Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 17 — LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT›Article II — Zoning Districts and Allowable Land Uses
Calabasas Municipal Code Ch. 17.14 Commercial Districts
Calabasas Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Calabasas
Cite as: Calabasas Municipal Code Chapter 17.14 · Text as of 2026-10-04
17.14.010 - Purpose.¶
The purposes of the individual commercial zoning districts are as follows:
A. CL (Commercial, Limited) District. The CL zoning district is applied to areas with access problems, or sensitive environmental features that cannot support the full range of business uses allowed in the CR, commercial, retail, district. Appropriate land uses in the CL zoning district include limited retail and commercial services, restaurants, plant nurseries, business and professional offices, and similar and related compatible uses. The CL zoning district is consistent with the business-limited intensity commercial land use district of the General Plan.
B. CR (Commercial, Retail) District. The CR zoning district is intended for a broad range of general shopping and commercial service uses. These uses include general retail markets, commercial services, restaurants, automotive repair and service, hardware and home improvement, durable goods sales, commercial recreation, and similar and related compatible uses. The CR zoning district is consistent with the business-retail land use district of the General Plan.
C. CO (Commercial, Office) District. The CO zoning district permits general business offices, medical, professional, real estate, financial, and other offices, and similar and related compatible uses. The CO zoning district is consistent with the business-professional office land use district of the General Plan.
D. CMU (Commercial, Mixed Use) District. The CMU zoning district is intended to provide for mixed-use developments with innovative site design and pedestrian orientation. Appropriate land uses include a broad range of office, retail, commercial services, high-intensity residential uses, entertainment, and similar and related compatible uses. The CMU zoning district is consistent with the mixed use land use district of the General Plan.
E. CB (Commercial, Business Park) District. The CB zoning district is applied to areas that will serve the office and light industrial needs of the community. Appropriate land uses include a broad range of office, light industrial uses, limited warehousing, and similar and related compatible uses. The CB zoning district is consistent with the business-business park land use district of the General Plan.
F. CT (Commercial, Old Town) District. The CT district defines the limits of Old Town Calabasas. Within this area, a variety of office, retail, and other commercial uses are appropriate, to the extent that development is designed to preserve and enhance the area's historic character, and comply with the Old Town Calabasas Master Plan and Design Guidelines. The CT zoning district is consistent with the Old Town land use district of the General Plan.
(Ord. No. 2010-265, § 3, 1-27-2010)
17.14.020 - Commercial district general development standards.¶
A. General Site Planning and Development Standards. Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and intensifications and alterations to existing uses or structures shall be designed and constructed in compliance with the following requirements.
Table 2-6 Commercial District General Development Standards
| Development Feature | Requirement by Zoning District | Requirement by Zoning District | Requirement by Zoning District | Requirement by Zoning District | Requirement by Zoning District | Requirement by Zoning District |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development Feature | CL | CR | CO | CMU | CB | CT |
| Minimum Lot Size | Minimum lot area and width required for new parcels. | Minimum lot area and width required for new parcels. | Minimum lot area and width required for new parcels. | Minimum lot area and width required for new parcels. | Minimum lot area and width required for new parcels. | Minimum lot area and width required for new parcels. |
| Area | 5,000 sq. ft. | No minimum | 5,000 sq. ft. | No minimum | 10,000 sq. ft. | No minimum |
| Width | 50 feet | 50 feet | 50 feet | 50 feet | 100 feet | |
| Residential Density (1) | None allowed | None Allowed | 20 dwellings per acre minimum; 24 dwellings per are maximum (2) | None allowed | 20 dwellings per acre | |
| Floor Area Ratio | 0.20 maximum | 0.20 minimum, 0.40 maximum | 0.20 minimum, 0.50 maximum | 0.6 minimum 1.0 maximum | 0.2 minimum, 0.6 maximum | 0.2 minimum, 1.0 maximum |
| Site Coverage | 72% of net site area, maximum | 78% of net site area, maximum | 76% of net site area, maximum | 62% of net site area, maximum | 72% of net site area, maximum | 72% of net site area, maximum |
| Setbacks Required (3) | ||||||
| Front | 20 ft. minimum | None required | 20 ft. minimum | None required | 30 feet minimum | None allowed |
| Sides (each) | 20 ft. minimum adjacent to any residential zone on the same side of street. None required otherwise. | None required | 20 ft. minimum adjacent to any residential zone on the same side of street. None required otherwise. | None required | 20 feet minimum | Determined through project review process |
| Street Side | 20 ft. minimum | 10 ft. minimum | 20 ft. minimum | 10 feet minimum | 30 feet minimum | |
| Rear | 20 ft. minimum adjacent to residential zone; none required otherwise. | 20 ft. minimum adjacent to residential zone; none required otherwise. | 20 ft. minimum adjacent to residential zone; none required otherwise. | 20 ft. minimum adjacent to residential zone; none required otherwise. | 30 feet minimum | |
| Interior | As required by California Building Code. | As required by California Building Code. | As required by California Building Code. | As required by California Building Code. | As required by California Building Code. | As required by California Building Code. |
| Height Limits (4) | 35 ft. maximum | 35 ft. maximum; more height may be authorized by Development Plan. | 35 ft. maximum | 35 ft. maximum | 35 ft. maximum | 35 ft. maximum |
| Landscaping | As required by Chapter 17.26 (Landscaping) | As required by Chapter 17.26 (Landscaping) | As required by Chapter 17.26 (Landscaping) | As required by Chapter 17.26 (Landscaping) | As required by Chapter 17.26 (Landscaping) | As required by Chapter 17.26 (Landscaping) |
| Parking and Loading | See Chapter 17.28 (Parking and Loading) | See Chapter 17.28 (Parking and Loading) | See Chapter 17.28 (Parking and Loading) | See Chapter 17.28 (Parking and Loading) | See Chapter 17.28 (Parking and Loading) | See Chapter 17.28 (Parking and Loading) |
| Sign Regulations | See Chapter 17.30 (Signs) | See Chapter 17.30 (Signs) | See Chapter 17.30 (Signs) | See Chapter 17.30 (Signs) | See Chapter 17.30 (Signs) | See Chapter 17.30 (Signs) |
NOTES:
Maximum number of dwellings allowed on an existing lot.
New projects must include a minimum twenty (20) percent of the overall floor area for residential uses. Renovations or additions that retain the site in its current uses are not subject to this requirement.
See Section 17.20.180 for setback measurement, exceptions, and encroachments.
See Section 17.20.140 for measurement and exceptions.
B. Floor Area Ratio (FAR). The minimum and maximum floor area for each parcel and the maximum density of residential development is determined by subsection (A) of this section.
When calculating the maximum FAR allowed on a site in the CMU, CR and CT zoning districts, the maximum FAR shall include the maximum number of allowed dwelling units.
The maximum FAR in the CMU zone shall be as established by a numerical suffix to the CMU zoning map symbol. The form of the suffix shall consist of a number specifying the maximum allowable floor area ratio. For example, "CMU-0.95" means that the subject site may be allowed a maximum FAR of 0.95.
In the CMU-1.0 zone, fifty (50) percent of the floor area shall be dedicated to residential uses.
(Ord. No. 2010-265, § 3, 1-27-2010; Ord. No. 2021-395, §§ 5J, 5K, 10-13-2021)
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