Descriptions of Use Categories and Subcategories
San Diego Municipal Code § 131.0112
in effect(a)
The following are descriptions of each use category and subcategory found in
the Use Regulations Tables of each base zone. These descriptions shall be
used to classify specific uses into use subcategories for the purpose of
determining applicable use regulations, in accordance with Section 131.0110.
A description of separately regulated uses is located in Section 131.0112(b).
(1)
Open Space Use Category
This category includes uses that may occur on land that has been
identified for public recreational uses or to be left in a generally
natural state. The open space subcategories are:
(A)
Active Recreation — Public park facilities that require major
land development for installation, require a high level of
maintenance, and can accommodate large assemblages of
people.
(B)
Natural Resources Preservation — Undeveloped land left in a
natural state for specific use as visual open space or
environmental mitigation.
(C)
Park Maintenance Facilities — Major structures or facilities
used in conjunction with the maintenance of public parks.
(D)
Passive Recreation — Recreational facilities associated with
pastimes that are incidental to natural open space. These
facilities require minor land development for installation,
require minimum maintenance, do not attract large
assemblages of people, and have little impact on natural open
space.
6
Chapter 13: Zones
(10-2022)
(2)
Agriculture Use Category
This category includes uses that involve the raising and harvesting of
crops, the raising of animals, and the processing of plant and animal
by-products. The agriculture subcategories are:
(A)
Agricultural Processing — Uses related to the processing or
preparation of crops, animals, or animal by-products grown or
raised on the same premises for consumption or transportation
to markets.
(B)
Aquaculture Facilities — Uses that grow plants and animals in
a water medium, either indoors or outdoors.
(C)
Dairies — Uses related to the milking of livestock and
processing milk for consumption or transportation to markets.
(D)
Horticulture Nurseries and Greenhouses — Uses that
propagate and grow plants in containers or in the ground and
the associated sales of those plants.
(E)
Raising and Harvesting of Crops — Uses that involve the
planting, maintaining, and harvesting of crops for consumption
or for commercial purposes.
(F)
Raising, Maintaining, and Keeping of Animals — Uses that
involve the feeding, housing, and maintenance of animals for
private or commercial purposes.
(3)
Residential Use Category
This category includes uses that provide living accommodations for
one or more persons. The residential subcategories are:
(A)
Rooming houses. Rooming house has the same meaning as in
(B)
Mobilehome Parks — A premises with two or more
mobilehomes used as dwelling units, other than an Accessory
Dwelling Unit, Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit, movable tiny
house or employee housing.
7
Chapter 13: Zones
(10-2022)
(C)
Multiple Dwelling Units — Dwelling units where more than
one dwelling unit, other than an Accessory Dwelling Unit,
Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit, movable tiny house or
employee housing, is located on a single lot.
(D)
Single Dwelling Units — Dwelling units where no more than
one dwelling unit is located on a lot, usually detached, and
occupied by a single household unit.
(E)
Shopkeeper unit — shopkeeper unit has the same meaning as
in
(4)
Institutional Use Category
This category includes uses that provide unique services that are of
benefit to society as a whole. All of the uses in this use category are
separately regulated uses. See Section 131.0112(b).
(5)
Retail Sales Use Category
This category includes uses involving the sale, lease or rental of new
or used goods to the general public. The retail sales subcategories are:
(A)
Building Supplies and Equipment — Uses that provide goods
to repair, maintain, or visually enhance a structure or premises.
(B)
Consumer Goods, Furniture, Appliances, and Equipment —
Uses that provide goods, large and small, functional and
decorative, for use, entertainment, comfort, or aesthetics.
(C)
Food, Beverages, and Groceries — Uses that provide food for
consumption off of the premises.
(D)
Pets and Pet Supplies — Uses that provide household pets and
pet supplies for sale; grooming services.
(E)
Sundries, Pharmaceuticals, and Convenience Sales — Uses
that provide goods for personal grooming and for the day-to-
day maintenance of personal health and well-being.
(F)
Wearing Apparel and Accessories — Uses that provide goods
to cover, protect, or visually enhance the human form.
8
Chapter 13: Zones
(10-2022)
(6)
Commercial Services Use Category
This category includes uses that provide for consumer or business
services, for the repair and maintenance of a wide variety of products,
and for entertainment. The commercial services subcategories are:
(A)
Building Services — Uses that provide maintenance and repair
services for all structural and mechanical elements of
structures, as well as the exterior spaces of a premises.
(B)
Business Support — Uses that provide personnel services,
printing, copying, and photographic services, or
communication services.
(C)
Eating and Drinking Establishments — Uses that prepare or
serve food or beverages for consumption on or off the
premises.
(D)
Financial Institutions — Uses related to the exchange, lending,
borrowing, and safe-keeping of money.
(E)
Funeral and Morturary Services — Uses that provide services
related to the death of a human.
(F)
Instructional Studios - Uses that provide a place where skills
including dance, art, and martial arts are taught to individuals
or groups. Instructional studios also include recreation and
physical fitness facilities that accommodate a maximum
occupancy of 24 persons. Instructional studios do not include
educational facilities.
(G)
Maintenance and Repair - Uses that provide maintenance,
cleaning and repair services for consumer goods.
(H)
Off-Site Services - Uses that provide for deliveries of a wide
variety of products and that provide services that are used at a
location separate from the business providing the delivery or
service.
(I)
Personal Services - Uses that provide a variety of services
associated with personal grooming and the maintenance of
health and well-being. Personal services do not include
recreation or physical fitness facilities.
9
Chapter 13: Zones
(10-2022)
(J)
Radio and Television Studios - Uses that provide for the
production, recording, and broadcasting of radio and television
shows and motion pictures.
(K)
Visitor Accommodations - Uses that provide lodging, or a
combination of lodging, food, and entertainment, primarily to
visitors and tourists. (Outside the Coastal Overlay Zone,
includes SRO hotels.)
(L)
Tasting rooms - Uses accessory to a beverage manufacturing
plant that offer tastings and sell beverages manufactured on the
premises for on-site or off-site consumption. The subcategory
includes establishments such as breweries, wineries, and
distilleries that offer tastings and sales of alcoholic beverages
in accordance with a license issued by the California
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. This subcategory
does not include uses that qualify as retail tasting stores under
Section 141.0508.
(7)
Office Use Category
This category includes uses in an enclosed building that focus on
business, government, professional, medical, or financial services.
The offices subcategories are:
(A)
Business and Professional — Uses related to earning a
livelihood through a commercial or mercantile endeavor or
through the practice of a vocation requiring specialized training
or education.
(B)
Government — Uses related to the administration of the
regulations of local, state, or federal government.
(C)
Medical, Dental, and Health Practitioner — Uses related to
diagnosis and treatment of human illness and physical
malfunction that can be performed in an office setting.
Medical and dental laboratories are included in this
subcategory, unless otherwise indicated.
(D)
Regional and Corporate Headquarters — Uses related to the
administration of large or geographically widespread
businesses that may be located separately from the main
activity of those businesses.
10
Chapter 13: Zones
(10-2022)
(8)
Vehicle and Vehicular Equipment Sales and Services Use Category
This category includes uses that provide for the sale, rental,
maintenance, or repair of new or used vehicles and equipment. The
Vehicle and vehicular equipment sales and services subcategories are:
(A)
Commercial Vehicle Repair and Maintenance — Uses that
repair and maintain the mechanical components or the bodies
of large trucks, mass transit vehicles, large construction or
agricultural equipment, aircraft, or commercial boats.
(B)
Commercial Vehicle Sales and Rentals — Uses that provide
for the sale or rental of large trucks, mass transit vehicles, large
construction or agricultural equipment, aircraft, or commercial
boats.
(C)
Personal Vehicle Repair and Maintenance — Uses that repair
the mechanical components or the bodies of autos, small trucks
or vans, motorcycles, motor homes, or recreational vehicles
including recreational boats or that wash, clean, or otherwise
protect the exterior and interior surfaces of these vehicles.
(D)
Personal Vehicle Sales and Rentals — Uses that provide for
the sale or rental of new or used autos, small trucks or vans,
motorcycles, motor homes, or recreational vehicles including
recreational boats.
(E)
Vehicle Equipment and Supplies Sales and Rentals — Uses
related to the sale, lease, or rental of new or used parts, tools,
or supplies for the purpose of repairing or maintaining
vehicles, including distribution of products from the same
premises that sells, leases, or rents them.
(9)
Distribution and Storage Use Category
This category includes uses that distribute and store goods. Long-term
and short-term storage of commercial goods and personal items is
included. The subcategories are:
(A)
Equipment and Materials Storage Yards - Uses engaged in the
outdoor storage of large equipment or products or large
quantities of material.
11
Chapter 13: Zones
(10-2022)
(B)
Moving and Storage Facilities - Uses engaged in the moving
and storage of household or office furniture, personal items,
appliances, and equipment.
(C)
Distribution Facilities - Uses engaged in the commercial
storage and distribution of goods.
(10)
Industrial Use Category
This category includes uses that produce goods from extracted and raw
materials or from recyclable or previously prepared materials,
including the design, storage, and handling of these products and the
materials from which they are produced. The subcategories are:
(A)
Heavy Manufacturing - Uses that process, fabricate, assemble,
or treat materials using large outdoor equipment such as cranes
and large tanks to produce unpackaged bulk products such as
steel, paper, lumber, fertilizer, and petrochemicals. This
subcategory includes heavy manufacturing uses that typically
produce disturbing noise, dust, or other pollutants capable of
harming or annoying adjacent uses.
(B)
Light Manufacturing - Uses that process, fabricate, assemble,
treat, or package finished parts or products without the use of
explosives or unrefined petroleum. This subcategory includes
light manufacturing uses that produce a wide variety of
products including, but not limited to, durable goods,
machinery, equipment, or large food and beverage production
facilities that do not meet the criteria for artisan food and
beverage production pursuant to Section 141.1001.
(C)
Marine Industry — Uses that produce, distribute, and store
commercial marine vessels and equipment.
(D)
Research and Development – Uses engaged in scientific
research including computational modeling, bio-informatics,
and testing leading to the development of new products and
processes.
12
Chapter 13: Zones
(10-2022)
(E)
Testing Labs – Uses engaged in health and safety testing of
raw, processed, and manufactured products. This subcategory
does not include laboratories that qualify under Medical,
Dental & Health Practitioner or testing that qualifies under
Research & Development.
(F)
Trucking and Transportation Terminals – Uses engaged in the
dispatching of large vehicles to collect or deliver goods or
materials, or to transport people. Minor repair, maintenance,
and storage of fleet vehicles used on the premises is also
included.
(11)
Signs Use Category
This category includes all structures that provide identification of
businesses, products, services, or sites. The sign subcategory is:
Allowable Signs — Structures that are placed on the ground, or on
building facades or roofs, whose sign copy identifies a business, a
premises, activities on a premises, or direction to a premises. See
Section 142.1205.
(b)
Separately regulated uses are uses that may or may not meet the description of
a use subcategory but are listed separately from any subcategory because in
some or all zones they are regulated differently from other uses. Each use
category contains a list of separately regulated uses, some of which may meet
the description of a use subcategory within the same or another category. The
use regulations identified for the separately regulated use shall supersede the
use regulations for the use subcategory that may match the particular use.
13
Chapter 13: Zones
(10-2022)
Source: amlegal_browserURL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sanfrancisco/latest/sfplanning/Fetched: 6/28/2026