Bakersfield City Zoning Code
17.24 C-2
Regional Commercial Zone
17.24.010 Generally.
The regulations set out in this chapter shall apply in the C-2 regional commercial zone unless otherwise provided in this title. The purpose of this zone is to permit development of concentrated large-scale retail operations providing a broad range of goods and services which serve the metropolitan market area. (Ord. 3395 § 3, 1991)
17.24.020 Uses permitted.
The following uses are permitted in the C-2 zone:
A. Any use listed in the uses permitted section in the C-O and C-1 zones.
B. Any of the following uses:
1. Adult entertainment establishments as defined in Section 17.69.020 and subject to the regulations of Chapter 17.69 of this code.
2. Apparel and accessory stores.
3. Appliance store, including stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and other electric or gas appliances, including repair.
4. Automobile accessory or part stores, including stereo, phone, tire, upholstery and tune-up specialty shops but excluding heavy or major mechanical work and all body or paint work, and where all work is conducted inside a building.
5. Automobile dealership, new and used.
6. Automobile rental agency, including limousine service.
7. Bowling center, billiards.
8. Brewery or distillery, small.
9. Camera and photographic supply.
10. Card room, bingo parlor.
11. Carpet and upholstery cleaners.
12. Carwash, detailing.
13. Computers and computer software store.
14. Department store.
15. Farmers market; provided it is conducted on a paved surface, shall not be operated more than two days per calendar week, has been certified by the Kern County Agricultural Commissioner, and that adequate parking is available through joint, shared or other arrangement as approved by the planning director pursuant to Chapter 17.58 of this code.
16. Food vending vehicle.
17. Floor covering store.
18. Funeral services, including a crematory provided it is incidental to the main use.
19. Furniture store, including rental.
20. Garage for public or commercial parking.
21. Gift, novelty and souvenir store.
22. Hardware store, including home building and garden supply.
23. Hobby, toy and game store.
24. Home furnishings, including kitchenware, glassware, lamps and lighting, and fireplace inserts.
25. Hospital, sanitarium.
26. Hotel, motel, including restaurants, bars and cocktail lounges, provided they are incidental to the main use.
27. Luggage and leather goods.
28. Military surplus store.
29. Motion picture theater and auditoriums, excluding drive-in.
30. Motorcycle dealership, new and used.
31. Musical instrument store.
32. Nurseries.
33. Paint, glass and wallpaper store.
34. Pool and spa sales, provided there is no outside storage of material.
35. Radio, television and other consumer electronics store, including repair.
36. Record, tape, disk and other pre-recorded music and video store.
37. Restaurant and related eating places, including drive-through services and on-site alcohol sales when served together with and incidental to the serving of food, or in a cocktail lounge or bar which is an accessory use to the restaurant, including entertainment.
38. School, elementary, junior high, and high.
39. Sewing, needlework and piece good store.
40. Skating rinks.
41. Sporting goods, including bicycles, camping equipment, firearms, skiing and golf.
42. Taxidermist.
43. Theater, cinema, excluding drive-in.
44. Trade, vocational or specialized school.
45. Used merchandise, including antiques, books, furniture, thrift shops, and pawnshops.
46. Variety store.
47. Video arcade.
48. Winery, boutique.
C. The accessory buildings or structures necessary to such use located on the same lot or parcel of land.
D. Dwelling for use by caretaker or night security, or as accessory and incidental to the permitted use on the parcel. (Ord. 5160 § 1, 2024; Ord. 5053 § 1, 2021; Ord. 4926 § 2, 2018; Ord. 4873 § 1, 2016; Ord. 3695 § 2, 1995; Ord. 3395 § 3, 1991)
17.24.030 Uses permitted subject to planning director review and approval.
The following uses may be permitted in the C-2 zone subject to review and approval by the planning director:
A. Public utility structures;
B. Water pump stations. (Ord. 3395 § 3, 1991)
17.24.040 Uses permitted only by conditional use permit.
A. The following uses are permitted in a C-2 zone only with the approval of a conditional use permit issued in accordance with the procedures provided in Chapter 17.64 of this code:
1. Adult day care;
2. Amusement parks, including miniature golf, water parks, batting cages and miniature car tracks;
3. Assisted living facility;
4. Automobile body and fender repair and painting;
5. Automobile machine shops;
6. Banquet venue;
7. Bars, cocktail lounges or other establishments selling alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption where said use is the primary business;
8. Boat and recreational vehicle dealership, new and used;
9. Bus, train and other transit stations;
10. Food and/or shelter service as defined in Section 17.04.285;
11. Golf driving ranges;
12. Helipad (in conjunction with a hospital);
13. Kennels;
14. Mobilehome or travel trailer park;
15. Mobilehome sales, new and used;
16. Movie theater serving alcohol;
17. Pest control services;
18. Recycling centers, as defined by Public Resources Code Section 14520, that are within a convenience zone, as defined by Public Resources Code Section 14509.4;
20. Scientific research and testing services;
21. Swap meet, flea markets and auction yards;
22. Tool, equipment and utility trailer rental establishments;
23. Warehouses. (Ord. 5160 § 1, 2024; Ord. 5008 § 8, 2020; Ord. 4946 § 1, 2018; Ord. 3746 § 7, 1997; Ord. 3395 § 3, 1991)
17.24.050 Additional requirements.
The following requirements shall apply to all development permitted by this chapter:
A. All permitted and conditional uses pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to site plan review as provided in Chapter 17.08 of this code.
B. Landscaping shall be subject to the requirements of Chapter 17.61 of this code.
C. Off-street parking and loading shall be subject to the requirements of Chapter 17.58 of this code.
D. Signs shall be subject to the requirements of Chapter 17.60 of this code.
E. Commercial development proposed adjacent to property zoned or designated for residential development shall be required to be separated by a solid masonry wall constructed a minimum height of six feet from highest grade. Any wall located within or along the front yard area shall not exceed a height of four feet. Along street frontages, landscaping shall be required in lieu of or in combination with a solid wall, as determined by the development services director, to screen the commercial development from the residential uses.
F. Open storage of material and equipment permitted in this zone shall be surrounded and screened by a solid wall or fence, including solid gates where necessary, not less than six feet in height. Materials shall not be stacked above the height of the screening.
G. For developments under this section using outside storage, the areas devoted to outside storage shall be treated with a permanent dust binder or other permanent dust control measures consistent with air pollution control regulations, as approved by the planning director.
H. Roof-top areas of commercial structures shall be completely screened from view by parapets or other finished architectural features constructed to a height of the highest equipment and unfinished structural element or architectural feature of the building. This requirement shall apply to all new commercial construction and remodeling of existing commercial structures which involve a change of fifty percent or more of the roof structure or an addition of fifty percent or more to the floor area of the commercial structure. (Ord. 4939 § 12, 2018; Ord. 4714 § 1, 2012; Ord. 3964 § 23, 2000; Ord. 3835 § 12, 1998; Ord. 3395 § 3, 1991)
17.24.060 Building height.
Building height requirements in a C-2 zone shall not exceed ninety feet (approximately six stories). (Ord. 3395 § 3, 1991)
17.24.070 Front yard.
Front yard requirements in a C-2 zone shall be as follows:
A. All buildings shall be located a minimum of ten feet from the front property line. (Ord. 5160 § 1, 2024; Ord. 3395 § 3, 1991)
17.24.080 Side yard.
Side yard requirements in a C-2 zone shall be as follows:
A. Where a lot abuts upon the side of a lot in any R zone, E zone, MH zone or PUD project of a residential nature, there shall be a side yard of not less than twenty feet.
B. On a corner lot, the side yard on the street side of the lot shall be not less than ten feet.
C. In all other cases, a side yard for a commercial building shall not be required. (Ord. 5160 § 1, 2024; Ord. 3395 § 3, 1991)
17.24.090 Rear yard.
Rear yard requirements in a C-2 zone shall be as follows:
A. Where the lot abuts any R, E, MH zone, or PUD project of a residential nature, there shall be a rear yard of not less than twenty feet.
B. Where there is an alley at the rear of the lot, such rear yard may be measured to the center of the alley.
C. In all other cases, a rear yard shall not be required. (Ord. 5160 § 1, 2024; Ord. 4236 § 3, 2005; Ord. 3395 § 3, 1991)