Chapter 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.

The specific designations and the additional purposes of the Public and Semi-Public Districts are:

CC Civic Center. This Zoning District is intended to be the cultural and institutional core of Santa Monica, with a mix of high intensity government and cultural uses with significant gathering spaces and parks combined with civic buildings and connections to the beach and Downtown areas. Commercial, retail, office, affordable, workforce and market-rate housing, and community facilities such as early childhood centers are also allowed in this mixed-use District. This District is consistent with the LUCE's Institutional/Public Lands land use designation.

PL Institutional/Public Lands. This Zoning District is for public or semi-public facilities, including municipal offices, schools, libraries, museums, or performance spaces, cemeteries, corporation yards, utility stations, and similar uses. This District is consistent with the LUCE's Institutional/Public Lands land use designation.

OS Parks and Open Space. This Zoning District is intended to preserve, enhance, and expand Santa Monica's existing open space, parks, beaches, and recreational areas, providing residents with easy access to a relaxing, visually appealing amenity that provides opportunities for healthy recreation. This District is applied to areas that will remain as parks or green open space, or be developed as such. Other allowed uses in this designation include supporting structures such as recreation centers, gymnasiums, community meeting facilities and small-scale retail uses that support outdoor recreation, such as restaurants, refreshment stands, or sporting equipment and rental vendors. This District is consistent with the LUCE's Parks and Open Space land use designation.

(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.

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TABLE 9.15.020: LAND USE REGULATIONS—PUBLIC AND SEMI-PUBLIC DISTRICTS
Use Classification CC PL OS Additional Regulations
Residential Uses
Residential Dwelling Types
Accessory Dwelling Unit P — — Section 9.31.025, Accessory Dwelling Unit and
Junior Accessory Dwelling Units
Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit P — — Section 9.31.025, Accessory Dwelling Unit and
Junior Accessory Dwelling Units
Multiple Unit Dwelling P — — Section 9.31.195, Multiple-Unit Dwelling Projects
Senior Citizen Multiple-Unit Dwelling P — — Section 9.31.195, Multiple-Unit Dwelling Projects
Housing Types for Specific Needs
Congregate Housing L(1) — — Section 9.31.110, Congregate Housing
Emergency Shelters — P — Section 9.31.130, Emergency Shelters

§ 9.15.020

PLANNING AND ZONING

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TABLE 9.15.020: LAND USE REGULATIONS—PUBLIC AND SEMI-PUBLIC DISTRICTS
Use Classification CC PL OS Additional Regulations
Family Day Care See sub-classifications below.
Large P P P Section 9.31.135, Family Day Care, Large
Small P P P
Group Residential L(1) — — Section 9.31.155, Group Residential
Senior Group Residential L(1) — — Section 9.31.155, Group Residential
Low Barrier Navigation Centers P — — Section 9.31.175, Low Barrier Navigation Centers
Residential Care Facilities See sub-classifications below.
Residential Care, General L(1) — — Section 9.31.270, Residential Care Facilities
Residential Care, Limited P — — Section 9.31.270, Residential Care Facilities
Residential Care, Senior L(1) — — Section 9.31.270, Residential Care Facilities
Hospice, General — — —
Hospice, Limited — — —
Single Room Occupancy Housing L(1) — — Section 9.31.330, Single Room Occupancy
Housing
Supportive Housing L(1) — —
Transitional Housing L(1) — —
Public and Semi-Public Uses
Adult Day Care P P P
Cemetery — P —
Child Care and Early Education Facilities P P P Section 9.31.120, Child Care and Early Education
Facilities
Colleges and Trade Schools, Public or L(3) P —
Private
Community Assembly P P L(3) Section 9.31.100, Community Assembly

§ 9.15.020

SANTA MONICA CODE

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TABLE 9.15.020: LAND USE REGULATIONS—PUBLIC AND SEMI-PUBLIC DISTRICTS
Use Classification CC PL OS Additional Regulations
Community Gardens — P P
Cultural Facilities P P P
Community Clinic L(6) — —
Park and Recreations Facilities, Public P P P
Public Safety Facilities P P —
Schools, Public or Private L(3) P —
Social Service Centers P P — Section 9.31.350, Social Service Centers
Commercial Uses
Banks and Financial Institutions L(1) — —
Business Services L(1) — —
Commercial, Entertainment, and Recreation See sub-classifications below.
Cinemas/Theaters — — MUP (3)
Convention and Conference Centers P — —
Large-Scale Facility — — —
Small-Scale Facility — — — Section 9.31.340, Small-Scale Facility, Game
Arcades
Eating and Drinking Establishments See sub-classifications below.
Restaurants, Full-Service L(1) L(2) L(2) Section 9.31.040, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
Section 9.31.280, Restaurants, Limited Service
and Take-Out Only Section 9.31.200, Outdoor
Dining and Seating on Sidewalks Section
9.31.290, Restaurants with Entertainment

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TABLE 9.15.020: LAND USE REGULATIONS—PUBLIC AND SEMI-PUBLIC DISTRICTS
Use Classification CC PL OS Additional Regulations
Restaurants, Limited Service L(1) L(2) L(2) Section 9.31.040, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
Section 9.31.280, Restaurants, Limited Service
and Take-Out Only Section 9.31.200, Outdoor
Dining and Seating on Sidewalks Section
9.31.290, Restaurants with Entertainment
Restaurants, Take-Out Only L(1) L(2) — Section 9.31.040, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
Section 9.31.280, Restaurants, Limited Service
and Take-Out Only
With Outdoor Eating Areas L(1) L(2) L(2) Section 9.31.200, Outdoor Dining and Seating on
Sidewalks
Food Hall, (up to 175 seats) CUP CUP CUP
Food and Beverage Sales See sub-classifications below.
Convenience Markets L(1) — — Section 9.31.040, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
Farmers Markets — P CUP
General Markets L(1) — — Section 9.31.040, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
Live-Work L(1) — — Section 9.31.170, Live-Work Units
Lodging See sub-classifications below.
Hotels and Motels CUP — —
Offices See sub-classifications below.
Business and Professional L(4)/CUP L (3) —
Creative L(4)/CUP — —
Walk-In Clientele L(4)/CUP — —
Parking, Public or Private L(3) P L(5)
General Personal Services L(1) — —
Retail Sales See sub-classifications below.

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TABLE 9.15.020: LAND USE REGULATIONS—PUBLIC AND SEMI-PUBLIC DISTRICTS
Use Classification CC PL OS Additional Regulations
General Retail Sales, Small-Scale L(1) — — Section 9.31.220, Outdoor Retail Display and
Sales
Swap Meet MUP MUP MUP Section 9.31.360, Swap Meets
Transportation, Communication, and Utilities Uses
Citywide Bikeshare Facility P P P
Communication Facilities See sub-classifications below.
Antennas and Transmission Towers CUP CUP — Chapter 9.32, Personal Wireless Service Facilities
Equipment Within Buildings — P —
Utilities, Major — P —
Utilities, Minor — P —
Specific Limitations:
(1) Permitted as part of a mixed-use development.
(2) Permitted only as an accessory to a primary use. Must be located within the same building as a primary use.
(3) Limited to public, quasi-public, or nonprofit establishments.
(4) Public, quasi-public, and nonprofit offices are permitted. Conditional Use Permit required for private offices.
(5) Limited to public parking for beach or park users.
(6) Permitted if all objective planning standards set forth in Government Code Section 65914.900 are met.

(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

PLANNING AND ZONING

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.

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TABLE 9.15.030: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS—PUBLIC AND PARK DISTRICTS
Standard PL OS Additional Regulations
Parcel and Intensity Standards
Minimum Parcel Size (sq. ft.) 20,000 5,000
Building Form and Location
Maximum Building Height (stories/ft.) 2/32' 2/28'; 1/20' west of the centerline of Section 9.04.050, Measuring Height
Ocean Avenue and Barnard Way
Minimum Setbacks (ft., measured from property line)
Street Frontage 10' 20'
Interior Side and Rear 10'; 15' when abutting a residential 10'
district
Maximum FAR NA 0.5; 0.25 west of the centerline of Section 9.04.090, Determining Floor
Ocean Avenue and Barnard Way Area Ratio in Non-residential Zoning
District
Additional Standards
Accessory Dwelling Units Section 9.31.025, Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units
Accessory Food Service Section 9.31.030, Accessory Food Service
Accessory Structures Section 9.21.020, Accessory Buildings and Structures
Exceptions to Height Limits Section 9.21.060, Height Exceptions
Fences and Walls Section 9.21.050, Fences, Walls, and Hedges
Home Occupation Section 9.31.160, Home Occupation
Landscaping Section 9.15.030(A), Chapter 9.26, Landscaping
Lighting Section 9.21.080, Lighting
Off-Street Parking and Loading Chapter 9.28, Parking, Loading, and Circulation

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TABLE 9.15.030: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS—PUBLIC AND PARK DISTRICTS
Standard PL OS Additional Regulations
Projections into Required Setbacks Section 9.21.110, Projections from Buildings into Minimum Setbacks and Daylight Plane
Signs Chapter 9.61, Signs
Screening Section 9.21.140, Screening
Solar Energy Systems Section 9.21.150, Solar Energy Systems
Trash Screening and Enclosure Section 9.21.130 Resource Recovery and Recycling Standards

• 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)