Imperial Beach · Land use · Single-family home
Where is a single-family home allowed in Imperial Beach?
In Imperial Beach, a single-family home is allowed in 6 base zones (R-1-6000, R-1-3800, R-3000-D, R-3000, R-2000 and 1 more) and not allowed in 3 (Imperial Beach use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: R-1-6000, R-1-3800, R-3000-D, R-3000, R-2000 and R-1500
- Not allowed: C/MU-1, C/MU-2 and C/MU-3
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Imperial Beach 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 single-family home can go
Imperial Beach's code calls this use “Single-family detached”. 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-1-6000 Single-Family Residential Zone | Allowed | § 19.12.020 |
| R-1-3800 Single-Family Residential Zone | Allowed | § 19.13.020 |
| R-3000-D Two-Family Detached Residential Zone | Allowed | § 19.14.020 |
| R-3000 Two-Family Residential Zone | Allowed | § 19.15.020 |
| R-2000 Medium Density Residential Zone | Allowed | § 19.16.020 |
| R-1500 High Density Residential Zone | Allowed | § 19.17.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- State law: State law lets most single-family lots add an ADU and a JADU (California ADU law) and a second home or a lot split under SB 9 (Gov. Code § 65852.21).
- Not covered here: Residential-zone cells come from prose use lists, not tables: a use not named in a list gets no cell (the 'unlisted = prohibited' rule is stated only for the C/MU table); PF, OS, UR zone lists do not name most of the 16 uses; Seacoast overlay zones. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Imperial Beach
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a single-family home in the C/MU-1 zone in Imperial Beach?
No. Imperial Beach's use table does not allow it in C/MU-1 (General Commercial and Mixed-Use Zone) (Chapter 19.23 — COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE USE REGULATIONS).
Can I have a single-family home in the R-1-6000 zone in Imperial Beach?
Yes. Imperial Beach's use table lists it as allowed in R-1-6000 (Single-Family Residential Zone) (§ 19.12.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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