Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 19 — ZONING›Article V — BASE ZONES AND RELATED USE AND DEVELOPMENT PROVISIONS
Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 19.110 Commercial and Office Zones (o, Cr, Cg and CRC)
Riverside Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Riverside
Cite as: Riverside Municipal Code Chapter 19.110 · Text as of 2026-10-04
19.110.010 - Purpose.¶
Four commercial and office zones are established to implement the four commercial and office land use designations in the General Plan. The purpose of each commercial and office zone is as follows:
A. Office Zone (O). The Office Zone (O) is intended for the location of offices for administrative, business and professional activities that involve a relatively low volume of direct customer contact. The Zone is also established to allow limited commercial uses that support the office uses and their employees.
B. Commercial Retail Zone (CR). The Commercial Retail Zone (CR) is intended for a broad range of indoor oriented retail sales and service, and office uses as either stand-alone businesses or as part of commercial centers or office developments.
C. Commercial General Zone (CG). The Commercial General Zone (CG) is intended to allow for more intense service commercial retail, office, and repair uses. The CG Zone allows for some outdoor retail uses.
D. Commercial Regional Center Zone (CRC). The Commercial Regional Center Zone (CRC) is intended for intense, regional-serving commercial uses. The areas are located adjacent or in proximity to freeways and arterial roadways that accommodate regional traffic.
(Ord. 7331 §5, 2016; Ord. 6966 §1, 2007)
19.110.020 - Permitted land uses.¶
A. Table 19.150.020.A (Permitted Uses Table), Table 19.150.020.B (Incidental Uses Table and Table 19.150.020.C (Temporary Uses Table) in Chapter 19.150 (Base Zones Permitted land uses) identify permitted uses, permitted accessory uses, permitted temporary uses, and uses permitted subject to the approval of a minor conditional use permit (Chapter 19.730—Minor Conditional Use Permit) or conditional use permit (Chapter 19.760—Conditional Use Permit), or uses requiring some other permit. Table 19.150.020.A also identifies those uses that are specifically prohibited. Uses not listed in the tables are prohibited unless, the Community & Economic Development Director or his/her designee, pursuant to Chapter 19.060 (Interpretation of Code), determines that the use is similar to and no more detrimental than a listed permitted or conditional use. Any use which is prohibited by state and/or federal law is also strictly prohibited.
B. The provisions set forth in Chapter 19.215 (Neighborhood Commercial Overlay Zone—NC) may be applied to any commercial zone and may further limit the uses permitted.
C. Chapter 19.149 - Airport Land Use Compatibility includes Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan requirements for discretionary actions proposed on property located within an Airport Compatibility Zone.
(Ord. 7487 § 19, 11-5-2019; Ord. 7413, § 1(Exh. A), 2-20-2018; Ord. 7331 §5, 2016; Ord. 7064 §2, 2010; Ord. 6966 §1, 2007)
19.110.030 - Commercial and office development standards.¶
Table 19.110.030 (Commercial and Office Development Standards) sets forth the minimum development standards for each of the commercial and office zones.
(Ord. 7331 §5, 2016; Ord. 7109 §3, 2010; Ord. 6966 §1, 2007)
Table 19.110.030 Commercial and Office Development Standards
| Development Standard | O | CR | CG | CRC | Notes, Exceptions & Special Provisions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floor-Area-Ration (FAR) - Maximum | 1.0 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 | See notes 2 & 4 |
| Lot Area - Minimum | 20,000 sq. ft. | 20,000 sq. ft. | 20,000 sq. ft. | 10 acres | See note 3 |
| Lot Width - Minimum | 65 ft. | 60 ft. | 100 ft. | 300 ft. | Pursuant to Title 18 (Subdivision Code) |
| Lot Depth - Minimum | 100 ft. | 100 ft. | 100 ft. | 100 ft. | Pursuant to Title 18 (Subdivision Code) |
| Building Height - Maximum | 40 ft. | 75 ft. | 75 ft. | 75 ft. | See note 4. See also Chapter 19.200 - Building Stories Overlay Zone (S) |
| Front Yard Setback - Minimum | 15 ft. | 0 ft. | 0 ft. | 50 ft. | Front yard setback shall be increased by 2 ½ feet per story for any story over the second story. See Chapter 19.180 - Building Setback Overlay Zone. |
| Side Yard Setback - Minimum A. Interior Side B. Street Side | 5 ft. 15 ft. | 0 ft. 0 ft. | 0 ft. 0 ft. | 20 ft. 50 ft. | Side yard setbacks shall be increased by 2 ½ feet per story for any story over the second story. Whenever a CRC Zone property abuts a property zoned for residential use, the setback shall be 50 ft. with at least 10 feet of landscaping. |
| Rear Yard Setback - Minimum | 15 ft. | 0 ft. | 0 ft. | 0 ft. | Whenever a CRC Zone property abuts a property zoned for residential use, the building setback shall be 50 ft. with at least 10 feet of landscaping. Whenever a CR or CG zoned property abuts a property zoned for residential use, the building setback shall be a minimum of 15 feet with at least five feet of landscaping. Additional setbacks may be required. |
| Landscape Setbacks | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | See Chapter 19.580 - Parking and Loading |
| Landscape Setback from any Freeway Right-of-way | 5 ft. | 5 ft. | 5 ft. | 20 ft. |
Notes:
- The setback areas specified may be used for the following purposes:
a. Off-street parking, loading and traffic circulation, including lights for the illumination of such areas, except where landscaped areas may be required per Chapter 19.580 (Parking and Loading) or as noted above.
b. Signs necessary to direct and control vehicular and pedestrian traffic within the shopping center (see Chapter 19.620).
c. The permitted signs identifying the shopping center (see Chapter 19.620).
The Approving or Appeal Authority may allow a development project to exceed a maximum FAR when it can be found that such project (a) will not have a detrimental effect on infrastructure and municipal services, (b) will not adversely impact the surrounding neighborhood, and (c) will not likely set a precedent for additional development that would adversely affect infrastructure, service or surrounding land uses.
Smaller minimum lot areas may be established by a master plan for the center or for the adaptive reuse or development of existing infill lots.
See Chapter 19.149 - Airport Land Use Compatibility to determine if a project site is subject to Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan requirements.
(Ord. 7413, § 1(Exh. A), 2-20-2018)
19.110.040 - Additional standards, regulations and requirements for commercial and office development.¶
A. Walls. Where any commercial zone adjoins any lot zoned for residential use, a minimum six-foot-high decorative masonry wall shall be erected and maintained along such property line. However, such wall shall be limited in height to three feet within the front yard setback requirement.
B. All activities to be conducted indoors. All activities shall be conducted wholly within a building except those activities specifically permitted within Article VII.
C. Access by easement permitted. Direct access to a public street or alley is not required for individual parcels within a commercial or office complex if permanent access to the parcel is provided by a recorded easement.
D. Temporary sales. Temporary sales activities are permitted subject to the regulations set forth in Chapter 19.740 (Temporary Use Permit).
E. Screening of mechanical equipment. The screening of mechanical equipment shall comply with regulations set forth in Chapter 19.555 (Outdoor Equipment Screening).
F. Screening of trash receptacles. The screening of trash receptacles shall comply with regulations set forth in Chapter 19.554 (Trash/Recyclable Materials Collection Area Enclosures).
G. Utilities. Utilities shall be installed and maintained as set forth in Chapter 19.555 (Outdoor Equipment Screening).
H. Landscaping. Landscaping shall be provided and continuously maintained as set forth in Chapter 19.570 (Water Efficient Landscaping and Irrigation).
I. Parking. Parking shall be provided as set forth in Chapter 19.580 (Parking and Loading).
J. Lighting.
All outdoor lighting associated with commercial uses adjacent to or within the immediate vicinity of residential uses shall be designated with fixtures and poles that illuminate commercial uses, while minimizing light trespass into residential areas.
The candlepower of outdoor lighting shall be the minimum required for safety purposes.
The provisions of Section 19.590.070 (Light and Glare) shall apply.
The provisions of Chapter 19.556 (Lighting) shall apply.
(Ord. 7331 §5, 2016; Ord. 6966 §1, 2007)
19.110.050 - Design review required.¶
No new building, structure, outdoor dining area, sign, or exterior alteration and no enlargement of an existing building, structure, outdoor dining area or sign shall be commenced in any commercial or office zone until design review approval has been granted pursuant to Chapter 19.710 (Design Review).
(Ord. 7331 §5, 2016; Ord. 6966 §1, 2007)
19.110.060 - Other regulations applicable to all Commercial and Office Zones.¶
In addition to the requirements contained in this chapter, regulations contained in the following titles of the Riverside Municipal Code and other chapters of the Zoning Code may apply.
Title 5: Business Taxes, Licenses and Regulations
Chapter 5.04: Taxes, Licenses and Regulations
Chapter 5.16: Close-Out Sales
Chapter 5.24: Dance Halls and Public Dances
Chapter 5.28: Poolrooms
Chapter 5.32: Transient Occupancy Tax
Chapter 5.38: Pedestrian Food Vendors
Chapter 5.48: Swap Meet
Chapter 5.52: Massage
Chapter 5.60: Bingo
Chapter 5.64: Motor Vehicle Fuel Price Posting
Chapter 5.65: Convalescent Transport Vehicles
Chapter 5.66: Ambulances
Title 6: Health and Sanitation
Chapter 6.08: Regulation of Food Establishments and Food Facilities
Chapter 6.09: Regulation of Food Handlers
Chapter 6.13: Exterior Structure Maintenance
Chapter 6.14: Landscape Maintenance
Chapter 6.15: Abatement of Public Nuisances
Chapter 6.16: Fly-Producing Conditions
Title 7: Noise Control
Title 8: Animals
Chapter 8.18: Commercial Kennels
Title 9: Peace, Safety and Morals
Chapter 9.07: Charge for Police Response to Loud or Large Parties
Chapter 9.09: Public Pay Telephone Regulations
Chapter 9.16: Litter and Littering
Chapter 9.40: Adult-Oriented Businesses
Chapter 9.42: Fortunetelling and Occult Arts
Chapter 9.48: Disclosure of Hazardous Materials
Title 16: Building and Construction
Title 17: Grading
Title 18: Subdivision
Title 20: Cultural Resources
(Ord. 7331 §5, 2016; Ord. 6966 §1, 2007)
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