Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 14 — ZONING›Chapter 14-16 — DISTRICT REGULATIONS
Watsonville Municipal Code Part 2 R-1—Single-Family Residential District (Low Density)
Watsonville Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-05 · Watsonville
Cite as: Watsonville Municipal Code Part 2 · Text as of 2026-10-05
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 | 724 | Child care homes up to fourteen (14) children |
| 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 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, § 2, Ord. 1488-26 (CM), eff. June 25, 2026)
14-16.202 Accessory uses.¶
(a) The following uses require an Administrative Review Permit:
| DLU | 4821 | Amateur radio antennas |
|---|---|---|
| 6325 | Private garage accessory to a principal residence | |
| 872 | Private swimming pool accessory to a principal residence | |
| 9130 | Greenhouses | |
| 9131 | Lathhouses | |
| — | Residential accessory uses | |
| — | Home occupations | |
| 02 | Accessory dwelling unit | |
| 02 | Junior accessory dwelling unit |
(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 § 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, § 2, Ord. 1488-26 (CM), eff. June 25, 2026)
14-16.203 Conditional uses.¶
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 | |
| 6913 | Temporary structures or uses for storage or office |
(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)
14-16.204 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 | 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 |
| 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 14-40.030 | See Section 14-40.030 |
| 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 | ||
| Landscaping | No less than twenty (20%) percent of the lot shall be landscaped. All areas of the site that are not utilized for buildings, patios, parking, pedestrian or vehicular access shall be landscaped and provided with a permanent drip irrigation system. All driveways must have a three (3') foot landscaping buffer from the side property line to include the entire length of the driveway. The front yard shall be landscaped, exclusive of walkways and driveways. No more than sixty (60%) percent of the front yard area shall be paved with permanent hard surfacing. | No less than twenty (20%) percent of the lot shall be landscaped. All areas of the site that are not utilized for buildings, patios, parking, pedestrian or vehicular access shall be landscaped and provided with a permanent drip irrigation system. All driveways must have a three (3') foot landscaping buffer from the side property line to include the entire length of the driveway. The front yard shall be landscaped, exclusive of walkways and driveways. No more than sixty (60%) percent of the front yard area shall be paved with permanent hard surfacing. |
| 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 | — | — |
| 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, § 2, Ord. 1488-26 (CM), eff. June 25, 2026)
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)
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