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Title 21 — Zoning

Chapter 8.09

Carlsbad Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Carlsbad

(Ord. 9060 § 1100; Ord. 9356 § 1, 1973; Ord. 9426 § 3, 1975; Ord. 9480 § 1, 1977; Ord. 9527 § 5, 1979; Ord. 9674 § 2, 1983; Ord. 9785 § 17, 1986; Ord. 9804 § 6, 1986; Ord. NS-791 § 21, 2006; Ord. CS-102 §§ LVII—LIX, 2010; Ord. CS-164 § 10, 2011; Ord. CS-172 § VI, 2012; Ord. CS-189 §§ XXVII, XXVIII, 2012; Ord. CS-224 § XXIV, 2013; Ord. CS-225 § IV, 2013; Ord. CS-384 § 21, 2020; Ord. CS-432, 9/27/2022; Ord. CS-448, 6/6/2023; Ord. CS-474, 8/20/2024)

§ 21.28.015. Residential uses in the C-2 zone.

Mixed use developments that propose residential uses in combination with commercial uses shall comply with the following requirements.

  • A. Residential uses are allowed either vertically, meaning within the same building, or horizontally, meaning within a separate building on the same site. Residential uses must be accessory to the nonresidential uses permitted by Section 21.28.010 of this title.

  • B. Residential uses shall be subject to the requirements of the chapters of this title, which include but are not limited to, Chapter 21.28 , Chapter 21.44 , and in the case of airspace subdivisions, Chapter 21.47 .

  • C. Residential uses shall be constructed at a minimum density of 15 dwelling units per acre, per Table 2-4 of the general plan land use and community design element, subject to approval of a site development plan processed in accordance with Chapter 21.06 of this title.

    1. Density and yield of residential uses shall be determined consistent with the residential density calculations and residential development restrictions in Section 21.53.230 of this title and shall be based on 25% of the developable area. Unit yield in excess of the minimum shall be subject to the finding in subsection 2 below. In no case shall the calculation preclude the development of at least one dwelling unit in a mixed use development.

    2. Residential uses shall be accessory to the primary commercial use of the site. Compliance with this provision shall be evaluated as part of the site development plan.

  • D. Residential uses shall include low barrier navigation centers, group homes serving six or fewer persons and require state licensing including, but not limited to, residential care facilities (serving six or fewer persons), and group homes that do not require state licensing including, but not limited to, supportive housing and transitional housing.

(Ord. CS-172 § VII, 2012; Ord. CS-191 § XV, 2012; Ord. CS-249 § XIII, 2014; Ord. CS-287 § 3, 2015; Ord. CS-422, 5/10/2022; Ord. CS-470, 4/16/2024; Ord. CS-448, 6/6/2023)

§ 21.28.020. Limitations on permitted uses.

Every nonresidential use permitted in the C-2 zone shall be subject to the following conditions and limitations:

  1. All uses shall be conducted wholly within a building except such uses as gasoline stations, electrical transformer substations, horticultural nurseries and other enterprises customarily conducted in the open.

  2. Products made incident to a permitted use and manufactured or processed on the premises shall be sold only at retail on the premises, and not more than five persons may be employed in such manufacturing, processing and treatment of products.

  3. Storage shall be limited to accessory storage of commodities sold at retail on the premises. (Ord. 9060 § 1101; Ord. 9224 § 2, 1969; Ord. NS-439 § 6, 1998; Ord. NS-492 § 6, 1999; Ord. CS172 § VIII, 2012)

§ 21.28.030. Building height.

  • A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no building in the C-2 zone shall exceed a height of thirty-five feet, and allowed height protrusions as described in Section 21.46.020 shall not exceed a height of forty-five feet.

  • B. Building height above thirty-five feet may be permitted, subject to the following:

    1. Building height up to a maximum of forty-five feet may be permitted through approval of a minor site development plan processed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 21.06 of this title, provided that:

      • a. The project complies with the provisions of subsection B.3 of this section.

      • b. The allowed height protrusions as described in Section 21.46.020 do not exceed a height of forty-five feet; with the exception of architectural features such as flagpoles, steeples or architectural towers, which may be permitted up to fifty-five feet if the decision-making authority makes the specific findings that the protruding architectural features:

        • i. Do not function to provide usable floor area;

        • ii. Do not accommodate and/or screen building equipment;

        • iii. Do not adversely impact adjacent properties; and

        • iv. Are necessary to ensure a building's design excellence.

    2. Building height above forty-five feet up to a maximum of fifty-five feet may be permitted through approval of a site development plan processed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 21.06 of this title, provided that:

      • a. The project complies with the provisions of subsection B.3 of this section.

      • b. The allowed height protrusions as described in Section 21.46.020 do not exceed the height authorized by the decision-making authority.

      • c. The decision-making authority finds that:

        • i. The height of the building(s) will not adversely affect surrounding properties; and

        • ii. The building(s) will not be unduly disproportional to other buildings in the area.

    3. All required setbacks shall be increased at a ratio of one horizontal foot for every one foot of vertical construction beyond thirty-five feet. The additional setback area shall be maintained as landscaped open space.

(Ord. 9060 § 1102; Ord. 9489 § 1, 1977; Ord. NS-180 § 18, 1991; Ord. NS-240 § 4, 1993; Ord. CS178 § XXIII, 2012)

§ 21.28.040. Front yard.

No front yard shall be provided except as may be required by a precise plan. (Ord. 9060 § 1103)

§ 21.28.050. Placement of buildings.

On any lot, the rear lot line of which abuts property in any R zone and no alley intervenes, no building shall be erected closer than ten feet to the rear lot line; provided further, if such a lot abuts upon an alley, no building shall be erected closer than five feet to the rear lot line of such lot. (Ord. 9060 § 1104)

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Contents — Carlsbad Zoning Code
Carlsbad Zoning Code
  1. Title 21 — Zoning
    Overview
    1. Chapter 21.02 — PURPOSE
    2. Chapter 21.04 — DEFINITIONS
    3. Chapter 21.05 — ZONE ESTABLISHMENT—BOUNDARIES
    4. Chapter 21.06 — Q QUALIFIED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY ZONE
    5. Chapter 21.07 — E-A EXCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL ZONE
    6. Chapter 21.09 — R-E RURAL RESIDENTIAL ESTATE ZONE
    7. Chapter 21.10 — R-1 ONE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE
    8. Chapter 21.12 — R-2 TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE
    9. Chapter 21.16 — R-3 MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE
    10. Chapter 21.18 — R-P RESIDENTIAL PROFESSIONAL ZONE
    11. Chapter 21.20 — R-T RESIDENTIAL TOURIST ZONE
    12. Chapter 21.21 — H-O HOSPITAL OVERLAY ZONE
    13. Chapter 21.22 — R-W RESIDENTIAL WATERWAY ZONE
    14. Chapter 21.24 — RD-M RESIDENTIAL DENSITY-MULTIPLE ZONE
    15. Chapter 21.25 — COMMUNITY FACILITIES ZONE
    16. Chapter 21.26 — C-1 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ZONE
    17. Chapter 21.27 — OFFICE ZONE
    18. Chapter 21.28 — C-2 GENERAL COMMERCIAL ZONE
    19. Chapter 8.09
    20. Chapter 21.29 — C-T COMMERCIAL TOURIST ZONE
    21. Chapter 21.30 — C-M HEAVY COMMERCIAL—LIMITED INDUSTRIAL ZONE
    22. Chapter 21.31 — C-L LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER ZONE
    23. Chapter 21.32 — M INDUSTRIAL ZONE
    24. Chapter 21.33 — OS OPEN SPACE ZONE
    25. Chapter 21.34 — P-M PLANNED INDUSTRIAL ZONE
    26. Chapter 21.35 — V-B VILLAGE-BARRIO ZONE
    27. Chapter 21.36 — P-U PUBLIC UTILITY ZONE
    28. Chapter 21.37 — RMHP RESIDENTIAL MOBILE HOME PARK ZONE
    29. Chapter 21.38 — P-C PLANNED COMMUNITY ZONE
    30. Chapter 21.39 — L-C LIMITED CONTROL ZONE
    31. Chapter 21.40 — S-P SCENIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY ZONE
    32. Chapter 21.41 — SIGN ORDINANCE
    33. Chapter 21.42 — MINOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS AND CONDITIONAL …
    34. Chapter 21.43 — ADULT BUSINESSES
    35. Chapter 21.44 — PARKING
    36. Chapter 21.45 — PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS
    37. Chapter 21.46 — YARDS
    38. Chapter 21.47 — NONRESIDENTIAL PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS
    39. Chapter 21.48 — NONCONFORMING LOTS, STRUCTURES AND USES
    40. Chapter 21.49 — PLANNING MORATORIUM
    41. Chapter 21.50 — VARIANCES
    42. Chapter 21.52 — AMENDMENTS
    43. Chapter 21.53 — USES GENERALLY
    44. Chapter 21.54 — PROCEDURES, HEARINGS, NOTICES AND FEES
    45. Chapter 21.55 — DEDICATION OF LAND AND FEES FOR SCHOOL FACILIT…
    46. Chapter 21.56 — INTERPRETATION
    47. Chapter 21.58 — VIOLATION—REVOCATION— EXPIRATION
    48. Chapter 21.60 — PERMITS—LICENSE ENFORCEMENT
    49. Chapter 21.61 — JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ZONING DECISIONS AND TIME L…
    50. Chapter 21.62 — VIOLATIONS
    51. Chapter 21.70 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
    52. Chapter 21.80 — COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMITS— AGUA HEDIONDA
    53. Chapter 21.82 — BEACH AREA OVERLAY (BAO) ZONES
    54. Chapter 21.83 — CHILD CARE
    55. Chapter 21.84 — HOUSING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
    56. Chapter 21.85 — INCLUSIONARY HOUSING
    57. Chapter 21.86 — DENSITY BONUS
    58. Chapter 21.87 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
    59. Chapter 21.88 — MULTIFAMILY HOUSING AND MIXEDUSE DEVELOPMENT—O…
    60. Chapter 21.89 — SUBSTANTIAL CONFORMANCE REVIEW
    61. Chapter 21.90 — GROWTH MANAGEMENT
    62. Chapter 21.95 — HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
    63. Chapter 21.100 — T-C TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR
    64. Chapter 21.105 — RECYCLING FACILITIES AND RECYCLING AREAS
    65. Chapter 21.110 — FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
    66. Chapter 21.201 — COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT PROCEDURES
    67. Chapter 21.202 — COASTAL AGRICULTURE OVERLAY ZONE
    68. Chapter 21.203 — COASTAL RESOURCE PROTECTION OVERLAY ZONE
    69. Chapter 21.204 — COASTAL SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY ZONE
    70. Chapter 21.205 — COASTAL RESOURCE OVERLAY ZONE MELLO I LCP SEG…
    71. Chapter 21.208 — COMMERCIAL/VISITOR-SERVING OVERLAY ZONE
    72. Chapter 21.209 — CR-A/OS CANNON ROAD AGRICULTURAL/OPEN SPACE Z…
    73. Chapter 21.210 — HABITAT PRESERVATION AND MANAGEMENT REQUIREME…

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