Covina City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
40 C-3 COMMERCIAL ZONE CENTRAL BUSINESS
§ 17.40.010 Intent.
The C-3 zone is intended to serve as the central trading area of the city.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.30)
§ 17.40.020 Permitted uses.
Buildings, structures and land shall be used, and buildings and structures shall hereafter be erected, structurally altered or enlarged only for the following uses, plus such other uses as the commission and council may deem (pursuant to Chapter 17.60 CMC) to be similar and not more obnoxious or detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare, and related to the functioning of a central business district. All uses shall be subject to the property development standards in CMC § 17.40.050 through 17.40.200:
B.
Retail stores, sales and services:
Advertising agencies;
Aerial photograph and survey service;
Art gallery, show and studio;
Auto rental;
Awning sales;
Barber and/or beauty shop;
Blueprinting and photocopying;
Catering service, food;
Department store;
Employment agency;
Garage, public;
Garden supply and tools;
Gunsmith;
Playground equipment sales and service;
Plumbing supply, retail;
Restaurant;
Taxi;
Taxidermist;
Tire sales, no retreading or vulcanizing;
C.
Other:
Apartment hotels;
Lodges and meeting halls;
Museums;
Printing and publishing;
Public and/or private dancing;
Telegraph office;
Theater, theatrical and motion picture.
(Ord. 19-01 § 18, 2019; Ord. 18-05 § 6(a), 2018; Ord. 17-14 § 6(a), 2017; Ord. 97-1813 § 6, 1997; Ord. 93-1748 § 4, 1993; Ord. 1678 § 1, 1988; Ord. 1549 § 1, 1983; Ord. 1535 §§ 8, 9, 1983; Ord. 1495 § 1(a), 1981; Ord. 1438 § 4, 1979; 1964 Code Appx. A § 7.31)
§ 17.40.030 Uses permitted subject to conditional use permit.
The following uses may be permitted subject to a conditional use permit as provided for in Chapter 17.62 CMC:
Auditorium;
Automobile towing in conjunction with a permitted service station;
Billiard parlor;
Cannabis retailers that comply with the requirements set forth in Chapter 17.84 CMC;
Conversion of residential buildings to nonresidential uses subject to CMC § 17.76.010 through 17.76.040;
Educational or health activities including private schools, trade schools and health spas;
Electrical or mechanical games as an ancillary use; more than three such games;
Hotels;
Liquor, off-sale, subject to the provisions of CMC § 17.62.026;
Liquor, on-sale, in conjunction with a bona fide eating establishment;
Shared-space commercial establishment;
Thrift shops, secondhand and used merchandise stores.
(Ord. 23-01 § 8, 2023; Ord. 19-01 §§ 19, 20, 2019; Ord. 18-05 § 6(a), 2018; Ord. 17-14 § 6(a), 2017; Ord. 11-1997 § 9, 2011; Ord. 93-1748 § 5, 1993; Ord. 91-1730 § 1(E), 1991; Ord. 1678 § 1, 1988; Ord. 1642 § 5, 1987; Ord. 1535 § 10, 1983; Ord. 1507 § 5, 1981; Ord. 1495 § 1(b), 1981; Ord. 1438 § 5, 1979; Ord. 1386 § 4, 1978; 1964 Code Appx. A § 7.32)
§ 17.40.040 Prohibited uses.
The following uses are expressly prohibited in the C-3 zone:
A.
Residential uses, except as otherwise provided herein;
B.
Any combination of residential and nonresidential uses in any building or structure or on any lot;
C.
Trailer parks;
D.
Industrial uses;
E.
Automobile service stations;
F.
Wholesaling and warehousing;
H.
Multi-tenant retail arcades;
I.
Massage establishment.
(Ord. 19-01 § 21, 2019; Ord. 97-1813 § 6, 1997; Ord. 92-1736 § 2(D), 1992; Ord. 1438 § 6, 1979; 1964 Code Appx. A § 7.33)
§ 17.40.050 Property development standards generally.
§ 17.40.060 Lot area.
There are no lot area provisions for the C-3 zone.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.34)
§ 17.40.070 Lot dimensions.
There are no provisions on this subject for the C-3 zone.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.34)
§ 17.40.080 Population density.
There are no population density provisions for this zone.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.34)
§ 17.40.090 Building height – Generally.
No building or structure erected in this zone shall have a height greater than 75 feet except by conditional use permit.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.34)
§ 17.40.100 Building height – Exceptions – Permitted projections above limit.
The provisions of the C-P zone, CMC § 17.34.100, shall apply.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.34)
§ 17.40.110 Yards.
Yards shall be measured perpendicular to the property line or from the future right-of-way line as established by the general plan for an existing right-of-way.
When the C-3 zone abuts residentially zoned properties there shall be a yard of not less than 25 feet abutting the zone boundary, except where the C-3 zone abuts a public park no yard shall be required. The required yard may be used for parking, loading, access or storage, provided items are not stored higher than the required wall. A solid masonry wall, not less than five feet nor more than six feet in height, shall be erected on the zone boundary line.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.34)
§ 17.40.120 Distance between buildings.
There are no provisions on this subject for the C-3 zone.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.34)
§ 17.40.130 Fences and walls – Required walls.
Where the C-3 zone abuts a residential zone, a solid masonry wall not less than five feet nor more than six feet in height shall be erected on the zone boundary, if there is no building on the line. Walls shall conform to corner cutback provisions of the C-P zone, CMC § 17.34.160 and 17.34.170.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.34)
§ 17.40.140 Fences and walls – Outdoor storage.
All outdoor storage areas abutting residentially zoned property shall be enclosed by a building wall or by a solid fence or wall not less than five feet nor more than six feet in height.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.34)
§ 17.40.150 Fences and walls – Corner cutback area regulations and permitted structures.
§ 17.40.160 Off-street parking.
§ 17.40.170 Access.
There shall be adequate vehicular access to off-street parking facilities from a dedicated street, service road or alley. The design of the access shall conform to all standards and specifications of the city.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.34)
§ 17.40.180 Signs – Generally.
The provisions of Chapter 17.74 CMC shall apply.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.34)
§ 17.40.190 Allowable signs and special regulations.
A.
Freestanding and Monument Signs.
1.
Each regional or community shopping center, containing four or more establishments having a lot frontage in excess of 150 feet, shall be permitted one freestanding sign per center. Such sign shall not be located closer than 150 feet from any other freestanding sign on the same side of the street and shall not exceed 100 square feet per face nor an overall height of 30 feet.
2.
Each property having a lot frontage less than 150 feet but more than 45 feet shall be permitted one monument sign. Such sign shall not be closer than 50 feet from any other sign on the same side of the street and shall not exceed an area of 20 square feet per face nor an overall height of six feet.
B.
Each business shall be allowed one sign per occupancy frontage when mounted flat against the building, or one projecting sign. The overall area devoted to signs may not exceed 15 percent of the area of the first story height of the building. Each side of a projecting sign shall be included in the maximum overall area allowed.
C.
Each business shall be permitted one pedestrian-oriented sign per entrance, to be mounted flat against the building or suspended from an overhanging architectural feature which is an integral part of the building. Such sign shall not exceed six square feet per face.
D.
When the building rears onto a public alley or parking lot with a public entrance directly serving the area, an additional sign may be erected at that entrance. The area devoted to such sign shall not exceed 10 percent of the rear face of the building to the first story height, and such sign must be mounted flat against the building.
E.
Each business shall be permitted two window signs per occupancy. Such signs shall not exceed 20 percent of the window space in which they are displayed. Each sign shall be of a permanent nature and not painted, pasted, taped nor affixed in any way to the window surface, except as allowed by CMC § 17.74.020.
F.
Each regional or community shopping center containing four or more establishments shall require a sign program approved by the director prior to installation.
(Ord. 22-02 § 4, 2022; 1964 Code Appx. A § 7.34)
§ 17.40.200 Loading.
§ 17.40.210 Site plan review.
The provisions of Chapter 17.64 CMC shall apply.
(1964 Code Appx. A § 7.35)