203.02: LAND USE REGULATIONS: — Porterville Zoning Code

Table 203.02 below prescribes the land use regulations for “Commercial” Districts. The regulations for each district are established by letter designations as follows:

“P” designates permitted uses.
“C” designates use classifications that are permitted after review and approval of a Conditional Use Permit by the City Council.

“M” designates use classifications that are permitted after review and approval of a Minor Conditional Use Permit by the City Council.

“(#)” numbers in parentheses refer to specific limitations listed at the end of the table.

“-” designates uses that are not permitted.

Use classifications are defined in Chapter 701, Use Classifications. In cases where a specific land use or activity is not defined, the Zoning Administrator shall assign the land use or activity to a classification that is substantially similar in character. Use classifications and sub-classifications not listed in the table or not found to be substantially similar to the uses below are prohibited. The table also notes additional use regulations that apply to various uses. Section numbers in the right hand column refer to other sections of this Chapter.

TABLE 203.02: LAND USE REGULATIONS -

COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS

COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
Use Classifications				CN		CR	CG	CMX	Additional Regulations

Use Classifications				CN		CR	CG	CMX	Additional Regulations
Residential uses:
	Multi-family residential		-			-	-	P(1)	Section 201.04
	Family daycare home:		See sub-classifications below
		Small	-		-		-	P
		Large	-		-		-	P	Section 301.07, Family Daycare Home, Large
	Group residential		-		-		-	P(2)
	Residential care facilities, limited		-		-		-	P
Public and semipublic uses:
	Clubs and lodges		C		-		P	P	Section 301.02, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
	Colleges and trade schools, public or private		-		C		C	C
	Community centers		P		-		-	C
	Cultural institutions		C		-		C	C
	Daycare centers		C		-		-	C
	Instructional services		P		-		P	P
	Park and recreation facilities, public		P		-		P	P
	Religious facilities		C		C		C	C
	Residential care facilities, general		-		-		-	C	Section 301.15, Residential Care Facilities, General
	Social service facilities		-		P		P	C	Section 301.19, Social Service Facilities
Commercial uses:
	Animal	care, sales and services:	See sub-classifications below
		Kennels	M(4)		-		M(4)	-
		Pet stores	M(4)		M(4)		P(4)	-
		Veterinary services, small	-		-		P(4)	-
	Artists studios		P		-		P	P
	Automobile/vehicle sales and services:		See sub-classifications below
		Automobile/vehicle rentals	-		P		P	-
		Automobile/vehicle sales and leasing	-		C		P	-
		Automobile/vehicle repair, major	-		-		P	-	Section 301.04, Automobile/ Vehicle Service And Repair
		Automobile/vehicle service and repair, minor	-		P		P	-	Section 301.04, Automobile/ Vehicle Service And Repair
		Automobile/vehicle washing	-		C		P	-	Section 301.05, Auto Service Stations And Car Washing
		Large vehicle and equipment sales, service and rental	-		-		C	-	Section 301.04, Automobile/ Vehicle Service And Repair

	Service station	C(3)	C	C	C	Section 301.05, Auto Service Stations And Car Washing
	Towing and impound yards	-	-	C(20)		Section 300.03 Fencing ; Section 300.09 Outdoor storage ; 300.10 Screening
Banks and financial institutions:		See sub-classifications below
	Banks and credit unions	P(5)	P	P	P
	Check cashing businesses	-	P	P	P
Building materials and services		-	P(6)	P(6)	-
Business services		P(3,7)	P	P	P
Cannabis dispensary				P		Municipal Code Chapter 15, Article VII
Commercial entertainment and recreation:		See sub-classifications below
	Cinema/theaters	-	P	P	C	Section 301.02, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
	Large scale	-	-	C(8)	-	Section 301.02, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
	Small scale	-	P(19)	P(19)	C	Section 301.02, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
Eating, drinking, and smoking establishments:		See sub-classifications below
	Bars/nightclubs/lounges	-	C	C	C	Sections 300.08, Outdoor Seating ; and 301.02, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
	Coffee shops/cafes	P(5)	P	P	P	Section 300.08, Outdoor Seating
	Restaurants, less than 3,000 square feet	P(5)	P	P	P	Sections 300.08, Outdoor Seating ; and 301.02, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
	Restaurants, greater than 3,000 square feet	C(5)	P	P	P	Sections 300.08, Outdoor Seating ; and 301.02, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
	Tobacco bars	-	M	M	M
Food and beverage retail sales		P(9)	P	P	P(9)	Section 301.02, Alcoholic Beverage Sales
Funeral parlors and mortuaries		-	C	P	-
Hotels and motels		-	C	C	C
Light fleet based services		-	-	P	-
Maintenance and repair services		P(10)	P(10)	P	P(10)
Medical facilities:		See sub-classifications below
	Medical clinic	-	P(12)	P	P(12)
	Professional/medical	-	P(12)	P	P(12)
Mixed u	se development				C	Section 203.04, Supplemental Regulations
Nurseries and garden centers		-	P	P	P
Offices:		See sub-classifications below
	General offices	P(11)	P(12)	P	P

		Walk-in clientele	P(13)	P(12)	P	P(13)
	Parking, public or private		P(14)	P	P	P(14)
	Personal services		P	P	P	P
	Retail sales:		See sub-classifications below
		Less than 50,000 square feet	P	P	P	P
		50,000 square feet or more	-	C	C	-
		Swap meet	-	C	C	-
	Wholesaling and distribution		-	-	P	-
Industrial uses:
	Construction and material yards		-	-	C	-	Section 300.09, Outdoor Storage
	Handicraft/custom manufacturing		-	P(15)	P	-
	Industry, limited		-	-	P	-
	Recycling facilities:		See sub-classifications below
		Recycling collection facility	-	C	P	-	Section 301.14, Recycling Facilities
		Recycling processing facility	-	-	C	-	Section 301.14, Recycling Facilities
		Reverse vending machine	P	P	P	P	Section 301.14, Recycling Facilities
	Warehousing and storage:		See sub-classifications below
		Chemical, mineral, and explosives storage	-	-	C	-
		Indoor warehousing and storage	-	-	P	-
		Personal storage	-	C	P	C	Section 301.13, Personal Storage Facilities
Transportation, communication, and utilities uses:
	Communication facilities:		See sub-classifications below
		Antenna and transmission towers, camouflage facilities	P(16)	P(16)	P(16)	P(16)	Section 301.20, Telecommunica tion Facilities
		Antenna and transmission towers, non-camouflage facilities	M(16 )	M(16)	M(16)	M(16)	Section 301.20, Telecommunica tion Facilities
		Broadcasting facility	-	M	M	-	Section 301.20, Telecommunica tion Facilities
		Call center	-	P(3)	P	-
		Recording studio	-	P(4)	P(4)	-
	Freight/truck terminals and warehouses		-	-	C	-
	Transportation passenger terminals		-	P	P	-
	Utilities, minor		P	P	P	P
Agricultural and extractive uses:

COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
	Crop cultivation, commercial	M	M	M	M	Section 301.06, Crop Cultivation
	Agriculture employee housing	M	M	M	M
Other applicable types:
	Accessory uses and structures	P	P	P	P	Section 301.01, Accessory Uses And Structures
	Animal keeping	-	-	-	P	Section 301.03 Animal Keeping
	Caretaker unit	-	P(18)	P(18)	P(18)

Home occupations	-	Section 301.09, Home Occupations
Nonconforming use	Article 307, Nonconforming Uses, Structures,	And Lots
Temporary use	Section 301.21, Temporary Uses

Notes:

Specific Limitations:

(1) Multi-family residential is permitted in conjunction with allowable nonresidential uses.
(2) Limited to no more than 2 rooms in a dwelling rented to not more than a total of 4 persons and meals are not provided to more than 4 boarders.
(3) Limited to establishments with a gross floor area of 5,000 square feet or less.
(4) Provided that such use shall be completely enclosed in a building of soundproof construction.
(5) Drive-through facilities are prohibited.
(6) Bulk storage of sand, gravel or cement is not allowed.
(7) Wholesale services are not allowed.
(8) Campgrounds are prohibited.
(9) Limited to establishments with a gross floor area less than 50,000 square feet.
(10) Outdoor work and outdoor storage is prohibited.
(11) General offices shall not be located on the ground floor.
(12) Minor conditional use permit approval is required for office, business, or professional uses greater than 5,000 square feet in size per lot or integrated commercial development.
(13) Limited to establishments with a gross floor area less than 1,500 square feet.
(14) Limited to parking areas for exclusive use of occupants, employees and patrons of the uses, buildings, stores, and businesses located in that zone.
(15) Limited to establishments with a gross floor area less than 2,000 square feet.
(16) Prohibited within 300 feet of any R district except as detailed in 301.20E.
(17) Limited to radio or television studios.
(18) Limited to 1 dwelling for a caretaker or watchman and his immediate family, necessary and incidental to a use located in such zone. Such dwellings shall be a permanent structure.
(19) Minor conditional use permit approval is required for indoor shooting ranges.
(20) Salvage and wrecking yards are not permitted. Caretaker units are only permitted when explicitly addressed in the CUP.
(Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019; amd. Ord. 1868, 2-4-2020; Ord. 1909, 1-21-2025; Ord. 1911, 6-3-2025)