Title 9 — Planning and Zoning›Chapter 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)