Chapter 9.28 — SERVICE COMMERCIAL (C-S) ZONE

Avenal Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Avenal

Sections:

9.28.010 Purpose and application. 9.28.020 Permitted uses. 9.28.030 Site area. 9.28.040 Lot dimensions. 9.28.050 Coverage. 9.28.060 Building setback areas. 9.28.070 Distance between structures. 9.28.080 Height of structures. 9.28.090 Driveways. 9.28.100 Off-street parking. 9.28.110 Usable open space. 9.28.120 Landscaping. 9.28.130 Screening, fences, and walls. 9.28.140 Signs. 9.28.150 General provisions and standards.

9.28.010 Purpose and application.

This chapter shall apply to all land within the Service Commercial (C-S) zone. The C-S zone is intended to accommodate a variety of retail, office, warehousing/storage, and small manufacturing facilities that provide citywide and regional services. Typical uses include banks, small convenience stores, restaurants, medical offices and clinics, retail and repair shops, as well as light manufacturing and assembly uses and transportation and telecommunications-related facilities.

9.28.020 Permitted uses.

Uses shall be permitted or not permitted, conditionally permitted, administratively permitted, or temporarily permitted as prescribed in the land use table in Section 9.08.030.

9.28.030 Site area.

  • A. The minimum site area for new lots that are created by subdivision map or parcel map shall be 6,000 square feet unless a smaller site is approved with a conditional use permit in accordance with Chapter 9.80.

  • h. Existing sites of less than 6,000 square feet may be developed in accordance with the specifications of this section.

Zoning Ordinance

81

2024

City of Avenal Municipal Code Title 9 – Zoning Ordinance

9.28.040 Lot dimensions.

The minimum lot frontage shall be 40 feet unless a reciprocal use agreement for shared access and parking is recorded.

9.28.050 Coverage.

The maximum coverage of a lot shall be 80 percent.

9.28.060 Building setback areas.

  • A. No structure shall be placed within a building setback area.

  • i. The minimum front building setback shall be 10 feet.

  • j. There shall be no required rear building setback, except where a parcel abuts a residential zone district, then the minimum rear building setback shall be 10 feet.

  • k. There shall be no required interior side building setback, except where the parcel abuts a residential zone district, then the minimum side building setback area shall be 10 feet.

  • l. The minimum street-side building setback shall be 10 feet.

9.28.070 Distance between structures.

There is no minimum distance between structures required, except that all building code requirements shall be met.

9.28.080 Height of structures.

  • A. The maximum structure height shall be 35 feet.

  • B. Structures up to 65 feet may be erected upon approval of a conditional use permit in accordance with Chapter 9.80.

9.28.090 Driveways.

  • A. Wherever possible developments shall share driveways to minimize the number of driveways on public streets.

  • m. New driveways near street corners shall be located a minimum of 150 feet from the radius curve of the curb unless otherwise specifically approved by the City Engineer.

  • n. Sites with alleys should utilize alley access to minimize driveways on streets to the greatest extent possible.

9.28.100 Off-street parking.

Off-street parking and off-street loading facilities shall be provided on the site for each use as prescribed in Chapter 9.54.

9.28.110 Usable open space.

There is no minimum requirement for usable open space.

Zoning Ordinance

82

2024

City of Avenal Municipal Code Title 9 – Zoning Ordinance

9.28.120 Landscaping.

  • A. Landscaping shall be provided for each use as prescribed in Chapter 9.52 Landscape Standards.

  • o. Landscaping shall be provided and permanently maintained in a buffer area not less than 10 feet from a lot line adjoining a street, except where the buffer area is covered by structures, parking areas, or driveways.

  • p. Required landscaping is to be installed prior to occupancy and continually maintained pursuant to Chapter 9.52.

9.28.130 Screening, fences, and walls.

  • A. Fences in the C-S zone shall conform to the design standards provided in Sections 9.50.110 and 9.50.120.

  • q. These regulations do not apply to fences or walls required by regulations of a State or federal agency, or by the City for reasons of public safety, or to retaining walls that adjoin land uses.

  • r. Fences, walls, and hedges may be erected and properly maintained to the heights identified below and measured from the highest adjoining finish grade:

    1. Fences, walls, and hedges shall not exceed three feet in height in the front yard area unless otherwise specifically required by this title.

    2. Where a commercially-zoned site adjoins a site that is residentially zoned, a seven (7) - foot-tall solid wall and a 10-foot landscape buffer shall separate the commercial development from the adjoining residential district.

  • s. Walls along arterial and collector streets. If a wall is required, or if the developer of a site located along either an arterial or collector street chooses to install a wall, the wall shall be installed and maintained equal to a minimum of six feet and a maximum of seven feet in height.

  • t. Allowable fence materials. All fences constructed or installed within Avenal shall be limited to the following materials or a combination of materials:

    1. Front and street-side yards:

      • a.

      • b. Concrete/block

      • c. Latticework fencing

      • d. Wood

      • e. Wrought iron

    2. Rear and interior side yards:

      • a. Concrete/block

      • b. Latticework fencing

      • c. Wood

  • u. Temporary fencing may be necessary to protect archaeological or historic resources and/or trees during site preparation and construction. Temporary fencing for these purposes shall be subject to the review and approval of the Director.

Zoning Ordinance

83

2024

City of Avenal Municipal Code Title 9 – Zoning Ordinance

  • v. The City reserves the right to remove, at the expense of the owner of the property or properties enclosed by the fence, any fence in a public easement in any emergency.

9.28.140 Signs.

Signs placed in the C-S zone shall be subject to the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 9.56.

9.28.150 General provisions and standards.

  • A. All businesses, services, and processes shall be conducted entirely within a completely enclosed, permanently fixed structure, except where specifically permitted by this title.

  • w. Mechanical equipment shall be located a minimum of 15 feet from a rear or side lot line that abuts a residential zone district unless there is a parapet wall that shields the mechanical equipment.

  • x. New development shall be required to install public infrastructure necessary to adequately serve the project, based on requirements of the City Engineer, including sewer, water, storm drainage lines, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, street paving, street lighting, and trash enclosure. These improvements shall be constructed consistent with requirements shown in the City of Avenal Standard Specification Drawings and shall be installed prior to occupancy of any structures on the site.

  • y. Structures and the use of structures or land shall be subject to the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 9.50.

Zoning Ordinance

84

2024

City of Avenal Municipal Code Title 9 – Zoning Ordinance