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Ventura, California Zoning Map

Zoning, overlays and hazards on every parcel — and an answer to what the code actually lets you build. Compiled from current zoning data for all 100 districts.

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Coverage

What's in the Ventura dataset

Every field below is available for any Ventura parcel, on the map and through the AI.

Zoning

  • District code & full name
  • Category & ordinance article
  • Parcel boundary & APN
  • All 100 districts mapped
Only on ArchiWise

Use classes, resolved

  • Read per zoning district

Building controls

  • Maximum building height
  • Floor area ratio (FAR)
  • Front setback
  • Side setback
Only on ArchiWise

Overlays, hazards & AI

  • Flood hazard & environmental layers
  • Ask the AI about any parcel
  • Powered by live parcel data

Where uses are permitted in Ventura

Share of Ventura's zoned land where each use is permitted.

Single-family
71.55%
Multi-family
28.13%
ADU
64.87%
Two-family
21.13%
Retail
93.57%
Eating & drinking
27.67%
Office
20.52%
Hotel / motel
11.70%
Industrial
12.26%
Storage & warehouses
18.67%
Zoning Districts

Ventura, California Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?

Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type and which uses it permits.

Zone CodeCategoryPermitted UsesAreaDetails
A
Agricultural
Agriculture-
219.7 ac
Standards & uses →
C-1
Limited Commercial
Commercial
  • Commercial
46.7 ac
Standards & uses →
C-1A
Intermediate Commercial
Commercial
  • Commercial
147.3 ac
Standards & uses →
C-2
General Commercial
Commercial
  • Commercial
105.3 ac
Standards & uses →

Showing 4 of 100 districts

Common Questions

Start from what you're trying to build

Each one runs against the live Ventura dataset and returns the districts, standards and approvals involved.

Where can I build multifamily in Ventura?

6 of 100 districts permit multifamily - by right, conditionally, or by variance.

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Which sites allow a warehouse?

1 industrial district (M-1) with height and access limits.

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Are ADUs allowed in Ventura?

Allowed statewide under California law, subject to local development standards.

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What does A actually permit?

The full standards for one district, read straight from the source.

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City Context

What should developers know about Ventura zoning?

Ventura (City of San Buenaventura) is a coastal Southern California city with 100 zoning districts - one of the most nuanced zoning codes among mid-sized California cities - shaped by its harbor, coastal resources, agricultural fringe, multiple specific plan areas, and a growing emphasis on mixed-use infill. The largest individual zone by acreage is Parks (P) at 917 acres, reflecting the city's extensive park system and open space network. Manufacturing Planned Development (MPD) at 654 acres is the city's dominant industrial zone and represents a significant footprint for industrial uses near the Highway 101 corridor. Harbor Commercial (HC) at 262 acres and the Harbor Mixed Use (HMXD, 28 acres) and Coastal Mixed Use (CMXD, 7 acres) districts define the harbor and coast-adjacent development envelope.

The commercial structure spans a wide range: General Commercial (C-2, 105 acres), Intermediate Commercial (C-1A, 147 acres), Limited Commercial (C-1, 47 acres), and Commercial Planned Development (CPD, 218 acres) cover most of the commercial corridor land. Multiple specific plan overlays - the Auto Center Specific Plan (CPD-ACSP), Olivas Park Specific Plan (CPD-OPSP, MXD-OPSP), Downtown Specific Plan (CTO-DSP, POS-DSP), Saticoy Wells 2009 (multiple SW designations), and Victoria Corridor 2009 (CIVIC-VC) - add a layer of site-specific regulatory frameworks across some of the city's most active development areas. Building controls include FAR, lot, density, coverage, pervious, lot width, setbacks, and height.

The Mixed Use (MXD, 82 acres) and the Olivas Park and Saticoy mixed-use variants add residential-over-commercial development capacity, while the Hospital (H, 54 acres) and Professional Office (PO, 68 acres) districts anchor the city's medical and office cluster. Agricultural (A, 220 acres) and Mobile Home Park (MHP, 191 acres plus MHP-SW at 57 acres) represent two significant non-convertible land categories. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.

FAQ

Ventura zoning: frequently asked questions

What is the significance of Ventura's harbor-adjacent commercial and mixed-use zones?

Harbor Commercial (HC) at 262 acres and Harbor Mixed Use (HMXD, 28 acres) directly serve the Ventura Harbor and marina complex. These zones permit marine-related commercial, retail, restaurant, and hospitality uses tied to the working harbor and recreational boating economy. Coastal Mixed Use (CMXD, 7 acres) adds a smaller node closer to the beach. All harbor and coastal development is subject to the California Coastal Act and the city's Local Coastal Program in addition to standard zoning.

How do the multiple specific plans in Ventura affect development feasibility?

Ventura has at least six active specific plan frameworks - Downtown (DSP), Olivas Park (OPSP), Auto Center (ACSP), Saticoy Wells (SW), and Victoria Corridor (VC), plus the Tustin-originated standard zones. Each specific plan governs its own use tables, development standards, and design guidelines that supersede or supplement the base zone. A developer must identify which specific plan, if any, applies to a target parcel and obtain the full plan document before completing any feasibility analysis.

What mixed-use residential development opportunities exist in Ventura?

The Mixed Use (MXD, 82 acres), Mixed Use Olivas Park Specific Plan (MXD-OPSP, 68 acres), and the Saticoy Wells Mixed Use Village (MXD-SW/V, 25 acres) are the primary mixed-use residential opportunity zones. The Downtown Specific Plan also includes mixed-use provisions within the CTO-DSP and adjacent zones. California density bonus law and ADU requirements apply citywide and can significantly increase yield on mixed-use sites.

What should buyers know about Ventura's Mobile Home Park (MHP) zones?

The Mobile Home Park designation covers 191 acres (MHP) plus 57 acres in the Saticoy Wells overlay area (MHP-SW), totaling nearly 250 acres. California's Mobilehome Residency Law and state conversion regulations impose substantial obligations on any landlord seeking to convert or close an MHP, including resident relocation assistance and city approval. These parcels are among the most difficult to convert to alternative uses in the city.

How does the city's Agricultural (A) zone interact with coastal and development policies?

The Agricultural (A) district at 220 acres covers farmland on Ventura's eastern and southern edges, some of which falls within the California Coastal Zone. Agricultural land in the coastal zone is subject to Coastal Act agricultural preservation policies that limit conversion to non-agricultural uses. Developers targeting A-zoned parcels must evaluate both zoning designation and Coastal Act policy consistency before assuming conversion feasibility.

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Zoning, overlays, hazards, and what the code actually allows - in one place.

Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Ventura planning department before acquisition or design.