Santa Cruz — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Santa Cruz zoning/planning ordinance (Title 24/Chapter 24.10 and related parts) actually says about allowed land uses, conditional uses, and how uses are assigned and reviewed across local districts. It focuses strictly on land‑use rules in the local zoning code (use categories, district purposes, permitted vs. conditional uses, use determinations, and where overlays or special review apply) and cites the controlling code sections. Verify parcel‑specific questions with the Planning Department.

How to read this page

• Bold text highlights the exact district names and concrete standards you’ll scan for (e.g., R-M, C-B, § 24.10.500).
• The first occurrence of related topics links to the local guidance pages (parking, design review, ADUs, development standards, overlays, historic preservation, nonconforming uses, and variances) so you can move to those procedural pages quickly.

District-by-district land‑use reference

The code organizes uses by district; each district part contains a purpose statement and an explicit list of principal permitted uses, plus separate subsections listing uses subject to administrative or special use permits. Below are the most decision‑relevant districts in Santa Cruz with the code references and practical interpretation.

Note: where a district text says a use is allowed “subject to” a design permit, administrative use permit, special use permit, or other Chapter requirements, that means additional discretionary review may apply (see design permit and use permit chapters cited below).

R-S (Residential Suburban) — § 24.10.200 / § 24.10.210

• Purpose: low‑density residential transition to rural areas; part of the Local Coastal Implementation Plan where applied. § 24.10.200 .
• Typical principal permitted uses: single‑family dwellings, small community care (≤6), community gardens, accessory uses (home occupations, limited room & board), Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) per Chapter 24.16. § 24.10.210 .
• Key dimensional/standards: general yard, lot, and lot‑of‑record provisions apply per the Development Standards chapter (special setbacks, frontage, setbacks rules). See § 24.12.100 and § 24.12.115 for general site and special street setback rules. .
• Where used: applied where low suburban residential character is intended; overlays can add constraints. § 24.10.200 .

R-M (Multiple Residence — Medium‑Density) — § 24.10.500 / § 24.10.510

• Purpose: promote multi‑family development at 20.1–40 units/acre while protecting residential character; part of the Local Coastal Implementation Plan. § 24.10.500 .
• Principal permitted uses: multiple dwellings, townhouses, condominiums, community care (≤6), daycare in residences, supportive/transitional housing, accessory uses, and ADUs per Chapter 24.16 (ADUs are explicitly allowed and not always subject to design permit). § 24.10.510 .
• Review triggers: new structures typically require a design permit and environmental review; small accessory additions may be exempt from design permit (see § 24.10.510). .
• Standards: density rules (units/acre) and design requirements are contained in the district text and in Chapter 24.12 design standards. § 24.10.500, § 24.12.185 .

R-H (Multiple Residence — High‑Density) — § 24.10.560 / § 24.10.565

• Purpose: promote higher density multifamily housing at 30.1–55 units/acre to increase rental and affordable housing. § 24.10.560 .
• Permitted uses: similar to R‑M (multiple dwellings, small community care, daycare, supportive housing), with ADUs allowed under Chapter 24.16. New construction generally requires a design permit and compliance with area‑specific design guidelines (e.g., Beach and South of Laurel). § 24.10.565 .

MU‑M (Mixed‑Use Medium‑Density) — § 24.10.800 / § 24.10.801

• Purpose: encourage a “harmonious mixture” of commercial and residential uses to support walkable, mixed‑use corridors. § 24.10.800 .
• Principal permitted uses (active frontage/commercial + residential above): retail, studios, restaurants (with conditions), personal services, eating/drinking, live/work, and upper‑floor residential. § 24.10.801 contains a long “active frontage” list (examples: apparel stores, eating/drinking establishments, studios). § 24.10.801 .
• Design rules: specific frontage, active‑use, and ground‑floor activation requirements are in the district text and in § 24.12.185 design rules. .

C‑B (Beach Commercial) — § 24.10.1100 / § 24.10.1110

• Purpose: serve coastal‑dependent tourism and visitor‑serving uses; applied only in General Plan/LCP‑designated coastal areas. § 24.10.1100 .
• Principal permitted uses: a wide range of tourist‑serving commercial uses including eating/drinking (subject to live entertainment/alcohol rules), museums, retail, lodging (with conditions), and upper‑floor residential (limited) and ADUs on parcels with residential uses (Chapter 24.16). § 24.10.1110 .

I‑G (General Industrial) — § 24.10.1500 / § 24.10.1505

• Purpose: encourage sound industrial development while protecting environment and nearby uses. § 24.10.1500 .
• Permitted uses: traditional industry and industrial services; the district text imposes enclosure/screening, buffering, and other site design controls. § 24.10.1505 .
• Special rules: cannabis manufacturing/retail, hazardous uses, or operations with volatile solvents face extra siting restrictions (e.g., 600‑ft school/daycare buffers) and may require administrative use permits per the code. § 24.12.1330–1340 (cannabis rules) .

Planned Development and Mixed/Other districts

• The code allows custom combinations of uses via a Planned Development permit in any zone; see § 24.10.020 for the planned development authority and process. § 24.10.020 .
• Subdistricts (e.g., R‑1‑5, R‑1‑7, R‑1‑10) and many overlay districts (e.g., H‑O Historic Overlay, SP‑O Shoreline Protection, MX‑O Mixed Use Overlay, FP‑O Floodplain) modify or add use and design rules where applied; overlay rules stack with the underlying zone (the more restrictive rule controls). § 24.10.030 and § 24.10.040 .

Use determination and non‑listed uses

• If a proposed use is not explicitly listed, the zoning administrator may determine whether it is similar to listed permitted or conditional uses; if similar to conditional uses it will require the appropriate use permit. That procedure is codified at § 24.10.1040. § 24.10.1040 .
• Existing uses that become conditional under an amendment but were legal when established are treated as nonconforming until they secure required permits; see the nonconforming‑use rules in Chapter 24.18 (e.g., § 24.18.090, § 24.18.110). .

Quick table — selected districts, typical permitted uses, and code reference

How the review/approval ladder works (practical)

• If your use is explicitly listed as a principal permitted use in the district text, you still must meet the site standards and may need a design permit for new structures or substantial exterior changes (see design permit rules referenced in each district) . Link to local guidance on design review.
• If your desired use is listed as subject to administrative or special use permit, you must apply for that permit (public notice/hearing depends on the permit type) and comply with any conditions attached by the decision‑maker. See use permit procedures in Chapter 24.08 and parts of the district text (e.g., § 24.10.612 for use permit lists) .
• If the use is not listed, the zoning administrator’s use determination decides whether the use is like principal or conditional uses; that decision dictates whether a permit is required. § 24.10.1040 .
• Development standards (setbacks, height, lot coverage, yard widths, frontage) are in Chapter 24.12 and applied to district uses; see Santa Cruz Development Standards and special street setback rules at § 24.12.115. .
• Parking requirements (and exceptions for certain infill/mixed‑use projects) are enforced per the parking chapter; check parking and the district text for parking exceptions (e.g., upper‑floor housing in C‑B). .

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy (typical)

• Confirm current zoning designation and any overlays for the parcel (e.g., H‑O, SP‑O, FP‑O). § 24.10.040 .
• Determine whether the proposed use is a principal permitted use in the district or is listed as administrative/special (check the district’s Principal Permitted Uses subsection). (See district §§ above.) .
• If not explicitly permitted, request a use determination from the zoning administrator under § 24.10.1040. .
• If required, apply for and obtain the relevant administrative use permit or special use permit per Chapter 24.08, and any required design permit (see district text). . Link to the local variances and exceptions guidance if dimensional relief may be needed.
• Meet site‑design, setback, and frontage rules in Chapter 24.12 and supply required landscape/screening plans (see landscaping and screening). .
• Provide parking meeting the parking chapter or document any allowed deviations/exemptions (see parking). .
• If the site is within a Historic Overlay, follow the Historic Alteration/Demolition/Design procedures (see historic preservation). § 24.10.2110–2120 .
• If proposing an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), comply with Chapter 24.16 Part 2 and state ADU law — ADUs are referenced as allowed in many residential districts (see the district permitted uses). Link to the ADU guidance: Santa Cruz ADUs and California ADU law. .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Santa Cruz’s zoning ordinance lists allowed uses separately for each zone: if your project is in a residential district you’ll typically find dwellings, ADUs, and small care/daycare listed as permitted; mixed‑use and commercial zones list retail, restaurants, lodging and upper‑floor housing with specific rules. If a use isn’t listed, the zoning administrator decides whether it’s like the listed uses and whether you need a use permit — always check the district text, overlay rules, and design/parking standards before you apply. § 24.10.1040, Chapter 24.12, Chapter 24.16.

Source References

• § 24.10.200–24.10.210 (R‑S Residential Suburban district)
• § 24.10.500–24.10.510 (R‑M Multiple Residence — Medium‑Density district)
• § 24.10.560–24.10.565 (R‑H Multiple Residence — High‑Density district)
• § 24.10.800–24.10.801 (MU‑M Mixed‑Use Medium‑Density district)
• § 24.10.1100–24.10.1110 (C‑B Beach Commercial district)
• § 24.10.1500–24.10.1505 (I‑G General Industrial district)
• § 24.10.020 (Planned Development authority) and § 24.10.030–24.10.040 (subdistricts and overlay use stacking)
• § 24.10.1040 (Use determination by zoning administrator)
• Chapter 24.12 provisions on General Site Design Standards and setbacks (see §§ 24.12.100, 24.12.115, 24.12.185)
• Chapter 24.16 (Accessory Dwelling Units reference in district texts; consult Chapter 24.16 Part 2 for full ADU rules) — referenced repeatedly in district permitted use lists
• Chapter 24.18 (Nonconforming uses: § 24.18.090, burden of proof § 24.18.110)
• Cannabis siting/performance standards: § 24.12.1330–24.12.1340 (buffers, performance)

Retrieved passages

• Santa Cruz Zoning Code (§ 13) High relevance show source text
• Santa Cruz Zoning Code (§ 14) High relevance show source text
• Santa Cruz Zoning Code (§ 14) High relevance show source text
• Santa Cruz Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Santa Cruz Zoning Code (Chapter 24.08) High relevance show source text
• Santa Cruz Zoning Code (§ 39) High relevance show source text
• Santa Cruz Zoning Code (Section 24.12.185) High relevance show source text
• Santa Cruz Zoning Code (Section 24.12.192.) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• § **24.10.200–24.10.210** (R‑S Residential Suburban district)
• § **24.10.500–24.10.510** (R‑M Multiple Residence — Medium‑Density district)
• § **24.10.560–24.10.565** (R‑H Multiple Residence — High‑Density district)
• § **24.10.800–24.10.801** (MU‑M Mixed‑Use Medium‑Density district)
• § **24.10.1100–24.10.1110** (C‑B Beach Commercial district)
• § **24.10.1500–24.10.1505** (I‑G General Industrial district)
• § **24.10.020** (Planned Development authority) and § **24.10.030–24.10.040** (subdistricts and overlay use stacking)
• § **24.10.1040** (Use determination by zoning administrator)
• Chapter **24.12** provisions on General Site Design Standards and setbacks (see §§ **24.12.100**, **24.12.115**, **24.12.185**)
• Chapter **24.16** (Accessory Dwelling Units reference in district texts; consult Chapter 24.16 Part 2 for full ADU rules) — referenced repeatedly in district permitted use lists (Chapter 24.16)
• Chapter **24.18** (Nonconforming uses: § **24.18.090**, burden of proof § **24.18.110**)
• Cannabis siting/performance standards: § **24.12.1330–24.12.1340** (buffers, performance)
• SantaCruz_ZoningCode.md