Title 14

Part 4 — RM-3—Multiple Residential District (High Density)

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

14-16.400 Purpose.

The purpose of the Multiple Residential District (High Density) is to provide for the development of

areas for greater residential density; to stabilize and protect residential characteristics of the district; and to promote a suitable environment for the lives of families and single persons living in the district. (Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 643-84 C-M, eff. July 12, 1984)

14-16.401 Principal permitted uses.

The following uses require an Administrative Review Permit:

GLU 03 Multi-family dwelling
04 Apartment units, sixteen (16) or
less on one site
06 Townhouses, row houses
containing ten (10) or less
dwelling units
09 Employee housing
09 Farmworker dwelling unit
09 Supportive housing
09 Transitional housing
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, as amended by § 1, Ord. 643-84 C-M, eff. July 12, 1984, 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, § 1, Ord. 1412-20 (CM), eff. November 26, 2020, and § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)

788

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

14-16.402

14-16.402 Accessory uses.

The following uses require an Administrative Review Permit:

(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 4821 Amateur radio antennas
6325 Private garage accessory to a
principal residence
9130 Greenhouses
9131 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 twelve (12)
children
02 Accessory dwelling unit
02 Junior accessory dwelling unit

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 643-84 C-M, eff. July 12, 1984, § 1, Ord. 991-96 C-M, eff. February 8, 1996, Ord. 1153-03 C-M, eff. April 24, 2003, § 1, Ord. 1412-20 (CM), eff. November 26, 2020, and § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)

14-16.403 Conditional uses.

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

DLU 01 Single-family dwelling if the
lot area allows only one
02 Duplex if the lot area allows
only two (2) units
4811 Amateur radio antenna
exceeding the height limit of
the district
6913 Temporary structure or use for
storage or office
GLU 01 Single-family dwellings if the
lot area allows more than one
--- --- ---
02 Duplex if the lot area allows
more than two units
04 Multi-family dwellings,
seventeen (17) or more on one
site
114 Mini warehouse, household
goods
DLU Building conversion to
multi-family residential
dwelling units
07 Bed and Breakfast Inns
07 Dormitory
87 Private nonprofit recreation
facilities, including, but not
limited to, swimming pools,
game rooms, and similar such
uses.

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 6, Ord. 557-82 C-M, eff. July 22, 1982, § 1, Ord. 643-84 C-M, eff. July 12, 1984, § 1, Ord. 991-96 C-M, eff. February 8, 1996, Ord. 1153-03 C-M, eff. April 24, 2003, § 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006, and § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)

14-16.404 District regulations.

The following regulations shall be observed in the Multiple Residential District (High Density) 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 DESIGN REVIEW
Minimum lot size in square feet for new subdivision 7,000

789

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

14-16.405

PROVISION DESIGN REVIEW
Frontage
(Interior lot at front setback line (feet)) 60
(Exterior lot at front setback line (feet)) 70
For Flag lots see Subdivision Ordinance
Building separations as allowed by U.B.C.
Minimum yard setback requirements
Front of residence (feet) 15
Garage front when door faces street to rear of public sidewalk 20
Rear yard: 10
Side Yard—Perimeter Property Line 5* for plate height over 20 feet
Interior lot—both sides (feet) See Section 14-40.030(3)
Exterior lot—street side (feet) 10
“Zero” lot line Attached subdivision only, not
allowed on side perimeter property
line. Modification required.
Accessory Buildings
Detached, in rear half of lot side and rear (feet) See Section 14-40.030
Accessory buildings adjacent to alley (feet) 5
Maximum building heights
Principal building (single-family dwelling) (feet) 28
With Special Use Permit (Single-family dwelling, principal
building) (feet)
40
Accessory buildings (feet) 24
Maximum lot converge, total structures
Includes principal and accessory buildings and required parking spaces.
Excludes recreational facilities, walks, outdoor living and open space
areas
55%
Open Space
Open space with subdivision homeowner maintenance district Attached building subdivision
Open space in private ownership Rental projects

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 7, Ord. 557-82 C-M, eff. July 22, 1982, § 1, Ord. 643-84 C-M, eff. July 12, 1984, § 3, Ord. 799-89 C-M, eff. May 25, 1989, § 3, Ord. 814-89 C-M, eff. September 7, 1989, and § 1, Ord. 1171-04 C-M, eff. March 23, 2004)

14-16.405 Minimum net land area.

All land development projects within the RM-3 District shall determine residential density by using the following Table:

790

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

14-16.503

14-16.503 Conditional uses.

(a) The following uses require an Administrative Use Permit: temporary buildings, structures, storage areas, or office uses in conjunction with a valid building permit application for remodeling or new construction.

DLU 115 Cannabis distribution facility
(Type 11 license)
115 Type 9 cannabis delivery for
cultivation/manufacturing
facilities only
2 Cannabis manufacturing (Type
6 or 7 license) volatile and/or
nonvolatile solvents
6291 Cannabis testing lab (Type 8
license)
Electrically charged security
fence
Temporary mobile office
4811 Telecommunications sites
4812 Telecommunications facilities
GLU 91 Indoor cultivation of cannabis
up to twenty-two thousand
(22,000) square feet (Type 1A,
2A or 3A license)
91 Cannabis processing

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

DLU 114 Mini-warehouses, household
goods
129 Wholesale sales
50 Retail cannabis facility (Type
10 license only)
51 Service station
547 Delicatessens
581 Restaurants and coffee shops
Exclusions: Drive-through
facilities
5811 Restaurant with bar
5811 Restaurant with beer and wine
sales
5811 Restaurant with liquor sales
--- --- ---
608 Bank service centers
659 and
7924
Health and fitness centers and
related facilities
6801 Hotel
6802 Motel
724 Day care centers
Any building exceeding
thirty-five (35') feet in height

(c) Warehouse sales require a Special Use Permit and are conditioned on:

(1) The area set aside for such sales shall not exceed twenty (20%) percent of floor area of the building,

(2) Adequate parking shall be provided, (3) Sales shall be incidental to the primary building use, and

(4) The sales shall be of a type not usually found in retail zones, or shall be regional in nature. (Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 572-82, eff. January 13, 1983, § 15, Ord. 659-84 C-M, eff. December 27, 1984, § 1, Ord. 768-87 C-M, eff. January 7, 1988, § 1, Ord. 771-88 C-M, eff. February 11, 1988, § 1, Ord. 850-90 C-M, eff. October 11, 1990, § 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, § 1, Ord. 1236-08 (CM), eff. July 10, 2008, § 1, Ord. 1276-11 (CM), eff. August 11, 2011, § 1, Ord. 1327-16 (CM), eff. February 25, 2016, § 1, Ord. 1405-20 (CM), eff. July 23, 2020, and § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)

14-16.504 Prohibited uses.

The following manufacturing uses involving the primary production of the following products from raw materials and other uses are specifically prohibited within the IP-Industrial Park District due to the hazardous or undesirable nature of the raw materials involved:

(a) Asphalt, cement, charcoal, and fuel briquets;

794-1

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

14-16.505

(b) Aniline dyes, ammonia, carbide, caustic soda, cellulose, chlorine, carbon black, creosote, hydrogen and oxygen, industrial alcohol, nitrates of an explosive nature, potash, plastic materials, synthetic resins, pyroxylin, rayon yarn, and hydrochloric, nitric, phosphoric, picric, and sulfuric acids;

(c) Coal, coke, and tar products, including their use in other manufacturing, explosive, fertilizers, gelatin, animal glue, and size;

  • (d) Turpentine, matches, and paint;
582 Bar
592 Liquor store
496 Waste/Recycle processing and
transfer station

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 768-87 C-M, eff. January 7, 1988, § 1, Ord. 850-90 C-M, eff. October 11, 1990, § 1, Ord. 1135-02 C-M, eff. September 10, 2002, and § 1, Ord. 1225-07 (CM), eff. November 8, 2007)

  • (e) Rubber, soaps, including fat rendering;

  • (f) Flour mills;

(g) The following processes: nitrating of cotton or other materials; magnesium foundry; reduction, refining, smelting, and allowing of metal or metal ores; refining petroleum products, such as gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, and lubricating oil; distillation of wood or bones; and storage, curing, or tanning of raw, green, or salted hides or skins;

(h) Stockyards, slaughterhouses, including poultry and waste piles;

(i) Storage of fireworks or explosives;

(j) Radioactive materials, or any other similar use producing detrimental effects on electronic equipment;

(k) Junk yards, auto wrecking, auto storage;

(l) Petroleum products refining and/or storage pipeline and pipeline facilities, petroleum waste disposal, dewatering plants and/or treatment facilities, accessory crude oil and gas processing users such as storage and staging facilities; and

Any other use which is determined by the Zoning Administrator to be of the same general character as any of the uses set forth in this section or the following shall be prohibited.

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

14-16.505 District regulations.

The following regulations shall be observed in the Industrial Park District for the use proposed, except as otherwise provided in this title or as modified by Conditional Use Permit:

(a) Minimum lot area and dimensions.

Area (interior lot) 20,000 square feet
Area (corner lot) 20,000 square feet
*Frontage (interior) 100 feet
Frontage (corner) 100 feet

(b) Minimum yard setback requirements.

Front yard 25 feet
**Rear yard 0 feet
**Side yard
Interior lot—one side 0 feet
Total both side yards 30 feet
Exterior—street side 15 feet
Exterior—property side 0 feet
Total both side yards 30 feet
  • Special consideration for lesser frontage shall be allowed on irregularly shaped lots holding one hundred (100') feet at the rear of the front setback.

  • ** Where the IP District abuts a residential district, the rear and/or side yard setback shall be thirty (30') feet.

(c) Other requirements.

Maximum building height (unless
extended by special exception)
35 feet
Distance between buildings on
the same lot
10 feet

794-2

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

14-16.506

Lot coverage, total structures, not
including open parking spaces
60%

(d) Exceptions.

(1) All types of public utility installations; and (2) Special exceptions may be considered for uses directly related to permitted or accessory uses which are not listed and which, by their nature, would prohibit a permitted use to function if not allowed.

(e) Special conditions.

(1) All uses permitted by this part, except for administrative, executive, and financial offices, and permitted retail commercial uses shall be subject to review in accordance with the Performance Standards procedure.

(2) All manufacturing uses shall be conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building, except for off-street parking, loading facilities, and testing functions. Testing functions not conducted in a building shall first be approved by the Zoning Administrator.

(3) Manufacturing and industrial processes shall use only solar, gas, or electricity as a fuel; provided, however, oil burning equipment may be installed for standby or emergency purposes only.

(4) In an IP District directly across a street or thoroughfare, not including a freeway, from any R District, the parking and loading facilities shall be distant at least twenty (20') feet from said street and the buildings and structures at least thirty (30') feet from said street.

(5) All portions of the front yard not used for parking and access shall be landscaped and provided with adequate sprinklers or appropriate automatic irrigation devices. Street trees shall be provided as part of an approved site plan. Any parking in the front yard area shall be screened with a landscaped strip no less than five (5') feet in width. Parking in a front yard shall be limited to eight (8) spaces or twenty (20%) percent of the required off-street parking, whichever is greater. No loading or unloading shall be permitted in the front yard setback area.

. Street trees shall be provided as part of an approved site plan. Any parking in the front yard area shall be screened with a landscaped strip no less than five (5') feet in width. Parking in a front yard shall be limited to eight (8) spaces or twenty (20%) percent of the required off-street parking, whichever is greater. No loading or unloading shall be permitted in the front yard setback area.

(6) Provide auditory separation when the IP District is adjacent to an R District.

(7) All uses within the IP District shall be subject to site plan review and other special conditions as may be deemed by the Zoning Administrator to be necessary to comply with the purpose of the IP District.

(Ord. 506-80 C-M, eff. September 11, 1980, as amended by § 1, Ord. 768-87 C-M, eff. January 7, 1988, and § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)

14-16.506 Industrially related uses.

Any other use which is determined by the Zoning Administrator to be of the same general character as any of the uses allowed in the IP District shall be permitted.

(§ 1, Ord. 768-87 C-M, eff. January 7, 1988)