Santa Monica — Use Classifications

District-by-District Use Treatment

The sections below identify what the supplied district tables establish about use permissibility. They do not establish district purpose statements, geographic boundaries, setbacks, height, lot coverage, or FAR; those items are Not found in source materials for this page and should be checked under Santa Monica Development Standards.

LT

In LT, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, child-care facilities, cultural facilities, small restaurants up to 5,000 sq ft, and small-scale retail are listed as P. Hotels require a CUP, bars generally require a MUP unless an alcohol-exemption path applies, and public or private parking requires a CUP. § 9.10.040

For limited uses, emergency shelters with fewer than 55 beds are subject to the applicable limitation, while 55 or more beds require a CUP. General dimensional standards and where LT applies are not found in source materials. § 9.10.040

NV

In NV, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, child-care facilities, cultural facilities, restaurants up to 5,000 sq ft, banks, and small-scale retail are P. Congregate housing, group residential, and several specialized residential facilities receive more limited treatment, while hotels require a CUP. § 9.10.040

Certain uses have a location-sensitive limitation between 4th and 7th Court, including different rules for mid-block parcels and former office spaces. General dimensional standards and where NV applies are not found in source materials. § 9.10.040

BC (Third Street Promenade Area)

In BC (Third Street Promenade Area), ADUs and junior ADUs are P, but multiple-unit dwellings are limited to upper floors under the table’s limitation. Restaurants up to 5,000 sq ft, banks, small-scale retail, and many cultural and civic uses are P. § 9.10.040

Ground-floor interactive-use rules apply to some industrial and artist-studio classifications: at least 25 ft of depth from the street-facing front parcel line must accommodate interactive commercial uses. General dimensional standards and the geographic boundary are not found in source materials. § 9.10.040

BC (Excluding Third Street Promenade Area)

In BC (Excluding Third Street Promenade Area), ADUs and junior ADUs are P; multiple-unit dwellings are limited similarly to the Promenade area. Restaurants up to and over 5,000 sq ft are listed as P, while bars and taprooms generally need a MUP unless the alcohol-exemption limitation is met. § 9.10.040

Uses subject to the upper-floor/ground-floor limitation must keep the entire tenant space at least 25 ft from the front property line on the ground floor, while residential units are limited to upper floors. General dimensional standards and the geographic boundary are not found in source materials. § 9.10.040

TA

In TA, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, child-care facilities, cultural facilities, restaurants, banks, offices, and small-scale retail are P. Hotels, larger entertainment facilities, and many automobile-related uses require a CUP or are subject to a specific limitation. § 9.10.040

Emergency shelters with 55 or more beds require a CUP. General dimensional standards and where TA applies are not found in source materials. § 9.10.040

OT

In OT, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, child-care facilities, cultural facilities, restaurants, and small-scale retail are generally P. Some office and residential-care variants are limited to upper floors or subject to front-property-line spacing rules. § 9.10.040

General dimensional standards and where OT applies are not found in source materials. § 9.10.040

WT

In WT, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, child-care facilities, cultural facilities, restaurants up to 5,000 sq ft, and small-scale retail are generally P. Hotels require a CUP and are additionally subject to the table’s existing-use limitation. § 9.10.040

General dimensional standards and where WT applies are not found in source materials. § 9.10.040

MUBL

In MUBL, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, congregate housing, residential-care uses, supportive housing, transitional housing, and small restaurants are P. Bars, pet day care, veterinary services, larger restaurants, and medium-scale retail require a MUP. § 9.11.020

For specified businesses in new or altered tenant spaces, the table limits individual tenant space to 12,500 sq ft without a MUP. General dimensional standards and where MUBL applies are not found in source materials. § 9.11.020

MUB

In MUB, the table permits ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, congregate housing, residential-care uses, supportive and transitional housing, restaurants, banks, offices, and small-scale retail. Hotels, convenience markets, liquor stores, and public or private parking require a CUP. § 9.11.020

Emergency shelters with fewer than 55 beds are limited uses; shelters with 55 or more beds require a CUP. General dimensional standards and where MUB applies are not found in source materials. § 9.11.020

GC

In GC, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, congregate housing, residential-care uses, restaurants, offices, small-scale retail, and artist studios are generally P. New automobile dealerships may be considered only with a CUP on specified Santa Monica Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard frontages. § 9.11.020

The table identifies a 30,000 sq ft threshold: new construction or additions producing a general market of at least that size require a MUP. General dimensional standards and where GC applies are not found in source materials. § 9.11.020

NC

In NC, ADUs and junior ADUs are P, while multiple-unit dwellings are limited to upper floors and areas outside the applicable active-use requirement on Main Street, Montana Avenue, Pico Boulevard, and Ocean Park Boulevard. Restaurants up to 5,000 sq ft are P, but larger restaurants require a MUP and are subject to the table’s size limitation. § 9.11.020

A general market may not exceed 25,000 sq ft in NC, and individual specified new-construction tenant spaces over 7,500 sq ft require a CUP. General dimensional standards and where NC applies are not found in source materials. § 9.11.020

IC

In IC, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, congregate housing, residential-care uses, supportive housing, transitional housing, business services, restaurants, and numerous industrial uses are listed as P. Group residential, adult day care, child care, social-service centers, bars, and certain entertainment uses need a MUP or CUP. § 9.13.020

Automobile repair, service stations, and similar vehicle uses are permitted by right only when at least 100 ft from a residential use or district; closer proposals require a CUP. General dimensional standards and where IC applies are not found in source materials. § 9.13.020

OC

In OC, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, congregate housing, residential-care uses, supportive housing, transitional housing, adult day care, child care, restaurants, and business/professional offices are generally P. General industrial, limited industrial, and research-and-development uses require a CUP and must meet the listed operational limitation. § 9.13.020

Businesses serving employees on the premises are limited to no more than 25% of a development’s total floor area. General dimensional standards and where OC applies are not found in source materials. § 9.13.020

HMU

In HMU, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, congregate housing, group residential, residential-care uses, supportive housing, transitional housing, hospitals and clinics, restaurants, food halls, and small-scale retail are P. Commercial entertainment is more restricted, and several automobile uses are not permitted. § 9.13.020

For community assembly uses larger than 7,500 sq ft that abut a residential use in a residential district, a MUP is required. General dimensional standards and where HMU applies are not found in source materials. § 9.13.020

BTV

In BTV, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, congregate housing, emergency shelters, group residential, residential-care uses, restaurants, live-work, small-scale retail, artist studios, limited industry, research and development, and full-service media production are generally P. Hotels, large retail, swap meets, and several large entertainment uses require a CUP. § 9.12.020

General markets, alcoholic-beverage manufacturing, commercial kitchens, and some medium-scale uses require approval of a Parking and Loading Operations Plan. General dimensional standards and where BTV applies are not found in source materials. § 9.12.020

MUC

In MUC, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, congregate housing, emergency shelters, group residential, residential-care uses, restaurants, live-work, small-scale retail, artist studios, limited industry, research and development, and full-service media production are generally P. Hotels, large retail, swap meets, and certain institutional uses require a CUP. § 9.12.020

Specified new or enlarged office tenant spaces are limited to 7,500 sq ft unless a MUP is approved. General dimensional standards and where MUC applies are not found in source materials. § 9.12.020

CAC

In CAC, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, large and small family day care, senior group residential, supportive housing, transitional housing, cultural facilities, clinics, restaurants, live-work, small-scale retail, artist studios, and full-service media production are listed as P. Congregate housing, emergency shelters, colleges, hotels, and large retail require a CUP. § 9.12.020

Limited industry and research-and-development uses are limited to 4,000 sq ft or less. General dimensional standards and where CAC applies are not found in source materials. § 9.12.020

CCS

In CCS, ADUs, junior ADUs, multiple-unit dwellings, large and small family day care, senior group residential, supportive housing, transitional housing, community assembly, restaurants up to 5,000 sq ft, live-work, small-scale retail, and artist studios are generally P. Larger restaurants and brewpubs require a MUP. § 9.12.020

Certain hospital and clinic proposals are limited to 5,000 sq ft or less with a MUP; larger proposals require a CUP. General dimensional standards and where CCS applies are not found in source materials. § 9.12.020

Oceanfront District

The source materials identify an Oceanfront District table but do not supply its district designation, use rows, purpose statement, or dimensional standards. The table uses the same P, L(#), MUP, CUP, and prohibited-use framework, and unlisted classifications are prohibited. § 9.14.020

Verify the specific Oceanfront designation, parcel applicability, and allowed classification with the jurisdiction. §§ 9.02.020, 9.14.020

Home Occupations Are a Separate Classification Check

A home occupation must remain clearly incidental and secondary to the dwelling’s residential use, operate without frequent customer access, and avoid impacts that reduce neighborhood enjoyment. § 9.31.160

The business generally must operate inside the dwelling or accessory building; outdoor horticulture and creative artist activities are exceptions. It cannot consume required parking, visibly convert the dwelling to a nonresidential appearance, display commercial signs, create nuisances, employ nonresidents other than stated exceptions, or generate more than 6 client visits in a 24-hour period. § 9.31.160

A home occupation needs Zoning Conformance Review and a business license. Vehicle repair, barber or beauty shops, restaurants, tattoo studios, dance/exercise/yoga studios beyond the limited one-on-one exception, and similarly incompatible uses are prohibited as home occupations. § 9.31.160

Interaction With Other Santa Monica Rules

The classification table answers whether the use category can be considered in the district; it does not eliminate project-level standards or discretionary review. Building or structure applications may still require review, and use-specific rules apply in addition to the district table. §§ 9.10.040, 9.11.020, 9.12.020, 9.13.020, 9.14.020, 9.31.020

Where both a district rule and a use-specific rule apply, the more stringent requirement controls. Review Santa Monica Design Review, Santa Monica Overlay Districts, and Santa Monica Land Use separately when they apply to the parcel. §§ 9.31.020, 9.02.010

Checklist

• Identify the proposed activity’s closest Santa Monica Chapter 9.51 classification and sub-classification. § 9.51.010
• Confirm the parcel’s mapped base district on the Official Districting Map. § 9.02.020
• Check the applicable district table for P, L(#), MUP, CUP, or prohibited status. §§ 9.10.040, 9.11.020, 9.12.020, 9.13.020, 9.14.020
• Read every numbered limitation attached to the classification, including thresholds for 55 beds, 5,000 sq ft, 7,500 sq ft, 12,500 sq ft, 25,000 sq ft, or 30,000 sq ft where applicable. §§ 9.10.040, 9.11.020, 9.12.020, 9.13.020
• Determine whether a proposed supporting activity qualifies as an accessory use rather than a separate principal use. §§ 9.10.040, 9.11.020, 9.12.020, 9.13.020, 9.14.020
• Check use-specific standards and apply the most stringent rule if standards conflict. § 9.31.020
• For a home business, obtain Zoning Conformance Review and maintain a business license. § 9.31.160
• Verify with the jurisdiction if the proposal is unusual, blended, or unlisted. § 9.51.010

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

In Santa Monica, Chapter 9.51 names the kind of activity you want to operate, while the applicable district table decides whether that activity is allowed outright, limited, or needs a permit. The safest first step is to classify the real operation—not just its business label—then verify the parcel’s district and every size, location, and operational limitation. §§ 9.51.010, 9.31.020

Source References

• Santa Monica Municipal Code, § 9.51.010 — Purpose and applicability of use classifications.
• Santa Monica Municipal Code, § 9.51.020 — Use-classification definitions supplied in source materials.
• Santa Monica Municipal Code, § 9.10.040 — Downtown District land-use regulations and limitations.
• Santa Monica Municipal Code, § 9.11.020 — Mixed-Use and Commercial District land-use regulations and limitations.
• Santa Monica Municipal Code, § 9.12.020 — Bergamot District land-use regulations and limitations.
• Santa Monica Municipal Code, § 9.13.020 — Employment District land-use regulations and limitations.
• Santa Monica Municipal Code, § 9.14.020 — Oceanfront District land-use-regulation framework.
• Santa Monica Municipal Code, § 9.31.020 — Applicability and most-stringent-rule provision.
• Santa Monica Municipal Code, § 9.31.160 — Home occupations.
• Santa Monica Municipal Code, § 9.02.010 — Overlay zoning districts.
• Santa Monica Municipal Code, § 9.02.020 — Official Districting Map.
• Santa Monica Municipal Code, § 9.52.020 — Definitions, including accessory dwelling unit.