Downtown Code and Design Guidelines
The City of Oxnard’s Downtown Code and Design Guidelines (known collectively as the “Downtown Code”) represents a fundamental update to the land uses and development standards within the Downtown. The Downtown Code emphasizes a vibrant, urban downtown with deliberately designed buildings, public spaces, businesses, and residential uses.
The Zoning Districts
Unique development criteria will be established for each zone:
Downtown Core (DT-C)
Downtown General (DT-G)
Downtown Edge (DT-E)
The purpose of the Downtown Code includes the implementation of previous downtown plans and studies, streamlined permitting for development, the establishment of clear form-based standards to promote high-quality development, and reduced parking standards through the utilization of public parking and an in-lieu fee program.
Downtown Code Matrix
| Key | |
|---|---|
| P | Use allowed by right, subject to identified standards |
| SUP | Use requires approval of Special Use Permit (SUP) |
| — | Use not allowed |
| Uses | DT-E | DT-E-O | DT-G | DT-C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | ||||
| Assisted Living, Residential Care Facility | — | SUP | SUP | SUP |
| Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | P | P | — | — |
| Dwelling, multifamily | P | P | P7 | P7 |
| Dwelling, single-family attached | P | P | — | — |
| Dwelling, single-family detached | P | P | — | — |
| Home-based business4 | P | P | P | P |
| Work/live, Live-Work | — | P | P | P7 |
| Agriculture-Related | ||||
| Commercial Garden / Greenhouse(s) < 3,000 sq ft | — | P | P | P |
| Commercial Garden / Greenhouse(s) > 3,000 sq ft | — | P | P | P |
| Farmer’s Market | — | — | P | P3 |
| Recreation, Resources Preservation, Open Space, and Public Assembly | ||||
| Community Assembly < 10,000 sq ft | — | SUP | SUP | P |
| Community Assembly > 10,000 sq ft | — | — | SUP | SUP |
| Day care (family, child, adult) < 15 | P | P | P | P3 |
| Day care (family, child, adult) > 15 | — | P | P | P3 |
| Institution (includes school) | — | SUP | SUP | SUP |
| Public Open Space | P | P | P | P |
| Recreation/Commercial | — | — | P | P |
| Nightclub < 10,000 sq ft | — | — | — | SUP |
| Nightclub >10,000 sq ft | — | — | — | SUP |
| Retail, Service, and Office | ||||
| Alcohol2, beverage, with food sales (on-site consumption) | — | SUP | SUP | SUP |
| Artisanal Production | — | P | P | P |
| Bed and Breakfast Inn < 12 rooms | — | P | P | P |
| Brew Pub, Winery, Tasting Room | — | — | SUP | SUP |
| Cannabis Retail | — | — | C | C |
| Drive-through service | — | — | — | — |
| Grocery Store < 10,000 sq ft | — | P | P | P |
| Grocery Store > 10,000 sq ft | — | — | — | P |
| Health and exercise center / spa | — | P | P | P |
| Homeless shelter and resource center | — | — | SUP | — |
| Hotel | — | — | P | P |
| Mortuary, funeral home | — | — | P | — |
| Motor Vehicle sales, service | — | — | — | — |
| Museum, Art Gallery | — | P | P | P |
| Office: financial, professional, government, administrative | — | P | P | P |
| Office, medical | — | — | P | P3 |
| Outdoor Dining / Sidewalk Cafe6 / Parklet6 | — | P | P | P |
| Outdoor Display | — | P6 | P6 | P6 |
| Multiplex Motion Picture Theater/Live Theater | — | — | — | SUP |
| Eating and Drinking Establishment < 5,000 sq ft2 | — | P | P | P |
| Eating and Drinking Establishment > 5,000 sq ft2 | — | — | — | P |
| Retail < 5,000 sq ft3 | — | P | P | P |
| Retail > 5,000 sq ft3 | — | — | — | P |
| Services, Administrative and Professional, Business Support | — | P | P | P |
| Services, Personal | — | P | P | P3 |
| Social Services | — | — | — | — |
| Studio: art, music, dance | — | P | P | P |
| Thrift or secondhand store | — | — | — | — |
| Use involving sale of alcohol for off-site consumption | — | SUP | SUP | SUP |
| Utility, Transportation, Public Facility, and Communication | ||||
| Public parking lot/facility | — | — | P | SUP |
| Transit facility | — | — | — | SUP3 |
| Wireless communications facility | P5 | P5 | P5 | P5 |
Notes:
1 In compliance with frontage requirements in 16-150.
2 Bar allowed if accessory to a restaurant; requires SUP.
3 Not allowed on A Street between 3rd and 6th street.
4 Pursuant to City Code Ch. 16, Article V, Division 6 (Home Occupation Permits).
5 Required stealth design; Pursuant to City Code Ch. 16, Article V., Division 16 (Wireless communication facilities).
6 Minimum 5ft clear path on sidewalk, and subject to issuance of an encroachment permit.
7 Not allowed on ground floor in Shopfront Overlay.
Requirements for Planning Permits
| Type of Activity | Type of Permit Required | Planning Staff | Director¹ | Planning Commission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repainting or changing exterior finish | Minor DDR | Decision | ||
| Building improvements (façade, doors, windows, roofing, gutters, screening) | OTC DDR | Decision | ||
| Site improvements (lighting, landscaping, parking areas, trash enclosure, fencing) | Minor DDR | Decision2 | ||
| New sign(s) | OTC DDR | Decision | ||
| Digital Sign | SUP | Decision2 | ||
| Mural | Minor DDR | Recommend | Decision2 | |
| Change of sign copy | OTC DDR | Decision | ||
| Sidewalk dining and/or parklet | OTC DDR | Decision | ||
| Allowed Variations from Standards | Minor DDR | Recommend | Recommend | Decision2 |
| Addition to building | Minor DDR | Recommend | Decision2 | |
| New building | Minor DDR | Recommend | Decision2 | |
| New buildings (two or more) | Minor DDR | Recommend | Recommend | Decision2 |
| Key | Notes |
|---|---|
| OTC Over-the-counter Downtown Design Review Permit Minor DDR Minor Downtown Design Review Permit Major DDR Major Downtown Design Review Permit SUP Special Use Permit | ¹ The Community Development Director ² Decision is appealable by the next Review Authority |
Discover Downtown Oxnard
Downtown is a lively center of activity from sightseeing, dining, and movie going, with a variety of colors, tastes, and more! Discover it all by clicking on the link below!