Title 18 — ZoningChapter 18.128 — INDUSTRIAL ZONES

Article I — I-P Industrial Park Zone

San Dimas Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · San Dimas

§ 18.128.010. General Purpose.

The general purpose of this chapter is to set forth a wide variety and complexity of industrial uses and processes and those retail uses incidental to the permitted industrial uses which may function efficiently and harmoniously within an industrial zone. Specialized uses and public service facilities are included in the lists of each zone. The installation and operation of facilities and equipment necessary and appropriate to the uses in each zone are regulated with consideration for the special requirements of adjacent zones. Performance standards are prescribed to assist in controlling industrial concentrations, activities and equipment for the mutual benefit of all persons, businesses and uses in and around the zoned area.

(Ord. 37 § 262.00, 1961; Ord. 298 § 1, 1971)

§ 18.128.020. Purpose.

The purpose of the I-P industrial park zone is to provide a district which will assure an environment conducive to research and development, fabrication and assembly, research institutions and administrative facilities all well designed and properly landscaped. (Ord. 37 § 262.02, 1961; Ord. 298 § 1, 1971)

§ 18.128.030. Uses permitted.

Buildings, structures and land shall be used and buildings and structures shall hereafter be erected, structurally altered or enlarged only for those uses enumerated in this article, plus other uses as the commission may deem, pursuant to Chapter 18.192 , to be similar and not more obnoxious or

detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare than said enumerated uses. All uses shall be conducted within a totally enclosed building, except as permitted by a conditional use permit. Outside storage is exempt from conditional use requirements provided that outdoor storage is maintained in accordance with the development standards set forth in Section 18.128.050 .

  • A. Research and development laboratories and institutes;

  • B. Electro-mechanical and electronic products and instruments manufacturing;

  • C. Cartography, bookbinding, printing, lithography, blueprinting, photoengraving;

  • D. Fabrication and designing of components, metallurgical products;

  • E. Precision machine shops for prototype production;

  • F. Assembly and production of products which are the result of research and development conducted on the premises;

  • G. Administrative, professional, medical, business offices and such facilities as are accessory functions of permitted uses in this section;

  • H. Cafeterias, cafes, restaurants, auditoriums or recreational facilities as are accessory to the primary use permitted on the premises;

  • I. Communication equipment buildings, motion picture processing, radio and television broadcasting studios, recording studios;

  • J. Residential uses for plant security personnel;

  • K. Box lunch and catering services;

  • L. Glass edging, beveling and silvering in connection with the sale of mirrors;

  • M. Mail order houses, including warehousing;

  • N. Furniture and household goods, transfer and storage;

  • O. Stained glass assembly;

  • P. Optical products;

  • Q. Pharmaceutical research and processing;

  • R. Vitamin processing.

(Ord. 37 § 262.04, 1961; Ord. 298 § 1, 1971; Ord. 489 § 1, 1975; Ord. 548 § 1, 1976)

§ 18.128.040. Conditional uses.

The following uses may be permitted upon the granting of a conditional use permit pursuant to Chapter 18.200 :

  • A. Chemical laboratories, compounding of chemicals for research and development;

  • B. Heliports;

  • C. Animal experimental research institute;

  • D. Outdoor uses incidental to and directly related to those permitted in Section 18.128.030 .

(Ord. 37 § 262.06, 1961; Ord. 298 § 1, 1971; Ord. 489 § 2, 1975)

§ 18.128.050. Property development standards.

The following property development standards shall apply to all land, building or structures in the I-P zone:

  • A. Lot Area. There shall be a minimum of twenty thousand square feet in each lot.

  • B. Lot Dimensions. All lots shall comply with the following minimum standards:

    1. Width. No minimum requirement.

    2. Depth. Each lot shall have a minimum depth of one hundred fifty feet.

  • C. Maximum Building Coverage. The maximum coverage of a parcel by all structures shall not exceed sixty percent of the lot area.

  • D. Building Types.

    1. Main Building. All main buildings constructed in an I-P zone shall be of Type I, Type II or Type III construction as defined in the latest edition of the building code as adopted by the city council.

    2. Accessory Buildings. Accessory buildings used for purposes incidental to the primary activity may be of Type IV construction as defined in the building code. The accessory building shall not exceed fifteen percent of the area of the main building or buildings.

  • E. Building Height.

    1. Buildings, as distinguished from masts, towers, chimneys and similar structures, shall conform to the height limits of the building code.

    2. Structures other than buildings, including chimneys, tanks, water and communications structures which are not accessory to buildings or appurtenant thereto, may be erected to heights no greater than forty-five feet above ground level unless a greater height is approved by conditional use permit.

  • F. Yards.

    1. Front Yards. The minimum required depth of the front yard shall be thirty feet, and the same shall be landscaped and maintained.

    2. Side Yards. The minimum required side yard shall be twenty feet in depth where such side yard is adjacent to a street. Required side yards adjacent to a street shall be landscaped. No side yard is required for an interior lot.

    3. Rear Yards. There is no minimum required rear yard except that in the event the rear of the lot abuts upon a street, a rear yard meeting all of the minimum requirements for a front yard shall be provided.

    4. Buffer Yard. A buffer yard of not less than fifty feet in width shall be provided along any residential district boundary line, and thirty feet of such yard nearest the district boundary line shall be improved as a planting strip. The required landscaping shall be of specimen variety and shall include trees. In the event a street or alley is situated between a residential and industrial district, no buffer yard shall be required.

  • G. Walls. Where an industrial zone sides or rears upon any residential zone or an alley which abuts a residential zone, there shall be a solid masonry wall not less than six feet in height erected along and adjacent to the property line, except that such fence shall be reduced to not more than forty-two inches in height in any required yard abutting a street.

  • H. Off-Street Parking. The provisions of Chapter 18.156 shall apply.

  • I. Utilities. All utilities on the site shall be installed underground.

  • J. Signs. The provisions of Chapter 18.152 shall apply.

  • K. Landscaping. Landscaping where required by this article shall be installed and maintained as necessary to keep such landscaping alive, attractive and free of disease. Landscaping shall consist of trees, shrubs and ground cover in appropriate number and density, and a complete sprinkler system. Maintenance shall include, but shall not be limited to, necessary weeding, fertilizing and watering. Three copies of the complete landscaping plans prepared by a landscape architect shall be submitted to the planning director for approval.

  • L. Mechanical Equipment. Air conditioning units, electrical switch gear and panels, compressors and similar mechanical and electrical equipment shall be completely screened within an enclosure compatible with the appearance of neighboring structures.

  • M. Development Plan Approval. Before any building or structure is erected on any lot in this zone, a development plan shall have been submitted to and approved pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 18.12 .

  • N. Outdoor Storage.

    1. Outdoor storage areas shall be oriented away from view from any public right-of-way. Storage that can be seen from a public right-of-way shall be screened by completely opaque materials in such a way that the materials within cannot be seen.

    2. Trees, shrubs and ground cover shall be provided in addition to other screening, and shall be sprinklered by an automatic system. Landscaping and sprinkler plans are to be approved by the planning division. Landscaping may totally replace other methods of screening if approved by the planning division.

  • (Ord. 37 § 262.08, 1961; Ord. 298 § 1, 1971; Ord. 489 § 3, 1975; Ord. 1324, 6/10/2025)

§ 18.128.060. Performance standards.

All uses established or placed into operation after the effective date of this article shall comply at all times hereafter with the following limitations or performance standards:

  • A. Fire and Explosion Hazards. All activities involving inflammable or explosive materials, and all storage of such materials, shall be provided with adequate safety devices against the hazard of fire and explosion. Adequate firefighting and fire suppression equipment and devices standard in industry shall be provided. All incineration is prohibited except as provided by the air pollution control district of the county.

  • B. Radioactivity and Electrical Disturbance. Devices which radiate radio-frequency energy shall be so operated as not to cause interference with any activity carried on beyond the boundary line of the property upon which the device is located. "Radio-frequency energy" is defined as electromagnetic energy at any frequency in the radio spectrum between ten kilocycles and three million megacycles.

  • C. Sound. Sound related to industrial or manufacturing processes, excluding traffic noise, shall be muffled so as not to become objectionable due to intermittence, beat frequency or shrillness. Sound pressure levels above those shown in the following table, when measured at the boundary line of the property on which the sound is generated shall be considered objectionable:

Octave-Band Range in Cycles Per Second Sound Pressure Level in Decibels
0.0002 dynes/cm
2
Below 75 72
75—150 67
151—300 59
301—600 52
601—1200 46
1201—2400 40
2401—4800 34
Above 4800 32

If the noise is not smooth and continuous or is not present between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m., one or more of the following corrections shall be applied to the above octave-band levels:

Corrections in
Decibels
Daytime operation only +5
Noise source operates less than 20% of any one-hour period +5
Noise source operates less than 5% of any one-hour period +10
Noise of impulsive character, such as hammering -5
Noise of periodic nature such as humming or screeching -5

The sound pressure level shall be measured with a sound level meter and associated octave band analyzer conforming to standards prescribed in publications by the American Standards Association.

  • D. Vibration. Every use shall be so operated that the ground vibration inherently and recurrently generated is not perceptible, without instruments, at any point on any boundary line of the lot on which the use is located.

  • E. Smoke, Dust, Fumes and Contaminants. Industrial or manufacturing processes out of which evolve smoke, dust, fumes, particulate matter, contaminants and specific contaminants, shall comply with the latest rules and regulations of the air pollution control district of the county.

  • F. Odors. Odors shall not be in such quantities as to be offensive beyond the boundary line of the parcel from which the odors emanate.

  • G. Toxic gases. Toxic gases or other toxic matter shall not be emitted which can cause damage to health, to animals or vegetation, or other forms of property, or which can cause any soiling beyond the boundary line of the parcel on which the use is located.

  • H. Emission of Heat and Glare. Every use shall be so operated that it does not emit heat or glare in such quantity or degree as to be readily detectable on any boundary line of the property on which the use is located.

  • I. Outdoor Storage and Waste Disposal. All outdoor storage facilities for waste materials and trash shall be enclosed by a solid masonry wall adequate to conceal such facilities from adjacent properties. No material or waste shall be deposited upon a subject lot in such form or manner that they may be transported from the lot by acts of nature.

  • (Ord. 37 § 262.10, 1961; Ord. 298 § 1, 1971)