San Clemente · Land use · Church or place of worship
Where is a church or other place of worship allowed in San Clemente?
In San Clemente, a church or other place of worship is needs a conditional use permit in 21 (RVL, RL, RML, RM, RH and 16 more) and not allowed in 1 (San Clemente use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: RVL, RL, RML, RM, RH, NC 1.1, NC 1.2, NC 1.3 and 13 more
- Not allowed: RMF 1
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the San Clemente 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 church or other place of worship can go
San Clemente's code calls this use “Churches”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| RVL | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.32.030 |
| RL | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.32.030 |
| RML | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.32.030 |
| RM | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.32.030 |
| RH | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.32.030 |
| NC 1.1 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.36.020 |
| NC 1.2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.36.020 |
| NC 1.3 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.36.020 |
| NC 2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.36.020 |
| NC 3 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.36.020 |
| CC 1 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.36.020 |
| CC 2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.36.020 |
| CC 3 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.36.020 |
| CC 4 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.36.020 |
| MU 1 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.40.030 |
| MU 2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.40.030 |
| MU 3.0 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.40.030 |
| MU 3.1 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.40.030 |
| MU 3.2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.40.030 |
| MU 3.3 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.40.030 |
| MU 5 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.40.030 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- State law: Federal law (RLUIPA) bars zoning rules that treat religious assembly worse than other assembly uses.
- Not covered here: INST (institutional zones; see Marblehead Inland Master Plan); industrial and any other zones whose use tables are not in the text; Housing Overlay and Emergency Shelter Overlay (17.56.090, 17.56.100). Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in San Clemente
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the RVL zone in San Clemente?
Only with a conditional use permit. San Clemente's use table lists it that way in RVL (§ 17.32.030).
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the RMF 1 zone in San Clemente?
No. San Clemente's use table does not allow it in RMF 1 (§ 17.36.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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