Local zoning · Marina
Marina — Land Use
Land Use under the Marina local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.
Last reviewed: July 3, 2026
Overview
This page summarizes what Marina's local zoning ordinance (Title 17) says about allowable land uses, district purposes, and the most decision-relevant dimensional and use limits. It is drawn from the Marina Municipal Code (Title 17 ZONING) and cites the controlling § numbers so you can verify the ordinance text. For related subtopics see the city’s Marina Zoning overview.
Key takeaways: Marina regulates uses by district (residential, commercial, industrial, open space, airport, etc.), distinguishes permitted uses from conditional/conditional-coastal uses, and ties many coastal or potentially impactful uses to use permits or coastal development permits.
District-by-district breakdown
Note: each district name below is the city’s zoning label (bolded). For procedural controls such as parking, site design and review see the city’s Marina Parking, Marina Development Standards, and Marina Design Review pages.
R-1 — Single-Family Residential (General)
Purpose and where it applies: standard single-family neighborhoods across the city; rules in Chapter 17.41 apply.
Typical permitted uses:
- One single‑family dwelling per lot and limited accessory uses (guest houses/secondary dwellings are regulated under Section 17.06.040) § 17.41.150 .
- Small-scale home occupations, rooming for up to two persons, limited household animals § 17.41.150 .
Key dimensional & development standards:
- Maximum building height (main buildings): 30 ft; accessory buildings: 16 ft § 17.41.150 (E.1) .
- Minimum lot area: 6,000 sq ft (corner lots 7,000 sq ft) § 17.41.150 (F) .
- Average site width: 60 ft; site coverage: 35% § 17.41.150 (G, I) .
- Minimum side yard: 6 ft; rear yard: 20 ft § 17.41.150 & § 17.41.160 (side/rear details) .
Practical notes: secondary dwellings/guest houses are allowed per the secondary‑dwelling rules (see Section 17.06.040) — for ADU-specific statutory changes check the city's ADU guidance Marina ADUs and state law California ADU law. The city also links site design to design review thresholds (see § 17.21.170 for mixed‑use design review standards) .
R-2 — Low-Medium Density Residential
Purpose and uses: multi‑family and duplex opportunities; rules in Chapter 17.16.
Typical permitted uses:
- Two‑family and certain multi-family residential uses, accessory uses and limited home occupations § 17.16.020 .
Conditional uses and standards:
- Large care homes, day‑care centers, public/quasi‑public facilities and condominium/PUD projects subject to use‑permit and other chapter provisions § 17.16.030 .
- Height limits, setbacks and accessory-structure review are specified in the chapter § 17.16.050 .
R-3 — Medium Density Residential
Purpose and uses: Chapter 17.18; allows single‑family and some multi‑family and residential support uses.
Typical permitted uses:
- Single‑family dwellings, guest houses/secondary dwelling (see § 17.06.040), small residential care homes, day‑care‑related uses and home occupations § 17.18.020 .
Conditional uses:
- Rooming houses, extended care medical facilities, day care centers, community facilities and PUDs subject to use permits § 17.18.030 .
C-1 — Neighborhood Commercial
Purpose and where it applies: small-scale retail and service for nearby residents; Chapter 17.22.
Typical permitted uses:
- Retail shops, personal services, restaurants, offices and similar low‑impact commercial uses § 17.22.030 .
Key dimensional standards:
- Maximum height: 50 ft generally, but portions within 20 ft of any R-1/R-2/R-3/K lot are limited to 35 ft § 17.22.040 .
- Minimum front yard: 10 ft (landscaped except accessways) § 17.22.070 .
- Minimum site area 2,000 sq ft; average width 25 ft § 17.22.050–060 .
Notes: mixed‑use residential above commercial is allowed as part of mixed‑use development rules and triggers design and parking considerations (see mixed‑use limitations in § 17.21.170) .
PC — Planned Commercial
Purpose: planned retail/employment node emphasizing coastal visitor services; Chapter 17.26.
Permitted uses and process:
- A wide list of retail, service, lodging and visitor‑oriented uses are allowed subject to a zoning permit and (where applicable) coastal permit § 17.26.030 .
- Some conditional uses (research labs, limited residential up to 10% of floor area) require planning‑commission approval § 17.26.050 .
Key development standards:
- Maximum height: 35 ft (coastal view corridors may enforce lower height in a coastal permit) § 17.26.060 .
- Maximum site coverage: 30% (non‑coastal); 25% or less in the Coastal Zone per the local coastal program § 17.26.070 .
- Parking: see Chapter 17.44; landscaping minimum 10% of site § 17.26.080–090 .
M — Industrial
Purpose and allowed operations: Chapter 17.30; supports light‑impact manufacturing, repair, and trades, primarily within fully enclosed buildings.
Permitted uses:
- Light industrial, animal hospitals, wholesale storage, small manufacturing, trades shops when totally enclosed § 17.30.020 .
Conditional uses & performance standards:
- Industrial uses located outdoors, auto sales/repair, contractor yards and other heavier uses require a use permit § 17.30.030 .
- Performance standards (air pollution, noise, odors, etc.) apply; major applications are referred to the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (MBUAPCD) and entitlements may carry conditions to comply with MBUAPCD rules § 17.30.040 .
O — Open Space
Purpose and uses: conserve park/open areas and sensitive coastal habitats; Chapter 17.10.
Permitted uses:
- Crop/tree farming and grazing; public parks and recreation; beach access and protected natural areas § 17.10.030–020 .
Conditional uses:
- Accessory recreation structures, beach access parking, shoreline protection and related public uses subject to a use/coastal permit § 17.10.040 .
K — Agricultural‑Residential
Purpose: low‑density agricultural/residential; Chapter 17.12.
Permitted uses:
- One‑family dwellings and broad agricultural operations (cropping, livestock) and accessory farm outbuildings § 17.12.020 .
Conditional uses:
- Larger agricultural processing, animal sales, dairies, feed yards and other agriculturally intensive operations require a use permit or coastal permit § 17.12.030 .
PF — Public Facilities and C‑D — Coastal Conservation & Development
Purpose and uses: Chapter 17.41 (PF) and 17.41.160 (C‑D).
Key points:
- PF: no uses are permitted outright; public and quasi‑public uses (schools, government offices, utilities, one single‑family residence only as provided in the local coastal plan) are allowed by coastal development permit § 17.41.140 .
- C‑D: generally no permitted uses; coastal research, coastally dependent industrial/mariculture, visitor‑serving uses (on appropriate parcels) and other coastally dependent recreation uses are allowed only by coastal development permit with findings to protect habitat, access and views § 17.41.160 .
Airport zones (A‑1, A‑2, A‑3)
Purpose: airport and aviation‑support uses; Chapter 17.28.
How uses are managed:
- Use groups are defined and the director of planning together with the airport manager determine whether a proposed use is permitted/conditional/prohibited in A‑1/A‑2/A‑3. Table 1 in § 17.28.020 categorizes permitted uses by zone and use group § 17.28.020 .
- Lease and apron‑front policies are specific and time‑limited in some cases (see § 17.28.020 lease rules) .
Quick standards & permitted-uses table (decision-relevant)
| District | Typical permitted uses (short) | Key limits / standards | Code Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| R‑1 | Single‑family, accessory uses | Height 30 ft main / 16 ft accessory; min lot 6,000 sf; coverage 35% | § 17.41.150 |
| R‑2 | Duplex/low‑mid multi‑family | Conditional care homes/daycare; height/setbacks per chapter | § 17.16.020–050 |
| R‑3 | Single/multi family, residential care | Guest house/secondary dwelling rules; conditional use list | § 17.18.020–030 |
| C‑1 | Neighborhood retail & services | Height 50 ft (max); 35 ft near R districts; front yard 10 ft | § 17.22.030–070 |
| PC | Planned commercial; visitor‑oriented | Height 35 ft; coverage 30% (non‑coastal) § 17.26.060–070 | |
| M | Light industrial, trades | Enclosed use preferred; strict performance (air, noise) standards | § 17.30.020–040 |
| O | Open space, parks, habitat | Permits for beach access, recreation structures; conserve habitat | § 17.10.020–040 |
| K | Agricultural + single family | Broad ag uses; many intensive ag uses conditional | § 17.12.020–030 |
| PF | Public facilities (no outright permitted) | Public uses by coastal permit; development regs set in permit | § 17.41.140 |
| C‑D | Coastal conservation/development | Generally conditional; strict coastal findings required | § 17.41.160 |
| A‑1/A‑2/A‑3 | Airport/aviation & related support | Use groups; director/airport manager determine allowed uses | § 17.28.020 |
Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)
- Confirm the zoning district for the parcel and read the district’s permitted/conditional lists (e.g., § 17.41.150 for R‑1) .
- Determine whether the project is a permitted use, requires a use permit or a coastal development permit (many C‑D, PF, Coastal Zone items require coastal permits) § 17.41.140–160 .
- Verify dimensional standards (height, setbacks, lot area and coverage) in the applicable district chapter (examples: § 17.41.150, § 17.26.060–070) .
- Prepare parking calculations and compliance with Chapter 17.44; consult the city Marina Parking guidance § 17.26.080 .
- If mixed‑use or over thresholds, arrange for design review per the city’s design review rules and mixed‑use criteria § 17.21.170 and the Marina Design Review page .
- For any industrial or potentially polluting activity, prepare performance data and expect referral to MBUAPCD per § 17.30.040 .
- Submit landscaping plans to meet the district minimums; see the city’s Marina Landscaping and Screening resource and the district landscaping references (e.g., § 17.26.090) .
- If proposing an ADU/secondary dwelling or guest house, follow secondary-dwelling rules in § 17.06.040 and check the city's ADU guidance Marina ADUs .
- For any permitted sign or signage question, consult Marina Signage.
- If the parcel is in an overlay, check the rules in the Marina Overlay Districts and confirm any added standards. Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel‑specific interpretations.
Risks & Ambiguities
| Issue | Why it matters | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal vs inland parcel (Coastal Zone triggers) | Many otherwise-permitted uses become conditional/coastal (PF, C‑D, O, some R districts) and require coastal permits | Verify coastal designation for the parcel and which § applies; check § 17.41.140–170 |
| “Permitted” vs “Conditional” language | The ordinance often lists many specific conditional uses — a use that seems similar may still require a use permit | Confirm exact use-group classification (e.g., airport use groups § 17.28.020) and get the planning director’s determination |
| Mixed‑use parking reductions and design triggers | Mixed‑use rules can reduce parking but trigger stricter design review and FAR limits | Check § 17.21.170 for mixed‑use siting, FAR and parking rules |
| Performance standards for M district | Industrial applicants must demonstrate emissions/noise compliance and will face MBUAPCD review | Prepare technical submittals; see § 17.30.040 |
| Guest house / ADU terminology | The code references guest houses/secondary dwellings at § 17.06.040, but state ADU law can change local procedures | Verify local ADU procedures and cross‑check state ADU rules California ADU law |
| Parcel-specific site standard exceptions | Exceptions (build‑to lines, build‑to reductions in retail core) exist and can change front/setback requirements | Confirm if the site lies within a retail core or overlay and whether a build‑to line applies § 17.22.030 (F) |
Plain-English Summary
Marina’s Title 17 controls what you can use land for by assigning each parcel to a named zoning district (for example R‑1, C‑1, M, O, PC), listing what is allowed outright and what needs a use permit or coastal permit, and prescribing heights, setbacks, coverage and other standards — see the controlling district sections such as § 17.41.150 for R‑1 and § 17.26.030–070 for PC to confirm specifics. Verify coastal zone status, parking requirements, and whether your use is conditional before you apply; the city refers many technical reviews (air quality, coastal findings, design review) to specialists or boards.
Information Gaps
- A single consolidated citywide land‑use matrix (a citywide “Table of Permitted Uses” across all districts) was not present in the retrieved excerpts; several district chapters and specialized tables (airport Table 1) exist but no one table that covers every district was located in the retrieved materials. Not found in retrieved materials.
- Local administrative forms, current fee schedule, and any post‑2017 ordinance amendments beyond the 2017 codification are not included in the retrieved file. Verify with the jurisdiction. Not found in retrieved materials.
- While Title 17 references guest houses/secondary dwellings (§ 17.06.040), the retrieval did not include a consolidated local ADU ordinance text reflecting post‑state‑law updates. Verify with the jurisdiction and the city ADU guidance Marina ADUs.
Source References
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — R‑1 (single‑family): § 17.41.150
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — K (agricultural): § 17.12.020–030
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — PC (Planned Commercial): § 17.26.030–070
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — M (Industrial): § 17.30.020–040
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — O (Open Space): § 17.10.020–040
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — C‑1 (Neighborhood Commercial): § 17.22.030–070
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — R‑2 and R‑3 chapters: § 17.16 and § 17.18 respectively
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — PF and C‑D: § 17.41.140–170
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — Airport zones & Table 1 (use groups): § 17.28.020
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — Mixed‑use siting & design review: § 17.21.170
Sources
Retrieved passages
- Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (§ 7) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (Section 17.30.040) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
Cited sections
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — **R‑1 (single‑family)**: **§ 17.41.150** (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — **K (agricultural)**: **§ 17.12.020–030** (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — **PC (Planned Commercial)**: **§ 17.26.030–070** (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — **M (Industrial)**: **§ 17.30.020–040** (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — **O (Open Space)**: **§ 17.10.020–040** (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — **C‑1 (Neighborhood Commercial)**: **§ 17.22.030–070** (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — **R‑2 and R‑3** chapters: **§ 17.16** and **§ 17.18** respectively (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — **PF and C‑D**: **§ 17.41.140–170** (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — **Airport zones & Table 1 (use groups)**: **§ 17.28.020** (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — **Mixed‑use siting & design review**: **§ 17.21.170** (Title 17)
- Marina_ZoningCode.md
Frequently asked questions
What can I build on an R-1 lot in Marina?
You can build one single‑family dwelling and customary accessory uses; secondary/guest houses are subject to the secondary‑dwelling rules (see § 17.41.150 and § 17.06.040) and dimensional standards such as 30 ft maximum main‑building height and 35% site coverage apply.
What are Marina setback and height requirements for single‑family homes?
For the R‑1 district the ordinance sets maximum main building height at 30 ft and accessory building height at 16 ft, minimum rear yard 20 ft, minimum side yards 6 ft, and site coverage 35% under § 17.41.150. Parcel‑specific exceptions (retail core, build‑to lines) appear in other districts; verify with the planning department for lot‑by‑lot application.
Do I need design review in Marina?
Design review applies to mixed‑use projects and some discretionary permits; the mixed‑use design criteria and site/architectural design review factors are in § 17.21.170. If your project exceeds thresholds described in district chapters or triggers discretionary review, it will go to design review.
What uses are permitted in the Planned Commercial (PC) district?
The PC district allows a range of retail, visitor‑oriented services, lodging and related uses subject to a zoning permit; some conditional uses (research labs, limited residential) require planning‑commission approval. See § 17.26.030–050 for the full lists and § 17.26.060–070 for height and coverage rules.
Are industrial activities allowed in Marina’s M district?
Yes — light industrial and manufacturing inside completely enclosed buildings are permitted; heavier or outdoor industrial uses (contractor yards, auto repair, etc.) are conditional and subject to strict performance standards (air, noise, odors). The MBUAPCD review is required for air‑emitting activities under § 17.30.020–040.
What if my parcel is in the Coastal Zone or a C‑D district?
Many coastal parcels (PF, C‑D, some open space or conservation areas) have no outright permitted uses and require a coastal development permit with findings to protect habitat, access and views; see § 17.41.140–160. Always verify coastal designation for the specific parcel.
How are airport‑related uses regulated at Marina Municipal Airport?
Airport uses are managed with use groups and zone‑specific rules in § 17.28.020; the director of planning and the airport manager determine whether a proposed use is permitted, conditional or prohibited and Table 1 lists permitted uses by subzone.
Where are parking requirements specified?
District chapters reference Chapter 17.44 for parking standards — for example the PC chapter points to Chapter 17.44 and requires minimums and landscaping; consult Chapter 17.44 and the city's parking guidance for exact ratios.
Can I run a home‑based business in Marina?
Limited home occupations are allowed in most residential districts (e.g., R‑1, R‑2, R‑3) consistent with the home‑occupation rules in Title 17; check the specific district permitted‑use language and the home occupation section cited in each chapter.
Who decides whether my proposed use is “similar” to a listed conditional use?
The planning commission (or director in some cases) makes determinations about whether a proposed use is similar to listed uses and whether a use permit/coastal permit is required; see district conditional‑use language and the planning commission authority in each chapter (example § 17.12.030 for K district).
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