Chula Vista City Zoning Code
19.30 C-O
Administrative and Professional Office Zone
19.30.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the C-O zone is to provide appropriate locations where professional and administrative office zones may be established, maintained and protected. The regulations of this district are designed to promote a quiet and dignified environment for business administration, professional and government activities, free from the congestion and traffic of the usual retail business district. To this end, the regulations permit office buildings and medical and financial facilities; appropriate commercial facilities primarily for the service of the occupants of the district are permitted subject to special controls. The intensity of development of such a district is intended to reflect its environmental setting with building height and coverage generally similar to and harmonious with those of neighboring districts. (Ord. 3153 § 2 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(A)).
19.30.020 Permitted uses.
Principal permitted uses in the C-O zone are as follows:
A. Medical and dental offices and clinics and medical, optical and dental laboratories, not including the manufacture of pharmaceutical or other products for general sale or distribution;
B. Administrative and executive offices;
C. Professional offices, for lawyers, engineers, and architects;
D. Financial offices, including banks, and real estate and other general business offices;
E. Any other office use which is determined by the Commission to be of the same general character as the above-permitted uses;
F. Agricultural uses as provided in CVMC 19.16.030;
G. Prescription pharmacies (see CVMC 19.04.002 for definition). (Ord. 3153 § 2 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(B)).
19.30.030 Accessory uses and buildings.
Accessory uses in the C-O zone are as follows:
A. Incidental services and incidental uses, such as restaurants, prescription pharmacies, and retail sales to serve occupants and patrons of the permitted uses, when conducted and entered from within the building; provided, there is no display or advertising visible from the public street;
B. Accessory uses and buildings customarily appurtenant to a permitted use, such as incidental storage facilities (see CVMC 19.58.020) and accessory dwelling units as follows:
1. A minimum of one accessory dwelling unit, or up to 25 percent of the existing multifamily units, is permitted within an existing multifamily dwelling subject to the provisions of CVMC 19.58.022; or
2. A maximum of two detached accessory dwelling units on lots with an existing multifamily dwelling where such units are detached from that multifamily dwelling subject to the provisions of CVMC 19.58.022; or
3. Multiple accessory dwelling units may be permitted within portions of existing multifamily dwelling buildings that are not used as living space including, but not limited to, storage rooms, boiler rooms, passageways, attics, basements, or garages subject to the provisions of CVMC 19.58.022;
C. A satellite dish antenna may be located in a commercial district when it complies with the provisions of the standards in CVMC 19.22.030(F)(1) through (9). In addition, nonconforming satellite dishes shall be amortized as per CVMC 19.22.030(F)(11);
D. Private and backup and emergency electrical generating facilities, as defined in subsections (3) and (4) of the definition “electrical generating facilities” in CVMC 19.04.002, and subject to the following standards:
1. Private: the standards prescribed in CVMC 19.58.142(D).
2. Backup and emergency: the standards prescribed in CVMC 19.58.142(E). (Ord. 3503 § 6, 2021; Ord. 3279 § 3, 2013; Ord. 3153 § 2 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 2138 § 1, 1986; Ord. 2108 § 1, 1985; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(C)).
19.30.040 Conditional uses.
The following uses shall be permitted in the C-O zone; provided, a conditional use permit is issued in accordance with the provisions of CVMC 19.14.030(A) or 19.14.040, as may be applicable, and CVMC 19.14.050 through 19.14.090:
A. R-3 residential uses, as regulated therein;
B. Public and quasi-public uses appropriate to the district, such as professional, business and technical schools of a public service type, but not including corporation yards, storage or repair yards and warehouses;
C. Day nurseries, schools and studios for arts and crafts and photography, music, dance and art galleries, in accordance with the provisions of CVMC 19.58.220;
D. Commercial parking lots and parking garages, in accordance with the provisions of CVMC 19.62.010 through 19.62.130;
E. Radio and television broadcasting, excluding towers;
F. Restaurants;
G. Plant nurseries and the sale of related hardware items; provided, they are clearly incidental and secondary to the plant nursery. Plant nurseries shall be allowed only on the peripheral areas of the C-O zone, so as not to disrupt the continuity of the professional and administrative office land uses;
H. Roof-mounted satellite dishes, subject to the following standards or conditions:
1. These dishes shall be screened, using appropriate matching architectural materials or parapet walls;
2. Dishes shall be of a neutral color, matching the building or as otherwise approved by the City;
3. A building permit shall be required;
4. No advertising material shall be allowed on the satellite dish antenna. Satellite dish antennas containing advertising material shall be considered signs;
I. Recycling collection centers, subject to the provisions of CVMC 19.58.345.
The following uses shall be permitted in the C-O zone; provided, a conditional use permit is issued by the Planning Commission or for unclassified uses as defined in CVMC 19.54.020:
J. Electric substations and gas regulators, subject to the provisions of CVMC 19.58.140;
K. Unclassified uses, see Chapter 19.54 CVMC. (Ord. 3268 § 3, 2013; Ord. 3153 § 2 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 2252 § 4, 1988; Ord. 2233 § 4, 1987; Ord. 2108 § 1, 1985; Ord. 1889 § 1, 1979; Ord. 1494 § 5, 1973; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(D)).
19.30.050 Sign regulations.
Repealed by Ord. 2924 § 3, 2003. (Ord. 2309-A § 5, 1989; Ord. 1575 § 1, 1974; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(E)).
19.30.060 Height regulations.
No principal building shall exceed three and one-half stories or 45 feet in height, and no accessory building shall exceed one and one-half stories or 15 feet in height, except as provided in CVMC 19.16.040 and 19.58.022. (Ord. 3503 § 6, 2021; Ord. 3153 § 2 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(F)).
19.30.070 Area, lot width and yard requirements.
The following minimum area, lot width and yard requirements shall be observed in the C-O zone, except as provided in CVMC 19.16.020 and 19.16.060 through 19.16.080, and where increased for conditional uses:
Setbacks in Feet | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Lot Area* (sq. ft.) | Front and Exterior Side Yards | Side | Rear |
7,000 | 10 | None, except when abutting any R zone, then not less than five feet | Zero feet, except when abutting any R district or alley, then not less than 10 feet minimum from the alley or rear property line |
(Ord. 3153 § 2 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(G)).
19.30.080 Off-street parking.
19.30.090 Parking and loading facilities.
In any C-O district directly across a street or thoroughfare (excluding a freeway) from any R district, parking and loading facilities shall be distant at least 10 feet from said street and said setback shall be permanently landscaped. (Ord. 3153 § 2 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 §1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(H)(2)).
19.30.100 Nonresidential uses in residential structures.
Nonresidential uses permitted in this zone shall be located in buildings designed for nonresidential uses; except, that such uses may be located in existing residential structures existing at the time of the adoption of the ordinance codified in this title, remodeled for said use and subject to site plan approval by the Planning Commission. Such buildings may be enlarged, providing that all provisions of this title are complied with. (Ord. 3153 § 2 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(H)(3)).
19.30.110 Site plan and architectural approval.
19.30.120 Outdoor storage.
Outdoor storage of merchandise, material or equipment shall be permitted in the C-O zone only when incidental to permitted or accessory uses located on the same premises; and provided, that:
A. Storage area shall be completely enclosed by walls, fences or buildings and shall be part of an approved site plan;
B. No outdoor storage of materials or equipment to a height greater than that of any enclosing wall, fence or building shall be permitted. (Ord. 3153 § 2 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(H)(5)).
19.30.130 Trash storage areas.
19.30.140 Wall requirements.
Zoning walls shall be provided, subject to the conditions of CVMC 19.58.360. (Ord. 3153 § 2 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(H)(7)).
19.30.150 Landscaping.
All landscaping in the C-O zone shall conform to the requirements as specified in the landscape manual and approved by the Director of Development Services, or designee. Any parking visible from the street shall be screened with an appropriate screen not less than four feet in height or a masonry wall of three and one-half feet in height. (Ord. 3544 § 1, 2023; Ord. 3153 § 2 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(H)(8)).
19.30.160 Performance standards.
All uses in the C-O zone shall be subject to initial and continued compliance with the performance standards set forth in Chapter 19.66 CVMC. (Ord. 3153 § 2 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.506(H)(8)).