Educational Facilities--Schools for Kindergarten to Grade 12, Colleges/Universities, and Vocational/Trade Schools
San Diego Municipal Code § 141.0407
in effect§141.0407 Educational Facilities--Schools for Kindergarten to Grade 12, Colleges/Universities, and Vocational/Trade Schools
Educational facilities are facilities that are designed or used to provide specialized training or education. This section distinguishes between kindergarten to grade 12 schools, colleges and universities, and vocational schools and trade schools. Educational facilities are permitted by right in zones indicated with a “P”, as a limited use in the zones indicated with an “L”, and may be permitted with a Conditional Use Permit decided in accordance with Process Three in the zones indicated with a “C” in the Use Regulations Tables in Chapter 13, Article 1 (Base Zones) subject to the following regulations.
(a) Permanent development associated with educational facilities is not permitted in agricultural zones in Proposition A Lands or within floodplains located in the Coastal Overlay Zone.
(b) Schools for Kindergarten to Grade 12
(1) This use category applies to schools that provide instruction to children enrolled in any grade kindergarten to grade 12.
(2) Schools for kindergarten to grade 12 are not permitted on a premises that is identified as Prime Industrial Land in a land use plan.
(3) Limited use regulations. Schools for kindergarten to grade 12 are permitted as limited uses in zones indicated by an “L” subject to the following:
(A) Outside of a Sustainable Development Area, the facility design shall not accommodate more than 300 students, except that a new school may replace an existing school with current enrollment over 300 students if the result is no increase in the number of students.
(B) Within a Sustainable Development Area, the facility design shall not accommodate more than 600 students, except that a new school may replace an existing school with current enrollment over 600 students if the result is no increase in the number of students.
(C) Parking shall be provided in accordance with Table 142-05G.
(D) Deviations from Section 141.0407(b)(3)(A) or (B) may be permitted with a Conditional Use Permit decided in accordance with Process Three and subject to the conditional use regulations in Section 141.0407(b)(5).
(4) One-on-one teaching facilities with a maximum capacity of 50 students that provide education for children enrolled in grades 6 through 12 in a traditional office building are permitted by right in locations where business and professional offices are a permitted use in zones indicated with a “P”, except that such facilities are not permitted where in conflict with Section 141.0407(e)(1).
(5) Conditional use regulations. Schools for kindergarten to grade 12 are permitted as conditional uses in zones indicated by a “C” subject to the following:
(A) The applicant shall provide a master development plan that includes the following:
(i) The student capacity of the campus;
(ii) The size, number, and location of all proposed facilities;
(iii) The pedestrian and traffic circulation systems proposed for the site;
(iv) A transportation and parking development program; and
(v) A development phasing schedule.
(B) The design of the structures shall incorporate architectural elements that help to diminish building bulk.
(C) Larger structures, areas with high levels of activity, and parking areas shall be located on the site away from surrounding development that is smaller in scale or less intense.
(D) Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with Table 142-05G.
(c) Colleges/Universities
(1) Colleges and universities are facilities that provide post secondary education or higher in a campus setting where the campus typically has at least one of the following accessory activities or facilities: intercollegiate athletics, fraternities and sororities, student clubs, student unions, student dormitories, a campus library, or other campus facilities to accommodate a large assembly of people.
(2) Conditional use regulations. Colleges and universities are permitted as conditional uses in zones indicated by a “C” subject to the following:
(A) Colleges and universities are not permitted on a premises that is identified as Prime Industrial Land in a land use plan, except as otherwise allowed in accordance with Section 141.0407(e).
(B) Colleges and universities are subject to the conditional use criteria applicable to schools for kindergarten to grade 12 in Section 141.0407(b)(5).
(C) Access to colleges and universities shall be as direct as possible from freeways and primary arterials and shall avoid residential streets.
(D) Colleges and universities that provide education in a traditional office building without any extracurricular facilities of a traditional post secondary educational facility are permitted by right where business and professional offices are permitted uses in zones indicated with a “P”. However, this type of educational facility is not permitted on a premises that is identified as Prime Industrial Land in a land use plan, except as otherwise allowed in accordance with Section 141.0407(e).
(d) Vocational and Trade Schools
(1) Vocational schools are facilities that offer instruction and practical introductory experience in skilled trades such as mechanics, carpentry, plumbing, or construction with training that emphasizes the skills and knowledge needed for a particular job. Trade schools are facilities organized by an industry or a large corporation to provide training, apprentice education, and similar courses.
(2) Limited use regulations. Vocational schools and trade schools are permitted as limited uses in zones indicated by an “L” subject to the following:
(A) Vocational schools and trade schools are not permitted on a premises that is identified as Prime Industrial Land in a land use plan, except as otherwise allowed in accordance with Section 141.0407(e).
(B) Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with Table 142-05G.
(e) Educational Facilities on Prime Industrial Land
(1) Schools for kindergarten to grade 12 are not permitted on a premises identified as Prime Industrial Land in a land use plan.
(2) Educational facilities that are limited to the instruction of adults may be permitted on a premises identified as Prime Industrial Land in a land use plan if:
(A) The primary emphasis of the educational facility is instruction in subjects incidental to manufacturing and industrial uses; or
(B) A Process Two Neighborhood Development Permit is granted in accordance with Section 126.0402 for a proposed educational facility that would be located in an existing office building that is not suitable for manufacturing or research and development due to the lack of loading docks/roll up doors and insufficient height clearance on the first floor (floor to ceiling height less than 14 feet).
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; amended 10-18-1999 by O-18691 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)
(Amended 4-8-2008 by O-19734 N.S; effective 5-8-2008.)
(Amended 8-4-2011 by O-20081 N.S.; effective 10-6-2011.)
(Amended 11-16-2012 by O-20216 N.S.; effective 12-16-2012.)
(Retitled to “Educational Facilities--Schools for Kindergarten to Grade 12, Colleges/Universities, and Vocational/Trade Schools” and amended 6-18-2013 by O-20261 N.S.; effective 7-19-2013.)
(Amended 4-5-2016 by O-20634 N.S.; effective 5-5-2016.)
(Amended 1-8-2020 by O-21164 N.S.; effective 2-9-2020.)
(Amended 3-7-2023 by O-21618 N.S.; effective 5-6-2023.)
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/MuniCodeChapter14/Ch14Art01Division04.pdf#page=9Fetched: 10/28/2026