Carmel-by-the-Sea · Land use · Senior or assisted living
Where is senior housing or assisted living allowed in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
In Carmel-by-the-Sea, senior housing or assisted living is needs a conditional use permit in 3 (R-4, SC and RC) and not allowed in 2 (Carmel-by-the-Sea use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: R-4, SC and RC
- Not allowed: R-1 and CC
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Carmel-by-the-Sea Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where senior housing or assisted living can go
Carmel-by-the-Sea's code calls this use “Residential Care Facilities / Senior”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| R-4 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.08.040 |
| SC | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.14.030 |
| RC | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.14.030 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Senior Citizen Housing (plain senior housing, not used): R-1 L-5, R-4 P, CC P, SC P, RC P, P-2 L-1, A-2 P, A-3 P.
- State law: A licensed care home for six or fewer residents is a residential use under state law (Health and Safety Code § 1566.3) and is allowed wherever homes are.
- Not covered here: Zone names not stated in the packet. Schedules: II-1 residential R-1/R-4 (S1), II-B commercial CC/SC/RC (S5), II-C park P-1/P-2 (S7), II-D A-1/A-2/A-3 (S8). Overlay and community plan districts have no use table in the packet.. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have senior housing or assisted living in the R-4 zone in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Only with a conditional use permit. Carmel-by-the-Sea's use table lists it that way in R-4 (§ 17.08.040).
Can I have senior housing or assisted living in the R-1 zone in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
No. Carmel-by-the-Sea's use table does not allow it in R-1 (R-1 District) (§ 17.08.040).
General information, not legal advice.
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