Capitola · Land use · Residential care home (7 or more)
Where is a residential care home for 7 or more people allowed in Capitola?
In Capitola, a residential care home for 7 or more people is allowed in 2 base zones (RM and MU-V, 1 with a condition), needs a conditional use permit in 5 (R-1, MH, MU-N, C-C and C-R, 3 with a condition) and not allowed in 1 (Capitola use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: RM and MU-V
- Needs a permit: R-1, MH, MU-N, C-C and C-R
- Not allowed: I
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Capitola Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a residential care home for 7 or more people can go
Capitola's code calls this use “Residential Care Facilities, Large”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| RM Multifamily Residential | Allowed | § 17.16.020 |
| MU-V Mixed Use, Village | Allowed — see note Note 2: Allowed only on the second or third story of a mixed use development outside of the -VR overlay zone. Allowed on any story in the -VR overlay zone. Note 6: Residential uses are prohibited on the former Capitola Theater site (APNs 035-262-04, 035-262-02, 035-262-11, and 035-261-10). | § 17.20.020 |
| R-1 Single-Family Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.16.020 |
| MH Mobile Home Residential | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 2: Permitted on the mobile home park parcel or on a separate parcel of no less than five thousand square feet. | § 17.16.020 |
| MU-N Mixed Use, Neighborhood | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.20.020 |
| C-C Community Commercial | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 9: Allowed only as a part of a mixed use project integrated with commercial structures located on the same development site, except on Capitola Mall housing element sites where residential-only projects are allowed. See Section 17.24.035 (Capitola Mall redevelopment) for additional requirements on the Capitola Mall property. | § 17.24.020 |
| C-R Regional Commercial | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 9: Allowed only as a part of a mixed use project integrated with commercial structures located on the same development site, except on Capitola Mall housing element sites where residential-only projects are allowed. See Section 17.24.035 (Capitola Mall redevelopment) for additional requirements on the Capitola Mall property. | § 17.24.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
I.
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Section 17.96.080.
- MU table also has a combined row "Residential Care Facilities, Small and Large" that says "See Section 17.20.020 (F)", but the packet text has no subsection F; the separate Large row is used. Small is P in R-1 and RM.
- State law: A licensed care home for six or fewer residents is a residential use under state law (Health and Safety Code § 1566.3); this page covers larger homes.
- Not covered here: Visitor Serving (-VS) overlay subzones and the -VR overlay have their own use tables and are not base zones. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Capitola
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a residential care home for 7 or more people in the R-1 zone in Capitola?
Only with a conditional use permit. Capitola's use table lists it that way in R-1 (Single-Family Residential) (§ 17.16.020).
Can I have a residential care home for 7 or more people in the I zone in Capitola?
No. Capitola's use table does not allow it in I (Industrial) (§ 17.24.020).
Can I have a residential care home for 7 or more people in the RM zone in Capitola?
Yes. Capitola's use table lists it as allowed in RM (Multifamily Residential) (§ 17.16.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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