Santa Monica — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the City of Santa Monica regulates land use through its Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (commonly the local "Title 9" / Zoning Ordinance). It lists the City's base zoning districts, explains where to find the legally controlling development standards and permitted uses, and highlights the most decision-relevant rules (setbacks, height/daylight plane, FAR, and overlays). Always confirm a parcel's exact designation on the Official Districting Map prior to design work. See the City's general planning menu for context at the Santa Monica zoning & planning overview. (/us/california/santa-monica)

How Santa Monica organizes zoning rules (quick)

• Base districts (e.g., R1, R2, R3, R4, MUB, GC, OF, CC, etc.) and Overlay Districts are established in Article 9, Division 2; the list of district symbols and names is in Table 9.02.010 and related tables § 9.02.010.
• The legal boundary of any district is shown on the Official Districting Map maintained by the City Clerk; boundary rules and how to resolve uncertainty are in § 9.02.020–030.
• Use permissions are in each district's Land Use Regulations table (e.g., Table 9.07.020 for R1); development standards (setbacks, FAR, height, stepbacks, daylight plane) are in each district's Development Standards table (e.g., Table 9.07.030 for R1). See the City's page on Development Standards and the ordinance tables (examples cited below).

Note: this page treats zoning/regulatory constraints only — for building code compliance consult the California Building Standards Code.

District-by-district reference (selected, decision-relevant)

Each subsection lists the District short name (bold), its purpose, typical permitted uses, key dimensional standards, and where it commonly applies. Citations point to the controlling ordinance sections and the district tables.

R1 — Single-Unit Residential

• Purpose: To provide single-unit housing and allow one Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and one Junior ADU per parcel; to preserve neighborhood character and ensure light/air/privacy. § 9.07.010.
• Typical permitted uses: Detached single-unit dwellings, ADUs (see § 9.31.025), parks, family day care; some institutional uses by CUP. § 9.07.020 / Table 9.07.020.
• Key dimensional standards: Minimum parcel area 5,000 sq ft, minimum width 50 ft, maximum FAR (residential) depends on story/roof configuration (see Table 9.07.030) — e.g., one-story <18 ft FAR 0.5, two-story FAR 0.45; garage/driveway rules and accessory-building limits are in Chapter 9.21 and Table 9.07.030. § 9.07.030, § 9.21.020.
• Where it applies: City neighborhoods designated Single-Unit Residential on the Official Districting Map. Verify parcel designation under § 9.02.020.

R2 — Low Density Residential; R3 — Medium Density Residential; R4 — High Density Residential

• Purpose: Provide a range of multi-unit housing scales and neighborhood-serving uses; maintain light/air/privacy and manage impacts. See § 9.08.010.
• Typical permitted uses: Multi-unit dwellings, duplexes, townhouses, ADUs (subject to § 9.31.025), limited neighborhood retail or services where allowed. § 9.08.020 (land use tables).
• Key dimensional standards (high-level):
  • Daylight/stepback planes: R2: no building volume above 23 ft may intrude into the daylight plane starting at 23 ft; R3: 35 ft plane; R4: 40 ft plane (front setback line as baseline). See required upper-story stepbacks in § 9.08.030(B).
  • Street-side setback in R2/R3/R4: at least 15% of parcel width, but not less than 6 ft, and not required to exceed 10 ft (with limited 4 ft exceptions for certain small/qualifying projects). Transition setbacks when adjoining R1 are 10 ft interior side and 20 ft rear (subject to exceptions). § 9.08.030(C)–(D).
  • Additional specific stepback and courtyard/open-space rules in § 9.08.030 and associated tables.
• Where it applies: Medium- and higher-density residential areas (see Official Districting Map). Verify site-specific rules (e.g., special rules north of the Pier) in district subsections. § 9.02.020 and Chapter 9.08.

OP Districts — Ocean Park Neighborhood (OP1 / OPD / OP2 / OP3 / OP4)

• Purpose: Protect beach-oriented neighborhood character while allowing a mix of residential types and neighborhood-serving uses. § 9.09.010.
• Typical uses: Single-family, duplex/triplex, multi-unit housing as designated; small neighborhood shops or services where allowed by table. § 9.09.020 (land use tables).
• Key standards: Transition rules, planting/landscape buffer requirements, special garage and sloped-parcel rules; maximum heights and other limits vary across OP1–OP4 and are in Table 9.09.030 and related subsections. See § 9.09.030 and related subsections.

Downtown Community Plan Districts (LT, NV, BC, TA, OT, WT)

• Purpose and application: Downtown standards are established primarily in the Downtown Community Plan (incorporated by reference) and the Zoning Ordinance supplements where necessary; uses and development standards are in Chapter 9.10 and the Downtown Plan. § 9.10.001–040.
• Typical uses and standards: See Table 9.10.040 for permitted uses in Downtown districts; many projects require discretionary review and design guidance from Downtown-specific rules. § 9.10.040.

Mixed-Use / Commercial (examples: MUB, MUBL, GC, NC)

• Purpose: Encourage street-oriented commercial, mixed-use development in corridors and neighborhood centers. See Table 9.02.010 and individual district chapters (mixed-use and commercial district tables).
• Typical uses: Retail, restaurants (subject to alcohol and size limits), offices, service uses, and mixed housing/MU where allowed by the land-use table and parking rules (Chapter 9.28). See § 9.10.040, Chapter 9.28.
• Key limits: FAR and height tiers vary by district and often offer Tier 1 (base) and Tier 2 (with community benefits) standards; see Table 9.13.030 and related district tables.

Employment Districts (IC, OC, HMU)

• Purpose and standards: Employment districts regulate industrial, office, and sector-specific uses (Health-care Mixed-Use, Office Campus, Industrial Conservation) and their development standards are in Table 9.13.030 and associated subsections (parcel sizes, FAR tiers, heights, setbacks). Table 9.13.030 / § 9.13.030(A).

OF — Oceanfront District

• Purpose: Regulate development along the beach/oceanfront with special massing and view protections. Development standards are in Table 9.14.030, including tiered FAR and strict height/measuring rules, plus special rules for parcels along Pacific Coast Highway and near the Pier. § 9.14.030.

Public / Civic / Parks (CC, PL, OS)

• Purpose and standards: Civic Center and public/institutional uses have their own development standards; the Civic Center Specific Plan is incorporated by reference (Civic Center standards control where applicable). See § 9.15.030 and the Civic Center Specific Plan incorporation note.

Overlay Districts (examples: A Off-Street Parking, BCH Beach, MHO Moderate Income Housing Overlay)

• Function: Overlay Districts modify or add regulations to the underlying base district (Table 9.02.010.B lists overlays). § 9.02.010(C) and Table 9.02.010.B.
• Examples:
  • A Off-Street Parking Overlay: special conditions for conversion, below-grade parking, and special design/landscaping requirements. § 9.16.040–090.
  • MHO (Moderate Income Housing Overlay): allows alternate standards for certain affordable projects citywide (not applicable in R1); scope and processing in § 9.19.030–040.

Most decision-relevant standards (quick table)

Practical guidance & comparisons (plain-English synthesis)

• The Santa Monica Zoning Ordinance groups similar neighborhoods under clear district labels (R1, R2, R3, R4, OP1–OP4, MUB, GC, OF, etc.) and places the land-use permissions and dimensional rules in adjacent district-specific tables; start every project by confirming the parcel's district on the Official Districting Map (legal baseline) and then reading the district's Land Use Table and Development Standards Table. § 9.02.020, § 9.07.020, § 9.07.030, § 9.08.030.
• Residential districts place emphasis on daylight/stepback controls and transitions to lower-scale R1 neighborhoods (R2–R4 have explicit daylight plane and transition setbacks), so massing strategies should be planned to meet those planes before optimizing FAR. § 9.08.030(B)–(D).
• Many commercial and employment districts use tiered FAR/height frameworks (base Tier 1 and higher Tier 2 with community benefits); projects seeking higher intensity should factor community-benefit programs and public-review processes into budgets and timelines. Table 9.13.030; Chapter 9.23.

Useful cross-references in the ordinance: parking rules (Chapter 9.28 — check vehicle counts, parking location, and garage setbacks), design/architectural review rules (Chapter 9.55 for Architectural Review referenced in overlay sections), ADU rules (Section 9.31.025), and Modifications/Waivers (Chapter 9.43) for minor relief from dimensional standards. Consult the City's Parking, Design Review, and ADU menus for procedural context.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy before submitting plans)

• Verify parcel's official zoning designation on the Official Districting Map and confirm any overlay designations (Official Map; § 9.02.020).
• Confirm permitted uses in the district Land Use Table (e.g., Table 9.07.020 for R1, Table 9.10.040 for Downtown). § 9.07.020, § 9.10.040.
• Check development standards: minimum parcel size, setbacks, façade build-to lines, daylight plane and upper-story stepbacks, FAR tiers, and maximum height (district Development Standards table such as Table 9.07.030, § 9.08.030, Table 9.14.030).
• Determine parking requirements (Chapter 9.28) and garage/setback geometry; coordinate with Parking rules and Chapter 9.28.
• Confirm whether the project requires Design/Architectural Review (Chapter 9.55) or Downtown Plan review; consult Design Review. § 9.16.090; § 9.10.001.
• If proposing an ADU, follow the ADU-specific standard in § 9.31.025 and reconcile any parking/location exceptions. See the City ADU page.
• If needing dimensional relief, assess eligibility for a Minor or Major Modification or Waiver under Chapter 9.43; note limits (some core items cannot be modified administratively). § 9.43.020–040.
• Check for Overlay districts or Special Plans (e.g., Downtown Community Plan, Civic Center Specific Plan) that may supersede or supplement district rules (§ 9.10.001, § 9.02.010).

Risks & Ambiguities

If a topic or parcel-specific arrangement is not explicit in the ordinance excerpts provided, note "Verify with the jurisdiction" — parcel-specific rules and map interpretations are resolved administratively.

Plain-English Summary

Santa Monica's zoning divides the city into named districts (like R1, R2–R4, MUB, OF, downtown and overlays) with a Land Use Table and a Development Standards table for each district; key constraints to design are district-specific FAR, height, daylight/stepback planes, setbacks, and applicable overlays or specific plans — always check the Official Districting Map and the district tables first (and consult Chapter 9.28 for parking and Chapter 9.43 for any requested modifications).

Source References

• City of Santa Monica Zoning Ordinance — Division 2 (Base and Overlay Districts), including district list and overlays: § 9.02.010 and Table 9.02.010.B.
• R1 Single-Unit Residential: Purpose and Land Use Tables § 9.07.010–020; Development Standards § 9.07.030 (Table 9.07.030).
• Multi-Unit Residential districts: § 9.08.010 (purposes) and development standards § 9.08.030 (daylight plane, setbacks).
• Ocean Park Neighborhood Districts: § 9.09.010 and its development standards.
• Downtown Community Plan incorporation and Downtown land-use tables: § 9.10.001–040.
• Employment and commercial development standards (Table 9.13.030): § 9.13.030.
• Oceanfront District development standards (Table 9.14.030): § 9.14.030.
• Public and Park District standards: § 9.15.030.
• Overlay Districts example: § 9.16.040–090 (A Off-Street Parking Overlay) and § 9.19.030–040 (MHO).
• Modifications, Waivers, and Administrative relief: Chapter 9.43 (e.g., § 9.43.020–040).
• General site/regulatory rules (accessory structures, projections, daylight plane, etc.): Chapter 9.21 (§ 9.21.020, § 9.21.060, § 9.21.110).
• Parking rules references: Chapter 9.28 (see cross-references in development tables and garage/driveway rules).

Retrieved passages

• Santa Monica Zoning Code (Chapter and) High relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (Section numbers) High relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (§ 9.15.030.) High relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (Section numbers) High relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance show source text
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• Santa Monica Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
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• Santa Monica Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 2 (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code (Article 9.) Medium relevance show source text
• Santa Monica Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• City of Santa Monica Zoning Ordinance — Division 2 (Base and Overlay Districts), including district list and overlays: **§ 9.02.010** and Table 9.02.010.B. (§ 9.02.010)
• **R1** Single-Unit Residential: Purpose and Land Use Tables **§ 9.07.010–020**; Development Standards **§ 9.07.030** (Table 9.07.030). (§ 9.07.010)
• Multi-Unit Residential districts: **§ 9.08.010** (purposes) and development standards **§ 9.08.030** (daylight plane, setbacks). (§ 9.08.010)
• Ocean Park Neighborhood Districts: **§ 9.09.010** and its development standards. (§ 9.09.010)
• Downtown Community Plan incorporation and Downtown land-use tables: **§ 9.10.001–040**. (§ 9.10.001)
• Employment and commercial development standards (Table 9.13.030): **§ 9.13.030**. (§ 9.13.030)
• Oceanfront District development standards (Table 9.14.030): **§ 9.14.030**. (§ 9.14.030)
• Public and Park District standards: **§ 9.15.030**. (§ 9.15.030)
• Overlay Districts example: **§ 9.16.040–090** (A Off-Street Parking Overlay) and **§ 9.19.030–040** (MHO). (§ 9.16.040)
• Modifications, Waivers, and Administrative relief: **Chapter 9.43** (e.g., **§ 9.43.020–040**). (Chapter 9.43)
• General site/regulatory rules (accessory structures, projections, daylight plane, etc.): Chapter **9.21** (**§ 9.21.020**, **§ 9.21.060**, **§ 9.21.110**). (§ 9.21.020)
• Parking rules references: Chapter **9.28** (see cross-references in development tables and garage/driveway rules).
• SantaMonica_ZoningCode.md

• Official Santa Monica code library