§ 36.230 — South Pasadena Zoning Code

36.230.010 Purpose of Division. ¶

This division lists the uses of land that may be allowed within the commercial zoning districts established by SPMC 36.200.020 (Zoning Map and Zoning Districts). It also determines the type of zoning approval/approval required for each use, and provides basic standards for site development.

(Ord. No. 2108 § 1; Ord. No. 2379 § 5 (Exh. A), 2023.)

36.230.020 Purposes of Commercial Zoning Districts. ¶

The Commercial zoning districts are intended to provide a range of commercial opportunities within South Pasadena. The purposes of the individual Commercial zoning districts and the manner in which they are applied are as follows.

A. CG (Commercial General) district. The CG zoning district is applied to areas appropriate for a wide range of commercial retail and service land uses. The CG zoning district is consistent with the Mixed Use Core land use designation of the General Plan.

B. CO (Commercial Office) district. The CO zoning district is applied to areas appropriate for professional offices. Other uses including business support services, restaurants, and specialty retail land uses may be allowed. The CO zoning district is consistent with the Mixed Use Core land use designation in the General Plan.

C. BP (Business Park) district. The BP zoning district is applied to areas appropriate for light manufacturing and business park uses including research and development, corporate headquarter offices, and support service and retail land uses. Land uses in the BP District are intended to be designed as campus-business park environments. The BP zoning district is consistent with the Mixed Use Core land use designation of the General Plan.

D. MU (Mixed Use) overlay district. The MU overlay district may be applied to all CO, CG, and BP zoning districts as an overlay to allow for a wide range of development that contains a mix of functions, including commercial, entertainment, office, and housing. The MU overlay district is consistent with the Mixed Use Core land use designation in the General Plan. The intent of this overlay district includes implementation of General Plan policy direction and applicable State laws to allow for 100 percent residential development in the CO and CG zoning districts.

(Ord. No. 2108 § 1; Ord. No. 2379 § 5 (Exh. A), 2023.)

36.230.030 Commercial District Land Uses and Permit Requirements. ¶

A. General requirements. Table 2-4 identifies the uses of land allowed by this Zoning Code in the commercial zoning districts, and the zoning approval required to establish each use, in compliance with SPMC 36.210.030 (Allowable Land Uses and Permit Requirements).

Note: where the last column in the tables (“Specific Use Regulations”) includes a section number, the regulations in the referenced section apply to the use; however, provisions in other sections of this Zoning Code may also apply.

B. Design guidelines and standards. Land uses and structures proposed within the commercial zoning districts shall comply with any adopted design guidelines to the extent required by the Review Authority and/or specific provisions of any design guidelines and any applicable objective design standards for qualifying residential and mixed-use projects. Qualifying residential projects shall comply with the ministerial approval process established by SPMC 36.410.040(D)(6).

in the commercial zoning districts shall comply with any adopted design guidelines to the extent required by the Review Authority and/or specific provisions of any design guidelines and any applicable objective design standards for qualifying residential and mixed-use projects. Qualifying residential projects shall comply with the ministerial approval process established by SPMC 36.410.040(D)(6).

TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	P					Permitted Use	Permitted Use
			CUP			Conditional Use Permit required
			AUP		Administrative Use Permit required

			—				Use not allowed
			PERMIT REQUIREMENT BY ZONE						Specific Use Regulations
LAND	USE (1)		CO	CG				BP
MANUFACTURING & PROCESSING		USES

Electronics, equipment, and appliance manufacturing			—	—				P
Food and beverage products manufacturing			—	—				P
Furniture/fixtures manufacturing, cabinet shops			—	—				P
Handcraft industries, small-scale manufacturing,less than3,500 sf			—	—				P
Handcraft industries, small-scale manufacturing, 3,500 sf or more			—	—				CUP
Laundries and dry cleaning plants,less than3,500 sf			—	—				P
Laundries and dry cleaning plants,3,500 sf or more			—	—				CUP
Mediapostproduction facilities			—	—				P

TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	P						Permitted Use	Permitted Use
		CUP				Conditional Use Permit required
		AUP			Administrative Use Permit required

		—					Use not allowed
		PERMIT REQUIREMENT BY ZONE							Specific Use Regulations
LAND	USE (1)	CO	CG					BP
Metal products fabrication, machine/weldingshops		—	—					P
Photographic processing plants,less than 3,500 sf		—	—					P
Photographic processing plants,3,500 sf or more		—	—					CUP
Plumbing and heating shops,less than 3,500 sf		—	—					P
Plumbing and heating shops,3,500 sf or more		—	—					CUP
Printing and publishing,less than 3,500 sf		—	P					P
Printing and publishing, 3,500 sf or more		—	P					CUP
Recycling facilities		—	CUP					CUP	36.350.160
Recycling facilities—Reverse vending machines		—	P					P	36.350.160
Warehouses, wholesaling and distribution		—		—				P
RECREATION,EDUCATION & PUBLIC ASSEMBLY				USES
Adult entertainment businesses		—		—				(2)	36.350.030
Clubs,lodges,fraternal organizations		—	CUP					CUP
Indoor amusement/entertainment facilities		—	P					CUP
Libraries, museums, galleries		—	AUP					CUP
Outdoor recreation facilities		—	CUP					CUP
Schools—Private		—	CUP					CUP
Schools—Specialized education, tutoring, and training		—	AUP/ CUP					CUP	3,000 sf or smaller requires an AUP, greater than 3,000 sf requires a CUP

TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	P					Permitted Use	Permitted Use
						CUP			Conditional Use Permit required
						AUP		Administrative Use Permit required

						—				Use not allowed
						PERMIT REQUIREMENT BY ZONE						Specific Use Regulations
LAND					USE (1)	CO	CG				BP
Special needs educational and training facilities						—	CUP				CUP
Studios/health/fitness facility—Dance, martial arts, music, photography, etc.						AUP/ CUP	AUP/ CUP				CUP	3,000 sf or smaller requires an AUP, greater than 3,000 sf requires a CUP
Theaters and auditoriums						—	CUP				—
Community gardens						CUP	CUP				CUP	36.350.230
RESIDENTIAL			USES
Emergency shelter						—	CUP				P	36.350.250
Live/work units						—	—				—	36.350.110
Mixed-use projects						P	P				P	36.230.050
Multifamily	dwellings(5)					P	P				P(6)	36.230.050

Single-room		occupancy				—	—				P	36.350.260

Transitional and supportive housing, including low barrier navigation centers						P	P				P
RETAIL TRADE
Alcoholic beverage sales						—	CUP				—	36.350.040
Auto parts sales						—	P				—
Auto sales and rental						—	CUP				CUP
Building material stores						—	P				CUP	36.350.220
Coffee roastingandpackaging,retail						—	CUP				—
Construction/heavy equipment sales and rental						—	CUP				CUP
Convenience and				liquor stores		—	CUP				—	36.350.040
Department stores						—	P				—
Equipment sales and rental						—	CUP				CUP
Extended hour businesses (11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.)						—	CUP				CUP

TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	P					Permitted Use	Permitted Use
			CUP			Conditional Use Permit required
			AUP		Administrative Use Permit required

			—				Use not allowed
			PERMIT REQUIREMENT BY ZONE						Specific Use Regulations
LAND		USE (1)	CO	CG				BP
Furniture, furnishings and appliance stores			—	P				—
Gas stations			—	CUP				CUP
General retail			—	P				CUP	36.350.140, 36.350.220
Grocery stores			—	AUP				—
Hardware stores			—	P				—
Multi-tenant retail			—	CUP				—
Outdoor display and retail activities			—	AUP				CUP
Plant nurseries and garden supply stores			—	P				—	36.350.140, 36.350.220
Restaurants			CUP	P				P
Restaurants,	multi-tenant retail			CUP(3)
Restaurants, retail food	take-out and with accessory		CUP	P				P
Restaurants,with catering and/or accessoryretail food			CUP	CUP				CUP
Restaurants,with outdoor diningonly			AUP	AUP				AUP	36.350.130
Secondhand stores			—	P				—
Tobacco retailer—Primary use			—	P				CUP	SPMC Chapter 18, Article 6 or its successor
Tobacco retailer—Accessory use			—	As required for the primary use that the accessory use is associated with				As required for the primary use that the accessory use is associated with
Warehouse retail			—	CUP				—	36.350.220
SERVICES—BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	P					Permitted Use	Permitted Use	Permitted Use
				CUP			Conditional Use Permit required
				AUP		Administrative Use Permit required

				—				Use not allowed
				PERMIT REQUIREMENT BY ZONE						Specific Use Regulations
LAND	USE (1)			CO	CG				BP
Automated teller machines(ATMs)				P	P				P	36.350.060
Banks and financial services				—	P				P
Business support services				—	CUP				P(4)
Offices—Production, development		research and		P	P				P
Offices—Professional and administrative				P	P				P
SERVICES—OTHER
Ambulance service				—	CUP				CUP
Bed and breakfast inns				CUP	CUP				—
Child/adult day care centers				—	AUP/ CUP				CUP	3,000 sf or smaller requires an AUP, greater than 3,000 sf requires a CUP
Contractor storage yard				—	—				CUP
Convenience services				P	P				P
Hotels and motels				—	CUP				—
Medical services—Clinics				—	CUP				—
Medical services—Laboratories				—	CUP				P
Medical services—Offices				P	P				P
Massage establishment				—	CUP				—	SPMC 17.15(B)
Personal services				CUP	P				—	SPMC	17.13
Personal services—Restricted				—	AUP				—
Vehicle repair and maintenance—Major repair work				—	CUP				—
Vehicle repair and maintenance—Service and maintenance				—	CUP				—
Veterinary clinics,hospitals,			kennels	—	CUP				CUP
Wine cellar				—	P				P
TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNICATIONS

TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	TABLE 2-4. ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS PARK DISTRICTS	P					Permitted Use	Permitted Use
		CUP			Conditional Use Permit required
		AUP		Administrative Use Permit required

		—				Use not allowed
		PERMIT REQUIREMENT BY ZONE						Specific Use Regulations
LAND	USE (1)	CO	CG				BP
Parking facilities/vehicle storage		—	CUP				—
Broadcasting studios		—	CUP				P
Telecommunications facilities		CUP	CUP				CUP	36.350.210
Notes: (1) See Article 7 for land use definitions. (2) Requires an adult business permit in compliance with SPMC 36.350.030. (3) If multi-tenant retail complies with the parking regulations in SPMC 36.310.040,a CUP is required if a new restaurant would cause the restaurant square footage in the multi-tenant retail to exceed 20 percent of the total square footage. If the multi-tenant retail is legal nonconforming with the parking regulations in SPMC 36.310.040,a CUP is required if a restaurant use in an existing space has been abandoned for a period of 18 months or longer, and for all additional restaurants in new spaces or spaces previously occupied by a non-restaurant. (4) Business support services consisting of laboratory uses require a CUP. (5) See SPMC 36.230.050 regarding properties identified as housing sites in the General Plan Housing Element sites inventory as Mixed Use. (6)Residential units shall be located above theground-floor level.

(Ord. No. 2108 § 1; Ord. No. 2128 § 1; Ord. No. 2132 § 1; Ord. No. 2165 § 1, 2007; Ord. No. 2172 § 3, 2008; Ord. No. 2183 § 5, 2009; Ord. No. 2197 § 3, 2009; Ord. No. 2202 § 3, 2010; Ord. No. 2207 § 5, 2010; Ord. No. 2208 § 6, 2010; Ord. No. 2244 § 5, 2013; Ord. No. 2251 § 4, 2013; Ord. No. 2292 § 5, 2016; Ord. No. 2358 § 1, 2021; Ord. No. 2372 § 4, 2023; Ord. No. 2379 § 5 (Exh. A), 2023.)

36.230.040 Commercial District General Development Standards. ¶

Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures, shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements in Table 2-5, in addition to the applicable development standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading, etc.) in Article 3 (Site Planning and General Development Standards).

TABLE 2-5. COMMERCIAL DISTRICT GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

TABLE 2-5. COMMERCIAL DISTRICT GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Development Feature	Requirement by Zoning			District
	CO	CG		BP
Minimum lot size	Minimum area and width for subdivisions.		parcels proposed in new
Area	10,000 sf

TABLE 2-5. COMMERCIAL DISTRICT GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

TABLE 2-5. COMMERCIAL DISTRICT GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Development Feature	Requirement by Zoning				District
	CO	CG				BP
Width	50 ft
Setbacks	Minimum setbacks required. See SPMC 36.300.030 for setback measurement, allowed projections into setbacks,and exceptions to setbacks.
Front	10 ft	None required			None required
Sides, each	4 ft; an additional 1 ft setback shall be provided for each story above the second story. (3-story building = 5 ft. 4-story building = 6 ft, etc.)	None required			None required
Street side	None required				None required
Rear	None, except if adjacent to an alley 5 ft, or if adjacent to a RS district 25ft	None required			None required
Lot coverage	Maximum percentage of total covered by structures.			lot area	that may be

	No maximum				50%
Height limit	Maximum allowable height of structures.See SPMC 36.300.040 (Height Limits and Exceptions) for height measurement requirements.
Maximum height	35ft
Landscaping	As required bySPMC		36.330(LandscapingStandards)
Parking	As required bySPMC		36.310(Parkingand Loading)
Signs	As required bySPMC		36.320(Signs)

(Ord. No. 2108 § 1; Ord. No. 2379 § 5 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. No. 2403 § 4 (Exh. A), 2025.)

36.230.050 Mixed Use Overlay District Development Standards. ¶

A. New development. Subdivisions, new land uses, and structures developed as mixed-use development or as urban residential (multifamily) development within CO, CG, or BP zoning districts and with the Mixed Use Overlay shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements in Table 2-6, in addition to the applicable development standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading, etc.) in Article 3 (Site Planning and General Development Standards).

B. For properties designated in the General Plan Housing Element sites inventory as Mixed Use, in addition to all other requirements in this section, projects of 100 percent residential development shall be permitted, and at least 50 percent of the total floor area of mixed-used developments on any sites identified as Mixed Use in the Housing Element sites inventory must be developed as residential use.

C. Redevelopment. Substantial alteration of an existing mixed-use development or urban residential (multi-family) development within the CO, CG, or BP zoning districts shall be improved to satisfy the requirements in Table 2-6, in addition to the applicable development standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading, etc.) in Article 3 (Site Planning and General Development Standards).

D. Notes column in Table 2-6. Where the last column in Table 2-6 (“Notes”) includes a section number, the regulations in the referenced section apply to the standard; however, provisions in other sections of this Zoning Code may also apply.

TABLE 2-6. MIXED USE OVERLAY DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Development Feature		Requirement	Notes
DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY
Minimum	Size or Area	20,000 sf	Minimum area for proposed for new subdivisions.	parcels
Minimum	Lot Frontage	80 ft	Minimum width for parcels proposed for new subdivisions.
Density Range for Residential		52 to 70 du/ac
Maximum	Lot Coverage
Minimum Size	Residential Unit
NONRESIDENTIAL USES
Location		Nonresidential uses are required along the street frontage in the areas described in the General Plan for development within a Corridor, District, or Neighborhood Centers.
BUILDING HEIGHT AND FORM
Maximum Height		55 feet (see SPMC 36.300.040(A))	Nonhabitable building features such as chimneys, cupolas, flagpoles, monuments, steeples, pitched roofs, screened equipment, roof access stairs, elevator rooms and shafts, elevator overruns, and similar structures or projections shall be contained within the height limit as set forth in SPMC 36.300.040(A).
Maximum Stories
Maximum Floor Area by Story

TABLE 2-6. MIXED USE OVERLAY DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

TABLE 2-6. MIXED USE OVERLAY DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Development Feature		Requirement		Notes
Maximum Facade Length		100 ft		A minimum building break of 10 feet wide by 10 feet deep is required so as to prevent facade lengths longer than 100 feet.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIP TO STREET
Minimum Building Frontage		60%
Maximum Elevation of Building Entry Above the Street/Sidewalk Level and Maximum Recess Below the Street/Sidewalk Level		2 ft		Entries into individual residential units may be located up to 4 feet above the street/sidewalk level.
Minimum Ground Floor Height		12 ft
NONRESIDENTIAL	USE GROUND FLOOR BUILDING DESIGN
Maximum Blank Wall Length		25 ft
Minimum Glazing		50%
Minimum Tenant Space Width		25 ft
Minimum Number of Entries		1 per 100 lineal ft
Minimum Wall Plane Articulation		To/from window/door— minimum 6 inches To/from column/other feature—minimum 18 inches		Windows, door, columns, and other features shall be recessed or project forward to provide the respective minimum differential from the wallplane
Signs		As required by SPMC 36.320(Signs)
SETBACKS FOR NONRESIDENTIAL
Front—Ground Floor		Per the underlying district	zoning
Side—Ground Floor		Per the underlying district	zoning
Rear		15ft
SETBACKS FOR RESIDENTIAL
Front—Ground Floor		5 ft in CG district 7.5 ft in other than district	CG

TABLE 2-6. MIXED	USE OVERLAY DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Development Feature	Requirement	Notes
Side	4 ft; an additional 1 ft setback shall be provided for each story above the second story (i.e., 3-story building = 5 ft. 4-story building= 6 ft,etc.)
Rear	10 ft, or 5 ft abutting an alley
PARKING,LOCATION AND	DESIGN(1)
Site Access/Driveway Location	The location of site access/driveways shall be prioritized as follows: (1) From an alleyway, (2) From a side street,or (3) If the previous two locations are infeasible as determined by the Director,then access from the front shall be limited to a maximum 24-ft wide driveway.
Location of Parking Spaces/Areas	The location of parking spaces/areas shall be limited as follows: (1) Located to the rear of the building on the ground level or underground, and (2) Shall not be located above the ground level or within 30 feet of the front or side street property line, and (3) Parking may be placed within setback areas below grade.
Number of Spaces for Nonresidential Uses	As required by SPMC 36.310 (Parking and Loading)	Shared parking or a reduction in parking subject to approval of a parking study—SPMC 36.310.060.Within one- half mile of a high-quality transit station, no parking minimums shall apply for any use except for hotels,

TABLE 2-6. MIXED		USE OVERLAY DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Development Feature		Requirement		Notes
			motels, bed and breakfast inns,and similar transient lodging facilities per Government Code Section 65863.2.
Number of Spaces for Residential Uses		Studio—0.50 space One-bedroom—1 space Two-bedroom—1.5 spaces Guest Space—not required	Parking is reduced, not required, for qualifying development projects within one-half mile of a major transit stop, as defined in Government Code Section 65863.2.
Design of Surface or Structure Parking		As required by SPMC 36.310 (Parking and Loading)	Unless modified by standards herein
LANDSCAPING AND OPEN SPACE
Minimum	Site Landscaping	12%
Minimum Driveway and Parking Area Side Landscaping		5 ft
Minimum Total Combined Useable Open Space per Residential Unit (Common and Private Combined)		200 sf/du	Improved rooftop open space, balconies, and indoor common spaces can be counted toward usable open space.
Common Open Space Requirements		1,000 sf area minimum 25 ft minimum depth and width 50% minimum of the “minimum total combined useable open space” requirement above; 1,000 sf minimum, a minimum of 20 feet in two directions	Up to 25% of the required common open space may be indoor common open space such as fitness rooms, resident lounges and similar or typical facilities. Mail rooms and leasing offices and associated areas do not count towards the required common open space. A minimum of 20% of outdoor common open space shall be landscaped with pervious plant materials that are permanently maintained

TABLE 2-6. MIXED USE OVERLAY DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

TABLE 2-6. MIXED USE OVERLAY DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Development Feature	Requirement	Notes
		and irrigated and may count toward the minimum site landscaping requirement. Outdoor open space shall comply with SPMC 36.180(D)(1) (General Landscape Standards)
Private Open Space Requirements	Less than 50% of the total required open space. Private open space shall be 8 ft in width and 6 ft in depth to count towards the area requirements.	Individual balconies, ground floor patios, porches, or similar private open space may be provided to meet the area requirements.
Notes: (1) Guest parking spaces shall be clearly marked for guest parking only and are encouraged to be evenly dispersed throughout the development site. Signs shall be provided at appropriate locations to direct visitors toguestparkinglocations.

(Ord. No. 2379 § 5 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. No. 2394 § 4 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. No. 2403 § 4 (Exh. A), 2025.)

Division 36.240. Special Purpose Zoning Districts

Sections:

36.240.010 Purpose of Division.

36.240.020 Purposes of Special Purpose Zoning Districts.

36.240.030 Special Purpose District Land Uses and Permit Requirements.

36.240.040 Special Purpose District General Development Standards.