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Title 12 — Zoning

Chapter 12-43 — OUTDOOR DISPLAY OF MERCHANDISE

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

Section 12-43.01. Outdoor storage and outdoor display of merchandise prohibited: Exceptions.

The outdoor storage and outdoor display of merchandise for sale by a business establishment is prohibited in all zoning districts in the City except for:

  • (a) Approved vehicle and trailer sales or rental;

  • (b) Heavy equipment and heavy machinery sales and rental;

  • (c) Newspaper stands or vending machines;

  • (d) Displays specifically permitted by state law or other sections of this chapter;

  • (e) Flowers, nursery plants and cut flowers when displayed in a manner and location approved by the Community Development Department or at a certified farmers' market or legal nonconforming swap meet;

  • (f) Lumber and building material yards with a conditional use permit;

  • (g) Tire sales facilities may display one tire rack within 10 feet of the building, provided the rack is stored inside the building when the business is closed;

  • (h) Temporary outdoor display permitted under Section 12-35.301 of this Code, including:

    • (1) Christmas trees,

    • (2) Garage sales,

    • (3) Fireworks sales,

    • (4) Temporary display and sale in connection with an established business,

    • (5) Pumpkins,

    • (6) Produce in connection with a Community Event, or conducted in association with a certified farmers' market operation or a legal nonconforming swap meet as provided in Section 1235.302(a )(16).

(Ord. 85-1109 § 1 (8), eff. 1/2/86; Ord. 90-1 § 2, eff. 3/8/90; Ord. 2005-04, eff. 5/19/05; Ord. 2009-04, eff. 1/20/09; Ord. 2009-06, eff. 3/19/09; Ord. 2017-05, eff. 6/1/17)

Section 12-43.02. Outdoor display of merchandise prohibited.

The outdoor display of merchandise by a business establishment is prohibited in all zones, notwithstanding the exceptions codified in subsections (a) through (h) of Section 12-43.01 of this title in the following areas:

  • (a) Areas set aside, required, designated or marked for vehicular parking, drive isles, driveways and emergency alleys, except as permitted under Section 12-35.301 and as approved by the Community Development Department;

  • (b) Public sidewalks, landscaped areas or parkways;

  • (c) Designated or required landscape areas on private property; or

  • (d) Private sidewalks so as to either create a safety hazard or to block the reasonable flow of pedestrian traffic or handicapped access.

  • (Ord. 85-1109 § 1 (8), eff. 1/2/86; Ord. 2005-04, eff. 5/19/05)

Section 12-43.03. Nonconforming uses inapplicable.

Chapter 12-31 regarding nonconforming uses, structures, lots and parking is inapplicable to this chapter.

(Ord. 85-85 § 1 (8) part), eff. 1/2/86)

Section 12-43.04. Violation is an infraction.

The violation of this section is an infraction as set forth in Section 1-6.01 of this Code. (Ord. 85-1109 § 1 (8), eff. 1/2/86)

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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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