Capitola · Land use · Single-family home
Where is a single-family home allowed in Capitola?
In Capitola, a single-family home is allowed in 3 base zones (R-1, RM and MU-N), needs a conditional use permit in 1 (MH, it with a condition) and not allowed in 3 (Capitola use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: R-1, RM and MU-N
- Needs a permit: MH
- Not allowed: C-C, C-R and I
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Capitola Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a single-family home can go
Capitola's code calls this use “Single-Family Dwellings”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| R-1 Single-Family Residential | Allowed | § 17.16.020 |
| RM Multifamily Residential | Allowed | § 17.16.020 |
| MU-N Mixed Use, Neighborhood | Allowed | § 17.20.020 |
| MH Mobile Home Residential | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 2: Permitted on the mobile home park parcel or on a separate parcel of no less than five thousand square feet. | § 17.16.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- State law: State law lets most single-family lots add an ADU and a JADU (California ADU law) and a second home or a lot split under SB 9 (Gov. Code § 65852.21).
- Not covered here: Visitor Serving (-VS) overlay subzones and the -VR overlay have their own use tables and are not base zones. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Capitola
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a single-family home in the MH zone in Capitola?
Only with a conditional use permit. Capitola's use table lists it that way in MH (Mobile Home Residential) (§ 17.16.020). The code adds a condition: “Permitted on the mobile home park parcel or on a separate parcel of no less than five thousand square feet.”
Can I have a single-family home in the C-C zone in Capitola?
No. Capitola's use table does not allow it in C-C (Community Commercial) (§ 17.24.020).
Can I have a single-family home in the R-1 zone in Capitola?
Yes. Capitola's use table lists it as allowed in R-1 (Single-Family Residential) (§ 17.16.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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