National City · Land use · Single-family home
Where is a single-family home allowed in National City?
In National City, a single-family home is allowed in 11 base zones (RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RM-1, RM-2 and 6 more, 5 with a condition) (National City use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: 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 single-family home can go
National City's code calls this use “Dwelling unit, single 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 |
|---|---|---|
| RS-1 | Allowed | § 18.21.020 |
| RS-2 | Allowed | § 18.21.020 |
| RS-3 | Allowed | § 18.21.020 |
| RM-1 | Allowed | § 18.21.020 |
| RM-2 | Allowed | § 18.21.020 |
| RM-3 | Allowed | § 18.21.020 |
| MXC-1 | Allowed — see note Note a: Visitor serving, tourist commercial, and recreational uses are prioritized in the coastal zone. Note b: Residential uses are not permitted in the coastal zone west of I-5. | § 18.24.050 |
| MXC-2 | Allowed — see note Note b: Residential uses are not permitted in the coastal zone west of I-5. | § 18.24.050 |
| MXD-1 | Allowed — see note Note b: Residential uses are not permitted in the coastal zone west of I-5. | § 18.24.050 |
| MXD-2 | Allowed — see note Note b: Residential uses are not permitted in the coastal zone west of I-5. | § 18.24.050 |
| MXT Mixed-Use Transition | Allowed — see note Note b: Residential uses are not permitted in the coastal zone west of I-5. | § 18.24.050 |
What else applies
- 'Dwelling unit, single attached' is a separate row (RS-3, RM-1..RM-3 P; mixed-use P). Mixed-use row mark (b): residential uses are not permitted in the coastal zone west of I-5. 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).
- 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: 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 single-family home in the RS-1 zone in National City?
Yes. National City's use table lists it as allowed in RS-1 (§ 18.21.020).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a single-family home at an address in National City
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