Title 17 — Land Use

Chapter 17.220 — COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS

Westminster Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-07 · Westminster

§ 17.220.005. Purpose.

This Chapter provides development and land use regulations for the commercial zoning districts established by Section 17.200.010 . The purpose of the individual commercial zoning districts and the manner in which they are applied are as follows.

  • A. CR (Restricted Commercial) District. The CR zoning district identifies areas appropriate for primarily low-intensity office uses. Retail uses may be considered but require review by the Commission and final action by the Council.

  • B. C1 (Local Business) District. The C1 zoning district provides areas for the development of a broad range of retail, service, and entertainment uses designed to meet the shopping and service needs of the local residential and business communities.

  • C. C2 (General Business) District. The C2 zoning district provides areas for the development of free-way-oriented and regional-serving retail and office complexes, and complementary regional commercial centers.

  • D. CM (Commercial-Industrial) District. The CM zoning district provides areas for the development of planned, unified shopping centers. This district also provides areas for light-industrial uses. Uses for both commercial and industrial districts are outlined in Tables 2-4 and 2-6.

  • (Ord. 2456 § 2, 2010)

§ 17.220.010. Commercial Zoning District Land Uses and Permit Requirements.

  • A. General Requirements. Table 2-4 identifies the land uses permitted by this Title in the commercial zoning districts, and the land use permit required to establish each use, in compliance with Section 17.200.020.B, Zoning District Regulations .

Note: Where the last column in the table ("See Specific Use Regulations") includes a section number, the regulations in the referenced section apply to the use; however, provisions in other sections of this Title may also apply.

Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts
Permit Requirements by District See Specifc
Use
Regulations
Land Use
1		 CR C1 C2 CM
2
Industry, Manufacturing and Processing
Printing – commercial and
wholesale		 – – P –
Research and development (R&D) – – – CUP
Temporary storage containers – – P – Section
17.400.160
Recreation, Education and Public Assembly
Broadcast facilities for radio and/or
televisions		 P P P
Clubs, lodges, and fraternal
organizations		 – P P P
Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Permit Requirements by District See Specifc
Use
Land Use
1		 CR C1 C2 CM
2		 Regulations
Commercial entertainment and
recreation:
Amusement center/park – CUP CUP CUP
Entertainment – in conjunction
with eating and drinking
establishments		 – CUP CUP CUP
Indoor amusement/entertainment
facilities:
Bowling alley – – P P
Ice skating – – AUP AUP
Pool and/or billiard rooms – CUP CUP CUP
Other defned indoor
amusement/entertainment
facilities		 – CUP CUP CUP
Limited entertainment – in
conjunction with eating and
drinking establishments		 – AUP AUP AUP Section
17.400.055
Outdoor commercial recreation – CUP CUP CUP
Theaters and auditoriums – CUP CUP CUP
Dance halls, reception halls,
banquet facilities or related uses		 – CUP CUP CUP
Health/ftness facilities (with or
without massage establishment)		 – CUP CUP CUP
Health/ftness facilities (without
massage establishment) less than
5,000 square feet		 AUP AUP AUP
Publicly owned recreational and
cultural facilities		 P P P P
Private recreational and cultural
facilities		 CUP CUP CUP CUP
Private schools CUP CUP CUP CUP
Religious places of worship CUP CUP CUP CUP
Studios – art, dance, music,
photography, etc.		 – P P P
Tutoring centers – P P P
Vocational and trade schools – AUP AUP CUP
Residential
3
Emergency shelters – – CUP CUP
Mobilehome park – minimum 10
acres		 CUP CUP CUP CUP
Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Permit Requirements by District See Specifc
Use
Land Use
1		 CR C1 C2 CM
2		 Regulations
Residential care facilities – 7 or
more clients		 CUP CUP CUP CUP
Residential with commercial
(mixed-use)		 PD/CP PD/CP PD/CP PD/CP
Senior housing CUP CUP CUP CUP Section
17.400.085
Retail
Adult uses – – CUP CUP Section
17.400.015
Alcohol sales:
For off-site consumption – CUP CUP CUP
For on-site consumption – CUP CUP CUP
For on-site consumption
associated with a bona fde
eating place not containing a bar
or lounge		 AUP AUP AUP
Animal sales and services:
Pet shop/store – P P P
Antique store – P P P
Apparel: clothing, shoes, and
accessories		 – P P P
Art/photography stores and
galleries		 – P P P
Bakery (retail) or delicatessen – P P P
Boat sales – new and used – – – AUP
Book and stationery stores – P P P
Department stores – – P P
Drive-in and drive-through facilities – P P P Section
17.400.050
Drug stores and pharmacies – P P P
Eating and drinking
establishments:
Bars, night clubs – CUP CUP –
Café, coffee house, tea house – CUP
6		 CUP
6		 CUP
6		 Section
17.400.030
Restaurant, take out – P P P
Equipment sales and rentals –
excluding vehicle		 – P P P
Florist/fower shop – P P P
Food and beverage sales:
Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Permit Requirements by District See Specifc
Use
Land Use
1		 CR C1 C2 CM
2		 Regulations
Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts
Convenience stores – P P P
Grocery stores – P P P Section
17.400.065
Liquor stores – CUP CUP CUP
Specialty stores – P P P
Food-service cart – incidental to
host use		 – – CUP CUP Section
17.400.070
Furniture (fnished or unfnished),
furnishings, and appliance stores		 – P P P
General retail stores – P P P
Home improvement stores – sales
and service		 – P P P
Meat market – P P P
Mobilehome sales – – CUP CUP
Outdoor storage – CUP CUP CUP
Plant nurseries (retail) and garden-
supply stores		 – P P P
Second-hand stores (retail outlet
only-no acceptance of donated
products)		 – – P P
Second-hand stores (that facilitate
donation or purchase of products)		 – – CUP CUP
Shopping center – P P P
Sporting goods and equipment
store		 – P P P
Stationery and offce supplies – P P P
Swap meet
4		 – CUP CUP CUP
Vehicle sales, including
automobiles and motorcycles:
New vehicles, retail
5		 – – P P
Used vehicles – – CUP CUP
Vehicle parts sales – no
installation and/or servicing		 – P P P
Vehicle parts sales – with
installation and/or servicing		 – – CUP CUP
New recreational vehicle sales
5		 – – P P
Wholesale vehicle dealer
independently developed from a
new vehicle dealership and
involving the storage of vehicles
on-site		 – – CUP CUP
Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Permit Requirements by District See Specifc
Use
Land Use
1		 CR C1 C2 CM
2		 Regulations
Warehouse retail stores – – P P
Service
Acupressure – CUP CUP CUP
Acupuncture P P P P
Adult uses – – CUP CUP
Animal services:
Animal boarding and kennels – – – CUP Section
17.400.025
Pet day care and grooming – AUP AUP AUP Section
17.400.025
Veterinary clinics and animal
hospitals		 – CUP CUP CUP Section
17.400.025
Astrology and fortunetelling
establishments		 – P P P
Automated teller machines (ATMs) P P P P
Banks and fnancial institutions
(with/without drive-thru)		 P P P P
Bicycle repair, sales, and rental – P P P
Business and consumer-support
services		 – P P P
Check-cashing business – CUP CUP CUP
Day care facilities:
Adult day care centers CUP CUP – –
Child day care centers CUP CUP – –
Drive-thru facilities and services – P P P
Hotels and motels
7		 – CUP CUP CUP
Laundromat – coin operated – P P P
Massage establishments as
defned in Title 5		 – P P P Section
17.400.095
Medical services:
Clinics AUP AUP AUP AUP
Labs – P P P
Hospitals CUP CUP CUP CUP
Offces (medical or dental) P P P P
Offces:
Administrative/business P P P P
Government P P P P
Production P P P P
Professional P P P P
Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Permit Requirements by District See Specifc
Use
Land Use
1		 CR C1 C2 CM
2		 Regulations
Offces for wholesale businesses – P P P Section
17.400.100
Pawnshops – AUP P –
Personal services:
Barber – P P P
Dry cleaning – pick-up/drop-off
only		 – P P P
Dry cleaning – with cleaning
facilities		 – – P P
Hair/nail salon – P P P
Laundromat – P P P
Mail-box services – P P P
Medical spa – AUP AUP –
Shoe repair and service – P P P
Spa/sauna – AUP AUP –
Tailoring – P P P
Public safety facilities CUP CUP CUP CUP
Public utility facilities CUP CUP CUP CUP
Recycling facilities – incidental
use:		 Section
17.400.115
Reverse vending machines – P P P Section
17.400.115
Small collection facility – P P P Section
17.400.115
Large collection facility – – CUP CUP Section
17.400.115
Self storage – CUP CUP CUP Section
17.400.140
Service stations – CUP CUP CUP Section
17.400.145
Tattoo parlor or dermatography
studio		 – CUP CUP – Section
17.400.155
Ticket and travel agency P P P P
Vehicle services:
Accessories installation – AUP AUP AUP
Automobile broker – offce only
and no vehicle display		 P P P P
Car wash, full service – CUP CUP CUP
Car wash, self service – CUP CUP CUP
Driving school – AUP AUP –
Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts
Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts		 Table 2-4
Permitted Uses and Permit Requirements For Commercial Zoning Districts
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Permit Requirements by District See Specifc
Use
Land Use
1		 CR C1 C2 CM
2		 Regulations
Maintenance/repair – excluding
auto body repair		 – – CUP CUP Section
17.400.170
Recreational vehicle storage
facility		 – – – CUP
Rental – AUP AUP –
Towing, no storage – – – –
Transportation and Communications
Bus depot – – CUP CUP
Wireless communication facilities –
screened and/or co-located		 P P P P Section
17.400.175
Wireless communications facilities
– unscreened		 CUP CUP CUP CUP Section
17.400.175

Notes:

P = Permitted Use; AUP = Administrative Use Permit Required; CUP = Conditional Use Permit Required; – = Prohibited Use; PD/CP = Planned Development and Comprehensive Plan

  • 1 See Article 7 for definitions of the land uses listed.

  • 2

    • Uses permitted in the CM zoning district shall be as follows:

    • a. Uses permitted in the C2 zoning district, subject to the restrictions provided in the above table and providing the property is developed as a planned, unified shopping center.

    • b. Uses permitted in the M1 zoning district, provided that if any portion of the property is developed for commercial uses not permitted by the M1 zoning district, compatibility of commercial and industrial uses shall be determined by development review as provided elsewhere in this Title.

    • c. Tables 2-4 and 2-6 provide a listing of permitted, conditionally permitted, and prohibited uses for the CM zone district.

  • 3 Refer to Table 2-3 for development standards applicable to residential uses. 4 Limited to indoor sales only.

  • 5 The sale of used vehicles, wholesale of new vehicles and auto repair/servicing are permitted as incidental uses to the primary retail sale of new vehicles.

  • 6 Cafés, coffee houses and tea houses are permitted without a CUP if found in compliance with the provisions of Section 17.400.030 .

  • 7 All Conditional Use Permits for hotels and motels shall require City Council review and approval, following a public hearing review and recommendation by the Planning Commission.

(Ord. 2456 § 2, 2010; Ord. 2478 § 2, 2011; Ord. 2490 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2526 § 2, 2015)

§ 17.220.015. Commercial Zoning District Development Standards.

  • A. General Requirements. Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures in the CR, C1, C2, and CM zones shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements outlined in Table 2-5. In addition, the applicable development standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading) outlined in Article 3 shall apply to all commercial zoning districts. For applicable commercial development design guidelines, please refer to Section 17.400.040 .

  • B. Late Night Business Restrictions. Commercial businesses, located within 150 feet of a parcel zoned for residential use with late night operations and late night hours, as defined in Article 7 of this Title shall require the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit.

Table 2-5
Commercial District Development Standards		 Table 2-5
Commercial District Development Standards		 Table 2-5
Commercial District Development Standards		 Table 2-5
Commercial District Development Standards		 Table 2-5
Commercial District Development Standards
Development Feature Requirements by Zoning District
CR C1 C2 CM
1
Maximum building height:
Buildings/structures 2 stories not to exceed 35
feet		 Width of the street upon
which the building faces;
where a building has
more than one street
frontage, the width of the
widest street shall apply
Flag pole
2		 60 feet
Minimum lot size 6,000 square feet as required by Title 16
(Subdivisions)
Minimum front yard required 50 feet to the centerline of the street upon that the
building site fronts
4
Minimum side yard required 20 feet, if the adjoining property is zoned for
residential purposes , 10 feet, if the property adjoins
a public right-of-way, 0 feet if adjoining property is
zoned for commercial or industrial uses
3
Minimum rear yard required 10 feet; or 5 feet if the rear yard adjoins a public alley,
public park, or public pedestrian way; or 25 feet if the
property adjoins property zoned for residential
purposes
2
Off-street parking and loading As required by Chapter17.320
Landscaping As required by Chapter17.310
Signs As required by Chapter17.330
Storage and loading of
recyclable materials		 As required by Section17.300.045
Fences, walls used as
fences, latticework screens,
hedges, or thick growths of
shrubs or trees, and open-
mesh wire fences		 As required by Section17.300.030
Retail storefront visibility
requirements		 Retail storefronts shall provide a minimum 60 percent
open exposure to the street or parking lot through the
use of windows and doors

Notes:

  • 1 Providing the property is developed as a planned, unified shopping center, the development standards in this table shall apply; however, if the property is developed for uses permitted in the M1 zoning district, then the development standards in Table 2-7 shall apply.

  • 2 See Footnote 7 in Table 3-8, Permitted Signs by Type and Zoning District , for applicable standards and requirements.

  • 3 Where the property adjoins property zoned for residential uses, the side yard shall not be used for storage purposes, including refuse and recyclable materials or other activities, except parking and traffic circulation.

  • 4 For streets 80 feet or more in width setback is 20 feet or 20 percent of street width whichever is greater but no more than 30 feet

    • For Westminster Blvd – 60 feet from centerline of street

    • State Highways – 70 feet from centerline of street, except the following:

    • If width is more than 100 feet – 20 percent of street width but not more than 30 feet

On Beach Blvd, existing lots less than 50 feet in depth – 0 setback

(Ord. 2456 § 2, 2010; Ord. 2478 § 2, 2011)