Chapter 20.240

• A. There are certain uses which may generally be thought of as commercial in nature, but which are more compatible with manufacturing uses. There are also certain mixed uses which are appropriate in a manufacturing zone, and there are certain other services or mixed uses which are appropriate in a manufacturing zone to service other businesses in such zone. It is the intent of the C-M (Commercial/Industrial) Zone to permit certain uses consonant with the foregoing in areas master planned for industrial use, either on parcels wherein the permitted uses under said C-M Zone will not conflict with permitted uses on adjacent property, or where a buffer is desirable between heavier manufacturing operations and other adjacent zones. The Council hereby finds that the provisions of the C-M Zone are consistent with the General Plan for industrial uses, subject to Council determination as to the specific area or areas wherein C-M zoning is appropriate.

• B. Except as specifically provided elsewhere in this chapter, any and every building and premises or land in the C-M (Commercial/Industrial) Zones shall be used for, or occupied, and every building shall be erected, constructed, established, altered, enlarged, maintained, and moved into or within such C-M (Commercial/Industrial) Zones exclusively and only in accordance with the provisions set forth in this section.

• (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968)

Principal uses permitted in C-M Zone are contained in Chapter 20.11 of this Title. (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 636, 10-4-1977; Ord. 965, 4-4-1995; Ord. 1066, 4-20-2004; Ord. 1241, 8-15-2023)

Uses permitted subject to a minor conditional use permit or a conditional use permit in C-M Zone are contained in Chapter 20.11 of this title. (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 689, 1-15-1980; Ord. 844, 6-7-1988; Ord. 1066, 4-20-2004; Ord. 1092, 5-16-2006; Ord. 1119, 2-3-2009; Ord. 1154, 6-21-2011; Ord. 1241, 8-15-2023; Ord. 1250, 5-21-2024)

Uses prohibited in C-M Zone are contained in Chapter 20.11 of this Title. (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 1241, 8-15-2023)

The following property development standards shall apply to the use of all land and/or buildings in the C-M (Commercial/Industrial) Zones:

• A. Minimum lot size. Every lot shall have a minimum width on a publicly-dedicated street of

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City of Brea, CA

ZONING CODE

§ 20.240.060

§ 20.240.060

one hundred (100) feet; a minimum depth of one hundred fifty (150) feet and a minimum area of twenty thousand (20,000) square feet; provided, however, where a lot has less area than required by the provisions of this section and was held under separate ownership or was of record on the date of the adoption of this section, such lot may be occupied by any use permitted in the C-M (Commercial/ Industrial) Zone if all other regulations are complied with.

• B.

  • Building height.

  1. Buildings and structures erected in the C-M (Commercial/Industrial) Zone shall have a height no greater than thirty-five (35) feet.

  2. Structures permitted above height limit. Roof structures for the housing of elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the buildings and fire or parapet walls, skylights, towers, steeples, flagpoles, chimneys, wireless television masts, water tanks, or similar structures may be erected above the maximum height permitted in each zone. No structure shall be allowed for purposes of providing additional floor space, except as provided for in paragraph B.1. above.

• C. Yards and setbacks. Yard and setback requirements in the C-M (Commercial/Industrial) Zone shall be the same as those provided for in the M-P (Planned Industrial) Zone (§ 20.248.040.D. of this title) and the provisions thereof for requirements.

• D. Walls, fences, landscaping and property maintenance.

  1. Required walls.

     • a. Walls along setback lines and along the common property lines shall be erected as required in § 20.248.040.D. and E. of this title.

     • b. Required walls six (6) feet or more in height shall be constructed of masonry material.

     • c. Required walls less than six (6) feet in height may be constructed of other permanent material not including wood or corrugated sheet metal.

  2. Permitted fences and walls. Fences and walls not to exceed seven (7) feet in height shall be permitted within any side or rear yard area along any common property line with the following exceptions:

     • a. Solid wall or fence shall not exceed a height of thirty (36) inches within the front yard or side yard on the street side of a corner or reverse corner lot.

     • b. Open work fences (not less than ninety percent (90%) open) in a required front yard or side yard on the street side of a corner lot shall not exceed a height of four and one-half (4½) feet.

  3. Height of walls and fences. The height of walls and fences shall be measured from finished grade immediately adjacent to the base of the wall.

• a. For the purposes of this subsection, finished grade is defined as the elevation of the ground that would exist at the time of wall/fence construction. If the existing grade is modified to create a new finished grade, the finished grade shall be

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City of Brea, CA § 20.240.060

BREA CODE

§ 20.240.060

determined by calculating the midpoint of the highest existing grade and the highest finished grade.

• E.

  • Distance between buildings. No requirements.

• F.

  • Building site coverage and floor area ratio.

  1. Lot area coverage by buildings or structures shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total lot area.

  2. All developments shall be subject to the floor area ratio established under the city's General Plan for the General Plan land use designation applicable for the site.

• G. Access. Access to all off-street parking and loading areas shall be subject to the approval of the City Engineer.

• H. Off-street parking and loading. The provisions of § 20.08.040 of this title shall apply.

• I. Signs. The provisions of Chapter 20.28 of this title shall apply.

• J. Outdoor activities and storage.

  1. Outdoor storage and activities associated with permitted uses shall be entirely enclosed by building walls or by a solid masonry wall located so as to effectively screen such storage or activities. Said wall cannot be constructed frontward of the front setback line and shall not be less than seven (7) feet in height, along all other property lines. Proposed outdoor storage or activity areas shall be enclosed by a seven (7) foot wall or by screen landscaping not less than eight (8) feet in height plus a fence of chain link, or other similar material, not less than six (6) feet in height to screen stock piles from external boundaries of property. Items shall not be stacked or stored higher than six (6) feet.

  2. The storage of combustible materials shall be not less than twenty (20) feet from any interior lot line.

  3. No material or wastes shall be deposited upon a subject lot in such form or manner that they may be transferred off the lot by natural causes or forces.

  4. Wastes which might cause fumes or dust or which constitute a fire hazard or which may be edible by or otherwise be attractive to rodents or insects shall be stored only in closed containers in required enclosures.

• K. Trash storage. All storage of trash receptacles shall be screened from public view by a concrete block or masonry wall or in such a manner so that it is not visible from adjacent property and abutting public rights-of-way. Trash storage areas shall be so located on the property as to be readily accessible to service vehicles.

• L. Metal buildings. Metal buildings shall not be permitted within the C-M (Commercial/ Industrial) Zone except that buildings or structures having exterior walls of sheet metal may be located not closer than one hundred fifty (150) feet from the property line along any freeway, major or secondary highway or any other dedicated street provided.

1. The sheet metal comprises twenty-five percent (25%) or less of the exterior wall area of said building or structure which is adjacent, parallel to and/or visible from a

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City of Brea, CA

ZONING CODE

§ 20.240.060

§ 20.240.080

publicly-dedicated street; and

  - The sheet metal consists of panels with baked enamel or similar finish; and 

3. Said building is screened from the public view with walls, fencing, and landscaping or other structures.

• M. Minimum size of zoning. No parcel of land containing less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet shall be zoned C-M (Commercial/Industrial) unless such parcel is contiguous to an existing C-M (Commercial/Industrial) Zone and is adaptable as to shape and dimensions for development compatible with such contiguously zoned C-M (Commercial/ Industrial) property.

• (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 873, 9-5-1989; Ord. 1250, 5-21-2024; Ord. 1254, 3-18-2025)

All uses within the C-M (Commercial/Industrial) Zone shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 20.20 of this title (Performance Standards).

(Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 772, 4-16-1985)

The provisions of § 20.408.040 of this title shall apply to all developments in the C-M (Commercial/Industrial) Zone that are listed in § 20.408.040.B. Additionally, all property zoned C-M and located within three hundred (300) feet of any "R" (residentially) zoned property and/or any residential neighborhood with more than twenty (20) parcels shall not be developed except upon the previous approval of a conditional use permit pursuant to § 20.408.030 of this title. (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 772, 4-16-1985; Ord. 963, 1-17-1995; Ord. 1254, 3-18-2025)

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City of Brea, CA

ZONING CODE

§ 20.244.010

§ 20.244.040