Chapter 9.32 — HEAVY INDUSTRIAL (M-2) ZONE
Avenal Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Avenal
Sections:
9.32.010 Purpose and application. 9.32.020 Permitted uses. 9.32.030 Site area. 9.32.040 Lot dimensions. 9.32.050 Coverage. 9.32.060 Building setback areas. 9.32.070 Distance between structures. 9.32.080 Height of structures. 9.32.090 Driveways. 9.32.100 Off-street parking. 9.32.110 Usable open space. 9.32.120 Landscaping. 9.32.130 Screening, fences, and walls. 9.32.140 Signs. 9.32.150 General provisions and standards.
9.32.010 Purpose and application. ¶
This chapter shall apply to all land within the Heavy Industrial (M-2) zone district. The purpose of the M-2 zone is to provide locations for heavy industrial uses unsuited to other locations in the community; protect industrial areas from the intrusion of incompatible types of land uses; adhere to performance standards provided for the protection of Avenal residents and the environment, and to provide industrial employment opportunities for residents of Avenal. Typical uses include machine or raw materials manufacturing and assembly, food processing and recycling facilities, as well as mineral exploration.
9.32.020 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.
9.32.030 Site area. ¶
9.32.040 Lot dimensions. ¶
The minimum lot frontage shall be 80 feet, except that where there is a recorded reciprocal use agreement for shared common access and parking areas, no minimum frontage is required.
9.32.050 Coverage. ¶
The maximum building coverage of a lot shall be 75 percent.
Zoning Ordinance
89
2024
City of Avenal Municipal Code Title 9 – Zoning Ordinance
9.32.060 Building setback areas. ¶
A. No structure shall be placed within a building setback area.
B. The front building setback area shall be a minimum of 25 feet, except as modified by (F.).
C. There is no rear building setback area.
D. There is no interior side building setback.
E. There is no street-side building setback, except as modified by (F.).
F. The minimum setback shall be 55 feet from the legal centerline of any existing or proposed local street or minor collector, 70 feet from the legal centerline of any existing or proposed secondary highway or major collector street, or 80 feet from the legal centerline of any existing or proposed primary highway or arterial street.
9.32.070 Distance between structures. ¶
There is no minimum distance between structures required, except that all building code requirements shall be met.
9.32.080 Height of structures. ¶
There is no maximum structure height. If the structure is adjacent to existing or zoned residential uses, the maximum height shall be 50 feet.
9.32.090 Driveways. ¶
A. Wherever possible, developments shall share driveways to minimize the number of driveways on public streets.
kk. 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.
ll. Gated entrances shall be set back at least 100 feet from the public right-of-way unless a shorter distance is approved by the City Engineer.
9.32.100 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.
9.32.110 Usable open space. ¶
There is no minimum requirement for usable open space.
9.32.120 Landscaping. ¶
A. Landscaping shall be provided for each use as prescribed in Chapter 9.52 Landscape Standards.
mm. Landscaping shall be provided and permanently maintained in a 25-foot front setback area as well as along any street-side lot line adjacent to the ultimate right-of-way of State Highway 269 or State Highway 33, except where the setback area is covered by parking areas or driveways.
nn. Where industrial zoning abuts a residentially zoned property, a 10-foot-wide landscape easement shall be maintained between the parcels.
Zoning Ordinance
90
2024
City of Avenal Municipal Code Title 9 – Zoning Ordinance
- oo. Required landscaping shall be installed prior to final occupancy and continually maintained pursuant to Chapter 9.52.
9.32.130 Screening, fences, and walls. ¶
A. Fences and walls in the M-2 zone shall conform to the design standards provided in Section 9.50.110.
B. Fences, walls, and hedges in the M-2 zone shall conform to the following standards:
Where an industrially-zoned site adjoins a site that is residentially zoned, a minimum seven-foot-tall solid wall and a 10 foot landscape buffer shall separate the industrial development from the adjoining residential district. The Director may allow fence and wall heights to be increased in order to mitigate noise problems documented by a noise study.
No fence or wall shall be placed in front of or within any landscaped area located next to a street.
The open storage of materials and equipment attendant to a use shall be permitted only within an area surrounded or screened from view with a seven-foot-tall solid wall or fence, except as may be modified under the site plan review. Such storage shall not be visible above the fence or wall.
Razor wire, electrified fencing, and similar security devices are only allowed on a permanent basis in the M-2 zone with approval by the Director, provided that it is not located adjacent to a residence or residential district, subject to the design guidelines set forth in Chapter 9.50.
9.32.140 Signs. ¶
Signs placed in the M-2 zone shall be subject to the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 9.56.
9.32.150 General provisions and standards. ¶
A. Mechanical equipment shall be located a minimum of 20 feet from a rear or side lot line that abuts a residentially zoned property, except that where there is a parapet wall that shields the mechanical equipment, no minimum distance is required.
pp. All open and non-landscaped portions of any lot shall be maintained in good condition, free from weeds, dust, trash, and debris.
qq. New development may be required to install public infrastructure necessary to adequately serve the project, based on requirements of the City Engineer, including sewer, water and storm drainage lines, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, street paving, street lighting, and trash enclosures. These improvements shall be constructed consistent with requirements shown in the City of Avenal Standard Specifications and Drawings and shall be installed prior to occupancy of any structures on the site.
rr. No use shall be permitted, and no process, equipment, or material shall be employed that is found by the City to be injurious to persons residing or working in the vicinity by reason of odor, fumes, dust, smoke, cinders, dirt, refuse, noise, vibrations, illumination, glare or heavy truck traffic, or to involve any hazard of fire, explosion, hazardous or toxic waste, or
Zoning Ordinance
91
2024
City of Avenal Municipal Code Title 9 – Zoning Ordinance
radioactivity or to emit electrical disturbances which adversely affect commercial or electronic equipment outside the boundaries of the site.
ss. No solid or liquid waste shall be discharged into a natural watercourse, nor into a public or private sewage disposal system, except in compliance with the applicable regulations of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and City ordinances and policies.
tt. Structures and the use of structures or land shall be subject to the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 9.50.
Zoning Ordinance
92
2024
City of Avenal Municipal Code Title 9 – Zoning Ordinance