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Chapter 17.28 — R-C REGIONAL COMMERCIAL ZONE[[4]]

Coachella Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-06 · Coachella

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 1204, § 3(Exh. A.1), adopted July 26, 2023, repealed the former Ch. 17.28, §§ 17.28.010—17.28.030, and enacted a new Ch. 17.28 as set out herein. The former Ch. 17.28 pertained to C-T Tourist Commercial Zone and derived from Prior code §§ 046.01—046.03; Ord. No. 1088, § 3, adopted Dec. 14, 2016.

17.28.010 - Intent and purpose.

This zone is intended to provide for and encourage a wide range of shopping and entertainment in a variety of urban and suburban formats. These include regional shopping centers, mixed destination centers or similar uses. The uses allowed in this zone will cater to regional clientele and provide a unique amenity to all residents of the Coachella Valley and an important revenue source for the City. Implementing the Regional Retail land use designation in the General Plan, the primary purpose of the zone is to provide for commercial opportunities, with residential uses supporting the retail environment.

(Ord. No. 1204, § 3(Exh. A.1), 7-26-23)

17.28.020 - Permitted uses.

The following uses are permitted in the R-C (Regional Commercial) zone, subject to all provisions of this chapter:

A.

Primary Uses.

1.

All retail establishments including big box retail (> thirty-five thousand (35,000) square feet).

2.

Automobile rental.

3.

Hotel.

4.

Motel.

5.

Resort.

6.

Restaurants.

7.

Private swimming pools.

8.

Public Utility Facilities (City-Initiated).

B.

All uses permitted by Section 17.26.020 in Chapter 17.26 C-G (General Commercial).

C.

Accessory Uses. The following buildings, structures, and uses are permitted when clearly incidental and accessory to primary permitted use:

Dwelling, where used by a proprietor, manager, or custodian of a use permitted within this zone.

2.

Ice vending machines, of three-ton capacity or less subject to all other provisions of this zone. Such machines shall be located so as not to interfere with the movement of traffic on the site.

D.

Conditional Uses. The following uses may be permitted the R-C (Regional Commercial) zone subject to obtaining a conditional use permit as specified in Section 17.74.010.

1.

Amusement center or theme park.

2.

Automotive repair garage as an accessory to automobile service station.

3.

Automobile service station.

4.

Bars and Cocktail lounges.

5.

Billiard parlor.

6.

Bowling alley.

7.

Bus terminals, depots, and similar transit facilities.

8.

Car washes as part of a multi-tenant retail center.

9.

Commercial Parking Lot.

Drive-in or walk-up or other fast-food service establishments.

11.

Exhibition hall, conference center, theater, amphitheater, auditorium.

12.

Golf courses, driving ranges.

Hospital Uses.

Liquor sales, subject to Section 17.74.015;

Medical offices.

Microbreweries and taproom.

17.

Mini-storage warehouse as an accessory to a permitted use.

Multiple-family residential (five plus units).

19.

New and used automobile sales and recreational vehicle sales.

20.

Recreational vehicle storage as an accessory to a permitted use.

Restaurants with liquor sales.

Skating rinks.

Special event establishments.

Sports Complex.

25.

Theater, including drive-in.

(Ord. No. 1204, § 3(Exh. A.1), 7-26-23)

17.28.030 - Property development standards.

The following standards of development shall apply in the R-C (Regional Commercial) zone:

A.

Residential Density and Non-Residential Intensity.

1.

Minimum Density. Ten (10) dwelling units/acre, when residential uses are provided.

2.

Maximum Density. Fifteen (15) dwelling units/acre.

3.

Maximum Non-Residential FAR. 2.0.

B.

Residential uses shall follow the development standards in Section 17.14.030 for multi-family uses and the City of Coachella Multifamily Objective Design Standards.

C.

Lot Requirements.

1.

Minimum Lot Size. The minimum lot size shall be twenty thousand (20,000) square feet for commercial uses.

Minimum Lot Width. None.

3.

Minimum Lot Depth. None.

4.

Maximum Lot Coverage. None.

D.

Yard Requirement.

1.

Front Yard. Each lot or building site shall have a front yard of at least fifteen (15) feet in depth, except where one or both adjoining zones are residential, in which case the required yard shall be increased to equal the average of the required front yards of the adjoining zones.

2.

Side Yard. There shall be no side yard requirement except where a R-C (Regional Commercial) zone adjoins a street or a residential zone, in which case there shall be a side yard of not less than ten (10) feet on the side or sides adjoining said street or residential zones. In the case of a reversed corner lot, the side yard adjoining the street shall be not less than the required front yard of the adjoining key lot to the rear.

3.

Rear Yard. There shall be no rear yard requirement except where the R-C (Regional Commercial) zone adjoins a residential zone, in which case there shall be a rear yard of not less than ten (10) feet adjoining that residential zone. This shall not apply where there exists a public alley separating the two zones.

4.

Permitted Encroachments in Required Yards.

a.

The yards required in subsections 1—3 of this section may be used as part of an automobile parking area, provided however that a minimum three-foot wide screen planting strip shall be maintained adjacent to the planned highway right-of-way line.

b.

Swimming pools provided as an accessory use to a hotel or motel may encroach into the rear two-thirds of the required front yard.

All landscape areas shall be maintained consistent with approved landscape plans. Landscape modifications shall be approved by the planning director and referred to the planning commission for review at the director's discretion.

E.

Height Limits.

1.

The maximum height of any building located within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any S-N or G-N zone, or any agricultural zone, shall be one story or twenty (20) feet, whichever is less. Vehicular rights-of-way shall be included in calculating the distance.

2.

The maximum height of all other buildings shall be two stories or thirty-five (35) feet, whichever is less, except that hotels shall have a maximum height of eighty-five (85) feet.

3.

Rooftop mechanical equipment shall be screened by a parapet wall or other architectural features. Any rooftop screening elements shall be architecturally consistent and well integrated with overall building architecture.

F.

Landscape Setback. The minimum perimeter landscape setback for residential or hotel projects without frontage of buildings along perimeter street shall equal at minimum ten (10) feet at any point and have an average perimeter landscape setback of twenty (20) feet for the entire frontage. Equestrian and agricultural themed improvements including equestrian rail fencing, agrarian lighting, agrarian signage, 10-foot-wide decomposed granite multi-purpose trail and date palms planted twenty (20) feet on center shall be installed along Avenue 52, Van Buren Street, and Calhoun Street.

G.

Energy Efficient Design and Heat Island Reduction Strategies. New development shall submit an energy efficient design and heat island reduction plan that incorporates heat island reduction strategies such as light-colored cool roofs, light-colored paving, permeable paving, substantial shade tree coverage, shade structures and shaded asphalt paving. Energy efficient building and site design strategies shall be incorporated such as appropriate solar orientation, thermal mass, use of natural daylight and ventilation, and shading. Shade tree plantings in surface parking areas shall be installed to provide shade over fifty (50) percent of the parking area within ten (10) years. Solar photovoltaic shade structures or shade structures with cool roofing materials shall be permitted in whole or in part in lieu of shade tree plantings.

H.

Distance Between Buildings. No requirements, except that buildings not actually adjoining shall be determined through site plan review.

I.

Off-Street Parking and Loading. Off-street parking and loading facilities shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 17.54.010.

J.

Screening. Where the R-C zone abuts upon a residential zone, there shall be provided screening not less than six feet, or more than eight feet in height on the zone boundary line. Said screening shall be reduced to forty-two (42) inches in height within a required yard adjacent to a street or highway.

K.

Other Property Development Standards.

1.

All uses shall be conducted entirely within a completely enclosed building, except for off-street parking and loading facilities, those outdoor uses permitted by Section 17.28.020(A)(7), and certain uses permitted subject to a conditional use permit by Section 17.28.020(D).

2.

No building or structure having exterior walls of sheet metal shall be erected in this zone.

L.

Architectural Review. All development in the R-C (Regional Commercial) zone, is subject to architectural review as set forth in Section 17.72.010 of this title.

(Ord. No. 1204, § 3(Exh. A.1), 7-26-23; Ord. No. 1220, § 2(Exh. A), 2-26-25)

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Contents — Coachella Zoning Code
Coachella Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 17.02 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 17.02 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  3. Chapter 17.04 — RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
  4. Chapter 17.04 — RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
  5. Chapter 17.06 — DEFINITIONS
  6. Chapter 17.06 — DEFINITIONS
  7. Chapter 17.08 — ZONING DISTRICTS DESIGNATED
  8. Chapter 17.08 — ZONING DISTRICTS DESIGNATED
  9. Chapter 17.10 — A-R AGRICULTURAL RESERVE ZONE
  10. Chapter 17.10 — A-R AGRICULTURAL RESERVE ZONE
  11. Chapter 17.11 — R-R (RURAL RANCHO) ZONE
  12. Chapter 17.11 — R-R (RURAL RANCHO) ZONE
  13. Chapter 17.12 — R-E RESIDENTIAL ESTATE ZONE
  14. Chapter 17.12 — R-E RESIDENTIAL ESTATE ZONE[[1]]
  15. Chapter 17.13 — S-N SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE
  16. Chapter 17.13 — S-N SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE
  17. Chapter 17.14 — G-N GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE
  18. Chapter 17.14 — G-N GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE
  19. Chapter 17.15 — U-N URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE
  20. Chapter 17.15 — U-N URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE
  21. Chapter 17.16 — U-E URBAN EMPLOYMENT ZONE
  22. Chapter 17.16 — U-E URBAN EMPLOYMENT ZONE[[2]]
  23. Chapter 17.17 — R-D RESORT DISTRICT
  24. Chapter 17.17 — R-D RESORT DISTRICT
  25. Chapter 17.18 — DT-PV DOWNTOWN PUEBLO VIEJO AND TR-PV DOWNTOWN…
  26. Chapter 17.19 — SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY RESID…
  27. Chapter 17.19 — SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS FOR SINGLEFAMILY RESIDE…
  28. Chapter 17.22 — R-MH MOBILEHOME PARK SUBDIVISION
  29. Chapter 17.22 — R-MH MOBILEHOME PARK SUBDIVISION
  30. Chapter 17.24 — C-N NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ZONE
  31. Chapter 17.24 — C-N NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ZONE
  32. Chapter 17.26 — C-G GENERAL COMMERCIAL USE ZONE
  33. Chapter 17.26 — C-G GENERAL COMMERCIAL USE ZONE
  34. Chapter 17.28 — R-C REGIONAL COMMERCIAL ZONE
  35. Chapter 17.28 — R-C REGIONAL COMMERCIAL ZONE[[4]]
  36. Chapter 17.30 — M-S MANUFACTURING SERVICE ZONE
  37. Chapter 17.30 — M-S MANUFACTURING SERVICE ZONE
  38. Chapter 17.32 — M-H HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONE
  39. Chapter 17.32 — M-H HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONE
  40. Chapter 17.34 — M-W WRECKING YARD ZONE
  41. Chapter 17.34 — M-W WRECKING YARD ZONE
  42. Chapter 17.35 — O-S OPEN SPACE ZONE
  43. Chapter 17.35 — O-S OPEN SPACE ZONE
  44. Chapter 17.36 — SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICT
  45. Chapter 17.36 — SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICT
  46. Chapter 17.38 — PUD PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS
  47. Chapter 17.38 — PUD PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS
  48. Chapter 17.40 — TEMPORARY CLASSIFICATION FOR ASSESSMENT IMPROV…
  49. Chapter 17.40 — TEMPORARY CLASSIFICATION FOR ASSESSMENT IMPROV…
  50. Chapter 17.44 — SUPPLEMENTAL CLASSIFICATION GEOLOGICAL HAZARD …
  51. Chapter 17.44 — SUPPLEMENTAL CLASSIFICATION GEOLOGICAL HAZARD …
  52. Chapter 17.46 — IP INDUSTRIAL PARK OVERLAY ZONE
  53. Chapter 17.46 — IP INDUSTRIAL PARK OVERLAY ZONE[[5]]
  54. Chapter 17.47 — RC RETAIL CANNABIS OVERLAY ZONE
  55. Chapter 17.47 — RC RETAIL CANNABIS OVERLAY ZONE[[6]]
  56. Chapter 17.48 — SPECIAL USES
  57. Chapter 17.48 — SPECIAL USES
  58. Chapter 17.49 — SHO SENIOR HOUSING OVERLAY ZONE
  59. Chapter 17.49 — SHO SENIOR HOUSING OVERLAY ZONE
  60. Chapter 17.50 — SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
  61. Chapter 17.50 — SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
  62. Chapter 17.52 — MOBILEHOME PARKS
  63. Chapter 17.52 — MOBILEHOME PARKS
  64. Chapter 17.54 — OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING
  65. Chapter 17.54 — OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING
  66. Chapter 17.56 — SIGNS
  67. Chapter 17.58 — HOME OCCUPATIONS
  68. Chapter 17.58 — HOME OCCUPATIONS
  69. Chapter 17.60 — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
  70. Chapter 17.60 — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
  71. Chapter 17.62 — SITE PLANS
  72. Chapter 17.62 — SITE PLANS
  73. Chapter 17.64 — SERVICE STATIONS
  74. Chapter 17.64 — SERVICE STATIONS
  75. Chapter 17.66 — PLANNED HIGHWAY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINES
  76. Chapter 17.66 — PLANNED HIGHWAY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINES
  77. Chapter 17.68 — ANTENNAS
  78. Chapter 17.68 — ANTENNAS
  79. Chapter 17.70 — ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY
  80. Chapter 17.70 — ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY
  81. Chapter 17.72 — ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW
  82. Chapter 17.72 — ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW
  83. Chapter 17.74 — CONDITIONAL USES
  84. Chapter 17.74 — CONDITIONAL USES
  85. Chapter 17.76 — VARIANCES
  86. Chapter 17.76 — VARIANCES
  87. Chapter 17.77 — PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW
  88. Chapter 17.77 — PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW
  89. Chapter 17.78 — NONCONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES
  90. Chapter 17.78 — NONCONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES
  91. Chapter 17.80 — AMENDMENTS TO ZONING CODE
  92. Chapter 17.80 — AMENDMENTS TO ZONING CODE
  93. Chapter 17.82 — AMENDMENTS TO ZONING MAP
  94. Chapter 17.82 — AMENDMENTS TO ZONING MAP
  95. Chapter 17.84 — RETAIL CANNABIS BUSINESSES
  96. Chapter 17.84 — RETAIL CANNABIS BUSINESSES[[7]]
  97. Chapter 17.85 — COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITY
  98. Chapter 17.85 — COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITY[[8]]
  99. Chapter 17.86 — WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES
  100. Chapter 17.86 — WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES
  101. Chapter 17.87 — TATTOO AND BODY PIERCING PARLORS
  102. Chapter 17.87 — TATTOO AND BODY PIERCING PARLORS
  103. Chapter 17.88 — DENSITY BONUS AND DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES
  104. Chapter 17.88 — DENSITY BONUS AND DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES
  105. Chapter 17.89 — COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION PERMITS
  106. Chapter 17.89 — COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION PERMITS
  107. Chapter 17.90 — RECYCLING OPERATIONS
  108. Chapter 17.90 — RECYCLING OPERATIONS
  109. Chapter 17.91 — COMMERCIAL ANIMAL BREEDING
  110. Chapter 17.91 — COMMERCIAL ANIMAL BREEDING
  111. Chapter 17.100 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
  112. Chapter 17.100 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
  113. Chapter 17.110 — SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEMS
  114. Chapter 17.110 — SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR

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