Part 2 — R-1—Single-Family Residential District (Low Density) — Watsonville Zoning Code

14-16.200 Purpose. ¶

The purpose of the Single-Family Residential (Low Density) District is to stabilize and protect the residential characteristics of the district, to promote and encourage a suitable environment for family life, and to provide for detached single-family dwellings and the services appurtenant thereto.

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

14-16.201 Principal permitted uses. ¶

The following uses require an administrative review permit:

GLU	01	Single-family dwelling
	02	Two (2) unit development
	03	Urban lot split
	09	Employee housing, six (6) or fewer employees
	09	Farmworker dwelling unit
DLU	07	Residential care facility, six (6) or fewer persons, and any similar use presently preempted by State regulatory controls
	07	Residential care facility, seven (7) or more persons, as presently preempted by State regulatory controls

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, Ord. 1153-03 C-M, eff. April 24, 2003, § 1, Ord. 1440-22 (CM), eff. November 24, 2022, and § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)

14-16.202 Accessory uses. ¶

The following uses require an Administrative Review Permit:

DLU	4821	Amateur radio antennas
	6325	Private garage accessory to a principal residence

778

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

14-16.203

	872	Private swimming pool accessory to a principal residence
	9130	Greenhouses
	9131	Lathhouses
	—	Residential accessory uses
	—	Home occupations
	724	Child care homes (small family), six (6) children or less
	724	Child care home (large family), seven (7) to fourteen (14) children
	02	Accessory dwelling unit
	02	Junior accessory dwelling unit

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 991-96 C-M, eff. February 8, 1996, Ord. 1153-03 C-M, eff. April 24, 2003, § 1, Ord. 1162-03 C-M, eff. October 23, 2003, § 1, Ord. 1412-20 (CM), eff. November 26, 2020, and § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)

6913 Temporary structures or uses for storage or office

(b) The following uses shall be subject to the approval of a Special Use Permit issued through the public hearing process by the Commission:

DLU 01 Single-family home with principal structure maximum height between two (2) stories (twenty-eight (28') feet) and two and one-half (2 1/2) stories (thirty-five (35') feet)

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 2, Ord. 557-82 C-M, eff. July 22, 1982, § 1, Ord. 753-87 C-M, eff. October 8, 1987, § 1, Ord. 991-96 C-M, eff. February 8, 1996, Ord. 1153-03 C-M, eff. April 24, 2003, § 1, Ord. 1162-03 C-M, eff. October 23, 2003, § 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006, and § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)

14-16.203 Conditional uses. ¶

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

DLU	07	Foster home for children, six (6) or less
	07	Foster family home, six (6) people or less
	4821	Amateur radio antennas exceeding the height limit of the district

14-16.204 District regulations. ¶

The following regulations shall be observed in the Single-Family Residential (Low Density) District for the use proposed, except as otherwise provided in this Title. Subdivisions requiring modification approval shall be processed in accordance with Part 10 (Modifications to District Regulations or Approved Permit) of Chapter 12 or Part 25 (Planned Development Districts) of Chapter 16 (District Regulations) of this Title:

PROVISION	TYPE OF USE:	TYPE OF USE:
	SINGLE LOT
	Permitted for Single Lot	Permitted Use Single Lot Subdivision
Minimum lot size in sq. ft exclusive of public improvements	6,000 interior 6,500 exterior	6,000 interior 6,500 exterior
Frontage:
Interior lot at front setback line (feet)	50	50

779

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

14-16.204

PROVISION	TYPE OF USE:	TYPE OF USE:
	SINGLE LOT
	Permitted for Single Lot	Permitted Use Single Lot Subdivision
Exterior lot at front setback line (feet)	60	60
For Flag Lots see Subdivision Ordinance Building separations as allowed by U.B.C.
Minimum yard setback requirements
Front of residence permitted (feet)	20	20
Garage front when door faces street
20 feet to rear of public sidewalk	Yes	Yes
Rear Yard: There shall be behind every building, other than a building of accessory use, a rear yard having a minimum depth of twenty (20') feet or 1,000 sq. ft. uncovered with a minimum dimension of eight (8') feet in the rear 1/3 lot. Then a five (5') foot setback may be used.
Side Yard
Interior lot—both sides (feet)	5	5
Exterior lot—street side (feet)	10	10
Exterior lot—interior side (feet)	5	5
“Zero” lot line—one side only	No	No
Accessory Buildings
Detached, in rear half of lot—side and rear (feet)	See Section 14-4.030	See Section 14-4.030
Accessory buildings adjacent to alley (feet)	5	5
Maximum building heights
Principal building (two (2) stories) (feet)	28	28
With Special Use Permit (principal building only) (two and one-half (2 1/2) stories) (feet)	35	35
Accessory buildings (two (2) stories) (feet)	20	20
Maximum lot coverage, total structures
Includes principal and accessory buildings and required parking spaces.
Exclude recreational facilities, walks, outdoor living, and open space areas.	50%	50%
Open Space
The following alternatives will be received by the Commission, and final choice will become a condition of the subdivision map, if approved by Council:
1. No common open space	—	X
2. Open space dedicated to City	—	X
3. Open space with subdivision homeowner maintenance district	—	—

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

780

14-16.205

PROVISION	TYPE OF USE:	TYPE OF USE:
	SINGLE LOT
	Permitted for Single Lot	Permitted Use Single Lot Subdivision
4. Open space in private ownership	—	X

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 3, Ord. 557-82 C-M, eff. July 22, 1982, § 1, Ord. 753-87 C-M, eff. October 8, 1987, § 1, Ord. 799-89 C-M, eff. May 25, 1989, and § 1, Ord. 1171-04 C-M, eff. March 23, 2004)

14-16.205 Minimum net land area. ¶

All land development projects shall provide a total net project area equivalent to 6,000 square feet of land per family exclusive of required on-site public street rights-of-way and any areas determined by the City to be unbuildable land within the R-1 District.

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