Chapter 17.255 — MINI-WAREHOUSES/SELF-STORAGE FACILITIES

The City Council has enacted the following provisions to provide minimum development standards for mini-warehouses in the City. These standards are designed to provide for the appropriate development of mini-warehouses and to protect the health, safety and welfare of City residents using such facilities or who live or conduct business adjacent to such facilities. (Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)

Mini-warehouse/self-storage facilities shall only be permitted in the M-I industrial zone and subject to the approval of a conditional use permit. The facility use shall be designed and operated for the storage of goods in individual compartments or rooms, which are available for use by the general public on a rental or lease basis. In no case shall storage spaces be used for manufacturing, retail or wholesale selling, compounding, office functions, other business or service uses, or human habitation.

(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)

• A. The size of individual storage spaces within a mini-warehouse facility shall have a maximum gross floor area of 500 square feet.

• B. Lot Coverage. The maximum lot coverage shall be 65%.

• C. Location. No mini-warehouse buildings shall be located in the front 25% of the lot (as measured from the front property line). The front 25% of the lot shall be reserved for business offices, caretakers' quarters and similar commercial type uses.

• D. Screening. The area designated for mini-warehouse buildings (rear 75%) shall be separated from the front portion of the site by a six-foot high decorative masonry wall combined with an earthen berm or landscaping to provide an eight foot high screen wall.

• E. RV and Boat Storage. All mini-warehouse projects shall designate an area equal to 10% of the rear portion of the site for the storage of RVs and boats. This storage area shall be screened from public streets with a decorative masonry wall (or green wall) six feet in height.

• F. Perimeter Walls. Perimeter walls (e.g., side and rear property lines) shall be decorative block six to eight feet in height. The rear and sides of mini-warehouse buildings may be used in place of portions of the required perimeter wall where no individual storage units are accessible from the building sides. The exterior side of all perimeter decorative masonry walls and storage building sides (if used in place of portions of the walls), shall be coated with a protective coating that will facilitate the removal of graffiti. Building exteriors shall not be corrugated metal or similar surface but shall be of finished quality.

• G. Surface Covering. All surfaces shall be color coated in coordinating colors as approved by the hearing body.

• H. Roofing. Roofing materials shall be compatible with area development. To the extent feasible, roofs shall be designed to accommodate solar panels if proposed with a mini-warehouse development.

• I. Lighting. Mini-warehouse facilities shall comply with the following lighting standards:

  1. All lighting shall be indirect, hooded and positioned so as not to reflect onto adjoining property or public streets.

     • a. All mini-warehouse complexes shall comply with the City's light pollution ordinance provisions (Chapter 8.64 )

     • b. Lighting fixtures may be installed in each individual storage space, provided that the fixtures shall not include or be adaptable to provide electrical service outlets.

• J. Gates. All gates shall be decorative wrought iron, or other metal type. All gates shall be painted a color which blends in with the rest of the mini-warehouse development. All gates shall be subject to review and approval by the Fire Department to assure adequate emergency access.

• K. Parking. Parking shall be provided in accordance with the requirements set forth in Chapter 17.155 .

• L. Landscaping. All street setbacks and setbacks between the mini-warehouse use and residentially zoned property shall be landscaped. This landscaping shall include shrubs, trees, vines or a combination thereof which act to soften the visual effect of the walls. This landscaping shall be in addition to and coordinated with the landscaping required for parking areas under Chapter 17.155 .

• M. Setbacks.

  1. Front/Street Setback. The front/street setback shall be a minimum of 25 feet from ultimate street right-of-way line. The mini-warehouse structures must be located on the rear 75% of the site and maintain a minimum setback of 100 feet.

     • a. Side/Rear Setbacks. Where the side or rear setback areas adjoins a lot with a commercial or industrial zoning designation, there is no minimum setback. If the use is adjacent to a residential zoning designation, a minimum side/rear setback of 35 feet shall be required. Walls shall be located so as to provide a buffer between the residential zone and the mini-warehouse zone.

     • b. All open areas, including interior setbacks, may be used for driveways, parking, outdoor storage or landscaping.

• N. Caretaker's Residence. One caretaker's residence (located within the front 25% of the lot) is permitted with the mini-warehouse facility. Where a caretaker's residence is proposed, a

minimum of two parking spaces shall be provided for the caretaker's residence in addition to those required for the mini-warehouse land use outlined in Chapter 17.155 .

• O. Prohibited Materials. The following materials shall not be stored in mini-warehouses:

  1. Flammable or explosive matter or material;

     • a. Matter or material which creates obnoxious dust, odor or fumes;

     • b. Truck or vehicular rental;

     • c. Hazardous or extremely hazardous waste, as defined by applicable provisions of the Hazardous Waste Control Law (Health and Safety Code Section 25100 , et seq.).

• P. Prohibited Facilities.

  1. No water, sanitary facilities, or electricity, with the exception of lighting fixtures, shall be provided in individual storage spaces.

     • a. Prefabricated shipping containers shall not be used as mini-warehouse facilities.

     • b. No individual storage space shall be used for a residence or any business activity.

  2. No mini-warehouse facility with or without outdoor storage is allowed on properties within 1,000 feet from any major or commercial corridors or freeway off-ramps as shown in Figure 2-3 and described in Table 2-2, specifically Focus Areas 3 through 8, of the Wildomar General Plan, Land Use Element (Chapter 2).

• (Ord. 247, 1/15/2025; Ord. 253, 9/10/2025)