Base District Use Regulations
San Diego Municipal Code § 156.0308
in effect§156.0308 Base District Use Regulations
(a) Permitted Land Uses
The uses allowed and level of review required in the Centre City Planned District base districts and overlay districts are shown in Table 156-0308-A, below. The “Additional Regulations” column references additional regulations applicable to certain uses, which are found in this Article or in the Land Development Code.
(b) Previously Conforming Land Uses and Structures
Land uses and structures that were legally established under previous regulations but that do not conform to the land use regulations of this Article may continue to exist and operate pursuant to Chapter 12, Article 7, Division 1 of the Land Development Code, with the following exceptions:
(1) The gross floor area of previously conforming uses and structures may be expanded up to 10 percent of the existing gross floor area of structures on the premises through a Process One approval.
(2) The gross floor area of previously conforming land uses and structures may be expanded up to 100 percent of the existing gross floor area of structures on the premises through a Process Two Neighborhood Use Permit.
(3) Within the Residential Emphasis District, previously conforming uses may be replaced with conforming commercial uses without complying with the 80 percent residential land use requirement for new development.
(4) Where the premises contains Vehicle and Vehicular Equipment Sales and Services, Automobile Service Stations, Car Wash, Oil Change and Lubrication Services, Drive-Throughs, Moving and Storage Facilities, Parking Facilities, Surface Parking lots, or Maintenance and Repair Facilities, the gross floor area of previously conforming land uses and structures shall not be expanded.
Table 156-0308-A: CENTRE CITY PLANNED DISTRICT USE REGULATIONS
LEGEND: P = Permitted by Right; C = Conditional Use Permit Required; -- = Use Not Permitted; L = Limited Use; N = Neighborhood Use Permit Required; S = Site Development Permit Required; MS = Main Street; CS = Commercial Street; E = Employment Overlay
Use Categories/ Subcategories | C | NC15 | ER | BP | MC | RE | I7 | T7 | PC | OS | Additional Regulations | MS/CS & E Overlays15
Public Park/ Plaza/Open Space | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P
Agriculture | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | --
Community Gardens | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | P | §141.0203
Residential1
Rooming House | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | L | -- | §113.0103
Multiple Dwelling Units | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | --
Shopkeeper Units | P | P | P | P | P | P2 | -- | -- | P | --
Separately Regulated Residential Uses
Continuing Care Retirement Communities | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | L | -- | §141.0303
Fraternities, Sororities and Dormitories | N | N | N | N | N | N | -- | -- | N | -- | §141.0305 (c)-(e)
Home Occupations | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | §141.0308
Live/Work Quarters | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | §141.0311
Low Barrier Navigation Center | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | L | -- | §141.0317
Living Units | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | §156.0315(e)
Residential Care Facilities | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | L | -- | §141.0312
Transitional Housing | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | L | -- | §141.0313
Permanent Supportive Housing | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | L | -- | §141.0315
Separately Regulated Institutional Uses
Table 156-0308-A: CENTRE CITY PLANNED DISTRICT USE REGULATIONS
LEGEND: P = Permitted by Right; C = Conditional Use Permit Required; -- = Use Not Permitted; L = Limited Use; N = Neighborhood Use Permit Required; S = Site Development Permit Required; MS = Main Street; CS = Commercial Street; E = Employment Overlay
Use Categories/ Subcategories | C | NC15 | ER | BP | MC | RE | I7 | T7 | PC | OS | Additional Regulations | MS/CS & E Overlays15
Satellite Antennas | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | §141.0405
Correctional Placement Centers | C | -- | -- | -- | C | -- | -- | -- | C | -- | §141.0406
Cultural Institutions | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | P | MS, CS, E
Educational Facilities | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | §141.0407 | CS, E
Energy Generation & Distribution Stations | C | C | C | C | C | -- | C | C | C | -- | §141.0408
Exhibit Halls & Conventional Facilities | -- | -- | -- | -- | C | -- | C | C | C | -- | §141.0409 | E
Historical Buildings Occupied by Uses Not Otherwise Allowed | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | §156.0315(g)
Homeless Facilities6 | C | -- | C | C | C | -- | -- | -- | C | -- | §141.0412
Hospitals | P | C | P | P | P | C | -- | -- | P | -- | §141.0413 | CS, E
Intermediate Care Facilities and Nursing Facilities | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | §141.0423 | CS, E
Major Transmission, Relay or Communication Switching Station | C | -- | C | C | C | -- | C | C | -- | -- | §141.0416
Placemaking on Property5 Private | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P
Social Service Institutions | C | -- | C | C | C | -- | -- | -- | C | -- | §141.0417 | CS
Wireless Communication Facilities | See Section 141.0420
Table 156-0308-A: CENTRE CITY PLANNED DISTRICT USE REGULATIONS
LEGEND: P = Permitted by Right; C = Conditional Use Permit Required; -- = Use Not Permitted; L = Limited Use; N = Neighborhood Use Permit Required; S = Site Development Permit Required; MS = Main Street; CS = Commercial Street; E = Employment Overlay
Use Categories/ Subcategories | C | NC15 | ER | BP | MC | RE | I7 | T7 | PC | OS | Additional Regulations | MS/CS & E Overlays15
Retail Sales | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | P | -- | §156.0307(a), (b) & Figure C | MS, CS, E
Separately Regulated Retail Sales Uses
Cannabis Outlets | - | - | - | - | - | - | C | C | - | - | §141.0504
Off-Site Alcohol Beverage Sales | C | C | C | C | C | -- | -- | -- | C | C | §156.0315 (b)(1) | MS, CS, E
Commercial Services
Animal Grooming & Veterinary Offices | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | CS, E
Assembly & Entertainment | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | -- | P | P | §141.0602 | CS, E
With Live Entertainment | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | -- | L | L | §156.0315(c)
With Outdoor Use Area | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | -- | L | L | §156.0315(d)
Building Services | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | -- | P | -- | C, E
Business Support | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | CS, E
Eating & Drinking Establishments14
Bona-Fide Eating Establishments | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | P | §156.0315(a) | MS, CS, E
Non-Bona Fide Eating Establishments w/ Alcohol | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | -- | P | -- | §156.0315 (a) | MS, CS, E
Craft Beverage Producer | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | §156.0315(b) (2) | MS, CS, E
With Outdoor Use Area | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | L | P | §156.0315(d)
With Live Entertainment | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | L | -- | §156.0315(c)
Table 156-0308-A: CENTRE CITY PLANNED DISTRICT USE REGULATIONS
LEGEND: P = Permitted by Right; C = Conditional Use Permit Required; -- = Use Not Permitted; L = Limited Use; N = Neighborhood Use Permit Required; S = Site Development Permit Required; MS = Main Street; CS = Commercial Street; E = Employment Overlay
Use Categories/ Subcategories | C | NC15 | ER | BP | MC | RE | I7 | T7 | PC | OS | Additional Regulations | MS/CS & E Overlays15
Mobile Food Trucks | L | L11 | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | §123.0601- 0606
Financial Institutions | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | MS, CS, E
Funeral & Mortuary Services | P | -- | P | -- | P | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | CS, E
Instructional Studios | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | MS, CS, E
Maintenance & Repair | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | CS, E
Off-Site Services | P | P | P | P | P | -- | P | -- | -- | --
Personal Services | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | MS, CS, E
Radio & Television Studios | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | CS, E
Visitor Accommodations
Hotels and Motels | P | P3 | P | P | P | P13 | -- | -- | P | -- | CS, E
Separately Regulated Commercial Service Uses
Boarding Kennels/Pet Day Care Facilities | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | L | -- | §141.0604 | CS, E
Veterinary Clinics & Animal Hospitals | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | -- | -- | §141.0625 | CS, E
Assembly Uses, including Places of Religious Assembly | P | P | P | P | P | C | -- | -- | P | -- | §141.0602 | CS
Child Care Facilities | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | §141.0606 | CS, E
Outdoor Activities | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | P | MS, CS
With Live Entertainment5 | C | C | C | C | C | C | -- | -- | C | C | §156.0315(c)
Table 156-0308-A: CENTRE CITY PLANNED DISTRICT USE REGULATIONS
LEGEND: P = Permitted by Right; C = Conditional Use Permit Required; -- = Use Not Permitted; L = Limited Use; N = Neighborhood Use Permit Required; S = Site Development Permit Required; MS = Main Street; CS = Commercial Street; E = Employment Overlay
Use Categories/ Subcategories | C | NC15 | ER | BP | MC | RE | I7 | T7 | PC | OS | Additional Regulations | MS/CS & E Overlays15
Parking Facilities (structure or surface)8 | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | §156.0313
Private Clubs, Lodges and Fraternal Organizations | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | §141.0617
Pushcarts on private property | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | L | L | L | §141.0619
Recycling Facilities
Drop-Off Facilities | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | §141.0620(b)
Reverse Vending Machines | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | §141.0620(c)
Large Collection Facilities and Processing Facilities | -- | -- | -- | -- | C | -- | C | C | -- | -- | §141.0620(e)
Small Collection Facilities | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | §141.0620(d)
Small and Large Processing Facilities | -- | -- | -- | -- | C | -- | C | C | -- | -- | §141.0620(f)
Sidewalk Cafes,10 Streetaries, and Active Sidewalks | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | -- | L | L | §141.0621
SRO Hotels | P | P3 | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | §143.0510- §143.0590
Urgent Care Facilities | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | §141.0624 | CS, E
Offices(9) | P | P | P | P | P | P | -- | -- | P | -- | CS, E
Vehicle & Vehicular Equipment Sales & Service
Personal Vehicle Sales & Rental Offices | P | P | P | P | P | -- | P | -- | P | -- | CS, E
Table 156-0308-A: CENTRE CITY PLANNED DISTRICT USE REGULATIONS
LEGEND: P = Permitted by Right; C = Conditional Use Permit Required; -- = Use Not Permitted; L = Limited Use; N = Neighborhood Use Permit Required; S = Site Development Permit Required; MS = Main Street; CS = Commercial Street; E = Employment Overlay
Use Categories/ Subcategories | C | NC15 | ER | BP | MC | RE | I7 | T7 | PC | OS | Additional Regulations | MS/CS & E Overlays15
All Other Vehicle & Vehicular Equipment Sales & Services | -- | -- | -- | -- | C | -- | C | C | -- | --
Separately Regulated Vehicle & Vehicular Equipment & Service Uses
Automobile Service Stations | -- | -- | -- | -- | C | -- | C | C | -- | -- | §141.0801
Distribution and Storage
Distribution Facilities | -- | -- | -- | -- | P4 | -- | P | P | -- | --
Moving & Storage Facilities | -- | -- | -- | -- | P4 | -- | P | P | -- | --
Separately Regulated Distribution and Storage Uses
Temporary Construction Storage Yards | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | -- | §141.0903
Industrial
Artisan Food and Beverage Producer12 | L | L | L | L | L | -- | L | L | L | L | §141.1001 | CS, E
Heavy Manufacturing | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | C | -- | -- | --
Light Manufacturing | -- | -- | -- | -- | P | -- | P | P | -- | --
Marine Industry | -- | -- | -- | -- | C | -- | C | -- | -- | --
Research & Development | P | P | P | P | P | -- | P | P | P | -- | E
Trucking and Transportation Terminals | -- | -- | -- | -- | C | -- | C | C | -- | --
Separately Regulated Industrial Uses
Cannabis Production Facilities | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | §141.1004
Table 156-0308-A: CENTRE CITY PLANNED DISTRICT USE REGULATIONS
LEGEND: P = Permitted by Right; C = Conditional Use Permit Required; -- = Use Not Permitted; L = Limited Use; N = Neighborhood Use Permit Required; S = Site Development Permit Required; MS = Main Street; CS = Commercial Street; E = Employment Overlay
Use Categories/ Subcategories | C | NC15 | ER | BP | MC | RE | I7 | T7 | PC | OS | Additional Regulations | MS/CS & E Overlays15
Signs
Allowable Signs | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | §142.1201 §142.1292 §156.0314
Separately Regulated Signs Uses
Community Entry or Neighborhood Identification Signs | N | N | N | C | N | N | N | N | N | N | §141.1101 §141.1102
Reallocation of Sign Area Allowance | N | N | N | C | N | N | N | N | N | N | §141.1103
Revolving Projecting Signs | N | N | N | C | N | N | N | N | N | N | §141.1104
Automatic Changing Copy | N | N | N | C | N | N | N | N | N | N | §141.1105
Theater Marquees | N | N | N | C | N | N | -- | -- | N | N | §141.1106
Other Use Requirements
Temporary Uses and Structures | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | §123.0401
Footnotes for Table 156-0308-A
1 Not permitted on state or federal tidelands.
2 Commercial use floor area contributes to 20 percent commercial use allowance and is subject to locational limits of districts.
3 For hotels with 100 feet or more of street frontage along a Main Street, active commercial uses other than the hotel lobby shall constitute at least 50 percent of the required active commercial use frontage.
4 Not permitted within the San Diego Promise Zone.
5 In lieu of a Conditional Use Permit, placemaking on private property and outdoor activities may offer live entertainment for up to twenty days per calendar year through the approval of one or more Temporary Use Permits.
6 Notwithstanding any other Section of the Municipal Code, the required quarter mile separation between human service agencies shall not apply to multiple uses on the same premises.
7 These districts include properties that may be within state tidelands or under the ownership of the United States government, County of San Diego, or Port of San Diego. Lands west of the mean high tide line are under the jurisdiction of the Port of San Diego, and this Table is for planning purposes only. Lands owned by the United States are regulated by the federal government and may be subject to development agreement(s) executed with the City of San Diego. Lands owned by the County of San Diego are regulated by the County of San Diego and the California Coastal Commission, except for private development which is also subject to the Centre City Planned District Ordinance.
8 Structured parking facilities incorporated into a development as an accessory use or as part of a mixed-use development that contains at least 50 percent employment uses shall be permitted by right and do not require a Conditional Use Permit.
9 Research and Development and testing labs are permitted within the office use category.
10 Sidewalk cafes permitted pursuant to Section 141.0621 may reduce the continuous pavement walkway clearance to a minimum of four feet when the face-of-curb to property line distance is twelve feet or less.
11 Not permitted in the NC Zone in the Little Italy Neighborhood of the Downtown Community Plan Area.
12 Accessory retail sales or commercial uses that are accessible to the general public are required along a minimum 25 percent of any street frontage.
13 Visitor Accommodation uses are allowed as part of a mixed-use development that contains at least 80 percent residential uses and the development includes at least 90 percent of the base maximum floor area ratio.
14 Drive-ins and Drive-throughs are prohibited in the CCPDO.
15 Where the building permit application is submitted prior to January 1, 2029, development that converts commercial ground-floor street frontage in an existing structure to residential uses, where all of the dwelling units are affordable at a cost that does not exceed 30 percent of 150 percent of the area median income, shall be allowed subject to all applicable regulations.
(Amended 9-7-2007 by O-19664 N.S; effective 10-7-2007.) (Amended 5-6-2010 by O-19947 N.S. and O-19949 N.S.; effective 6-5-2010.) (Amended 12-7-2011 by O-20117 N.S.; effective 1-6-2012.) (Amended 6-26-2012 by O-20176 N.S.; effective 7-26-2012.) (Amended 3-25-2014 by O-20356 N.S.; effective 4-24-2014.) (Amended 5-15-2014 by O-20368 N.S.; effective 6-14-2014.) [Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-19947 N. S, O-19949 N.S., O-20117 N.S., O-20176 N.S., and O-20368 N. S will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies them as Local Coastal Program Amendments. Click the links to view the Strikeout Ordinances highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-20176-SO.pdf and http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-20368-SO.pdf ]
(Amended 4-3-2014 by O-20357 N.S.; effective 10-15-2014.) (Amended 4-5-2016 by O-20634 N.S.; effective 5-5-2016.) (Amended 8-4-2016 by O-20704 N.S.; effective 8-27-2016.) (Amended 2-22-2017 by O-20793 N.S.; effective 4-12-2017.) (Amended 10-17-2017 by O-20859 N.S.; effective 11-16-2017.) (Amended 8-9-2019 by O-21114 N.S. and O-21117 N.S.; effective 9-8-2019.) (Amended 2-1-2021 by O-21288 N.S.; effective 3-3-2021.) (Amended 4-14-2021 by O-21305 N.S.; effective 5-29-2021.) (Amended 1-27-2022 by O-21416 N.S.; effective 2-26-2022.) (Amended 5-23-2022 by O-21458 N.S.; effective 6-22-2022.) (Amended 3-7-2023 by O-21619 N.S.; effective 5-6-2023.)
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-21619 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment. Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-21619-SO.pdf ]
(Amended 7-22-2024 by O-21837 N.S.; effective 10-5-2024.)
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-21837 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment. Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-21837-SO.pdf ]
(Amended 6-15-2026 by O-22110 N.S.; effective 7-15-2026.)
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-22110 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment. Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-22110-SO.pdf ]
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter15/Ch15Art06Division03.pdf#page=23Fetched: 10/28/2026