Parking Questions:
What are the commercial parking standards in Monterey?
The amount of required parking spaces for
commercial properties is determined by the business type and the size of the business
property. For specifics see
CHAPTER 38 Article 18, Section 38-115 Commercial Parking Standards
of the Zoning Ordinance. (READ
DISCLAIMER)
CLICK TO
SPECIFIC SECTIONS IN THE LEFT GREY CONTENTS AREA ON THE CITY CODE WEB
PAGE.
What is parking lot screening?
Parking lot screening is to improve the
general appearance of the parking lot and to lessen off-site view impacts. See ARC Resolution 92-05 Parking Lot Screening Guidelines for
more details.
What is a parking adjustment?
A Parking Adjustment is a special request to
waive off-street parking requirements for a use. Click here for more
information.
What are the off-street
parking and loading requirements?
The off-street parking and loading
requirements are defined in the Zoning Ordinance. See
CHAPTER
38 Article 18, Off-Street Parking and Loading Regulations
of the Zoning Ordinance for more
details. (READ
DISCLAIMER)
CLICK TO SPECIFIC SECTIONS IN THE LEFT GREY CONTENTS AREA ON THE CITY CODE
WEB PAGE.
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Sign Questions:
Can I add a mural to my business building?
Murals may be added to business buildings, but they require Architectural Review Committee approval. See ARC Resolution 94-02.
Can I install Neon or electric window signs in the City?
The City and the Architectural Review
Committee have adopted several guidelines for signs. Refer to City Resolution 93-182 for standards on Neon and electric
signs and ARC Resolution 96-02 for illuminated signs.
Can I install a pole sign
within the City?
Pole signs are discouraged, but not
prohibited.
What are "special" or "exempt"
signs?
Exempt signs as defined in
Chapter 31 of the City
Code are:
(READ
DISCLAIMER)
CLICK TO SPECIFIC SECTIONS IN THE LEFT GREY
CONTENTS AREA ON THE CITY CODE WEB PAGE.
- All signs erected by the City, State, or other political subdivision
- All signs required by law or court order
- Street number signs (see City Code for sizes)
- Directional signs within private property
- Any sign on a building not exceeding 40 square inches including affiliation and credit
card signs with not more than 4 such signs per premises
- Political campaign signs
- Any sign protected by the Free Speech provisions of the U.S. and California
Constitutions and not exceeding 4 square feet per premises
- Menus on premises occupied by restaurants
- Nameplate not to exceed 72 square inches per premises
- Temporary real estate signs of a size, type, color scheme, and information content
approved categorically by the Architectural Review Committee
- Any non-electric sign or combination of non-electric signs located in or affixed to a
window provided such signs cover less than 10% of the window (see City Code for additional
conditions)
- Any poster sign that advertises a community event, program and/or activity
What is the difference between
a sign and a banner?
Signs and banners according to the Zoning
Ordinance differ in purpose, materials, and size. Banners are used temporarily (i.e.
grand opening, going out of business) and signs are permanently affixed to a
business. Both signs and banners must be approved by the
City before installation. The sizes of banners and signs must meet the
Sign Ordinance standards. For more details see the ARC Sign Review
Requirements.
Where do I get approval to install a banner sign?
There are two types of banners: banners that go across
public Right of Ways (ROW), for example city streets, and banners attached to business
frontages. Business banners can be approved for 30 days consecutively and a business
cannot have a banners up for more than 60 days in a single calendar year. The
maximum banner size is 21 square feet, or just under 3' x 7' and the Planning Division
approves business banners. Banners that cross a public ROW require approval from the
Streets Division of the Public Works Department . For more information on these
banners, contact the Streets Division at 646.3927.
How do I go about adding a sign to my
new business office or changing my current sign?
The first step in changing business signs to
consult with a planner in the Planning Division and submit an application. In some
instances, like historic areas, sign programs may already be approved for specific
buildings within the City. In those instances the applicant must adhere to both the Sign
Ordinance and the building's adopted sign program. See ARC
Resolution 92-07 Exterior Lighting Design Guidelines for Commercial, Industrial, and
Institutional Development and the ARC Sign Review
Requirements.
Can I install illuminated
signs?
See ARC
Resolution 96-02 Design Guidelines for Illuminated signs.
Can I add exterior lighting to
a flagpole?
See ARC
Resolution 92-09 Exterior Lighting Design Guidelines for Flag Poles.
Can I add lights to a sign?
See ARC
Resolution 92-08 Exterior Lighting Design Guidelines for Signs.
Are there special lighting
concerns for businesses on the Wharf?
See ARC
Resolution 96-01 Exterior Lighting Design Guidelines for Under-Wharf and Water
Oriented Lights on Fisherman's Wharf No. 1.
Are there any special
constraints as far as signage goes on businesses along Lighthouse Avenue?
Signs installed on Lighthouse Avenue must
adhere to the Sign Ordinance and City Resolution 95-127 amending the Sign Program in the
Lighthouse Area Plan. See the Resolution 95-127 for
more details.
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Water Questions:
What water limitations are there within the City
for new and remodeling projects?
Applicants submitting projects within the City must be
aware that before building permits can be issued for projects requiring additional water,
that the applicant must have (a) valid water permit from the Monterey Peninsula Water
Management District. Before a water permit can be obtained from the District, a
water allocation must be approved by the City. Due to a lack of water available for
allocation, the City of Monterey currently has three water waiting lists that the Planning
Division maintains: the New Residential Water Waiting List, Residential Remodel Water
Waiting List, and Commercial/Industrial Water Waiting List. Please contact the
Planning Division to determine if there are adequate water credits running with your
property to accommodate the new plumbing fixtures or new construction, or whether the
project you will have to go onto one of the waiting lists.
Can I add another bathroom to my home in Monterey?
The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District
(MPWMD) has adopted Ordinance 98, which allows a SFD on a single parcel to obtain the
water credits necessary to accommodate a second full bath without having to obtain a water
allocation from the jurisdiction within which it is located. Therefore, the Planning
Division can sign-off on MPWMD Residential Water Release Form and Water Request
Applications. Ordinance 98 and this form allows a property owner to request water
credits to support a second full bath without having to deduct a like amount of water from
the City's reserve. Please note that if the home has 1 and ½ baths, then the owners can
add a maximum of ½ a bath. The maximum number of bathrooms for a SFD on a single parcel
under Ordinance 98 is 2 full baths, and that includes a Master Bath.
What constitutes a Master Bath?
An applicant can label one bathroom as a master
bath when he or she submits plans to the Planning Division or Building Division. A
single dwelling with one bath can designate the one bath as a Master Bath. If there is
more than one bath in a single family dwelling, only one Master Bath can be so designated.
Can I have two sinks in my Master Bath?
The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District
(MPWMD) allows a maximum of 2 sinks in a Master Bath, with the first sink having a water
requirement of 1 unit, and the second with a 0 unit water requirement. They also allow a
separate shower and bathtub in a Master Bath, the water requirement being 2 units for
both, whereas a standard bathroom can have a combination bathtub with shower head above
with 2 units, but if separate, then would require a total of 4 units, (2 for bathtub and 2
for shower).
Can I retrofit old fixtures and get additional water?
Yes, if the building is a residential
structure, you may be able to retrofit existing plumbing fixtures. The Monterey Peninsula
Water Management District (MPWMD) allows the exchange of existing standard type plumbing
fixtures with Ultra Low Flow type fixtures, with the water usage savings applied to the
installation of new plumbing fixtures. There are restrictions associated with this program, and the type of fixtures available for
retrofitting are limited. Please call the MPWMD or the City of Monterey Planning Division
for more information.
How do I contact the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District?
The Monterey Peninsula
Water Management District (MPWMD) Permit's Office is located at 5 Harris Court,
Building G / PO Box 85 within the Ryan Ranch complex. You can visit their Web site, or or
call their office directly at 831.658.5601.
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Zoning Questions:
What is a use permit?
A Use Permit is required for use classifications
typically having unusual site development features or operating characteristics requiring
special consideration so that they may be designed, located, and operated compatibly with
uses on adjoining properties and in the surrounding area.
Who approves use permits?
The Planning Commission approves, conditionally
approves, or disapproves user permit applications. The Planning Commission can also
delegate approval, conditional approval, and disapproval of certain minor use permits to
the Zoning Administrator, part of the Community Development Department.
How can I get zoning
information for a parcel within the City?
Call the Planning Division at 646-3885 or refer to
the Zoning Map.
What do the zoning codes R-3, R1, R2, R3, CO, CR, C1,
C2, and C3 mean?
These zoning codes prefaced by "R" are
for residential areas and by "C" are commercial areas. See the Zoning page for
more specific information.
What is a setback?
Frequently this term is used with the words front, rear, side, or
back yard to indicate areas within a lot that as the setback areas. According to
the Zoning Ordinance a "setback line" is a line within a lot that is parallel to
a corresponding lot line. This could be the boundary of any specified front, side, cornerside, or rear yard. A setback line could be the the boundary of any public
right-of-way whether acquired in fee, easement, or otherwise. The setback line could also
be a line otherwise established to govern the location of buildings, structures, or use.
What is a (setback) variation?
In planning vocabulary the word "variation" is used to
describe a leeway that may be granted in terms of setback. The rule of thumb is that
approval of a setback variation should be rare and only when necessary given it falls
within other adopted guidelines.
The Architectural Review
Committee may minimally vary any setback to achieve an improved relationship between the
new construction and structures on adjacent lots and those in the immediate
neighborhood. No variation standards shall be approved until notice is give to all
adjoining owners and the owners across the street. Variations in setback shall only
be granted upon finding that the variation will not compromise privacy expectations on
adjacent properties beyond those incurred by adherence to standard setbacks and that the
variation is minimal and necessary to achieve conformity with one or more of the
following: adopted neighborhood compatibility design guidelines, design considerations
contained in subsection 4 of Substandard Residential Lots, Planning Commission and
Architectural Review Committee adopted View Impact Policies, and Architectural Review
Committee adopted Tree Protection Standards.
What is a variance?
A variance is
intended to resolve unnecessary physical hardships that may result from the size, shape,
or dimensions of a site or the location of existing structures thereon. These
hardships could occur as geographic, topography, or other physical conditions in the
immediate vicinity of the site. Variances may be granted with respect to fences,
walls, landscaping, screening, site area, site dimensions, yards, height of structure,
distances between structures, open space, signs, special setbacks, and performance
standards.
What is a setback variance?
A setback variance
is a variance that that the applicant to grant permission to build or erect structures
within setback areas (side yard setback, front yard setback, rear yard setback, etc.) or
between structures contrary to defined minimum setbacks.
If I want to schedule Bingo games, what must I
do?
Bingo games require a special City permit.
You can submit a request for a Bingo Permit at the Planning Division. The Bingo
Permit application fee is fifty (50) dollars.
What is the City's policy on condominium
conversions?
A Condominium conversion is one type of
subdivision. For more details see
Chapter 33 Section
33-9 of the
Subdivision Ordinance.
(READ
DISCLAIMER)
CLICK TO SPECIFIC SECTIONS IN THE LEFT GREY CONTENTS AREA ON THE CITY CODE
WEB PAGE.
How can I start a fast food business within the City?
There are several City ordinances that govern fast food
businesses. The Planning Division's Eating and
Drinking Establishment Zoning Checklist (PDF) that applicants must complete help staff
determine if the eating establishment is considered a fast food restaurant. The
checklist is included in the applicant's user permit request documentation. Full
service eating establishments are principally permitted in most commercial zones, but fast
food restaurants have more restrictions. Click on one of the links below and
look for "fast food" for more details. Fast food restaurants may also want
to review the Sign
Submittal Requirements.
- Fast Food in
C-1
Districts, Section 38-28 of the Zoning Ordinance
- Fast Food in
C-2
Districts, Section 38-29 of the Zoning Ordinance
- Fast Food in
C-3
Districts, Section 38-30 of the Zoning Ordinance
- Fast Food in
C-R
District, Section 38-32 of the Zoning Ordinance
- Fast Food in
I-R
Districts, Section 38-40 of the Zoning Ordinance
- Fast Food in
O
Districts, Section 38-44 of the Zoning Ordinance
What is Rezoning?
Rezoning is a type of City action needed to change the
basic category of permitted land use for a property. Rezoning requires a notice of
public hearing before both the Planning Commission and the City Council. A legal
notice will appear in the newspaper. In addition, a mailed notice will be sent to
all adjacent property owners within 300 feet. To approve a rezoning, the Planning
Commission, and City Council must find:
- The proposed zoning amendment is in general conformance with the Monterey General Plan.
- The public health, safety, comfort, convenience, prosperity, general welfare, and good
zoning practice warrants a change of zone and requires the adoption of the proposed
amendment.
An average of three months is required from submittal of the complete application to
Council action on the request. An EIR is often required on a rezone. This will
add time and costs to the process. The action on the rezoning is not effective until
30 days after City Council approval. For additional information on rezoning, see the
Zoning Ordinance and the
City of Monterey General Plan.
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