Santa Monica Municipal Code Ch. 9.15 Public and Semi-Public Districts

The purposes of the "Public and Semi-Public" Districts are to:

A. Provide areas for a wide range of public facilities, including parks and open space, educational facilities, municipal offices, the Civic Center, museums or performance spaces, City yards, and other public or quasi-public facilities.

B. Ensure that the development and operation of public and semi-public uses protects and enhances the character and quality of life of surrounding residential areas.

C. Retain the beach as Santa Monica's character-defining open space, preserving the area as a scenic resource that serves as a local gathering place, and enhances the beach-going experience with limited visitor-serving uses.

D. Ensure the provision of services and facilities needed to serve residents, businesses, and visitors and maintain a high quality of life standard.

(Added by Ord. No. 2486CCS §§ 1, 2, adopted June 23, 2015)

Table 9.15.020 prescribes the land use regulations for Public and Semi-Public Districts. The regulations for each district are established by letter designations listed below. These designations apply strictly to the permissibility of land uses; applications for buildings or structures may require discretionary review.

"P" designates permitted uses.

"L(#)" designates limited uses, which are permitted by right, provided they comply with specific limitations listed at the end of the table.

"CUP" designates use classifications that are permitted after review and approval of a Conditional Use Permit.

"MUP" designates use classifications that are permitted after review and approval of a Minor Use Permit.

" — " designates uses that are not permitted.

Land uses are defined in Chapter 9.51, Use Classifications. Use classifications and sub-classifications not listed in the table are prohibited. Accessory uses are permissible when they are determined by the Zoning Administrator to be necessary and customarily associated with and appropriate, incidental, and subordinate to, the principal uses and which are consistent and not more disturbing or disruptive than permitted uses. The table also notes additional use regulations that apply to various uses. Section numbers in the right-hand column refer to other Sections of this Article.

TABLE 9.15.020: LAND USE REGULATIONS—PUBLIC AND SEMI-PUBLIC DISTRICTS

(Added by Ord. No. 2486CCS §§ 1, 2, adopted June 23, 2015; amended by Ord. No. 2520CCS § 13, adopted June 14, 2016; Ord. No. 2649CCS § 20, adopted September 8, 2020; Ord. No. 2726CCS § 9, adopted October 25, 2022; Ord. No. 2742CCS § 2, adopted April 11, 2023; Ord. No. 2792CCS, 10/8/2024; Ord. No. 2814CCS, 5/27/2025)

Table 9.15.030 prescribes the development standards for the Public and Semi-Public Districts. Additional regulations are denoted with Section numbers in the right-hand column or with individual letters in parentheses. Section numbers refer to other Sections of this Article, while individual letters in parentheses refer to subsections that directly follow the table. Development standards for the Civic Center (CC) district are as prescribed in the Civic Center Specific Plan, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Where Zoning Ordinance provisions are not specifically addressed by the Civic Center Specific Plan, the Zoning Ordinance shall apply. Where there is a conflict between compliance with the Civic Center Specific Plan and the Zoning Ordinance, the Civic Center Specific Plan shall control except where the conflicting Zoning Ordinance provision was adopted through voter initiative in which case the initiative shall control.

TABLE 9.15.030: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS—PUBLIC AND PARK DISTRICTS

A. Planting Areas, Public District. In the Public and Semi-Public Districts, the following landscaping requirements apply.

1. Setback Areas Adjoining Streets. All visible portions of a required setback area adjoining a street that are not used for driveways or walks shall consist of planting areas, landscape, or pedestrian amenities.

2. Interior Setback Areas. At least 50% of each required interior side setback area and rear setback area shall be planting area having a minimum width of 7.5 feet adjoining a side or rear parcel line. The width of a required planting area may be reduced to 3 feet in one side or rear setback areas adjoining a driveway, and a nonresidential accessory structure may occupy a portion of the planting area in a rear setback area.

(Added by Ord. No. 2486CCS §§ 1, 2, adopted June 23, 2015; amended by Ord. No. 2520CCS § 17, adopted June 14, 2016; Ord. No. 2649CCS § 21, adopted September 8, 2020; Ord. No. 2814CCS, 5/27/2025)