Pacific Grove — Overlay Districts

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Pacific Grove’s municipal zoning identifies a small set of special and combining districts (often used as overlays) alongside the base zoning map. The code explicitly lists Combining or B district and Combining or H district as district designations but does not contain an extended, standalone “overlay district” chapter in the retrieved materials. Where Pacific Grove regulates special area controls (historic protection, coastal permits, or neighborhood-specific standards) those rules appear in other chapters (historic preservation, coastal development, special districts such as R-H and R-3-P.G.B.) rather than as an “Overlay District” article. See PGMC § 23.12.010 for the district list and the historic and coastal chapters for topic-specific controls.

Note: For zoning-map confirmation and parcel-specific applicability, consult the official zoning map on file with the Community Development Director as required by PGMC § 23.12.020.

What the ordinance actually calls an “overlay”

The code does not use the single term “Overlay District” in a single defining chapter in the retrieved materials. Instead:

• The code lists Combining or B district and Combining or H district among its district types (these function like overlays or “combining” districts in practice) in PGMC § 23.12.010. The ordinance text establishing what the B or H combining letters change or require is not present in the retrieved snippets.

• Topic-specific overlay-style controls are implemented through other chapters:

  • Historic protections and review (historic-overlay style controls) live in Chapter 23.76 (Historic Preservation) and related design-review procedures in Chapter 23.70; the Historic Resources Committee and its review standards are set out there.
  • Coastal-zone controls and coastal development permit processing are governed by Chapter 23.90 (local coastal program procedures), which operate like an overlay where “within the coastal zone” rules apply.

Practical guidance: when people say “overlay” for Pacific Grove they most commonly mean (a) a combining district code letter shown on the zoning map such as B or H, (b) the historic resources inventory / Chapter 23.76 controls, or (c) the coastal/LCP overlay context in Chapter 23.90. Verify parcel status with the zoning map and the Community Development Department.

Combining or B district

• Purpose and status: The Combining or B district is named in the PGMC district list (PGMC § 23.12.010) but the retrieved materials do not include a dedicated section defining its purpose, permitted uses, or dimensional changes. The listing indicates the City uses combining districts in its zoning taxonomy, but the controlling text for “B” specifics is Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not specified in retrieved materials. Verify with the community development director and the zoning map/ordinance amendments that created any B-combining designation. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials — the base zoning chapter(s) for the parcel (R, C, etc.) and any site-specific rezoning ordinance will control unless there is a separate B-district ordinance.
• Where it applies: Locations designated B on the official zoning map; see PGMC § 23.12.020 (map adoption) and the amending ordinance(s).

Combining or H district (historic-type combining district)

• Purpose and status: The Combining or H district is listed in PGMC § 23.12.010 as a district type. The code also establishes a Historic Preservation chapter (Chapter 23.76) that imposes review and demolition controls on historic resources—these operate in the way an “H overlay” typically does, but a standalone H-district ordinance text is Not found in the retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Where a property is on the historic resources inventory or otherwise subject to Chapter 23.76, exterior alterations, additions, demolitions, or relocations trigger historic review and findings by the Historic Resources Committee or other review authority. See Chapter 23.76 for review standards and preservation purposes.
• Key dimensional standards / procedural impacts:
  • Projects affecting listed historic resources must meet historic preservation findings and follow the Architectural Review Guidelines and Secretary of the Interior standards where applicable. See the Historic chapter and Architectural Guidelines references discussed in Chapter 23.76.
  • Architectural/design review processes in Chapter 23.70 (including administrative vs. board review and findings) often apply to alterations; use design review procedures where required.
• Where it applies: Any parcel designated with an H-combining letter on the zoning map or listed on the Historic Resources Inventory; confirm by checking the official zoning map / inventory.

Example: R-H district (a special district with defined rules)

• Purpose: The R-H district is a real Pacific Grove special district intended to preserve neighborhood character, open feeling, and public views in the areas it covers. PGMC § 23.56.010 states the district’s intent.
• Typical permitted uses: The R-1 (single-family) requirements apply except where R-H modifies them (single-family dwellings and accessory uses). See PGMC § 23.56.015 for the special regulations that modify the base R-1 rules.
• Key dimensional standards: Examples from R-H special regulations include maximum dwelling height 25 ft and maximum site coverage 60% (see PGMC § 23.56.015(c)-(d)). Side-yard rules and roof-pitch requirements are in the section. Confirm the exact numeric standards in PGMC § 23.56.015.
• Where it applies: The R-H district boundary is mapped and described in PGMC § 23.56.020.

Example: R-3-P.G.B. (a neighborhood-specific special district)

• Purpose and status: The R-3-P.G.B. district (Pacific Grove Beach Tract) is a neighborhood-specific district with detailed intent and numeric rules to preserve village-like scale. See PGMC § 23.57.010.
• Typical permitted uses: Single-family, duplexes, multi-family dwellings and accessory uses, subject to architectural approval and often a use permit.
• Key dimensional standards: Examples include maximum building height 25 ft, lot area minimums for different sub-areas, building coverage 50%, and site coverage 60%. See PGMC § 23.57.030–051 for the specifics.
• Where it applies: Boundaries are spelled out in the ordinance text for the district (see § 23.57.020–040).

Quick standards & permitted-uses table (decision-relevant)

How overlay rules interact with base zoning (plain guidance)

• Base district rules (R-1, C-1, etc.) remain the starting point for permitted uses and dimensional standards (PGMC Chapters for each district). If a parcel carries a combining-letter or is subject to a special district chapter that text controls where it conflicts with the base rules. See PGMC § 23.64.010 on application of general provisions and PGMC § 23.12.020 on map adoption.
• For design/layout requirements you will often need to follow the City's Architectural Review Guidelines and the design review process; historic resources add extra findings and procedural steps under Chapter 23.76.
• For parking impacts, check the City's parking rules and Table 23.31.030 for land-use-specific parking triggers.
• For building-level standards (fire, structural, life-safety) use the California Building Standards Code — the zoning ordinance does not replace Title 24 requirements. Not a substitute for building-code review.

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy (pre-application)

• Confirm parcel zone and any combining letters on the official zoning map (PGMC § 23.12.020).
• Determine whether the property is on the Historic Resources Inventory or within an H-combining designation and read Chapter 23.76 for review triggers and required findings.
• Identify the base district rules that apply (R-, C-, O-, etc.) and the numeric standards (setbacks, height, coverage) in the applicable chapter(s).
• Check whether the property is in the coastal zone and whether Chapter 23.90 CDP procedures apply.
• Prepare to comply with design review if exterior changes are proposed; consult the Architectural Review Guidelines and PGMC § 23.70.
• Verify parking and other site standards in Table 23.31.030 and PGMC Chapter 23.64.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Pacific Grove’s code recognizes “combining” (overlay-style) districts—notably B and H—but the city implements overlay-style controls through other chapters (historic preservation Chapter 23.76, coastal procedures Chapter 23.90) or in site-specific special-district chapters such as R-H and R-3-P.G.B.; you must check the official zoning map and the specific ordinance for your parcel to know which extra rules apply.

Source References

• PGMC § 23.12.010 (Districts listed) — shows Combining or B and Combining or H among district types.
• PGMC § 23.12.020 (Zoning map adoption and map amendments).
• PGMC Chapter 23.76 (Historic Preservation): purpose, inventory, and review standards.
• PGMC Chapter 23.70 (Design review, permits, administrative vs. commission review) — review criteria and findings.
• PGMC § 23.56.010–020 (R-H district intent, special regs, boundaries).
• PGMC Chapter 23.57 (R-3-P.G.B. district; neighborhood-specific standards).
• PGMC Table 23.31.030 (Commercial/industrial allowable uses and permit triggers — parking and use-permit cross-references).
• PGMC Chapter 23.90 (Coastal development permit processing procedures).

Internal topic pages referenced in the guidance above:

• Pacific Grove Zoning overview: Pacific Grove Zoning
• Development standards: Pacific Grove Development Standards
• Parking: Pacific Grove Parking
• Design review: Pacific Grove Design Review
• Historic preservation: Pacific Grove Historic Preservation
• ADUs: Pacific Grove ADUs
• California Building Code: California Building Standards Code

(If you need me to pull the specific amending ordinance that created a parcel’s B- or H-combining letter, I can search for ordinance numbers or Table of Ordinances entries next — or you can request a parcel-specific lookup; verify all parcel facts with the Community Development Director.)

Retrieved passages

• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 5) High relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (Title 12) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 11-121) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 23.31.50) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 5) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (section may) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (chapter is) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Pacific Grove Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• PGMC § **23.12.010** (Districts listed) — shows **Combining or B** and **Combining or H** among district types.
• PGMC § **23.12.020** (Zoning map adoption and map amendments).
• PGMC Chapter **23.76** (Historic Preservation): purpose, inventory, and review standards.
• PGMC Chapter **23.70** (Design review, permits, administrative vs. commission review) — review criteria and findings.
• PGMC § **23.56.010–020** (R-H district intent, special regs, boundaries).
• PGMC Chapter **23.57** (R-3-P.G.B. district; neighborhood-specific standards).
• PGMC Table **23.31.030** (Commercial/industrial allowable uses and permit triggers — parking and use-permit cross-references).
• PGMC Chapter **23.90** (Coastal development permit processing procedures).
• Pacific Grove Zoning overview: Pacific Grove Zoning
• Development standards: Pacific Grove Development Standards
• Parking: Pacific Grove Parking
• Design review: Pacific Grove Design Review
• Historic preservation: Pacific Grove Historic Preservation
• ADUs: Pacific Grove ADUs
• California Building Code: California Building Standards Code
• PacificGrove_ZoningCode.md

• Official Pacific Grove code library