60 § 7, 1988; Ord. 88-25 § 3,

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1988; Ord. 85-66 § 6, 1985: Ord. 85-05 § 1 (part), 1985).

Any other use or service establishment determined by the zoning administrator to be of the same general character as the foregoing principal permitted uses, and which will not impair the present or potential use of adjacent properties, shall be permitted. If the zoning administrator determines that the proposed use is more in character with the conditional uses for this

zone, then a use permit shall be required and processed pursuant to Part 1, Chapter 24.08, Use Permits. The decision as to whether the use determination requires an administrative use permit or a special use permit shall be based on the use category that is most similar to the proposed use as determined by the zoning administrator.

(Ord. 2022-19 § 10, 2022; Ord. 93-19 § 9, 1993: Ord. 85-05 § 1 (part), 1985).

24.10.450 DISTRICT REGULATIONS. 1. General.

2. Setback Requirements.

a. The minimum front yard setback shall be

fifteen feet except that the front yard may be reduced to not less than ten feet for a portion not to exceed fifty percent of the building frontage, and providing that a total of fifteen square feet of front yard is provided for each lineal foot of total lot frontage.

b. The minimum rear yard setback shall be ten feet.

c. The minimum side yard setback shall be five feet, and five additional feet of setback for each story above the second story.

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(1) There shall be no side yard required for townhouses on interior lots, except there shall be a minimum side yard setback at the interior end of a townhouse group of five feet, or one foot of setback for each three feet of height, or portion thereof, of a structure, whichever is greater.

(2) The minimum exterior side yard setback shall be eight feet, and five additional feet of setback for each additional story above the second story.

d. For any attached or detached garage or carport fronting on a front or exterior side property line, the setback shall be twenty feet from said property line.

e. Minimum Distance Between Buildings on the Same Lot. Between main buildings, six feet or one foot of setback for each two feet of height of the tallest building, or portions thereof, whichever is greater; between main buildings and accessory buildings, six feet; between accessory buildings, six feet; distance between accessory dwelling units and other buildings shall be consistent with standards set forth in Chapter 24.16, Part 2.

on the Same Lot. Between main buildings, six feet or one foot of setback for each two feet of height of the tallest building, or portions thereof, whichever is greater; between main buildings and accessory buildings, six feet; between accessory buildings, six feet; distance between accessory dwelling units and other buildings shall be consistent with standards set forth in Chapter 24.16, Part 2.

f. An existing accessory building built prior to July 1, 2014, with a valid building permit or which is a legal nonconforming structure, that has less than the required side or rear yard setback(s) may be converted into a dwelling unit to create a second unit or duplex on a property if all the requirements of the California Building Standards Code are met as well as the other development standards of the zoning district. The floor area for said second unit shall not exceed ten percent of the net lot area up to a maximum of eight hundred square feet. If additional units are allowed on the property, all such units shall meet development standards of the zoning district.

3. Other Requirements. Other regulations which may be applicable to site design in this zone are set forth in General Site Design Standards, Chapter 24.12, Part 2, and Chapter 24.16, Part 2, Accessory Dwelling Units.

4. All new development adjacent to a “CON – Neighborhood Conservation District” Overlay Zone shall comply with Section 24.10.4060 standards for new construction on sites abutting overlay district boundaries, to

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ensure compatibility with the established district.

(Ord. 2024-17 § 13, 2024; Ord. 2022-19 § 10, 2022; Ord. 2016-11 § 17, 2016: Ord. 2015-11 §§ 4, 12, 23, 2015; Ord. 2000-18 § 12 (part), 2000: Ord. 99-04 § 3, 1999: Ord. 96-37 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 93-19 § 9, 1993; Ord. 89-39 § 2, 1989; Ord. 88-24 § 4, 1988: Ord. 85-05 § 1 (part), 1985).