Oxnard · Land use · Church or place of worship
Where is a church or other place of worship allowed in Oxnard?
In Oxnard, a church or other place of worship is needs a special use permit in 11 (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, C-O and 6 more) and not allowed in 2 (Oxnard use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, C-O, C-2, CM, BRP and 3 more
- Not allowed: MH-PD and C-1
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Oxnard 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 church or other place of worship can go
Oxnard's code calls this use “Churches”. 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 | Needs a special use permit | § 16-22 |
| R-2 | Needs a special use permit | § 16-22 |
| R-3 | Needs a special use permit | § 16-22 |
| R-4 | Needs a special use permit | § 16-22 |
| C-O | Needs a special use permit | § 16-107 |
| C-2 | Needs a special use permit | § 16-107 |
| CM | Needs a special use permit | § 16-163 |
| BRP | Needs a special use permit | § 16-163 |
| M-L | Needs a special use permit | § 16-163 |
| M-1 | Needs a special use permit | § 16-163 |
| M-2 | Needs a special use permit | § 16-163 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- C-zone and industrial rows refer to Section 16-162(B). No church row in downtown table.
- State law: Federal law (RLUIPA) bars zoning rules that treat religious assembly worse than other assembly uses.
- Not covered here: Downtown Table 16-148 key and footnotes 1, 3, 4, 7 (marks 'Uses 1', 'P 7', 'P 3' have no text in the packet); C-R Community Reserve: only a permitted-use list (S12), no matrix; Specific plans, planned developments and the -AHP / -AHD additive zones (S14 text only); Other zones the city may have (PD, R-PD, open space, public) with no use table in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Oxnard
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the R-1 zone in Oxnard?
Only with a special use permit. Oxnard's use table lists it that way in R-1 (§ 16-22).
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the MH-PD zone in Oxnard?
No. Oxnard's use table does not allow it in MH-PD (Mobile home planned development (zone MH-PD)) (§ 16-22).
General information, not legal advice.
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