Chapter 24.315

COASTAL BLUFF (CB) OVERLAY ZONE[2 ]

Sections:

• 24.315.010 Chapter description.

• 24.315.020 Applicability.

• 24.315.030 Protective devices.

• 24.315.040 Drainage.

• 24.315.050 Setbacks.

• 24.315.060 Height.

• 2 Cross reference(s): Public parks, beaches and street trees, Title 20.

This chapter establishes the coastal blu] (CB) overlay zone. The CB overlay zone provisions are intended to preserve the scenic qualities of coastal blu] areas while ensuring that development does not contribute signiYcantly to blu] instability. (Code 1971, § 15.415.010; Ord. No. 2021-017, § 32, 12-13-21)

The San Buenaventura Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2026-005, passed February 17, 2026.

Page 395 of 1137

Title 24 Zoning Regulations | San Buenaventura Municipal Code

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any site, or any portion of a site, within the boundaries of an area that has been designated by the city council pursuant to Chapter 24.540 as a coastal blu] (CB) overlay zone. Such areas may be designated as “CB” on the o[cial zoning district map. All development within the CB overlay zone shall also comply with the coastal protection regulations set forth in Chapter 24.310 and shall require approval of a coastal permit pursuant to Chapter 24.515. The provisions of this chapter shall apply and be deemed enacted and e]ective as of December 8, 1983. (Code 1971, § 15.415.020)

A. No device or improvement designed or intended to improve building or lot stability is permitted which will substantially alter the natural or existing landforms of the blu] within the CB overlay zone.

B. No retaining wall or slough wall greater than two feet in height, exposed piling, or exposed foundation greater than three feet below the lowest Zoor is permitted. Where a slough wall tops a retaining wall, the slough wall may be no greater than one foot in height, with the total not to exceed three feet for the entire wall. Cut and Yll slopes of more than four feet will not be permitted.

C. The prohibitions and limitations of subsections A and B of this section shall apply in all cases except where it is determined through a soils and geology report, provided by the developer or property owner and independently veriYed by the city, that an exception is necessary to prevent loss or damage to life, health, property or essential services. In any such instance, an exception may be permitted only (1) after alternatives such as redesign, modiYed siting, and reduction of other required setbacks are determined to be infeasible, (2) to the extent necessary to prevent such loss or damage, and (3) if such exception will not have the potential to result in the substantial alteration of natural landforms, as distinct from Yll, along the blu]. Where an exception would have the potential to result in alteration of Ylled areas, such alteration shall be permitted only to (1) restore the natural contour, or (2) replace an unengineered or unstable Yll with an engineered Yll at the same contours where necessary to prevent a loss as described above. If such an exception is permitted, all feasible measures shall be employed to conduct drainage o] the subject lot so as to not adversely impact the sensitive habitat of the Alessandro Lagoon. The soils and geology report required as a part of this subsection shall include, at a minimum, the following scope:

1. The existing soils type, condition, stability, and suitability for the types of development and setbacks outlined in this section and as proposed by the property owner/applicant;

2. The maximum building envelope and types of development which could be accomplished on each lot;

3. Whether drainage can be adequately conducted o] each lot in accordance with the city’s grading ordinance without adversely impacting the sensitive habitat of the Alessandro Lagoon; and

4. How the proposed development might a]ect the scenic quality of the blu], in relation to the maximum building envelope possible on any given lot. (Code 1971, § 15.415.030)

The San Buenaventura Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2026-005, passed February 17, 2026.

Page 396 of 1137

Title 24 Zoning Regulations | San Buenaventura Municipal Code

Drainage of lots and structures on the top of the blu] must be directed away from the blu] face. Structures or lots on the blu] face shall direct drainage to a public street by means of a nonerosive device which is not visually disruptive to the blu] face. (Code 1971, § 15.415.040)

The following setback requirements shall apply to any structure constructed on the top of the blu] in addition to the front and side setback standards for the underlying zone:

A. All buildings and other structures shall be set back a su[cient distance from the blu] edge to be protected from blu] erosion for a minimum of 75 years. The required setback shall be determined through the evaluation of a soils and geology report provided at the expense of the developer or property owner and independently veriYed by the city.

B. In any case, the required setback shall be at least 25 feet from the blu] edge unless a major variance is obtained pursuant to Chapter 24.535. Before any such variance may be approved, it must be found through the coastal development permit approval process and the variance approval procedures in Chapter 24.535, in addition to all other Yndings required for the granting of such approvals, that a setback of less than 25 feet is necessary to provide or continue an otherwise permissible use of the property and that a setback of less than 25 feet will not have the potential to result in the substantial alteration of natural landforms, as distinct from Yll, along the blu] nor adversely impact the sensitive habitat of the Alessandro Lagoon. In no instance will a setback of less than 10 feet be allowed. (Code 1971, § 15.415.050; Ord. No. 2021-017, § 32, 12-13-21)

In that portion of the CB overlay zone with an underlying zoning of R-P-D, no portion of a building or other structure shall exceed a height of 30 feet above the average Ynished grade of the required setback from the blu] edge; provided, that no portion of any building or other structure within 40 feet of the blu] edge shall exceed a height of 15 feet above the average Ynished grade of the required setback from the blu] edge. The height of buildings or other structures shall be determined in accordance with Section 24.405.040. (Code 1971, § 15.415.060)