Seaside — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what Seaside’s local zoning ordinance (Title 17) actually says about which land uses are allowed where, how to read the land‑use tables, and the most important district-by-district constraints you’ll encounter. It covers only the land‑use rules in the Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) — not building code, tenant law, or other permitting programs. See the cited ordinance sections for full legal text. § 17.10.030

How Seaside organizes Land Use rules (short primer)

• Allowed uses are listed in the Article 2 land‑use tables: Table 2‑1 for residential zones, Table 2‑4 for commercial zones, and Table 2‑7 for special purpose zones; the table entries show the permit level required (P = Zoning Clearance, MUP = Minor Use Permit, UP = Use Permit, – = not allowed). See § 17.10.030 and the table guidance in § 17.12.030, § 17.14.030, and § 17.18.030.
• Use that table first to determine whether your proposed activity is a permitted use, a conditional use, or not allowed in your zoning district; then check any specific‑use standards in Chapter 17.52. § 17.10.030 and § 17.52.010.

District‑by‑district breakdown

Note: each district name below is bolded; the controlling code citation (by §) is given and discussed. For site layout you will also need the City’s Seaside Development Standards and the chapter for parking: Seaside Parking (first mention of each is linked).

Residential Zones — RS‑8 / RS‑12, RM, RH (key rules in § 17.12.020–17.12.050)

• Purpose: implement Low/Medium/High density residential land‑use designations; regulatory detail in § 17.12.010–050.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family homes (RS), duplexes and small multi‑family in RM, and larger multi‑family in RH; accessory uses such as home occupations and limited accessory structures appear in Table 2‑1. § 17.12.030 and Table 2‑1.
• Key dimensional standards (Table 2‑2 / Table 2‑3 summarized):
  • Density: RS‑8 = up to 8 du/acre (RS‑8) or 12 du/acre (RS‑12); RM = 15 du/acre; RH = 25 du/acre. § 17.12.020.
  • Minimum parcel sizes: RS‑8 = 5,500 sf, RS‑12 = 3,750 sf, RM/RH = 3,750 sf; minimum widths 40–50 ft depending on zone. § 17.12.040 (Table 2‑2).
  • Setbacks: typical front setback 15 ft; side interior 5 ft minimum (varies by height and building type); rear 10–15 ft. See § 17.12.050 (Table 2‑3).
  • Max FAR and lot coverage: typical FAR 0.45 in residential zones; site coverage limits and open‑space requirements are in Table 2‑3 and Article 4. § 17.12.050.
• Where applied: see the City Zoning Map (Table 1‑1 lists zone symbols) § 17.06.020.

Practical note: ADUs are regulated in Chapter 17.52.230; check Seaside ADUs as you plan. § 17.52.230.

Commercial Zones — CMX, CC, CRG, CA, CH (key rules in § 17.14.030 and Table 2‑4)

• Purpose and where used: each zone implements a General Plan commercial designation (Table 1‑1 / § 17.06.020).
• Typical permitted uses (see Table 2‑4): retail, restaurants, offices, hotels, auto dealerships (in CA), large retail and theaters (in CRG), wholesale/industrial in CH. Table entries show whether a use is P, MUP, or UP. § 17.14.030 and Table 2‑4.
• Key dimensional and intensity standards (selected):
  • CC (Community Commercial): FAR 0.50 typical; FAR 2.0 in Broadway Corridor Specific Plan area. § 17.14.030.
  • CRG (Regional Commercial): FAR 1.0 generally; hotels allowed FAR up to 3.0. § 17.14.030.
  • CA (Automotive Regional Commercial): FAR 1.0, rules tailored to Gateway Auto Center Area Plan. § 17.14.030.
  • CH (Heavy Commercial): FAR 0.5, oriented to wholesale/light industrial away from pedestrian cores. § 17.14.030.
• Specific‑use standards (drive‑throughs, cannabis, hotels, etc.) appear in Chapter 17.52 and/or SMC Title 19 for cannabis; Table 2‑4’s right‑hand column points to the applicable section. § 17.14.030 and § 17.52.

Practical note: off‑street parking requirements are in Chapter 17.34; always cross‑check Table 2‑4 use entries with Seaside Parking. § 17.34.050–060.

Fort Ord Visitor‑Serving Commercial — V‑FO (§ 17.24.010)

• Purpose: implement the General Plan visitor‑serving land use for Fort Ord parcels (Polygon 22). § 17.24.010.A–B.
• Principal permitted uses (P): hotels, conference centers, restaurants, golf courses. § 17.24.010.D.
• Conditional uses (requires Conditional Use Permit): residential uses, timeshare projects, employee housing. § 17.24.010.F.
• District rules/limits: total hotel/timeshare units in Polygon 22 capped at 800; hotel rooms should be distributed among multiple buildings; projects within 500 ft of Highway 1 viewshed must meet the Highway 1 Special Overlay Design standards. § 17.24.010.H.2–6.

Special Purpose Zones — OSR, OSC, PI, M (Table 2‑7, § 17.18.030)

• Purpose: open space, conservation, public/institutional, and military lands; allowed uses tuned to habitat, parks, schools, and defense uses. See Table 2‑7 for permit level for each use and cross‑references to 17.52 sub‑sections. § 17.18.030.

Overlay Zones — ORD, H1, Emergency Shelter Overlay (Chapter 17.22)

• Overlay zones add site‑specific rules on top of base zones. Example: H1 Highway 1 Design Overlay adds design standards and references the Fort Ord Highway 1 Corridor guidelines; the Emergency Shelter Overlay identifies locations where emergency shelters can be permitted without discretionary permits. § 17.22.040–050.
• Always check overlays before assuming a use or dimension in the base zone; overlay rules may require additional design review or restrict height, landscaping, or visibility. See Seaside Overlay Districts.

Quick comparison table — most decision‑relevant land‑use rules

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy for a land‑use change in Seaside

• Confirm the parcel's base zone on the official Zoning Map (Table 1‑1 / § 17.06.020)
• Look up the proposed activity in the appropriate table (Table 2‑1 residential, Table 2‑4 commercial, Table 2‑7 special purpose) to identify permit level (P / MUP / UP / –). § 17.10.030, § 17.12.030, § 17.14.030, § 17.18.030.
• Prepare a site plan meeting the zone’s development standards (Table 2‑3 residential or chapter development standards) and Article 3 requirements; consult Seaside Development Standards. § 17.12.050.
• Confirm parking and loading requirements in Chapter 17.34 and include required spaces on plan. § 17.34.
• Check whether your use triggers any specific standards in Chapter 17.52 (e.g., drive‑throughs, hotels, timeshares, ADUs — see 17.52.230 for ADUs). § 17.52.010–.
• Identify overlays (ORD, H1, Emergency Shelter Overlay) that apply and comply with overlay rules. See Chapter 17.22 and Seaside Overlay Districts.
• Determine whether Design Review or Architectural Review is required and schedule application per § 17.62.030; consult Seaside Design Review. § 17.62.030.
• If the use is not listed, request a Director determination of “similar and compatible” per § 17.10.030.A.3 (written findings required). § 17.10.030.A.3.
• Confirm compliance with any nonconforming use rules if the existing use pre‑dates the ordinance (Chapter 17.72) and ensure all state building permits (Title 24) will be obtained; see California Building Standards Code and Seaside Nonconforming Uses.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Seaside’s Title 17 organizes allowed uses by zone tables (residential, commercial, special purpose) and then applies development standards (setbacks, FAR, density), overlay rules, and specific‑use standards; check the table for your parcel’s zone first, then confirm parking, design review, overlay, and Chapter 17.52 special‑use rules before preparing an application. § 17.10.030, § 17.12.050, § 17.14.030, § 17.52.010.

Source References

• Title 17, Article 1 (Purpose & Applicability): § 17.02.010–040.
• Zoning Map and Zones (Table 1‑1): § 17.06.020.
• Permitted land uses and permit levels: § 17.10.030.
• Exemptions and Temporary Uses: § 17.10.040–050.
• Residential zones and development standards (Tables 2‑1 → 2‑3): § 17.12.010–060, Tables 2‑1/2‑2/2‑3.
• Commercial zones and Table 2‑4: § 17.14.030, Table 2‑4.
• Special purpose zones and Table 2‑7: § 17.18.030, Table 2‑7.
• Fort Ord V‑FO district: § 17.24.010 (permitted uses, conditional uses, special V‑FO rules).
• Overlay zones (ORD, H1, Emergency Shelter): Chapter 17.22.
• Standards for specific land uses (including ADUs): Chapter 17.52 (see § 17.52.010 and § 17.52.230 for ADUs).
• Parking and bicycle parking: Chapter 17.34.
• Permit implementation, time limits: Chapter 17.64.
• Nonconforming uses: Chapter 17.72 (referenced in multiple sections).

Retrieved passages

• Seaside Zoning Code (chapter is) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Chapter 17.76) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Section 17.10.030) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Article 7) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (section provides) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Section 17.10.030) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Section 65000) Medium relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Chapter 5.08.) Medium relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (section number) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (chapter lists) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Section 17.10.030) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 2 (Section 17.52.220) Medium relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Section 17.10.030) Medium relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Section 17.10.020) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Title 17, Article 1 (Purpose & Applicability): **§ 17.02.010–040**. (Title 17)
• Zoning Map and Zones (Table 1‑1): **§ 17.06.020**. (§ 17.06.020)
• Permitted land uses and permit levels: **§ 17.10.030**. (§ 17.10.030)
• Exemptions and Temporary Uses: **§ 17.10.040–050**. (§ 17.10.040)
• Residential zones and development standards (Tables 2‑1 → 2‑3): **§ 17.12.010–060**, Tables 2‑1/2‑2/2‑3. (§ 17.12.010)
• Commercial zones and Table 2‑4: **§ 17.14.030**, Table 2‑4. (§ 17.14.030)
• Special purpose zones and Table 2‑7: **§ 17.18.030**, Table 2‑7. (§ 17.18.030)
• Fort Ord V‑FO district: **§ 17.24.010** (permitted uses, conditional uses, special V‑FO rules). (§ 17.24.010)
• Overlay zones (ORD, H1, Emergency Shelter): **Chapter 17.22**. (Chapter 17.22)
• Standards for specific land uses (including **ADUs**): **Chapter 17.52** (see **§ 17.52.010** and **§ 17.52.230** for ADUs). (Chapter 17.52)
• Parking and bicycle parking: **Chapter 17.34**. (Chapter 17.34)
• Permit implementation, time limits: **Chapter 17.64**. (Chapter 17.64)
• Nonconforming uses: **Chapter 17.72** (referenced in multiple sections). (Chapter 17.72)
• Seaside_ZoningCode.md