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Title 18 — ZONING

§ 18.26

Whittier Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Whittier

18.26.010 - Purpose.

In order to provide for the development of light commercial professional office and appropriate associated uses within the city, zone C-O, entitled "Commercial-Office," is created.

(Prior code § 9180)

(Ord. No. 3159, § 3(Exh. A), 11-12-24)

18.26.020 - Permitted uses.

No person shall use, or permit the use of, any property zoned C-O, except for the following principal and accessory uses:

A.

Principal Uses.

Ambulance services, including the sale and rental of sickroom supplies and equipment

Artist studios

Bank, savings and loan, or similar financial institution

Barbershops and beauty shops

Coffee shops, cafe or restaurant facility, only if the same is located within a building housing an officecomplex, which building has a gross floor area of at least ten thousand square feet. Such restaurant facility shall not occupy an area which exceeds twenty-five percent of the total ground or first floor of the building in which located

Communication equipment buildings

Dental offices and clinics

Employment agencies

Laboratories, medical and dental

Live/work development

Low barrier navigation center/hospitality houses

Manufacturer's agent, provided no stock in trade or inventory other than samples shall be permitted

Medical offices and clinics

Mixed-use (residential/commercial) development

Offices, business and professional

Optician, dispensing

Parking lots and parking structures

Prescription pharmacies, limited to the sale of medicinal and pharmaceutical supplies

Private clubs

Recording studios

Residential care facilities, serving six or fewer persons

Schools, business and professional

Senior citizen housing, as defined in Chapter 18.06, subject to the provisions of Chapter 18.42

Studios, including but not limited to art, dance, martial arts, music, photography

Telephone repeater stations

Tourist information centers

Any use which is found, pursuant to Section 18.50.030, to be similar to and compatible with the uses listed in this section;

B.

Accessory Uses. Those uses which are directly related, but clearly subordinate to a permitted principal use.

C.

Conditionally Permitted Principal Uses. Those uses which are allowed with a conditional use permit under Section 18.52.030.G. If a use is conditionally permitted in the R-4 zone and has fifty percent or more of the floor area located above the first floor devoted to residential purposes shall be considered a residential use and shall comply with the provisions of Chapters 18.10 and 18.22, to the exclusion of regulations contained in Chapter 18.24.

(Ord. 2740 § 2, 1998; Ord. 2553 § 6, 1991; prior code § 9181)

(Ord. No. 3159, § 3(Exh. A), 11-12-24)

18.26.030 - Development standards.

Buildings, structures and uses located on lots classified in the C-O zone shall be developed and maintained in accordance with the regulations contained in Chapter 18.24.

(Prior code § 9182)

Chapter 18.28 - C-1 LIGHT COMMERCIAL ZONE

Sections:

18.28.010 - Purpose.

In order to provide for the development of light commercial areas and to maintain the integrity of existing light commercial areas within the city, zone C-1, entitled "Light Commercial," is created.

(Prior code § 9190)

18.28.020 - Permitted uses.

A.

Principal Uses.

Any use permitted in the C-O zone except:

Ambulance services

Communications buildings

Commercial parking lots and structures

Residential care facilities

Schools, business and professional

2.

Those uses which are expressly permitted pursuant to Section 18.52.030, for which a conditional use permit is required;

3.

The following uses:

Antique shops (not including antique malls)

Art galleries

Bakery shops

Bicycle sales and service

Candy stores

Clothing stores

Delicatessens

Dry cleaning or laundry, retail only (no on-site cleaning)

Florist shops

Food, prepared for consumption off-site (food-to-go)

Gift shops

Hobby supply shops

Ice cream shops

Interior decorating studios

Jewelry stores

Locksmith shops

News stands

Notions or novelty stores

Orthopedic supply and sales

Plant shops or nurseries

Photographic equipment and supply stores

Restaurants and cafes with less than three thousand square feet of gross floor area

Retail uses with less than three thousand square feet of gross floor area

Shoe repair shops

Shoe stores

Stationery stores

Tailor shops

Telecommuting center (computer/internet access)

Watch repair shops

Any use which is found, pursuant to Section 18.50.030, to be similar to and compatible with the uses listed above;

B.

Accessory Uses. Those uses which are directly related, but clearly subordinate to a permitted use.

(Ord. 2740 § 3, 1998)

(Ord. No. 3159, § 3(Exh. A), 11-12-24)

18.28.030 - Development standards.

Buildings, structures and uses located on lots classified in zone C-1 shall be developed and maintained in accordance with regulations contained in Chapter 18.24, and the following:

A.

Height. No building or structure located on any C-1-zoned lot, which lot has a common lot line with an R- zoned property, shall exceed the height limit for buildings and structures as permitted in the R zone; and

B.

Outside Storage. All storage of materials, except temporary storage of refuse, shall be within an enclosed building, or as allowed under Section 18.24.030.

(Prior code § 9192)

(Ord. No. 3159, § 3(Exh. A), 11-12-24)

Chapter 18.30 - C-2 GENERAL COMMERCIAL ZONE

Sections:

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