Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 22.20 Commercial Zones

A.

General Purpose. Commercial Zones provide for the orderly, well-planned, and balanced growth of commercial districts; support commercial activity to meet the needs of the community, strengthen the County's tax base; and provide appropriate transitions between commercial and residential uses to promote commercial opportunities and preserve residential quality of life.

B.

Purpose of Individual Zones. The purposes of individual Commercial Zones are established as follows:

Major Commercial Zone. The Major Commercial Zone (Zone C-MJ) allows for regional-scale commercial and recreation uses, hotels, multi-family residential, and residential-commercial mixed uses.

Commercial Recreation Zone. The Commercial Recreation Zone (Zone C-R) is established to permit a comprehensive range of entertainment and amusement activities of a commercial nature. Zone C-R also provides for other commercial uses that may be necessary in such an area.

(Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

Table 22.20.020-A, below, identifies "Commercial Zones," as used in this Title 22:

(Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

A.

General. This Section prescribes the land use regulations for Zones C-H, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-M, C-MJ, and C-R.

B.

Permit and Review Requirements. Table 22.20.030-A, below, identifies the permit or review required to establish each use listed in Subsection C, below.

C.

Use Regulations.

Principal Uses. Table 22.20.030-B, below, identifies the permit or review required to establish each principal use.

Food processing

 Bakeries - - - - SPR SPR -

 Candy confectioneries - - - - SPR SPR -

 Fruit and vegetable - - - - SPR - - juices, excluding the use of carbonization

 Ice cream - - - - SPR - -

 Wineries

 In compliance with - - - - SPR - - Section 22.140.610 Section 22.140.610.D.1

 In compliance with - - - - CUP - - Section 22.140.610 Section 22.140.610.D3

Frozen food lockers - - - SPR SPR - CUP 4

Furniture and household - - - SPR SPR - CUP 4 goods, transfer and storage

Industrial gas storage, - - - - CUP - - including oxygen, acetylene, argon, carbon dioxide, and similar gases in Interstate Commerce Commission approved- type cylinders

Laboratories, research and - - - SPR SPR - CUP 4 testing

Laundry plants, wholesale - - - CUP SPR - -

Motion picture processing, - - - SPR SPR SPR CUP 4 reconstruction, and synchronizing of film with sound tracks

Motion picture studios and - - - SPR SPR SPR - Section 22.140.060.A indoor sets

Motion picture studios and - - - - - - SPR Section 22.140.060.A sets

Outdoor advertising signs - - - - - CUP - Section 22.114.070

Tire retreading or recapping - - - - SPR - -

Lodging Uses

Hotels

 With banquet facilities CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP and restaurants

 Without banquet facilities CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP SPR CUP and restaurants

Motels CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP - CUP

Youth hostels CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP

Recreational Uses

Amusement rides and - - - CUP 23 CUP 23 CUP 23, 24 CUP 23, 24 devices, for longer than seven days

Arcades, game or movie - - CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP

Archery ranges - CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP

Athletic fields, excluding - SPR SPR SPR SPR SPR SPR stadiums

Permanent cosmetics - - - CUP CUP CUP CUP parlors

Pet grooming services, - CUP CUP SPR SPR SPR CUP 4 excluding boarding

Photocopying and - - - SPR SPR SPR CUP 4 duplicating services

Photoengravers and - - - SPR SPR SPR CUP 4 lithographers

Photography studios - SPR SPR SPR SPR SPR CUP 4

Plumbing shops - - - SPR SPR - CUP 4

Printers or publishers - - - SPR SPR - CUP 4

Real estate offices - SPR SPR SPR SPR SPR CUP 4

Rental services

 Bicycle rentals - SPR SPR SPR SPR SPR CUP 4

 Costume rentals - - - SPR SPR SPR CUP 4

 Furniture and appliance - - SPR 3 SPR SPR SPR CUP 4 rentals

 Hospital equipment and - - SPR 3 SPR SPR SPR CUP 4 supply rentals

 Party equipment rentals - - SPR 3 SPR SPR SPR CUP 4

 Tool rentals, including - - SPR 3 SPR SPR SPR 16 CUP 4 rototillers, power mowers, sanders and saws, cement mixers, and other equipment, excluding heavy machinery or trucks exceeding two tons capacity

Repair shops, household - - - SPR SPR SPR CUP 4 and fix-it

Restaurants and other CUP SPR SPR SPR SPR SPR CUP eating establishments, including food take-out and excluding outdoor dining

Restaurants and other eating establishments, including food take-out and outdoor dining

 In compliance with CUP SPR SPR SPR SPR SPR - Section 22.140.410 Section 22.140.410.B.1

 In compliance with CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP - Section 22.140.410 Section 22.140.410.B.2

Reupholsterers, furniture - - - SPR SPR - CUP 4

Self-service storage - - - - CUP - - Section 22.140.560 facilities

Shared kitchen complexes - CUP CUP SPR SPR SPR CUP 4 Section 22.140.540

Shoe repair shops - SPR SPR SPR SPR SPR CUP 4

Shoeshine stands - SPR SPR SPR SPR SPR CUP 4

Sightseeing agencies - - - SPR SPR SPR CUP 4

Sightseeing agencies, - - - - SPR - - automobile

Automobile radiator - - - SPR 14 SPR 14 - CUP 4, 14 shops

 Automobile repair - - - SPR 14 SPR 14 - CUP 4, 14 Section 22.140.100 garages, excluding body and fender work, painting, and upholstering

 Automobile service - SPR 33 / SPR 33 / SPR 33 / SPR 33 / SPR 33 / CUP 34 Section 22.140.100 stations CUP 31 CUP 31 CUP 31 CUP 31 CUP 31

 Automobile supply stores - SPR SPR SPR 14 SPR 14 SPR CUP 4 Section 22.140.100

 CNG fueling station CUP 34 CUP 34 CUP 34 CUP 34 CUP 34 CUP 34

Notes:

1. Roadside stands, retail sales from the premises, or signs advertising products produced on the premises are prohibited.

2. Minimum lot size is one acre.

3. Use shall maintain a commercial appearance by providing office or window display space across any side of the building with street or highway frontage. Office or window display space shall have a minimum depth of 10 feet.

4. The use shall comply with the standards in Section 22.20.080 (Development Standards for Zone C-R).

5. Minimum lot size is five acres.

6. Minimum lot size is one acre where sheltered employment or industrial-type training is conducted.

7. The use shall comply with the standards in Section 22.20.050.B (Additional Development Standards for Zone C-M), if assembly and manufacturing would be part of industrial-type training.

8. Use is permitted if publicly owned.

9. Individual crucibles that exceed a capacity of 16 square feet are prohibited.

10. Sales shall be limited to retail sales only and all goods sold shall be new.

11. Use does not permit a kiln or manufacture.

12. Use may permit manufacturing on the premises when accessory to retail sales, provided that total volume of kiln space does not exceed eight cubic feet.

13. Use may permit manufacturing on the premises when accessory to retail sales, provided that total volume of kiln space does not exceed 16 cubic feet.

14. Use includes related installation and repair if conducted within an enclosed building.

15. Use may include the sale of lumber and other building supplies, but shall exclude milling or woodworking other than accessory cutting of lumber to size, provided that all sale, display, storage and accessory cutting is within an enclosed building.

16. Use is permitted within an enclosed building only.

17. Parking provided is separate from required parking in Chapter 22.112 (Parking), however, use shall be developed in compliance with Chapter 22.112 (Parking).

18. The lot shall be: 1) outside of a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, as depicted in the General Plan, in its entirety; 2) outside of the Coastal Zone, as defined in Division 2 (Definition), in its entirety; 3) outside of a Significant Ecological Area, as depicted in the General Plan, in its entirety; 4) outside of a Hillside Management Area, as depicted in the General Plan, in its entirety; 5) outside of the 70 or above decibel Community Noise Equivalent Level (dB CNEL) noise contour of an Airport Influence Area, as depicted in the General Plan, in its entirety; 6) served by a public water system; 7) served by a public sewer system; and 8) fronting a highway or a public street.

19. Use is permitted only in conjunction with a health club or center.

20. Limited to helistops only.

21. Use does not permit storage.

22. Section 22.140.340 (Manufacturing as an Accessory Use in Commercial Zones) shall apply.

23. Use includes merry-go-rounds, ferris wheels, swings, toboggans, slides, rebound-tumbling, and similar equipment operated at one particular location.

24. Use includes zip-lines.

25. Use may also be subject to Chapter 22.120 (Density Bonus), Chapter 22.121 (Inclusionary Housing), or Chapter 22.166 (Housing Permits).

26. Where the lot does not meet the criteria specified in Note 18, above.

27. Use is limited to developments with two or more attached dwelling units.

28. No more than six townhouses shall be confined within a single building.

29. Where use is subject to Section 22.128.200 (Supportive Housing Streamlining) and Chapter 22.166 (Housing Permits).

30. Use permitted on lots outside of the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, as depicted in the General Plan, in its entirety, and where use is subject to Section 22.130.200 (Motel Conversions, Permanent) and Chapter 22.166 (Housing Permits).

31. Applies to new use on parcels within a 500-foot radius of a lot containing an existing sensitive use in the unincorporated communities of Avocado Heights, East Los Angeles, East Rancho Dominguez, Florence-Firestone, South San Jose Hills, West Whittier-Los Nietos, Walnut Park, West Athens- Westmont, Willowbrook, West Carson, and West Rancho Dominguez-Victoria.

32. In cases not described in Note 31, above, use shall be subject to the same permit or review application of the basic zone for the retail or service business the use is associated with.

33. In cases not described in Note 31, above.

34. Subject to Section 22.140.100.D, if a new use is established on parcels within a 500-foot radius of a lot containing an existing sensitive use in the unincorporated communities of Avocado Heights, East Los Angeles, East Rancho Dominguez, Florence-Firestone, South San Jose Hills, West Whittier-Los Nietos, Walnut Park, West Athens-Westmont, Willowbrook, West Carson, and West Rancho Dominguez-Victoria.

35. Outside of the Metro Planning Area Standards District.

36. In the Metro Planning Area Standards District and subject to Section 22.364.060.F.2.

Accessory Uses. Table 22.20.030-C, below, identifies the permit or review required to establish each accessory use.

Temporary Uses. Table 22.20.030-D, below, identifies the permit or review required to establish each temporary use.

(Ord. 2024-0054 § 5, 2024; Ord. 2024-0049 § 15, 2024; Ord. 2024-0032 § 8, 2024; Ord. 2024-0028 § 4, 2024; Ord. 2023- 0060 § 6, 2023; Ord. 2023-0004 § 6, 2023; Ord. 2023-0001 § 5, 2023; Ord. 2022-0023 § 18, 2022; Ord. 2022-0008 § 10, 2022; Ord. 2021-0017 § 11, 2021; Ord. 2021-0011 § 4, 2021; Ord. 2021-0010 § 10, 2021; Ord. 2020-0064 § 5, 2020; Ord. 2020-0059 § 7, 2020; Ord. 2020-0008 § 45, 2020; Ord. 2019-0053 § 13, 2019; Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

A.

Development on any lot in Zones C-H, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-M, C-MJ, C-R, and CPD shall comply with Division 6 (Development Standards), where applicable.

B.

Table 22.20.040-A, below, identifies the development standards for Zones C-H, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-M, C-MJ, and C-R.

TABLE 22.20.040-A: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR COMMERCIAL ZONES

New sensitive uses developed in the permitted zones and located adjacent to existing, legally-established industrial uses, recycling or solid waste uses, or vehicle-related uses listed in Table 22.22.030-B (Principal Use Regulations for Industrial Zones), except for the vehicle sales and rentals sub-category, shall comply with Division 7, Chapter 22.134 (Sensitive Uses).

(Ord. 2022-0023 § 19, 2022; Ord. 2021-0010 § 11, 2021; Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

A.

Required Yards. Except as specified otherwise, Table 22.20.050-A, below, identifies the minimum yard depths for various development types in Zones C-H, C-1, C-2, C-3, and C-M as follows:

TABLE 22.20.050-A: MINIMUM YARD DEPTHS FOR COMMERCIAL ZONES

Development Types Zones Front Corner Side Corner Side - Interior Side Rear Reversed Corner Lot

Non-residential C-H and C-1 a) 20 feet where a lot fronts on a road classified as a major highway, N/A N/A secondary highway, or parkway; or b) equal to the front or corner side yard depth required on any contiguous Residential or Agricultural Zone where the property adjoins a street. 1

Residential C-H, C-1, C-2 and 15 feet 5 feet 7.5 feet 5 feet 2 15 feet C-3

Mixed Use C-H, C-1, N/A N/A N/A See Section 22.140.350.A.6.h and C-M

Notes:

1. Use the greatest distance if both apply.

2. In Zone C-3, the minimum interior side yard depth is five feet where no building exceeds two stories in height, or five feet plus one foot for each story that exceeds two stories, except the maximum interior side yard depth is 16 feet.

B.

Additional Development Standards for Zone C-M. In Zone C-M, all uses listed under "Assembly and Manufacturing" and "Food Processing" within the Industrial Uses category in Table 22.20.030-B, above, shall comply with the following development standards:

All activities shall be conducted within an enclosed building; and

Uses shall be limited to assembly and manufacture from previously prepared materials, and excludes the use of drop hammers, automatic screw machines, punch presses exceeding five tons' capacity and motors exceeding one horsepower capacity that are used to operate lathes, drill presses, grinders, or metal cutters.

(Ord. 2021-0010 § 12, 2021; Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

A.

Project Review and Evaluation.

An application for new construction or expansion of development in Zone C-MJ may be referred to Public Works for review of the project's impacts to infrastructure. In addition to the requirements of Section 22.116.030.B (Improvements), the application may be required to include, at the discretion of the Director of Public Works, technical studies in accordance with current County guidelines, or other information, including but not limited to the following:

a.

A traffic impact analysis;

b.

Certification from the public water purveyor that indicates water facilities in the area are adequate to meet the demands of the project and all other properties served by the same water facility; and

c.

A sewer area study to determine the adequacy of the sewage system that will serve the project.

Where the Director of Public Works finds that based on the traffic, water, or sewer studies that the existing infrastructure is inadequate to serve a project, the Director may require the applicant to construct, install, or provide additional funds to construct or install, the necessary infrastructure to protect public health, safety, and welfare. Furthermore, the Director, in consultation with the Director of Public Works, may require that the application successfully demonstrate on a site plan that adequate sightlines are maintained from the vehicular access points of the project site to the public right-of-way, and that the proposed layout of the site does not impede vehicular movement in the public right-of-way.

B.

Development Standards. Premises in Zone C-MJ shall be subject to the following development standards:

Minimum Project Area. The minimum area for a project located on one or more contiguous lots under the same ownership or control shall be two acres.

Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR). If a project is located on property regulated by an area, community, or neighborhood plan, the maximum FAR shall be determined as set forth in such plan. In all other cases, the maximum FAR for the project shall be 3.0.

Side and Rear Yards. Side and rear yards of new development that abut a lot located within a Residential or Agricultural Zone shall have a minimum depth of 30 feet to separate, screen, and buffer the development's buildings from the abutting Residential or Agricultural Zone. These yards may contain driveways, surface parking spaces, landscaping, and trees. If the side or rear lot line of the property on which new development is proposed is separated from an adjacent lot within a Residential or Agricultural Zone by a street or highway, the walls along the side and rear yards shall comply with the requirements in Section 22.112.080.F.2 (Side and Rear Yards).

Parking. Shared parking for nonresidential uses may be approved with a Minor Conditional Use Permit (Chapter 22.160) application.

Sign Program. For multi-tenant retail centers containing three or more businesses, a sign program shall be required to coordinate all business signs within the development. The program shall establish uniform standards for sign location, style, size, color, font, materials, and other applicable sign features, so that all business signs in the development will be compatible with each other and in compliance with the sign requirements of this Title 22.

Trash Bin Enclosures. Trash enclosures for refuse and recycling bins shall be:

a.

Located within parking areas or structures, or at the rear or side of buildings, or between buildings, and shall not be placed between a building and a street;

b.

Located not farther than 150 feet from the building;

c.

Not placed in any public right-of-way; and

d.

If located outside, screened by masonry walls between five and six feet in height.

(Ord. 2024-0036 § 3, 2024; Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

A.

Sales and Service Uses. In Zone C-R, sales and service uses referenced in Table 22.20.030-B, above, shall comply with the following standards:

Minimum Lot Area. Notwithstanding the required area in Section 22.110.130.A.4.a, the minimum lot area devoted to the use shall be one acre.

Distance. The use shall be located within 600 feet of a recreational use permitted in the zone.

Sale of Goods. Sales shall be limited to retail and, with the exception of antiques, all goods sold shall be new.

B.

All Other Uses.

Minimum Lot Area. The minimum lot area shall be five acres.

(Ord. 2022-0008 § 11, 2022; Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

Premises in Zone CPD shall be subject to the following regulations:

A.

Use Regulations.

Permitted Uses. Property in Zone CPD may be used for any uses listed as permitted in Zone R-A, under the same limitations and conditions, including accessory and transitional uses, front, side and rear yards, parking, and area requirements.

Conditional Use Permit. If a Conditional Use Permit (Chapter 22.158) application has first been approved, property in Zone CPD may be used for a planned commercial development in which the Commission or Hearing Officer may approve any nonresidential use permitted in Zone C-1. The Commission or Hearing Officer may modify any of the prescribed development standards pertaining thereto, if it finds that proposed commercial development is needed to serve the immediately adjacent area, and development has occurred, or is proposed, which will warrant such commercial development. Such uses shall be subject to all the following standards in Subsection B, below:

Prohibited Uses. The following uses are prohibited in Zone CPD:

a.

Oil wells and production facilities, in accordance with Section 22.140.400 (Oil Wells and Production Facilities); and

b.

Gun dealers, in accordance with Section 22.140.255 (Gun Dealers).

B.

Development Standards. Unless modified per Subsection A.2, above, conditionally permitted uses in Zone CPD shall comply with the following standards:

Design. The arrangement of buildings, architectural design and the types of commercial uses shall be such as to minimize adverse influences on adjacent properties.

Access and Parking. Adequate provision shall be made for vehicular access, parking and loading so as to prevent undue traffic congestion on adjacent streets and highways, particularly on local streets.

Building Coverage. Buildings shall not occupy more than 40 percent of the gross area. In calculating "gross area," any streets or highways on the perimeter of the lot, or any major or secondary highway, or parkway that traverses the property, or any area which is required to be dedicated, or a private easement given for any such street or highway, shall be excluded.

Utilities. The applicant shall submit to the Commission or Hearing Officer, and it shall be made a condition of approval, satisfactory evidence that the applicant has made arrangements with the serving utilities to underground all new facilities necessary to furnish service in the development. This requirement may be waived where it would cause undue hardship or constitute an unreasonable requirement.

Signs. The Commission or Hearing Officer, in granting the Conditional Use Permit, may allow business signs permitted in Zone C-1 if they find such sign will be in keeping with the concept of planned development.

Development Features. The development plan shall include yards, walls, walks, landscaping, and such other features as may be needed to make the commercial development attractive, adequately buffered from adjacent more restrictive uses, and in keeping with the character of the surrounding area.

Development Schedule. The Commission or Hearing Officer shall approve a progress schedule including all phases of development and indicating that the improvements described in the development plan will be made prior to occupancy of commercial structures. The Commission or Hearing Officer may modify without a hearing this condition pertaining to the development schedule based upon an affirmative showing, in writing of hardship.

Tentative Subdivision Map. A tentative map shall be filed and made a condition of approval.

(Ord. 2023-0060 § 7, 2023; Ord. 2023-0004 § 7, 2023; Ord. 2022-0008 § 12, 2022; Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)