Mountain View · Land use · Emergency shelter
Where is an emergency shelter allowed in Mountain View?
In Mountain View, an emergency shelter is allowed in 1 base zone (MM) and needs a conditional use permit in 6 (CN, CS, CO, CRA, ML and 1 more) (Mountain View use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: MM
- Needs a permit: CN, CS, CO, CRA, ML and PF
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Mountain View 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 emergency shelter can go
Mountain View's code calls this use “Emergency shelter”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| MM | Allowed | § 36.20.05 |
| CN | Needs a conditional use permit | § 36.18.05 |
| CS | Needs a conditional use permit | § 36.18.05 |
| CO | Needs a conditional use permit | § 36.18.05 |
| CRA Commercial/Residential-Arterial (CRA) | Needs a conditional use permit | § 36.18.05 |
| ML | Needs a conditional use permit | § 36.20.05 |
| PF Public Facility | Needs a conditional use permit | § 36.24.55 |
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Article IX, Division 10 Emergency shelters and low-barrier navigation centers; 36.60.13.
- Low-barrier navigation center is a separate row (P in CN, CS, CO, CRA; ML CUP, MM P). 36.06.50 f: emergency shelters are exempt from all planning permits except a conditional or provisional use permit when the zone requires it.
- State law: State law (Gov. Code § 65583, SB 2) requires every city to allow emergency shelters by right in at least one zone.
- Not covered here: Zone names for R1, R2, R3, RMH, R4, CN, CS, CO, CRA, ML, MM are not stated in the packet; Planned Community (P) districts have no table (36.22.10: any use permitted in another district may be permitted after review); A, PF, F, U districts use lists, not tables; only cells that a list names outright are given; Overlay districts and specific plans are not in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Mountain View
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have an emergency shelter in the CN zone in Mountain View?
Only with a conditional use permit. Mountain View's use table lists it that way in CN (§ 36.18.05).
Can I have an emergency shelter in the MM zone in Mountain View?
Yes. Mountain View's use table lists it as allowed in MM (§ 36.20.05).
General information, not legal advice.
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