San Fernando Municipal Code Div. 6 Automotive Repair Supplemental Regulations and Standards

The purpose of this division is to establish regulations and standards that enhance compatibility of automotive repair use with other commercial activity in the same zone and afford protection to abutting residential property where the two zones converge.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

(a) The regulations and standards for automotive repair in this section shall supplement development standards enumerated in this chapter for commercial and industrial zoned property. The standards imposing the more stringent requirement shall prevail. These supplemental development standards shall apply not only to new development or conversions subsequent to the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter derives, but to an existing development that may wish to expand or modify its operations.

(b) Repair work shall be conducted entirely within an enclosed building, and dismantled vehicles and tow trucks shall be stored inside a building or, if permitted, inside a screened area where the vehicles shall not be visible from off the site when the business is closed on weekends and overnight.

(c) Surfaced transitional parking areas shall be provided on site where vehicles awaiting service shall be stored. Except for cursory examination, no actual repair work shall be conducted on vehicles parked in the transition area.

(d) Major repair and refinishing shops will be permitted as accessory to automobile sales dealerships when located not less than 200 feet from residentially zoned property.

(e) Accessory automobile repair facilities shall not exceed one-third the total square foot area devoted to the entire principal use.

(f) Automobile repair facilities falling under the category of an accessory use for a permitted retail or service use in the commercial zone shall be subject to the applicable requirements of this section.

(g) Major or minor automobile repair facility structures shall not be closer than 40 feet to any street right-of-way or closer than 60 feet to any lot in a residential district. Buildings used for repair shall position garage doors away from residential property.

(h) Parking standards for automobile repair facilities shall be two spaces for each service stall, pit, or rack plus parking and loading spaces required per division 3 of article III of this chapter. Transitional parking areas shall be exclusively designated for vehicles requiring repair service.

(i) The minimum lot area for an automobile repair facility shall be predicated on the amount of land area required to satisfy property development standards for the zone where the automobile repair use is permitted and applicable standards specified in this section.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)