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Title 19 — Zoning

Chapter 19.23 — COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE USE REGULATIONS

Imperial Beach Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-06 · Imperial Beach

§ 19.23.010. Land use table.

The following land uses are allowed in the C/MU-1, C/MU-2, and C/MU-3 zones as uses that are expressly permitted, uses that require a conditional use permit, or uses that are permitted only if in compliance with specific location requirements. Any use not listed is prohibited unless the City Council determines it to be compatible with the zone.

Key to Land Use Tables
P Expressly permitted
C Permitted with conditional use permit
N Not permitted

Notes: Per the City's zoning code, hotels consist of various types and are defined as follows:

H-1 A site area of a minimum of thirty-fve thousand square feet; at least thirty guest rooms;
facilities for conference, meeting, or public use; and a full-service restaurant on-site.
H-2 A "motel," which is an establishment providing guest rooms, for periods less than thirty
days, with most rooms gaining access from an exterior walkway.
H-3 A lot, parcel, or segment of real property dedicated to "timeshare units," as defned in
Section19.04.756of the Imperial Beach Municipal Code.

H-4 A "bed and breakfast" lodging place containing no more than six guest rooms and one kitchen. H-5 An "inn" means a commercial establishment that affords public lodging to travelers, for periods less than thirty days. A kitchen and dining area may also be included to provide meal and beverage service to guests and to the general public.

C/MU-1 C/MU-2 C/MU-3 Notes
Commercial Uses
Adult bookstore, adult
hotel/motel, adult mini-motion
picture theater, adult motion
picture arcade, adult motion
picture theater, sexual
encounter studio, rap parlor,
model studio
P N N See defnitions. Subject to
requirements for adult-
oriented businesses in
Chapter19.60.
Antique store P P P See defnition.
Arcades and game centers C C C See defnition.
Art studio, gallery, museum P P P See defnition.
Athletic and health clubs P P P See defnition.
Bars or cocktail lounges C C N See defnition.
with live entertainment C C N See defnition.
Beach equipment rental, bike
rental, surf shop, fshing
supply
P P N
Body piercing establishment C N N See defnition. Subject to
Section 19.26.020(B)(1).
Bookstore P P P
Boutique P P P
Cabaret C N N See defnition. Subject to
Chapter19.60.
Campsites C N N See defnition.
Cannabis permitted use P N N See defnition and number
allowed in Chapter4.60.
Subject to the
requirements of Chapters
19.61and4.60.
Child day care center P P P See defnition.
Clinic P P P See defnition.
Dancehall C N N See defnition. Subject to
Chapter19.60.
Department store P N N
Drive-in restaurant P P N See defnition.
Drive-through establishment C N C See defnition.
Fortune telling establishment C N N See defnition. Subject to
Section 19.26.020(B)(3).
Hostel C C N See defnition.
C/MU-1 C/MU-2 C/MU-3 Notes
Kennel C N N See defnition. Subject to
Section19.74.050.
Kiosk P P P See defnition. In C/MU-2:
Subject to Section
19.27.020(A)(2).
Liquor store C C N See defnition.
Massage therapy
establishment
P P P See defnition. Per Senate
Bill 731.
Mortuary C N N
Motor vehicle sales C N N Subject to Section
19.74.070.
Palm reading establishment C N N See defnition. Subject to
Section 19.26.020(B)(3).
Pawnshop C N C See defnition.
Personal convenience
services
P P P See defnition.
Pool or billiard hall C C N See defnition.
with live entertainment C C N See defnition.
Postal services, private P P P
Professional offces, fnancial
institutions, and real estate
P P P
Restaurant P P P See defnition.
with live entertainment C C C See defnition.
Retail food store P P P
Retail sales P P P See defnition.
Sales of secondhand or used
merchandise
N N N See defnition.
Single-family detached N N* N *Only permitted in
Seacoast Mixed-
Use/Residential Overlay
Zone.
Tattoo establishment C N N See defnition. Subject to
Section 19.26.020(B)(4).
Residential and Similar Uses
Accessory building,
structures, private garages
C C C See defnition of
accessory building.
Boarding house C N N See defnition.
Emergency shelter P N N See defnition.
Hostel N C N See defnition.
Hotel, motel, bed and
breakfast lodging, inn (H-1,
H-2, H-3, H4, H-5)
P P P See defnitions above.
Live/work unit P P P See defnition.
Mixed-use development P P P See defnition.
C/MU-1 C/MU-2 C/MU-3 Notes
Motor home/manufactured
housing community
N N N See defnitions.
Multiple-family dwellings P P P See defnition. See
requirement for active
commercial uses on
ground foor per Sections
19.26.020(A)(1),
19.27.020(A)(1),
19.28.020(A)(1).
Second-family units N N N
Senior housing, nursing
home, retirement home
C C C See defnitions.
Short-term rental P P P See defnition.
Single-family detached N N* N *Only permitted in
Seacoast Residential
Overlay Zone.
Single-room occupancy units C N N
Timeshare C C N See defnition.
Light Industrial Uses
Automobile dismantling or
wrecking yard
N N N See defnition.
Automobile repair or
automobile body shop
C N N See defnitions.
Automobile sales lot C N N See defnition.
Automobile service
station/gas station
C N C See defnition.
Energy facility C N N See defnition.
Equipment rental yard C N N
Incidental manufacturing C C C See defnition.
Light manufacturing,
manufacturing, industrial
N N N
Public and Semi-Public Uses
Campsites N N N See defnition.
Clubs,
fraternal/veteran/service
organizations
C C C Subject to Sections
19.26.020(B)(2),
19.27.020(A)(3),
19.28.020(A)(2).
with live entertainment C C C
Educational institutions C C N
Governmental or quasi-public
building
P P P
Library P P P
Religious assembly C C C See defnition. Subject to
Sections 19.26.020(B)(2),
19.27.020(A)(3),
19.28.020(A)(2).
C/MU-1 C/MU-2 C/MU-3 Notes
Public parking lot P P P
Theatre/assembly C C C
Wireless communication
facility
C C C See defnition. Subject to
Chapter19.90.
Green Building Utilities
Green building utilities P P P See defnition. Subject to
Chapter19.92.
Open Space and Recreation
Passive public parks P P P
Playground and recreation
areas
C C C Permitted if incidental and
accessory to a permitted
use.
Public riding and hiking trails P P P

(Ord. 2012-1130 § 1; Ord. 2013-1140 § 1; Ord. 2016-1155 § 5; Ord. 2018-1174 § 4)

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Contents — Imperial Beach Zoning Code
Imperial Beach Zoning Code
  1. Title 19 — Zoning
    Overview
    1. Chapter 19.02 — GENERAL REGULATIONS AND INTERPRETATION
    2. Chapter 19.04 — DEFINITIONS
    3. Chapter 19.06 — ZONE MAP AND BOUNDARIES
    4. Chapter 19.07 — POST LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM CERTIFICATION PERMI…
    5. Chapter 19.12 — R-1-6000 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE
    6. Chapter 19.13 — R-1-3800 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE
    7. Chapter 19.14 — R-3000-D TWO-FAMILY DETACHED RESIDENTIAL ZONE
    8. Chapter 19.15 — R-3000 TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE
    9. Chapter 19.16 — R-2000 MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE
    10. Chapter 19.17 — R-1500 HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE
    11. Chapter 19.23 — COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE USE REGULATIONS
    12. Chapter 19.24 — PF PUBLIC FACILITIES ZONE
    13. Chapter 19.25 — C/R-ET COMMERCIAL/RECREATIONECOTOURISM ZONE
    14. Chapter 19.27 — C/MU-2 SEACOAST COMMERCIAL AND MIXED-USE ZONE
    15. Chapter 19.28 — C/MU-3 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL AND MIXED-USE Z…
    16. Chapter 19.29 — OS OPEN SPACE ZONE
    17. Chapter 19.30 — UR URBAN RESERVE ZONE
    18. Chapter 19.32 — FLOOD HAZARD OVERLAY DISTRICT
    19. Chapter 19.40 — BUILDING HEIGHT
    20. Chapter 19.42 — LOT AREA AND FRONTAGE
    21. Chapter 19.44 — CURB CUTS
    22. Chapter 19.46 — FENCES
    23. Chapter 19.48 — OFF-STREET PARKING
    24. Chapter 19.50 — OPEN SPACE AND LANDSCAPING
    25. Chapter 19.52 — SIGNS
    26. Chapter 19.54 — YARDS
    27. Chapter 19.56 — LIGHTING REGULATIONS
    28. Chapter 19.60 — ADULT-ORIENTED BUSINESSES
    29. Chapter 19.61 — CANNABIS FACILITIES
    30. Chapter 19.62 — BARS AND COCKTAIL LOUNGES
    31. Chapter 19.64 — FAMILY DAY CARE FACILITIES
    32. Chapter 19.65 — AFFORDABLE HOUSING DENSITY BONUS
    33. Chapter 19.67 — SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
    34. Chapter 19.68 — MANUFACTURED HOMES, MOBILE HOMES, CAMPERS, TRA…
    35. Chapter 19.70 — SWIMMING POOLS, SPAS AND HOT TUBS
    36. Chapter 19.71 — SATELLITE DISH ANTENNAE
    37. Chapter 19.72 — OUTDOOR USES
    38. Chapter 19.74 — MISCELLANEOUS USES
    39. Chapter 19.76 — NONCONFORMING LOTS, STRUCTURES AND USES
    40. Chapter 19.81 — SITE PLAN REVIEW
    41. Chapter 19.82 — CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
    42. Chapter 19.83 — DESIGN REVIEW
    43. Chapter 19.84 — VARIANCES
    44. Chapter 19.86 — ZONING CLASSIFICATION AND REZONING
    45. Chapter 19.88 — FEES
    46. Chapter 19.90 — WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
    47. Chapter 19.92 — GREEN BUILDING UTILITIES

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