Title 9 — Planning and ZoningChapter 3 — Zoning

Article 13 — HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (H-C)

Los Banos Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Los Banos

§ 9-3.1301. Purpose (H-C).

The purpose of the Highway Commercial District is to provide a district for commercial uses which do not specialize in serving the pedestrian shopper but rather, because of their character, are more appropriately located along a highway or major street and where drive-in operations are more feasible.

(§ 4.27, Ord. 342, as amended by § 88, Ord. 1095, eff. November 20, 2010)

§ 9-3.1302. Uses permitted (H-C).

The following uses shall be permitted in the Highway Commercial District:

  • (a) Retail stores, including department stores;

  • (b) Beauty shops;

  • (c) Barber shops;

  • (d) Print shops and other reproduction services;

  • (e) Food stores;

  • (f) Repair shops within buildings;

  • (g) Offices;

  • (h) Services;

  • (i) Auto sales and service and automotive parts;

  • (j) Building supplies and lumber yards;

  • (k) Bus passenger terminals;

  • (l) Commercial repair garages;

  • (m) Gasoline service stations; provided all operations, except the servicing of gasoline, oil, air, and water, be carried on within a building;

  • (n) Public utility uses but not including storage or corporation yards;

  • (o) Coin-operated laundries and cleaning;

  • (p) Pressing shops and laundry and dry cleaning agencies;

  • (q) Used car lots; provided no repair facilities are permitted except within a building;

  • (r) Business and professional offices;

  • (s) Lodge halls;

  • (t) Clubs;

  • (u) Churches;

  • (v) Community centers;

  • (w) Veterinary clinics and hospitals when completely enclosed within a building;

  • (x) Schools and public and private recreational facilities;

  • (y) Unfenced public places;

  • (z) Delicatessen and specialized food stores and catering services;

  • (aa) Real estate, insurance, bookkeeping, and business offices;

  • (bb) Commercial trade schools;

  • (cc) Hotels, motels, and restaurants;

  • (dd) Refreshment stands;

  • (ee) Curio shops;

  • (ff) Plant and tree nurseries;

  • (gg) Public premises;

  • (hh) Studios for arts, crafts, exercise, photography, music, and dance;

  • (ii) Tow truck yards with screening;

  • (jj) Incidental storage and accessory uses provided such uses are clearly incidental to the permitted use;

  • (kk) Incidental storage and accessory uses provided such uses are incidental to the permitted use;

  • (ll) Public utility distribution and transmission line towers and poles and underground facilities for the distribution of gas, water, communications, and electricity;

(mm) Miniature golf courses, water parks or other similar outdoor recreational activities;

  • (nn) Taverns, lounges and card rooms; and

(oo) Any use permitted by right in the General Commercial (C-1) District. (§ 4.27, Ord. 342, as amended by § 4, Ord. 733, eff. June 14, 1985; § 20, Ord. 917, eff. June 6, 1997; and § 89, Ord. 1095, eff. November 20, 2010)

§ 9-3.1303. Uses permitted subject to securing use permits (HC).

The following uses shall be permitted in the Highway Commercial District subject to securing a use permit:

  • (a) Non-appurtenant outdoor advertising signs;

  • (b) Truck terminals with screening;

  • (c) Off-sale and on-sale alcoholic beverages, either separately or in conjunction with a use permitted in the district;

  • (d) Day care centers;

  • (e) Small collection recycling facilities; and

(f) All other uses as deemed appropriate by the Planning Commission. (§ 4.27, Ord. 342, as amended by § 2, Ord. 417; § 1, Ord. 429; § 4, Ord. 733, eff. June 14, 1985; § 21, Ord. 917, eff. June 6, 1997; § 90, Ord. 1095, eff. November 20, 2010; § 11, Ord. 1174, eff. September 20, 2019; and § 15, Ord. 1189, eff. December 2, 2020)

§ 9-3.1304. Height limits (H-C).

The maximum height of buildings in the Highway Commercial District shall be fifty (50′) feet. (§ 4.27, Ord. 342, as amended by § 92, Ord. 1095, eff. November 20, 2010)

§ 9-3.1305. Building sites (H-C).

Building sites in the Highway Commercial District shall be a minimum of 1,000 square feet. (§ 4.27, Ord. 342, as amended by § 93, Ord. 1095, eff. November 20, 2010)

§ 9-3.1306. Yards (H-C).

Where yards border on a major or collector street, the requirements for yards in the Highway Commercial District shall be as set forth in Article 19 of this chapter; otherwise none shall be required.

(§ 4.27, Ord. 342, as amended by § 94, Ord. 1095, eff. November 20, 2010)