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Lake Forest City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 9

72 NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS

§ 9.72.010 A1 agriculture district.

A. 
Purpose of the District. The A1 District is established to provide for agriculture, outdoor recreational uses, and those low-intensity uses which have a predominately open space character. It is also intended that this district may be used as an interim zone in those areas which the General Plan may designate for more intensive urban uses in the future.
B. 
Permitted and Prohibited Uses. Per Section 9.72.090, Land use matrix, column A1 and/or one single-family dwelling or mobilehome per Chapter 9.176.
C. 
Site Development Standards.
1. 
Building Site Area: Four acres minimum except per Section 9.144.020.
2. 
Building Site Width: Seventy feet minimum except per Section 9.144.020.
3. 
Building Height: Thirty-five feet maximum except per Section 9.144.020.
(Ord. 243 § 6, 2012; Ord. 302 § 16, 2018)

§ 9.72.020 OS open space district.

A. 
Purpose of the District. The OS District is established to provide relatively large open space areas for the preservation of natural resources for the protection of valuable environmental features, for outdoor recreation and education, and for the public health and welfare.
B. 
Permitted and Prohibited Uses. Per Section 9.72.090, Land use matrix, column OS.
C. 
Site Development Standards.
1. 
Building Site Area: One acre minimum except per Section 9.144.020.
2. 
Building Height: Eighteen feet maximum except as otherwise provided for by an approved use permit.
3. 
Building Site Coverage: Ten percent maximum.
4. 
Screening: Walls and fences over three and one-half (3½) feet in height shall be installed in accordance with the following limitations unless otherwise provided for by an approved site development permit or use permit:
a. 
Non-opaque fences shall be a minimum of 20 feet from the ultimate right-of-way line of any street or highway.
b. 
Masonry or solid wood fences shall be shielded from view from any street or highway by landscaping, berm, or other topographic feature, and they shall be set back a minimum distance of 50 feet from the ultimate right-of-way line of any street or highway.
(Ord. 243 § 6, 2012; Ord. 302 § 17, 2018)

§ 9.72.025 C1 local business district.

A. 
Purpose of the District. The C1 District is established to provide for the development and maintenance of medium-intensity commercial uses serving the needs of both the surrounding neighborhood and the local community.
B. 
Permitted and Prohibited Uses. Per Section 9.72.090, Land use matrix, column C.
C. 
Site Development Standards.
1. 
Building Site Area: No minimum except per Section 9.144.020.
2. 
Building Height: Thirty-five feet maximum except per Section 9.144.020.
(Ord. 302 § 18, 2018)

§ 9.72.030 C2 general business district.

A. 
Purpose of the District. The C2 District is established to provide for the development and maintenance of high-intensity commercial uses which serve the local community but which may not be compatible with surrounding residential uses or certain commercial uses.
B. 
Permitted and Prohibited Uses. Per Section 9.72.090, Land use matrix, column C.
C. 
Site Development Standards.
1. 
Building Site Area: No minimum except per Section 9.144.020.
2. 
Building Height: Thirty-five feet maximum except per Section 9.144.020.
(Ord. 243 § 6, 2012; Ord. 302 § 19, 2018)

§ 9.72.040 CC community commercial district.

A. 
Purpose of the District. The CC District is established to provide for the development and maintenance of high-intensity commercial uses which serve the local community and are compatible with surrounding residential uses.
B. 
Permitted and Prohibited Uses. Per Section 9.72.090, Land use matrix, column C.
C. 
Site Development Standards.
1. 
Building Site Area: No minimum except per Section 9.144.020.
2. 
Building Height: Sixty-five feet maximum except per Section 9.144.020.
(Ord. 243 § 6, 2012; Ord. 302 § 20, 2018)

§ 9.72.050 CN commercial neighborhood district.

A. 
Purpose of the District. The CN District is established to provide for the development and maintenance of low-intensity commercial uses which serve the immediate needs of the surrounding neighborhood. Such uses are to be grouped in small areas of three to eight acres and designed so that adverse impacts on residential properties are minimized.
B. 
Permitted and Prohibited Uses: Per Section 9.72.090, Land use matrix, column C.
C. 
Site Development Standards.
1. 
Building Site Area: No minimum except per Section 9.144.020.
2. 
Building Site Coverage: Thirty-five percent maximum.
3. 
Building Height: Thirty-five feet maximum except per Section 9.144.020.
4. 
Business Hours: Business hours shall be limited to the hours between 6:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.
(Ord. 243 § 6, 2012; Ord. 302 § 21, 2018)

§ 9.72.060 CAN canyon commercial district.

Per Chapter 9.228, Canyon Commercial District.
(Ord. 243 § 6, 2012)

§ 9.72.070 M1 light industrial district.

A. 
Purpose of the District.
1. 
The M1 light industrial district is established to provide for the development and maintenance of light industrial uses and industry-supporting activities, and other uses that are compatible with light industrial uses.
2. 
Industry-supporting activities are those activities which tend to promote the vitality of light industrial areas by providing a convenient location for services incidental to the conduct of business of the permitted uses, thus internalizing vehicle trips for such services. Industry-supporting activities are typically those which naturally locate in an industrial area because the principal part of their business activity is derived from such areas.
3. 
It is intended that these regulations promote the effective operation of light industrial uses by site design and by excluding incompatible uses. It is also intended that potentially significant adverse environmental impacts on the surrounding community be prevented.
4. 
In those areas of the district where a wide mix of older general retail commercial uses have been established, a secondary intent shall be to support appropriate new uses of high quality over simple consistency with these older, established uses.
B. 
Permitted and Prohibited Uses. Per Section 9.72.090, Land Use Matrix, column I.
C. 
Site Development Standards.
1. 
Building Site Area: Ten thousand square feet minimum except per Section 9.144.020.
2. 
Building Height: Thirty-five feet maximum except per Section 9.144.020.
(Ord. 243 § 6, 2012; Ord. 275 § 5, 2015; Ord. 302 § 22, 2018)

§ 9.72.080 PA professional and administrative district.

A. 
Purpose of the District. The PA district is established to provide for the development and maintenance of an optimal environment for moderate-intensity professional and administrative office uses and related uses on sites with large landscaped open spaces and off-street parking facilities. This district is intended to be located on heavily traveled streets or adjacent to commercial or industrial districts, and may be used to buffer residential areas.
B. 
Permitted and Prohibited Uses. Per Section 9.72.090, Land use matrix, column PA.
C. 
Site Development Standards.
1. 
Building Site Area: Ten thousand square feet minimum except per Section 9.144.020.
2. 
Building Site Width: Seventy-five feet minimum except per Section 9.144.020.
3. 
Building Height: Thirty-five feet maximum unless otherwise provided for by an approved use permit.
4. 
Building Site Coverage: Thirty-five percent maximum.
(Ord. 243 § 6, 2012; Ord. 302 § 23, 2018)

§ 9.72.085 Non-residential site development standards.

A. 
The following site development standards shall apply to all non-residential zoning districts.
1. 
Building Setbacks: Per Section 9.72.100, Non-residential building setbacks.
2. 
Off-Street Parking: Per Section 9.168.010.
3. 
Outdoor Lighting: Outdoor lighting shall be designed and installed so that lighting is confined to the site, and adjacent properties are protected from glare.
4. 
Loading: All loading operations shall be performed on the site, and loading areas shall be screened by a landscape or architectural feature.
5. 
Trash and Storage Area: All storage of cartons, containers and trash shall be enclosed by a wall not less than six feet in height. If unroofed, no such area shall be located within 40 feet of any district zoned for residential or agricultural uses.
6. 
Enclosed Uses: All non-residential uses and their related products shall be contained entirely within a completely enclosed structure, except for parking and loading areas and except for outdoor uses expressly permitted by an approved site development permit or use permit.
7. 
Screening: Per Section 9.144.060.
8. 
Landscaping: Per Section 9.144.060.
9. 
Waste Management: Compliance with Section 9.146.040, Waste management and hazardous materials disclosure.
10. 
Rooftop Equipment: All rooftop equipment, including, but not limited to, heating, ventilation and air conditioning units, shall be screened from view from the public right-of-way.
11. 
Vibration: No machine, process or operation shall produce a vibration discernible without instruments at or beyond a property line of the building site upon which the source is located.
12. 
Vehicular Access Regulations: Street openings shall be a minimum of 22 feet apart and 22 feet from any existing street openings, measured at the ultimate street right-of-way line; however, every building site shall be permitted to have at least one street opening.
13. 
Fences and Walls, Maximum Height. Per Section 9.144.080.5.
(Ord. 302 § 24, 2018)

§ 9.72.090 Land use matrix.

A. 
Land Use Matrix.
Table 9.72.090(A) Land Use Matrix
Use
C
I
PA
UA
CAN
A1
OS
Administrative Office
P
P
P
P
X
X
X
Adult Business
P2
P2
P2
P2
P2
X
X
Adult Day Program
S
U
S
S
S4
X
X
Agriculture
X
X
X
X
X
P
S
Alcohol Sales for Off-Site Consumption
U21
U21
U21
U21
X
X
X
Ambulance Dispatch Facility
X
U
U
U
X
X
X
Animal Clinic or Hospital
P3
P3
P3
P3
P3,4
P3
X
Animal Hospital, Livestock
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Apiary
X
X
X
X
X
S
S
Assembly of Component or Finished Products
P
P
P
P
X
X
X
Assembly, Commercial
U
U
U
U
X
X
X
Assembly, Non-Commercial, occupancy of 100 persons or less
S
S
S
S
X
S
X
Assembly, Non-Commercial, occupancy of more than 100 persons
S
U
U
S
X
U
X
Athletic Club
P
U
X
P
X
X
X
Athletic Facility, Indoor
S
U
U
S
X
U
U
Athletic Facility, Outdoor
U
U
U
U
X
U
U
Auction House
U
U
X
U
X
X
X
Auto Broker, no vehicles on site
P
P
P
P
X
X
X
Auto Repair, Heavy
X
U
X
X
X
X
X
Auto Repair, Light
U
P
X
U
X
X
X
Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
S
A1
A1
A1
X
X
X
Automobile Sales and Rentals, with 3 or more vehicles on site
U
U
X
U
X
X
X
Automobile Sales and Rentals, with 2 or fewer vehicles on site
S
S
S
S
X
X
X
Automobile Wholesale, with no vehicles on site
P
P
P
P
X
X
X
Automobile Fueling Station
S
S
X
S
X
X
X
Automobile Wrecking and Salvage Yard
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Bar, Cocktail Lounge
U
X
X
U
X
X
X
Batting Cages (indoor)
S
S
S
S
X
U
U
Billiards Parlor
U
X
X
X
X
X
X
Brewery
U
U
X
U
X
X
X
Caretaker Quarters
X
U
X
X
X
S
X
Car Wash
U
U
X
U
X
X
X
Catering Facility
P
P
X
P
X
X
X
Cemetery
X
X
X
X
X
U
U
Christmas Tree Sales Facility
P6
P6
P6
P6
P4,6
P6
P6
Churches, Temples, Religious Institutions and Other Places of Worship
S
S
S
S
X
S
X
Civic or Government Use
S
S
S
S
X
S
S
Club/Meeting Hall, occupancy of 100 persons or less
S
S
S
S
X
S
X
Club/Meeting Hall, occupancy of more than 100 persons
S
U
U
S
X
U
X
Commercial Extraction
X
X
X
P8
X
X
X
Commercial Filming
P9
P9
P9
P9
P9
P9
P9
Commercial Recreation, Indoor
S
U
U
S
X
U
U
Commercial Recreation, Outdoor
U
U
U
U
X
U
U
Community Facility
U
X
X
U
X
U
X
Composting Facility
X
X
X
X
X
U
X
Concrete Batch Plant
X
U
X
U
X
X
X
Conference Center
S
U
U
S
X
X
X
Conservation Area
X
X
X
X
P
P
P
Construction Trailer
P6
P6
P6
P6
P4,6
P6
P6
Contractor Storage Yard
X
U
X
U
X
U
X
Convalescent Home
U
X
U
U
X
X
X
Copy Service, Small
P
P
P
P
X
X
X
Copy Service, Large
X
P
X
P
X
X
X
Day Care Center
S
U
S
S
S4
U
X
Dog Daycare
U3,12
U3,12
X
U3,12
X
U3,12
X
Donation Center, Attended
U
U
U
U
X
X
X
Donation Collection Boxes
P22
P22
P22
P22
X
X
X
Digital Entertainment
P
X
X
P
X
X
X
Distribution Facility
X
P
X
P
X
X
X
Drive-Through
S
S
S
S
X
X
X
Dry Cleaning and Laundry
P
P
X
P
X
X
X
Dry Cleaning and Laundry Plant
X
P
X
U
X
X
X
Educational Institution
U
X
U
U
X
U
X
Emergency Health Service Facility
U
X
U
U
X
X
X
Emergency Shelter
X
P10
X
X
X
X
X
Employee Housing
X
X
X
X
X
P24
P24
Family Daycare Home
X
X
X
X
X
P
X
Farmer's Market
S
S
S
S
S
S
X
Financial Institution
P
P
P
P
X
X
X
Fortune Telling
P
P
P
P
X
X
X
Freight Terminal and/or Transfer Station
X
U
X
U
X
X
X
Funeral Home
U
U
U
U
X
U
X
Golf Course
X
X
X
X
X
U
U
Grazing
X
X
X
X
X
P
P
Health Club
P
U
X
P
X
X
X
Heliport
X
U
X
U
X
U
X
Helistop
U
U
U
U
X
U
U
Hookah Lounge
U
X
X
X
X
X
X
Hospital
U
U
U
U
X
X
X
Hotel
S
U
X
S
X
X
X
Instructional Studio
P
U
U
P
X
X
X
Kennel
U3,12
U3,12
X
U3,12
X
U3,12
X
Late Night Use
U
U
U
U
X
U
X
Laundry Facility, Coin-Operated
P
X
X
P
X
X
X
Laundry Plant
X
P
X
U
X
X
X
Library
P
P
P
P
X
S
U
Manufacturing
X
P
X
P
X
X
X
Marijuana Testing Lab
X
X23
X
X
X
X
X
Massage Establishment
U15
X
X
U15
X
X
X
Materials Recovery Facility
X
U
X
U
X
X
X
Mausoleum
X
X
X
X
X
U
U
Medical Office
P
P
P
P
X
X
X
Mining
X
X
X
P8
X
S8
X
Minisatellite Wagering Facility
U
X
X
X
X
X
X
Mortuary
U
U
U
U
X
U
X
Movie Theater
S
U
U
S
X
X
X
Museum
P
U
P
P
X
S
U
Nightclub
U17
X
X
X
X
X
X
Nursery
U
U
X
U
S4
S
U
Office, Administrative, Business or Professional
P
P
P
P
X
X
X
Office, Medical
P
P
P
P
X
X
X
Open Space
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Outdoor Dining
A1
A1,20
X
A1
X
X
A1
Outdoor Display
S
X
X
S
X
X
X
Outdoor Storage
S
S
X
S
S
S
S
Outdoor Vending
P5
P5
P5
P5
X
X
X
Parking Lot or Structure
S
S
S
S
X
X
U
Park
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Pawnbroker
P18
X
X
P18
X
X
X
Personal Care Service
P
X
S
P
X
X
X
Pet Grooming
P3
P3
P3
P3
X
X
X
Pet Shop
P3
X
X
P3
X
X
X
Pharmacy
P
X
X
P
X
X
X
Playground
A1
A1
A1
A1
A1
A1
P
Power Supply Facility
P19
P19
P19
P19
P19
P19
P19
Public Utility
P
P
P
P
S4
S
S
Pumpkin Sales
P6
P6
P6
P6
P4,6
P6
P6
Quarrying
X
X
X
P8
X
S8
X
Quarters for Employee Temporary Use
X
X
X
X
X
S
X
Recreational Vehicle Storage
X
U
X
U
X
U
X
Recycling Collection Facility, Accessory
P
X
X
P
X
X
X
Recycling Collection Facility, Major
X
U
X
X
X
X
X
Recycling Collection Facility, Minor
U
U
X
U
X
X
X
Rental, Repair and Storage Yard for Construction, Farming and Industrial Vehicles/Equipment
X
U
X
U
X
U
X
Research, Testing and Development Lab
P
P
P
P
S4
U
X
Residential Care Facility
X
X
X
X
X
P25
X
Restaurant
P
X20
X
P
X
X
U
Restaurant with Bar
P
X
X
P
X
X
X
Retail Business
P
A1
X
P
X
X
U
Retail Business, Internet
P
P
P
P
X
X
X
Riding and Hiking Trail
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
School, Commercial or Vocational
U
U
U
U
X
X
X
Second Hand Dealer
P
X
X
P
X
X
X
Self Storage
U
U
X
U
X
U
X
Service Business
P
X20
U
P
X
X
X
Shooting Range, Indoor
X
U
X
U
X
X
X
Shooting Range, Outdoor
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Single-Room Occupancy (SRO)
S13
U13
X
S13
X
X
X
Single Season Agricultural Sales
P6
P6
P6
P6
P4,6
P6
P6
Smog Check
U
P
X
U
X
X
X
Smoke Shop
P
X
X
P
X
X
X
Smoking Lounge
U
X
X
U
X
X
X
Solid Waste Transfer Station
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Specialty Automotive Repair or Service, Heavy
X
U
X
X
X
X
X
Specialty Automotive Repair or Service, Light
U
P
X
U
X
X
X
Stable, Commercial
X
X
X
X
X
U
U
Storage Container
S6
S6
S6
S6
S4,6
S6
S6
Storage of Automobiles, Trucks, Trailers, Boats, Motorcycles and Other Types of Vehicles and Equipment
X
U
X
U
X
U
X
Studio for Motion Picture, Video, Audio, and Television Recording
P
P
P
P
X
X
X
Surface Mining
X
X
X
P8
X
S8
X
Swap Meet/Flea Market
U
U
U
U
X
U
X
Swim Facility
U
U
U
U
X
U
U
Tattoo Studio
P
P
X
X
X
X
X
Temporary Commercial Building
S6
S6
S6
S6
S4,6
S6
S6
Theatre
U
U
U
U
X
X
X
Thrift Store
P11
A1,11
X
P11
X
X
U11
Towing Facility
X
U
X
U
X
X
X
Utility, Public or Private
P
P
P
P
S4
S
S
Vending Machine, Indoors
A1
A1
A1
A1
A1
A1
X
Vending Machine, Outdoors
S
S
S
S
X
X
X
Veterinary Office
P3
P3
P3
P3
P3,4
P3
X
Warehouse
X
P
X
P
X
X
X
Welding Shop
X
P
X
X
X
X
X
Wholesale Business
X
P
A1
P
X
X
X
Winery
U
U
X
U
X
X
X
Wireless Communication Facility
P14
P14
P14
P14
P14
P14
P14
Wholesale Nursery
U
U
X
U
S4
S
X
Land Use Matrix Legend
C=Commercial
OS=Open Space
I=Industrial
A=Permitted as an Accessory Use
PA=Professional and Administrative Office
P=Permitted Use
UA=Urban Activity
S=Permitted with a Site Development Permit (SDP)
CAN=Canyon Commercial
U=Permitted with a Use Permit (UP)
A1=Agriculture
X=Prohibited Use
Footnotes
1.
The accessory use shall be incidental, related and clearly subordinate to the main use of the lot or building. Must not comprise more than 15% of the total floor area of principal use.
2.
Subject to regulations in Chapter 9.08 (Adult Business Zoning Regulations).
3.
Subject to regulations in Section 9.146.020 (Animal service businesses).
4.
Subject to regulations in Chapter 9.228 (Canyon Commercial District).
5.
Subject to regulations in Chapter 9.182 (Outdoor Vending on Private Property).
6.
Subject to regulations in Section 9.144.070 (Temporary uses and structures).
7.
(Deleted).
8.
Subject to regulations set forth in Baker Ranch Planned Community Section V and LFMC Chapter 9.150 (Surface Mining and Land Reclamation Regulations).
9.
Subject to regulations in Section 5.28.150 (Permit requirements for commercial motion picture productions, television productions and still photography).
10.
Subject to regulations in Section 9.146.120 (Emergency shelters).
11.
Subject to regulations in Section 9.146.200 (Thrift Stores).
12.
Subject to regulations in Section 9.146.030 (Pets and animals).
13.
Subject to regulations in Section 9.146.150 (Single-room occupancy).
14.
Subject to regulations in Chapter 9.162 (Wireless Communication Facilities).
15.
Subject to regulations in Chapter 5.07 (Massage Establishments).
16.
(Deleted).
17.
Subject to regulations in Chapter 5.36 (Entertainment Permits).
18.
Subject to regulations in Section 5.02.020 (Licenses or permits required).
19.
Subject to regulations in Chapter 9.166 (Cable System Power Supply Facilities Design and Placement).
20.
A limited amount of service commercial and restaurant uses are allowed in the Business Park Zone of the Pacific Commercentre Planned Community. See exception noted in Section II.B. of the Pacific Commercentre Planned Community.
21.
Subject to regulations in Section 9.146.130 (Additional findings for the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption). The sale of alcohol for off-site consumption may also be subject to the City Council policy regarding public convenience or necessity, as amended.
22.
Subject to regulations provided in Chapter 9.142 (Donation Collection Boxes).
23.
Marijuana testing labs rendered legal nonconforming by Ordinance No. 347 are subject to regulations provided in Chapter 5.42 (Marijuana Testing Labs).
24.
In accordance with California Health and Safety Code Section 17021.6 et seq.
25.
In accordance with Chapter 5.44 (Residential Care Facilities).
B. 
Any use not permitted by Section 9.72.090(A), land use matrix, is specifically prohibited.
(Ord. 243 § 6, 2012; Ord. 250 § 2, 2013; Ord. 257 § 1, 2013; Ord. 275 § 6, 2015; Ord. 276 § 2, 2015; Ord. 282 §§ 4—6, 2016; Ord. 284 § 2, 2016; Ord. 297 § 7, 2017; Ord. 302 § 25, 2018; Ord. 331 § 7, 2020; Ord. 333 §§ 8, 9, 2020; Ord. 334 §§ 5, 6, 2020; Ord. 347 § 7, 2021; Ord. 363 § 12, 2023; Ord. 374, 2/4/2025; Ord. 378, 6/17/2025; Ord. 378, 6/17/2025)

§ 9.72.100 Non-residential building setbacks.

Table 9.72.100 Non-Residential Building Setbacks
(Not applicable to accessory building and structures)
Setback Distance in Feet
District
From Ultimate Street R/W Line
From Alley
From Property Line Abutting A or R Districts
From Property Line Abutting Districts Other Than A or R Districts
Front
Side
Rear
Front
Side
Rear
Side
Rear
Side
Rear
A1
20
5
25
20
5
25
5
25 or A
5
25 or A
C1
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
10
0
10
C2
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
10
0
10
CC
5
5
5
5
5
5
20
20
0
0
CN
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
0
0
M1
20
20
20
20
10
10
30 or B
30 or B
20*
10
PA
10
10
10
10
0
10
10
10
10*
10
Notes
*
Required for one side of building site only.
A.
In computing the depth of a rear setback from any building where such setback opens on an alley, private street, public park, one-half (½) of the width of such alley, street, park may be deemed to be a portion of the rear setback, except that under this provision, no rear setback shall be less than 15 feet.
B.
If no openings, such as windows, doors and circulation vents, exist on the side of the building facing the property line, this setback may be reduced to 15 feet.
(Ord. 243 § 6, 2012; Ord. 333 § 10, 2020)