Purpose of the EMX (Employment Mixed-Use) Zones
San Diego Municipal Code § 131.0704
in effect§131.0704 Purpose of the EMX (Employment Mixed-Use) Zones
The purpose of the EMX zones is to provide a mix of uses with a focus on non-residential uses with opportunities for residential development. The EMX zones allow for a broad mix of uses, including office, research and development, industrial, and retail sales. Non-residential development shall be the primary use. The secondary use can be non-residential or residential development. If the secondary use is non-residential development, it must be a different non-residential use than the primary use. Development that contains a research and development use within Prime Industrial Land and Prime Industrial Land – Flex identified in the land use plan does not require a secondary use. New residential development may be the primary use on a premises or adjacent to a premises where the total gross floor area is occupied by at least 500,000 square feet of retail sales or eating and drinking establishment uses, or both.
The EMX zones are differentiated in Table 131-07B based on floor area ratio and structure height.
(“Purpose of the EMX (Employment Mixed-Use) Zones” added 9-12-2019 by O-21118 N.S.; effective 10-12-2019.) (Amended 1-13-2023 by O-21593 N.S.; effective 2-12-2023.)
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-21593 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-21593-SO.pdf]
(Amended 7-22-2024 by O-21836 N.S.; effective 10-5-2024.)
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/MuniCodeChapter13/Ch13Art01Division07.pdf#page=2Fetched: 10/28/2026