Chapter 18.44 — C COMMERCIAL ZONE
Alpine County Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-06 · Alpine County
Sections:
18.44.010 Purpose.
18.44.015 Commercial use findings.
18.44.020 Principal permitted uses.
18.44.030 Conditional uses.
18.44.040 Building site regulations.
18.44.050 Height regulations.
18.44.060 Area, lot width and yard requirements.
18.44.070 Other required conditions.
18.44.010 Purpose. ¶
The purpose of the C commercial zone is to provide standards to improve and protect the business centers of the county, and to establish and maintain such centers with characteristics convenient and desirable to enhance the local economy. (Ord. 554 (part), 1993: Ord. 480 (part), 1988; Ord. 453 § 13.01, 1985)
18.44.015 Commercial use findings. ¶
A. That the proposed location of the project and the conditions under which it would be operated or maintained will not be detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of persons residing or working in the neighborhood or the general public, or be materially injurious to properties or improvements in the vicinity.
B. That the proposed location of the project and the conditions under which it would be operated or maintained will be consistent with all pertinent county ordinances and the purpose of the zone district in which the site is located.
C. That the proposed use is consistent with all elements of the county General Plan and with any specific plan which has been adopted for the area. (Ord. 554 (part), 1993)
18.44.020 Principal permitted uses. ¶
Permitted uses in the C zone are as follows:
A. Retail stores, shops and offices supplying commodities, or performing services, such as small department stores, grocery stores, furniture stores, specialty shops, banks and other financial institutions, business, medical and professional offices, antique shops, artists’ supply stores, craft shops, restaurants, except for fast food establishments and including all uses permitted in the NC zone;
B. Hotels and motels providing only daily and/or weekly rentals only for the accommodation of transient guests;
C. Quasi-public uses appropriate to the community business district including communication equipment buildings that are compatible with surrounding buildings;
D. Accessory uses and buildings customarily appurtenant to a permitted use;
E. Living quarters when accessory to the principal permitted use;
F. Emergency shelters. (Ord. 715 Exh. A (part), 2016; Ord. 649 § 1 (part), 2003; Ord. 554 (part), 1993: Ord. 480 (part), 1988; Ord. 453 § 13.02, 1985)
18.44.030 Conditional uses. ¶
Conditional uses for which use permits are required in the C zone are as follows:
A. Fast food establishments;
B. Sales and service for new and used cars, mobile homes and boats; auto repair garages, servicing vehicles and/or equipment, service stations and sales of vehicle fuels, tire shops, dismantling vehicles, vehicle storage and towing service;
C. Furniture and auto upholstering shops, electrical, plumbing, welding and air conditioning and sheet metal shops, cabinet and wood working shops;
D. Retail building materials and cut lumbering sales;
E. Laundry, laundromats, cleaning and dyeing establishments;
F. Wholesale bakeries and creameries;
G. Nightclubs, bars, dancehalls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, massage services, adult movie houses;
H. Dwellings, or living units, other than as provided for in Section 18.44.020(B) or (E);
I. Any other commercial use or service which the commission finds to be consistent with the purpose of this chapter which is of the same general character as the above principal permitted uses and/or the conditional uses and which will not harm surrounding businesses or alter severally the character of a small town business district;
J. Shopping or commercial complexes exceeding four thousand square feet or two stories in height. (Ord. 649 § 1 (part), 2003; Ord. 554 (part), 1993: Ord. 480 (part), 1988; Ord. 459 (part), 1986; Ord. 453 § 13.03, 1985)
18.44.040 Building site regulations. ¶
No main building shall exceed four thousand feet in floor space, excluding living quarters accessory to the principal permitted use. Accessory buildings or uses may not exceed fifty percent of the square footage of the principal building. (Ord. 554 (part), 1993: Ord. 480 (part), 1988)
18.44.050 Height regulations. ¶
No building or structure shall exceed three stories or forty-five feet. (Ord. 554 (part), 1993: Ord. 480 (part), 1988; Ord. 453 § 13.05, 1985)
18.44.060 Area, lot width and yard requirements. ¶
The following minimum requirements shall be observed, except where changed for conditional uses:
A. Lot area: five thousand square feet;
B. Lot width: fifty feet;
- C. Front yard: six feet;
D. Side yards: none except when abutting a residential zone, then not less than required for the abutting residential zone;
E. Rear yard: none, except when abutting a residential zone, then not less than twenty feet. (Ord. 554 (part), 1993: Ord. 480 (part), 1988; Ord. 453 § 13.06, 1985)
18.44.070 Other required conditions. ¶
Off-street parking and other requirements are set forth in Chapter 18.68 of this title. (Ord. 554 (part), 1993: Ord. 480 (part), 1988; Ord. 453 § 13.07, 1985) Home Previous Next
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Ask AI about this code▸ Contents — Alpine County Zoning Code
- Chapter 18.04 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Chapter 18.08 — DEFINITIONS
- Chapter 18.12 — ZONING DISTRICTS AND ZONING MAPS
- Chapter 18.16 — AG AGRICULTURE ZONE
- Chapter 18.18 — AP AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE ZONE
- Chapter 18.20 — LP LAND PRESERVE ZONE
- Chapter 18.24 — TP TIMBER PRESERVE ZONE
- Chapter 18.28 — PD PLANNED DEVELOPMENT ZONE
- Chapter 18.32 — RE RESIDENTIAL ESTATE ZONE
- Chapter 18.36 — RN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE
- Chapter 18.40 — NC NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ZONE
- Chapter 18.44 — C COMMERCIAL ZONE
- Chapter 18.48 — IND INDUSTRIAL ZONE
- Chapter 18.52 — INS INSTITUTIONAL ZONE
- Chapter 18.56 — MHD MARKLEEVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMBINED ZONE
- Chapter 18.60 — SCENIC HIGHWAY CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS
- Chapter 18.64 — CR COMMERCIAL RECREATION COMBINED ZONE
- Chapter 18.68 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND EXCEPTIONS
- Chapter 18.69 — SECONDARY DWELLING UNITS
- Chapter 18.70 — HOME OCCUPATIONS
- Chapter 18.71 — EMPLOYEE HOUSING/CARETAKER’S UNIT
- Chapter 18.72 — NONCONFORMING USES
- Chapter 18.73 — RESIDENTIAL SHORT-TERM RENTALS
- Chapter 18.74 — SIGN REGULATIONS
- Chapter 18.76 — USE PERMITS
- Chapter 18.78 — SPECIAL EVENTS
- Chapter 18.80 — VARIANCES
- Chapter 18.84 — AMENDMENTS AND ZONE CHANGES
- Chapter 18.87 — IMPACT FEES FOR SECONDARY DWELLING UNITS IN BE…
- Chapter 18.88 — APPEALS AND CLARIFICATIONS
- Chapter 18.92 — ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES