Chapter 25.16 — COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS

Palm Desert Municipal Code · 2026-07 edition · updated 2026-09-27 · Palm Desert

§ 25.16.010. Purpose.¶

The purpose of this chapter is to establish commercial and industrial zoning districts in the City, along with allowed use and development standards applicable to those districts. These districts are consistent with and implement the City's General Plan commercial and industrial district and center land use categories as indicated in Table 25.04-1 (Zoning Districts). (Ord. 1259 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1324 § 5, 2017; Ord. 1329 § 3, 2017)

§ 25.16.020. Characteristics of the Commercial and Industrial Districts.¶

The following descriptions of each district identify the characteristic uses, intensity of uses, and intended level of development for that district.

A. Office Professional (OP). This district is intended for various levels of intensities for business, office, administrative, research and development, and/or professional land uses. This district is characterized by urban streetscapes with formal tree arrangements and larger block sizes.
B. Planned Commercial (PC). The PC districts provide flexibility for commercial and mixed-use development. Generally, these districts are characterized as coordinated projects that integrate compatible commercial and residential mixed-uses. PC districts balance the need for automobile parking and pedestrian connections that are organized around walkable streetscapes and other pedestrian amenities. PC districts are further refined based on property size, proximity to residential uses, and as described below:
1. Specialty Commercial Center (PC-1). The specialty commercial center provides for small-scale commercial development that primarily serves surrounding neighborhoods and other immediate land uses. This district is characterized as being located in close proximity to residential development and, as such, provides high levels of convenient pedestrian access. This district also promotes the development of mixed-use (10.0 – 15.0 du/ac) as a transition between residential uses and other development types.
2. District Commercial Center (PC-2). The district commercial center provides convenient shopping opportunities outside of the downtown core area. This PC district provides large-format retail areas for the broader community and provides flexibility for the integration of mixed-use (10.0 – 15.0 du/ac) on upper floors of commercial buildings. The center is also characterized by traditional parking lots with formal tree arrangements and spacing and sufficient space for pedestrian areas and open space.
3. Regional Commercial Center (PC-3). The regional commercial center provides a unified area for commercial uses which offer a wide range of goods and services, including comparison and convenience shopping, entertainment, cultural, and recreational uses. The district provides for large-scale, large-format, commercial development that serves the broader region and is generally located around major intersections and properties in proximity to freeway overpasses. Although this district is predominately commercial, mixed-use (10.0 – 15.0 du/ac) is allowed and should be

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City of Palm Desert, CA § 25.16.020

PALM DESERT CODE

§ 25.16.030

integrated into developments on the upper floor.

Resort Commercial Center (PC-4). The resort commercial center allows for the development of a range of entertainment, hospitality, restaurants, and recreational facilities with related commercial uses to serve visitors to the City. The district is characterized by multi-story development that provides recreation and entertainment amenities in accordance with its urban/natural setting, and provides flexibility to integrate mixed-use (10.0 du/ac).

C. Service Industrial (SI). This district allows for the development of traditional business parks that allow for manufacture, distribution, research and development, and service of products intended for use within Palm Desert and surrounding communities. The district is characterized as having a more urban setting with buildings located near roadways, shared and connected parking, and streetscapes with formal street tree arrangements.
(Ord. 1259 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1324 § 5, 2017; Ord. 1329 § 3, 2017)

§ 25.16.030. Allowed Land Uses and Permit Requirements.¶

Table 25.16-1 (Use Matrix for Commercial and Industrial Districts) identifies allowed uses and corresponding permit requirements for commercial and industrial districts and all other provisions of this title. Descriptions/definitions of the land uses can be found in Chapter 25.99 (Definitions). The "Special Use Provisions" column in the table identifies the specific chapter or section where additional regulations for the specific use type are located within this title.

Use regulations in the table are shown with representative symbols by use classification listing: "P" symbolizes uses permitted by right, "A" symbolizes uses that require approval of an administrative use permit, "C" symbolizes uses that require approval of a conditional use permit, and "N" symbolizes uses that are not permitted. Uses that are not listed are not permitted. However, the Commission may make a use determination as outlined in Section 25.72.020 (Use Determinations).

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§ 25.16.030

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Table 25.16-1: Use Matrix for Commercial and Industrial Districts
Commercial/Industrial District
(P=Permitted; A=Administrative Use Permit; C=Conditional Use
Permit; N=Not Permitted)
Special Use
OP PC-1 PC-2 PC-3 PC-4 SI Provisions
Single-room occupancies N N N N N C
Homeless shelter N N N N N P
Recreation, Resource Preservation, Open Space, and Public Assembly Uses
Amusement facility, indoors N N C C C N
Amusement facility, outdoors N N N C C N
Community facility N N N N N P
Day care center N A A A A N
Emergency shelters N P N N N P
Entertainment facility, indoor N N N P P N
Entertainment facility, N N N P P N
outdoor
Institution, educational C C C N N C
Institution, general C N C N N C
Institution, religious C N C N N C
Open space (developed or N P P N P N
natural)
Recreation facility, N N P P P N
commercial
Recreation facility, private N N N P P N
Theater/auditorium N N P P N N
Utility, Transportation, Public Facility, and Communication Uses
Commercial communication C C C C C C 25.16.040.C
tower
Commercial parking lot C N N N N N
Public utility installation N N N N N P
Public facility (utility or N N N N N P
service)
Utility facility N N C N N P
Retail, Service, and Office Uses
Accessory massage P N P P P N 25.34.160
establishment
Adult entertainment N N N N N C 25.16.040.D
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§ 25.16.030

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Table 25.16-1: Use Matrix for Commercial and Industrial Districts
Commercial/Industrial District
(P=Permitted; A=Administrative Use Permit; C=Conditional Use
Permit; N=Not Permitted)
Special Use
OP PC-1 PC-2 PC-3 PC-4 SI Provisions
Ancillary commercial A P P P N A 25.16.040.E
Art gallery A P P P P C
Art studio A P P P P C
Bed and breakfast N A A A A N
Business support services N N N N P P
Cannabis Storefront retail N C C C C N 25.34.120
Cannabis testing and research N N N N N N 25.34.120
laboratory
Convention and visitors N N P N P N
bureau
Drugstore N P P P N N
Financial institution C P P P N N
Grocery store N P P P N N 25.16.040.F
Health club, gyms or studios N A P P P A
Hotel N A A A P N 25.34.070
Independent stand-alone N N P P N N 25.34.160
massage
Liquor store N P P P N N
Liquor, beverage and food N P P P P N
items shop
Medical, clinic P N P P N N
Medical, office P P P P N N
Medical, hospital N N N N N C
Medical, laboratory P N N N N P
Medical office, accessory N N N N N P 25.16.040.G
Medical, research facility P P N N N C
Mortuary N N N N N P
Office, professional P N P P P P
Office, local government P N N N N P
Office, travel agency P P P P P N
Outdoor sales N N A A A A
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§ 25.16.030

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Table 25.16-1: Use Matrix for Commercial and Industrial Districts
Commercial/Industrial District
(P=Permitted; A=Administrative Use Permit; C=Conditional Use
Permit; N=Not Permitted)
Special Use
OP PC-1 PC-2 PC-3 PC-4 SI Provisions
Personal services N P P P P N
Restaurant A A A A P A 25.16.040.E/H
Retail N P P P P N
Retail, bulky items N N N P P N
Spa N N P P P N
Time-share project N N N C C N
Veterinary clinics/animal A N A A N A
hospitals
Pet boarding N A A A N A
Automobile and Vehicle Uses
Automotive rental agency N N N N P P
Automotive gasoline station N N C C N C 25.34.090
Automotive service facility N N C C N P 25.34.090
Automotive sales new and N N N N N A
used (indoor)
Automotive sales new and N N N N N C
used (outdoor)
Automotive sales of N N N P P N
accessory parts and supplies
Vehicle storage facility N N N N N P 25.16.040.1
Industrial, Manufacturing, and Processing Uses
Cannabis cultivation N N N N N N 25.34.120
Cannabis delivery N N N N N N 25.34.120
Cannabis distribution N N N N N N 25.34.120
Cannabis manufacturing N N N N N N 25.34.120
Industrial planned unit N N N N N P
development
Light industrial and research N N N N N P
and development
Maintenance facility N N N N N P
Pest control facility N N N N N P
Preparation of foodstuffs N N N N N P
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§ 25.16.030

§ 25.16.040

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1 The establishment may be permitted with an administrative use permit but may be elevated to a conditional use permit at the discretion of the ZA based on: parking, traffic, or other impacts.

(Ord. 1259 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1277 § 4, 2014; Ord. 1279 § 6, 2015; Ord. 1302 § 2, 2016; Ord. 1324 § 5, 2017; Ord. 1329 § 3, 2017; Ord. 1384 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1393 § 10, 2023; Ord. 1405 § 1, 2023; Ord. 1411, 4/25/2024; Ord. No. 1416, 8/22/2024)

§ 25.16.040. Specific Use Standards.¶

The following provisions apply as indicated to the uses listed in Table 25.16-1 (Use Matrix for Commercial and Industrial Districts):

A. Caretaker housing. Permitted only when incidental to and on the same site as a permitted or conditional use.
B. Residential (mixed use). Residential uses may be conditionally approved in a mixed-use development subject to a conditional use permit to review for compatibility with use in the vicinity. All new multifamily or mixed-use developments shall be subject to Chapter 25.42.
C. Commercial communication tower. All communication towers and antennas shall satisfy the requirements of Section 25.34.130 (Communication Tower and Antenna Regulations).
D. Adult entertainment. All uses defined as adult entertainment are required to meet the provisions established by Section 25.34.110 (Adult Entertainment Establishments).
E. Commercial (ancillary). Applicable only to office and industrial complexes that occupy a minimum of two acres. Restaurant uses shall not exceed 10 percent of the gross leasable floor area and the total ancillary commercial uses, including restaurants, shall not exceed 25 percent of the gross leasable floor area of the complex. A conditional use permit or administrative use permit is required to review land-use compatibility and to ensure that adequate parking exists to serve the commercial use.
F. Grocery stores. Limited to a maximum building size of 10,000 square feet in PC-1, 30,000 square feet in PC-2, and 60,000 square feet in PC-3.
G. Medical offices, accessory. Permitted only when ancillary to and in conjunction with the operation of a hotel.
H. Restaurants. Drive-through and drive-in facilities permitted by a conditional use permit as

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§ 25.16.040

§ 25.16.050

follows:

Permitted locations.
- i. Within Freeway Commercial Overlay District;
- ii. On the following streets and as indicated in Figure 25.10-2: Monterey Avenue and Portola Avenue from the northern city boundary to the north side of Gerald Ford Drive.
Development standards.
- i. Drive-through lanes and window facilities shall be designed in a manner that they are screened and/or not visible from surrounding public streets.
- ii. Drive-through vehicle queue must be permanently screened and/or not visible from surrounding public streets.

I. Vehicle service and storage facility. The storage facility must be completely screened. (Ord. 1259 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1302 § 3, 2016; Ord. 1322, 2017; Ord. 1324 § 5, 2017; Ord. 1329 § 3, 2017; Ord. 1411, 4/25/2024)

§ 25.16.050. Development Standards.¶

The development standards included in Table 25.16-5 (Commercial and Industrial District Development Standards) are applicable to commercial and industrial districts. These standards, along with other development standards (e.g., landscaping requirements, signs, and parking standards) located in the zoning ordinance, are intended to assist property owners and project designers in understanding the City's minimum requirements and expectations for high-quality development.

A. Special setback requirements. In addition to the setback requirements in Table 25.16-5 (Commercial and Industrial District Development Standards) the following special setback provisions apply:
1. On interior lots in the PC zone districts, setbacks shall be the lesser of the setback requirement listed in Table 25.16-5 (Commercial and Industrial District Development Standards). For exterior lots or projects perimeter adjacent to public streets the setback standards below shall apply. Said setbacks shall be measured from the property line and shall be based on the street type designated by the General Plan.
2. Building setbacks from planned street lines.

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Table 25.16-2: Setbacks from Planned Street Lines
Street Type Setback Distance
Freeway 50 feet
Major 32 feet
Arterial 32 feet
Secondary 32 feet
Collector 25 feet
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§ 25.16.050

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Table 25.16-2: Setbacks from Planned Street Lines
Street Type Setback Distance
Local 25 feet
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Where commercial districts abut a residential district, a fence or wall 6 feet in height shall be located adjoining the property line except adjoining a required front yard. All commercial district property lines adjoining a residential district shall be landscaped with plant materials for an area 10 feet in depth.
All nonpaved areas shall be landscaped and treated or maintained to eliminate dust.

B. Exceptions. Development standards within the PC districts may be modified through the precise plan process as specified in Section 25.72.030.
C. Special standards within the Service Industrial (SI) district. Sound emanating from industrial properties shall be muffled so as not to become objectionable due to intermittence, beat frequency, or shrillness. The measurements of sound shall be measured at the lot lines and shall be measured to decibels with a sound level meter and associated octave band filter, manufactured according to standards prescribed by the American Standards Association. Maximum permissible sound pressure levels shall comply with the limits at Table 25.16-3 and the following standards:

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Table 25.16-3: Maximum Permitted Decibels
Octave Band in Cycles- Adjacent Residential District Lot Line of Use in the SI
Second Boundaries Zone
(decibels) (decibels) (decibels)
0–75 72 79
76–150 59 74
151–300 52 66
301–600 46 59
601–1200 42 53
1201–2400 39 47
2401–4800 34 41
Above 4800 32 39
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The maximum sound pressure level in decibels shall be 0.002 dynes per square centimeter.
Toxic gases or matter shall not be emitted which can cause any damage to health, animals, or vegetation, or other forms of property, or which can cause any excessive soiling beyond the lot lines of the use.
Vibration from any machine, operation, or process which can cause a displacement of 0.003 of 1 inch as measured at the lot lines of the use shall be prohibited. Shock absorbers or similar mounting shall be allowed which will reduce vibration below 0.003 of 1 inch as measured at the lot lines.

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§ 25.16.050

Glare and heat from any source shall not be produced beyond the lot lines of the use.
Storage of refuse, trash, rubbish, or other waste material outside a permanent building shall be kept in enclosed containers in areas other than the front and side yards.
Lighting, including spotlights, floodlights, electrical reflectors, and other means of illumination for signs, structures, landscaping, parking areas, loading and unloading areas, and the like shall be shielded, focused, directed, and arranged as to prevent glare or direct illumination on streets or adjoining property.
Unless specific additional uses are permitted by the certificate of occupancy, the use of radioactive materials within the SI district shall be limited to measuring, gauging and calibration devices, as tracer elements, in x-ray and like apparatus, and in connection with the processing and preservation of foods. In no event shall radioactivity, when measured at each lot line, be in excess of 2.7 x 10-11 micro curies per milliliter of air at any moment of time.
Electrical and electronic devices and equipment shall be suitably wired, shielded, and controlled so that in operation they shall not, beyond the lot lines, emit any electrical impulses or waves which will adversely affect the operation and control of any other electrical or electronic devices and equipment.

D. Special standards within the Office Professional (OP) district.
1. When adjacent to single-story residential, the rear and exterior side yard setbacks shall be increased by 6.43 feet for each foot of building height above 18 feet up to 25 feet tall. See table below:

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Table 25.16-4: Additional Setback in OP District
Height Setback Distance
19 feet 26.43 feet
20 feet 32.86 feet
21 feet 39.29 feet
22 feet 45.72 feet
23 feet 52.15 feet
24 feet 58.58 feet
25 feet 65 feet
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Second-Story Windows. Second-story windows are allowed to face adjacent singlestory residential zones with sufficient screening; either with landscaping or another method as approved through the precise plan process.

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§ 25.16.050

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Table 25.16-5: Commercial and Industrial District Development Standards
Commercial/Industrial District
OP PC-11 PC-21 PC-31 PC-41 SI
Lot Dimensions
Lot size, min 15,000 sf 3 ac 5 ac 30 ac 4 ac 20,000 sf
Lot size, max None 10 ac 20 ac None None None
Lot width, min 70′ None None None No min 100′
Lot depth, min 140′ None None None No min 100′
Setbacks2
Front yard, min 12′ min, – – – 30′ 20′
15′ avg
Side yard, min 0′/20′ 3,4,7 0′/20′ 3,4 0′/20′ 3,4 – 15′ 0′/10′ 5
(interior/exterior)
Street side yard, min 12′ min, – – – – 10′
15′ avg
Rear yard, min 0′/20′ 3,4 0′/20′ 3,4 0′/20′ 3,4 – 20′ 0′/25′ 5
Coverage
Floor area ratio 0.75 0.5 1.0 1.0 0.10 0.75
Residential density 10.0 10.0 – 10.0 – 10.0 – 10.0 -
range (mixed-use) 15.0 15.0 15.0
Building Measurements
Height, max (single- 40′, 3 35′, 2 35′, 2 35′, 2 55′, 4 40′, 3
use) stories stories stories stories stories stories
Height, max (mixed- 40 40 40 40 55 -
use)
No. of stories (mixed- 3 3 3 3 4 -
use)
Building size, max8 – 10,000 sf 30,000 sf – – –
Landscaping
Required landscaping, 15% 15% 15% 20% 20%9 –
min percentage of lot
area
Depth of landscaping 10′ 10′ 20′ 30′ 10′ –
in street setback area,
min
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§ 25.16.050

Notes:

1 Development standards may be modified through the precise plan process as specified in Section 25.72.030.
2 See Section 25.16.050.A (Special setback requirements).
3 When an OP, PC-1 or PC-2 zone is adjacent to a commercially or industrially zoned property, the setback is 0.
4 When an PC-1, or PC-2 zone is adjacent to a residentially zoned property, the minimum required setback for a commercial structure or a joint use commercial and residential structure is equal to the building's height.
5 When an SI zone is adjacent to or across the street from residentially zoned property, the minimum side setback is 10 feet and the minimum rear setback is 25 feet.
6 The side yard setback may be 0 feet where the main building structure on the same lot line of the abutting parcel is set back at 0 feet and both parcels are developed at the same time.
7 When adjacent to single-story residential, see Section 25.16.050.E (Additional setback in OP district).
8 This standard refers to the maximum area for any single commercial enterprise.
9 For hotels, a minimum of 25 percent of the site area must be usable landscaped open space and outdoor living and recreation area with an adequate irrigation system.

(Ord. 1259 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1306 § 2, 2016; Ord. 1324 § 5, 2017; Ord. 1329 § 3, 2017; Ord. 1393 § 11, 2023)

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