Bakersfield City Zoning Code
17.22 C-1
Neighborhood Commercial Zone
17.22.010 Generally.
The regulations set out in this chapter shall apply in the C-1 neighborhood commercial zone unless otherwise provided in this title. The purpose of this zone is to provide an adequate variation of retail establishments and services that conveniently serve the needs of residents in the immediate neighborhood. It is highly desirable to blend uses into the area thereby protecting the residential character of the area; but not create architectural or traffic conflicts nor permit the commercial development to expand into a regional center of such scope and variety as to attract significant volumes of traffic from outside the neighborhood. (Ord. 3395 § 2, 1991)
17.22.020 Uses permitted.
The following uses are permitted in a C-1 zone:
A. Any use listed in the uses permitted section in the C-O zone;
B. Any one or more of the following uses:
1. Apparel and accessory specialty shops, does not include large scale chain department stores;
2. Automobile service stations, including convenience markets but excluding truck stops;
3. Bakery, retail only;
4. Book and stationery store;
5. Candy, nut and confectionery store;
6. Christmas tree sales, limited between November 15th to December 26th each calendar year;
7. Cosmetic store;
8. Drugstore, pharmacy;
9. Fabric, yardage store;
10. Florist;
11. Fireworks (“safe and sane”) sales, limited between July 1st and July 4th each calendar year;
12. Garment cleaning, pressing, alteration and repair;
13. Grocery stores, including meat, fish, fruit, vegetable, delicatessen and convenience stores;
14. Hair styling shop and beauty salon, including tanning salons;
15. Interior decorating, including drapery, curtain and upholstery sales;
16. Jewelry, watch, clocks, silverware, coins and gemstones including repair;
17. Laundromat;
18. Liquor store;
19. Locksmith;
20. Newspaper, magazine store;
21. Pet and pet supply store, including grooming services;
22. Photocopying and duplicating services;
23. Photographic shops and developing services;
24. Physical fitness facility;
25. Private service clubs, lodges;
26. Restaurants and related eating places, excluding on-site alcohol sales, entertainment or drive-through service;
27. Rest home, convalescent home, adult care facility, residential care facility as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 1502;
28. Temporary promotional activity as defined in Section 17.04.610;
29. Tobacco store;
30. Video disk/tape rental;
31. Veterinary (small animal only), excluding kennel services;
32. Shopping centers.
C. 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.
E. Temporary offices, including portable, modular or prefabricated structures constructed in conformance with the building codes adopted by the city (Title 15 of this code) and not attached to permanent foundations may be allowed for a period not to exceed two years, plus one-year extension subject to the approval of the planning commission.
F. The specified store, shops or businesses in subsection B of this section shall be establishments selling new merchandise exclusively, except used merchandise clearly incidental to the regular business conducted on the premises, and shall be permitted only under the following conditions:
1. Such stores, shops or businesses, except automobile service stations and outdoor seating for restaurants, shall be conducted entirely within an enclosed building. No outside storage of materials is permitted.
2. Products made incidental to a permitted use shall be sold at retail on the premises.
3. All public entrances to such stores, shops or businesses shall be from the principal street upon which the property abuts or within one hundred feet thereof, except that a rear or side entrance from the building to a public parking area may be provided.
4. The accessory buildings or structures necessary to such use located on the same lot or parcel of land, including a storage garage for the exclusive use of the patrons and employees of the above stores or businesses. (Ord. 5159 § 1, 2024; Ord. 5092 § 1, 2022; Ord. 4715 § 1, 2012; Ord. 3964 § 21, 2000; Ord. 3395 § 2, 1991)
17.22.030 Uses permitted subject to planning director review and approval.
The following uses may be permitted in a C-1 zone subject to review and approval by the planning director:
A. Public utility structures;
B. Water pump stations. (Ord. 3395 § 2, 1991)
17.22.040 Uses permitted only by conditional use permit.
A. The following uses are permitted in a C-1 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. Assisted living facility;
3. Automobile accessory or parts store, including stereo, phone, upholstery, and tires;
4. Automobile tuneup specialty shops providing electrical and carburetor tuneup services and related work, when not done as a part of, or incidental to, the operation of an automobile service station;
5. Banquet venue;
6. Carwashes, including detailing;
7. Food and/or shelter service as defined in Section 17.04.285;
8. Funeral services, including a crematory, provided it is incidental to the main use;
10. Kennels;
11. Mobilehome or travel trailer parks;
12. Movie theaters serving alcohol;
13. Nurseries, lawn and garden supplies;
14. 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;
16. School, elementary, junior high, and high;
17. Restaurant and related eating places with on-site alcohol sales, entertainment or drive-through services;
18. Scientific research and testing services;
19. Small appliance and electronic goods repair;
20. Theaters, cinemas;
21. Trade, vocational or specialized schools. (Ord. 5159 § 1, 2024; Ord. 5106 § 1, 2022; Ord. 5092 § 2, 2022; Ord. 5008 § 7, 2020; Ord. 4945 § 1, 2018; Ord. 3746 § 6, 1997; Ord. 3395 § 2, 1991)
17.22.050 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 § 11, 2018; Ord. 4714 § 1, 2012; Ord. 3964 § 22, 2000; Ord. 3835 § 11, 1998; Ord. 3395 § 2, 1991)
17.22.060 Building height.
Building height requirements in a C-1 zone shall not exceed sixty feet (approximately four stories). (Ord. 3395 § 2, 1991)
17.22.070 Front yard.
Front yard requirements in a C-1 zone shall be as follows:
A. All buildings shall be located a minimum of ten feet from the front property line. (Ord. 5159 § 1, 2024; Ord. 3395 § 2, 1991)
17.22.080 Side yard.
Side yard requirements in a C-1 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. 5159 § 1, 2024; Ord. 3395 § 2, 1991)
17.22.090 Rear yard.
Rear yard requirements in a C-1 zone shall be as follows:
A. Where the lot abuts any R zone, E zone, 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. 5159 § 1, 2024; Ord. 4236 § 2, 2005; Ord. 3395 § 2, 1991)