Commerce — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Commerce zoning ordinance (Title 19, often titled or historicized as "Title 17 Zoning" in other cities) says about permitted uses, conditional uses, and the land‑use tables that govern what you can do on a parcel. It focuses strictly on the Commerce municipal code's land‑use rules (use tables, conditional use procedure, and district purposes/development standards) and interprets how those rules are applied in practice. For related requirements outside land‑use (for example parking, building code, or ADU technical standards) see the linked guidance below.

• First mention links (internal): parking, development standards, design review, overlays, ADUs, California Building Standards Code, signage, nonconforming uses.
  • parking: Commerce Parking
  • development standards: Commerce Development Standards
  • design review: Commerce Design Review
  • overlays: Commerce Overlay Districts
  • ADUs: Commerce ADUs
  • California Building Standards Code: California Building Standards Code
  • signage: Commerce Signage
  • nonconforming uses: Commerce Nonconforming Uses

All citations below quote the controlling section numbers from Commerce's municipal code (the code text is available in the uploaded ordinance excerpts). Each code statement below is grounded to those specific § references in the Commerce ordinance.

District-by-district land use (purpose, typical permitted uses, key dimensional standards, where it applies)

Note on notation: the ordinance uses keys in its land‑use tables: P = permitted by right, C = conditional use permit required, A = accessory, T = temporary, X = prohibited, and P/C = may be permitted or require CUP depending on criteria. See the code for the full key definitions in each table. § 19.09.020 and associated tables.

C-2 (Commercial Zone)

• Purpose: Intended for retail and service commercial development; primary permitted uses are retail/service with accessory, conditional, and temporary uses listed in Table 19.09.010A. § 19.09.020.
• Typical permitted uses: retail shops, banks, barber/beauty shops, drug stores, small appliance stores, certain dwellings (multifamily is listed as P in the C‑2 use table for some instances). Refer to Table 19.09.010A for the full list. § 19.09.020.
• Conditional/prohibited: Many higher‑impact uses (e.g., adult businesses, some entertainment or alcohol sales) are either conditional or prohibited and flagged with special conditions. § 19.09.020; special conditions are referenced to Chapter 19.31.
• Development standards (decision‑relevant): minimum lot area 15,000 sf, maximum building height 50 ft / 2 stories near residential, front yard setback 5 ft (exceptions when adjoining residential or park/school), lot coverage max 50%, FAR max 0.5:1; see Table 19.09.030A and related subsections. § 19.09.030.
• Special controls: “All uses within the C‑2 zone shall be conducted within a completely enclosed building” except parking/loading or uses approved by CUP/temporary permit. § 19.09.040.

PF (Commercial Public Facility Zone)

• Purpose: Provides for municipal and public/quasi‑public community facilities (government buildings, schools, libraries, parks). § 19.13.010.
• Typical permitted uses: government buildings, police/fire stations, libraries, parks, public parking structures, hospitals (often conditional), and some greenhouses (accessory). See Table 19.13.020A for the full list. § 19.13.020.
• Development standards: minimum lot area 15,000 sf, max height 35 ft when adjacent to residential otherwise unlimited (with exceptions), front setback 15 ft, side 10 ft, rear 20 ft, open space 5% min, lot coverage 50%, FAR limits vary when adjacent to residential (see Table 19.13.030A). § 19.13.030.
• Additional rules: fences, setbacks, and projections are controlled (see Tables 19.13.040A, 19.13.050). § 19.13.040–050.

Manufacturing zones — C/M‑1, M‑1, M‑2

• Purpose: Provide for light to heavy industrial and manufacturing uses, with differing intensity and compatibility rules across the three manufacturing districts. See Chapter 19.11 intent and use tables. § 19.11.010–030.
• Uses: Table 19.11.030A lists hundreds of SIC‑based categories. Some uses are permitted in only some manufacturing districts (e.g., adult businesses permitted only in M‑2; certain food processing is prohibited in C/M‑1), others are P/C or C depending on impacts. See Table 19.11.030A for exact entries. § 19.11.030A.
• Key site triggers: If the principal building or outdoor activity is within 300 ft of a residential district, CUP review may be required even if the use is otherwise permitted; the community development director and Table 19.11.030A provide the tests. § 19.11.030.C.
• Development standards (Table 19.11.040A): minimum lot areas 20,000 sf (C/M‑1, M‑1) and 25,000 sf (M‑2), building height limits vary by adjacency (e.g., 90 ft or 6 stories in some contexts for C/M‑1), setbacks and side yard minima depend on adjacency to residential; see Table 19.11.040A. § 19.11.040.
• Warehouse/ministorage: New warehouse facilities may require CUP and are subject to performance and operational standards (queuing, trailer storage, loading orientation, office area limits, screening, etc.). See Division 21 and § 19.31.640–650.

HOO (Housing Opportunity Overlay Zone)

• Purpose: Overlay to boost residential density and encourage mixed uses where suitable; used in conjunction with underlying zones and contains its own use list and standards. See Chapter 19.47 (HOO). § 19.47.040 and Table 19.47.030A.
• Typical permitted uses: multi‑family attached dwellings permitted (P), certain community amenities, limited ground‑floor commercial for vertical mixed‑use projects (with lists of allowed retail/service categories). Some uses (single‑family, mobile home parks) are X. See Table 19.47.030A for details. § 19.47.030A.
• Development standards: maximum density 40 du/ac, maximum nonresidential intensity 1.0 FAR, maximum height 5 stories / 60 ft, setbacks often 0–15 ft range (front/street side), interior side and rear setback minimums with larger buffers when abutting residential; see Table 19.11.040A (applies here by cross‑reference) and HOO tables in Chapter 19.47. § 19.47.040 and Table 19.11.040A.

PD (Planned Development Overlay Zone)

• Purpose: Overlay used with an underlying zone to allow a creative, master‑planned approach where design standards can be emphasized over prescriptive zoning rules; requires a minimum site area (40,000 sf) and at least 60% of a lot must be developed with permitted uses of the underlying zone. § 19.15.010–020.
• Uses: Must be principally consistent with the underlying zone; Planning Commission reviews CUPs for any non‑permitted uses proposed within the PD. § 19.15.020.
• Application: PD application requires a detailed plan and implementation program (land uses, open space, infrastructure). § 19.15.030.

Quick decision table — common, decision‑relevant entries

(For comprehensive lists, use the zone use tables in Chapters 19.09, 19.11, 19.13, and 19.47 and the "Standards for Specific Land Uses" in Chapter 19.31.)

How conditional uses (CUPs) work in Commerce — highlights

• The code ties CUP availability to the land‑use tables: if a table marks a use C, a CUP is required and the use may only proceed if required findings are made. § 19.39.400–420 (procedures and required findings).
• Required findings include that the use is conditionally permitted in the zone, will not impair zone character, is compatible with surrounding uses, and the site is physically suitable. § 19.39.420.
• The Planning Commission may impose conditions and attach deed restrictions; the Director has enforcement power and can initiate revocation proceedings. § 19.39.430–450.
• Time limits: A CUP lapses if not exercised within one year of approval (with limited renewal options) and will lapse if unused for 180 days. § 19.39.460.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy before a use is legally permitted)

• Determine the parcel's base zone and any overlays (e.g., HOO, PD) and confirm allowed uses in that zone’s use table (Chapters 19.09, 19.11, 19.13, 19.47). § 19.09.020, § 19.11.030A, § 19.13.020, § 19.47.030A.
• If the use is listed as C or P/C, prepare a Conditional Use Permit application that meets the findings in § 19.39.420 and procedural requirements in § 19.39.400.
• Verify and demonstrate compliance with applicable development standards (setbacks, height, lot area, FAR, lot coverage) in the relevant tables (e.g., Table 19.09.030A, Table 19.11.040A, Table 19.13.030A). § 19.09.030, § 19.11.040, § 19.13.030.
• Meet separate standards referenced by the land‑use table footnotes (e.g., Chapter 19.31: Standards for Specific Land Uses). § 19.09.020.B and Chapter 19.31.
• Provide required off‑street parking and loading per the city's parking rules and calculations. See Commerce Parking and Chapter 19.21 cross‑references in each zone chapter. § 19.09.080, § 19.13.070.
• Conform to landscaping, screening, and sign standards (Chapters 19.23 and 19.25). See Commerce Landscaping and Screening and Commerce Signage. § 19.09.080, § 19.13.070.
• If redevelopment/overlay involved, comply with PD or HOO submittal requirements and minimum area thresholds (e.g., PD minimum 40,000 sf; HOO density/FAR limits). § 19.15.030, § 19.47.040.
• Check for nonconforming use implications (if existing use is nonconforming) before alterations or expansion. See Chapter 19.37 and Commerce Nonconforming Uses. § 19.37.040–060.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Commerce’s zoning ordinance uses zone‑specific use tables to say what is allowed where: the C‑2, PF, and manufacturing zones (like M‑1, M‑2, C/M‑1) each list permitted uses (P), conditional uses (C), accessory uses (A), and prohibited uses (X); many higher‑impact activities require a conditional use permit and are subject to findings and special standards in Chapter 19.31 and Chapter 19.39. Always check the exact table entry for your parcel and be prepared that the Director or Planning Commission may require a CUP or additional conditions. § 19.09.020, § 19.11.030A, § 19.13.020, § 19.39.420.

Information Gaps

• Commerce ADU‑specific local numeric standards (if any) are not clearly present in the retrieved excerpts; local ADU implementation provisions are Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the jurisdiction and the city's ADU page. Verify with the city.
• Specific fee schedules, current forms, and processing timelines for CUPs and PD applications are not in the retrieved file excerpts — Verify with the community development department. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Any post‑2022 ordinance amendments beyond the uploaded excerpts (the code excerpts show ordinances up to 2022 in footnotes) — verify the online municipal code for the most recent changes. Not found in retrieved materials.

Source References

• Commerce Municipal Code (Land Use / Zoning excerpts): § 19.09.020 (C‑2 use regulations) and Table 19.09.010A (Permitted Uses—Commercial Zone).
• Commerce Municipal Code: § 19.09.030 (C‑2 Development Standards, Table 19.09.030A).
• Commerce Municipal Code: Chapter 19.11 (Manufacturing zones; Table 19.11.030A and Table 19.11.040A).
• Commerce Municipal Code: Chapter 19.13 (Commercial Public Facility zone; Tables 19.13.020A and 19.13.030A).
• Commerce Municipal Code: Chapter 19.15 (Planned Development overlay; PD submittal/minimums).
• Commerce Municipal Code: Chapter 19.31 (Standards for Specific Land Uses; warehouse / mini‑storage standards at § 19.31.640–650).
• Commerce Municipal Code: Chapter 19.37 (Nonconforming uses and structures).
• Commerce Municipal Code: Chapter 19.39 (Conditional Use Permit procedures, required findings § 19.39.420, conditions, and time limits § 19.39.430–460).

Retrieved passages

• Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (Chapter 19.39) High relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (Chapter 19.25.) High relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (Chapter 19.19.) High relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (Chapter 19.31.) Medium relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Commerce Municipal Code (Land Use / Zoning excerpts): **§ 19.09.020** (C‑2 use regulations) and **Table 19.09.010A** (Permitted Uses—Commercial Zone). (§ 19.09.020)
• Commerce Municipal Code: **§ 19.09.030** (C‑2 Development Standards, Table 19.09.030A). (§ 19.09.030)
• Commerce Municipal Code: **Chapter 19.11** (Manufacturing zones; Table 19.11.030A and Table 19.11.040A). (Chapter 19.11)
• Commerce Municipal Code: **Chapter 19.13** (Commercial Public Facility zone; Tables 19.13.020A and 19.13.030A). (Chapter 19.13)
• Commerce Municipal Code: **Chapter 19.15** (Planned Development overlay; PD submittal/minimums). (Chapter 19.15)
• Commerce Municipal Code: **Chapter 19.31** (Standards for Specific Land Uses; warehouse / mini‑storage standards at **§ 19.31.640–650**). (Chapter 19.31)
• Commerce Municipal Code: **Chapter 19.37** (Nonconforming uses and structures). (Chapter 19.37)
• Commerce Municipal Code: **Chapter 19.39** (Conditional Use Permit procedures, required findings **§ 19.39.420**, conditions, and time limits **§ 19.39.430–460**). (Chapter 19.39)
• Commerce_ZoningCode.md

• Official Commerce code library