§ 26-10

This article identifies allowed land uses in the commercial zones, permits required for allowed uses, and general standards for site development.

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

A.

General. The commercial zones provide appropriately located areas for a wide range of business and employment activities with development standards to ensure well-designed facilities and compatibility with adjacent land uses.

B.

Specific.

Administrative and Professional Office District (CO). The CO zone provides areas for administrative and professional office space in urban service areas that are designed and landscaped so as to be harmonious with adjacent residential uses.

Neighborhood Commercial District (C1). This C1 zone provides areas for various retail business, service and professional activities in rural neighborhoods and within urban service areas.

Retail Business and Service District (C2). The C2 zone provides areas for a full range of retail goods and services to serve the countywide residential and business community. The C2 zone provides for comparison retail shopping and direct consumer service uses which are usually sought on occasion, rather than daily.

General Commercial District (C3). The C3 zone provides a location for wholesale and heavy commercial uses and services necessary within the county which are not suited to other commercial districts.

Limited Commercial District (LC). The LC zone provides areas for retail sales and services necessary for the daily self-sufficiency of urban and rural areas in keeping with their character.

Commercial Rural District (CR). The CR zone provides locations in rural areas and unincorporated communities for a mixture of residential and commercial uses. The CR zone supports compatibility between commercial uses and community residents by retaining discretionary jurisdiction over new commercial uses.

Agricultural Services District (AS). The AS zone limits allowed uses to those necessary to support local agricultural production.

Recreation and Visitor-Serving Commercial District (K). The K zone encourages a compatible blend of recreation and tourist-commercial uses to maintain and enhance Sonoma County's recreational resources.

(Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

A.

General.

Table 10-1 identifies the allowed uses and permit requirements in the commercial zones.

All uses may be subject to additional standards and regulations and may require a zoning permit, design review or other additional review. Additional regulations that apply to allowed uses are noted in the "use regulations" column in Table 10-1.

If Table 10-1 shows two (2) permit types separated by a slash mark (e.g., "P/C"), this indicates that the permitting level may differ depending upon project conditions as described in the use regulations for the allowed use.

B.

Additional Permits.

In addition to the permits required by Table 10-1 , Design Review is required for all allowed uses in compliance with Article 82 (Design Review), except that design review is not required in the AS zone.

A zoning permit or other permits may be required in addition to those permits required by Table 10-1 . See individual use regulations sections for additional requirements that may apply.

Table 10-1:Allowed Land Uses in Commercial Zones

Key of symbols for Table 10-1:

P = Permitted Use

P* = Permitted Use, subject to discretionary approval criteria

C = Conditional Use

• = Prohibited Use

† = Permit requirement indicated in Use Regulations column

Land Use CO C1 C2 C3 LC CR AS K Use Regulations Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone

Agricultural and Resource-Based Land Use Category

Agricultural Crop Production and - - - - - - P P 26-18-020 Cultivation

Agricultural Employee Housing - - - - - - P P 26-18-030

Agricultural Processing - - - - - C C - 26-18-040

Agricultural Support Services - - - - - P*/C P*/C - 26-18-060

Animal Keeping: Beekeeping P P P P P P P P 26-18-070

Animal Keeping: Livestock Feed Yards - - - - - C C - 26-18-100

Farm Retail Sales - - - - - - P - 26-18-150

Farm Stands - - - - - - P - 26-18-160

Mushroom Farming - - - - - C C - 26-18-200

Nursery, Wholesale - - - C C - P P 26-18-210

Tasting Rooms - - - - - P* P* - 26-18-220

Industrial, Manufacturing, Processing and Storage Land Use Category

Animal Product Processing - - - - - C C - 26-20-020

Fertilizer Plants C 26-20-030

Laboratories - - - C - - - - 26-20-040

Laundry Plants - - - P - - - - 26-20-050

Manufacturing/Processing, Light - - - P - - - - 26-20-070

Manufacturing/Processing, Medium - - - P - - - - 26-20-080

Recycling Collection Facilities † † † † † † † † † See 26-20-090 and 26-88- 070

Recycling Processing Facilities † † † † † † † † † See 26-20-100 and 26-88- 070

Storage: Contractor's Storage Yard - - - C C - - - 26-20-110

Storage: Manufacture Home Storage - - - C - - - - 26-20-120

Storage: Personal Storage - - - P/C P/C - - - 26-20-130

Storage: Vehicle, Boat, and RV Storage - - - C C - - - 26-20-140

Storage: Warehouses - - - P - - - - 26-20-150

Storage: Wholesale and Distribution - - - P - - - - 26-20-160

Wrecking and Salvage Yards - - - C - - - - 26-20-170

Recreation, Education and Public Assembly Land Use Category

Camp, Organized - - - - - - - C 26-22-020

Campgrounds - - - - - - - C 26-22-030

Civic Institution C - - - - - - C 26-22-040

Community Meeting Facilities C C C - C C - C 26-22-050

Country Clubs - - - - - - - C 26-22-060

Educational Institutions: Colleges and - C P - C - - C 26-22-070 Universities

Educational Institutions: Specialized - C P - C - - C 26-22-090 Education and Training

Golf Course - - - - - - - C 26-22-100

Parks and Playgrounds C - - - - - - P/C 26-22-110

Periodic Special Events P P P P P P P P 26-22-120

Recreation and Sports Facilities: C - C C C C - C 26-22-130 Health/Fitness Facility

Recreation and Sports Facilities: C - C C C C - C 26-22-140 Recreation Facility, Indoor

Recreation and Sports Facilities: - - - - - - - C 26-22-150 Recreation Facility, Outdoor

Recreation and Sports Facilities: Rural - - - - - - - C 26-22-160 Sports and Recreation

Recreation and Sports Facilities: - - - - - - - C 26-22-170 Shooting Ranges

Sports and Entertainment Assembly - - - - - - - C 26-22-190

Studios for Art Crafts, Dance, Music - C - - C - - C 26-22-200

Theater and Entertainment Venues - - C C - - - - 26-22-210

Visitor/Interpretive Center - - - - - - - P 26-22-220

Residential Land Use Category

Accessory Dwelling Unit P P P P P P P P 26-24-020; 26-88-060

Caretaker Dwelling - - - C C - C C 26-24-030

Dwelling, Single-Family C C C C C P P C 26-24-080

Family Day Care Home, Large - P P - P P P P 26-24-100; 26-88-080

Family Day Care Home, Small - P P - P P P P 26-24-100

Home Occupation P - - - - P P P 26-24-140; 26-88-121

Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit P P P P P P P P 26-24-150; 26-88-061

Live/Work C C C C C C C C 26-24-160; 26-88-122

Low-Barrier Navigation Center P P P - P - - P 26-24-170

Mixed-Use Development C P*/C P*/C - P*/C - - C 26-24-180; 26-88-123

Permanent Supportive Housing P P P P P P P - 26-24-200

Residential Community Care, Large C C C C C - C C 26-24-210

Residential Community Care, Small P P P - P P P P 26-24-210

Single-Room Occupancy, Large - C C - C - - - 26-24-220; 26-88-125

Single-Room Occupancy, Small - - C - P * - - - 26-24-220; 26-88-125

State-Regulated Small Employee C C C C C P P C 26-24-230 Housing

Transitional Housing P P P P P P P - 26-24-250; 26-88-127

Retail Land Use Category

Alcoholic Beverage Sales, Large P P - P C 26-26-020

Alcoholic Beverage Sales, Small - C C C C C - - 26-26-020; 26-88-195

Bar, Tavern, Nightclub - C P C C C - C 26-26-030

Building and Landscape Materials Sales - - - P - - C - 26-26-040

Farm Equipment and Supplies Sales and - - - P P C - 26-26-050 Rental

Fuel Dealers - - - C C C - - 26-26-070

Fuel Station, Retail - - - - - - - - 26-26-080

Fuel Station, Non-Retail - C C C C C - - 26-26-081

General Retail - P * P P P* C - C 26-26-090

Heavy Equipment Sales and Rentals - - - C C C - - 26-26-100

Manufactured Homes Sales and Rentals - - - P - - - - 26-26-110

Nursery, Retail - - P - C - C - 26-26-120

Outdoor Vendor - C C - C - - - 26-26-130

Restaurant - P/C P - P/C - - P/C 26-26-140

Vehicles/Boats Sales and Rentals - - C P C - - - 26-26-150

Services Land Use Category

Adult Entertainment Establishment - - - C - - - - 26-28-020; 26-88-010(f)

Banks and Financial Institutions P P P - P C - - 26-28-030

Business Support Services - - C P - - - - 26-28-040

Commercial Kennels - - C C C C C - 26-18-070

Day Care Center C C C C C - C C 26-28-080

Homeless Shelter: Emergency - - C C C C - - 26-28-090; 26-88-127

Homeless Shelter: Small Scale - - C P P C - - 26-28-090; 26-88-127

Lodging: Bed and Breakfast (B&B) - C P - C C - C 26-28-130

Lodging: Hosted Rental - - - P P - - - 26-28-140

Lodging: Hotel, Motel, and Resort - - C - - - C C 26-28-150

Lodging: Vacation Rental - - P - P - - P 26-28-160

Lodging: Timeshare - - - - - - - C 26-28-165

Maintenance and Repair Service, Non- - - P P - - - - 26-28-170 Vehicular

Medical Services: Hospitals C C - - - - - - 26-28-180

Medical Services: Offices and Outpatient P - - - P C - - 26-28-190 Care

Personal Services - P P - P P - C 26-28-200

Professional Office P P P - P - - P* 26-28-210

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - - C P C C C - 26-28-220

Veterinary Clinic C C C C C C - - 26-28-230

Transportation, Energy, Public Facilities Land Use Category

Airfields and Landing Strips: Restricted - - - - - - - - 26-30-030 Use Airfield

Dispatch Facility - - - C - - - - 26-30-040

Low Temperature Geothermal Resource C C C C C C C C 26-30-050 Development

Marinas - - - - - - - C 26-30-060

Parking Facilities - - C C - - - - 26-30-080

Public Safety Facilities C C C C C C C C 26-30-090

Public Utility Facilities C C C C C C C C 26-30-100

Renewable Energy Facilities † † † † † † † † † See 26-30-110 and Section 26-88-200

Telecommunications Facilities † † † † † † † † † See 26-30-120 and Section 26-88-130

Truck/Bus/Freight Terminal - - C C C C - - 26-30-130

Other Land Uses

Commercial Cannabis Uses † † † † † † † † † See 26-88-250; 26-88-254; 26-88-256

C.

Amplified Live Music. Amplified live music allowed with a Use Permit in the C2, C3, LC, AS, and K zones.

D.

Accessory Storage Yards: In the C3 and LC zones, storage yards accessory to a permitted use are allowed provided the storage yards does not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the gross area of the main building.

E.

Agricultural Products Sale and Promotion CR Zone. In the CR zone, the sale and promotion of agricultural products grown, produced, or processed on site is allowed, subject to design review.

F.

Unlisted Land Uses.

For a proposed nonresidential use not listed in the allowed land use table, the Director may determine that the proposed use is equivalent to a permitted or conditionally permitted use, if the Director finds that the proposed use is similar to and compatible with a listed permitted or conditionally permitted use.

When the Director determines that a proposed nonresidential use is equivalent to a listed use, the proposed use shall be treated in the same manner as the listed use with respect to development standards, permits required, and all applicable requirements of the Zoning Code.

(Ord. No. 6532, § III(Exh. A), 10-7-2025; Ord. No. 6458, § V, 12-5-2023; Ord. No. 6424, § III(Exh. B), 4-24-2023; Ord. No. 6405, § V(Exh. B), 3-14-2023; Ord. No. 6403, 3-7-2023; Ord. No. 6363 § II(Exh. A), 12-14-2021; Ord. No. 6352, § VII, 9-14-2021; Ord. No. 6335, § III(Exh. A), 2-9-2021)

A.

General. Table 10-2 identifies the development standards in the commercial zones.

B.

Combining Zones. Properties with a combining zone designation as shown in the zoning database (ex. LG local guidelines combining district) may be subject to addition development standards and design guidelines. Where such designations apply, see the appropriate zoning code section for more information on whether the applicable combining zone may modify the development standards.

Table 10-2:Development Standards in Commercial Zones

Key of symbols for Table 10-2:

† = Standard indicated in Supplemental Standards column

Standard CO C1 C2 C3 LC CR AS K Supplemental Standards Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone

Lot size for lots with public sewer service 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 or with both public sewer and public sq. ft. sq. ft. sq. ft. sq. ft. sq. ft. sq. ft. sq. ft. sq. ft. water service (min.)

Lot size for lots with public water service 1 acre 1 acre 1 acre 1 acre 1 acre 1 acre 1 acre 1 acre and no public sewer service (min.)

Lot size for lots with no public water 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 service and no public sewer service acres acres acres acres acres acres acres acres (min.)

Lot Width (min.) No min. No min. No min. No min. No min. No min. No min. 80 ft.

Front Property Line Setbacks (min.) See 26- No min. No min. No min. No min. See 26- No min. See 26- 26-10-040.E and G 10- 10- 10- 040.F 040.D 040.H

Side Property Line Setbacks (min.) See 26- No min. No min. No min. No min. See 26- No min. See 26- 26-10-040.E and G 10- 10- 10- 040.F 040.D 040.H

Rear Property Line Setbacks (min.) See 26- No min. No min. No min. No min. See 26- No min. See 26- 26-10-040.E and G 10- 10- 10- 040.F 040.D 040.H

Lot Coverage (max.) 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 26-16-050.C

Height (max. ft.) 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 26-10-040.C

Maximum Building Intensity † † † † † † † † † See 26-10-040.K

Parking † † † † † † † † † See Article 86

C.

Increased Building Height. The maximum allowed building height in Table 10-2 may be increased with a use permit. A building with increased allowed height may not exceed the maximum allowed building intensity in the applicable zone.

D.

CR Zone Setbacks. Required setbacks in the CR are as follows:

Lots exclusively occupied by a commercial use: Same as LC zone.

Lots not exclusively occupied by a commercial use and less than 6,000 square feet: Same as R1 zone.

Lots not exclusively occupied by a commercial use and 6,000 square feet or more: Same as RR zone, but may be reduced if the planning director determines that a practical hardship exists.

E.

C2, C3, LC, AS Increased Setbacks. Increased minimum setbacks in the C2, C3, LC, AS zones may be increased:

On properties abutting collector or arterials roads as designated in the general plan; and

To accommodate landscaping required by this article.

F.

CO Zone Setbacks. Minimum setbacks in the CO zone are as follows:

Front property line: fifteen feet (15').

Front centerline of public road, street or highway: forty-five feet (45').

Side property line: five feet (5') or fifty percent (50%) of the building height, whichever is greater.

Rear property line: ten feet (10') or fifty percent (50%) of the building height, whichever is greater.

G.

Residential Zone Setbacks. Table 10-3 shows increased minimum setbacks required when a parcel in a commercial zone is opposite from or abuts a residential zone.

Table 10-3:Setbacks from Residential Zones

Property Line Minimum Setback in C1, C3, LC, AS Zones Minimum Setback in C2 Zone

Front property line opposite a residential zone same as the residential zone same as the residential zone

Side or rear property line that abuts a residential 10 ft. 5 ft. zone

H.

K Zone Setbacks.

Minimum setbacks in the K zone are as follows:

a.

Front property line: fifteen feet (15'). Setbacks for individual buildings may be reduced up to five feet (5') so that the average setbacks for all buildings are at least fifteen feet (15').

b.

Front centerline of public road, street or highway: forty-five feet (45').

c.

Street side property line: fifteen feet (15')

d.

Interior side property line: five feet (5'); ten feet (10') on lots where access is gained to an interior court by way of a side yard, or where an entrance to a building faces the side line

e.

Rear property line: ten feet (10').

Minimum setbacks for commercial uses in the K zone may be waived by the BZA.

I.

Guest Parking K Zone.