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Title 12 — Zoning

Chapter 12 — 13A. HC HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT

Santa Maria Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-07 · Santa Maria

Section 12-13A.01. Regulations Designated.

The sections of this chapter constitute the regulations of the Highway Commercial (HC) district. (Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.02. Purpose.

The HC district is designed and intended to provide centers for both convenience and retail shopping along U.S. Highway 101, planned and controlled to provide the greatest service to the motoring public utilizing Highway 101 inside a corridor within 1,250 feet of the U.S. Highway 101 right-of-way. (Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.03. Permitted Uses.

The following uses, as well as those similar uses which the Zoning Administrator finds to fall squarely within those that the purpose of the zone intends to allow by right, are permitted in the HC district:

  • (a) Retail Vehicle Fuel Dispensing Station

  • (b) Hotel and Motel

  • (c) Restaurant including Café and Specialty Eating Establishments which includes ice cream, candy and coffee vendors

  • (d) Home Improvement Center including outdoor spa/patio furniture

  • (e) Furniture Sales including outdoor spa/patio furniture

  • (f) Convenience Store

  • (g) Cell Phone Sales & Repair

  • (Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.04. Conditional Uses (CUP).

The following uses and those similar uses which the Planning Commission finds to fall within the intent and purpose of this zone, that will not be more obnoxious or detrimental to the public welfare, are found by the Commission to be compatible with adjoining land uses, and which are of a comparable nature and of the same class enumerated for this zone, shall be permitted in the HC district subject to obtaining a conditional use permit according to the procedures set forth in Article 2 of Chapter 12-35 of this title:

  • (a) Beer and wine with meals

  • (b) Bar or Cocktail Lounge if it is an accessory use to a motel, hotel, restaurant or café

  • (c) Auto Service or Repair Service, repair and parking of vehicles to be screened from view

  • (d) Drive-in or Drive-thru Establishments if associated with any permitted or conditionally permitted use in this Chapter

  • (e) Car Wash

  • (f) Recreational Vehicle Sales or Rentals including RV's, trailers, boats, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles

  • (g) Auto Vehicle Sales including service when associated with auto vehicle sales

  • (h) Auto Rental

(i) RV Park for active use (no storage) unless required by State of California (Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.05. Establishment of Primary Use.

A primary use shall be established prior to allowance of any accessory use (as defined in Section 12-2.04 ).

(Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.06. Development Standards.

Development, uses and structures in the HC district are subject to the development standards set out in Sections 12-12A.01 through 12-13A.15.

(Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.07. Height.

The maximum height is 40 feet.

However, a conditional use permit is required for any building or structure in excess of one story or 18 feet in height when adjacent to a residential zoning district unless the building or structure is located more than 100 feet from the residential district boundary. Properties separated by streets and alleys are considered to be adjacent.

(Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.08. Wall.

Each lot or parcel of land in the HC district which has a side or rear lot line adjoining property in a residential zone shall have a solid masonry wall of not less than six feet in height, established along the side and rear lot line adjoining the zone. (Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.09. Setbacks.

Each lot or parcel of land in the HC district which has a front, side or rear lot line adjoining property in a residential zone shall have a front yard of not less than 10 feet in width.

A minimum 20 foot wide landscape buffer shall be provided along Highway 101. (Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.10. Planned Development Overlay.

A Planned Development Overlay, pursuant to Title 12 , Chapter 35, shall be applied to each Highway Commercial (HC) zoning district.

(Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.11. Parking.

For provisions on parking, see Chapter 12-32 of this title. (Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.12. Signs.

For provisions on signs, see Chapter 12-34 of this title. (Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.13. Display and Storage.

All display and storage shall be located wholly within an enclosed building except for sales areas approved for recreation vehicle and auto vehicle sales or spa/patio furniture in conjunction with a home improvement center or furniture sales, as part of a Planned Development Permit or Conditional Use Permit.

(Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.14. Applicability of HC District.

The HC zone may be applied along U.S. Highway 101 within a corridor of 1,250 feet from the U.S. Highway 101 right-of-way. (Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

Section 12-13A.15. Entrada Specific Plan.

Standards presented in the Entrada Specific Plan may apply to certain uses in certain locations; see Section 12-3.04 .

(Ord. 2008-29, eff. 1/15/09)

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▸ Contents — Santa Maria Zoning Code
Santa Maria Zoning Code
  1. ▸ Title 12 — Zoning
    Overview
    1. Chapter 12-1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
    2. Chapter 12-2 — DEFINITIONS
    3. Chapter 12-3 — DISTRICTS AND MAP
    4. Chapter 12-4 — OS OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
    5. Chapter 12-5 — RA RESIDENTIAL AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT
    6. Chapter 12-6 — R-1 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
    7. Chapter 12 — 6A. A RSL-1 SINGLE-FAMILY SMALL LOT RESIDENTIAL D…
    8. Chapter 12-7 — R-2 MEDIUM-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
    9. Chapter 12-8 — R-3 HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
    10. Chapter 12-9 — RMH RESIDENTIAL MOBILE HOME PARK DISTRICT
    11. Chapter 12 — 9A. MOBILEHOME PARKS
    12. Chapter 12-10 — CPO COMMERCIAL OFFICE AND PROFESSIONAL OFFICE …
    13. Chapter 12-11 — CC CONVENIENCE CENTER DISTRICT
    14. Chapter 12-12 — C-1 CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
    15. Chapter 12-13 — C-2 GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
    16. Chapter 12 — 13A. HC HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
    17. Chapter 12-14 — FS FREEWAY SERVICE DISTRICT
    18. Chapter 12-15 — M-1 LIGHT MANUFACTURING DISTRICT
    19. Chapter 12-16 — CM COMMERCIAL/MANUFACTURING DISTRICT
    20. Chapter 12-17 — M-2 GENERAL MANUFACTURING DISTRICT
    21. Chapter 12-18 — PF PUBLIC FACILITIES AND INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT
    22. Chapter 12-19 — SP SPECIFIC PLAN ZONING DISTRICT
    23. Chapter 12-20 — AS-I AIRPORT SERVICE I ZONE
    24. Chapter 12-21 — AS-II AIRPORT SERVICE II ZONE
    25. Chapter 12-22 — AS-III AIRPORT SERVICE III ZONE
    26. Chapter 12-23 — CZ CLEAR ZONE DISTRICT COMBINING REGULATIONS
    27. Chapter 12-24 — AA AIRPORT APPROACH DISTRICT
    28. Chapter 12-25 — PD PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY DISTRICT
    29. Chapter 12 — 25A. H HISTORIC OVERLAY DISTRICT
    30. Chapter 12-26 — INTRUSIONS INTO YARDS
    31. Chapter 12-27 — ACCESSORY STRUCTURES
    32. Chapter 12-28 — BUILDING SITES
    33. Chapter 12 — 28A. CLEARING AND MAINTAINING VACANT BUILDING SITES
    34. Chapter 12 — 29A. LARGE FAMILY DAY CARE HOMES IN SINGLE-FAMILY…
    35. Chapter 12 — 29B. COTTAGE FOOD OPERATIONS
    36. Chapter 12-30 — MOVING BUILDINGS
    37. Chapter 12-31 — NONCONFORMING USES, STRUCTURES, LOTS AND PARKING
    38. Chapter 12-32 — OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING
    39. Chapter 12-33 — COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
    40. Chapter 12-34 — SIGNS
    41. Chapter 12-35 — USE AND PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PERMITS
    42. Chapter 12-36 — VARIANCES
    43. Chapter 12-37 — ANNEXATION
    44. Chapter 12-38 — AMENDMENTS
    45. Chapter 12-39 — DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
    46. Chapter 12-40 — ENVIRONMENT
    47. Chapter 12-41 — INTERPRETATION AND APPEALS
    48. Chapter 12-42 — ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
    49. Chapter 12-43 — OUTDOOR DISPLAY OF MERCHANDISE
    50. Chapter 12-44 — LANDSCAPE STANDARDS
    51. Chapter 12-45 — REGULATION OF ADULT BUSINESSES
    52. Chapter 12-46 — RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS, STOCK COOPERATIVES, …
    53. Chapter 12-48 — DENSITY BONUS
    54. Chapter 12-49 — MIXED-USE PROJECTS
    55. Chapter 12-50 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
    56. Chapter 12-51 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
    57. Chapter 12-52 — EFFICIENCY UNIT PROJECTS
    58. Chapter 12-53 — EMERGENCY SHELTERS
    59. Chapter 12-56 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS

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