Imperial Beach · Land use · Apartment building
Where is an apartment building (multifamily housing) allowed in Imperial Beach?
In Imperial Beach, an apartment building (multifamily housing) is allowed in 3 base zones (C/MU-1, C/MU-2 and C/MU-3, all with a condition) (Imperial Beach use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: C/MU-1, C/MU-2 and C/MU-3
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Imperial Beach Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where an apartment building (multifamily housing) can go
Imperial Beach's code calls this use “Multiple-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 |
|---|---|---|
| C/MU-1 General Commercial and Mixed-Use Zone | Allowed — see note Note Notes: See definition. See requirement for active commercial uses on ground floor per Sections 19.26.020(A)(1), 19.27.020(A)(1), 19.28.020(A)(1). | Chapter 19.23 — COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE USE REGULATIONS |
| C/MU-2 Seacoast Commercial and Mixed-Use Zone | Allowed — see note Note Notes: See definition. See requirement for active commercial uses on ground floor per Sections 19.26.020(A)(1), 19.27.020(A)(1), 19.28.020(A)(1). | Chapter 19.23 — COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE USE REGULATIONS |
| C/MU-3 Neighborhood Commercial and Mixed-Use Zone | Allowed — see note Note Notes: See definition. See requirement for active commercial uses on ground floor per Sections 19.26.020(A)(1), 19.27.020(A)(1), 19.28.020(A)(1). | Chapter 19.23 — COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE USE REGULATIONS |
What else applies
- State law: State laws such as AB 2011, SB 6 and the density bonus law can allow homes on some commercial sites, or more units than this table shows.
- Not covered here: Residential-zone cells come from prose use lists, not tables: a use not named in a list gets no cell (the 'unlisted = prohibited' rule is stated only for the C/MU table); PF, OS, UR zone lists do not name most of the 16 uses; Seacoast overlay zones. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Imperial Beach
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have an apartment building (multifamily housing) in the C/MU-1 zone in Imperial Beach?
Yes, with a condition. Imperial Beach's use table lists it as allowed in C/MU-1 (General Commercial and Mixed-Use Zone) (Chapter 19.23 — COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE USE REGULATIONS). The code adds a condition: “See definition. See requirement for active commercial uses on ground floor per Sections 19.26.020(A)(1), 19.27.020(A)(1), 19.28.020(A)(1).”
General information, not legal advice.
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