San Clemente · Land use · Single-family home
Where is a single-family home allowed in San Clemente?
In San Clemente, a single-family home is allowed in 4 base zones (RL, RML, RM and RH) and needs a conditional use permit in 1 (RVL) (San Clemente use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: RL, RML, RM and RH
- Needs a permit: RVL
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 single-family home can go
San Clemente's code calls this use “Single-Family Dwellings”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| RL | Allowed | § 17.32.030 |
| RML | Allowed | § 17.32.030 |
| RM | Allowed | § 17.32.030 |
| RH | Allowed | § 17.32.030 |
| RVL | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.32.030 |
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: 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 single-family home 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 single-family home in the RL zone in San Clemente?
Yes. San Clemente's use table lists it as allowed in RL (§ 17.32.030).
General information, not legal advice.
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