Article 9-4.1. General Provisions#

Sec. 9-4.101. - Title.#

This chapter shall be known and cited as "The City of Pacifica Zoning Regulations".

(§ 22.02, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.102. - Adoption.#

There is hereby adopted a zoning plan for the City, said zoning plan being a districting plan as provided by law.

(§ 1.01, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.103. - Purpose.#

The purpose of this chapter is to promote the growth of the City in an orderly manner and to promote the public health, safety, comfort, and general welfare.

The zoning or districting plan effectuated by the provisions of this chapter is a specific plan based upon the general plan and consists of the establishment of various districts, including all the territory within the boundaries of the City, within which the use of land and buildings, the space of buildings, and the height and bulk of buildings are regulated.

No buildings or structures shall be erected, reconstructed, or structurally altered in any manner, nor shall any building or land be used for any purpose other than as permitted by, and in conformance with, the provisions of this chapter and all other laws and maps referred to in this chapter.§

(§§ 2.01, 2.02, and 2.03, Ord. 363)

Article 9-4.2. Definitions#

Sec. 9-4.201. - Scope.#

For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as set forth in this article.

(§ 19.01, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.202. - Advertising structure.#

(§ 19.02, Ord. 363; repealed by § I (A), Ord. 491-C.S., eff. October 28, 1987)

Sec. 9-4.202.1. - Access.#

"Access" shall mean an opening in a fence, wall or structure or a walkway or driveway permitting pedestrian or vehicular approach to, or within, any structure or use.

(§ I (B), Ord. 491-C.S., eff. October 28, 1987)

Sec. 9-4.202.2. - Access, lateral.#

(§ I (C), Ord. 491-C.S., eff. October 28, 1987; repealed by § 1, Ord. 610-C.S., eff. March 16, 1994)

Sec. 9-4.202.3. - Access, vertical.#

(§ I (D), Ord. 491-C.S., eff. October 28, 1987; repealed by § 1, Ord. 610-C.S., eff. March 16, 1994)

Sec. 9-4.202.5. - Accessory use.#

"Accessory use" shall mean a use of a building or site, or a portion of a building or site, which use is incidental or subordinate to the principal use conducted on or occupying a site.

(§ I (E), Ord. 491-C.S., eff. October 28, 1987)

Sec. 9-4.202.6. - Adult business.#

"Adult business" shall mean any business which is conducted exclusively for the patronage of adults and from which minors are specifically excluded, such as adult book stores, adult motion pictures, theaters, adult entertainment, or similar adult activities, but not including bars or liquor stores.

(§ I (F), Ord. 491-C.S., eff. October 28, 1987)

Sec. 9-4.203. - Aerial.#

"Aerial" shall mean a radio or television transmitting or receiving device consisting of one, or any combination, of the following elements:

(a) A tower (a vertical framework which supports either an antenna or a mast);

(b) A mast (a vertical element consisting of a tube or rod which supports an antenna);

(c) An antenna (a horizontal or vertical element or array attached to a mast or to a tower);

(d) Guy wires necessary to insure safety and stability; and

(e) A dish (a broadcast device which receives microwave signals from a satellite).

(§ 19.023, Ord. 363, as added by § 3, Ord. 463, as amended by § II, Ord. 440-85, eff. March 13, 1985)

Sec. 9-4.204. - Agriculture.#

"Agriculture" shall mean the tilling of the soil, the raising of crops, horticulture, viticulture, small livestock, farming, dairying, or animal husbandry.

(§ 19.03, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.205. - Alley.#

"Alley" shall mean any public thoroughfare which affords only a secondary means of access to abutting property and which is not intended for general traffic circulation.

(§ 19.04, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.205.1. - Alternative financial services.#

"Alternative financial services" shall mean the use defined in Section 9-4.2317(a).

(§ 3, Ord. 830-C.S., eff. January 1, 2018)

Sec. 9-4.206. - Apartment.#

"Apartment" shall mean a room or suite of two (2) or more rooms which room or suite is designed for, intended for, or occupied by one family for living or sleeping purposes and doing its cooking therein.

(§ 19.05, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.207. - Apartment house.#

"Apartment house" shall mean any building, or portion thereof, which is designed, built, rented, leased, let, or hired out to be occupied, or which is occupied, as the home or residence of three (3) or more families living independently of each other and doing their own cooking in such building. This shall include flats and apartments. (Also see "Dwelling, multiple", Section 9-4.235 of this article.)

(§ 19.06, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.208. - Automobile court or motel.#

"Automobile court or motel" shall mean a building, or group of two (2), or more detached or semidetached buildings, containing guest rooms or apartments with automobile storage space serving such rooms or apartments provided in connection therewith, which building or group of buildings is designed and used for the accommodation of transient automobile travelers.

(§ 19.07, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.208.1. - Bank.#

"Bank" shall mean a federally or state chartered bank.

(§ 3, Ord. 830-C.S., eff. January 1, 2018)

Sec. 9-4.209. - Basement.#

"Basement" shall mean a story partly underground and having at least one-half (½) of its height above grade. A basement shall be counted as a story if the vertical distance from the grade to the ceiling is over five (5′) feet, or if used for business purposes, or if used for dwelling purposes by other than a janitor or domestic servants employed in the same building, including the family of the same. A basement shall not be counted as a story or in the prescribed height limit when in an apartment house and the majority of its space is used for meeting the parking requirements of such building.

(§ 19.08, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.209.1. - Bay windows.#

"Bay window" shall mean a window, or set of windows, which projects from the exterior wall of the building exclusive of floor area.

(§ V (B), Ord. 613-C.S., eff. April 13, 1994)

Sec. 9-4.210. - Block.#

"Block" shall mean that property abutting one side of a street and lying between the two (2) nearest intersecting streets or between the nearest intersecting street and railroad right-of-way, unsubdivided acreage, or a watercourse.

(§ 19.09, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.211. - Boardinghouse.#

"Boardinghouse" shall mean a dwelling other than a hotel where lodging and meals for five (5) or more persons are provided for compensation.

(§ 19.10, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.212. - Building.#

"Building" shall mean any structure having a roof supported by columns or by walls and designed for the shelter or housing of any person, animal, or chattel.

(§ 19.11, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.213. - Building, accessory.#

"Accessory building" shall mean a subordinate building the use of which is incidental to that of the main building on the same lot and/or building site.

(§ 19.12, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.214. - Building, conforming.#

"Conforming building" shall mean a building which is designed, or which is adaptable without alteration, for a use allowable in the district in which the building is situated.

(§ 19.13, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.215. - Building coverage.#

"Building coverage" shall mean all enclosed floor area which occupies a building site. This definition shall include second story cantilevered floor area. Balconies, if not enclosed, roof overhangs, eaves, and similar architectural features shall not be included.

(§ 19.14, Ord. 363, as amended by § II, Ord. 440-85, eff. March 13, 1985)

Sec. 9-4.216. - Building, main.#

"Main building" shall mean a building in which is conducted the principal use of the lot and/or building site on which the building is situated.

(§ 19.15, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.217. - Building, nonconforming.#

"Nonconforming building" shall mean a building which is designed or so arranged in such a manner that it is not suited to a use allowable in the district in which the building is situated.

(§ 19.16, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.218. - Building site.#

"Building site" shall mean a lot or parcel of land which meets all of the requirements of this chapter with respect to area and dimensions in the district in which such lot or parcel is located and having its principal frontage on a public street, road, highway, or private road approved by the City.

(§ 19.17, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.219. - Business, retail.#

"Retail business" shall mean the retail sale of any article, substance, or commodity for profit or livelihood conducted within a building, but not including the sale of lumber or other building materials or the sale of used or secondhand goods or materials of any kind.

(§ 19.18, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.220. - Business, wholesale.#

"Wholesale business" shall mean the wholesale handling of any article, substance, or commodity for profit or livelihood, but not including the handling of lumber or other building materials or the open storage or sale of any material or commodity, and not including the processing or manufacturing of any product or substance.

(§ 19.19, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.220.1. - Camper.#

(§ 2, Ord. 13-C.S., eff. April 16, 1971; repealed by § 1, Ord. 497-C.S., eff. February 10, 1988)

Sec. 9-4.221. - Carport.#

"Carport" shall mean a covered structure open on one or more sides and used for the parking of one or more automobiles.

(§ 19.20, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.222. - Car wash, automatic.#

"Automatic car wash" shall mean an area of land or structure with machinery and/or employee operated facilities used principally for the cleaning, washing, drying, polishing, or waxing of motor vehicles.

(§ 19.201, Ord. 363, as added by § 3, Ord. 382)

Sec. 9-4.223. - Car wash, self-service.#

"Self-service car wash" shall mean an area of land or structure maintained and operated for the use of private individuals to clean, wash, polish, and wax their own motor vehicles.

(§ 19.202, Ord. 363, as added by § 3, Ord. 382)

Sec. 9-4.224. - Car wash, self-service portable.#

"Portable self-service car wash" shall mean removable car cleaning and waxing equipment which is physically located on service station property and is maintained and operated for the use of private individuals to clean, wash, polish, and wax their own motor vehicles.

(§ 19.203, Ord. 363, as added by § 3, Ord. 425)

Sec. 9-4.225. - (Repealed)#

(§ 19.21, Ord. 363; § 3, Ord. 453, § II, Ord. 440-85, eff. March 13, 1985; § I(G), Ord. 491-C.S., eff. October 28, 1987; § 4C, Ord. No. 894-C.S., eff. January 10, 2024; repealed by Ord. No. 902-C.S., § 6(Exh. A, § 2), eff. September 24, 2025)

Sec. 9-4.226. - Club.#

"Club" shall mean premises occupied by a group of associated persons or an organization organized for social, charitable service, fraternal, professional, or trade purposes, except where the chief activity of which is a service customarily carried on as a business.

(§ 19.22, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.226.1. - Coastal Appeals Zone.#

(§ I (H), Ord. 491-C.S., eff. October 28, 1987; repealed by § 1, Ord. 610-C.S., eff. March 16, 1994)

Sec. 9-4.226.2. - Coastal development permit.#

(§ I (I), Ord. 491-C.S., eff. October 28, 1987; repealed by § 1, Ord. 610-C.S., eff. March 16, 1994)

Sec. 9-4.226.3. - Coastal scenic view corridor.#

(§ I (J), Ord. 491-C.S., eff. October 28, 1987; repealed by § 1, Ord. 610-C.S., eff. March 16, 1994)

Sec. 9-4.226.4. - Coastal Zone.#

(§ I (K), Ord. 491-C.S., eff. October 28, 1987; repealed by § 1, Ord. 610-C.S., eff. March 16, 1994)

Sec. 9-4.227. - Combining district.#

"Combining district" shall mean any district which can be combined with another district pursuant to the provisions of this chapter for the purpose of adding additional special regulations or regulations in place of the normal regulations effective in said districts.

(§ 19.23, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.228. - Commission.#

"Commission" shall mean the Planning Commission of the City.

Sec. 9-4.229. - Communications equipment building.#

"Communications equipment building" shall mean a structure housing operating electrical and mechanical equipment necessary for the conduct of a public utility communications business, with or without personnel.

(§ 19.24, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.229.1. - Community care facilities.#

"Community care facility" shall mean any facility, place, or building that is maintained and operated to provide non-medical residential care, treatment, adult daycare, or foster family agency services, including, but not limited to, the physically handicapped, mentally impaired, incompetent persons, and abused or neglected children, and includes uses listed in Section 1502(a) of the California Health and Safety Code, as may be amended from time to time. A "community care facility" shall not include a "family daycare home."

(§ 4C, Ord. No. 894-C.S., eff. January 10, 2024)

Sec. 9-4.230. - Condominium.#

"Condominium" shall mean an estate in real property consisting of an undivided interest in common in a portion of a parcel of real property, together with a separate interest in space in a residential, industrial, or commercial building on such real property, such as an apartment house, office, or store. "Condominium" may include, in addition, a separate interest in any other portion of such real property.

(§ 19.25, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.231. - Crop and tree farming.#

"Crop and tree farming" shall mean the raising of, but not the sale on the premises of, any form of vegetation for profit.

(§ 19.26, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.231.05. - Development.#

(§ I (L), Ord. 491-C.S., eff. October 28, 1987; repealed by § 1, Ord. 610-C.S., eff. March 16, 1994)

Sec. 9-4.231.1. - Dimensional standards.#

"Dimensional standards" shall mean all setbacks, height requirements, lot area requirements, and lot coverage requirements specified in the applicable zoning district at the time of the adoption of this Code.

(Ord. 184-C.S., eff. November 11, 1976)

Sec. 9-4.232. - District.#

"District" shall mean a portion of the City within which certain uses of land and buildings are permitted or prohibited, certain yards and other open spaces are required, certain height limits are established for buildings, and other regulations are set forth, all as specified in this chapter.

(§ 19.27, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.233. - Dwelling.#

"Dwelling" shall mean a building, or portion thereof, used or designed and intended to be used for human habitation, including sleeping purposes.

(§ 19.28, Ord. 363)

Sec. 9-4.234. - Dwelling group.#

"Dwelling group" shall mean a group of two (2) or more detached single-family, two-family, or multiple-family dwellings occupying a parcel or parcels of land in one ownership and/or having any yard or court in common.

(§ 19.31, Ord. 363, as amended by § 3, Ord. 585-C.S., eff. February 12, 1992)