Title 14

Part 15 — CO—Office District

Watsonville Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-07 · Watsonville

14-16.1500 Purpose.

The purpose of the Office District is to provide for concentrations of nonretail business and professional offices at locations where intensive service use of land is desirable and to serve appropriate land adjacent or close to hospitals and clinics for related medical offices and services.

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)

14-16.1501 Principal permitted uses.

The following uses require an Administrative Review Permit:

DLU 60 Finance, insurance, and real
estate
612 Photography
6146 Counseling services
621 Advertising
622 Adjustment and collection
agencies
623 Secretarial services to business

798-5

(Watsonville Supp. No. xx, 10-25)

14-16.1502

6243 Interior decorators
626 Employment agencies
627 Accountant offices
629 Business services
66 Medical and health services
67 Professional services
692 Utility company offices
4833 Satellite earth station antennas

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, Ord. 1153-03 C-M, eff. April 24, 2003)

14-16.1502 Accessory uses.

The incidental services listed in this section are intended primarily to serve occupants and patrons of the permitted uses when conducted and entered from within the building provided there is no display or advertising visible at or beyond the property lines.

GLU 119 Storage, special (incidental
on-site storage uses
appurtenant to a permitted use
only)
50 Pharmacies and medical
supplies
5814 Coffee shops
5998 Optical goods stores
632 Automobile parking, public

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 658-84 C-M, eff. December 13, 1984)

14-16.1503 Conditional uses.

(a) The following uses require an Administrative Use Permit:

DLU 6291 Cannabis testing lab (Type 8
license)

(b) The following uses require a Special Use Permit:

DLU 197 Veterinary hospitals and clinics
Exclusions: kennels
2082 Brewpub
4119 Ambulance firms
48 Communication
5811 Restaurant
5811 Restaurant with beer and wine
sales
5811 Restaurant with liquor sales
5811 Restaurant with bar
6149 Instruction schools
616 Mortuaries
628 Vocational schools, commercial
736 Health clinics
75 Hospitals
7924 Athletic clubs

(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 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

798-6

(Watsonville Supp. No. xx, 10-25)

14-16.1503.1

statute; or a cessation of use for a period of six (6) months or more or as set forth in Section 14-25.030.

(e) Any permitted use operating pursuant to a Conditional Use Permit as required by this section shall require approval de novo of a 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 § 2, Ord. 658-84 C-M, eff. December 13, 1984, § 1, Ord. 1135-02 C-M, eff. September 10, 2002, § 1, Ord. 1369-18 (CM), eff. October 11, 2018, and § 1, Ord. 1405-20 (CM), eff. July 23, 2020)

Side and rear yards None; Exceptions:
When property
directly abuts an R
District
Side and rear abutting 10 feet

(c) Maximum building height and lot coverage.

Lot coverage by buildings or
structures subject to all other
requirements
Varies
Maximum allowable height
subject to other requirements
3 stories

14-16.1503.1 Prohibited uses.

The following uses are specifically prohibited within the CO Office District:

DLU 541 Convenience store
541 Convenience with beer and
wine sales
541 Convenience with liquor sales
541 Grocery store
541 Grocery store with beer and
wine sales
541 Grocery store with liquor sales
592 Liquor store

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)

14-16.1505 Additional requirements.

All portions of the yard not used for access drives, yard storage, or parking shall be landscaped and provided with adequate sprinklers or appropriate automatic irrigation devices.

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980)