Clearlake City Zoning Code

18-2 ZONES ESTABLISHED

ZONING MAP

18-2.010 Designation of Zones.

The City of Clearlake is divided into the nine (9) base zoning districts that are established by Table 1. The creation of these zoning districts is consistent with the land use and community character designations used in the Clearlake General Plan.

Abbreviation	District Name	Principal Function	Character Description
Residential Zoning Districts
RR	Rural Residential	Low Density Single-Family Homes	The Rural Residential District is intended to provide for lower density residential development, such as single-family homes on larger sized lots with a density not to exceed 1 unit to the acre. For larger parcels, exceeding 1 acre in size, agricultural uses are permitted. This zoning district is consistent with the Low Density Residential Land Use Designation in the General Plan.
LDR	Low Density Residential	Variety of Residential Products	The Low Density Residential District is intended to provide for a variety of residential products ranging from single-family to multifamily with an urban character with a density not to exceed 8 units to the acre.
MDR	Medium Density Residential	Medium Density with Single- and Multiple-Family Products	The Medium Density Residential District is intended to provide for medium density single-family attached and detached and some multiple-family products not exceeding 15 units per acre. This zoning district is consistent with the Medium Density Residential Land Use Designation in the General Plan.
HDR	High Density Residential	Higher Density Multifamily Residential Products	The High Density Residential District is intended to provide for higher density multifamily products with a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 25 units per acre. This zoning district is consistent with the High Density Residential Zoning Designation of the General Plan.
Mixed-Use and Commercial Zoning Districts
MUX	Mixed-Use	Medium and High Density Residential and Low Impact Commercial Uses	The Mixed-Use District is intended to allow a mixture of residential and commercial uses which can be made compatible with each other. This district provides a balanced mix of residential and employment opportunities to create focal points of activity in the form of mixed-use centers, nodes, or corridors. The Mixed-Use Districts support service commercial, employment, and housing needs of a growing community. The maximum allowed density in the MUX Zone is 25 units per acre. This Zoning District is consistent with the Mixed-Use Designation of the General Plan.
DC	Downtown Commercial Mixed-Use Commercial	Low-Impact Commercial, Administrative, and Residential Uses	The Downtown Commercial Mixed-Use District is intended to provide for low-impact commercial uses in a downtown setting with limited residential uses. It allows the adaptive re-use of existing buildings and may allow for some residential if located on upper floors. This zoning district is consistent with the Commercial Land Use Designation of the General Plan.
GC	General Commercial	Variety of Commercial and Administrative Uses	The Commercial District is intended to provide for a broad range of retail, restaurant, entertainment, office institutional and service uses. Buildings are scaled commensurate with their respective site, with independent sites and centers that are appropriate of SR 53 and other major corridors. Smaller scaled buildings are located in commercial subdivisions or in areas that are transitions to downtown. This zoning district is consistent with the Commercial Land Use Designation of the General Plan.
Other Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts
IN	Industrial	Variety of Industrial and Heavy Commercial Uses	The Industrial District is intended to provide for more intensive industrial and commercial uses and airports. This zoning district is consistent with the Industrial Land Use Designation of the General Plan.
Open Space Zoning Districts
O	Open Space	Open Space and Parks	The Open Space and Parks District is intended to preserve open space that may include parks and recreation areas. This zoning district is consistent with the Open Space Land Use Designation of the General Plan.

Notes: Certain public assembly and institutional uses are permitted within the Mixed-Use and Commercial Districts listed above.

(Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-2.020 Combining Zoning Districts.

Combining zoning districts are used in combination with the nine (9) base zoning districts to address special needs or characteristics of the areas of the City to which they are applied, including but not limited to potential hazards, scenic areas, special use considerations, such as mobile homes, adult entertainment and commercial cannabis, special areas of consideration, such as the Avenue neighborhood, and special planning treatment, such as specific plans and planned developments.

These combining districts are established that can combine with the base zoning district to address specific needs listed as follows:

a. SP – Specific Plan;

b. SC – Scenic Corridor;

c. AV – Avenue;

d. PD – Planned Development;

e. AE – Adult Entertainment;

f. CB – Commercial Cannabis Business.

In the event of any conflict between these combining district regulations and the base zoning district regulations, the combining district regulations shall control. A summary of function and characteristics for the various combining districts is referenced in Table 2 below.

Abbreviation	District Name	Principal Function	Character Description
Combining Zoning Districts
SP	Specific Plan	Application to Specific Plans per California Government Code Sections 65450 to 65451	The SP Combining Zoning District is intended to translate the provisions of an adopted specific plan into regulations for the subsequent development of land. It will be applied to areas for which a specific plan has been adopted or where the General Plan calls for a specific plan prior to development, generally within residential expansion areas.
SC	Scenic Corridor	Sensitive Review of Projects Along Highway 53	The SC Combining Zoning District is created to preserve the scenic quality of the land immediately visible from State Highway 53. This zone is intended to be combined with other zones adjacent to scenic highways and roads.
AV	Avenue District	Rural and Urban	The AV Combining Zoning District is intended to provide for maximum flexibility for developing a broad range of single-family residential products including manufactured homes to low density, more traditional single-family homes on small lots. Development standards are flexible to encourage innovative design and character in the building product.
PD	Planned Development	Rural and Urban	The PD Combining Zoning District is intended to provide for flexibility in the application of the zoning standards to proposed development. The purpose is to allow consideration of innovation in site planning and other aspects of project design and more effective design responses to site features, land uses on adjoining properties and environmental impacts than the development standards of the underlying zone would produce without adjustment. The City expects each planned development project to be of significantly higher design quality, including more effective and attractive pedestrian orientation, environmental sensitivity, energy efficiency and the more efficient use of resources, than would be achieved through conventional design practices and standards.
AE	Adult Entertainment	Urban	The AE Combining Zoning District is intended to regulate adult-oriented businesses which could have serious secondary effects on the community.
CB	Commercial Cannabis Business and Commercial Cannabis Retail Dispensary	Rural and Urban	The CB Combining Zoning District is intended to regulate activities involved with cannabis which could have secondary effects on the community.

Notes: Certain public assembly and institutional uses are permitted within the Mixed-Use and Commercial Districts listed above.

(Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-2.030 Areas Within the City to Be Designated Within a Zoning District – Zoning Map to Be a Part of These Regulations.

All areas within the City shall be designated within a zoning district. The official Zoning Map, which shall depict all duly adopted zoning districts, is as much a part of these regulations as if it were fully contained in this document. The official Zoning Map shall be maintained by the Community Development Department and for convenience in more easily identifying zone boundaries may be divided into parts. (Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-2.040 General Plan Land Use Consistency.

In accordance with California Government Code Section 65960, the Zoning Code shall be consistent with the General Plan. For the Land Use Element, this means that the base zoning districts, referenced in the Zoning Map, need to be consistent with the General Plan Land Use Map. For example, a commercial zoning district needs to be located within areas designated in the General Plan Land Use Map as being in a Commercial Land Use Designation. Table 3 provides a land use/zoning consistency matrix for the Zoning Code:

General Plan Land Use Designation
Zoning District	Industrial	Commercial	Mixed Use	High Density Residential	Medium Density Residential	Low Density Residential	Open Space
RR, Rural Residential						X
LDR, Residential Low Density					X	X
MDR, Residential Medium Density			X		X
HDR, Residential High Density			X	X
MUX, Mixed-Use		X	X	X	X		X
DC, Downtown Commercial Mixed Use		X
CG, General Commercial		X
I, Industrial	X
O, Open Space							X

(Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

Clearlake City Zoning Code

18-2 ZONES ESTABLISHED

ZONING MAP

18-2.010 Designation of Zones.

Abbreviation	District Name	Principal Function	Character Description
Residential Zoning Districts
RR	Rural Residential	Low Density Single-Family Homes	The Rural Residential District is intended to provide for lower density residential development, such as single-family homes on larger sized lots with a density not to exceed 1 unit to the acre. For larger parcels, exceeding 1 acre in size, agricultural uses are permitted. This zoning district is consistent with the Low Density Residential Land Use Designation in the General Plan.
LDR	Low Density Residential	Variety of Residential Products	The Low Density Residential District is intended to provide for a variety of residential products ranging from single-family to multifamily with an urban character with a density not to exceed 8 units to the acre.
MDR	Medium Density Residential	Medium Density with Single- and Multiple-Family Products	The Medium Density Residential District is intended to provide for medium density single-family attached and detached and some multiple-family products not exceeding 15 units per acre. This zoning district is consistent with the Medium Density Residential Land Use Designation in the General Plan.
HDR	High Density Residential	Higher Density Multifamily Residential Products	The High Density Residential District is intended to provide for higher density multifamily products with a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 25 units per acre. This zoning district is consistent with the High Density Residential Zoning Designation of the General Plan.
Mixed-Use and Commercial Zoning Districts
MUX	Mixed-Use	Medium and High Density Residential and Low Impact Commercial Uses	The Mixed-Use District is intended to allow a mixture of residential and commercial uses which can be made compatible with each other. This district provides a balanced mix of residential and employment opportunities to create focal points of activity in the form of mixed-use centers, nodes, or corridors. The Mixed-Use Districts support service commercial, employment, and housing needs of a growing community. The maximum allowed density in the MUX Zone is 25 units per acre. This Zoning District is consistent with the Mixed-Use Designation of the General Plan.
DC	Downtown Commercial Mixed-Use Commercial	Low-Impact Commercial, Administrative, and Residential Uses	The Downtown Commercial Mixed-Use District is intended to provide for low-impact commercial uses in a downtown setting with limited residential uses. It allows the adaptive re-use of existing buildings and may allow for some residential if located on upper floors. This zoning district is consistent with the Commercial Land Use Designation of the General Plan.
GC	General Commercial	Variety of Commercial and Administrative Uses	The Commercial District is intended to provide for a broad range of retail, restaurant, entertainment, office institutional and service uses. Buildings are scaled commensurate with their respective site, with independent sites and centers that are appropriate of SR 53 and other major corridors. Smaller scaled buildings are located in commercial subdivisions or in areas that are transitions to downtown. This zoning district is consistent with the Commercial Land Use Designation of the General Plan.
Other Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts
IN	Industrial	Variety of Industrial and Heavy Commercial Uses	The Industrial District is intended to provide for more intensive industrial and commercial uses and airports. This zoning district is consistent with the Industrial Land Use Designation of the General Plan.
Open Space Zoning Districts
O	Open Space	Open Space and Parks	The Open Space and Parks District is intended to preserve open space that may include parks and recreation areas. This zoning district is consistent with the Open Space Land Use Designation of the General Plan.

Notes: Certain public assembly and institutional uses are permitted within the Mixed-Use and Commercial Districts listed above.

(Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-2.020 Combining Zoning Districts.

These combining districts are established that can combine with the base zoning district to address specific needs listed as follows:

a. SP – Specific Plan;

b. SC – Scenic Corridor;

c. AV – Avenue;

d. PD – Planned Development;

e. AE – Adult Entertainment;

f. CB – Commercial Cannabis Business.

Abbreviation	District Name	Principal Function	Character Description
Combining Zoning Districts
SP	Specific Plan	Application to Specific Plans per California Government Code Sections 65450 to 65451	The SP Combining Zoning District is intended to translate the provisions of an adopted specific plan into regulations for the subsequent development of land. It will be applied to areas for which a specific plan has been adopted or where the General Plan calls for a specific plan prior to development, generally within residential expansion areas.
SC	Scenic Corridor	Sensitive Review of Projects Along Highway 53	The SC Combining Zoning District is created to preserve the scenic quality of the land immediately visible from State Highway 53. This zone is intended to be combined with other zones adjacent to scenic highways and roads.
AV	Avenue District	Rural and Urban	The AV Combining Zoning District is intended to provide for maximum flexibility for developing a broad range of single-family residential products including manufactured homes to low density, more traditional single-family homes on small lots. Development standards are flexible to encourage innovative design and character in the building product.
PD	Planned Development	Rural and Urban	The PD Combining Zoning District is intended to provide for flexibility in the application of the zoning standards to proposed development. The purpose is to allow consideration of innovation in site planning and other aspects of project design and more effective design responses to site features, land uses on adjoining properties and environmental impacts than the development standards of the underlying zone would produce without adjustment. The City expects each planned development project to be of significantly higher design quality, including more effective and attractive pedestrian orientation, environmental sensitivity, energy efficiency and the more efficient use of resources, than would be achieved through conventional design practices and standards.
AE	Adult Entertainment	Urban	The AE Combining Zoning District is intended to regulate adult-oriented businesses which could have serious secondary effects on the community.
CB	Commercial Cannabis Business and Commercial Cannabis Retail Dispensary	Rural and Urban	The CB Combining Zoning District is intended to regulate activities involved with cannabis which could have secondary effects on the community.

Notes: Certain public assembly and institutional uses are permitted within the Mixed-Use and Commercial Districts listed above.

(Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-2.030 Areas Within the City to Be Designated Within a Zoning District – Zoning Map to Be a Part of These Regulations.

18-2.040 General Plan Land Use Consistency.

General Plan Land Use Designation
Zoning District	Industrial	Commercial	Mixed Use	High Density Residential	Medium Density Residential	Low Density Residential	Open Space
RR, Rural Residential						X
LDR, Residential Low Density					X	X
MDR, Residential Medium Density			X		X
HDR, Residential High Density			X	X
MUX, Mixed-Use		X	X	X	X		X
DC, Downtown Commercial Mixed Use		X
CG, General Commercial		X
I, Industrial	X
O, Open Space							X

(Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

Clearlake City Zoning Code

18-2 ZONES ESTABLISHED

ZONING MAP

18-2.010 Designation of Zones.

Abbreviation	District Name	Principal Function	Character Description
Residential Zoning Districts
RR	Rural Residential	Low Density Single-Family Homes	The Rural Residential District is intended to provide for lower density residential development, such as single-family homes on larger sized lots with a density not to exceed 1 unit to the acre. For larger parcels, exceeding 1 acre in size, agricultural uses are permitted. This zoning district is consistent with the Low Density Residential Land Use Designation in the General Plan.
LDR	Low Density Residential	Variety of Residential Products	The Low Density Residential District is intended to provide for a variety of residential products ranging from single-family to multifamily with an urban character with a density not to exceed 8 units to the acre.
MDR	Medium Density Residential	Medium Density with Single- and Multiple-Family Products	The Medium Density Residential District is intended to provide for medium density single-family attached and detached and some multiple-family products not exceeding 15 units per acre. This zoning district is consistent with the Medium Density Residential Land Use Designation in the General Plan.
HDR	High Density Residential	Higher Density Multifamily Residential Products	The High Density Residential District is intended to provide for higher density multifamily products with a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 25 units per acre. This zoning district is consistent with the High Density Residential Zoning Designation of the General Plan.
Mixed-Use and Commercial Zoning Districts
MUX	Mixed-Use	Medium and High Density Residential and Low Impact Commercial Uses	The Mixed-Use District is intended to allow a mixture of residential and commercial uses which can be made compatible with each other. This district provides a balanced mix of residential and employment opportunities to create focal points of activity in the form of mixed-use centers, nodes, or corridors. The Mixed-Use Districts support service commercial, employment, and housing needs of a growing community. The maximum allowed density in the MUX Zone is 25 units per acre. This Zoning District is consistent with the Mixed-Use Designation of the General Plan.
DC	Downtown Commercial Mixed-Use Commercial	Low-Impact Commercial, Administrative, and Residential Uses	The Downtown Commercial Mixed-Use District is intended to provide for low-impact commercial uses in a downtown setting with limited residential uses. It allows the adaptive re-use of existing buildings and may allow for some residential if located on upper floors. This zoning district is consistent with the Commercial Land Use Designation of the General Plan.
GC	General Commercial	Variety of Commercial and Administrative Uses	The Commercial District is intended to provide for a broad range of retail, restaurant, entertainment, office institutional and service uses. Buildings are scaled commensurate with their respective site, with independent sites and centers that are appropriate of SR 53 and other major corridors. Smaller scaled buildings are located in commercial subdivisions or in areas that are transitions to downtown. This zoning district is consistent with the Commercial Land Use Designation of the General Plan.
Other Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts
IN	Industrial	Variety of Industrial and Heavy Commercial Uses	The Industrial District is intended to provide for more intensive industrial and commercial uses and airports. This zoning district is consistent with the Industrial Land Use Designation of the General Plan.
Open Space Zoning Districts
O	Open Space	Open Space and Parks	The Open Space and Parks District is intended to preserve open space that may include parks and recreation areas. This zoning district is consistent with the Open Space Land Use Designation of the General Plan.

Notes: Certain public assembly and institutional uses are permitted within the Mixed-Use and Commercial Districts listed above.

(Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-2.020 Combining Zoning Districts.

These combining districts are established that can combine with the base zoning district to address specific needs listed as follows:

a. SP – Specific Plan;

b. SC – Scenic Corridor;

c. AV – Avenue;

d. PD – Planned Development;

e. AE – Adult Entertainment;

f. CB – Commercial Cannabis Business.

Abbreviation	District Name	Principal Function	Character Description
Combining Zoning Districts
SP	Specific Plan	Application to Specific Plans per California Government Code Sections 65450 to 65451	The SP Combining Zoning District is intended to translate the provisions of an adopted specific plan into regulations for the subsequent development of land. It will be applied to areas for which a specific plan has been adopted or where the General Plan calls for a specific plan prior to development, generally within residential expansion areas.
SC	Scenic Corridor	Sensitive Review of Projects Along Highway 53	The SC Combining Zoning District is created to preserve the scenic quality of the land immediately visible from State Highway 53. This zone is intended to be combined with other zones adjacent to scenic highways and roads.
AV	Avenue District	Rural and Urban	The AV Combining Zoning District is intended to provide for maximum flexibility for developing a broad range of single-family residential products including manufactured homes to low density, more traditional single-family homes on small lots. Development standards are flexible to encourage innovative design and character in the building product.
PD	Planned Development	Rural and Urban	The PD Combining Zoning District is intended to provide for flexibility in the application of the zoning standards to proposed development. The purpose is to allow consideration of innovation in site planning and other aspects of project design and more effective design responses to site features, land uses on adjoining properties and environmental impacts than the development standards of the underlying zone would produce without adjustment. The City expects each planned development project to be of significantly higher design quality, including more effective and attractive pedestrian orientation, environmental sensitivity, energy efficiency and the more efficient use of resources, than would be achieved through conventional design practices and standards.
AE	Adult Entertainment	Urban	The AE Combining Zoning District is intended to regulate adult-oriented businesses which could have serious secondary effects on the community.
CB	Commercial Cannabis Business and Commercial Cannabis Retail Dispensary	Rural and Urban	The CB Combining Zoning District is intended to regulate activities involved with cannabis which could have secondary effects on the community.

Notes: Certain public assembly and institutional uses are permitted within the Mixed-Use and Commercial Districts listed above.

(Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))

18-2.030 Areas Within the City to Be Designated Within a Zoning District – Zoning Map to Be a Part of These Regulations.

18-2.040 General Plan Land Use Consistency.

General Plan Land Use Designation
Zoning District	Industrial	Commercial	Mixed Use	High Density Residential	Medium Density Residential	Low Density Residential	Open Space
RR, Rural Residential						X
LDR, Residential Low Density					X	X
MDR, Residential Medium Density			X		X
HDR, Residential High Density			X	X
MUX, Mixed-Use		X	X	X	X		X
DC, Downtown Commercial Mixed Use		X
CG, General Commercial		X
I, Industrial	X
O, Open Space							X

(Ord. #271-2025, S2 (Exh. A))