Chapter 10.24 — COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS

In addition to the general purposes established in SMC § 10.10.030 (Title and purpose), the specific purposes of the commercial zoning districts are as follows:

• A. To provide space for diverse types of commercial activity to serve people and industry, while maintaining and strengthening the economic base of the City of Sausalito;

• B. To implement the general plan by designating a variety of commercial districts so that all appropriate types of commercial activity may have a suitable location;

• C. To permit the establishment of varying commercial uses in locations suitable both to individual enterprises and the entire City of Sausalito;

• D. To promote the constructive improvement and orderly growth of the existing well-located commercial centers and districts; and

• E. To protect residential districts adjacent to commercial uses. (Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003)

The additional purposes of each commercial district are as follows:

Central Commercial (CC):

• A. To provide for a wide variety of retail and service businesses to serve Sausalito residents and visitors;

• B. To provide for enhanced quality and reduced redundancy of downtown's available merchandise;

• C. To maintain an inviting shopping environment for visitors and residents, utilizing the area's natural attributes;

• D. To provide for, and encourage, ground-floor retail business with upper-floor residential uses;

• E. To promote continuous retail frontage and prohibit establishments that tend to break up such continuity; and

• F. To provide for accessory manufacturing uses, incidental to primary commercial activity.

Mixed Commercial and Residential (CR):

• G. To provide for local-serving retail and service businesses and residential uses where mutually compatible;

• H. To provide for local-serving commercial uses;

• I. To provide a pedestrian-oriented experience for local residents; and

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City of Sausalito, CA

SAUSALITO CODE

§ 10.24.020

§ 10.24.030

• J. To provide for accessory manufacturing uses, incidental to primary commercial activity. Neighborhood Commercial (CN):

• K. To provide local-serving retail and service businesses in a location and manner that serve nearby commercial and residential areas;

• L. To provide one-stop convenience services in the three distinct neighborhood commercial centers; and

• M. To provide for accessory manufacturing uses, incidental to primary commercial activity.

Shopping Center (SC):

• N. To provide for sales of frequently-purchased household necessities and services for local residents.

Commercial Waterfront (CW):

• O. To protect the waterfront area, while promoting uses that benefit from, and need, a waterfront location.

Waterfront (W):

• P. To protect the waterfront area while promoting marine-oriented uses which will benefit from, and need, a waterfront location. The waterfront (W) district is divided into two subdistricts for the purposes of Table 10.24-1, including the base district (W) and combined with the marinship overlay (W-M) (SMC § 10.28.050, Marinship (-M)).

• (Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003; Ord. 1251 § 1 (Att. 1), 2018)

Table 10.24-1 (Land Uses Allowed in Commercial Districts) outlines the uses that are allowed in each commercial district. The notations indicate whether each use is permitted or requires one of two permits, as indicated in the legend. Blanks indicate the use is not allowed in that particular district. The last column identifies sections of the Zoning Ordinance where additional requirements are found and apply to the land use, including those from Chapter 10.44 SMC (Specific Use Requirements). Additional requirements may also be applicable.

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Table 10.24-1
LAND USES ALLOWED IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS1
Land Use CC CR CN SC CW W W-M See SMC
Manufacturing and Processing Uses
Commercial fishing P P CUP
facilities
Drydocks CUP CUP CUP
Marine industrial use P P P
Printing and CUP CUP
publishing
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City of Sausalito, CA

ZONING

§ 10.24.030

§ 10.24.030

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Table 10.24-1
LAND USES ALLOWED IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS1
Land Use CC CR CN SC CW W W-M See SMC
Recycling collection MUP MUP MUP P MUP MUP MUP SMC § 10.44.200
stations (Recycling collection
stations)
Recreation, Education, and Public Assembly Uses
Religious institutions, P CUP P SMC § 10.44.110
clubs and fraternal (Religious
organizations institutions, private
clubs and fraternal
organizations)
Libraries and MUP CUP
museums
Parks, playgrounds P P P P P
Piers and wharves MUP P P P
Private club or CUP CUP
facility
Recreation and CUP CUP
fitness centers
Schools – specialized P CUP CUP P P
education and
training
Temporary uses and P P P P P P P SMC § 10.44.310
events (Temporary uses)
Theaters and meeting CUP CUP
halls
Yacht clubs CUP CUP CUP P2
Residential Uses
Accessory dwelling P P P SMC § 10.44.080
units (Accessory dwelling
units)9
Employee housing SMC § 10.44.360
(Employee housing)
Employee housing, CUP CUP CUP CUP SMC § 10.44.370
agricultural (Employee housing,
agricultural)
Home occupations P P P P SMC § 10.44.030
(Home occupations)
Houseboats CUP3
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City of Sausalito, CA

SAUSALITO CODE

§ 10.24.030

§ 10.24.030

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Table 10.24-1
LAND USES ALLOWED IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS1
Land Use CC CR CN SC CW W W-M See SMC
Liveaboards CUP CUP CUP SMC § 10.44.170
(Liveaboards)
Low barrier P P P SMC § 10.44.380
navigation center
Residential accessory P P P SMC § 10.44.020
uses (Accessory uses and
structures)
Senior housing CUP CUP CUP4 SMC § 10.44.120
projects (Senior housing
projects)
Residential care CUP
homes, seven or more
clients
Single room CUP CUP CUP SMC § 10.88.040
occupancy housing (Definitions)
Supportive housing, P P or P4 SMC § 10.88.040
levels above first CUP (Definitions); SMC
(street or ground) § 10.88.390
only8 (Supportive housing)
Transitional housing, P P or P4 SMC § 10.88.040
levels above first CUP (Definitions)
(street or ground)
only8
Upper floor residential
One to six dwelling P P or P4 SMC § 10.44.190
units CUP (Residential use in
Seven or more CUP CUP CUP4 commercial districts)
dwelling units
Retail Trade
Art galleries dealing P CUP SMC § 10.44.230
in original art (Visitor serving
stores and art
galleries)
Building material P P P P
stores
Drinking CUP CUP CUP CUP5
establishments
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City of Sausalito, CA

ZONING

§ 10.24.030

§ 10.24.030

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Table 10.24-1
LAND USES ALLOWED IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS1
Land Use CC CR CN SC CW W W-M See SMC
Formula retail P SMC § 10.44.240
(applies to all forms (Formula retail)
of retail trade)
Full service P
supermarket
Furniture, furnishings P P P P
and equipment stores
Grocery stores P P P P
Jewelry stores – P P
precious metals and
gems
Liquor stores P CUP CUP
Lumberyard CUP
Plant nurseries CUP CUP CUP
Recreational P P P P
equipment sales and
rentals
Restaurants P CUP CUP P CUP6 SMC § 10.44.210
(Restaurants) and
Outdoor dining (on MUP MUP MUP MUP MUP
10.44.220 (Outdoor
public right-of-way
dining areas)
or private property)
Retail stores, general P P P
merchandise
(nonvisitor serving)
Secondhand or thrift P P P
stores
Visitor serving stores CUP SMC § 10.44.230
(Visitor serving
stores)
Wholesale and retail P P P P P CUP
fish sales
Wine shops P P
Service Uses
Banks and financial P CUP P SMC § 10.44.340
services – retail (Banks and financial
service – retail in the
CR District)
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City of Sausalito, CA

SAUSALITO CODE

§ 10.24.030

§ 10.24.030

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Table 10.24-1
LAND USES ALLOWED IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS1
Land Use CC CR CN SC CW W W-M See SMC
Business support P P P P
services
Child day care SMC § 10.44.100
(Child day care)
Centers P CUP CUP
Large family care MUP MUP
homes
Small family care P P
homes
Columbariums and CUP CUP
mortuaries
Marine applied arts P P CUP
Marine commercial P P P
services
Marine fuel facility CUP CUP CUP
Medical services – MUP CUP CUP CUP
clinics and
laboratories
Office conversion of CUP CUP CUP CUP SMC § 10.44.250
an existing or (Office conversions)
previously existing
retail trade,
commercial services,
drinking/eating or
residential use
Offices (new P P CUP CUP
structure or
replacement of
existing office)
Offices, temporary MUP MUP MUP MUP MUP MUP SMC § 10.44.280
(Offices, temporary)
Personal services P P P
Public safety P P P P P
facilities
Minor public utility MUP MUP MUP MUP
facilities
Major public utility CUP CUP CUP CUP
facilities
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City of Sausalito, CA

ZONING

§ 10.24.030

§ 10.24.030

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Table 10.24-1
LAND USES ALLOWED IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS1
Land Use CC CR CN SC CW W W-M See SMC
Repair and P P P
maintenance –
consumer products
Service stations CUP CUP CUP SMC § 10.44.260
(Service stations)
Storage, accessory P P P P SMC § 10.44.050
(Storage, accessory)
Upholstery shops P P P
Veterinary clinic CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP SMC § 10.44.180
(Veterinary clinics)
Warehousing CUP CUP CUP CUP
Transient Lodging
Bed and breakfasts CUP CUP
Hotels CUP CUP
Transportation and Communications Uses
Wireless See Chapter 10.45 SMC (Standards and Criteria for Wireless Chapter 10.45 SMC
communications Communications Facilities)
facilities
Boat launching ramps CUP CUP CUP
Dry boat storage CUP CUP P P
Harbor facilities and P P P7 SMC § 10.44.140
marinas (Harbor and marina
facilities)
Off-street parking CUP CUP CUP SMC § 10.40.100 –
facilities (private and 10.40.120 (Parking –
commercial) standards,
requirements, design)
Pipelines and P P P MUP
transmission lines
Transit stations and CUP CUP CUP
terminals
P Permitted use
MUP Minor use permit required Chapter 10.58 SMC
CUP Conditional use permit required Chapter 10.60 SMC
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City of Sausalito, CA § 10.24.030

SAUSALITO CODE

§ 10.24.040

Notes:

1 Zoning permit required for all uses. (See Chapter 10.52 SMC.)

2 Tax-exempt yacht clubs only, subject to restrictions in the marinship specific plan.

3 No new houseboats are allowed. Existing houseboats may be legalized with a conditional use permit.

4 Residential uses are permitted above the ground floor in the CN zoning districts located in the Second and Main Street area and the Bridgeway and Spring Street area. Residential uses are not permitted in the CN zoning district located along Bridgeway between Coloma Street and Ebbtide Avenue.

5 Other than beer and wine for on-site consumption as an accessory use.

6 Not to exceed 20 seats.

7 Marine service harbors only.

8 Supportive housing and transitional housing shall be subject to those restrictions that apply to other residential dwellings of the same type in the same zoning district, except that supportive housing is allowed by right in all multifamily and mixed use zones.

9 Accessory dwelling units in the CC, CR, and CN districts are only permitted on lots containing an existing or proposed dwelling unit, subject to SMC § 10.44.080.

(Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003; Ord. 1223 § 4, 2014; Ord. 1205 § 1, 2012; Ord. 1224 § 2, 2014; Ord. 1251 § 1 (Att. 1), 2018; Ord. 1281 § 2, 2020; Ord. 06-2025-A, 12/2/2025; Ord. 03-2026, 3/3/ 2026)

• A. Incidental Manufacturing. Incidental manufacturing, fabricating, processing, packaging, treating and related storage will be allowed in the CC, CR and CN districts, subject to the following:

  1. Incidental use or storage shall be in the same line of merchandise or service as the retail or service business conducted on the premises;

  2. Gross floor area occupied by incidental use shall not exceed 50%; and

  3. No more than five employees shall be engaged in the activities.

• B. Outdoor Display of Merchandise and Commercial Uses. All uses and related commercial activities shall be conducted in enclosed buildings except for the following uses or activities when related to permitted or conditionally permitted use within a commercial zoning district:

  1. Delivery of fuel, lubricants, and incidental servicing of automobiles (service station);

  2. Parking and loading facilities;

  3. Outdoor eating and drinking areas (MUP required);

  4. Recreation facilities;

  5. Public utility substations;

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City of Sausalito, CA

ZONING

§ 10.24.040

§ 10.24.050

6. Display of plants, flowers, and garden care and decoration items (nurseries, florist shops);

7. Display of household and garden hardwares (hardware stores);

8. Marine industrial uses;

9. Storage and lumber yards (CUP required);

10. Storage incidental to industrial uses.

• C. Large Frontage Retail. Unless authorized as a conditional use pursuant to Chapter 10.60 SMC (Conditional Use Permits), retail trade businesses that front only one street and contain over 50 feet of lineal street frontage are prohibited. A conditional use permit shall also be required for any retail trade business located in a corner building with two street frontages on a corner lot that has more than 50 feet of lineal frontage on the primary street. The measurement of frontage shall be calculated separately for each tenant in a multitenant building. This requirement does not apply in the shopping center district.

• D. Drive-Thru Facilities for Fast Food Restaurants Prohibited. Businesses that provide for the ordering of food while the customers are seated in vehicles are prohibited in all commercial zoning districts.

• (Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003; Ord. 03-2026, 3/3/2026)

Table 10.24-2 (Site Development Standards – Commercial Zoning Districts) establishes parcel requirements, residential density and site development standards for the commercial zoning districts. Minimum standards are provided for parcel size, lot width and setbacks. Residential density, floor area ratio, building coverage and height limits are maximum amounts allowed. Specific uses may be subject to additional, specific standards. Certain standards vary depending on the applicable situation. Refer to noted sections. The commercial neighborhood (CN) district is divided into two subdistricts (CN-1 and CN-2) for regulating maximum floor area ratio and maximum coverage.

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City of Sausalito, CA

SAUSALITO CODE

§ 10.24.050

§ 10.24.050

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Table 10.24-2
SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS – COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
Development
Requirement CC CR CN SC CW W W-M See SMC
Minimum parcel size 5,000 sf 5,000 sf 5,000 sf 10,000 sf 5,000 sf 25,000 sf SMC § 10.40.030
(Minimum parcel
standards) and SMC
Title 9
Minimum lot width 50 feet 50 feet 50 feet 50 feet 50 feet 50 feet SMC § 10.28.060
(Planned
See Table
development (-Pd))
10.28-1 for site
Maximum density 1,500 sf 1,500 sf 1,500 sf N/A 10% of total 10% of total development SMC § 10.44.170
1 du per berths (1) berths (1) standards (Liveaboards)
Maximum floor area 1.3 1.00 -1 -2 .20 .30 .30 SMC § 10.40.040
ratio (5) (Floor area ratio)
.50 .35
Maximum building 100% 70% 70% 50% 50% 30% 30% SMC § 10.40.050
coverage (Building coverage
limits)
Minimum Setbacks (2) SMC § 10.40.080
(Exceptions to
Front N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
required setbacks),
Side (3) 10 feet 10 feet 10 feet (4) (4) (4) 10.40.070 (Setbacks
Rear (3) 15 feet 15 feet 15 feet 20 feet 20 feet 15 feet See Table and yards), and
Chapter 10.44 SMC
10.28-1 for site
(Specific Use
development
Requirements)
standards
Maximum building 32 feet 32 feet 32 feet 32 feet 25 feet 32 feet SMC § 10.40.060
height (Height
requirements)
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City of Sausalito, CA
§ 10.24.050 ZONING § 10.24.050
Notes:
(1) Density allowed for liveaboard residential uses.
(2) Per SMC § 10.40.080E, a multifamily rental project that is located on a single site composed of multiple contiguous lots shall only be subject to setback
requirements along the exterior lot lines for projects that include a lot merger.
(3) Setback required only when adjacent to residential zoning district. See noted section for additional setback requirements between structures on the same site
and in other situations. Different setbacks may also apply if district is combined with other zoning districts.
(4) One-half the building height, but no less than five feet.
(5) Pursuant to Cal. Gov’t. Code § 65913.11(b), a housing development project consisting of three to seven units shall be allowed to have a floor area ratio of up
to 1.0, and for a housing development project consisting of eight to 10 units, the project shall be allowed a floor area ratio of up to 1.25, except for projects within
a historic district or property included on the State Historic Resources Inventory, as defined in Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 5020.1, or within a site that is designated or
listed as a city or county landmark or historic property or district pursuant to a city or county ordinance.
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City of Sausalito, CA § 10.24.050

SAUSALITO CODE

§ 10.24.050

The following requirements also apply:

• A. Minimum Lot Size. New parcels proposed in a subdivision shall also comply with applicable provisions of SMC Title 9 (Subdivisions). Existing parcels which do not meet the minimum lot area or width requirements specified by this section may be developed in accordance with the development standards outlined in Table 10.24-2 (Site Development Standards – Commercial Zoning Districts); provided, that the subject parcel has been legally created.

• B. Setbacks. Setbacks will only be required where the subject parcel is adjacent to a residential zoning district. Additional requirements for setbacks between structures on the same site, and setbacks in other situations, are established by SMC § 10.40.080 (Exceptions to required setbacks) and by Chapter 10.44 SMC (Specific Use Requirements) for certain specific land uses.

• C. Residential Density. Allowed density for liveaboard residential uses in the W district shall be one unit for each 10 berths in a marina.

• (Ord. 1167 § 2, 2003; Ord. 1205 § 2, 2012; Ord. 06-2025-A, 12/2/2025)

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City of Sausalito, CA