Article 8

I-R INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS

Sections:

§ 38-39. Specific Purposes. § 38-40. I-R Industrial, Administration, and Research District. § 38-41. Supplemental Regulations Applicable to I-R Districts.

In addition to the general purposes listed in Article 1, the specific purposes of industrial district regulations are to:

A. Provide appropriately located areas consistent with the General Plan and applicable area plans for a broad range of manufacturing and service areas.

B. Strengthen the city’s economic base, and provide employment opportunities close to home for residents of the city and surrounding communities.

C. Provide a suitable environment for various types of industrial uses, and protect them from the adverse impacts of inharmonious uses.

D. Ensure that the appearance and effects of industrial uses are compatible with the character of the area in which they are located.

• E. Minimize the impact of industrial uses on adjacent residential districts.

• F. Ensure the provision of adequate off-street parking and loading facilities.

A. Description. The I-R Industrial, Administration, and Research District is intended to provide an environment exclusively for and conducive to the development of modern, large-scale administrative facilities, research institutions, and specialized manufacturing organizations, including non-nuisance production, distribution, and storage of goods, but no raw materials processing or bulk handling.

B. Land Use Regulations. In the following schedule, the letter “P” designates use classifications permitted in industrial districts. The letter “U” designates uses classifications permitted on approval of a Use Permit. The “Additional Regulations” column includes certain limitations and references to regulations located elsewhere in this chapter which apply. If a use classification is not listed, it is prohibited.

The Monterey City Code is current through Ordinance 3716, passed February 3, 2026.

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I-R DISTRICTS LAND USE REGULATIONS

Additional Regulations

The Monterey City Code is current through Ordinance 3716, passed February 3, 2026.

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I-R DISTRICTS LAND USE REGULATIONS

Wholesaling, Distribution, and Storage U -- truck terminal Wholesaling, distribution and storage U -- small scale Public and Semi-public Uses Day Care -- General U Park and Recreation Facilities P Public Safety Facilities U PWS Facilities U Utilities -- Major U Utilities -- Minor P Accessory Uses: Permitted on the site of a See Section 38-41(A),(B), and Article 19 permitted use, but requires a Use Permit if added on the site of a conditional use. Temporary Uses Require administrative approval by the Community Development Director Nonconforming Uses See Article 28

ecreation Facilities P Public Safety Facilities U PWS Facilities U Utilities -- Major U Utilities -- Minor P Accessory Uses: Permitted on the site of a See Section 38-41(A),(B), and Article 19 permitted use, but requires a Use Permit if added on the site of a conditional use. Temporary Uses Require administrative approval by the Community Development Director Nonconforming Uses See Article 28

P = Permitted U = Use Permit Required

(Ord. 3714 § 5, 2025; Ord. 3653 § 19, 2022; Ord. 3634 § 5, 2020; Ord. 3625 § 3, 2020; Ord. 3588 § 4, 2018; Ord. 3505 § 2, 2014; Ord. 3472 § 1, 2012; Ord. 3443 § 7, 2010)

C. Minimum Lot Dimensions and Property Development Standards. The following schedule prescribes minimum lot dimensions property development regulations for the I-R district.

I-R DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS

The Monterey City Code is current through Ordinance 3716, passed February 3, 2026.

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(a) Smaller lots may be permitted with an approved development plan for a site with a minimum area of ten acres.

Supplemental site regulations applicable to all I-R districts are included in Section 38-41. These establish requirements for accessory structures, outdoor facilities, service stations and automobile washing.

Supplemental regulations applicable to all zoning districts in the city are in Article 17, and off-street parking requirements are found in Article 18.

1. Planting Areas. Visible yards not used for parking shall have a three-foot planting strip adjoining an interior property line within 50 feet of a street property line.

Front and corner side yards that are not used for drives or walks shall be planting area.

2. Fences and Walls. The maximum height of a fence or wall shall be eight feet, except in a required front or corner side yard abutting a street where the maximum height shall be three feet.

   • a. Adjoining an R District of Existing Residential Use. A six-foot-high solid wall (three feet high within 15 feet of a street property line) shall adjoin the property line of an existing residential use or an R district.

3. Location of Parking. No parking shall be allowed in a front or corner side setback area. (Ord. 3625 § 3, 2020; Ord. 3594 § 4, 2019; Ord. 3588 § 4, 2018; Ord. 3424 § 1, 2009)

A. Accessory Structure. Accessory structures shall comply with all regulations applicable to the principal structure on a site. Off-site accessory structures shall not be allowed.

The Monterey City Code is current through Ordinance 3716, passed February 3, 2026.

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• B. Outdoor Facilities.

1. Where Permitted. In the I-R district, outdoor storage and display of merchandise, materials, or equipment, including display of merchandise, materials, and equipment for customer pick-up, shall be subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Community Development Director. (Ord. 3653 § 19, 2022; Ord. 3472 § 1, 2012)

2. Permit Conditions -- Grounds for Denial. A Use Permit for outdoor storage or display may require yards, screening, or planting areas necessary to prevent adverse impacts on surrounding properties and the visual character of scenic areas, as identified in the General Plan and applicable area plans. If such impacts cannot be prevented, the Community Development Director shall deny the Use Permit application. (Ord. 3653 § 19, 2022; Ord. 3472 § 1, 2012)

   3. Screening. Outdoor storage and display areas shall be screened from view of streets by a solid fence or wall. The height of merchandise, materials, and equipment stored or displayed shall not exceed the height of the screening fence or wall.

      • a. Coin-operated Vending Machines. Each machine located within 300 feet of an R district, except for machines located on the side of a service station, shall be screened from view from public rights-of-way.

   4. Appeals. Decisions of the Community Development Director may be appealed by the applicant to the Planning Commission in accordance with Article 27. (Ord. 3653 § 19, 2022; Ord. 3472 § 1, 2012)

• C. Service Stations and Automobile Washing. The following supplementary development regulations shall apply to the Service Stations and Automobile Washing use classifications:

  1. Site Layout. Conditions of Approval of a Use Permit may require buffering, screening, planting areas, or hours of operation necessary to avoid adverse impacts on properties in the surrounding area.

  2. Planting Areas. Perimeter planting areas shall be as required for parking lots by Article 16, except where a building adjoins an interior property line. Required interior planting areas may adjoin perimeter planting areas.

3. Storage of Materials and Equipment. The provisions of Section 38-41(B), Outdoor Facilities, shall apply, except that a display rack for automobile products no more than four feet wide may be maintained at each pump island of a service station. If display racks are not located on pump islands, they shall be placed within three feet of the principal building, and shall be limited to one per street frontage. Storage of inoperative vehicles is prohibited. The location of display racks and vending machines shall be specified by the Use Permit.

e products no more than four feet wide may be maintained at each pump island of a service station. If display racks are not located on pump islands, they shall be placed within three feet of the principal building, and shall be limited to one per street frontage. Storage of inoperative vehicles is prohibited. The location of display racks and vending machines shall be specified by the Use Permit.

D. Restaurants and Convenience Markets: Restaurants and convenience markets approved by the Planning Commission shall comply with the following supplementary regulations (unless superseded by area plan):

1. Access. Direct driveway access to scenic Highway 68 shall not be permitted from individual properties.

The Monterey City Code is current through Ordinance 3716, passed February 3, 2026.

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2. Buffers: Landscape buffers shall be provided at least 100 feet width from the ultimate planned right-ofway of scenic Highway 68.

3. Signage: Signage shall not address scenic Highway 68.

E. Vehicle/Equipment Sales and Rentals -- Limited. Prior to the City’s issuance of a building permit, the developer/ owner shall demonstrate compliance with any Monterey County Airport Land Use Commission avigation and hazard easement conditions. (Ord. 3588 § 5, 2018)

F. Review of Plans. Applications for new construction and exterior alterations and additions shall be submitted to the Community Development Department for review by the Development Review Committee and the Planning Commission. (Ord. 3715 § 16, 2025; Ord. 3653 § 19, 2022)

G. Extended care shall be limited to areas outside of airport safety zones 1 through 5. Through the use permit process, the City shall evaluate the compatibility of the proposed extended care with adjacent uses. If a development is proposed that would intensify the occupancy level of vulnerable occupants as defined by the Airport Land Use Commission, the proposed changes shall be submitted to the Airport Land Use Commission for subsequent, project-specific consistency determination.

H. Cannabis-Related Agricultural Testing Laboratories. Establishments that test cannabis and cannabis products shall comply with the minimum standards set forth in Division 10 (Cannabis) of the Business and Professions Code, which are incorporated herein by reference, and the following additional standards, requirements, and regulations:

1. No cannabis or cannabis products shall be visible to anyone outside the facility on public or private property.

2. No cannabis consumption shall be allowed on the premises.

3. Establishments shall not be open to the public. There shall be signage posting that no loitering is allowed outside of the facility.

4. The hours for all loading and unloading activities involving the handling of shipments of cannabis or cannabis products are limited to 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

5. Establishments shall not be located within a 600-foot radius of a school providing instruction in kindergarten or any grades one through 12, preschool, day care center, or youth center that is in existence at the time the license is issued.

6. All business and surveillance records shall be maintained for a minimum of one year, and shall made available within 24 hours at the request of the City Manager, Police Chief, or their designee.

7. The Monterey Police Department must be notified within 24 hours after discovering inventory discrepancies, theft, diversion, loss, or security breaches pertaining to the operation of the cannabis testing. The Monterey Police Department must be notified immediately after discovery of any other criminal activity

The Monterey City Code is current through Ordinance 3716, passed February 3, 2026.

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that has occurred in the cannabis testing laboratory or on the parking lot serving the establishment. Cannabis testing laboratories must comply with use permit terms and conditions.

8. Use Permit Applications. Use permit applications shall include the following required materials:

i. Testing Accreditation. Testing laboratories must maintain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation while the business is in operation. Acceptable accreditation must attest to the testing laboratory’s competence to perform testing of the following: cannabinoids, heavy metals, microbial impurities, mycotoxins, residual pesticides, residual solvents and processing chemicals and terpenoids (if tested).

ii. Standard Operating Procedures. Provide a detailed explanation of laboratory standard procedures, including, but not limited to, transportation, testing, and disposition of samples, and other testing materials and equipment.

iii. Security Plan. Provide a detailed security plan, for review and approval by the Police Chief, which includes measures to be used to prevent unauthorized access, protect the physical safety of employees and surrounding properties, and protect against theft/loss of cannabis, cannabis products and all other related materials and equipment. Identify surveillance equipment and locations, physical barriers, alarm systems, and storage of samples and records.

iv. Employees. Applicants must provide and maintain a list of emergency contact information for management employees.

9. Public Nuisance. The failure to comply with any use permit conditions, city codes, or state laws applicable to cannabis testing laboratories is hereby declared a public nuisance.

• I. Firearms and Ammunition Retail Sales Businesses.

1. Firearms and ammunition retail sale businesses shall not be located within a 600-foot radius measured from property line to property line of the following uses in existence at the time of submission of a completed application for a use permit under Chapter 38, Article 22 or zone clearance permit under Chapter 38, Article 21:

• i. School.

• ii. Day care center.

• iii. Playground.

• iv. Residential zone (i.e., R-1, R-2, R-3, R-E, and any PC zone not governed by a specific plan).

• v. Multifamily overlay zone.

• vi. Store that sells liquor.

vii. Bar.

The Monterey City Code is current through Ordinance 3716, passed February 3, 2026.

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viii. Other firearms and ammunition retailers.

• ix. Cannabis business. (Ord. 3714 §§ 6, 7, 8, 2025; Ord. 3634 § 6, 2020; Ord. 3625 § 4, 2020; Ord. 3588 § 5, 2018; Ord. 3424 § 1, 2009)