Chapter 17.230
COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
Sections:
17.230.020 Land uses and permit requirements.
17.230.030 Development and lot standards.
17.230.010 Purpose.
(1) The commercial (C) zone district is intended to provide for the regular shopping and service needs for the community and adjacent service areas.
(2) The mixed-use (MX) zone district is intended to provide the community with a mix of mutually supporting retail, service, office and medium- or high-density residential uses. [Ord. 590 § 1 (Att. B(F)), 2026; Ord. 541 § 6 (Exh. 1), 2021; Ord. 532 § 2 (Att. B), 2020; Ord. 526 § 5 (Exh. D), 2020; Ord. 503 § 1 (Exh. B), 2018; Ord. 473 § 3 (Exh. A), 2016].
17.230.020 Land uses and permit requirements.
Land uses and permit requirements are listed in Table 17.230.020. The table identifies those uses in the commercial districts that are:
P = Permitted use;
C = Conditional use;
S = Permitted uses that are subject to special standards; or
X = Prohibited.
The applicable procedural requirements are found in Chapter 17.130 CBDC.
|
Use |
C |
MX |
|---|---|---|
|
Residential |
||
|
Residential uses above the ground floor or story and up to 30% of ground floor or story1 |
P |
|
|
A single dwelling for a caretaker or night watchman that is secondary to a primary use |
P |
|
|
Single-room occupancy |
P |
|
|
Dwelling, single-unit and duplex on undeveloped lots of 15,000 square feet or less |
P |
P |
|
Dwelling, multi-unit (subject to standards at CBDC 17.335.120) |
S |
S |
|
Family child care home |
P |
|
|
Zero lot line development (subject to standards at CBDC 17.335.110) |
S |
|
|
Retail Sales – Food |
||
|
Markets |
P |
C |
|
Bakery |
P |
|
|
Retail Sales – General |
||
|
General retailer |
P |
|
|
Single purpose/specialty retailers |
P |
|
|
Yard and garden supplies, including nurseries |
P |
X |
|
Adult businesses (not including entertainment) |
C |
X |
|
Retail Sales – Restaurants, Drinking Establishments |
||
|
Restaurants and drinking establishments, including outdoor dining, portable walk-up vendors (not including drive-through facilities) such as but not limited to espresso carts, and food stands, and other uses generally conducted outside in conjunction with a permitted commercial food and drink service use, unless otherwise prohibited by the CBMC or state law |
P |
|
|
Drive-through, drive-in or drive-up facilities (subject to standards at CBDC 17.335.070) |
S |
|
|
Retail Sales and Services – Automotive and Related Automotive and Equipment |
||
|
Sales/rentals, light equipment – Sale, retail, or wholesale, and/or rental from the premises of autos, noncommercial trucks, motorcycles, motor homes, recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers with generally less than a 10,000-pound gross cargo weight together with incidental maintenance. Typical uses include automobile dealers, car rental agencies, or recreational vehicle sales and rental agencies, and small boat sales. |
C |
X |
|
Sales/rentals, heavy equipment – Sale, retail or wholesale, and/or rental from the premises of heavy construction equipment, trucks, and aircraft, together with incidental maintenance. Typical uses include aircraft dealers, farm, logging, and heavy construction equipment dealers, or tractor trailers. |
C |
X |
|
Repairs, light equipment – Repair of automobiles and the sale, installation, and servicing of automobile equipment and parts but excluding body repairs and painting. Typical uses include muffler shops, auto or motorcycle repair garages, or auto glass shops. |
P |
|
|
Repairs, heavy equipment – Repair of trucks, construction and logging equipment, as well as the sale, installation, or servicing of automotive equipment and parts, together with body repairs, painting, and steam cleaning. Typical uses include truck transmission shops, body shops, or motor freight maintenance groups. |
X |
|
|
Manufactured home sales |
P |
X |
|
Cleaning – Washing and polishing of automobiles. Typical uses include auto laundries or car washes. |
P |
C |
|
Fleet storage – Fleet storage of vehicles used regularly in business operation but not for the long-term storage of vehicles, nor for vehicles available for sale. Typical uses include taxi fleets, mobile catering truck storage, or auto storage garages. |
P |
X |
|
Commercial off-street parking facilities |
P |
C |
|
Storage, nonoperating vehicles – Storage of nonoperating motor vehicles. Typical uses include storage of private parking tow-away or impound yards. |
P |
X |
|
Transportation Terminals |
||
|
Freight |
C |
X |
|
People |
P |
|
|
Retail Sales – Building Materials and Farm Equipment |
||
|
Lumber and other building materials stores and yards, with only incidental cutting and planing of products sold |
P |
X |
|
Heating and plumbing equipment, including incidental fabrication (operated entirely within an enclosed building) |
P |
C |
|
Hardware, home repair and supply stores |
P |
C |
|
Farm equipment and implement dealer |
P |
X |
|
Hay, grain, and feed stores |
P |
X |
|
Retail Sales – Products (Finished product retailers with primary fabrication or assembly on site and within an entirely enclosed building.) |
P |
|
|
Sales and Services – Personal |
||
|
Convenience sales and personal services – Establishments or places of business in existing buildings primarily engaged in the provision of frequently or recurrently needed small personal items or services. These include various general retail sales and personal services of an appropriate size and scale to meet the above criterion. Typical uses include neighborhood grocery, drug stores, bookstores, clothing and beauty shops, laundromat/dry cleaners, barbershops, art galleries and art studios. Convenience sales may be offered outdoors such as portable walk-up vendors (not including drive-through facilities) such as but not limited to flower stands and plant nurseries and other uses generally conducted outside in conjunction with a permitted personal and retail service commercial use, unless otherwise prohibited by the CBMC or state law. |
P |
|
|
Personal services, general – Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of informational, instructional, personal improvement, and similar services of a nonprofessional nature, but excludes services classified as “spectator sports and entertainment,” or “participant sports and recreation,” or “group care.” Typical uses include photography studios, driving schools, or reducing salons, laundromats, or dance instruction. |
P |
|
|
Funeral and interment services: undertaking – Undertaking services such as preparing the dead for burial and arranging and managing funerals |
P |
|
|
Marijuana retail sales subject to the requirements of CBDC 17.335.080 |
P |
|
|
Marijuana grow, processing and wholesale uses |
X |
X |
|
Services – General |
||
|
Business support service – Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of services of a clerical, employment, protective, or minor processing nature to firms rather than individuals and where the storage of goods other than samples is prohibited. Typical uses include secretarial services, telephone answering services, blueprint services, or printing and duplicating firms. |
P |
|
|
Professional and administrative services – Offices or private firms or organizations which are primarily used for the provision of professional, executive, management, or administrative services. Typical uses include administrative offices, legal offices, or architectural firms. |
P |
|
|
Building/property maintenance service – Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of maintenance and custodial services to firms rather than individuals. Typical uses include janitorial, landscape maintenance, or window cleaning services. |
P |
|
|
Moving and storage (mini-storage)2 |
C |
X |
|
Financial, insurance, and real estate services – Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of financial, insurance, real estate, or securities brokerage services. Typical uses include banks, insurance agencies, or real estate firms. |
P |
|
|
Event facilities |
P |
C |
|
RV storage |
P |
C |
|
Services – Tourist Habitation |
||
|
Tourist habitation, except vacation rental and homestay |
P |
|
|
Tourist habitation – vacation rental and homestay (subject to special standards in Chapter 17.370 CBDC) |
S |
S |
|
Tourist habitation – Campground |
C |
X |
|
Services – Medical and Health |
||
|
Hospitals |
X |
|
|
Medical services – Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of personal health services ranging from prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, or rehabilitation services provided by physicians, dentists, nurses, and other health personnel as well as the provision of medical testing and analysis services |
P |
|
|
Ambulance services |
P |
|
|
Sanitaria, convalescent and rest homes |
P |
|
|
Orthopedic equipment and supplies, rental, sales and services |
P |
|
|
Services – Animal Sales and Services |
||
|
Auction – Auctioning of livestock on a wholesale or retail basis with incidental storage of animals produced off property not exceeding a 48-hour period. Typical uses include animal auctions or livestock auction yards. |
X |
|
|
Animal sales and service: grooming – Grooming of dogs, cats, and similar small animals. Typical uses include dog bathing and clipping salons or pet grooming shops. |
P |
|
|
Animal sales and service: kennel – Boarding, raising, caring, and training services for dogs, cats, and similar small animals. Typical uses include boarding kennels or dog training centers. |
C |
X |
|
Animal sales and service: pet shop – Establishment for the retail sale of household pets and pet supplies |
P |
|
|
Animal sales and service: veterinary (small animals) – Veterinary services for small animals. Typical uses include pet clinics, dog and cat hospitals, or animal hospitals. |
C |
|
|
Veterinary (large animals) – Veterinary services for large animals. Typical uses include animal hospitals or veterinary hospitals. |
C |
X |
|
Animal waste processing – The processing of animal waste and by-products, including, but not limited to, animal manure, animal bedding waste, and similar by-products of an animal-raising agricultural operation, for use as a commercial fertilizer or soil amendment and including composting for commercial purposes |
X |
|
|
Aquaculture – Raising, feeding, planting, harvesting fish and shellfish, and associated facilities as necessary for such use, including commercial harvest of naturally occurring clam beds |
X |
|
|
Services – Amusement |
||
|
Community recreation – Recreational, social, or multi-purpose uses typically associated with parks, playfields, golf courses, or community recreation buildings |
C |
|
|
Theaters, indoor |
P |
|
|
Drive-in theaters, stadium and arena facilities |
C |
|
|
Participant sports and recreation: indoor – Those uses conducted within an enclosed building. Typical uses include bowling alleys, skating rinks (ice and/or roller), billiard/pool parlors, video arcades, swimming pools, physical fitness centers, or racquetball centers. |
P |
C |
|
Participant sports and recreation: outdoor – Those uses conducted in open facilities. Typical uses include driving ranges, miniature golf courses, or swimming pools. |
P |
C |
|
Zoos, circuses, carnivals, or amusement rides, excluding temporary civic events endorsed by the city council |
C |
X |
|
Services – Educational |
||
|
Educational services |
P |
C |
|
Child care center |
P |
|
|
Libraries |
P |
|
|
Artistic studios and schools including but not limited to dance, music and martial arts |
P |
|
|
Public parks, parkways, recreation facilities, trails and related facilities |
P |
C |
|
Public/private educational institutions |
P |
C |
|
Outdoor events related to grand openings and similar special business events |
P |
|
|
Services – Membership Organizations |
||
|
Business, professional and religious (not including churches) |
P |
|
|
Civic, social, fraternal, charitable, labor and political |
P |
|
|
Churches |
P |
|
|
Distribution Facilities (In conjunction with a permitted use, all activities, except vehicle storage, located entirely within an enclosed building.) |
||
|
Distribution facilities |
C |
X |
|
Public Services and Facilities |
||
|
Buildings entirely dedicated to public services, such as City Hall, police and fire substations |
P |
|
|
Sewer, water and utility transmission lines |
P |
C |
|
Wireless communications facilities |
C |
|
|
Museums, historic and cultural exhibits and the like |
P |
|
|
U.S. post offices |
P |
|
|
Public transit facilities including park and ride facilities |
P |
|
|
Bus shelters |
P |
|
|
Accessory Uses and Activities |
||
|
On-site hazardous waste treatment and storage facilities, subject to state siting criteria |
X |
|
|
Drive-through or drive-up facilities |
C |
|
|
Open Air Activities |
||
|
Open air display of plants and produce in conjunction with a permitted use |
P |
|
|
Open air storage of materials |
C |
|
|
Open air work activities such as restaurants, portable walk-up vendors (not including drive-through facilities) such as espresso carts, flower stands and food stands, plant nurseries and other uses generally conducted outside in conjunction with a permitted commercial use, unless otherwise prohibited by this title |
P |
|
|
Open air storage of company vehicles, such as cars and light duty trucks, in conjunction with a permitted use |
P |
C |
|
Other Uses |
||
|
Temporary uses |
P |
|
|
Solid waste handling and disposal sites |
X |
|
|
Agricultural uses |
X |
|
|
Other similar uses deemed by the director to be compatible with the C/MX zone districts and adjacent land uses. |
Review type dependent upon size and intensity of use. |
|
1 Within the Empire Area Blueprint study area, residential uses may occupy up to 100 percent of a building ground floor or story. Refer to Figure 17.330.010(C) for study area boundaries.
2 Refer to CBDC 17.335.170 for mini-storage restrictions.
[Ord. 595 § 1 (Att. B(B)), 2026; Ord. 590 § 1 (Att. B(F)), 2026; Ord. 582 § 2, 2025; Ord. 553 § 2, 2022; Ord. 551 § 3, 2022; Ord. 541 § 6 (Exh. 1), 2021; Ord. 532 § 2 (Att. B), 2020; Ord. 513 § 7 (Exh. 2), 2019; Ord. 511 § 6 (Exh. 2), 2019; Ord. 503 § 1 (Exh. B), 2018; Ord. 473 § 3 (Exh. A), 2016].
17.230.030 Development and lot standards.
(1) New lots and structures and additions to structures subject to this section shall comply with the density and dimensional requirements in Table 17.230.030.
(a) Accessory structures for commercial use are subject to the single-unit detached development standards.
|
Standard |
Commercial |
Mixed |
Single-/Multi-unit dwelling |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Attached |
Detached |
|||
|
Dwelling Units Per Acre |
||||
|
Minimum |
N/A |
No Minimum |
12 |
12 |
|
Maximum |
N/A |
No Maximum |
No Maximum |
No Maximum |
|
Minimum lot width |
20 feet |
20 feet |
20 feet |
30 feet |
|
Minimum lot depth |
60 feet |
60 feet |
60 feet |
60 feet |
|
Minimum lot area |
5,000 square feet |
5,000 square feet |
1,200 square feet |
2,400 square feet |
|
Maximum lot area |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
15,000 square feet |
|
Maximum lot coverage |
85% |
85% |
65% |
65% |
|
Landscaping |
See CBDC 17.335.060. |
|||
|
Maximum height (see also CBDC 17.335.015, Exceeding height limits) |
35 feet |
35 feet |
35 feet |
35 feet |
|
Setbacks (see also CBDC 17.335.130, Setbacks – Intrusions permitted) |
||||
|
Minimum front setback |
0 feet |
0 feet |
10 feet |
10 feet or 10% of the lot depth, whichever is less |
|
Minimum garage setback from public street |
20 feet |
20 feet |
20 feet |
20 feet |
|
Minimum garage setback from alley |
20 feet |
20 feet |
20 feet |
20 feet |
|
Minimum side setback |
0 feet or 10 feet abutting LDR zones |
0 feet or 10 feet abutting LDR zones |
0 feet attached, 5 feet to abutting properties |
5 feet or 10% of the lot depth, whichever is less |
|
Minimum street side setback |
0 feet |
0 feet |
10 feet |
10 feet or 20% of the lot width, whichever is less. |
|
Minimum rear setback |
0 feet, or 10 feet abutting LDR zones |
0 feet, or 10 feet abutting LDR zones |
5 feet |
5 feet |
|
Parking and loading |
See Chapter 17.330 CBDC. |
|||
|
Supplementary |
See Chapter 17.335 CBDC. |
|||
(b) Additional Site Planning Design Standards.
(i) New Development.
(A) Building walls facing public streets shall include two or more of the following features: windows (genuine, false, or display), artwork, varied building materials, relief panels, trim, balconies, ledges, or other similar techniques.
(B) Buildings shall have a minimum roof pitch of 4:12, unless two or more of the following architectural details are provided: cornice, cap, relief panels, bay windows, shade projections, rain protection, eaves, dormers, ledges, or overhangs.
(C) A minimum of 50 square feet of rain protection shall be provided at the primary entrance of a building. This protection may use a single or combination of techniques such as awning, eave, alcove, airlock, recessed entry or porte cochere.
(D) Finished surfaces on building elevations shall emphasize use of architectural grade natural building products. Wood, masonry, metal, glass, stucco, fiber cement, cultured stone or other stone materials may be used to satisfy this requirement. Use of plywood, vinyl, plastic composites, fiberglass or similar materials are prohibited unless it can be shown that the material looks substantially the same as a natural building product.
(E) Finished surfaces suitable for painting shall incorporate a color palette of at least two colors consisting of a base color and an accent (trim color).
(2) Special Limitations on Uses. All uses and developments in the C and MX zone district(s) are subject to the following conditions:
(a) Odor, noise, emissions, vibration, heat and glare (except for exterior lighting) shall be controlled within the confines of the building or structure.
(b) No movement of heavy equipment on and off the site shall occur, except for truck deliveries and in the case of heavy equipment sales.
(c) No outdoor testing of products or processes shall take place on the site.
(d) No highly combustible, explosive, or hazardous materials or waste shall be permitted on site. [Ord. 590 § 1 (Att. B(F)), 2026; Ord. 544 § 10 (Att. B), 2021; Ord. 541 § 6 (Exh. 1), 2021; Ord. 532 § 2 (Att. B), 2020; Ord. 511 § 6 (Exh. 2), 2019; Ord. 503 § 1 (Exh. B), 2018; Ord. 473 § 3 (Exh. A), 2016].