Camarillo — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Camarillo Zoning Ordinance (Title 19 as provided in the retrieved materials) says about permitted uses, conditional uses, and where different zones apply in the city. It is a plain‑English synthesis tied to the controlling code sections so you can see which rules apply and where to verify parcel‑specific outcomes. For development rules (setbacks, lot sizes, lot coverage) see the city's development standards and for vehicle parking requirements see the city's parking chapters linked below.

Important links (first natural mention of each topic below):

• development standards: Camarillo Development Standards
• parking: Camarillo Parking
• design review: Camarillo Design Review
• overlay rules: Camarillo Overlay Districts
• ADUs: Camarillo ADUs
• Title 24 / state building code: California Building Standards Code
• signage: Camarillo Signage
• nonconforming uses: Camarillo Nonconforming Uses

All statements below are tied to the local ordinance text excerpts retrieved from the uploaded Camarillo zoning code materials; each legal rule refers to the controlling code section (§ number) and the file search citation for that section.

Key ordinance structure & definitions

• The ordinance establishes a list of use zones including A-E (Agricultural Exclusive), R-E, R-1 (One‑Family Residential), RPD (Residential Planned Development), MHPD, R‑C (Recreation Commercial), P‑O (Professional Office), C‑N (Commercial Neighborhood), CPD, L‑M (Limited Manufacturing), M‑1 (Light Manufacturing), M‑2 (Heavy Manufacturing) and O‑S (Open Space). The list is set out in § 19.06.010 .

• The ordinance requires that no building or use may be established unless it conforms to the regulations for the zone it is in (use, height, lot coverage, setbacks) and all required permits are obtained; this is the foundational rule for land use compliance in the code (§ 19.08.010) .

District-by-district breakdown

Each subsection below gives the expressed purpose (if present in the code), the most typical permitted uses and common conditional uses, key dimensional or programmatic standards the ordinance lists for that zone, and the specific code citation(s).

Camarillo Old Town (COT)

• Purpose: Preserve the character of Camarillo Old Town and regulate placement, design, and intensity of uses in the Old Town area (§ 19.25.010) .
• Typical permitted uses: retail (antique stores, apparel), personal services (barber/beauty), food-serving uses including restaurants with outdoor dining, banks, clubs, churches, small commercial uses—most uses must be conducted within a building except customary open-air enterprises (§ 19.25.020) .
• Key standards: New development in COT requires a planned development permit; all uses must conform to the chapter’s development standards and be conducted wholly within a building unless explicitly allowed (§ 19.25.020) .
• Where it applies: Old Town area as shown on the official zoning map. Verify lot-level requirements and planned development conditions with the Planning Division (parcel-level application is required) (§ 19.25.020) .

Camarillo Commons Mixed‑Use (CCM)

• Purpose: A mixed‑use zone with coordinated lot and building standards to permit a mix of commercial and residential uses (§ 19.21.010 et seq.; see property development standards cross‑refs) .
• Typical permitted uses and CUP uses: CCM allows a range of commercial uses and lists specific conditional uses including automobile service stations, bed & breakfast inns, hotels/motels, liquor stores, live/work units, residential not in conjunction with commercial, schools, and senior housing; some uses (like day care for >6 children) can be approved at the director level via a conditional use permit process (§ 19.21.040; § 19.21.045) .
• Key dimensional standards: Minimum zone area 40,000 sq ft, minimum lot width 150 ft, minimum lot depth 200 ft; front yard 15–20 ft (parking cannot be between building and public street); side yard adjacent to residential minimum 20 ft; rear yards may not be required except where adjacent to public streets where front yard applies (§ 19.21.070; § 19.21.080) .
• Other rules: CCM projects must meet the property development and performance standards in §§ 19.26.065–19.26.180 and commercial performance standards in § 19.21.065 (referenced within the CCM chapter) .

Professional Office (P‑O)

• Purpose/character: Office‑type uses with accessory retail/services limited to serving tenants and staff; accessory uses are permitted where incidental to primary P‑O uses (§ 19.22.030) .
• Typical permitted/conditional uses: Accessory coffee shop, newsstand, pharmacy restricted to pharmacy functions for building tenants; parking for private automobiles on‑site; conditional uses include churches, educational institutions, publicly owned buildings, sanitariums/convalescent homes, and structures exceeding 25 feet in height (height >25 ft requires a CUP) (§ 19.22.030; § 19.22.040) .
• Key dimensional/performance rules: Accessory uses cannot have exterior evidence (e.g., signs) visible from outside the office building and may not have direct street entrances where restricted; buildings over 25 ft may be subject to CUP review (§ 19.22.030; § 19.22.040) .

Commercial Neighborhood (C‑N)

• Purpose/character: Neighborhood-serving retail and services with property development and performance standards applied to all lots (§ 19.24.030) .
• Typical permitted uses and conditional uses: Retail, personal services, restaurants, limited neighborhood commercial operations. Conditional uses include temporary agricultural stands and off‑sale alcoholic beverage establishments when concurrent with grocery/drug stores; director‑level CUP allowed for certain day care uses (§ 19.24.025; § 19.24.026) .
• Key standards: All uses must meet the chapter’s development standards; commercial/industrial performance standards in Chapter 19.54 apply to C‑N uses (§ 19.24.030; § 19.24.035) .

Service Commercial (SC)

• Purpose/character: Service‑oriented commercial activities; specific prohibitions and director‑level CUPs are identified to manage compatibility (§ 19.27.040 et seq.) .
• Typical permitted & conditional uses: The SC chapter lists both permitted uses and a long list of uses that may be allowed subject to a CUP (artists’ lofts, commercial recreation, residential above first floor, restaurants, bars, tasting areas for breweries/wineries if director‑approved, etc.) (§ 19.27.040; § 19.27.041) .
• Express prohibitions: Certain uses are expressly prohibited in SC (e.g., general retail uses except as specified, drinking establishments in some subparts) — check § 19.27.045 for prohibitions and director‑level exceptions (§ 19.27.045) .
• Tasting area standards: If allowed, tasting areas are limited to 30% of the gross floor area of the winery/brewery and must meet specific parking rules (§ 19.27.055) .

Light Manufacturing (M‑1)

• Typical permitted uses: Production, manufacturing, distribution facilities, and accessory retail of products produced on‑site (with retail capped at a percentage for some uses); accessory uses and service industries are listed in the M‑1 chapter (§ 19.30.030 et seq.) .
• Conditional uses: A variety of uses including amusement parks, banks, churches, buildings exceeding 40 ft in height (excluding rooftop equipment), and other potentially higher‑impact uses require CUPs (§ 19.30.040) .
• Development controls: Retail incidental to manufacturing is allowed but limited — check the M‑1 text for the exact retail cap and parking requirements; commercial performance standards and performance limits (noise, odor, etc.) are applied to these zones (§ 19.30.030; § 19.30.040) .

Heavy Manufacturing (M‑2)

• Typical permitted uses: A broader set of heavier industrial and service industries (contractor yards, bottling, building materials sales, trucking terminals, veterinarian clinics, etc.) subject to planned development permit rules (§ 19.32.030) .
• Conditional uses: Auto salvage yards, dog kennels, emergency shelters, exploration/drilling, heliports, hospitals for animals, and buildings over 40 ft may require CUPs or planned development approvals (§ 19.32.040) .
• Permits: M‑2 often requires a planned development permit for uses and site layout; review Chapters 19.32.050–.310 as applicable per the code references in M‑2 (§ 19.32.030) .

Limited Manufacturing (L‑M)

• Purpose/character: Industrial uses limited to non‑nuisance manufacturing and service operations; strict performance standards to prevent noise, odor, dust, vibration, glare, or other objectionable elements (§ 19.28.170) .
• Key standards: Landscaping minimum 10% of net developed site with permanent irrigation and screening requirements when adjacent to residential; a 6‑ft masonry wall required where L‑M abuts a residential zone across a public street/alley (§ 19.28.260; § 19.28.150) .

Recreation Commercial (R‑C)

• Typical conditional uses: Buildings over 45 ft, campgrounds/travel trailer parks, commercial amusement centers, fairs, heliports, movie sets, outdoor festivals, stadiums, and other large‑scale recreation uses may be allowed with CUPs (§ 19.20.030) .
• Key process: CUP approval requires findings that the use is not injurious to public health, safety or welfare and is compatible with surrounding properties; the planning commission is the decisionmaker for R‑C CUPs (§ 19.20.030) .

Agricultural Exclusive (A‑E)

• Typical permitted and conditional uses: Growing agricultural crops and accessory structures are permitted; the code lists many farm‑related operations (apiaries, poultry up to specified counts, farmworker housing up to allowed beds/units, cottage food operations, and more). Many agricultural operations require conditions or CUPs for larger scale activities (e.g., dairies, feed lots, production eggs >500 birds) (§ 19.10.030 et seq.) .
• Key rules: Restrictions on animal raising (exceptions noted in the chapter), conditions for temporary mobile homes for caretakers, and farmworker housing standards are included in the A‑E chapter (§ 19.10.030) .

Residential zones (R‑1, R‑E, RPD, etc.)

• The ordinance lists the R‑zone categories (including R‑1) in the zone list (§ 19.06.010) and contains general provisions about lawful existing lots and nonconforming uses in § 19.08.030. Specific permitted uses, dimensional standards (front/side/rear setbacks, lot area per dwelling unit, height limits) for particular R subzones are in the residential parts of the code not fully excerpted in the retrieved snippets. See the zone list and the code’s development standards for exact R‑zone numeric standards (§ 19.06.010; § 19.08.030) .
• Note: Specific R‑zone numeric setbacks and lot area minimums for R‑1 were not found in the retrieved materials (Verify with the jurisdiction).

Quick reference table — common decision‑relevant items

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy (high‑level)

• Confirm the property’s zone on the official zoning map (zones list in § 19.06.010) .
• Confirm the proposed use is listed as a permitted use in the zone chapter or that a conditional use permit (CUP) is available for it (§ 19.08.010; zone chapters) .
• If the use requires a CUP or planned development permit, prepare findings showing compatibility and that public health/safety/welfare won’t be injured as required by each CUP provision (see the CUP criteria in the applicable zone chapter, e.g., § 19.22.040, § 19.30.040, § 19.21.040) .
• Provide site plans that demonstrate compliance with the chapter’s property development and performance standards (setbacks, yards, lot area) and the city’s development standards and parking requirements.
• Address landscaping and screening rules (for example 10% landscaping in L‑M zones and screening requirements) (§ 19.28.260) .
• Prepare any required analyses for noise, odor, traffic, utilities, or environmental controls referenced in performance standards (e.g., M‑1/M‑2 performance chapters).
• If the property is in an overlay or historic area, include any overlay‑required submittals (see overlay districts and historic preservation).
• Expect planning commission review for zone clearance where required (see procedural rules such as § 19.20.180) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Camarillo’s zoning code says each parcel must follow the rules for whatever zone it’s in: the code lists exactly which uses are allowed outright and which need a conditional use permit (CUP) or planned development (PD). Commercial zones (C‑N, SC, CCM) allow neighborhood or mixed uses but have specific CUP lists and dimensional rules (for example, CCM has minimum zone area and front yard standards) and manufacturing zones (M‑1, M‑2, L‑M) limit uses by performance and screening requirements; always check the specific zone chapter and get a CUP if your use is listed as conditional (§ citations in the district sections above) .

Information Gaps

• Full numeric residential zone development standards for R‑1/R‑2/RPD (setbacks, lot area per dwelling, maximum lot coverage) were not present in the retrieved snippets. Verify these directly in the full Title 19 residential chapters. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Any recent adopted amendments after the retrieved document snapshot — verify with the Planning Division or the official municipal code online. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Source References

• Zone list and definitions: § 19.06.010 — zones established (A‑E, R‑1, M‑1, M‑2, etc.)
• General zoning application and lawful existing uses: § 19.08.010 and § 19.08.030
• Camarillo Old Town (COT) intent and permitted uses: § 19.25.010 – § 19.25.020
• Camarillo Commons Mixed‑Use (CCM) permitted and conditional uses; lot and yard standards: § 19.21.040 – § 19.21.080
• Professional Office (P‑O) accessory uses and CUP rules: § 19.22.030 – § 19.22.040
• Commercial Neighborhood (C‑N) uses and director‑level CUPs: § 19.24.025 – § 19.24.030
• Service Commercial (SC) CUP lists and tasting area limits: § 19.27.040 – § 19.27.055
• Light Manufacturing (M‑1) permitted and CUP uses: § 19.30.030 – § 19.30.040
• Heavy Manufacturing (M‑2) permitted and CUP uses; planned development requirement: § 19.32.030 – § 19.32.040
• Limited Manufacturing (L‑M) landscaping and performance standards: § 19.28.150; § 19.28.260
• Recreation Commercial (R‑C) CUP list: § 19.20.030
• Agricultural (A‑E) permitted uses and farmworker housing: § 19.10.030
• Planning commission plot plan / zone clearance procedure: § 19.20.180

Retrieved passages

• Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 7) High relevance show source text
• Camarillo Zoning Code (chapter 19.63.) High relevance show source text
• Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance show source text
• Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance show source text
• Camarillo Zoning Code (Chapter 19.74) High relevance show source text
• Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Camarillo Zoning Code (Chapter 19.62) High relevance show source text
• Camarillo Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Zone list and definitions: **§ 19.06.010** — zones established (A‑E, R‑1, M‑1, M‑2, etc.) (§ 19.06.010)
• General zoning application and lawful existing uses: **§ 19.08.010** and **§ 19.08.030** (§ 19.08.010)
• Camarillo Old Town (COT) intent and permitted uses: **§ 19.25.010 – § 19.25.020** (§ 19.25.010)
• Camarillo Commons Mixed‑Use (CCM) permitted and conditional uses; lot and yard standards: **§ 19.21.040 – § 19.21.080** fileciteturn0file5 (§ 19.21.040)
• Professional Office (P‑O) accessory uses and CUP rules: **§ 19.22.030 – § 19.22.040** (§ 19.22.030)
• Commercial Neighborhood (C‑N) uses and director‑level CUPs: **§ 19.24.025 – § 19.24.030** (§ 19.24.025)
• Service Commercial (SC) CUP lists and tasting area limits: **§ 19.27.040 – § 19.27.055** (§ 19.27.040)
• Light Manufacturing (M‑1) permitted and CUP uses: **§ 19.30.030 – § 19.30.040** (§ 19.30.030)
• Heavy Manufacturing (M‑2) permitted and CUP uses; planned development requirement: **§ 19.32.030 – § 19.32.040** (§ 19.32.030)
• Limited Manufacturing (L‑M) landscaping and performance standards: **§ 19.28.150; § 19.28.260** (§ 19.28.150)
• Recreation Commercial (R‑C) CUP list: **§ 19.20.030** (§ 19.20.030)
• Agricultural (A‑E) permitted uses and farmworker housing: **§ 19.10.030** (§ 19.10.030)
• Planning commission plot plan / zone clearance procedure: **§ 19.20.180** (§ 19.20.180)
• Camarillo_ZoningCode.md

• Official Camarillo code library