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Chapter 156 — COASTAL ZONING REGULATIONS

§ 156.072 CW — WATERFRONT COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.

Eureka Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Eureka

(A) Purposes. In addition to the objectives prescribed in § 155.002 of this title, the CW Waterfront Commercial Districts are included in the zoning regulations to achieve the following purposes:

  • (1) To encourage, protect and maintain coastal-dependent and coastal-related uses;

  • (2) To encourage development of recreational and visitor-serving uses;

  • (3) To provide appropriately located areas for retail stores, offices, service establishments, amusement establishments, and wholesale businesses offering commodities and services required by residents of the city and its surrounding market area;

  • (4) To provide opportunities for retail stores, offices, service establishments, amusement establishments, and wholesale businesses to concentrate for the convenience of the public and in mutually beneficial relationships to each other;

  • (5) To provide space for community facilities and institutions that appropriately may be located in commercial areas;

  • (6) To provide adequate space to meet the needs of modern commercial development, including off-street parking and truck loading areas;

  • (7) To minimize traffic congestion and to avoid the overloading of utilities by preventing the construction of buildings of excessive size in relation to the amount of land around them;

  • (8) To protect commercial properties from noise, odor, dust, dirt, smoke, vibration, heat, glare, heavy truck traffic, and other objectionable influences incidental to industrial uses;

  • (9) To protect commercial properties from fire, explosion, noxious fumes, and other hazards;

  • (10) To encourage upgrading of the use of strategically located sites between the central business district and Humboldt Bay by creating an environment suitable for establishments catering to tourists; and

  • (11) To protect and maintain certain industrial uses that require waterfront locations.

  • ('63 Code, § 10-5.29110)

  • (B) Required conditions.

  • (1) All uses shall comply with the regulations prescribed in §§ 155.025 through 155.036 of this title.

(2) In a CW District all businesses, services, and processes shall be conducted entirely within a completely enclosed structure, except for off-street parking and loading areas, exhibits of goods sold, manufactured, or processed on the premises, outdoor dining areas, and utility substations and equipment installations.

(3) No use shall be permitted, and no process, equipment, or material shall be employed which is found by the Planning Commission to be objectionable to persons residing or working in the vicinity by reason of odor, insect nuisance, fumes, dust, smoke, cinders, dirt, refuse, water-carried wastes, noise, vibration, illumination, glare, unsightliness, or heavy truck traffic or to involve any hazard of fire or explosion.

rmitted, and no process, equipment, or material shall be employed which is found by the Planning Commission to be objectionable to persons residing or working in the vicinity by reason of odor, insect nuisance, fumes, dust, smoke, cinders, dirt, refuse, water-carried wastes, noise, vibration, illumination, glare, unsightliness, or heavy truck traffic or to involve any hazard of fire or explosion.

(C) Permitted uses. The following uses shall be permitted in the CW Waterfront Commercial District, provided that when recreation and visitor-serving facilities are integrated with coastal-dependent uses (noted below with an asterisk), the recreation and visitor- serving areas shall be secondary to and compatible with the coastal- dependent uses:

  • (1) Accessory uses and structures located on the same site as a permitted use;

  • (2) Boat launching;

  • (3) Coastal dependent and coastal-related uses;

  • (4) Commercial fishing facilities;

  • (5) Docks, piers and wharfs;

  • (6) Hotels and motels;

  • (7) Ice vending stations;

  • (8) Marine and boat sales, services and repairs;

  • (9) Offices related to or dependent upon coastal-dependent or coastal-related uses;

  • (10) Public and commercial recreation;

  • (11) Recreational boating facilities;

  • (12) Visitor-serving facilities and other establishments that offer retail sales and services to visitors, including but not limited

to:

  • (a) Antique shops;

  • (b) Art and artists' supply stores;

  • (c) Art galleries;

  • (d) Bakeries baking for retail sale on the premises only;

  • (e) Bars and taverns;

  • (f) Bicycle shops;

  • (g) Book stores and newsstands;

  • (h) Candy stores/shops;

  • (i) Clothing shops, boutique;

  • (j) Dairy products manufacturing for retail sales on the premises only;

  • (k) Day or destination spas;

  • (l) Florists;

  • (m) Garden shops;

  • (n) Gift shops;

  • (o) Jewelry stores;

  • (p) Leather goods and luggage stores;

  • (q) Mobile vendors as prescribed in §§ 155.220 through 155.221;

  • (r) Music, record, and CD stores;

  • (s) Picture framing shops;

  • (t) Restaurants (but not including drive-in establishments);

  • (u) Shoe shops, boutique;

  • (v) Sporting goods stores that primarily include rental and sales of equipment, gear, clothing, and other goods, for coastaldependent or -related recreation activities;

  • (w) Stamp and coin stores;

  • (x) Stationery shops;

  • (y) Theaters, small;

  • (z) Toy shops; and

  • (aa) Variety shops.

  • (13) Wireless telecommunication facilities located more than 100 feet from an R District subject to a wireless telecommunication facility permit issued pursuant to Chapter 159.

  • (D) Conditional uses.

(1) The following conditional uses shall be permitted in the CW Waterfront Commercial District upon the granting of a use permit in accord with the provisions of §§ 155.280 through 155.299 of this title. The applicant shall demonstrate and the city shall find that granting of a use permit will not diminish recreational or visitor-serving opportunities.

  • (a) Administrative, business, and professional offices, except medical and dental offices;

  • (b) Arts and crafts schools and colleges;

  • (c) Bakeries;

  • (d) Banks;

  • (e) Barber shops and beauty shops;

  • (f) Bus depot;

  • (g) Bus depots, provided all buses shall not be stored on the site and no repair work or servicing of vehicles shall be conducted on the site;

  • (h) Business, professional, and trade schools and colleges;

  • (i) Charitable institutions;

  • (j) Christmas tree sales lots;

  • (k) Churches, parsonages, parish houses and other religious institutions;

  • (l) Cigar stores;

  • (m) Cleaning, coin-operated;

  • (n) Clothing and costume rental establishments;

  • (o) Clothing stores;

  • (p) Conference center;

  • (q) Dance halls;

  • (r) Department stores;

  • (s) Finance companies;

  • (t) Food stores and supermarkets;

  • (u) Furniture stores;

  • (v) Gunsmiths;

  • (w) Gymnasiums;

  • (x) Hardware stores;

  • (y) Health clubs, neighborhood;

  • (z) Ice storage houses;

  • (aa) Interior decorating shops;

  • (bb) Laundries, self-service type;

  • (cc) Liquor stores;

  • (dd) Locksmiths;

  • (ee) Massage and physical culture studios;

  • (ff) Medical and dental offices;

  • (gg) Medical and orthopedic appliance stores;

  • (hh) Meeting halls;

  • (ii) Messengers’ offices;

  • (jj) Music and dance studios;

  • (kk) Musical instrument repair shops;

  • (ll) Office and business machine stores;

  • (mm) Offices and office buildings;

  • (nn) Oil and gas pipelines;

  • (oo) Optician and optometrical shops;

  • (pp) Parking facilities, including fee parking facilities;

  • (qq) Passenger railroad stations;

  • (rr) Pet and bird stores;

  • (ss) Photographic supply stores and studios;

  • (tt) Post offices;

  • (uu) Prescription pharmacies and dental and optical laboratories;

  • (vv) Pressing establishments;

  • (ww) Printing shops, including lithographing and engraving;

  • (xx) Public utility service pumping stations, power stations, equipment buildings and installations, drainageways and

structures, storage tanks, and transmission lines found by the Planning Commission to be necessary for the public health, safety or welfare;

(yy) Radio and television broadcasting studios; towers and other support structures, commercial satellite dishes, antennas and equipment buildings necessary for the specific facility are subject to the provisions of Chapter 159;

  • (zz) Realtors and real estate offices;

  • (aaa) Recreational vehicle parks;

(bbb) Residential uses permitted in the RM Districts shall be permitted in a CW District, provided the residential units are located above the ground floor of commercial structures and the minimum size of such dwelling units shall not be less than what is required in the Building and Housing Code;

  • (ccc) Saving and loan offices;

  • (ddd) Scientific instrument shops;

  • (eee) Skating rinks;

  • (fff) Skating rinks within buildings;

  • (ggg) Sporting goods stores;

  • (hhh) Sports arenas within buildings;

  • (iii) Stationery stores;

  • (jjj) Stenographic services;

(kkk) Telegraph offices; towers and other support structures, commercial satellite dishes, antennas, and equipment buildings necessary for the specific facility are subject to the provisions of Chapter 159;

  • (lll) Television and radio sales and repair stores;

  • (mmm) Theaters and auditoriums within buildings;

  • (nnn) Toy stores;

  • (ooo) Variety stores;

  • (ppp) Warehouses;

  • (qqq) Watch and clock repair shops;

  • (rrr) Wholesale establishments without stocks;

(sss) Wireless telecommunication facilities located within 100 feet of an R District subject to the provisions of Chapter 159; and

(ttt) Medical cannabis testing facilities located above the ground floor of commercial structures, and where no cultivation, processing, or distribution of medical cannabis occurs, subject to the provisions of Chapter 158.

(2) The following conditional uses shall be permitted in the CW Waterfront Commercial District upon the granting of a minor use permit in accord with the provisions of §§ 155.280 through 155.299 of this title. The applicant shall demonstrate and the city shall find that granting of a minor use permit will not diminish recreational or visitor-serving opportunities.

(a) Medical cannabis transportation facilities, located separate from a distribution facility and located above the ground floor of commercial structures, and subject to the provisions of Chapter 158.

(3) Any other use which is determined by the Planning Commission to be similar to the listed conditional uses and which conform to the policies of the land use plan. In making such a determination, in addition to the findings prescribed in §§ 155.280 through 155.299 of this title, the Planning Commission must find:

(a) That consideration of all determinable characteristics of the use that is subject to the application indicates that the use has the same essential characteristics as a permitted or conditional use;

(b) That the use conforms to the purposes of the CW Waterfront Commercial District;

(c) That the use will not create significantly more vehicular traffic or congestion than associated with permitted or conditional uses; or

(d) That the proposed use will not negatively affect recreation or visitor-serving facilities and coastal-dependent uses. (‘63 Code, § 10-5.29113)

(E) Off-street parking. Off-street parking facilities shall be provided for each use as prescribed in §§ 155.155 through 155.124 of this title.

('63 Code, § 10-5.29114)

(F) Off-street loading. Off-street loading facilities shall be provided for each use as prescribed in §§ 155.135 through 155.141 of this title.

('63 Code, § 10-5.29115)

(G) Signs. No sign, outdoor advertising structure or display of any character shall be permitted except as prescribed in §§ 155.155 through 155.169 of this title.

('63 Code, § 10-5.29116)

(H) Site plan review and architectural review. All permitted uses shall be subject to site plan review as prescribed in §§ 155.180 through 155.188 of this title. Conditional uses shall be subject to architectural review. ('63 Code, § 10-5.29117)

(Ord. 417-C.S., passed 12-6-84; Am. Ord. 663-C.S., passed 11-19-02; Am. Ord. 757-C.S., passed 10-19-10; Am. Ord. 786-C.S., passed 8-21-12; Am. Ord. 810-C.S., passed 5-19-15; Am. Ord. 842-C.S., passed 7-19-16; Am. Ord. 847-C.S., passed 9-20-16) Penalty, see § 150.999

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Contents — Eureka Zoning Code
Eureka Zoning Code
  1. Article I — NAME AND SEAL; FORM OF GOVERNMENT; BOUNDARIES; MUN…
  2. Article II — ELECTIONS
  3. Article III — CITY COUNCIL
  4. Article IV — MAYOR
  5. Article V — ORDINANCES
  6. Article VI — ADMINISTRATION
  7. Article VII — FISCAL ADMINISTRATION
  8. Article VIII — OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
  9. Article IX — FRANCHISES
  10. Article X — INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL
  11. Article XI — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
  12. Chapter 10 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  13. Chapter 30 — CITY COUNCIL
  14. Chapter 31 — CITY OFFICIALS
  15. Chapter 32 — CITY DEPARTMENTS
  16. Chapter 33 — BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
  17. Chapter 34 — PERSONNEL POLICIES
  18. Chapter 35 — FINANCE, REVENUE AND TAXATION
  19. Chapter 36 — HEALTH FACILITY REVENUE BONDS
  20. Chapter 37 — ELECTIONS
  21. Chapter 38 — CIVIL EMERGENCIES
  22. Chapter 39 — CITY POLICY
  23. Chapter 40 — TRANSFERS OF CITY-OWNED REAL PROPERTY
  24. Chapter 50 — SEWERS
  25. Chapter 51 — SOLID WASTE
  26. Chapter 52 — UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICTS
  27. Chapter 53 — WATER
  28. Chapter 54 — STORM WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND DISCHARGE CONT…
  29. Chapter 55 — ENERGY
  30. Chapter 56 — STREETS
  31. Chapter 70 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  32. Chapter 71 — TRAFFIC RULES
  33. Chapter 72 — STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING
  34. Chapter 73 — BICYCLES
  35. Chapter 75 — MOBILE VENDORS OPERATING UPON A STREET
  36. Chapter 90 — ABANDONED VEHICLES
  37. Chapter 91 — ANIMALS
  38. Chapter 92 — FIRE PREVENTION
  39. Chapter 93 — PARKS AND RECREATION
  40. Chapter 94 — HEALTH AND SANITATION
  41. Chapter 95 — MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
  42. Chapter 96 — PARADES AND ASSEMBLIES
  43. Chapter 97 — SMOKING
  44. Chapter 98 — STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
  45. Chapter 99 — TRAINS AND RAILROADS
  46. Chapter 100 — HARBOR REGULATIONS
  47. Chapter 101 — FILMING
  48. Chapter 102 — BEEKEEPING
  49. Chapter 103 — PRIVATE SECURITY AND FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
  50. Chapter 104 — MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE
  51. Chapter 110 — BUSINESS LICENSES
  52. Chapter 112 — AMBULANCES
  53. Chapter 113 — AMUSEMENTS
  54. Chapter 114 — CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEMS
  55. Chapter 115 — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS AND OUTDOOR DINING AREAS
  56. Chapter 117 — MASSAGE PARLORS
  57. Chapter 118 — SOLICITORS, CANVASSERS, AND SIDEWALK VENDORS
  58. Chapter 119 — SECOND-HAND DEALERS
  59. Chapter 120 — TAXICABS AND LIMOUSINES
  60. Chapter 121 — OTHER VEHICLES FOR HIRE
  61. Chapter 122 — FOREIGN-TRADE ZONE
  62. Chapter 130 — OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE AND SAFETY
  63. Chapter 131 — PROPERTY OFFENSES
  64. Chapter 132 — DRUG OFFENSES
  65. Chapter 133 — WEAPONS OFFENSES
  66. Chapter 134 — ABATEMENT OF CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTIES
  67. Chapter 150 — BUILDING REGULATIONS
  68. Chapter 151 — AIRPORT ZONING
  69. Chapter 152 — PLANNING AND ZONING ADMINISTRATION
  70. Chapter 153 — FLOOD HAZARD AREA REGULATIONS
  71. Chapter 154 — SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
  72. Chapter 155 — ZONING REGULATIONS
  73. Chapter 155 — ZONING REGULATIONS (old)
  74. Chapter 156 — COASTAL ZONING REGULATIONS
    Overview
    1. § 156.001 TITLE.
    2. § 156.002 OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES.
    3. § 156.003 NATURE OF COASTAL ZONING REGULATIONS.
    4. § 156.004 INTERPRETATION.
    5. § 156.005 APPLICATION; DEVELOPERS TO COMPLY; EXCEPTIONS.
    6. § 156.006 DEFINITIONS.
    7. § 156.007 INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.
    8. § 156.008 DISTRICTS.
    9. § 156.009 DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.
    10. § 156.010 CONFORMITY REQUIRED.
    11. § 156.011 ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS BY MAP.
    12. § 156.012 DIVISION OF LAND USE AND ZONING MAP.
    13. § 156.013 DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS; PURPOSES.
    14. § 156.014 DESIGNATION OF DRAINAGE CONTROL AREA.
    15. § 156.015 REQUIRED CONDITIONS.
    16. § 156.016 DRAINAGE CONTROL PLAN TO BE APPROVED.
    17. § 156.017 DRAINAGE CONTROL PLAN TO BE SUBMITTED.
    18. § 156.018 REFERRAL TO AND ACTION OF DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
    19. § 156.019 ACTION OF CITY COUNCIL.
    20. § 156.020 STATUS OF APPROVED DRAINAGE CONTROL PLAN.
    21. § 156.021 DRAINAGE CONTROL, MINIMUM FLOOR ELEVATION, AND SITE …
    22. § 156.030 BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL DISTRICTS.
    23. § 156.031 EXTENSIONS OVER PROPERTY LINES AND EASEMENTS.
    24. § 156.032 SITE AREA AND DIMENSIONS; REQUIREMENTS AND EXCEPTION…
    25. § 156.033 FRONT YARDS; REQUIREMENTS AND EXCEPTIONS.
    26. § 156.034 SIDE AND REAR YARDS; REQUIREMENTS AND EXCEPTIONS.
    27. § 156.035 TRAFFIC SIGHT OBSTRUCTIONS.
    28. § 156.036 PROJECTIONS INTO YARDS.
    29. § 156.037 HEIGHT LIMITS.
    30. § 156.038 ACCESSORY STRUCTURES.
    31. § 156.039 USABLE OPEN SPACE.
    32. § 156.040 SCREENING AND LANDSCAPING.
    33. § 156.041 EMERGENCY SHELTERS.
    34. § 156.050 APPLICATION.
    35. § 156.051 PUBLIC ACCESS STANDARDS.
    36. § 156.052 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE STANDARDS.
    37. § 156.053 NATURAL HAZARDS STANDARDS.
    38. § 156.054 VISUAL RESOURCES STANDARDS.
    39. § 156.055 PUBLIC WORKS STANDARDS.
    40. § 156.056 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
    41. § 156.065 WC — CONSERVATION WATER DISTRICT.
    42. § 156.066 WD — DEVELOPMENT WATER DISTRICT.
    43. § 156.067 NR — NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT.
    44. § 156.068 AC — COASTAL AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT.
    45. § 156.069 RS — ONE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
    46. § 156.070 RM — MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
    47. § 156.071 OR — OFFICE AND MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
    48. § 156.072 CW — WATERFRONT COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
    49. § 156.073 CN — NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
    50. § 156.074 CS — SERVICE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
    51. § 156.075 CP — PLANNED SHOPPING CENTER COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
    52. § 156.076 MC — COASTAL DEPENDENT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.
    53. § 156.077 ML — LIMITED INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.
    54. § 156.078 MG — GENERAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.
    55. § 156.079 P — PUBLIC DISTRICTS.
    56. § 156.080 PF/M — PUBLIC FACILITY/MARINA.
    57. § 156.081 PD — PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT COMBINING DISTRICTS.
    58. § 156.082 AR — ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMBINING DISTRICT.
    59. § 156.083 Q — QUALIFIED COMBINING DISTRICT.
    60. § 156.095 PURPOSES.
    61. § 156.096 APPLICABILITY; PERMIT REQUIRED.
    62. § 156.097 EXEMPTIONS; NOTICE OF EXEMPT DEVELOPMENT.
    63. § 156.098 CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS; NOTICE OF EXCLUDED DEVELOPME…
    64. § 156.099 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS; FEES.
    65. § 156.100 ACTION ON COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT.
    66. § 156.101 PUBLIC HEARING ON DEVELOPMENTS; NOTICE.
    67. § 156.102 NOTICE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTION WHERE HEARING CONT…
    68. § 156.103 PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE; COASTAL ZONE PROCEDURES.
    69. § 156.104 NOTICE OF DEVELOPMENTS NOT APPEALABLE TO THE COASTAL…
    70. § 156.105 RESERVED.
    71. § 156.106 DETERMINATION OF APPLICABLE NOTICE AND HEARING PROCE…
    72. § 156.107 REQUIRED FINDINGS.
    73. § 156.108 APPEALS.
    74. § 156.109 FINALITY OF CITY ACTION.
    75. § 156.110 FINAL CITY ACTION; NOTICE.
    76. § 156.111 FAILURE TO ACT; NOTICE.
    77. § 156.112 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTION; EFFECTIVE DATE.
    78. § 156.113 EXHAUSTION OF LOCAL APPEALS.
    79. § 156.114 EMERGENCY COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT.
    80. § 156.115 AMENDMENTS TO COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMITS.
    81. § 156.116 LAPSE OF COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT.
  75. Chapter 157 — HISTORIC PRESERVATION
  76. Chapter 158 — CANNABIS
  77. Chapter 159 — WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES

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