Property Development Regulations – Commercial Subdistricts
San Diego Municipal Code § 1513.0307
in effect§1513.0307 Property Development Regulations – Commercial Subdistricts
(a) Minimum Lot Standards
The minimum lot standards as shown in Table 1513-03C apply, except any lot as defined in Land Development Code Section 113.0103 that meets the criteria for a legal lot in accordance with 113.0237 and which does not comply in all respects with the minimum lot dimensions specified in Table 1513-03C may be used in accordance with the regulations of the applicable zone.
Table 1513-03C Minimum Lot Standards
Standard | NC-N, VC-N | NC-S, VC-S
Area | 1,250 Square Feet | 2,400 Square Feet
Street Frontage | 25 Feet | 30 Feet
Width | 25 Feet | 30 Feet
Depth | 50 Feet | 80 Feet
(b) Yards
(1) Minimum Interior Yards
(A) 5-foot standard setback.
(B) Exceptions:
(i) A 3-foot setback may apply to a structure that is 20 feet or less above existing or proposed grade, whichever is lower, provided that any portion of the structure's facade that exceeds 20 feet in height above existing grade or proposed grade, whichever is lower, shall observe an additional setback for the remainder of the structure height by sloping away from the vertical plane of the facade at an angle not to exceed 45 degrees.
(ii) Structures that are developed with portions of the structure observing a 3-foot setback, and other portions of the structure observing a 5-foot setback may use a combination of Sections 1513.0307(b)(1)(A) and 1513.0307(b)(1)(B)(i), as shown in Diagram 1513-03C.
(iii) In the NC-N and VC-N Subdistricts, development of any lot or combination of lots 45 feet or greater in width shall have a minimum interior yard setback of 6 feet or 10 percent of the lot width, whichever is greater.
(iv) In the NC-S and VC-S Subdistricts, development of any lot or combination of lots 55 feet or greater in width shall have a minimum interior yard setback of 6 feet or 10 percent of the lot width, whichever is greater.
(2) Minimum Yards on Streets and Alleys
(A) A yard shall not be required for lots abutting Strandway and Bayside Lane and alleys.
(B) A yard shall not be required for lots abutting Ventura Place and West Mission Bay Drive.
(C) A yard shall not be required on Mission Boulevard except as set forth in Section 1513.0402(b)
(3) Minimum Yards on Bayside and Ocean Front Walks in NC-N, NC-S, VC-N and VC-S Subdistricts shall be as follows:
(A) NC-N and VC-N Subdistricts, Bayside Walk-5-foot standard setback.
(B) NC-N and VC-N Subdistricts Ocean Front:
(i) First story – 7-foot standard setback.
(ii) Second and third story – a maximum of 50 percent of each story shall observe a minimum 3-foot setback from the standard setback with the remaining portion of each story observing a minimum 5-foot setback from the standard setback.
(C) NC-S and VC-S Subdistricts, Bayside and Ocean Front Walks – 10-foot standard setback.
(D) Exceptions:
(i) Bayside Walk. In the NC-S and VC-S Subdistricts, buildings abutting Bayside Walk shall observe an additional setback beginning at 20 feet above existing grade or proposed grade, whichever is lower, at the standard setback and sloping back at a 45 degree angle. In the NC-N and VC-N Subdistricts, buildings abutting Bayside Walk shall observe an additional setback beginning at 15 feet above existing grade or proposed grade, whichever is lower, at the standard setback and sloping back at a 45 degree angle. The angle is measured in a horizontal plane perpendicular to and away from the building wall in either direction.
(ii) Ocean Front Walk. In the NC-S and VC-S Subdistricts, buildings abutting Ocean Front Walk shall observe an additional setback beginning at 25 feet above existing grade or proposed grade, whichever is lower at the standard setback and sloping back at a 45 degree angle. The angle is measured in a horizontal plane perpendicular to and away from the building wall in either direction.
(4) Minimum Yards on Courts and Places in VC-N, VC-S, NC-N and NC-S. The minimum yard requirement shall be those set forth in Section 1513.0304(c)(2). The R-N Subdistrict requirements shall apply to the VC-N and NC-N and the R-S Subdistrict requirements shall apply to the VC-S and NC-S.
(c) Encroachments
(1) Encroachments into Interior Yards. Allowable encroachments into the interior yard are listed in Table 1513-03D.
Table 1513-03D Allowable Encroachments
Feature | Interior Yard
Direct Vent Gas | 6 inches in 3-foot setback 1 foot in 5-foot setback
Eaves | 6 inches
Lighting Fixtures | 9 inches
Rain Gutters | 6 inches
Vents | 6 inches
(2) Encroachments into the required 45 degree angled setbacks of the interior yard. The following features may encroach into the 45 degree angles required for interior yards:
(A) Chimneys measuring no more than 2 feet by 2 feet, and roof vents;
(B) Dormers shall be permitted to encroach into the 45 degree angled setback consistent with the following:
(i) The dormer shall be setback a minimum of 5 feet from the property line or the distance of the interior yard setback if the setback is greater than 5 feet;
(ii) Dormers may be located on each side of the roof ridge; and
(iii) There shall be a minimum separation of 2 feet between dormers located on the same side of the roof ridge.
(C) In the NC-N and VC-N Subdistricts the combined total width of the dormers on the same side of the roof ridge shall not exceed 10 feet.
(D) In the NC-S and VC-S Subdistricts the combined width of all dormers on the same side of the roof ridge shall not exceed 20 feet.
(d) Floor Area Ratio
(1) For lots developed exclusively for residential use in any Commercial Subdistrict, the floor area ratio provisions of Section 1513.0304(g) shall apply.
(2) For lots exclusively developed with nonresidential development the following floor area ratios are applicable:
(A) The basic floor area ratio shall be 1.25.
(B) The basic floor area ratio may be increased to 1.75 if one off-street parking space is provided for every 800 square feet of gross floor area.
(3) For lots with mixed development with the first (or ground) story reserved for nonresidential activities (excluding parking and residential storage) and with the upper stories being designed for residential occupancy, the following floor area ratios are applicable:
(A) The basic floor area ratio shall be 1.25.
(B) The basic floor area ratio may be increased to 1.75 if 2.0 off-street parking spaces are provided for each dwelling unit.
(4) For NC-N and NC-S Subdistricts, no individual building or structure shall exceed the total amount of gross floor area of 8,750 square feet.
(e) Height. The maximum height of a building or structure shall be 30 feet. If the 30-foot height limitation of Ordinance No. 10960 is removed from Mission Beach, the building height limit shall be 35 feet.
(“Property Development Regulations – Commercial Subdistricts” added 3-27-2007 by O-19589 N.S.; effective 4-26-2007.)
(Amended 10-18-2010 by O-19999 N.S.; effective 8-9-2012.)
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/Ch15Art13Division03.pdf#page=18Fetched: 10/28/2026