Chapter 92.00 — Zoning Regulations
§ 92.14
Palm Springs Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Palm Springs
§ 92.14.00. "C-2" general commercial zone. ¶
The C-2 zone is intended for general commercial use. (Ord. 1294, 1988)
§ 92.14.01. Uses permitted. ¶
A. Uses Permitted.
Buildings, structures and land shall be used and buildings and structures shall hereafter be erected, altered or enlarged only for the following uses: All uses shall be subject to the standards in Section 92.14.03.
All uses permitted in the C-1 zone, Section 92.12.01(A);
Automobile parking lots and structures not in conjunction with a permitted use, subject to the provisions of Section 93.06.00;
Automobile sales agencies (at least 50% of autos displayed for sale shall be new);
Bail bonds (Deleted by Ord. 1502);
Bicycle rental (indoor);
Billiard (Deleted by Ord. 1500);
Blueprinting and photocopying;
Business schools;
Cannabis lounge or cannabis dispensary, subject to the property development standards contained in Section 93.23.15 of this Code;
Churches;
Classic auto sales (Deleted by Ord. 1502);
Convention center;
Gun shops (Deleted by Ord. 1502);
Laundry agencies and self-service laundries;
Loan offices;
Locksmith (and saw filing);
Lodges, meeting halls, private clubs, wedding chapels, and similar assembly uses;
Mixed-use development;
Pawnbroker (Deleted by Ord. 1500);
Pet shops, excluding dog kennels and catteries;
Religious institutions;
Supermarket;
Transportation terminals (Deleted by Ord. 1726).
- B. Similar Uses Permitted by Commission Determination.
The commission may, by resolution of record, permit any other uses which it may determine to be similar to those listed above and not more obnoxious or detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare or to other uses permitted in the zone, as provided in Section 94.01.00. All uses shall be subject to the standards in Section 92.14.03.
C. Uses Permitted by Land Use Permit.
Indoor uses:
- a. Animal day care;
b. Automobile rental agencies;
c. Bicycle rental;
d. Catering in conjunction with permitted main use;
e. Classic auto sales;
f. Estate sales;
g. Farmers market;
h. Festivals and exhibits;
i. Gun shops;
j. Ice cream parlors;
k. Nurseries, including outdoor storage of plants only;
l. Recycling collection center as an accessory use;
m. Restaurants within mixed-use developments in excess of 20,000 square feet of floor area;
n. Spa as an accessory use to a beauty parlor provided the staff is licensed and trained in the particular programs as outlined in Chapter 5.34 of the Municipal Code and provided such facility is in compliance with Chapter 5.34 of the Municipal Code;
o. Take-out food service in conjunction with permitted restaurant use;
p. Thrift shops.
Commercial recreation (indoor).
Outdoor uses as an accessory to a permitted main use and located on the same property as the permitted use:
a. Art displays;
b. Artisans, artists;
c. Car shows;
d. Christmas tree sales not as an accessory use to a main use;
e. Display cases in malls or courts;
f. Farmers market;
g. Fashion shows;
h. Festivals, exhibits and special events;
i. Florists;
j. Musicians/entertainment (subject to provisions of noise ordinance);
k. Plant and floral sales and displays;
l. Postcard displays (limited to one per store frontage);
m. Theatre and public assembly;
n. Vending carts dispensing the following:
i. Food,
ii. Beverages,
iii. Crafts,
iv. Floral items,
v. Other uses as determined by the planning commission.
Outdoor uses as an accessory to a permitted main use and located on public property including the public right-of-way (streets and sidewalks):
a. Art displays;
b. Artisans, artists;
c. Festivals, exhibits and special events;
d. Florists;
e. Musicians/entertainment (subject to provisions of noise ordinance);
f. Outdoor dining including beverage service;
g. Plant and floral sales and displays;
h. Vending carts dispensing the following:
i. Food,
ii. Beverages,
iii. Crafts,
iv. Floral items,
v. Other uses as determined by the planning commission.
Outdoor uses located on public property including the public right-of-way (streets and sidewalks) and conducted in a designated area approved by the city council and undertaken as part of a festival, event or program to promote commercial, artistic or cultural activity in the downtown district:
a. Art displays,
b. Artisans, artists;
c. Car shows;
d. Farmers market;
e. Fashion shows;
f. Festivals, exhibits and special events;
g. Florists;
h. Musicians/entertainment (subject to provisions of noise ordinance);
i. Outdoor dining including beverage service;
j. Plant and floral sales and displays;
k. Theatre and public assembly;
l. Vending carts dispensing the following:
i. Food,
ii. Beverages,
iii. Crafts,
iv. Floral items,
v. Antiques and collectibles,
vi. Other uses as determined by the planning commission.
- D. Uses Permitted by Conditional Use Permit.
The following uses may be permitted subject to approval of a conditional use permit, as provided in Section 94.02.00:
Uses permitted by conditional use permit in the C-1 zone, Section 92.12.01(C), unless otherwise permitted or prohibited;
Ambulance services, and accessory uses customarily incident to the permitted use, provided, the site is located on a major or secondary thoroughfare as indicated by the general plan;
Automobile repair garages, including repair garages with incidental body and fender work and painting; provided, appliances for dispensing gasoline or for oiling and greasing shall be not less than 20 feet from any street line;
Cabaret, entertainment (Deleted by Ord. 1511);
Motor scooter, motor bike and motorcycle sales and display only. The following standards shall apply:
a. Location.
- i. The site shall not adjoin an existing hotel or residential use at the time of its establishment.
- ii. The minimum distance from the site to a residential zone, school, park, playground, church, museum or similar use shall be 250 feet;
Newspaper printing;
Recreational facilities, commercial;
Spas;
Transportation terminals.
(Ord. 1294, 1988; Ord. 1307, 1988; Ord. 1324, 1989; Ord. 1366, 1991; Ord. 1418, 1992; Ord. 1500, 1995; Ord. 1502, 1995; Ord. 1551, 1998; Ord. 1553, 1998; Ord. 1590 § 14, 2000; Ord. 1726 §§ 2, 4, 2008; Ord. 1841 § 8, 2014; Ord. 1876 § 2, 2015; Ord. 1908 § 2, 2016; Ord. 1943 § 4, 2017; Ord. 1977 § 10, 2019; Ord. 2007 §§ 8, 9, 2019; Ord. 2020 §§ 33, 34, 2020; Ord. 2041 § 15, 2021; Ord. 2076, 1/12/2023
§ 92.14.02. Uses prohibited. ¶
All uses and structures not permitted in Section 92.14.01 are deemed to be specifically prohibited. The following classifications of uses shall not be permitted in this zone by commission determination:
A. Industrial uses;
B. Motorscooter, motorbike and motorcycle rental, repair and service;
C. Pawn shops;
D. Single-family residential use.
(Ord. 1294, 1988; Ord. 1551, 1998; Ord. 1977 § 11, 2019)
§ 92.14.03. Property development standards. ¶
The provisions of the C-1 zone, Section 92.12.03 shall apply. Exception. For properties which front Tahquitz Canyon Way or E. Palm Canyon Drive see Special setbacks, Section 93.01.02. (Ord. 1294, 1988; Ord. 1500, 1995; Ord. 1553, 1998)
§ 92.14.04. Property maintenance standards. ¶
All properties shall be subject to property maintenance standards established in Section 93.19.00. (Ord. 1294, 1988)
§ 92.14.1.00. "HC" highway commercial zone. ¶
The "HC" highway commercial zone is intended to provide for the development of a commercial district providing for the retail and service needs of freeway travelers. (Ord. 1447, 1993)
§ 92.14.1.01. Uses permitted. ¶
- A. Uses Permitted.
Buildings, structures and land shall be used and buildings and structures shall hereafter be erected, altered or enlarged only for the following uses. All uses shall be subject to the standards in Section 92.14.1.03.
All uses permitted in the C-1 and C-2 Zone districts, Sections 92.12.01(A) and 92.14.01(A), unless otherwise regulated;
Animal day care;
Cannabis lounge or cannabis dispensary, subject to the property development standards contained in Section 93.23.15 of this Code;
Hotels, subject to the R-3 zone standards, Section 92.04.00, including accessory recreational vehicle parks where such use does not occupy more than 25% of the lot;
Offices (all types);
Restaurants (all types);
Large-scale services retail outlets.
- B. Similar Uses Permitted by Commission Determination.
The commission may by resolution permit any other uses which it may determine to be similar to those listed above and not more obnoxious or detrimental to the public health, safety and
welfare or to other uses permitted in the zone, as provided in Section 94.01.00. All uses shall be subject to the standards in Section 92.14.1.03.
C. Uses Permitted by Land Use Permit.
Christmas tree sales not as an accessory to a main use;
Nurseries, including outdoor storage of plants only;
Recycling collection center as an accessory use on a developed property.
D. Uses Permitted by Conditional Use Permit.
The following uses may be permitted subject to approval of a conditional use permit, as provided in Section 94.02.00:
Uses permitted by conditional use permit in the C-1 zone, Section 92.12.01(C), unless otherwise permitted;
Large-scale retail commercial development on sites of 10 acres or greater;
Automobile service stations (Section 94.02.00(H)(2)(b), regarding distance between stations shall not apply), including accessory or secondary nonautomotive commercial uses (the limitations of Section 94.02.00(H)(2)(m) shall not apply, except that display and storage of such uses shall be totally within the principal building);
Recreational vehicle and truck sales;
Truck service stations and stops. (Ord. 1447, 1993; Ord. 1876 § 3, 2015; Ord. 1908 § 2, 2016; Ord. 1943 § 5, 2017; Ord. 2007 §§ 10, 11, 2019; Ord. 2041 § 16, 2021)
§ 92.14.1.02. Uses prohibited. ¶
All uses and structures not permitted in Section 92.14.1.01 are deemed to be specifically prohibited. The following classifications of uses shall not be permitted in this zone by commission determination.
Auto wrecking, impound and junk yards;
Industrial uses;
Residential uses, except hotels;
Thrift shops;
Wholesaling/warehousing, except in conjunction with permitted retail uses. (Ord. 1447, 1993)
§ 92.14.1.03. Property development standards. ¶
The following property development standards shall apply to all land and buildings in the "HC" zone, except that any created in compliance with applicable laws and ordinances in effect at the time of its creation may be used as a building site.
- A. Lot Area.
Except where lot sizes are otherwise established by an approved master plan, each lot shall have a minimum area of two acres.
- B. Lot Dimensions.
Except where lot dimensions are otherwise established by an approved master plan:
Each lot shall have a minimum width of 200 feet.
Each lot shall have a minimum depth of 200 feet.
C. Building Height.
Buildings and structures shall have a height not greater than 30 feet.
Exceptions. Projections above the building height limit are permitted per Section 93.03.00.
Highrise buildings may be permitted pursuant to the provisions of Sections 93.04.00 and 94.02.00.
D. Yards.
General Provisions, see Section 93.01.00.
Where property in the "HC" zone abuts a street, which is not a boundary with a residential zone, or freeway, there shall be a yard abutting such street averaging not less than 25 feet, which shall be landscaped and maintained. No portion of this yard shall be used for storage, parking or loading; except that the planning commission may allow a portion of the yard abutting a freeway to be used for parking only if adequately screened by a solid masonry wall or dense landscaping from view from the freeway.
Where property in the "HC" zone abuts property in a nonresidential zone, there shall be a yard of not less than twenty feet. Such yard may be used for parking, loading or storage. Landscaped buffers at least five feet in width along interior yards may be required by the planning commission.
Where property in the "HC" zone abuts property in, or a street which is a boundary with, a residential zone, there shall be a yard of not less than 100 feet. The 25 feet nearest the property line shall be landscaped and maintained. The remainder may be used for parking.
E. Walls, Fences and Landscaping.
The provisions of Section 93.02.00 shall apply. Exception. Fences and walls shall not exceed eight feet in height in any required interior side or rear yard.
A minimum of 20% of the lot area shall be landscaped and maintained.
F. Site Design.
Outdoor customer service and parking areas shall be designed so that they are shielded from prevailing winds and blows and to the greatest degree possible. The planning commission may require a wind break in conjunction with or site plan integration with surrounding properties.
- G. Access.
The provisions of Section 93.05.00 shall apply.
- H. Coverage.
No requirements.
I. Off-street Parking.
The provisions of Section 93.06.00 shall apply.
Exception.
The planning commission may allow a maximum of 15% of the total required parking spaces to be used for pull-through RV and truck parking spaces for restaurant, hotel and automobile service station, and other similar, uses. Such spaces shall be a minimum size of 10 feet by 38 feet, and may count as two standard spaces. A minimum of the first 20 spaces required of any use shall be standard spaces.
J. Off-street Loading and Trash Areas.
The provisions of Section 93.07.00 shall apply.
Loading docks, which are located within 150 feet of a residential zone boundary, shall be screened from view from the residential area.
K. Signs.
The provisions of Section 93.20.00 shall apply.
- L. Storage.
All goods, wares, merchandise, produce and other commodities which are stored, repaired, offered or displayed for sale or exchange shall be housed in permanent buildings unless otherwise permitted.
- M. Antennas.
The provisions of Section 93.08.00 shall apply.
- N. Public Art.
The provisions of Section 93.11.00 shall apply. (Ord. 1447, 1993; Ord. 1553, 1998)
§ 92.14.1.04. Property maintenance standards. ¶
All properties shall be subject to property maintenance standards established in Section 93.19.00. (Ord. 1447, 1993)
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