In order to classify, regulate, restrict and segregate the uses of land and buildings, to regulate and restrict the height and bulk of buildings, to regulate the area of yards and other open spaces about buildings, and to regulate the density of population, 36 classes of zones and overlay zones are established by this chapter to be known as follows:
C-1—Neighborhood Commercial Zone
C-2—General Commercial Zone
C-F—Community Facilities Zone
C-L—Local Shopping Center Zone
C-M—Heavy Commercial-Limited Industrial Zone
CR-A/OS—Cannon Road-Agricultural/Open Space Zone
C-T—Commercial Tourist Zone
E-A—Exclusive Agricultural Zone
L-C—Limited Control Zone
M—Industrial Zone
O—Office Zone
O-S—Open Space Zone
P-C—Planned Community Zone
P-M—Planned Industrial Zone
P-U—Public Utility Zone
R-1—One-Family Residential Zone
R-2—Two-Family Residential Zone
R-3—Multiple-Family Residential Zone
R-A—Residential Agricultural Zone
R-E—Residential Estate Zone
R-P—Residential-Professional Zone
R-T—Residential Tourist Zone
R-W—Residential Waterway Zone
RD-M—Residential Density-Multiple Zone
RMHP—Residential Mobile Home Park
T-C—Transportation Corridor Zone
V-B—Village-Barrio Zone
BAO—Beach Area Overlay Zone
Coastal Agriculture Overlay Zone
Coastal Resource Protection Overlay Zone
Coastal Shoreline Development Overlay Zone
Coastal Resource Overlay Zone Mello I LCP Segment
C/V-SO—Commercial/Visitor-Serving Overlay Zone
F-P—Floodplain Overlay Zone
H-O—Hospital Overlay Zone
Q—Qualified Development Overlay Zone
S-P—Scenic Preservation Overlay Zone
(Ord. 9060 § 300; Ord. 9151 § 2; Ord. 9204 § 1, 1967; Ord. 9337 § 3, 1973; Ord. 9383 § 1, 1974; Ord. 9384 § 1, 1974; Ord. 9385 § 1, 1974; Ord. 9368 § 1, 1974; Ord. 9425 §§ 1, 2, 1975; Ord. 9450 § 2, 1976; Ord. 9498 § 2, 1978; Ord. 9671 § 1, 1983; Ord. NS-675 § 8, 2003; Ord. NS-765 § 5, 2005; Ord. CS-099 § I, 2010; Ord. CS-317 § 4, 2017; Ord. CS-334 § 3, 2018)
"More restrictive uses," as employed in this title, means the following:
(1) 
Those uses first permitted in the R-1 zone are the most restrictive.
(2) 
All other uses are less restrictive in the order they are first permitted in the respective zones. All other zones are less restrictive in the order established by this subsection. Residential zones are more restrictive than commercial zones and commercial zones more restrictive than industrial zones.
(a) 
The degree of restrictiveness for residential zones shall be in a sequence from most restrictive to least restrictive as follows:
R-1, R-E, R-A, equally restrictive except as provided in subsection (3);
R-2, RMHP, equally restrictive;
R-3, RD-M, equally restrictive;
R-T, RW, equally restrictive;
R-P, least restrictive.
(b) 
The degree of restrictiveness for commercial zones shall be in a sequence from most restrictive to least restrictive as follows: C-1, C-2, C-T, C-M.
(c) 
The degree of restrictiveness for industrial zones shall be in a sequence from most restrictive to least restrictive as follows: P-M, M.
(3) 
Uses permitted in the R-A zone, the O-S zone, the E-A zone and the R-E zone shall be considered to be as restrictive as those permitted in the R-1 zone, except that those uses pertaining to animals shall be considered as "more restrictive uses" for purposes of this section.
(4) 
The V-B, P-U and P-C zones have special conditions for their application and shall be considered as more restrictive than other zones.
(Ord. 9060 § 301; Ord. 9151 § 3; Ord. 9384 § 1, 1974; Ord. 9385 § 1, 1974; Ord. 9425 § 2, 1975; Ord. 9450 § 3, 1976; Ord. 9498 § 3, 1978; Ord. 9671 §§ 2, 3, 1983; Ord. NS-675 § 9, 2003; Ord. CS-334 § 4, 2018)
The location and boundaries of the various zones are such as are shown and delineated on the zoning map of the city, which map is on file in the office of the City Clerk and made a part of this title.
(Ord. 9060 § 302; Ord. 9425 § 2, 1975; Ord. NS-481 § 1, 1999; Ord. NS-502 § 1, 1999; Ord. NS-519 § 1, 1999; Ord. NS-533 § 1, 2000; Ord. NS-576 § 1, 2001; Ord. NS-577 § 1, 2001; Ord. NS-580 § 1, 2001; Ord. NS-598 § 1, 2001; Ord. NS-610 § 1, 2001; Ord. NS-611 § 1, 2001; Ord. NS-617 § 1, 2002; Ord. NS-618 § 1, 2002; Ord. NS-619 § 1, 2002; Ord. NS-620 § 1, 2002; Ord. NS-629 § 1, 2002; Ord. 651 § 1, 2002; Ord. NS-654 § 1, 2003; Ord. NS-657 § 1, 2003; Ord. NS-673 § 1, 2003; Ord. NS-679 § 1, 2003; Ord. NS-692 § 1, 2004; Ord. NS-693 § 1, 2004; Ord. NS-697 § 1, 2004; Ord. NS-705 § 1, 2004; Ord. NS-715 § 1, 2004; Ord. NS-719 § 1, 2004; Ord. NS-723 § 1, 2004; Ord. NS-729 § 1, 2004; Ord. NS-730 § 1, 2004; Ord. NS-734 § 1, 2004; Ord. NS-735 § 1, 2004; Ord. NS-737 § 1, 2005; Ord. NS-740 § 1, 2005; Ord. NS-743 § 1, 2005; Ord. NS-748 § 1, 2005; Ord. NS-774 § 1, 2005; Ord. NS-780 § 1, 2005; Ord. NS-788 § 1, 2006; Ord. NS-803 § 1, 2006; Ord. NS-808 § 1, 2006; Ord. NS-809 § 1, 2006; Ord. NS-817 § 1, 2006; Ord. NS-823 § 1, 2006; Ord. NS-828 § 1, 2007; Ord. NS-837 § 1, 2007; Ord. NS-840 § 1, 2007; Ord. NS-847 § 1, 2007; Ord. NS-852 § 1, 2007; Ord. CS-011 § 1, 2008; Ord. CS-016 § 1, 2008; Ord. CS-030 § I, 2009; Ord. CS-056 § 1, 2009; Ord. CS-064 § I, 2009; Ord. CS-075 § I, 2010; Ord. CS-091 § I, 2010; Ord. CS-099 § VIII, 2010; Ord. CS-106 § I, 2010; Ord. CS-113 § 1, 2010; Ord. CS-117 § I, 2011; Ord. CS-163 § 1, 2011; Ord. CS-169 § I, 2012; Ord. CS-173 § I, 2012; Ord. CS-205 § 1, 2013; Ord. CS-206 § 1, 2013; Ord. CS-208 § 1, 2013; Ord. CS-228 § 1, 2013; Ord. CS-260 § I, 2014; Ord. CS-282 § I, 2015; Ord. CS-284 § 1, 2015; Ord. CS-300 § 1, 2016; Ord. CS-302 § 1, 2016; Ord. CS-292 § 1, 2016; Ord. CS-316 § 2, 2017; Ord. CS-317 § 5, 2017; Ord. CS-344 § 1, 2018; Ord. CS-334 § 5, 2018; Ord. CS-358 § 2, 2019; Ord. CS-415 § 2, 2022)
The zoning map may, for convenience, be divided into parts, and each such part may, for purposes of more readily identifying areas within such zoning map, be subdivided into units, and such parts and units may be separately employed for purposes of amending the zoning map or for any official reference to the zoning map.
(Ord. 9060 § 303; Ord. 9425 § 2, 1975)
Changes in the boundaries of the zones shall be made by ordinance adopting an amended zoning map, or part of the map, or unit of a part of the zoning map, which amended maps, or parts or units of parts, when so adopted, shall be published in the manner prescribed by law and become a part of this title.
(Ord. 9060 § 304; Ord. 9425 § 2, 1975)
Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of any zone shown upon a zoning map or any part or unit thereof, the following rules shall apply:
(1) 
Where such boundaries are indicated as approximately following street and alley lines or lot lines, such lines shall be construed to be such boundaries.
(2) 
In the case of unsubdivided property, and where a zone boundary divides a lot, the location of such boundaries, unless the same is indicated by dimensions, shall be determined by use of the scale appearing on the zoning map.
(3) 
Where a public street or alley is officially vacated or abandoned, the area comprising such vacated street or alley shall acquire the classification of the property to which it reverts.
(4) 
Areas of dedicated streets or alleys and railroad rights-of-way, other than such as are designated on the zoning map as being classified in one of the zones provided in this title, shall be deemed to be unclassified and, in the case of streets, permitted to be used only for purposes lawfully allowed and, in the case of railroad rights-of-way, permitted to be used solely for the purpose of accommodating tracks, signals, other operative devices and the movement of rolling stock.
(Ord. 9060 § 305; Ord. 9425 § 2, 1975)
Any unprezoned property which is annexed to the city and any property within the city limits which is unzoned is automatically zoned L-C. Unincorporated territory or property adjacent to the city may be prezoned for the purpose of determining a zone which will apply to such property in the event of subsequent annexation to the city. The method of accomplishing such prezoning shall be the same as that for changing zones on property within the city. Such zoning shall become effective at such time as the annexation becomes effective.
(Ord. 9060 § 306; Ord. 9183 § 1; Ord. 9337 § 2, 1973; Ord. 9425 § 2, 1975)
Except as provided in this title, no building shall be erected, reconstructed or structurally altered, nor shall any building or land be used for any purpose except as hereinafter specifically provided and allowed in the same zone in which such building and land is located. Cardrooms (Ch. 5.12), retail sales of dogs and cats (Ch. 7.16), camping on public property (Ch. 8.36), mini-satellite wagering (Ch. 8.80) and cannabis activities (Ch. 8.90) prohibited elsewhere in this code are also prohibited as land uses under this title.
(Ord. 9060 § 307; Ord. 9425 § 2, 1975; Ord. CS-325 § 2, 2017; Ord. CS-339 § 2, 2018)
Where a number follows the zoning symbol on the zoning map, it shall represent the minimum lot area required in lieu of the minimum area established in each zone as herein defined. If the number is a thousand or larger, it refers to square feet. If the number is a hundred or less, it refers to acres. If no number follows the zoning symbol, the area prescribed in the chapter governing such zone shall apply.
(Ord. 9060 § 308; Ord. 9337 § 4, 1973; Ord. 9425 § 2, 1975)
As provided by the Carlsbad General Plan, some areas of the city are suitable for more than one land use classification; and often, multiple land use designations are assigned to areas in the early planning stages when it is unclear what the most appropriate designation may be or where the boundaries of such designations should be located. These areas are referred to in the general plan as "combination districts." It is the intent of this section to implement the general plan provisions for "combination districts," as follows:
(1) 
Two or more zones (combination zoning) may be permitted on property with two or more general plan land use designations (combination district), as a means of implementing the combination district.
(2) 
The designation of combination zoning requires additional comprehensive planning. Prior to the approval of any permits for development of property with combination zoning, the following must occur:
(a) 
If the combination zoning applies to property consisting of 25 acres or more, a specific plan shall be approved pursuant to Section 65450 et seq., of the Government Code. The specific plan shall establish the regulations and development standards for such property and the uses permitted thereon, consistent with the underlying general plan designations.
(b) 
If the combination zoning applies to property consisting of less than 25 acres, a site development plan shall be approved and shall establish the regulations and development standards for such property and the uses permitted thereon shall be consistent with the underlying zoning designations.
(Ord. 9652 § 1, 1982; Ord. CS-102 § V, 2010)