The definitions in this chapter apply to land uses and activities identified in Tables 25.10-1 (Residential Zoning Districts Use Regulations), 25.12-1 (Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts Use Regulations), 25.14-1 (Mixed-Use Zoning Districts Use Regulations), 25.16-1 (Downtown Zoning Districts Use Regulations), and 25.18-1 (Public/Institutional, Parks and Recreation, and Tidal Plan/Bay Zoning Districts Use Regulations).
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU).
As defined in Section 25.48.030 (Accessory Dwelling Units) of this title.
Accessory Use.
See "Use, Accessory."
Adult Entertainment Uses.
Any establishment which as a regular or substantial course of conduct performs or operates as an adult bookstore, merchandise, or video store, adult theater, adult motion picture theater, adult cabaret, adult model studio, adult hotel/motel, or any other business establishment which as a regular and substantial course of conduct offers to its patrons products, merchandise, services or entertainment characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical parts. "Adult-oriented business" does not include those uses or activities, the regulation of which is preempted by State law. "Adult-oriented business" shall also include any establishment which, as a regular or substantial course of conduct, provides or allows performers, models, actors, actresses or employees to appear in any place in lingerie or similar attire which does not opaquely cover specified anatomical parts.
Air Courier, Terminal, and Freight, Services.
Transportation facilities for handling freight, with or without storage and maintenance facilities. This classification does not include local messenger and local delivery services.
Animal Care Services.
A. 
Kennel. — The commercial provision of shelter/kenneling for dogs, cats, other household animals, and horses (where allowed), including activities associated with such shelter (e.g., feeding, exercising, grooming, and incidental medical care).
B. 
Grooming. — The commercial provision of bathing and trimming services for dogs, cats, and other household animals permitted by the Municipal Code. Overnight boarding is not included with this use (see "Kennel").
C. 
Pet Hotel. — A business that primarily provides supervised care for overnight and extended indoor boarding facilities that mimic a home or hotel setting for dogs, cats, and other domestic animals. Ancillary services include training, spa and grooming treatments, and day care in supervised group indoor and/or outdoor play areas. Facilities include operational means and/or sound attenuation measures to diminish perceived odors and sound.
D. 
Veterinarian. — Establishments where household animals receive medical and surgical treatment and may be temporarily boarded (more than one-night stay) in association with such medical or surgical treatment. Short-term animal boarding may be provided as an accessory use.
Assembly Facilities.
A. 
Community Assembly Facility. — A facility for public or private meetings, including community centers, banquet centers, religious assembly facilities, civic and private auditoriums, union halls, meeting halls for clubs, and other membership organizations. This classification includes functionally related facilities for the use of members and attendees such as kitchens, multi-purpose rooms, classrooms and storage. It does not include gymnasiums or other sports facilities that represent more than 20% of overall square footage, convention centers, or facilities, such as day care centers and schools that are separately classified and regulated.
B. 
Religious Assembly Facilities. Any facility specifically designed and used to accommodate the gathering of persons for the purposes of fellowship, worship, or similar conduct of religious practices and activities. This definition includes functionally related internal facilities (i.e., kitchens, multi-purpose rooms, storage, etc.) and residences for clergy. Other establishments maintained by religious organizations, including full-time educational institutions, hospitals and other related operations, are classified according to their respective activities.
Auto Rentals.
See "Vehicle Services and Repair: Vehicle Rentals."
Auto Repair.
See "Vehicle Services and Repair."
Auto Sales.
See "Vehicle Sales."
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Banks and Financial Institutions.
A bank, savings and loan, credit union, or other financial institution that provides retail banking services to individuals and businesses. These uses include only those institutions engaged in the on-site circulation of cash money. This classification does not include "Check Cashing and Pay Day Loan Establishments."
Bars, Taverns.
See "Eating and Drinking Establishments, Bars and Taverns."
Bed and Breakfast.
A building or group of buildings providing 15 or fewer bedrooms or suites that are rented for overnight lodging for payment for periods of fewer than 30 consecutive calendar days, with a common eating area for guests and where meals may be provided. This use classification does not include hotels and motels (see "Hotels and Motels") or hostels (see "Hostels").
Boarding House.
See "Communal Housing."
Breweries, Distilleries, Wineries.
An establishment which produces ales, beers, meads, hard ciders, wine, liquor and/or similar beverages on-site. Also includes incidental sale of beverages for on-site and off-site consumption in keeping with the regulations of the Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). Establishments may provide food service that is subordinate to the production and sale of alcoholic beverages.
Building Materials and Contractor Services.
Establishments providing goods and services to contractors and individuals and carrying a full line of building materials, appurtenances and decorator items (including hardware, plumbing, electrical, heating, air-conditioning, or building supplies, tools and equipment, plants and garden products, patio furniture, swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs, lighting fixtures and cabinets, paint, carpeting, floor coverings or wallpaper) to facilitate the improvement, rehabilitation and maintenance of individual dwellings. All merchandise other than plants is kept within an enclosed building or fully screened enclosure and fertilizer, soil, soil amendments are stored and sold in package form only. Tools may be available for rent.
Business Services.
Establishments providing goods and services to other businesses and individuals on a fee or contract basis, including printing and copying, advertising and mailing, equipment rental and leasing, office security, custodial services, photo finishing, including associated delivery services with two or fewer fleet vehicles on site.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Caretaker Quarters.
A permanent residence that is secondary or accessory to the primary use of the property, and used for housing a caretaker employed on the site of any nonresidential use where needed for security purposes or to provide 24-hour care or monitoring of people, animals, equipment, or other conditions on the site.
Check Cashing and Pay Day Loan Establishments.
A commercial land use that generally includes some or all of a variety of financial services, including cashing of checks, warrants, drafts, money orders, or other commercial paper serving the same purpose; deferred deposit of personal checks whereby the check casher refrains from depositing a personal check written by a customer until a specific date pursuant to a written agreement; money transfers; payday advances; issuance of money orders; making consumer or auto-title loans; and similar uses. This category does not include State or Federally chartered banks, savings associations, credit unions, or industrial loan companies. It also does not include retail sellers that are primarily engaged in the business of selling consumer goods, such as consumables to retail buyers, and that cashes checks or issues money orders as a service to its customers (for a fee not exceeding two dollars) incidental to their main purpose or business.
Commercial Recreation, Large Scale.
A facility or establishment with a gross floor area of more than 5,000 square feet that provides indoor or outdoor recreational activities or entertainment for the general public or members, operated for profit or nonprofit. Examples may include, but are not limited to, amusement and theme parks, swimming pools, fitness studios, dance studios, arcades, escape rooms, climbing gyms, or similar uses. This classification may include snack bars and other incidental food and beverage services to patrons.
Commercial Recreation, Small Scale.
A facility or establishment with a gross floor area of 5,000 square feet or less that provides indoor or outdoor recreational activities or entertainment for the general public or members, operated for profit or nonprofit. Examples may include, but are not limited to, fitness studios, martial arts, yoga, pilates, dance studios, arcades, escape rooms, climbing gyms, or similar uses.
Communal Housing.
Shared living quarters without separate kitchen facilities for each room or unit, where five or more rooms or beds are rented individually to tenants under separate rental agreements, with or without meal service included. This classification includes convents and monasteries, rooming and boarding houses, dormitories and other types of organizational housing intended for long-term occupancy (more than 30 consecutive calendar days) but excludes "Lodging and Similar Uses," and "Residential Care Facilities," "Supportive Housing," and "Transitional Housing."
Community Assembly Facility.
See "Assembly, Community Assembly Facility."
Community Open Space.
Usable open space areas including plazas and parks that may be privately or publicly owned but which are open and available for public use.
Convenience Store.
See "Food and Beverage Sales, Convenience Store."
Corner Store Retail.
See "Retail Stores, Limited Corner Store."
Cottage Food Operation.
A use located within a dwelling where certain low-risk food products that do not require refrigeration are made and sold, and as defined in Section 113758 of the California Health and Safety Code.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Day Care Center.
Establishments providing non-medical care for persons on a less than 24-hour basis other than "Family Day Care, Small" or "Family Day Care, Large." This classification includes nursery schools, preschools, and day care facilities for children or adults, and any other day care facility licensed by the State of California. Such use must comply with all applicable State regulations, and specifically those set forth in the California Health and Safety Code commencing with Section 1596.70, to be considered a general day care facility.
Donation Box, Outdoor.
A bin, storage shed, or similar facility established as an outdoor, accessory use to a primary use for the purpose of providing a collection location for donated clothes, shoes, and small household items. Such facilities generally are established by a charitable or nonprofit organization.
Drive-Through or Drive-Up Facilities.
An establishment that sells products or provides services to occupants in vehicles, including drive-in or drive-up windows and drive-through services. Examples include banks and pharmacies. Does not include "click and collect" facilities in which an online order is picked up in a stationary retail business without use of a drive-in service (see "Retail Stores, General"). Does not include drive-through fast food (see "Restaurant, Drive-Through" within "Eating and Drinking Establishments"). Does not include drive-in theaters or gas stations (see "Vehicle Fuel Sales and Accessory Service").
Dwellings.
See "Single-Unit Dwelling," "Two-Unit Dwellings," "Multi-Unit Dwellings," or "Accessory Dwelling Unit."
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Eating and Drinking Establishments.
A. 
Bars and Taverns. — Any establishment that sells or serves alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises and is holding or applying for a public premises license from the State Department of Alcoholic Beverages and in which persons under 21 years of age are restricted from the premises. References to the establishment shall include any immediately adjacent area that is owned, leased, or rented, or controlled by the licensee. This use includes stand-alone tasting rooms where alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed on-site and any food service is subordinate to the sale of alcoholic beverages. This use does not include adult entertainment businesses.
B. 
Night Clubs. — Any establishment in which all of the following features are made available: (1) alcoholic beverages served or consumed on the premises; (2) floor space provided for dancing or standing or both for patrons in conjunction with an entertainment activity, provided that floor space utilized for patrons to view television or similar media shall not be construed to constitute floor space provided for dancing or standing or both for patrons in conjunction with an entertainment activity; and (3) music or other sound that is amplified through speakers for the purpose of entertaining patrons, except for sound associated with television or similar media being viewed by patrons and music provided exclusively as background entertainment for dining patrons. In any case where the above features are only incidental to a private event not open to the general public such as a wedding reception, banquet, non-profit event or similar function, such features shall not be construed to constitute a nightclub. Does not include adult entertainment businesses.
C. 
Outdoor Dining. — A dining area with seats and/or tables located outdoors of a sit-down restaurant, fast food, or other food service establishment. Outdoor dining is located on-site entirely outside the walls of the contiguous structure or enclosed on one or two sides by the walls of the structure with or without a solid roof cover.
D. 
Restaurants, Drive-Through. — Restaurants providing food and beverage services to occupants in vehicles, including drive-in or drive-up windows and drive-through services. Does not include "click and collect" facilities in which an online order is picked up in a stationary retail business without use of a drive-in service.
E. 
Restaurants. — Restaurants providing food and beverage services, which may include the sales of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. Takeout or delivery service may be provided. This use includes microbreweries where the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages are subordinate to on-site food service. This classification also includes catering businesses or bakeries that have a storefront retail component.
F. 
Tasting Room. An establishment that offers wine, beer, or liquor for consumption on the premises, and those products are manufactured or rectified on the premises or at an off-site location associated with the premises. Tasting rooms may include food sales. See Section 25.48.250 (Tasting Rooms as an Accessory Use).
Elderly and Long-Term Care.
Establishments that provide 24-hour medical, convalescent, or chronic care to individuals who, by reason of advanced age, chronic illness, or infirmity, are unable to care for themselves, and is licensed as a skilled nursing facility by the State, including, but not limited to, rest homes and convalescent hospitals. Does not include Residential Care Facilities" or "Hospitals and Clinics."
Emergency Shelter
A. 
Emergency Shelter, Permanent. — A facility or use, which provides temporary housing (six months or less) for homeless individuals or families, as defined in Section 50801 of the California Health and Safety Code. Supplemental services may include, but are not limited to, meals, day care, medical assistance, and counseling.
B. 
Emergency Shelter, Temporary. — A facility or use, which provides temporary housing (six months or less) for homeless individuals or families, as defined in Section 50801 of the California Health and Safety Code and is established in association with an on-site church or nonprofit institution and the use does not occur continuously at any one location for more than six months of any 12-month period. Supplemental services may include, but are not limited to, meals, day care, medical assistance, and counseling.
C. 
Low Barrier Navigation Center. — A Housing First, low barrier, temporary, service-enriched shelter focused on helping homeless individuals and families to quickly obtain permanent housing. Low barrier includes best practices to reduce barriers to entry, such as allowing partners, pets, storage of personal items, and privacy. See Government Code Section 65660.
For the purposes this paragraph, "emergency shelter" shall also include other interim interventions, including but not limited to, bridge housing, and respite or recuperative care
Extended-Stay Hotels.
A building or group of buildings containing lodging accommodations of one or more rooms typically let for periods of a week or more and that contain standard kitchens and appliances and other facilities to support such extended occupancy. To constitute an extended stay hotel, each hotel room must contain kitchen facilities to include a range cooktop, microwave or conventional oven, refrigerator, and sink, and must allow stays longer than 30 days.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Family Day Care.
A day-care facility licensed by the State that is located in a single-unit residence or other dwelling unit where a resident of the dwelling provides care and supervision for children under the age of 18 for periods of fewer than 24 hours a day.
Family Day Care, Small.
A facility that provides care for eight or fewer children (or capacity limits for small family day cares as set forth by the State, see California Health and Safety Code Section 1596.78), including children who reside at the home and are under the age of 10. See California Health and Safety Code Section 1596.78.
Family Day Care, Large.
A facility that provides care for nine to 14 children (or capacity limits for large family day cares as set forth by the State, see California Health and Safety Code Section 1596.78), including children who reside at the home and are under the age of 10. See California Health and Safety Code Section 1596.78.
Family.
One or more persons living together in a dwelling unit, with common access to, and common use of all living, kitchen, and eating areas within the dwelling unit.
Food and Beverage Sales.
Retail sales of food and beverages for off-site preparation and consumption.
A. 
Alcohol Sales Store. — A retail establishment engaged in the sale of alcoholic beverages as a primary use, including beer, wine, distilled spirits, hard liquor, and/or any other alcoholic beverages and regulated by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Does not include grocery stores, convenience stores, warehouse stores, or other alcohol sales authorized as part of an off-site wine tasting room or food and beverage product manufacturing.
B. 
General Market. — Retail food markets of food and grocery items for off-site preparation and consumption. Typical uses include supermarkets (less than 75,000 square feet — see "Retail Stores, Large Format"), neighborhood grocery stores, and specialty food stores, such as retail bakeries with less than 20% of floor space dedicated to customer seating; candy, nuts, and confectionary stores; meat or produce markets; vitamin and health food stores; cheese stores; and delicatessens. This classification may include small-scale specialty food production such as pasta shops with retail sales. May include secondary uses within the store for visitor convenience, such as banking services, retail sales of non-food items, and a pharmacy.
C. 
Convenience Store. — A retail establishment with not more than 3,000 square feet of gross floor area, offering retail sales of food, beverage, and small convenience items primarily for off-premises consumption. Sale of alcoholic beverages is limited to beer and wine only in conjunction with an ABC License Type 20. This classification excludes tobacco stores, liquor stores, delicatessens, confectioneries, and specialty food markets, or grocery stores having a sizeable assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, and fresh-cut meat, fish, or poultry. Also see "Alcohol Sales" and "General Market."
Food Preparation (Catering).
Businesses preparing and/or packaging food for off-site consumption, excluding those of an industrial character in terms of processes employed, waste produced, water used, and traffic generation. Typical uses include catering kitchens, bakeries with onsite retail sales, and small-scale specialty food production. Food preparation may also be considered accessory to allowed restaurant uses.
Food Processing and Production.
Facilities that manufacture, package, label, or store food for consumption off site and do not provide products directly to a consumer. Uses do not include any retail components.
Food Trucks.
Any vehicle from which food or drink is sold or offered for sale, not including delivery vehicles used to transport food or drink from a store or distributor having a valid food permit to a customer's home, or a vehicle transporting food or drink from a wholesale establishment to a retail outlet.
Funeral Services and Cemeteries.
An establishment primarily engaged in the provision of services involving the care, preparation, or disposition of human remains and conducting memorial services. Typical uses may include crematories, columbaria, mausoleums, mortuaries, funeral chapels, and funeral homes. May include areas for living quarters for funeral home/mortuary manager.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Heavy Equipment Sales (and Rental).
Sales, servicing, rental, fueling, and washing of large trucks, trailers, tractors, and other heavy equipment used for construction, moving, agricultural, or landscape gardening activities, as well as boats, mobile homes, and recreational vehicle/campers. Examples include cranes, earth moving equipment, tractors, combines, heavy trucks, etc. Includes large vehicle operation training facilities. Sales of new or used automobiles are excluded from this classification (see "Vehicle Sales, Auto and Light Truck").
Home Occupations.
The conduct of a business within a dwelling unit or residential site with the business activity being subordinate to the residential use of the property.
Hospitals and Clinics.
State-licensed facilities providing medical, surgical, psychiatric, or emergency medical services to sick or injured persons. This classification includes facilities for inpatient or outpatient treatment, including substance-abuse programs as well as training, research, and administrative services for patients and employees. This classification excludes veterinaries and animal hospitals (see "Animal Care, Sales, and Services").
A. 
Hospital. — A facility providing medical, psychiatric, or surgical services for sick or injured persons primarily on an in-patient basis, and including ancillary facilities for outpatient and emergency treatment, diagnostic services, training, research, administration, and services to patients, employees, or visitors.
B. 
Medical Clinic. — A facility providing medical, psychiatric, or surgical service for sick or injured persons exclusively on an out-patient basis, including emergency treatment, diagnostic services, administration, and related services to patients who are not lodged overnight. Services may be available without a prior appointment. This classification includes licensed facilities such as blood banks and plasma centers, and emergency medical services offered exclusively on an outpatient basis such as urgent care centers. This classification does not include private medical and dental offices that typically require appointments and are usually smaller scale; see "Medical and Dental Offices."
Hostels.
An establishment with guest rooms or suites that may be private or common which are rented to the public for overnight lodging for periods of fewer than 30 consecutive calendar days to transient patrons. Hostels cater primarily, but not exclusively, to travelers who arrive by bicycle, train, or other nonautomotive vehicles, and are generally an inexpensive form of lodging. This use classification does not include bed and breakfasts (see "Bed and Breakfast"), hotels and motels (see "Hotels and Motels"), or home sharing or short-term rentals.
Hotels and Motels.
An establishment with guest rooms or suites, with or without kitchen facilities, rented to the public for overnight lodging for periods of fewer than 30 consecutive calendar days to transient patrons, but not providing room rentals on an hourly basis. These establishments may provide additional services, such as conference and meeting rooms, restaurants, bars, personal services, shuttle services, retail services, or recreational facilities available to guests or to the public. A hotel or motel may include ancillary facilities such as common meeting rooms, dining facilities, and guest amenities. This use classification does not include bed and breakfasts (see "Bed and Breakfast") or hostels (see "Hostels").
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Heavy Industrial.
The manufacture and/or processing of materials and goods utilizing large quantities of raw materials, and generally requiring high capitalization and production of large quantities of output. Heavy industry often sells output to other business users rather than consumers. Characteristics of heavy industry include, but are not limited to, heavy trucking activity, noise, emissions requiring federal or state environmental permits, use of large quantities of hazardous materials as defined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and requirement for specialized permits from Federal and State occupational health and safety agencies. This classification does not include recycling (see "Recycling Facilities") or the processing of animals.
Industrial.
Establishments engaged in the manufacturing of finished parts or products, either from raw materials or previously prepared materials, within an enclosed structure. Includes processing, fabrication, assembly, treatment, testing (e.g., laboratories), packaging, incidental office storage, sales, and distribution of the parts or products; and large-scale/bulk laundry and dry-cleaning plants. Excludes vehicle/equipment rentals (see "Heavy Equipment Sales and Rental").
Light Industrial.
The manufacture and/or processing of consumer-oriented goods in a manner that does not produce noticeable odors, air emissions, or other environmental effects, and that has limited associated trucking activity. Light industries generally require limited amounts of raw materials to produce goods. Examples of light industries include, but are not limited to, the manufacture of electronic instruments, equipment, and appliances; brewery and alcohol production, pharmaceutical manufacturing; and production apparel manufacturing.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Laboratories/Research and Development.
A facility for scientific research, and the design, development and testing of electrical, electronic, magnetic, optical, computer, and telecommunications components in advance of product manufacturing, and the assembly of related products from parts produced off site, where the manufacturing activity is secondary to the research and development activities. Examples of this use include, but are not limited to, pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology research and development, medical labs, therapeutic discovery, genomic research, molecular diagnostics, soils and materials testing labs, vivarium, and forensic labs and other similar or related uses. This type of facility is distinguished from office-based research and development (see "Offices, Research and Development") in its orientation more toward testing and analysis than product development or prototyping; an industrial research and development facility may typically include this type of lab. The "medical lab" subset of this land use type is oriented more toward specimen analysis and processing than direct blood drawing and specimen collection from patients (see "Hospitals and Clinics") but may also include incidental specimen collection.
Light Industrial.
See "Industrial, Light Industrial."
Limited Corner Store Retail.
See "Retail Stores, Limited Corner Store."
Liquor Store.
See "Food and Beverage Sales, Alcohol Sales Store."
Live/Work Unit.
A unit that combines a workspace and incidental residential occupancy occupied and used by a single household. Live/work units have been constructed for such use or converted from commercial or industrial use and structurally modified to accommodate residential occupancy and work activity in compliance with the California Building Code. Live/work units shall include a dedicated working space that is reserved for and regularly used by one or more occupants of the unit. Live/work space includes, but is not limited to, a dedicated work space with an incidental sleeping area, a food preparation area, and a full bathroom including bathing and sanitary facilities which satisfy the provisions of applicable codes. Live/work units can include renter-occupant and/or owner-occupant.
Low Barrier Navigation Center.
See "Emergency Shelter, Low Barrier Navigation Center."
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Market, General.
"See Food and Beverage Sales, General."
Market.
"Medical Clinics. See "Hospitals and Clinics."
Medical Office.
"See Offices, Medical or Dental."
Micro Unit.
A form of multifamily housing; a small, self-contained, single-occupancy apartment that includes space for sleeping (provided as part of the primary living area or as no more than one bedroom), sitting, a kitchenette, and a bathroom, ranging in size up to 450 square feet; this definition is independent of an accessory dwelling unit and junior accessory dwelling unit.
Mixed-Use Developments.
An approach to land use development that involves integrating two or more different types of uses on the same property as part of a unified development. Generally, mixed-use development consists of commercial and residential uses integrated either vertically in the same structure or group of structures, or horizontally on the same development site where parking, open spaces, and other development features are shared. In a mixed-use development, both uses are considered primary uses of the land. Light industrial and commercial uses may also co-exist on the same site as a mix of uses but are not referred to as mixed-use developments.
Multi-Unit Dwellings.
Three or more attached or detached residential units on a single lot. Types of multi-unit dwellings include rowhouses, townhouses, garden apartments, senior housing developments, and multi-story apartment buildings. Multi-unit dwellings may also be combined with nonresidential uses as part of a mixed-use development.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Night Club.
See "Eating and Drinking Establishments, Night Clubs."
Nurseries and Garden Centers.
Establishments primarily engaged in retailing nursery and garden products
such as trees, shrubs, plants, seeds, bulbs, and sod
that are predominantly grown elsewhere. These establishments may sell a limited amount of a product they grow themselves. Fertilizer and soil products are stored and sold in package form only. This classification includes wholesale and retail nurseries offering plants for sale. This classification also includes farm supply and feed stores.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Offices
A. 
Co-Working. — A facilitated environment that may contain desks or other workspaces and facilities and is used by a recognized membership who share the site in order to interact and collaborate with each other as part of a community. Rules for membership and participation in the co-workspace are available to the public. Fabrication tools are limited to those that do not generate noise or pollutants in excess of what is customary within a typical office environment.
B. 
Medical or Dental. — Office use providing consultation, diagnosis, therapeutic, preventive, or corrective personal treatment services by doctors, dentists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, optometrists, and similar medical professionals, medical and dental laboratories within medical office buildings but excluding clinics or independent research laboratory facilities and hospitals (see "Hospitals and Clinics"), and similar practitioners of medical and healing arts for humans licensed for such practice by the State of California. Incidental medical and/or dental research within the office is considered part of the office use, where it supports the on-site patient services.
C. 
Professional. — Offices of firms or organizations providing professional, executive, management, or administrative services, such as accounting, architectural, computer software design, engineering, graphic design, interior design, investment advisors and brokers, insurance offices, legal offices, real estate and mortgage offices and services, and tax preparation offices, but excluding banks and savings and loan associations (see "Banks and Financial Institutions").
D. 
Research and Development. — Offices of firms or organizations engaged in study, testing, design, analysis and experimental development and testing of products, processes or services, including incidental prototype manufacturing of products or provisions of services to others among other similar related services, but does not include the general or mass production of the product. Includes electronic research firms or pharmaceutical research laboratories, and similar or related business types. Excludes medical testing and analysis and manufacturing, except of prototypes.
Open Space and Conservation Uses.
Any parcel or area of land or water that is essentially unimproved and devoted to an open-space use as defined in this section, and that is designated on a local, regional, or state open-space plan as any of the following:
A. 
Open space for the preservation of natural resources, including, but not limited to, areas required for the preservation of plant and animal life, including habitat for fish and wildlife species; areas required for ecologic and other scientific study purposes; rivers, streams, bays, and estuaries; and coastal beaches, banks of rivers and streams, and watershed lands.
B. 
Open space used for the managed production of resources, including, but not limited to, forest lands, rangeland, agricultural lands and areas of economic importance for the production of food or fiber; areas required for recharge of groundwater basin; bays, estuaries, marshes, rivers, and streams that are important for the management of commercial fisheries; and areas containing major mineral deposits, including those in short supply.
C. 
Open space for outdoor recreation, including, but not limited to, areas of outstanding scenic, historic, and cultural value; areas particularly suited for park and recreation purposes, including access to beaches and rivers and streams; and areas that serve as links between major recreation and open-space reservations, including utility easements, banks of rivers and streams, trails, and scenic highway corridors.
D. 
Open space for public health and safety, including, but not limited to, areas that require special management or regulation because of hazardous or special conditions such as earthquake fault zones, unstable soil areas, floodplains, watersheds, areas presenting high fire risks, areas required for the protection of water quality and water reservoirs and areas required for the projection and enhancement of air quality.
Outdoor Dining.
See "Eating and Drinking Establishments."
Outdoor Storage.
The storage of various materials outside of a structure other than fencing, either as an accessory or primary use.
Outdoor Temporary and/or Seasonal Sales.
The temporary outdoor use of property for retail sales for a specified duration of time.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Parking Facilities
A. 
Parking Facility, Primary Use. — A public or private space dedicated to accommodating vehicle parking stalls, backup area, driveways, and aisles and in which vehicle parking is the primary use of the site. Includes surface parking lots and parking structures/garages.
B. 
Parking Facility, Accessory Use. — Surface lots and structures for use of occupants, employees, or patrons on the subject site or offering parking to the public for a fee when such use is not incidental to another on-site activity.
Park and Fly, Accessory.
Surface lots and structures for vehicle parking associated with airport travel. As an accessory use to hotels, Accessory park and fly is intended to service hotel patrons. As an accessory use to office developments, accessory park and fly may function as a separate paid-to-park program not affiliated with patrons of the office development.
Park and Fly, Primary Use.
Surface lots and structures for vehicle parking associated with airport use where vehicle parking is the primary use of the site. Primary use park and fly is not permitted in any zoning district.
Park and Recreation Facilities, Public.
Parks, playgrounds, recreation facilities, trails, wildlife preserves, and related open spaces, all of which are noncommercial. This classification also includes noncommercial playing fields, courts, gymnasiums, public swimming pools, picnic facilities, tennis courts, and public golf courses, botanical gardens, as well as related food concessions or community centers within the facilities.
Personal Services, General.
Provision of recurrently needed services of a personal nature. This classification includes barber shops and beauty salons, seamstresses, tailors, day spas, medical spas (includes non-surgical and minimally invasive treatments such as injectable fillers, photorejuvination, facials and skin peels, microneedling, laser skin resurfacing and hair removal and other similar treatments related to beauty and wellness are permitted as ancillary to the personal service use), massage services (where massage practitioners are certified pursuant to the Business and Professions Code Section 4612), dry cleaning agents (excluding large-scale bulk dry cleaning plants), shoe repair shops, tattoo and body piercing services, and travel agencies mainly serving the general public.
Personal Services, Specialized.
Personal services that may tend to have a potentially offensive effect upon surrounding areas and which may need to be dispersed to minimize their adverse impacts. Examples of these uses include check cashing stores, fortune tellers, palm and card readers, and psychics.
Pet Hotel.
See "Animal Care Services, Pet Hotel."
Public Assembly.
See "Assembly Facilities, Community Assembly Facility."
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Recycling Facilities.
A facility for receiving, temporarily storing, transferring and/or processing materials for recycling, reuse, or final disposal. This use classification does not include facilities that deal with animal matter, nor does it include waste transfer facilities that operate as materials recovery, recycling, and solid waste transfer operations, which are classified as utilities.
A. 
Light Processing. — A facility used to sort, store and/or process recyclable materials. Processing means the preparation of material for efficient shipment, or to an end-user's specifications, by such means as baling, briquetting, compacting, flattening, grinding, crushing, mechanical sorting, shredding, cleaning, and remanufacturing. Light processing facilities are limited to baling, briquetting, crushing, compacting, grinding, shredding and sorting of source-separated recyclable materials and repairing of reusable materials sufficient to qualify as a certified processing facility. A light processing facility shall not shred, compact, or bale ferrous metals other than food and beverage containers.
B. 
Reverse Vending Machine(s). — Facilities with an automated mechanical device that accepts, sorts, and processes recyclable materials and issues a cash refund or a redeemable credit slip. Processing and sorting is not conducted on site.
C. 
Small Collection. — A facility available for the general public for the recycling of California Redemption Value (CRV) products such as glass, aluminum cans, and plastic beverage containers as defined by the State's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. Small collection facilities occupy an area of not more than 500 square feet, and may include a mobile unit, reverse vending machines or a grouping of reverse vending machines, kiosk-type units which may include permanent structures, or unattended containers placed for the donation of recyclable materials.
Research and Development.
"See "Laboratories/Research and Development."
Residential Care Facilities.
Facilities that are licensed by the State to provide permanent living accommodations and 24-hour primarily non-medical care and supervision for persons in need of personal services, supervision, protection, or assistance for sustaining the activities of daily living. Living accommodations are shared living quarters with or without separate kitchen or bathroom facilities for each room or unit. This classification includes facilities that are operated for profit as well as those operated by public or not-for-profit institutions, including hospices, nursing homes, convalescent facilities, and group homes for minors, persons with disabilities, and people in recovery from alcohol or drug addictions. This use classification excludes "Transitional Housing," "Supportive Housing," and "Elderly and Long-Term Care," which are defined separately.
A. 
Residential Care, General. — A facility that requires a State license or is licensed by the State to provide 24-hour primarily non-medical care and supervision for more than six persons. May include residential living quarters for more than six terminally ill persons.
B. 
Residential Care, Limited. — A facility that requires a State license or is State licensed and provides 24-hour nonmedical care and supervision for six or fewer persons. May include residential living quarters for more than six or fewer terminally ill persons.
C. 
Residential Care, Senior. — A housing arrangement chosen voluntarily by the resident, the resident's guardian, conservator, or other responsible person, where residents are 60 years of age or older and where varying levels of care and supervision are provided as agreed to at the time of admission or as determined necessary at subsequent times of reappraisal. This classification includes continuing care retirement communities and life care communities licensed for residential care by the State of California. Facilities with six or fewer persons are excluded from this definition (see "Residential Care, Limited").
D. 
Group Home. — A residential facility that provides 24-hour care and supervision to children, delivered at least in part by staff employed by the licensee in a structured environment. The care and supervision provided by a group home shall be nonmedical, except as otherwise permitted by law.
Restaurants.
See "Eating and Drinking Establishments."
Retail Stores
A. 
General. — The retail sale or rental of merchandise not specifically listed under another use classification. This classification includes department stores, clothing stores, furniture stores, pet supply stores, hardware stores, and businesses retailing goods such as: toys, hobby materials, handcrafted items, jewelry, cameras, photographic supplies and services (including portraiture and retail photo processing), medical supplies and equipment, pharmacies, electronic equipment, sporting goods, kitchen utensils, hardware, appliances, antiques, art galleries, art supplies and services, paint and wallpaper, carpeting and floor covering, office supplies, bicycles, and new automotive parts and accessories (excluding vehicle service and installation). Retail sales may be combined with other services such as office machine, computer, electronics, and similar small-item repairs. Retail sales include spaces to make your own art (e.g., pottery, paintings, etc. that serve walk-in customers and appointment slots for groups).
B. 
Limited Corner Store. — A retail establishment intended to serve a residential area, with no more than 2,000 square feet of gross floor area, which sells primarily food products, household items, hardware, newspapers, and magazines. Limited corner store retail may be located on a corner lot or mid-block.
C. 
Large Format. — Any singular retail use, whether stand alone or within a multi-building development, wherein said single-use building occupies at least 75,000 square feet of gross leasable area, typically requires high parking to building area ratios, and has a regional sales market, including membership warehouse clubs. May include secondary uses within the store for visitor convenience, such as grocery and prepared food and drink sales, banking services, and a pharmacy.
D. 
Retail Sales, Specialized. — Retail uses that may tend to have a potentially offensive effect upon surrounding areas and which may need to be dispersed to minimize their adverse impacts. Examples of these uses include adult stores, tobacco/smoke/vape shops, and pawn shops.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Schools, Primary and Secondary.
Facilities for primary or secondary education, including public schools, charter schools, private schools, and parochial schools having curricula comparable to that required in the public schools of the State. This use classification excludes "Tutoring and Educational Centers."
Short-Term Rental.
The use or possession of or the right to use or possess any room or rooms, or portions thereof in any dwelling unit for residing, sleeping or lodging purposes for less than 30 consecutive calendar days, counting portions of days as full calendar days.
Single-Unit Dwelling.
A dwelling unit designed for occupancy by one household which is not attached to or located on a lot with commercial uses or other dwelling units, other than an accessory dwelling unit. This definition also includes individual manufactured housing units installed on a foundation system pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 18551.
Storage, Personal ("Self-Storage").
Facilities offering enclosed storage with individual access for personal effects and household goods including mini-warehouses and mini-storage. This use excludes workshops, hobby shops, manufacturing, or commercial activity.
Studios, Arts.
Small-scale instructional facilities or a small practice space for the individual artist, musician, or any individual practitioner of the activities defined here, typically accommodating one group of students at a time, in no more than one instructional space. Examples include individual and group instruction and training, production rehearsal, photography and the processing of photographs produced only by users of the studio facilities. Also includes production studios for individual filmmakers, musicians, painters, sculptors, photographers, and other artists. These uses may also include accessory retail sales of products related to the services provided.
Supportive Housing.
The term "supportive housing" (per California Government Code Section 65582, as may be amended) shall mean a dwelling unit occupied by a target population, with no limit on length of stay, that is linked to on-site or off-site services that assist the supportive housing resident(s) in retaining the housing, improving their health status, and maximizing their ability to live and, when possible, work in the community. A target population means persons with low incomes having one or more disabilities, including mental illness, HIV or AIDS, substance abuse, or other chronic health conditions, or individuals eligible for services provided under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 4500) and may include — among other populations — adults, emancipated youth, families, families with children, elderly persons, young adults aging out of the foster care system, individuals exiting from institutional settings, veterans, and homeless people. Supportive housing may be designed as a residential group living facility or as a regular residential use and includes both facilities that provide on-site and off-site services.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Temporary Uses.
A use of land that is designed, operated, and occupies a site for a limited specified period of time.
Theaters, Live.
A theater, concert hall, auditorium, or similar establishment which, for any fee, regularly features live performances. This use may include incidental food and beverage services to patrons. Does not include adult entertainment businesses.
Theaters, Movie or Similar.
Facilities for indoor display of films, motion pictures, or closed-circuit television pictures before an individual or assemblage of persons, whether such assemblage be of a public, restricted or private nature, except a home or private dwelling. This classification may include incidental food and beverage services to patrons. Does not include adult entertainment businesses.
Trade Schools.
Public or private post-secondary schools providing occupational or job skills training for specific occupations, including business and computer schools, trade schools and apprenticeship programs, management training, and technical training schools. Excludes personal instructional services such as music lessons and tutoring.
Transit Facility.
A facility or location with the primary purpose of transfer, loading, and unloading of passengers and baggage. May include facilities for the provision of passenger services such as ticketing, restrooms, lockers, waiting areas, passenger vehicle parking and bus bays, for layover parking, and interior bus cleaning and incidental repair. Includes rail and bus terminals but does not include terminals serving airports or heliports.
Transitional Housing.
"Transitional housing" (per California Government Code Section 65582, as may be amended) shall mean buildings configured as rental housing developments but operated under program requirements that require the termination of assistance and recirculating of the assisted unit to another eligible program recipient at a predetermined future point in time that shall be no less than six months from the beginning of assistance. Transitional housing may be designed as a residential group living facility or as a regular residential use and includes both facilities that provide on-site and off-site services.
Tutoring and Educational Centers.
A business where supplemental educational instruction in specific subjects and skills is provided to school-age children, as well as teenagers and adults for college and exam preparation.
Two-Unit Dwellings.
No more than two residential units located on a single lot, not including an accessory dwelling unit. The residential units may be located in a single building that contains two residential units (also known as a duplex) or in two detached buildings.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Urban Agriculture.
Cultivation on the premises of fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, herbs, and/or ornamental plants intended to produce food, fibers, or other plant products for personal use or for on-or off-site sale.
Use.
The purpose for which land or the premises of a building, structure, or facility thereon is designed, arranged, or intended, or for which it is or may be occupied or maintained.
A. 
Use, Accessory. — A use that is customarily associated with, and is incidental and subordinate to, the primary use and located on the same parcel as the primary use.
B. 
Use, Primary. — A primary, principal, or dominant use established, or proposed to be established, on a parcel.
Utility Structures and Service Facilities, Large.
Generating plants; solid waste collection, including transfer stations and materials recovery facilities; solid waste treatment and disposal; water or wastewater treatment plants; and similar facilities of public agencies or public utilities, including corporation and maintenance yards.
Utility Structures and Service Facilities, Small.
Facilities necessary to support established uses involving only minor structures, such as electrical distribution lines, electric substations; and underground water and sewer lines.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Vehicle Fuel Sales and Accessory Service.
An establishment engaged in the retail sale of vehicle fuels or the retail sale of these fuels in combination with activities, such as providing minor vehicle repair services; selling automotive oils, replacement parts, and accessories; and/or ancillary retail and grocery sales and automated vehicle washing. Does not include body and fender work or "heavy" repair of trucks or other motor vehicles (see "Vehicle Sales" and "Vehicle Services and Repair").
A. 
Vehicle Sales. Auto and Light Truck. A retail establishment selling new or used automobiles, trucks and vans, motorcycles, personal watercraft and all-terrain vehicles, and similar vehicles. May also include the sale, installation, and servicing of related equipment and parts, incidental to vehicle dealerships. Does not include mobile home, recreational vehicle, or watercraft sales (see "Heavy Equipment Sales and Rental"); tire recapping establishments (see "Vehicle Services and Repair"); businesses dealing exclusively in used parts; or "Vehicle Fuel Sales and Accessory Service," which are separately defined.
Vehicle Services and Repair.
The service and repair of motor vehicles in an enclosed building, including the repair or replacement of engines and transmissions, body and fender repair, and the installation of non-factory installed products.
A. 
Car Wash. — Washing, waxing, detailing, or cleaning of automobiles or similar light vehicles, including self-serve washing facilities.
B. 
Major (Major Repair/Body Work). — Major repair of automobiles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, or trucks including light-duty trucks (i.e., gross vehicle weights of less than 10,000 pounds) and heavy-duty trucks (i.e., gross vehicle weights of more than 10,000 pounds). Examples of uses include full-service motor vehicle repair garages; body and fender shops; brake shops; machine shops, painting shops; towing services, and transmission shops. Does not include vehicle dismantling or salvage and tire retreading or recapping.
C. 
Minor (Minor Repair/Maintenance). — Minor repair of automobiles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, or light trucks, vans or similar size vehicles (i.e., vehicles that have gross vehicle weights less than 10,000 pounds) including installation of electronic equipment (e.g., alarms, audio equipment, etc.); servicing of cooling and air conditioning, electrical, fuel and exhaust systems; brake adjustments, relining and repairs; oil and air filter replacement; wheel alignment and balancing; tire sales, service, and installation shops; shock absorber replacement; chassis lubrication; smog checks; engine tune-ups; and installation of window film, and similar accessory equipment.
D. 
Vehicle Rental. — Rental of automobiles, motorcycles, mopeds, motorized scooters, recreational vehicles, trucks, and similar vehicles and equipment powered by a motor, including on-site storage and incidental maintenance that does not require pneumatic lifts.
Vehicle Storage.
The storage of operative or inoperative vehicles. These uses include storage of towed vehicles, impound yards, and storage lots for buses and recreational vehicles, but does not include vehicle dismantling or off-site airport parking.
Veterinary Services.
See "Animal Care Services."
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Warehousing/Logistics.
Facilities for storage and distribution without sales to the public on site or direct public access. In a warehousing use, the owner and operator of the warehouse is the owner of the goods or is the entity that offers the goods for sale or resale. This use normally operates from a warehouse or office having little or no display of merchandise and are not designed to solicit walk-in traffic. This classification excludes the storage of hazardous chemical, mineral, and explosive materials. Does not include personal storage (mini storage) facilities offered for rent or lease to the public (see "Storage, Personal"); or warehouse facilities in which the primary purpose of storage is for wholesaling (see "Wholesaling"); or building materials sales and services (see "Building Materials and Contractor Services").
Wholesaling.
Indoor storage and sale of goods to other firms for resale, storage of goods for transfer to retail outlets of the same firm, or storage and sale of materials and supplies used in production or operation. Wholesalers are primarily engaged in business-to-business sales but may sell to individual consumers through mail or internet orders. They normally operate from a warehouse or office having little or no display of merchandise and are not designed to solicit walk-in traffic. Does not include building materials sales and services (see "Building Materials and Contractor Services").
Wireless Communication Facilities.
Wireless telecommunication facilities consist of commercial wireless communication systems, including, but not limited to, cellular, PCS, paging, broadband, data transfer, and any other type of technology that fosters wireless communication through the use of portable electronic devices. A facility includes all supporting structures and associated equipment. Use also included facilities where the antennae are mounted on the roof or top of a building or structure, or the side of a building or structure, other than on a standalone facility. See Section 25.48.300 (Wireless Communications Facilities) for specific definitions.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)