National City · Land use · Bed and breakfast
Where is a bed and breakfast allowed in National City?
In National City, a bed and breakfast is needs a conditional use permit in 11 (RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RM-1, RM-2 and 6 more, 1 with a condition) (National City use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RM-1, RM-2, RM-3, MXC-1, MXC-2 and 3 more
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the National City 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 bed and breakfast can go
National City's code calls this use “Bed and breakfast inn (B&B)”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| RS-1 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 18.21.020 |
| RS-2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 18.21.020 |
| RS-3 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 18.21.020 |
| RM-1 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 18.21.020 |
| RM-2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 18.21.020 |
| RM-3 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 18.21.020 |
| MXC-1 | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note a: Visitor serving, tourist commercial, and recreational uses are prioritized in the coastal zone. | § 18.24.050 |
| MXC-2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 18.24.050 |
| MXD-1 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 18.24.050 |
| MXD-2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 18.24.050 |
| MXT Mixed-Use Transition | Needs a conditional use permit | § 18.24.050 |
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Section 18.30.290 (Bed and breakfast inns).
- Residential table points to Section 18.30.290 (Bed and breakfast inns). Mixed-use header MXC-1 carries mark (a): visitor-serving uses are prioritized in the coastal zone. RS-4, CL, MCR-1 and MCR-2 are governed by the Westside Specific Plan (tables not in the packet).
- Not covered here: RS-4, CL, MCR-1, MCR-2 zones: uses are in Appendix A of the Westside Specific Plan (S1, S3, S5), not in the packet; Glossary definitions (dwelling unit multiple, public assembly, animal husbandry) and Municipal Code 8.32 are not in the packet; No explicit rule that blank or unlisted uses are prohibited appears in the packet; blank cells are left out. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in National City
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a bed and breakfast in the RS-1 zone in National City?
Only with a conditional use permit. National City's use table lists it that way in RS-1 (§ 18.21.020).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a bed and breakfast at an address in National City
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