Chapter 17.36 — COMMERCIAL AND MIXED-USE ZONES

Prior History: Former Ch. 17.40 R-2A Limited Multiple-Family Dwelling Zone, compiled of RCC Ch. 17.40; Ord. 18 § 2, 2008; Ord. 87 § 10, 2014; Ord. 189 § 8, 2020; repealed by Ord. 247, 1/15/2025.

§ 17.36.010. Purpose. ¶

The purpose of this chapter is to establish residential districts in the City that provide appropriate locations for commercial and mixed-use developments. These zones are consistent with and implement the City's General Plan land use designations, as shown in Table 17.40.020-1. (Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)

§ 17.36.020. Allowed uses and approval requirements. ¶

A. Allowed Uses Table. Table 17.40.020-1 identifies allowed uses and corresponding approval requirements for the commercial and mixed-use subject to compliance with all other provisions of this Title. Descriptions/definitions of many of the land uses can be found in Article 6, (Definitions), of this Title.
B. Approval Requirements.
1. Where indicated with a letter "P" the use shall be a permitted use by right, and subject to compliance with all applicable provisions of this Title.
2. Where indicated with a letter "C" the use shall be conditionally permitted subject to the approval of a conditional use permit, described in Chapter 17.80 (Conditional Use Permits).
3. Where indicated with a "—," the use is prohibited within the zone.
4. The Additional Requirements column in the table identifies additional use regulations for specific uses and/or the specific chapter or section where additional regulations for that use type are located within this Title, where applicable. Uses for which additional requirements are listed shall be allowed only upon satisfaction of the specified additional requirements. Under no circumstances shall Table 17.40.020-1 authorize a use without satisfaction of such specified additional requirements.
C. Unlisted Uses. The allowed use tables of this Title may not include all possible uses. When a specific use is not listed and it is unclear whether the use is permitted by right, permitted conditionally, or prohibited, the Community Development Director or designee appointed by the City Manager may make a determination, consistent with Chapter 17.100 (Similar Use Determination), that new uses not listed here that have substantially similar characteristics to specific listed permitted uses may be considered permitted as the similar use by right, or conditionally as appropriate.
D. Uses on Vacant Lots. A Minor or Major Development Review is required for approval when a permitted or conditionally permitted use is proposed for a vacant lot. A Minor or Major Development Review is not required for approval when a permitted or conditionally permitted use is proposed for an existing building.

Table 17.40.020-1: Commercial and Mixed-Use Zones - Allowed Uses and Approval Requirements
Allowed Use	C-G	C-H	MUL	MUH	Additional Requirements
Automotive and Vehicular Uses
Automobile repair garages	C	C	C	C
Automobile parts and supply stores	P	P	P	P
Automobile sales and rental agencies, including travel trailers, mobilehomes and recreational vehicles sales	P	P	P	P
Automobile service stations, with or without concurrent sale of beer and wine 1	—	—	—	—	Note applies
Bicycle sales and rentals	P	P	P	P
Boat and other marine sales, rentals and services	C	P	P	P
Car washes, of any kind 1	—	—	—	—	Note applies
Golf cart sales and service	P	P	P	P
Fuel station 1	—	—	—	—	Note applies
Mobilehome sales and storage, trailer sales and rental house trailers	C	P	P	P
Parking lots and parking structures	P	P	P	P	Chapter17.155
Recreational vehicle and boat storage 1	—	—	—	—	Note applies Chapter 17.220 and Section17.155.070
Sale, rental, repair or demonstration of motorcycles, scooters or motorbikes, and the like.	C	P	P	P
Tire sales and service, recapping prohibited	C	C	C	C
Large truck, bus, farm equipment, and trailer service	C	C	C	C
Large truck, bus, farm equipment, and trailer sales	P	P	P	P
Entertainment
Art gallery, library, reading room, museum	P	P	P	P

Table 17.40.020-1: Commercial and Mixed-Use Zones - Allowed Uses and Approval Requirements
Allowed Use	C-G	C-H	MUL	MUH	Additional Requirements
Auditoriums and conference rooms	P	P	P	P
Billiard and pool halls, with or without alcohol sales	C	C	C	C
Bowling alleys	P	P	P	P
Day spas (facials, waxing, skin treatments, and similar services not including massage)	P	P	P	P
Game arcades (including Internet gaming)	P	P	P	P
Roller/ice rink	P	P	P	P
Assembly halls	C	C	C	C
Drive-in theaters	C	C	C	C
Health and exercise centers	C	C	C	C
Sports and recreational facilities (indoor)	P	P	P	P
Sports and recreational facilities (outdoor)	C	C	C	C
Vendor Fair/Open-Air Market Event	P	P	P	P	Chapter17.105
Movie theaters, not including drive-ins	C	C	C	C
Tourist information centers	P	P	P	P
Events & Uses, Temporary	P	P	P	P	Chapter17.105
Food Sales and Restaurants
Bakery goods distributors	P	P	P	P
Bakery shops	P	P	P	P
Bars and cocktail lounges	C	C	C	C	Chapter17.235
Catering services	P	P	P	P
Drive-through restaurants/eating establishments	C	C	C	C
Microbrewery	P	P	P	P
Brewery	P	P	P	P
Winery	P	P	P	P
Distillery	P	P	P	P
Confectionery or candy stores	P	P	P	P
Delicatessens	P	P	P	P
Food markets and frozen food lockers	P	P	P	P
Grocery stores, produce markets, dry goods, health food, and variety stores	P	P	P	P
Ice cream shops	P	P	P	P
Liquor stores	P	P	P	P	Chapter17.235
Meat and poultry markets, not including slaughtering or live sales	P	P	P	P

Table 17.40.020-1: Commercial and Mixed-Use Zones - Allowed Uses and Approval Requirements
Allowed Use	C-G	C-H	MUL	MUH	Additional Requirements
Refreshment stands, temporary	P	P	P	P	Chapter17.105
Restaurants and other eating establishments, with or without alcohol sales (not including drive through)	P	P	P	P
Medical Uses
Ambulance services	C	C	C	C
Animal hospitals (with boarding facilities)	C	C	C	C
Health clinics, all kinds	P	P	P	P
Congregate care residential facilities	C	C	C	C
Drug stores	P	P	P	P
Mortuaries	C	C	C	C
Pharmacies	P	P	P	P
Urgent care clinics	C	C	C	C
Veterinary medical clinics (no boarding)	P	P	P	P
Retail
Antique shops	P	P	P	P
Appliance stores, household	P	P	P	P
Art supply shops and studios	P	P	P	P
Book stores	P	P	P	P
Building materials sales yards	C	C	C	C
Cannabis retailers	C	C	C	C	Chapter 17.240
Ceramic sales and manufacturing for on-site sales	P	P	P	P
Clothing stores	P	P	P	P
Clothing, shoe, shoe repair and leather goods stores	P	P	P	P
Convenience stores, including the sale of motor vehicle fuel 1	—	—	—	—	Note applies
Convenience stores, not including the sale of motor vehicle fuel	C	C	C	C	Chapter17.221
Department stores	P	P	P	P
Mercantile and feed stores	P	P	P	P
Florists' shops	P	P	P	P
Gift shops, antique, curio, and art supply shops	P	P	P	P

Table 17.40.020-1: Commercial and Mixed-Use Zones - Allowed Uses and Approval Requirements
Hardware stores	P	P	P	P
Hobby shops	P	P	P	P

Table 17.40.020-1: Commercial and Mixed-Use Zones - Allowed Uses and Approval Requirements
Allowed Use	C-G	C-H	MUL	MUH	Additional Requirements
Household goods sales (i.e., furniture stores)	P	P	P	P
Ice sales, not including ice plants	P	P	P	P
Interior decorating shops	P	P	P	P
Jewelry stores, including incidental repairs	P	P	P	P
Leather goods stores	P	P	P	P
Lumber yards, sales only	C	C	C	C
Mail order businesses	P	P	P	P
Music stores	P	P	P	P
News stores	P	P	P	P
Notions or novelty stores, excluding porn shops	P	P	P	P
Nurseries and garden supply stores	P	P	P	P
Paint and wallpaper stores, retail only	P	P	P	P
Pawn shops	P	P	P	P
Pet and pet supply shops	P	P	P	P
Plumbing, electrical shops, etc. sales only	P	P	P	P
Shoe stores and repair shops	P	P	P	P
Sporting equipment, gun, bait and tackle, and equestrian shops	P	P	P	P
Stationery stores	P	P	P	P
Swap meets	C	—	—	—
Tobacco retailing businesses, hookah lounges and vapor lounges	C	C	C	C
Toy shops, excluding porn shops	P	P	P	P
Small equipment sales and rental, including incidental repairs	P	P	P	P
Wholesale businesses with samples on the premises but not including storage	P	P	P	P
Professional and Personal Services
Auction houses	P	N/A	N/A	N/A
Administrative and professional offces including business, law, medical, dental, chiropractic, architectural, engineering, community planning, real estate, etc.	P	P	P	P
Banks and fnancial institutions	P	P	P	P
Employment agencies	P	P	P	P

Table 17.40.020-1: Commercial and Mixed-Use Zones - Allowed Uses and Approval Requirements
Allowed Use	C-G	C-H	MUL	MUH	Additional Requirements
Laboratories, flm, dental, medical, research or testing	P	P	P	P
Real estate sales offces	P	P	P	P
Barber and beauty shops	P	P	P	P
Blueprint and duplicating services	P	P	P	P
Child day care centers	C	C	C	C
Cleaning and dyeing shops	P	P	P	P
Costume design studios	P	P	P	P
Equipment rental yards and services	C	C	C	C
Fortune telling, spiritualism, or similar activity	P	P	P	P
Laundries and laundromats	P	P	P	P
Dry cleaning shops	P	P	P	P
Locksmith shops	P	P	P	P
Massage parlors, Turkish baths, health centers and similar personal service establishments	P	P	P	P	Chapter5.36
Photography shops and studios and photo engraving	P	P	P	P
Post offces, private and USPS	P	P	P	P
Printers or publishers	P	P	P	P
Recording studios	P	P	P	P
Nail/manicure shop	P	P	P	P
Stained glass assembly	P	P	P	P
Studios for professional work in or teaching of any form of fne arts,	P	P	P	P
Tailor shops	P	P	P	P
Travel agencies	P	P	P	P
Watch repair shops	P	P	P	P
Religious, Educational, Labor, and Congregational Uses
Churches, temples, and other places of religious worship	C	C	C	C
Libraries	P	P	P	P
Fraternal lodges, assembly and community halls	P	P	P	P
Schools, business and professional, private	C	C	C	C
Hospitality
Bed and breakfast uses	P	P	P	P	Chapter 17.260
Hotels, resort hotels and motels	P	P	P	P
Public Services and Utilities

Table 17.40.020-1: Commercial and Mixed-Use Zones - Allowed Uses and Approval Requirements
Allowed Use	C-G	C-H	MUL	MUH	Additional Requirements
Bus stations, including taxi and rail	P	P	P	P
Underground bulk fuel storage	C	C	C	C
Heliports	C	C	C	C
Residential Uses
Accessory dwelling unit	P	—	P	P	Chapter17.195
Mobilehomes	P	—	—	—
Dwelling, multifamily	—	—	P	P
Supportive housing	—	—	P	P	Section 17.200.020
Transitional housing	—	—	P	P	Section 17.200.020

Note:

1 Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the contrary: (a) uses lawfully existing prior to the effective date of Ordinance 253 [October 10, 2025], may continue as originally entitled, (b) uses for which entitlements were granted prior to the effective date but have not yet started or completed needed improvements and/or started operations, may be improved and operate as entitled, and (c) the uses described by (a) and (b) shall be subject to compliance with applicable permits, conditions of approval and this Code, but shall not be considered nonconforming uses subject to Chapter 17.20, where the entitled use shall be considered allowable as permitted by approvals granted under (a) and (b) above.
E. Prohibited Uses. Cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and testing laboratories are prohibited in the C-G, C-H, MUL, and MUH zoning districts.
F. Overlay Zones. Allowable uses are subject to any provisions applicable to overlay zones established by Chapter 17.25 .
(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025; Ord. 252, 8/13/2025; Ord. 253, 9/10/2025)

§ 17.36.030. Development standards—Commercial. ¶

The development standards listed below are the minimum standards for development within the respective zones.

Table 17.40.030-1 Commercial Zones - Development Standards
Development Standards	C-G	C-H
Lot Dimensions (Minimum)
Lot Size	3,600 sf	3,600 sf
Lot Width	60 ft	60 ft
Lot Width - fag lot	—	—
Lot Depth	60 ft	60 ft
Setbacks
Front	10 ft Any portion of a commercial building which exceeds 35 feet in height shall be set back from the front, rear and side lot lines not less than 2 feet for	25 ft

Table 17.40.030-1 Commercial Zones - Development Standards
Development Standards	C-G	C-H
	each foot by which the height exceeds 35 feet.
Side Yard - Corner	10 ft	10 ft
Side Yard - Interior	5 ft	5 ft
Side - Street	10 ft	10 ft
Rear Yard	10 ft including when abutting residential zone.	—
Height
Primary Building	50 ft	50 ft
Other
Encroachments	6 ft solid masonry wall or combination landscaped earthen berm and masonry wall shall be constructed on each property line that adjoins any parcel specifcally zoned for residential use.	6 ft solid masonry wall or combination landscaped earthen berm and masonry wall shall be constructed on each property line that adjoins any parcel specifcally zoned for residential use.
Parking	Automobile storage space shall be provided as required by Chapter 17.155.	Automobile storage space shall be provided as required by Chapter 17.155.
Maximum Lot Coverage	50%	50%
Residential Density	Established by the Wildomar General Plan

(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)

§ 17.36.040. Development standards—Mixed use. ¶

The development standards listed below are the minimum standards for development within the respective zones.

Table 17.40.040-1 Mixed Use Zones — Development Standards
DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR MIXED USE ZONES
		MUL			MUH
General Requirements	Vertical Mixed Use	Multifamily Residential	Commercial	Vertical Mixed Use	Multifamily Residential	Commercial
Lot Dimensions (Minimum)
Lot Width		40 ft			80 ft
Lot Width - fag lot		40 ft			80 ft
Development Intensity
Floor area ratio (FAR), maximum for non- residential uses. FAR does not apply to residential uses.	1.5	1.5	1.0	2.0	2.0	1.0
Dwelling units per acre, minimum (vertical mixed- use projects have no	0	5	—	30	30	—

Table 17.40.040-1 Mixed Use Zones — Development Standards

DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR MIXED USE ZONES

Table 17.40.040-1 Mixed Use Zones — Development Standards
DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR MIXED USE ZONES
General Requirements		MUL			MUH
	Vertical Mixed Use	Multifamily Residential	Commercial	Vertical Mixed Use	Multifamily Residential	Commercial
minimum dwelling units per acre standard)
Dwelling units per acre, maximum	30	30	—	40	40	—
Setbacks
Front yard setback (min/max)	10/15 ft	10/15 ft	10-15 ft	10/15 ft	10/15 ft	10/15 ft
Width of frontage building to maintain minimum setback	70%	60%	70%	80%	75%	80%
Maximum interior side yard setback (min/max) except where fre department access shall be required, maximum side yard setback shall be no less than required by the fre department	10/15 ft	10/15 ft	10/15 ft	10/15 ft	10/15 ft	10/10 ft
Minimum side yard abutting non-mixed use residential designated zones			15 ft
Street side setback (min/max)	10/15 ft	10/15 ft	10/15 ft	10/15 ft	10/15 ft	10/15 ft
Minimum rear yard setback except where fre department access shall be required, maximum side yard setback shall be no less than required by the fre department	20 ft	20 ft	20 ft	20 ft	20 ft	20 ft
Minimum rear yard setback abutting non- mixed use residential zones	15 ft	15 ft	15 ft	15 ft	15 ft	15 ft
Height
Building and structure height, maximum		60 ft (excluding architectural features,			parapets, etc.)
Other
Minimum step back above 35-ft. building height	Minimum 10-ft. step back above 35-ft. building height shall apply to the following: 1. Along primary street frontage. 2. Along property lines that are adjacent to non-mixed use residential designated zoned properties.

Table 17.40.040-1 Mixed Use Zones — Development Standards
DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR MIXED USE ZONES
General Requirements		MUL			MUH
	Vertical Mixed Use	Multifamily Residential	Commercial	Vertical Mixed Use	Multifamily Residential	Commercial
Minimum landscaping requirement			15% of the parcel
Minimum ground foor commercial requirement for mixed-use projects	10% or 1,500 gross sq. ft. of ground foor per project site, whichever is less. Shall not apply to residential only projects in MUL zone.

(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)