Compton City Zoning Code

All Alcoholic Beverage Sales Establishments, with the exception of Restaurants, shall only be located on Major Highways, Secondary Highways, and Collector (Industrial) Streets, as defined in the General Plan. Access to the Alcoholic Beverage Sales Establishments shall not create any traffic disruptions, delays, or safety issues for vehicular, bicycle, or pedestrian traffic.

Liquor Stores, Bars, lounge and Convenience Stores shall be separated by a minimum distance of at least 1,000 feet from any other Liquor Store, Bar, lounge or Convenience Store, inside or outside the City.

Bars, Lounge, Liquor, and Convenience Stores shall be located at least 1,000 feet from City Hall, public parks, schools, day care facilities, medical clinics and churches.

Each Alcoholic Beverage Sales Establishment shall meet the minimum Code standards for parking, landscaping, access and signage.

All new Liquor and Convenience Stores shall maintain a minimum of at least 4,000 square feet of retail floor area and shall be limited to locations within commercial centers with at least 25,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, or entertainment floor area or if located at a standalone building with a minimum of 10,000 square feet of floor area with approval of a CUP. Convenience stores in gas stations shall be 2,500 square feet. Gas station convenience stores that do not have an approved conditional use permit when this ordinance take effect shall be prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages of any type.

Existing liquor and convenience stores that have an approved conditional use Permit when these regulations become effective and subsequently desire to expand or modify their operations, are subject to these regulations except subsections 30-51.10a5 and a7.

Small grocery stores and retail stores that do not fall under the definition of convenience or liquor stores may be permitted to sell Beer and Wine only if less than 10% of the retail floor space is devoted to the display and sales of alcoholic beverages.

Large retailers of 10,000 square feet or greater that sell alcohol do not require a CUP provided they limit the alcohol sales and display area to no more than 15% of the gross floor area.

A fraternal organization or veterans club may be exempted from the size and location restrictions, subject to evaluation of site-specific conditions through the Conditional Use Permit review process and considering recommendations from the Sheriffs Department.

Temporary uses issued a Temporary License by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and established in compliance with all City laws and regulations are exempt from the size and location restrictions and do not require a CUP. Temporary uses are special events/uses lasting less than 48 hours and receive a Special Event Permit.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, no new on-site or off-site alcoholic beverage sales activity may be established without full compliance with this ordinance except Conditional Use Permit applications that have been filed prior to the effective date of this Ordinance. Convenience stores that have been issued building permits and are under construction prior to the adoption of this ordinance are not subject to the minimum size or location requirements.