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Article 203 — COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS

203.02: LAND USE REGULATIONS:

Porterville Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-27 · Porterville

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

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 Section 301.07, Family Daycare Large - - - P Home, Large Group residential - - - P(2) Residential care facilities, limited - - - P Public and semipublic uses: Section 301.02, Alcoholic Clubs and lodges C - P P 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 Section 301.15, Residential Care Residential care facilities, general - - - C Facilities, General Section 301.19, Social Service Social service facilities - P P C 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 -

Section 301.04, Automobile/ Automobile/vehicle repair, major - - P - Vehicle Service And Repair Automobile/vehicle service and Section 301.04, Automobile/ repair, minor Vehicle Service And Repair Section 301.05, Auto Service Automobile/vehicle washing - C P - Stations And Car Washing Large vehicle and equipment Section 301.04, Automobile/ sales, service and rental Vehicle Service And Repair Section 301.05, Auto Service Service station C(3) C C C Stations And Car Washing Section 300.03 Fencing ; Section Towing and impound yards - - C(20) 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 Municipal Code Chapter 15, Article Cannabis dispensary P VII Commercial entertainment and recreation: See sub-classifications below Section 301.02, Alcoholic Cinema/theaters - P P C Beverage Sales Section 301.02, Alcoholic Large scale - - C(8) - Beverage Sales Section 301.02, Alcoholic Small scale - P(19) P(19) C Beverage Sales Eating, drinking, and smoking See sub-classifications below establishments: Sections 300.08, Outdoor Seating ; Bars/nightclubs/lounges - C C C and 301.02, Alcoholic Beverage Sales Coffee shops/cafes P(5) P P P Section 300.08, Outdoor Seating Sections 300.08, Outdoor Seating ; Restaurants, less than 3,000 P(5) P P P and 301.02, Alcoholic Beverage square feet Sales Sections 300.08, Outdoor Seating ; Restaurants, greater than 3,000 C(5) P P P and 301.02, Alcoholic Beverage square feet Sales Tobacco bars - M M M Section 301.02, Alcoholic Food and beverage retail sales P(9) P P P(9) 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) Section 203.04, Supplemental Mixed use development C Regulations Nurseries and garden centers - P P P Offices:

- P(12) P P(12)
Section 203.04, Supplemental

Mixed use development C 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 Indoor warehousing and storage - - P - Section 301.13, Personal Storage Personal storage - C P C Facilities Transportation, communication, and utilities uses: Communication facilities: See sub-classifications below Antenna and transmission towers, Section 301.20, Telecommunica P(16) P(16) P(16) P(16) camouflage facilities tion Facilities Antenna and transmission towers, Section 301.20, Telecommunica M(16 ) M(16) M(16) M(16) non-camouflage facilities tion Facilities Section 301.20, Telecommunica Broadcasting facility - M M - 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: Crop cultivation, commercial M M M M Section 301.06, Crop Cultivation Agriculture employee housing M M M M Other applicable types: Section 301.01, Accessory Uses Accessory uses and structures P P P P And Structures Animal keeping - - - P Section 301.03 Animal Keeping Caretaker unit - P(18) P(18) P(18) Home occupations - - - P 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 in301.20E.

(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)

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