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April 14, 2026
ITEM TITLE
Comprehensive Code Update: Consideration of Amendments to the Chula Vista Municipal Code Report Number: 26-0075
Location: No specific geographic location.
Department: Development Services
G.C. § 84308 Regulations Apply: Yes.
Environmental Notice: The proposed action qualifies for the “common sense” exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
Recommended Action
Conduct the public hearing and introduce an ordinance amending Chula Vista Municipal Code (“CVMC”) Title 1 (General Provisions), Title 3 (Revenue and Finance), Title 5 (Business Licenses, Taxes, and Regulations), Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic), Title 12 (Streets and Sidewalks), Title 15 (Buildings and Construction), Title 17 (Environmental Quality), Title 18 (Subdivisions), Title 19 (Planning and Zoning), and Title 21 (Historic Preservation). (First Reading)
SUMMARY
This item consists of proposed amendments to the CVMC covering numerous topics. These updates will help streamline and clarify permit processes/regulations and comply with State Law.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed legislative action was reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) and determined that the action qualifies for the “common sense” exemption under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). The action involves only updates and modifications to the CVMC, including creating additional standards for temporary storage containers, streamlining permitting of fueling facilities, and clarifying the process for administrative citations. Furthermore, the action of updating and modifying the CVMC with procedural and clerical changes will not result in an intensification of uses or a change in development potential within the City of Chula Vista (“City”) above what already is permitted under the existing land use and zoning policies of the CMVC that are being updated. Based on an analysis of the nature P a g e | 2
and type of these procedural and clerical changes to the CVMC, there is a certainty that there is no possibility that the action may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
On November 12, 2025, the Planning Commission (“Commission”) considered the proposed amendments to the CVMC and voted 6-0-1 to continue the item to the January 14, 2026, meeting to provide the Commission additional time to review the proposed amendments, and for staff to further research questions raised by the Commission during the hearing.
On January 14 , 202 6, the Commission voted 4 -2-1 to adopt a Resolution recommending approval of the proposed amendments (Attachment 1). During the presentation, staff addressed Commissioner’s comments and questions related to the readability of the proposed changes in strikeout-underline format, the duration of recreational vehicle habitation, and fees for grading violations. During the public hearing, staff also addressed Commissioner’s questions related to the timely and reasonable resolution of code enforcement violations, the process for exempting certain non -profit organizations from development impact fees, location and duration of temporary storage containers, and appropriate timeframes for recreational vehicle habitation. Following deliberation and a multi-motion process related to the appropriate length of time for recreational vehicle habitation, the Commission ultimately adopted the Resolution as recommended by staff.
DISCUSSION
Proposed Amendments
A list of the proposed code amendments can be found within Table 1. Each individual item is grouped into three (3) broader categories: Procedural, State Law Compliance, and Land Use and Development. “Procedural” refers to revisions that are procedural in nature and/or contain formatting changes. In this revision, this includes the following items: 1) Expanding the procedures for administrative citations and enforcement; 2) Clarifying the permit expiration process for cannabis businesses; and 3) Making consistent the timelines and procedures for public noticing and appeal applications. “State Law Compliance” refers to revisions required with continued State Law compliance. This includes the following items: 1) Establishing a permitting process for hydrogen fueling facilities pursuant to Government Code Section 65850.7; and 2) Clarifying what development projects are exempt from development impact fees, pursuant to Government Code Section 66001. “Land Use and Development” refers to revisions within Title 19 to land use or development standards. This includes the following items: 1) Temporary and Permanent Storage Containers; and 2) Recreational Vehicle Storage and Habitation.
Table 1 – Proposed Municipal Code Amendments
Procedural
Topic Issue Solution CVMC Location
Administrative
Citations and
Changes are needed
regarding the process to
issue administrative citations
Establishing timeframes for
violation corrections,
increased penalties,
Title 1 (General
Provisions)
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Enforcement
Procedures
as well as establishing
administrative remedies for
obtaining prompt compliance
in the correction of both
major and minor violations of
the CVMC and state law.
procedures for due process,
etc.
Cannabis Permits Clarification is needed in
situations where cannabis
businesses let their licenses
lapse.
Add language stating
cannabis licenses are no
longer valid if the City does
not receive a renewal
application by the previous
year’s license expiration date.
Title 5
(Business
Licenses, Taxes,
and
Regulations)
Public Noticing
and Appeal
Processing
Timeframes
Discrepancies exist within
the CVMC related to the
timeframes for both public
noticing and appeal
applications; some are based
on business days and others
on calendar days, creating
confusion.
1) Development projects
requiring a public notice
and adoption of an
ordinance will require a
20-calendar day review
period prior to the
hearing (Assembly Bill
2904).
2) Development projects
requiring a public notice
and an adoption of a
resolution will require a
10-calendar day review
period prior to the
hearing.
3) Appeal period timeframes
for all project types will
be 10 calendar days after
the decision hearing date.
Title 10
(Vehicles and
Traffic)
Title 12
(Streets and
Sidewalks)
Title 15
(Buildings and
Construction)
Title 17
(Environmental
Quality)
Title 18
(Subdivisions)
Title 19
(Planning and
Zoning)
Title 21
(Historic
Preservation)
State Law Compliance
Topic Issue Solution CVMC Location
Development
Impact Fee Project
Exemptions
Government Code Section
66001 requires all
development that contributes
to the need for public
facilities, including publicly
initiated projects, must bear
its proportionate share of
cost. Exempting such projects
effectively shifts their impact
costs to unrelated private
developments, violating the
principles of nexus and
proportionality.
Additionally, fee allocations
must reflect actual,
Revise the applicable CVMC
sections for consistency with
Government Code Section
66001.
Title 3
(Revenue and
Finance)
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measurable impacts from the
development benefiting from
the exemption.
Hydrogen Fueling
Facilities
Government Code Section
65850.7 requires
jurisdictions larger than
250,000 people to allow
hydrogen fueling facilities in
commercial and industrial
zones.
Allow hydrogen fueling
stations as a permitted use in
commercial and industrial
zones.
Title 19
(Planning and
Zoning)
Land Use & Development
Topic Issue Solution CVMC Location
Temporary and
Permanent
Storage Containers
Typically, temporary
containers are used for
moving and storage
purposes. Permanent storage
containers are typically used
by business owners for
storage in the rear of
properties.
Additional language is
needed regarding the
placement/location of said
containers, and the
permitting process if they are
to be located within the
public right-of-way.
Clarify that a container shall
be placed first on-site either
in a garage or driveway, and
then in the public right-of-
way. Specify a temporary
encroachment permitting
process will be required for
any container to be
temporarily stored in the
public right-of-way.
Title 19
(Planning and
Zoning)
Recreational
Vehicle Storage
and Habitation
Residential property owners
can store recreational
vehicles and/or trailers on
their property. However, City
Code Enforcement Officers
routinely deal with
complaints from the public
regarding people living in
these vehicles for extended
periods of time.
Additionally, there are two
(2) separate sections within
the CVMC about this topic
that need to be consolidated
into one resource.
Consolidate two (2) sections
within this Title to create one
area for recreational vehicle
storage and habitation
standards and establish
timeframes for vehicle
habitation to discourage
extended or permanent
residency.
Title 19
(Planning and
Zoning)
CONCLUSION
To streamline improvements for both the overall City and specifically process improvements in the Development Services Department , staff recommends that the City Council a dopt an ordinance as recommended by Staff amending CVMC Title 1 (General Provisions), Title 3 (Revenue and Finance), Title 5 P a g e | 5
(Business Licenses, Taxes, and Regulations), Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic), Title 12 (Streets and Sidewalks), Title 15 (Buildings and Construction ), Title 17 (Environmental Quality), Title 18 (Subdivisions), Title 19 (Planning and Zoning), and Title 21 (Historic Preservation) as recommended by the Commission and included as part of Attachments 2 and 3.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the real property holdings of the City Council members do not create a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Cali fornia Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov’ t. Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware and has not been informed by any City Council member of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no current-year fiscal impact to the General Fund or the Development Services Fund as a result of this action.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact to the General Fund or Development Services Fund as a result of this action.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Planning Commission Resolution No. 2026-001
Staff Contact: Chris Mallec, AICP, Senior Planner
Mayra Medel, Principal Planner
Roy Sapa’u, Deputy City Manager/Director of Development Services