Commerce Municipal Code Div. 5 Car Washes

A. In addition to the applicable landscaping requirements of Chapter 19.23 of this Title 19, landscaping for all car washes shall screen drive-through or drive-in aisles from public rights-of-way and shall be used to minimize the visual impact of reader-board signs and directional signs.

B. Nonconforming gasoline service stations requesting to provide a car wash shall be required to upgrade their appearance by removing nonconforming signs, renovating facades, providing landscaping and upgrading service facilities without regard to Division 12 (Gasoline Service Station) of this Chapter 19.31.

C. All car wash tunnels shall be insulated to minimize noise impacts on nearby properties.

D. Existing and proposed driveways shall conform to standards established by the city public services director.

E. All mechanical equipment and utility boxes shall be screened with landscaping.

F. All vehicular circulation shall be entirely on site.

G. If adjacent to a residential zone or adjoining public street, the car wash facility shall maintain a minimum front, side, and rear yard setback of ten feet.

H. The car wash facility, including the blowers and vacuum motors, shall comply with noise standards contained in this Title 19.

I. Other land uses, including the storage of trailers, trucks, boats, or other equipment for rental, sale, or parking shall not be permitted on-site.

J. The sale of any product shall not be conducted outside of the car wash building.

K. No servicing of motor vehicles other than cleaning, polishing, and dispensing of fuel and oil shall be allowed unless the facility also meets all requirements for a gasoline service station.

L. The site shall be equipped with catch basins and water drains to prevent water from flowing over any public right-of-way.

M. No car wash shall be operated unless a valid industrial waste permit has been issued. An industrial waste permit shall be required from the Los Angeles County Public Works Division of Waste Management prior to the issuance of any building permits.

N. No gray water shall be discharged into the storm drain.

O. All car wash sites shall be equipped with a clarifier.

P. Car washes, full or self-service, shall use facade materials to produce texture and to provide interest. Such materials include, but are not limited to, split-face block, brick, slump stone, or textured block or stucco. No metal siding shall be permitted. Roof materials shall also provide texture and interest. Such materials include, but are not limited to, standing seam metal roofs and clay tile.

(Ord. 544 § 1(part), 2000).

All automated and enclosed car wash facilities within the city shall comply with the following regulations:

A. The drying area shall be a fully roofed structure, and shall be large enough to accommodate ten cars without encroaching into the drive aisles or rights-of-way of the facility.

B. A customer waiting area shall be provided that incorporates benches, landscaping, and amenities, including but not limited to fountains, sculptures, information kiosks, enhanced paving and drinking fountains.

C. The speaker volumes shall be adjusted to ensure that no speaker noise is heard beyond the site boundaries.

D. Drive-through aisles shall provide adequate queuing distance to accommodate five vehicles before the first stopping point (such as the vacuum bays for a car wash). Aisles shall have a minimum twenty-five-foot interior radius for any curves. Pedestrian walkways should not intersect the drive-through aisles, but where allowed to do so they shall have a minimum fifteen-foot clear visibility, and they shall be emphasized by enriched paving.

E. All auto detailing shall be done indoors.

F. Required parking spaces shall be provided for all automated car washing facilities in accordance with Chapter 19.21 of this Title 19.

(Ord. 544 § 1(part), 2000).

All self-service and coin-operated car wash facilities shall comply with the following regulations:

A. Self-service car washes and coin-operated car washes may be permitted as an ancillary use to a gasoline service station if the service station conforms to all other applicable provisions of Division 12 (Gasoline Service Station) of this Chapter 19.31.

B. The drive-through aisle shall have sufficient queuing distance to accommodate three cars before the first stopping point.

C. Required parking spaces shall be provided for all self-service car washing facilities in accordance with Chapter 19.21 of this Title 19.

(Ord. 544 § 1(part), 2000).

A. To ensure the mitigation of any adverse impact, even though temporary, a temporary car wash shall not be held unless a temporary use permit has been obtained from the community development director or designee.

B. The temporary use permit for a car wash shall be valid for a maximum of two consecutive days per calendar year.

C. A letter of approval from the property owner on whose property the temporary car wash will be conducted shall be required for temporary car washes.

D. The site where the temporary car wash is to be held shall have a valid industrial waste permit. The person or party wishing to hold a temporary car wash will be required to obtain an industrial waste clearance from the industrial waste permit.

(Ord. 544 § 1(part), 2000).

Mobile car washes are not permitted within the city limits unless the mobile vehicle is equipped with an approved industrial waste water transportable treatment system and has been issued a city business license.

(Ord. 544 § 1(part), 2000).