National City Municipal Code Ch. 18.22 Commercial Zones

A. Purposes. The general purposes of commercial zones are to:

1. Provide areas in which business may be conducted, goods sold and distributed, public and private services rendered, and such other activities provided which are related to the function of commercial development;

2. Ensure compatibility of the various commercial areas with adjacent land uses;

3. Implement the General Plan by concentrating the locations of intensive commercial uses.

B. Commercial Automotive (CA). The purpose of the commercial automotive (CA) zone is to provide for automobile and truck sales and services and sales and services that support such uses. Uses may also include alternative fuel vehicle sales, services and related supplies, and rental car facilities.

C. Limited Commercial (CL). The purposes of the limited commercial (CL) zone are to:

1. Provide for small scale, limited convenience retail shopping facilities at the neighborhood level, typically including food and convenience stores, small retail and service shops, professional offices, and artisan activities such as studios, galleries, production space, and small performance venues. The sale of all merchandise shall be retail only.

2. Ensure that the character of the CL zone will be compatible with and will complement the surrounding residential area.

D. Service Commercial (CS). The purpose of the service commercial (CS) zone is to provide for intensive commercial activities; specialized service establishments; wholesaling, and distribution uses that operate in a clean and quiet manner; and supporting and complimentary uses.

E. Tourist Commercial (CT). The purpose of the CT zone is to provide areas catering specifically to the needs of automobile-oriented trade, such as transient accommodations and services, certain specialized retail outlets, commercial amusement enterprises and compatible residential development.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

Table 18.22.020 identifies the uses of land allowed in each commercial zone. This table does not apply to the CL zone. For a list of allowable uses in the CL zone, please refer to Appendix A of the Westside Specific Plan.

_____

TABLE 18.22.020 Allowed Land Uses Commercial Zones

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024; Ord. No. 2026-2559, § 4, 1-20-2026)

_____

A. Commercial Uses in Hotels and Motels. Accessory uses and services incidental to the principal use may be permitted; and accessory businesses intended for the convenience or necessity of the guests of the principal use, including bars, cafes, restaurants, lunchrooms, coffee shops, gift shops, florists, barbershops, beauty shops, news and tobacco shops, travel and car rental agencies, business centers, valet service (agency for laundering, cleaning, and pressing of clothing), letting of space for professional offices, operated in conjunction with the uses permitted in this section and not as a separate enterprise, and located on the same premises may be permitted, provided there shall be no entrance to such accessory uses except from the lobby or the interior of a principal building or buildings or patio.

B. Storage Buildings and Garages. Storage buildings and garages incidental to principal uses on the same premises are permitted.

C. Sale of Gasoline. The sale of gasoline may be permitted as an accessory use in any zone where gasoline service stations are permitted, subject to the issuance of a conditional use permit.

D. Auctions. Auctions, in conjunction with used furniture or antique sales, may be permitted subject to the issuance of a conditional use permit.

E. Games of Skill or Amusement.

1. In the commercial and mixed-use zones, games of skill or amusement, as an incidental or accessory use, shall be limited to four machines per establishment, two of which may be multiple-player machines.

2. Bowling alleys shall be limited to thirty games of skill or amusement as an incidental use. All such machines shall be located in the main concourse of the facility within the line-of-sight of a supervising adult employed by the business proprietor, whom shall be continuously present at all times that machines are being used.

3. The use of games of skill or amusement as an incidental or accessory use may be permitted within an existing establishment only if a conditional use permit is granted.

4. Limitations on location of games of skill and amusement.

a. No games of skill and amusement accessible for use by minors shall be maintained, operated, conducted or used, nor kept for such purposes, in or on the premises of any establishment whose primary business is the sale of alcoholic beverages. This shall not prohibit the operation of amusement machines in a bona fide establishment with an on-sale liquor license or restaurants which are not licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.

b. No games of skill and amusement shall be maintained, operated, conducted or uses, nor kept for such purposes, within any place which is closer than three hundred feet from any public or private school which conducts classes for any grades from kindergarten to twelfth grade.

F. Catering Services. Catering services for retail food preparation and party supplies may be permitted; provided said use is conducted in conjunction with a permitted restaurant, retail store, or commercial office; and further provided that the wholesaling or warehousing of merchandise does not occur in the operation of the catering business.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

Development standards for commercial zones are set forth in Table 18.22.040. Refer to the Westside Specific Plan for additional requirements in the CL zone.

_____

TABLE 18.22.040 Development Standards Commercial Zones

Notes:

(b) Automobile service stations shall have a minimum lot area of fifteen thousand square feet.

(c) Automobile and truck repair facilities shall have a minimum lot area of seven thousand five hundred square feet.

(d) Automobile service stations shall have a minimum street frontage of one hundred feet.

(e) Ten feet if adjacent to an existing single-family or multi-family development without commercial/office uses.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

_____

All uses shall be conducted in enclosed buildings; provided, however, that businesses such as auto and truck dealers, landscape nurseries, gas stations, sidewalk cafes/outdoor dining, and similar uses that customarily include outdoor use, may be permitted outside of a completely enclosed building. This section shall not restrict incidental loading, parking, property maintenance, or special promotions as provided by this title.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)