Zoning Information

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If you are planning to open a business or develop a site, the Zoning Ordinance (or Specific Plan if applicable) will tell you if your project and business is permitted in the location and zone you have chosen. A planner can help you determine whether or not your business is allowed in a specific area and whether any proposed changes or additions to the site or building will require additional parking spaces or other types of improvements. If you are planning new development, you will need to work closely with the Community Development Department throughout the development process.

Zoning Ordinance

The Zoning Ordinance is "Title 17" of the Municipal Code. The Zoning Ordinance explains the zoning rules that apply to each zoning district or refers to a Specific Plan for rules that apply. These zoning rules typically establish a list of land uses permitted in each district plus a series of specific standards governing lot size, building height, and required yard and setback provisions. The Zoning Ordinance also identifies procedures for administering and applying zoning rules.

Zoning map's relationship to Zoning Ordinance

The zoning map identifies zoning districts. The Zoning Ordinance explains the zoning rules that apply in each zoning district or refers to a Specific Plan for rules that apply. These zoning rules typically establish a list of land uses permitted in each district plus a series of specific standards governing lot size, building height, and required yard and setback provisions. The Zoning Ordinance also identifies procedures for administering and applying zoning rules. You can access the Zoning Ordinance by clicking this link:

Zoning Ordinance

The Zoning Ordinance is divided in Chapters and then according to "sections" for ease of reference. For example, Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 17.32, Section 30 (17.32.030) identifies permitted uses in the Residential-Low Density (RL) zoning district and Section 40 (17.32.040) identifies required setback from property lines.

Zoning Map

The zoning map shows how the community is divided into different use districts or zones, such as zones for residential, commercial, mixed use, public, and open space. The City has two web mapping applications that allow you to identify the zoning of property , access primary development standards, and get other useful land use information to help you plan projects and understand how property may be used.

Zoning Lookup Tool. With this app, you can search by a property address or click the map. On the left side of the screen, in a table, the app identifies the zoning of property, overlays, summarizes primary development standards, and provides links to other useful zoning and policy information to help you plan a project and understand the allowed uses of property.
Community Maps. This is an interactive but more traditional appearing zoning web-based map that allows you to see the location and boundary of zoning and overlay districts by turning on layers in the list on the right side of the screen. You can also search for a property or zoom in to the location in the map window.

Specific Plans

For some City areas (mostly east of I-5), the zoning map may show properties are in a Specific Plan (also commonly known as Master Plans or Area Plans). There are Specific Plans for Forster Ranch, Marblehead Coastal, Marblehead Inland, Pier Bowl, Rancho San Clemente, Talega, and West Pico Corridor. Specific Plans identify development standards, design guidelines, and other long-range planning information for a certain sub-area of the City. If a property is within a Specific Plan area, you need to refer to the land use map in the Specific Plan to identify the zoning or land use of a property. Specific Plan properties are shaded grey on the Zoning map with the Specific Plan name labeled on the zoning map page (for a list of specific plans, see below). To access Specific Plans and Specific Plan land use maps, click the links below.

Sign Ordinance

As described in the general provision of Title 17 of the San Clemente Municipal Code, the Sign Ordinance is intended to promote an aesthetically pleasing environment. Signs are an important and necessary means of communication. When properly regulated, signs can serve as a great economic and aesthetic asset. They can be lively, colorful, and exciting. In enacting the sign ordinance, it is the City's intent to promote attractive signage and streetscapes, facilitate way-finding and traffic safety, promote commerce, and to comprehensively address community aesthetic concerns about visual clutter and visual blight in the environment.

The City's sign regulation shall be consistent with land use patterns, and signs shall add to rather than detract from the architecture of the buildings where they are located. Signs shall be well maintained and, in addition, shall not create traffic safety hazards.

The Planning application for a Sign Permit can be found here.