Paso Robles Municipal Code Ch. 21.77 Nonconforming Uses

Legally nonconforming land uses may continue to be operated and maintained subject to the following limitations:

A. The site or building areas in which they are located shall not be enlarged or increased. Exception: Subject to approval of a conditional use permit, additions may be made to residential dwelling units in commercial and industrial districts, provided that said addition shall not increase the number of dwelling units on a property, including the addition of any accessory dwelling unit.

B. The intensity or level of use or activity shall not be increased in terms of hours of operation, daily generation of vehicle trips, or other metric determined by the zoning administrator based on the use.

C. If a nonconforming use is abandoned for a period of twelve or more consecutive months, such use shall neither be reestablished nor resume operation, and subsequent land uses shall conform to the general and zoning district regulations of this title. The lack of a valid city business license for the nonconforming use for a period exceeding twelve months shall be evidence of abandonment of use.

(Ord. No. 1144 N.S., § 3(Exh. A), 10-1-2024)

A. If the building(s) or structure(s) in which a legal nonconforming use is located is damaged by fire, earthquake, explosion, or other force majeure not attributed to a purposeful act of destruction to an extent of more than fifty percent of the gross floor area of the structure(s), the use shall neither be continued nor be reestablished at that location. Exception: If the nonconforming use consists of residential dwellings in a commercial or industrial zoning district subject to approval of a conditional use permit, any dwellings may be rebuilt if doing so would not have a significant adverse effect on public safety or the existing or planned visual character of the neighborhood, and/or if other factors indicate that the goals and policies of the general plan would be advanced by such restoration.

B. If the buildings or structures containing a legal nonconforming use are damaged by a purposeful act of destruction, the use may not be re-established.

(Ord. No. 1144 N.S., § 3(Exh. A), 10-1-2024)