Division 4 — Commercial and Manufacturing Zoning Districts
Chapter 17.42 — MANUFACTURING ZONING DISTRICTS
El Monte Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · El Monte
17.42.010 - Summary of zoning districts. ¶
modified
A.
Light Manufacturing (M-1) Zoning District—Consistent with the general plan Land Use Designation of Industrial/Business Park. This zoning district is principally established to provide areas appropriate for a diverse range of light industrial uses, including limited manufacturing and processing, research and development, fabrication, utility equipment and service yards, wholesaling, warehousing, and distribution activities. Other uses such as office, retail and restaurants are also permitted.
B.
General Manufacturing (M-2) Zoning District—Consistent with the general plan Land Use Designation of Industrial/Business Park. This zoning district is primarily located in the city's Northwest Industrial District. In addition to the uses permitted in the M-1 zoning district, the M-2 zoning district is intended to accommodate a broader range of industrial uses.
(Ord. No. 3053, § 3(Exh. A), 5-14-2025)
17.42.020 - Purpose. ¶
modified
A.
Designate adequate land for industrial, office and research and development uses to strengthen the city's economic base and provide a range of employment opportunities for the current and future population of the city and region.
B.
Provide for the appropriate location of businesses that may have the potential to generate off-site impacts, while providing to ensure compatibility in use and form with existing and planned land uses.
C.
Provide development standards that support the adaptive reuse of existing buildings when appropriate and construction of new projects utilizing sustainable principles.
D.
Protect sensitive land uses in close proximity to manufacturing zoning districts including single-family residential, multiple-family residential and educational facilities.
(Ord. No. 3053, § 3(Exh. A), 5-14-2025)
17.42.030 - Permitted uses. ¶
modified
A.
Permitted Uses. Table 17.42-1 prescribes the land use regulations for manufacturing zoning districts. Additional regulations are denoted in the right-hand column. These designations apply strictly to the permissibility of land uses; applications for building structures may require other discretionary review.
B.
Unlisted Uses. Any land use not listed in Table 17.42-1 is not permitted in manufacturing zoning district, except as outlined in Section 17.12.050 (Rules and Measurements—Additional Permitted Uses) of this title.
Table 17.42-1—Permitted Uses—Manufacturing Zoning Districts
| Residential Uses | M-1 | M-2 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corridor housing | P | P | 17.110.040 |
| Community Care Uses | |||
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Alcoholism or drug abuse treatment facility | C | C | |
| Emergency shelter— | |||
| Less than 25 beds/occupants | P | P | 17.112.090 |
| 25 or more beds/occupants | C | C | 17.112.090 |
| Home occupation business | P | P | 17.110.050 |
| Social rehabilitation facility | C | C | |
| Public and Quasi-Public Uses | |||
| Electrical distribution substation | M | M | |
| Government or government related facility | P | P | |
| Specialized education and training | M | M | |
| Urgent care or medical clinic* | P | P | |
| Utility facility | C | C | |
| Wireless facility | See notes | 17.90and17.92 | |
| Assembly and Entertainment Uses | |||
| Adult entertainment establishment | C | C | 5.16,5.98 &17.112.020 |
| Ancillary entertainment | P | P | |
| Assembly or meeting facility | C | C | |
| Commercial entertainment | C | C | |
| Commercial recreation facility - | |||
| Indoor | C | C | 5.76for billiards |
| Outdoor | C | C | |
| Cultural institution | P | P | |
| Family entertainment center | C | C | |
| Gaming center or arcade21 | M/C | M/C | 5.96 |
| Nightclub | C | C | 5.32 |
| Retail and Ofce Uses | |||
| Alcohol sales22— | |||
| Assembly and entertainment use, on-site23 | C | C | 17.112.030 |
| Bar or tavern, on-site | C | C | 17.112.030 |
| Brew pub, on-site and of-site | C | C | 17.112.030 |
| Liquor store, of-site | C | C | 17.112.030 |
| Restaurant, limited hours, on-site | M | M | 17.112.030 |
| Restaurant, on-site | C | C | 17.112.030 |
| Retail store, of-site | C | C | 17.112.030 |
| Cannabis activity, commercial—dispensary | P | P | 5.18 |
| Convenience store or minimart | C | C | |
| Food or beverage establishment— | |||
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bakery or pâtisserie, retail | P | P | |
| Bakery, commercial | P | P | |
| Cofeehouse or ice cream parlor | P | P | |
| Outdoor seating/dining | P | P | 17.112.130 |
| Restaurant | P | P | |
| Grocery store | P | P | |
| Multiple-tenant center | M | M | 17.112.120 |
| Ofces— | |||
| Ancillary | P | P | |
| Administrative, business professional | P | P | |
| Government | P | P | |
| Medical and dental | P | P | |
| Ofce supply store | P | P | |
| Pawnbroker or pawnshop | C | C | 5.68and17.112.140 |
| Pharmacy | P | P | |
| Retail sales (unless listed as a separate use) | P | P | |
| Secondhand vendor | P | P | 5.68and17.112.170 |
| Showroom sales | P | P | |
| Signifcant tobacco retailer | C | C | 17.112.180 |
| Vehicle retail use— | |||
| Parts and accessory store | P | P | |
| Sale and lease, limited | P | P | |
| Sales and lease, major | C | C | 17.112.190 |
| Warehouse retailer or retail warehouse | P | P | |
| Wholesaler | P | P | |
| Service Uses | |||
| Ambulance service | M | M | |
| Animal service— | |||
| Animal boarding/kennel | M | M | 5.96 |
| Animal grooming | P | P | |
| Veterinary service or animal hospital/clinic | P | P | |
| Appliance or electronics repair | P | P | |
| Automated Teller Machine (ATM), walk-up | P | P | 17.112.050 |
| Bail bonds | P | P | |
| Correctional facility | C | C | 17.112.070 |
| Drive-thru business— | |||
| Food or beverage establishment | C | C | 17.112.080 |
| Service or retail | M | M | 17.112.080 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Financial institution | P | P | |
| Funeral home and mortuary | P | P | |
| Ofce concierge service | P | P | |
| Personal service use— | |||
| General | P | P | 17.112.150 |
| Restricted | M | M | 17.112.150 |
| Philanthropic or charitable institution | P | P | |
| Recycling facility— | |||
| Mobile | P | P | 17.112.160 |
| Self-service | P | P | 17.112.160 |
| Small | Z | Z | 17.112.160 |
| Large | M | M | 17.112.160 |
| Self-storage | C | C | |
| Vehicle service uses— | |||
| Repair, limited | P | P | 17.112.200 |
| Repair, minor | M | M | 17.112.200 |
| Repair, major | C | C | 17.112.200 |
| Rental, automobile | M | M | |
| Rental, truck | C | C | |
| Service station, minimum | C | C | 17.112.210 |
| Service station, full | C | C | 17.112.210 |
| Washing facility | C | C | 17.112.220 |
| Wedding chapel | M | M | |
| Industrial, Transportation and Other Uses | |||
| Cannabidiol (CBD) products manufacturer | P | P | |
| Cannabis, commercial— | |||
| Cultivation, distributor, manufacturing and Microbusiness | P | P | 5.18 |
| Testing laboratory | P | P | 5.18 |
| Commercial fulfllment center24 | P/C | P/C | |
| Courier service or messengers | M | M | |
| Distribution, fulfllment or warehouse center— | |||
| Less than 100,000 square feet | P | P | |
| 100,000 square feet or greater25 | C | C | |
| Hazardous materials, any use involving storage of | C | C | 17.50.100 |
| Industrial hemp processing | C | C | |
| Impound or tow yard | — | C | |
| Laboratory, testing | P | P | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Laundry or dry cleaning plant | P | P | |
| Machine shop | P | P | |
| Manufacturing (unless listed as a separate use)— | |||
| Ancillary | P | P | |
| Commercial | P | P | |
| Light | P | P | |
| General | — | P | |
| New industrial construction over 5,000 sq. ft. and within 150 ft. of a residential zoning district |
C | C | |
| Passenger transport or taxi service | C | C | |
| Recycling processing facility | — | C | |
| Research and development | P | P | |
| Rock, sand and gravel storage and distribution | — | C | |
| Temporary use | See notes | 17.124 | |
| Towing facility | — | C | |
| Truck terminal | C | C | |
| Vehicle parking— | |||
| Attendant or valet parking | M | M | |
| Car sharing, nonresidential use26 | M | M | |
| Commercial Parking | M | M | |
| Parking structure | M | M | |
| Shared parking | Z | Z | 17.70.070.D. |
| Vehicle parking, feet/ancillary | P | P | |
| Vehicle parking, limited | C | C | |
| Vehicle parking, general | — | C |
Key:
— Use not permitted.
P Use permitted by-right.
M Use permitted after review and approval of a Minor Use Permit (MUP).
C Use permitted after review and approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP).
Z Use permitted after review and approval of a Director Level Zoning Clearance (ZCD).
Notes:
21 A CUP shall be required for arcades with more than 3,500 sq. ft. in Gross Floor Area (GFA). An MUP shall be required in all other instances.
22 If a use only has approval for beer and wine and wants to add distilled spirits, a new CUP or MUP shall be required.
23 Only applicable to assembly and entertainment uses permitted in the underlying zoning district.
24 A CUP shall be required for new construction or conversion from an existing building of 100,000 sq . ft. or greater in GFA.
25 A CUP shall only be required for new construction or conversion from an existing building. It shall not be required for a change in tenant.
26 Car sharing shall be permitted by-right if there is no on-site parking of vehicles (i.e. it is only an office use).
(Ord. No. 3053, § 3(Exh. A), 5-14-2025)
17.42.040 - Development standards. ¶
modified
A.
Development Standards. Table 17.42-2 prescribes the development standards for manufacturing zoning districts:
Table 17.42-2—Development Standards—Manufacturing Zoning Districts
| Development Standard | M-1 | M-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Height | ||
| Height27 | 4 stories and 75 ft. | |
| Minimum New Lot Specifcations28 | ||
| Area | 40,000 sq. ft. | |
| Street frontage— | ||
| Interior lot | 150 ft. | |
| Corner lot | 175 ft. | |
| Cul-de-sac | 70 ft. | |
| Depth | 175 ft. | |
| Minimum Yard Setbacks29 | ||
| Front | Minimum 50 ft. from centerline of street, provided there is a minimum landscaped setback as follows: • 15 ft. setback for the following streets: Arden Dr, Baldwin Ave, Ellis Ln, Lower Azusa Rd, Temple City Blvd. and Valley Blvd. • 10 ft. for all other streets. |
|
| Street side | 10 ft. | |
| Interior side | 0 ft | |
| Rear | 0 ft. | |
| Bufer standards when abutting an R-zoned property— | ||
| Street side (to be landscaped) | 15 ft. for the frst 30 ft. from the R-zoned property line |
|
| Interior side | 25 ft. | |
| Rear | 30 ft. | |
| Development Standard | M-1 | M-2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Other Standards | ||
| Minimum distance between on-site buildings | • 30 ft. if one of the buildings is • 20 ft. if one of the buildings is • 10 ft. in all other instances |
greater than 40 ft. in height greater than 30 ft. in height |
| Maximum lot coverage | N/A | |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) | 1.0 |
Notes:
27 Refer to Section 17.60.030 of this title for additional height exceptions and restrictions.
28 For new lots. Refer to Section 16.26.020 of Title 16 (Subdivisions) for additional standards and exceptions.
29 All street setbacks shall be fully landscaped as prescribed in Section 17.72.060 of this title.
B.
Multiple-family Residential Developments. Residential projects shall comply with all provisions of the General Commercial (C-3) zoning district.
C.
Other Development Standards. Table 17.42-3 denotes additional development standards found in other chapters or sections of this title that apply to manufacturing zoning districts:
Table 17.42-3—Other Development Standards
| Development Standard | Chapter or Section |
|---|---|
| Height exceptions and restrictions | 17.60.030 |
| Landscaping | 17.72and17.74 |
| Outdoor display and storage | 17.60.040 |
| Outdoor lighting | 17.60.050 |
| Parking | 17.70 |
| Refuse storage facilities | 17.60.080 |
| Screening | 17.60.100 |
| Security bars | 17.60.110 |
| Walls, fences and hedges | 17.60.120 |
(Ord. No. 3053, § 3(Exh. A), 5-14-2025)