Part 13 — CN—Neighborhood Commercial District
Watsonville Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-07 · Watsonville
14-16.1300 Purpose. ¶
The purpose of the Neighborhood Commercial District is to provide limited centers for convenience shopping in the residential communities and neighborhoods of the City; to provide for a limited amount of retail and service uses adequate to supply the day-to-day needs of the surrounding area; but not to permit the development of a commercial center of such scope and variety as to attract substantial volumes of traffic from outside the neighborhood. (Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)
14-16.1301 Principal permitted uses. ¶
(a) The following uses require an Administrative Review Permit:
| GLU | |
|---|---|
| 0 | Existing residential only |
| 50 | Drugstores |
| 52 | Hardware, retail |
| 533 | Variety stores |
| 54 | Food, retail |
| 541 | Convenience store |
| 541 | Grocery store |
| 57 | Furniture, house furnishings, and equipment |
| 581 | Eating places — Exclusion: Drive-through facilities |
| 5811 | Restaurant |
| 5916 | Coin dealers |
| 5992 | Florists, retail |
| 6036 | Title insurance companies |
| 604 | Insurance agent offices |
| 605 | Real estate — Exclusions: 6055 and 6056 |
| 606 | Combination offices |
| 611 | Cleaning services |
| 613 | Personal service, beauty, barber |
| 615 | Shoe repair shops |
| 6195 | Video rental and sales |
| 627 | Accountant services, bookkeeping |
| 64 | Repair services, miscellaneous — Exclusions: 6499 (Blacksmith only) |
| 66 | Medical and health services |
| 67 | Professional services, other |
| 622 | Adjustment, credit, and collection agencies |
| 4833 | Satellite earth station antennas |
798-1
(Watsonville Supp. No. xx, 10-25)
14-16.1302
(b) The following uses are only permitted with an Administrative Review Permit if a primary residential unit is provided or present on the site:
| DLU | 02 | Accessory dwelling unit |
|---|---|---|
| 02 | Junior accessory dwelling unit |
(c) The following uses are only permitted with an Administrative Review Permit:
| GLU | |
|---|---|
| 6321 | Parking lots |
(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 575-82 C-M, eff. January 13, 1983, §§ 7 and 16, Ord. 659-84 C-M, eff. December 27, 1984, § 1, Ord. 758-87 C-M, eff. December 10, 1987, § 1, Ord. 773-88 C-M, eff. April 7, 1988, § 1, Ord. 1095-00 C-M, eff. October 12, 2000, § 1, Ord. 1135-02 C-M, eff. September 10, 2002, Ord. 1153-03 C-M, eff. April 24, 2003, and § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)
14-16.1302 Accessory uses, buildings, and structures. ¶
(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 576-82 C-M, eff. January 13, 1983, repealed by § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)
14-16.1303 Conditional uses. ¶
(a) The following uses require an Administrative Use Permit:
| GLU | |
|---|---|
| 2082 | Brewpub |
| 541 | Grocery store with beer and wine sales |
| 5811 | Restaurant with beer and wine sales |
(b) The following uses require a Special Use Permit:
| GLU | |
|---|---|
| 03 | Multi-family dwellings |
| 04 | Apartments, condominiums |
| 09 | Supportive housing |
| --- | --- |
| 09 | Transitional housing |
| 07 | Bed and Breakfast Inns |
| 07 | Dormitory |
| 90 | Single-family dwelling, in conjunction with permitted uses |
| 51 | Service stations, gasoline, single use (subject to criteria and standards) |
| 5811 | Restaurant with bar |
| 5811 | Restaurant with liquor sales |
| 872 | Pool, swimming, nonprofit |
| 6325 | Garage, private |
| 6341 | Mechanical car wash (subject to criteria and standards) |
| 7242 | Nursery schools |
| 7917 | Charitable organizations: Social Service and Welfare Organization |
| 7921 | Clubs, fraternal and social |
| 02 | Accessory dwelling unit |
| 50 | Retail cannabis facility (Type 10 license only) |
| DLU | |
| 541 | Convenience store with beer and wine sales |
| 541 | Grocery store with liquor sales |
(c) Any lot or portion thereof being lawfully used for any of the purposes enumerated in this section when such property is first classified in a zone wherein such use is not permitted by right or when the use is prohibited by this or any future amendment to this title, shall nonetheless be deemed to be an approved site for such permitted conditional use, which may be continued thereon. The conditions included in any district ordinance, Conditional Use Permit or Variance which authorized such use shall also continue in effect. However, when a substantial change of mode or character of the operation of such property occurs, continuation of such use shall require approval by means of a Conditional Use Permit which permit may be granted notwithstanding that the pre-existing nonconforming use is otherwise
798-2
(Watsonville Supp. No. xx, 10-25)
14-16.1303.1
not permitted by right or is a prohibited use within the zone.
(d) As used herein, the phrase “substantial change of mode or character of operation” shall include, but not be limited to: a transfer of ownership of any type of regulatory license required specifically for that use; a pattern of conduct in violation of any city, state or federal regulation, ordinance or statute; or a cessation of use for a period of six (6) months or more or upon an operational change as set forth in Section 14-25.030.
(e) Any permitted use operating pursuant to any Conditional Use Permit as required by this section, shall require approval de novo of such Conditional Use Permit upon a substantial change of mode or character of operation of such property.
(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 539-81 C-M, eff. December 10, 1981, § 1, Ord. 856-91 C-M, eff. February 21, 1991, § 1, Ord. 977-95 C-M, eff. August 24, 1995, § 1, Ord. 1095-00 C-M, eff. October 12, 2000; § 1, Ord. 1135-02 C-M, eff. September 10, 2002, § 1, Ord. 1162-03 C-M, eff. October 23, 2003, § 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006, § 1, Ord. 1369-18 (CM), eff. October 11, 2018, § 2, Ord. 1464-24 (CM), eff. July 11, 2024, and § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)
14-16.1303.1 Prohibited uses. ¶
The following uses are specifically prohibited within the CN Neighborhood Commercial District:
| DLU | |
|---|---|
| 541 | Convenience store with liquor sales |
| 5811 | Restaurant with bar |
| 582 | Bar |
| 592 | Liquor store |
(§ 1, Ord. 1135-02 C-M, eff. September 10, 2002)
posed, except as otherwise provided in this title or as modified by Special Use Permit:
(a) Minimum lot area and dimensions.
| Area, interior and corner lot | 6,000 square feet |
|---|---|
| Frontage, interior and corner lot |
50 feet |
(b) Minimum yard setback requirements.
| Front | 15 feet |
|---|---|
| Side and rear yards Exception: When property directly abuts an R District: |
None |
| Side or rear abutting | 10 feet |
- (c) Maximum building height and lot coverage.
Maximum lot coverage by 35 feet buildings or structures subject to all other requirements, three (3) stories maximum
(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)