Article 4 — Chapter 17.44
Tuolumne County Zoning Code · 2026-07 edition · ingested 2026-07-07 · Tuolumne County
AUTOMOBILE/VEHICLE SALES AND SERVICES
Sections:
17.44.010 Purpose.
17.44.020 Applicability.
17.44.030 Permit Required. 17.44.040 Development and Operational Standards. ¶
17.44.010 Purpose. The purpose of this Chapter is to establish standards for the location, site planning, development, and operations of certain land uses that are allowed by Article 2, Zoning Districts and Allowable Land Uses, within individual or multiple districts, and for activities that require special standards to minimize the impacts of these uses and activities on surrounding properties and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their occupants and of the general public.
17.44.020 Applicability. The requirements contained in this Chapter shall apply to autorelated uses, as specified below, located in the Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts.
A. Appropriate best management practices shall be constructed and/or practiced in order to ensure that any vehicle fluids shall not leave the site and shall not contaminate soil.
B. Dismantling of stored and/or parked vehicles shall be expressly prohibited within the public view, unless specifically approved otherwise.
17.44.030 Permit Required. All auto-related uses shall be subject to approval of the specified permit as detailed in the use tables in Article 2.
17.44.040 Development and Operational Standards. ¶
A. Automobile and Vehicle Related Uses – General. The following regulations shall apply to all automobile and vehicle-related uses.
- Hours of operation shall be limited to no earlier than 6:00 a.m. and no later than 10:00 p.m., unless specifically approved otherwise. 2. Exterior amplified sound systems are prohibited. 3. Persons engaged in the delivery of automobiles and vehicles for storage, sales, rental, or display shall not stop or park within any public rights-of-way to off-load such automobiles and vehicles without approval of an encroachment permit. 4. Off-site circulation shall be reviewed and approved by the Community Development Department to ensure that traffic flow from the public right-of-way onto the site, or traffic flow from the site, shall not create a hazardous situation.
B. Automobile and Vehicle Rentals. The following regulations shall apply to all automobile and vehicle rental uses, including trailer and mobile home rental, truck and trailer rental, and motorcycle rental.
Repairs, except incidental replacement/repair including such items as the installation of windshield wiper blades, batteries, or comparable activity, shall be prohibited.
Vehicles shall not be displayed for sale in the
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parking area, drive aisles, or other portions of the property. C. Automobile and Vehicle Sales. The following regulations shall apply to all automobile and vehicle sales uses, including trailer and mobile home sales, truck and trailer sales, motorcycle sales, and boat sales.
Vehicles shall only be displayed for sale in approved display areas.
On-site circulation shall be reviewed and approved by the Community Development Department to ensure that vehicle circulation through the site shall be safe and that the placement of the vehicle display areas does not interfere with the flow of vehicles to designated parking stalls.
Vehicles in inventory shall not be parked on the public rightof-way.
Repairs shall be conducted within an entirely closed building.
On-site vehicle painting is prohibited.
Outdoor storage of new or used tires is prohibited unless screened with fencing.
Vehicle storage may be permitted as incidental to the primary use and shall be screened from view in compliance with Section 17.44.050.F (Automobile and Vehicle Storage). Vehicles displayed for sale in approved display areas are not subject to screening requirements.
When located adjacent to a property with a residential land use designation, a block wall of not less than 6 feet in height shall be required along the entire length of the property line. The block wall shall be reduced to the maximum height allowed
- within the required front yard setback and as necessary to meet clear sight triangle requirements. Any gate(s) shall be constructed of materials to prevent view of the stored materials within the walled and gated area.
D. Automobile and Vehicle Parts and Accessories Stores. The following regulations shall apply to all automobile and vehicle parts and accessories stores, including parts and accessories for trucks and trailers, motorcycles, and boats.
A. Replacement parts and repairs shall not be installed and/or completed by customers or employees of the on-site business in the parking area, drive aisles, or unimproved areas of the site.
B. No vehicle repairs are permitted on-site unless specifically approved and in compliance with all applicable requirements and conditions of approval.
E. Automobile and Vehicle Repairs and Service. The following regulations shall apply to all automobile and vehicle repairs and service uses, including minor auto repair; major auto repair; stereo and sound system installation; body, paint and upholstery shops; boat service and repair; motorcycle service and repair; and heavy equipment service and repair.
On-site circulation shall be reviewed and approved by the Community Development Department to ensure that onsite circulation upon and through the site shall be safe and convenient for the patrons and that the placement of the vehicle display areas does not interfere with the flow of vehicles to designated parking stalls.
Repairs shall be conducted within an entirely closed building, except when located
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in the Heavy Industrial District.
- Service bay doors shall be oriented away from adjacent properties with a residential land use designation.
- Outdoor storage of new or used tires is prohibited.
- Vehicle storage may be permitted as incidental to the primary use and shall be screened from view in compliance with Section 17.44.050.F (Automobile and Vehicle Storage).
- Vehicles waiting for service or repair shall not be parked on the public right-of-way.
- When located adjacent to a property with a residential land use designation, a block wall of not less than 6 feet in height shall be required along the entire length of the property line. The block wall shall be reduced as necessary to the maximum height allowed within the required front yard setback and to meet clear sight triangle requirements. Any gate(s) shall be constructed of materials to prevent view of the stored materials within the walled and gated area.
- Automobiles and vehicles shall not be stored outside of a building on-site for more than 24 consecutive hours, unless stored in an approved storage area in compliance with the requirements of Section 17.44.050.F (Automobile and Vehicle Storage).
masonry or other similar material shall be constructed and maintained around the perimeter of the use to substantially block the view of the storage yard. The wall shall not encroach into any required setback along a front or street side yard or encroach into any required clear sight triangle area. This requirement shall apply to storage yards with a capacity of 50 or more vehicles. Any vehicles not screened shall be operable and in good repair. A minimum of 4 feet of landscaping shall be provided along any street frontage to provide aesthetic relief along the wall.
encroach into any required setback along a front or street side yard or encroach into any required clear sight triangle area. This requirement shall apply to storage yards with a capacity of 50 or more vehicles. Any vehicles not screened shall be operable and in good repair. A minimum of 4 feet of landscaping shall be provided along any street frontage to provide aesthetic relief along the wall.
Storage areas shall be paved with concrete or asphalt. An alternative material may be approved by the Director.
F. Automobile and Vehicle Storage. The following regulations shall apply to all automobile and vehicle storage yards, including designated storage areas incidental to a primary use.
- A solid wall not less than 6 feet in height made of block,
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