Division 7 — COMMERCIAL ZONES

Oxnard Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Oxnard

SEC. 16-105. PURPOSE.

The following are descriptions of the purpose and intent of each one of the commercial zoning districts in the city. All permitted and conditionally permitted uses shall be consistent with the purpose and intent of the respective zone. (A) C-O (Commercial Office Zone). The purpose of the C-O zone is to provide a district for low-profile professional uses suitable for location abutting residential uses and for offices and related uses in selected locations. (B) C-1 (Neighborhood Shopping Center Zone). The purpose of the C-1 zone is to provide a district of convenience shopping and personal services located primarily to serve the neighborhood within which the district is located and having development standards and performance standards suitable for location abutting residential uses.

(C) C-2 (General Commercial Zone). The purpose of the C-2 zone is to provide a district for retail centers and freestanding commercial along arterial roads. This zoning district also accommodates offices, live/work and mixed-use commercial and residential development.

(Ord. No. 3037)

SEC. 16-106. PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL USES.

The required permit for a respective commercial land use is indicated in Section 16-107, commercial land use matrix. The permit requirements are as provided for in this chapter and as further provided for below.

(A) Zoning clearance. Permitted uses are subject to the requirement for approval of a zone clearance in accordance with this chapter. The permit application requirements and process for a zoning clearance are set forth in Article VII, Division 1 of this chapter.

(B) Site plan review (SPR) permit. An SPR permit may be used for developments where the State has mandated that the city's approval must be ministerial. The permit application requirements and process for site plan review permit are set forth in Article VII, Division 1A of this chapter.

(C) Development design review (DDR) permit. The permit application requirements and process for development design review permit are set forth in Article VII, Division 2 of this chapter.

(1) A DDR permit is required for all new construction unless a special use permit, SPR or other zoning permit is required under this chapter. A DDR permit is also required for the review and approval of a use which requires

administrative review to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter and other regulatory requirements. (2) For the review of uses proposed to be located in existing structures, the Director may determine the level of information and plans required.

(D) Special use permit (SUP). The permit application requirements and process for a SUP are set forth in Article VII, Division 3 of this chapter.

(E) Minor modifications. Where a planning permit such as a special use permit, planned development permit, development design review permit or site plan review has been previously approved, the Director may elect to modify that existing permit in lieu of requiring the application and approval of a new permit for a proposed physical modification or use clearance, provided such physical modification is within the parameters for minor modifications provided for in this chapter or by administrative policy. The requirements and process for modifications to a special use permit are set forth in Article VII, Division 4 of this chapter. Modifications to a site plan review permit are set forth in Article VII, Division 1A of this chapter. Modifications to a development design review permit are processed in the same manner as the original development design review permit as set forth in Article VII, Division 2.

(F) Specific plan permit requirements. For development in areas within a designated specific plan, the specific plan will identify the processing requirements for uses. Where the specific plan is silent on a use or process, the following table identifies the permit processing requirements.

(Ord. No. 3037)

SEC. 16-107. COMMERCIAL LAND USES BY ZONE: COMMERCIAL LAND USE MATRIX.

The allowable land uses in the commercial zoning districts are identified in the following table.

The allowable land uses in the commercial zoning districts are identified in the following table. The allowable land uses in the commercial zoning districts are identified in the following table. The allowable land uses in the commercial zoning districts are identified in the following table. The allowable land uses in the commercial zoning districts are identified in the following table. The allowable land uses in the commercial zoning districts are identified in the following table.
Commercial Land Use Matrix
Key: Blank: Not Allowed X: Prohibited Use
P: Permitted Use SPR: Site Plan Review**
SUP: Special Use Permit DDR: Development Design Review Permit**
Land Use Zone District
C-O **C-1**1 **C-2**2 Notes
Commercial Land Use Matrix
Key: Blank: Not Allowed X: Prohibited Use
P: Permitted Use SPR: Site Plan Review**
SUP: Special Use Permit DDR: Development Design Review Permit**
Land Use Zone District
C-O **C-1**1 **C-2**2 Notes
Accessory buildings and uses customarily
incidental to any of the primary commercial use
when located on the same lot, subject to the
approval of the director
P P* P
Accessory dwelling unit with accessory dwelling
unit clearance on lot developed with one or more
legal primary dwelling structures
P Refer to Article V, Division 13
Accessory signs as permitted herein. No
freestanding sign shall be permitted
P P* P
Adult day care facilities serving no more than 15
adults
SUP SUP DDR
--- --- --- --- ---
Adult day care facilities serving more than 15
adults
SUP SUP
Adult motels DDR DDR Refer to Article V, Division 1
Antique store P
Assisted living residential facility SUP SUP
Bakery or doughnut shop employing not more
than 5 persons on premises
P* P
Bank P
Bar or cocktail lounge or restaurant serving
alcoholic beverages
SUP
Beauty shops and barber shops P P* P
Bed and breakfast inn SUP Refer to Article V, Division 3
Bicycle repair shop, employing not more than 5
persons on premises
P* P
Billiard or pool hall P
Bird store or pet shop P
Blueprinting, photostating, and printing P
Candy, nut, confectionary store P* P
Cannabis retail, provided that the owner has first
obtained a commercial cannabis business permit
X SUP SUP Refer to Article XVII, Chapter 11
Car wash (nonmechanical or self-service) P* P
Children's day care facility serving no more than
15 children
P P P
Children's day care facility serving more than 15
children
SUP SUP
Churches SUP SUP Refer to Section 16-162(B)
Cleaning and pressing establishment using
noninflammable and nonexplosive cleaning fluid
P
Commercial condominiums SUP See Section 16-395
Commercial recreational uses, including but not
limited to a skating rink, bowling alley,
miniature golf, kiddie ride, amusement center,
driving range, and sports auditorium
SUP
Commercial school, including business college P
Community care facilities serving more than 6
persons3
SUP
Congregate living health facilities no more than
15 beds3
DDR
Congregate living health facilities more than 15
beds3
SUP
Conservatory of music P
--- --- --- --- ---
Convenience market P* P
Convenience market, including incidental sales
of alcoholic beverages for consumption off the
premises
SUP SUP
Convenience stores or mini-markets which may
both serve packaged alcoholic beverages and
dispense gasoline
SUP
Convents serving no more than 15 persons SUP
Department store P
Drive-in and drive-through establishments,
including drive-in restaurant, drive-through or
mechanical car wash and film processing booth
SUP
Electric distribution substation SUP P
Embroidery, sewing notions shop P* P
Emergency shelters3for families or temporary P Refer to Section 16-504
Emergency shelters3permanent SUP Refer to Section 16-504
Employment agency P
Farm work employee housing3 SUP
Fire and police stations P
Firearm and ammunition sales SUP Refer to Article V, Division 19
Furniture store P
Gift shop P* P
Grocery, fruit, or vegetable store P* P
Health spa or massage parlor, excluding an adult
massage parlor
P See Section 16-336
Home-finding agency P P
Home occupations incidental to a primary
residential use with a home occupation permit
P P P Refer to Article V, Division 6
Hospitals and convalescent hospitals SUP SUP
Hotels and motor hotels SUP SUP
Ice cream shop P* P
Ice storage house of no more than 5 ton capacity P
Interior decorating store P
Laboratories, when incidental to medical, dental,
and similar uses
P P
Large family day care homes incidental to a
primary residential use that the Planning
Manager finds to comply with the standards
P P P See Section 16-440
Laundry and dry cleaning establishments P* P
Library P
Lodge, fraternal organization not to include sale
of alcoholic beverages
P
--- --- --- --- ---
Low barrier navigation center3 SPR Refer to Section 16-504
Meat markets or delicatessen store P* P
Medical laboratory P
Mixed use multifamily residential, live/work and
work/live housing, up to 18 dwelling units per
acre3
SUP See Section 16-109
Mixed use multifamily residential up to 30
dwelling units per acre with greater than 15%
floor area commercial or office space in AHP
additive zone3
DDR See Section 16-420
Mobile home sales area provided that no repair
or reconditioning is permitted
SUP
Mortuary SUP P
The allowable land uses in the commercial zoning districts are identified in the following table. The allowable land uses in the commercial zoning districts are identified in the following table. The allowable land uses in the commercial zoning districts are identified in the following table. The allowable land uses in the commercial zoning districts are identified in the following table. The allowable land uses in the commercial zoning districts are identified in the following table.
Motor vehicle repair including tune-up,
carburetor shop, transmission and radiator repair,
electrical specialty, front end alignment, top and
upholstery shop, wheel balancing and the
installation of brakes, mufflers and tires,
provided that all repair activity and storage of
materials takes place within an enclosed building
SUP
Multifamily residential uses subject to R-3 zone
development standards3
SUP See Section 16-109
Multifamily residential uses up to 30 dwelling
units per acre on parcels in the AHD additive
zone3
SUP See Section 16-420
Multifamily residential uses up to 30 dwelling
units per acre on parcels in the AHP additive
zone3
SPR See Section 16-420
Music or vocal instruction P
Music store P
Newsstand, newspaper office P
Nursery, flower or plants P
Off-street parking P P
Office condominiums SUP SUP See Section 16-395
Other uses similar in nature or operation to
permitted or related uses in the C-1 zone
SUP
Pawnshops SUP
Pharmacies engaged primarily in selling
pharmaceuticals and medical supplies
SUP P* P
Private clubs, fraternities, sororities, and lodges,
except those the chief activity of which is a
SUP SUP
service customarily carried on as a business
--- --- --- --- ---
Private or parochial schools, except those of a
correctional nature or those intended for the
mentally handicapped
SUP
Professional and business offices, including
medical, dental, legal, engineering, architectural,
insurance, real estate, and other offices not
engaged in selling goods or products
P P
Public or private parks and playgrounds SUP SUP SUP
Public parking area P
Public schools, elementary, junior high, high
school, colleges
SUP SUP SUP
Public utility structure SUP
R-3 zone permitted and related uses SUP
Radio and television store and repair shop
incidental to retail sales
P
Recreational vehicle park not including vehicle
storage or trailers over 30 feet in length
SUP
Residential care facilities serving no more than
15 persons3
DDR
Residential care facility3 SUP SUP
Residential stock cooperatives and community
apartments
SUP See Section 16-395
Resort-vacation timeshares subject to R-3 zone
development standards
SUP SUP See Sections 16-58 through 16-63
Restaurant, general or fast food, not serving
alcoholic beverages
P
Restaurant, general purpose, provided that:
Establishment does not serve alcoholic
beverages or offer entertainment; and
Establishment does not serve food to patrons in
their automobiles or permit take-out or delivery
of food other than as a clearly incidental or
minor part of the operation
SUP SUP
Retail stores or businesses not involving any
kind of manufacture, processing, or treatment of
products other than as is clearly incidental to the
retail business conducted on the premises; and
provided that:
not more than 5 persons are employed in the
manufacture, processing, or treatment of
products; and
such operations or products are not objectionable
due to noise, odor, dust, smoke, vibration or
other similar causes
P
Sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption off-
site
SUP
--- --- --- --- ---
Service stations SUP* SUP See Section 16-109
Shoe repair store P* P
Single room occupancy3 SUP See Section 16-441
Signs P P Refer to Article IX
Signs, non-accessory SUP
Small residential health or care facilities that
conform to city ordinances restricting building
heights, setbacks, lot dimensions, placement of
signs and other matters applicable to dwellings
of the same type in the same zone, and that
provide services to no more than 6 persons, or to
no more than 8 children in the case of a small
family day care home
P
Soft drink fountain P* P
Stationery store P* P
Storage garage P
Studios (except motion picture) P
Supportive housing3 SPR
Swap meet, provided that:
the use is carried out in a building of at least
10,000 sq. ft.;
there is no outdoor display of merchandise
unless allowed by a temporary use permit; and
there are no signs on the exterior of the building
identifying individual vendors
SUP See Section 16-476
Swim clubs, tennis clubs, golf courses, and
similar uses incidental to a residential tract or
development
SUP
Taxidermist P
Telephone exchange P
Theater P See Section 16-331
Trade school that is not objectionable due to
noise, odor, or vibration
P
Transitional housing3 SUP
Vehicle sales, new and used, including truck
sales and incidental automotive service and
repair
SUP
Veterinary hospitals for small animals, serving
common household pets, provided that no
outdoor kennels are permitted
SUP
<Wedding chapel P
Wireless communications facilities, stealth P P P Refer to Article V, Division 16

1: All stores, shops or businesses in a C-1 zone shall be retail establishments selling new merchandise only. All shops secondary to the convenience market shall be no larger than 1,500 square feet of gross floor area unless a special use permit grants additional gross floor area. All sales or storage shall be conducted within a totally enclosed building, except for service stations.

2: No other uses shall be permitted in the C-2 zone without the approval of the City Council. 3: Except that such facilities shall not be permitted in the airport hazard overlay zone. *: Permitted in the C-1 zone provided such uses do not sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on or off the premises. **: A development design review permit is required for all new construction unless a special use permit, site plan review or other zoning permit is required under this chapter.

(Ord. No. 3037)

SEC. 16-108. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.

The following table sets forth development standards for all of the commercial zone districts in the city. All permitted and conditionally permitted uses shall be consistent with the purpose and intent of the respective zone.

The following table sets forth development standards for all of the commercial zone districts in the city. All
permitted and conditionally permitted uses shall be consistent with the purpose and intent of the respective zone.
The following table sets forth development standards for all of the commercial zone districts in the city. All
permitted and conditionally permitted uses shall be consistent with the purpose and intent of the respective zone.
The following table sets forth development standards for all of the commercial zone districts in the city. All
permitted and conditionally permitted uses shall be consistent with the purpose and intent of the respective zone.
The following table sets forth development standards for all of the commercial zone districts in the city. All
permitted and conditionally permitted uses shall be consistent with the purpose and intent of the respective zone.
Development Standards
Standard Zone District
C-O C-1 C-2
Development Standards
Standard Zone District
C-O C-1 C-2
Height permitted 15 ft.* 20 ft. 35 ft.*
Front yard setback 10 ft.* 10 ft.; 20 ft. if abuts a
residential zone
10 ft.**
Interior lot side yard setback 5 ft.; 1 ft. increase for each
additional story
10 ft. 5 ft.; no setback if abuts
another C-2 zoned lot**
Corner lot side yard setback 10 ft.; 1 ft. increase for each
additional story
50% of the front yard setback 5 ft.; no setback if abuts
another C-2 zoned lot**
Reverse corner lot street side:
side yard setback rearing
residential zone
Same as front yard setback 50% of the front yard required
on the lots in the rear of such
lot
Same as front yard setback
Rear yard setback 10 ft.; 1 ft. increase for each
additional story
15 ft. No setback required for
buildings less than 16 ft.; 15 ft.
for buildings over 16 ft.; 10 ft.
if abuts a public alley**
*Additional height may be allowed with approval of a SUP.
** Buildings used exclusively for dwelling purposes shall comply with the front, side, and rear yard regulations of the R-3 zone.
Buildings having commercial uses on the lower floor and residential uses on the upper floor or floors shall comply with the front, side
and rear yard regulations of the C-2 zone for commercial floors and the R-3 zone for the residential floors.

(Ord. No. 3037)

SEC. 16-109. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC TO C-O, C-1, AND C-2.

  • (A) C-O zone.

  • (1) Residential uses prohibited, except as allowed per State law.

(a) Residential uses shall not be permitted in this zone, except as allowed per State law or except that any existing dwelling may be maintained and any necessary structural alterations that are required by law may be made to perpetuate such a nonconforming use.

(b) A special use permit for a multi-story structure may approve penthouses or one or more floors of living units in addition to the professional uses or other uses permitted by this division.

('64 Code, Sec. 34-70.3) (Ord. No. 1036)

(2) Conversion of existing structures prohibited. Existing dwellings and other residential structures shall not be converted to professional use. Existing hotels and motels shall not be converted to timeshare use. ('64 Code, Sec. 34-70.4) (Ord. No. 1036, 1959)

(3) Incidental retail and professional services. Retail commercial uses shall not be permitted except that where a special use permit application has been filed for a multi-story structure, the special use permit approval body may approve retail uses, such as restaurants and coffee shops, and personal services, such as barbershops, intended primarily to serve the occupants of the building.

('64 Code, Sec. 34-70.5) (Ord. No. 1036)

  • (4) Cannabis uses prohibited. All cannabis-related uses are prohibited in the C-O Commercial Office Zone. (Ord. No. 2929)

  • (B) C-1 zone.

(1) C-1 basic provisions. Only one neighborhood shopping center may be so zoned for each neighborhood specified in the general plan. Property may be zoned as a neighborhood shopping center only when all of the following standards are met:

(a) The property is located at the intersection of thoroughfares or at the intersection of a thoroughfare and a collector street.

(b) The neighborhood within which the property is situated contains a minimum of 600 residents or is shown on adopted city maps to contain that number of dwelling units after development.

  • (c) The property, when developed as a neighborhood shopping center, shall:
  1. Have as a major tenant, a convenience market or similar outlet for daily shopping needs;

  2. Feature architecture of residential character in conformance with the neighborhood; and

  3. Be in conformance with the traffic and circulation requirements of this code.

('64 Code, Sec. 34-72) (Ord. No. 1565)

(2) C-1 lot area. Each neighborhood shopping center shall normally be rectangular in shape with an area of approximately one acre and a depth of approximately 150 feet. In no case shall a neighborhood shopping center have less than 21,780 square feet (one-half acre) or more than 65,340 square feet (one and one-half acre) including the area, if any, devoted to service station use. Such centers shall have a minimum width of 100 feet and a minimum average depth of 135 feet.

(‘64 Code, Sec. 34-77) (Ord. No. 1565)

  • (3) C-1 prohibited uses. The following uses shall not be permitted in the C-1 zone:

  • (a) New residential uses, except as allowed per State law. Existing residential uses shall be subject to the provisions herein;

  • (b) Conversion of dwellings to commercial uses unless a special use permit is approved as provided in Sections 16-530 through 16-553;

  • (c) Drive-in or take-out cafe or restaurant;

  • (d) Food delivery, catering or food pickup or take-out establishments;

  • (e) Bars, cocktail lounges and the like;

  • (f) Liquor stores;

  • (g) Advertising structures other than those permitted in Article IX of this chapter.

  • ('64 Code, Sec. 34-75) (Ord. No. 1565, 2929, 2972)

(4) Service station use. Service stations are permitted on approval of a special use permit, provided the service station is limited to the retail sale of gasoline, oil, tires and automobile accessories, lubrication services, minor automotive repairs and the replacement or installation of automotive accessories provided that:

  • (a) No service station shall have more than two pump islands or more than six pumps;

(b) No service station shall have more than two lubrication hoists and all such hoists shall be located within an enclosed structure; and

  • (c) No sales or rentals of trucks, trailers, cars, equipment, and the like, shall be permitted.

  • (5) Neighborhood shopping center development standards.

(a) A neighborhood shopping center shall have a zone wall, landscaping and on-site lighting as required by this chapter.

(b) Each neighborhood shopping center shall normally be rectangular in shape with an area of approximately one acre and a depth of approximately 150 feet. In no case shall a neighborhood shopping center have less than 21,780 square feet (one-half acre) or more than 65,340 square feet (one and one-half acre) including the area, if any, devoted to service station use. Such centers shall have a minimum width of 100 feet and a minimum average depth of 135 feet. ('64 Code, Sec. 34-78.3) (Ord. No. 1565, 2336)

  • (C) C-2 zone.

  • (1) Yard requirements for dwellings.

(a) Buildings used exclusively for dwelling purposes shall comply with the front, side and rear yard regulations of the R-3 zone.

(b) Buildings having commercial uses on the lower floor and residential uses on the upper floor or floors shall comply with the front, side and rear yard regulations of the C-2 zone for commercial floors and the R-3 zone for the residential floors.

('64 Code, Sec. 34-85) (Ord. No. 1409)

(2) Operating standard for sale or storage of used fabric items. Operators of retail stores that sell previously owned, secondhand or used merchandise, shall thoroughly launder or dry-clean such merchandise that is made of fabric (such as curtains, slipcovers and bed linens) before offering such merchandise for sale or storing such merchandise on the premises. On request of police department or code enforcement division personnel, the operator of such a store who has complied with this operating standard shall sign a statement under penalty of perjury providing the facts as to how and when such compliance occurred.

(Ord. No. 2626)

(Ord. No. 3037)