Pleasanton, CA Zoning Ordinance

Pleasanton City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 18

44 C COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS

§ 18.44.010 Purpose.

In addition to the objectives prescribed in Section 18.04.010 of this title, the C commercial districts are included in this title to achieve the following purposes:

To provide appropriately located areas for spaces offering commodities and services required by residents of the city and its surrounding market area;

To provide opportunities for retail stores, offices, service establishments, recreational establishments, and wholesale businesses to concentrate for the convenience of the public and in mutually beneficial relationship to each other;

To provide space for community facilities and institutions that appropriately may be located in commercial areas;

To provide adequate space to meet the needs of modern commercial development, including off-street parking and truck loading areas;

To minimize traffic congestion and to avoid overloading of utilities by preventing the construction of buildings of excessive size in relation to the amount of land around them;

To protect commercial properties from noise, odor, dust, dirt, smoke, vibration, heat, glare, heavy truck traffic, and other objectionable influences incidental to industrial uses;

To protect commercial properties from fire, explosion, noxious fumes, and other hazards.

(Prior code § 2-7.00; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

§ 18.44.020 Special purpose-C-N neighborhood commercial district.

The purpose of the C-N neighborhood commercial district is as follows:

To provide appropriately located areas for retail stores, offices, and personal service establishments patronized primarily by residents of the immediate area;

To permit development of neighborhood shopping centers of the size and in the appropriate locations shown on the general plan, according to standards that minimize adverse impact on adjoining residential uses.

(Prior code § 2-7.01)

§ 18.44.030 Special purpose-C-C central commercial district.

The purpose of the C-C central commercial district is as follows:

To maintain compactness and encourage more intensive development in Pleasanton's central business district;

To maximize the efficiency of the central district by limiting or prohibiting uses that break the continuity of commercial frontage or are incompatible with an attractive pedestrian shopping area;

To facilitate the establishment of assessment districts for provision of off-street parking facilities by limiting or prohibiting drive-in type uses that would not benefit substantially from public off-street parking facilities.

(Prior code § 2-7.02)

§ 18.44.040 Special purpose-C-R regional commercial district.

The purpose of the C-R regional commercial district is as follows:

To provide a large site at an appropriate location for a major shopping center drawing trade from the entire Amador-Livermore Valley;

To ensure that a major center will be developed in accord with high standards of site planning, architecture, and landscape design;

To minimize the adverse effect of major commercial facilities on nearby dwellings.

(Prior code § 2-7.03)

§ 18.44.050 Special purpose-C-S service commercial district.

The purpose of the C-S service commercial district is as follows:

To provide appropriately located areas for commercial uses having features that are incompatible with the purposes of the other commercial districts;

To provide sites for businesses that typically are not found in shopping centers, that usually have relatively large sites providing off-street parking, and that attract little or no pedestrian traffic.

(Prior code § 2-7.04)

§ 18.44.060 Special purpose-C-F freeway interchange commercial district.

The purpose of the C-F freeway interchange commercial district is as follows:

To provide appropriately located areas for establishments catering to freeway travelers and tourists;

To enhance the appearance of certain entrances to the city, and to protect motel and restaurant patrons from nuisances by limiting or prohibiting certain commercial service uses that often are unsightly or have nuisance features;

To provide appropriately located areas for establishments that generally require large sites and do not require close proximity to other commercial uses.

(Prior code § 2-7.05)

§ 18.44.070 Required conditions.

All uses shall comply with the regulations prescribed in Chapter 18.84 of this title, except in the C-R District where the zoning administrator and/or planning commission shall establish such regulations on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the purposes of Chapter 18.20 of this title.

All uses shall be conducted entirely within a completely enclosed structure. Uses include, but are not limited to, all business transactions, services, processes and displays, but do not include off-street parking and loading areas. Exceptions include:

Certain uses which by their nature require and ordinarily include outdoor activities (whether services, processes, or display), may conduct aspects of the business outside of a completely enclosed structure as determined by the zoning administrator.

Outdoor decorative displays for the purpose of enhancing the appearance of a structure or site, occupying no more than 50 square feet and not located in a public right-of-way or in any required parking area, will be allowed by the zoning administrator upon making the finding that such displays are not detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare. Such displays shall not contain signing (unless they are submitted as a sign). The zoning administrator's decision with regard to what constitutes a decorative display may be appealed to the planning commission by the affected merchant or property owner. The requirements of Section 18.144.030 of this title shall not govern such an appeal.

In a C-N and C-C district all products shall be sold primarily at the retail site.

No use shall be permitted, and no process, equipment, or material shall be employed which is found by the zoning administrator or planning commission, as applicable, to be objectionable to persons residing or working in the vicinity or injurious to property located in the vicinity by reason of odor, insect nuisance, fumes, dust, smoke, cinders, dirt, refuse, water-carried wastes, noise, vibration, illumination, glare, unsightliness, or heavy truck traffic, or to involve any hazard of fire or explosion. No exterior illumination closer than 200 feet to the boundaries of a site or interior illumination closer than 10 feet to a window within 200 feet of the boundary of a site and visible beyond the boundary of a site, whether related to a sign or not, shall exceed the intensity permitted by Chapter 18.96 of this title regarding illumination.

(Prior code § 2-7.07; Ord. 1104 § 1, 1983; Ord. 1656 § 1, 1995; Ord. 2055 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

§ 18.44.080 Permitted and conditional uses.

Permitted uses and uses subject to a minor conditional use permit or conditional use permit in a C district are provided in Table 18.44.080 at the end of this section.

Multi-family dwellings and mixed-use development shall be permitted in the C-C district provided that there shall be no more than 43.6 dwelling units per acre, and provided that dwelling units not located above a permitted nonresidential use shall be subjected to the requirements for usable open space per dwelling unit of the RM-1, 500 district, or, if applicable, the Core Area Overlay district. When proposed with existing one-family or multi-family dwellings, accessory dwelling and/or junior accessory dwelling units, as applicable, meeting the requirements in Chapter 18.106 of this title are permitted. Yards and courts at and above the first level occupied by dwelling units shall be as required by Section 18.84.100 of this title, except that where no side or rear yard is required for a nonresidential use on the site, no side or rear yard need be provided except when required by the Building Code for adjoining walls with openings.

Tobacco product and tobacco paraphernalia sales are only permitted in compliance with Chapter 18.109.

Any other use which is determined by the zoning administrator or planning commission, as applicable, as provided in Chapter 18.128 of this title, to be similar to the uses listed in this section shall be a permitted use or a conditional use in the districts in which the uses to which it is similar are permitted uses or conditional uses.

Table 18.44.080
PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL USES
The following uses shall be permitted uses or conditional uses in a commercial, mixed-use, office, or industrial district according to the following legend:
P	Permitted Use	MU-T	Mixed Use Transitional
C	Conditional Use	CR	Regional Commercial District
MCUP	Minor Conditional Use	CS	Service Commercial District
TC	Temporary Conditional Use	CF	Freeway Interchange Commercial District
CN	Neighborhood Commercial District	O	Office District
CC	Central Commercial District	IP	Industrial Park District
MU-D	Mixed Use Downtown	IG	General Industrial District
If a property is zoned PUD, then the PUD shall be consulted for permitted and conditionally permitted uses before consulting this table. Where there is a conflict between Table 18.44.080 and the PUD, the PUD shall govern.

	C-N	C-C	C-R (m¹)	C-R (p²)	C-S	C-F	O	I-P	I-G	MU-D	MU-T³⁵
CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT
Adult entertainment establishments³		P¹⁸	P	P	P					P¹⁸	P
Art galleries	P	P	P	P						P	P
Auction rooms		C¹⁸			C	C
Bowling alleys, pool halls, indoor bocce court, and other similar uses		C	P	C	C					C
Game arcades	C	C	C	C						C
Regional attraction, including amusement parks, automobile racing stadiums, drive-in theater, miniature golf, indoor skating rinks, sports arenas, or stadiums			C	C	C	C
Theaters and auditoriums	C	P	P	P	C					P
EDUCATIONAL
Nursery schools^4, ⁵	C		C	C
Private schools with no more than 20 students at any one time⁵	C		C	C			P
Private schools with more than 20 students at any one time⁵	C		C	C			C
Schools and colleges with no more than 20 students in the facility at any one time. This category includes trade schools, business schools, heritage schools, music and art schools, tutoring, but does not include general purpose schools^5, ⁶	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P	P	MCUP		P	P¹⁸	MCUP
Schools and colleges with more than 20 students in the facility at any one time. This category includes trade schools, business schools, heritage schools, music and art schools, tutoring, but does not include general purpose schools^5, ⁶	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	C		MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	C
ENERGY/ACCESSORY USES
Accessory uses and structures, not including warehouses, located on the same site as a permitted use and the following accessory structures and uses located on the same site with a permitted use or with a conditional use which has been granted a use permit in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.124 of this title:
Emergency standby electricity generator, fuel cell, and/or battery facilities⁷, photovoltaic facilities, small electricity generator facilities⁸, and small fuel cell facilities⁹	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Special downtown accessory entertainment uses, as defined in Chapter 18.08 of this title¹⁰		P¹¹								P¹¹
Special downtown accessory entertainment uses, as defined in Chapter 18.08 of this title, and the use does not comply with the hour restrictions for the use to be a permitted use. Temporary special downtown accessory entertainment uses shall be subject to the requirements of Section 18.116.060 of this title		TC¹¹								TC¹¹
Accessory uses and structures located on the same site as a conditional use and the following accessory structures and uses located on the same site as a permitted use or a conditional use that has been granted a use permit:
Medium electricity generator facilities that meet the applicable standards of Section 18.124.420 of this title, or medium fuel cell facilities that meet the applicable standards of Section 18.124.420 of this title	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C
Large electricity generator facilities or large fuel cell facilities¹²									C
Wind energy facilities									C^{13, 14}
GOVERNMENTAL
Governmental facility, no outdoor storage¹⁵	C	P	P	P						P	P
INDUSTRIAL
Heavy industrial								C¹³	C¹³
Light industrial³³					P			P	P
Microbreweries¹⁶		P	P	P	P			P	P	P
"Radioactive materials uses" as defined in Section 18.08.445 of this title					C				C¹³
Rental yards, including the rental of hand tools, garden tools, power tools, trucks and trailers and other similar equipment					C
Warehousing, not including storage of fuel or flammable liquids³³		P^{11, 17, 18}			MCUP			MCUP	P
Wineries¹⁶		P	P	P	P			P	P	P
OFFICE/BUSINESS SERVICE
Financial institutions	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P					P¹⁸	P
Medical offices¹⁹	P	P¹⁸	P	P			P	P	P	P¹⁸	P
Offices, including, but not limited to, business, professional and administrative offices	P	P¹⁸	P	P			P	P	P	P¹⁸	P
Radio and television broadcasting studios	P	C¹⁸		P	P	P				C¹⁸
OUTDOOR USES²⁰
Airports and heliports									C¹⁷
Beekeeping meeting the requirements of Chapter 18.103 of this title for detached, single-family homes located in the Downtown Specific Plan Area		P			P					P	P
Bus depots²¹		P¹⁸		P	P	P
Car wash:
Full service				C	C	C
Self-service		C¹⁸
Seasonal sales lots	TC	TC	P	TC	TC	TC				TC
Circuses, carnivals and other transient amusement enterprises	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC				TC
Commercial radio and television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers with design review approval specified under Chapter 18.20 of this title²²		P	P		P			P	P	P	P
Farmer's markets	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC				TC
Freight forwarding terminals					C
Full-service, self-service and quick-service stations:²³	C	C¹⁸	C	C	C	C		C	C
With truck and trailer rental					C	C
With a convenience market, excluding the sale of alcoholic beverages					C	C
With a drive-through car wash					C	C
Garden centers, including plant nurseries			P	C	C	C			C
Lumberyards²⁴					C
Mobile food trucks on private construction, office sites, and other places of employment for not more than one hour per meal period and with permission of the property owners	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Newsstands	P	P	P	P	P					P	P
Outdoor art and craft shows	TC	TC		TC						TC
Parking facilities, including required off-street parking facilities located on a site separated from the uses which the facilities serve and fee parking in accordance with the standards and requirements of Chapter 18.88 of this title		C								C
Parking lots								P	P
Public utility and public service facilities including pumping stations, power transmission stations, power distribution stations, equipment buildings, service yards, drainageways and structures, water reservoirs, percolation basins, well fields, and storage tanks. These facilities must be found by the planning commission to be necessary for the public health, safety, or welfare	C	C		C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C
Recreation and sports facilities, outdoor, including racetracks, golf driving ranges, skateboard parks, riding stables					C	C
Recycling collection facilities, large								C	C
Recycling collection facilities, small	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC		TC	TC	TC
Recycling processing facilities, large									C
Recycling processing facilities, small									C
Rifle and pistol ranges, outdoor, with or without firearm sales²⁷									C
Stone and monument yards					P
Storage yards for commercial goods, supplies and equipment including fuel storage, no less than 300 feet from any R or O district					C			C	C
Taxicab stands	P	P		P	P	P
Transportation dispatch facilities for ambulances, taxicabs, limousine services, airport shuttles, tow trucks, and similar dispatch, without storage, not including truck terminals¹⁵					P				P
Truck scales					P	C
Trucking terminals, not less than 300 feet from an R or O district					C				P
Vehicle towing (with all vehicle storage inside a building, with outside storage, or both)				P	C	C
PERSONAL AND GENERAL SERVICE
Art and craft studios, with no more than 20 students in the facility at any one time. This category includes pottery, jewelry, painting, scrapbook-making, photography, sculpture, and similar studios, with or without retail sales, art/craft classes and walk-in activities for the general public⁵	P	P	P	P						P	P
Art and craft studios, with more than 20 students in the facility at any one time. This category includes pottery, jewelry, painting, scrapbook-making, photography, sculpture, and similar studios, with or without retail sales, art/craft classes and walk-in activities for the general public⁵	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP						MCUP	MCUP
Body art facility	C		P	C	C	P	C	P	P
Carpet and rug cleaning and dyeing					C
Crematoriums, mortuaries, and columbariums, not less than 300 feet from an R district					C		C
Furniture upholstery shops					C	C
Glass replacement and repair shops					P	P
Interior decorating shops	P	P¹⁸	P	P						P¹⁸	P
Kennels, and other boarding facilities for small animals²⁵					MCUP				MCUP
Laundry:
Laundries and dry cleaners	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P					P¹⁸
Linen supply services					P
Music and dance facilities with no more than 20 students in the facility at any one time⁵	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P	P				P¹⁸	MC UP
Music and dance facilities with more than 20 students in the facility at any one time⁵	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP				MCUP¹⁸	C
Personal services²⁶	P	P¹⁸	P	P			P			P¹⁸	P
Recreation and sport facilities, gymnasiums, and health clubs, indoor, with no more than 20 students in the facility at any one time^{5, 26}	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P	P		P	P	P¹⁸	MCUP
Recreation and sport facilities, gymnasiums, and health clubs, indoor, with more than 20 students in the facility at any one time^{5, 26}	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP		MCUP	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	C
Rifle and pistol ranges, indoor, with or without firearm sales²⁷			P		P				C
Taxidermists		P¹⁸		P	P				P
Veterinarian's offices:
And/or outpatient clinics excluding any overnight boarding of animals²⁸	MCUP	P¹⁸			P					P¹⁸	P
Including outpatient clinics, small animal hospitals and/or short-term overnight boarding of animals²⁸		MCUP¹⁸			P
And/or small animal hospitals including operations not conducted within an entirely enclosed building²⁵					MCUP
PLACES OF ASSEMBLY
Community facilities and conference centers with 100 or fewer attendees at any one time		MCUP¹⁸					MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	C
Community facilities and conference centers with more than 100 attendees at any one time		C¹⁸					C	C	C	C¹⁸
Meeting halls for concerts, lectures, meetings, and conferences		C¹⁸	P	C	C	C				C¹⁸
Private clubs and lodges		C¹⁸			C		C			C¹⁸
RESIDENTIAL
Nursing homes and senior care/assisted living facilities							C
Supportive housing that provides shelter for six or fewer persons in a dwelling unit, and that meets the standards of Chapter 18.107		P¹⁸								P¹⁸	P
Watchman's living quarters only when incidental to and on the same site as a permitted use								P	P
RETAIL
Bars and brew pubs		C	C	C		C				C
Feed and fuel stores					C
Restaurants and catering establishments²⁹	P	P	P	P	C	P	C	C	C	P	P³⁴
Retail:^{27, 29, 30}
Gross floor area of tenant space is up to 55,000 square feet³¹	P	P	P	P	P	P				P	P
Gross floor area of tenant space is greater than 55,000 square feet³¹		C	C	C	C	C
Sales, rental, and/or leasing of automobiles, motorcycles, and boats:
No service		P¹⁸	P	P	MCUP	C
With service				P	C	C
Sales and service of one-ton or greater trucks, trailers, and/or RVs					C	C
Service of automobiles, motorcycles, and boats:						C
Department store tire, battery and accessory shops			P	P
Repair, overhauling, and painting				C	C
Upholstery and top shops						C
Tire sales and service, not including retreading and recapping or mounting of heavy truck tires				C	P
Tires, batteries, and accessories				P	P
Wholesale establishments					C				P
Wholesale establishments without stocks		P¹⁸		P						P¹⁸
TEMPORARY LODGING
Bed and breakfast inns		C								C	MCUP
Guard's living quarters					C
Homeless shelters³²					C
Hotels and motels		P		C		P				MCUP
Low barrier navigation center		P								P	P
Single room occupancy unit facilities with up to 10 units, and that meets the standards of Chapter 18.107										MCUP	MCUP
Single room occupancy unit facilities with more than 10 units, and that meets the standards of Chapter 18.107										CUP	CUP
Trailers and mobilehome parks in accordance with the regulations prescribed in Chapter 18.108 of this title					C	C
Transitional and supportive housing that provides shelter for 6 or fewer persons in a dwelling unit, and that meets the standards of Chapter 18.107		P¹⁸								P¹⁸	P

Notes:
1	Uses which are part of a completely enclosed mall complex, except where specifically allowed outside of the mall, all activities take place entirely indoors.
2	Uses on peripheral sites physically separated from a central enclosed mall.
3	See Chapter 18.114 of this title.
4	State-mandated outdoor play areas shall face new or existing landscaping sufficient to buffer the play area from view, shall be separated from customer parking areas by a heavy wood fence or comparable barrier, shall be isolated from loading docks and associated delivery truck circulation areas, and shall contain landscaping for outdoor children's activities. The standard city noise ordinance applies.
5	The use is subject to the following conditions: (1) The facility shall adhere to all occupancy, ADA, California Building Code, and exiting requirements; (2) The zoning administrator finds that adequate parking is available for the said use, and the proposal has an effective traffic circulation system including pick-up and drop-off for business patrons; (3) The standard city noise ordinance applies; (4) If applicable, an outdoor play area proposed would not cause the ambient noise levels at the property plane to increase by 4 dB Ldn. The zoning administrator may request a noise study or other professional study in order to determine whether the use meets or exceeds this threshold.
	A use is specifically subject to a conditional use permit shall be processed as such. A use not specifically subject to a conditional use permit that cannot meet condition 4 shall be subject to a conditional use permit.
6	Music and art schools shall be at least 150 feet from an R district.
7	The facilities shall be tested from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday or Sunday only, the facilities shall not be tested for more than one hour during any day, testing shall occur a maximum of once a month, and no testing shall be on "Spare the Air Days" in Alameda County.
8	Small electricity generator facilities shall meet the following criteria: (1) The fuel source for the generators shall be natural gas, biodiesel, or the byproduct of an approved cogeneration or combined cycle facility; (2) The facilities shall use the best available control technology to reduce air pollution; (3) The facilities shall not create any objectionable odors at any point outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (4) The facilities shall not exceed a noise level of 45 dBA at any point on a residentially zoned property outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (5) On a site with fuel cell facilities, small electricity generator facilities shall not be permitted unless the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is less than one megawatt. If the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is one megawatt or greater, the small electricity generator facilities shall be subject to all requirements and processes prescribed in this title for medium or large electricity generator facilities, whichever is the most applicable, in the subject zoning district; (6) The facilities shall be cogeneration or combined cycle facilities, if feasible.
9	Small fuel cell facilities shall meet the following criteria: (1) The facilities shall not create any objectionable odors at any point outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (2) The fuel cell facilities shall not exceed a noise level of 45 dBA at any point on any residentially zoned property outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (3) On a site with electricity generator facilities, small fuel cell facilities shall not be permitted unless the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is less than one megawatt. If the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is one megawatt or greater, the small fuel cell facilities shall be subject to all requirements and processes prescribed in this title for medium or large fuel cell facilities, whichever is the most applicable, in the applicable subject district; Small fuel cell facilities are encouraged to be cogeneration or combined cycle facilities.
10	These uses include:
	a.	Indoor special downtown accessory entertainment uses with non-amplified or amplified sound in the downtown hospitality central core area and non-amplified sound in the downtown hospitality transition area (hours: 8:00 a.m.—11:00 p.m.);
	b.	Indoor special downtown accessory entertainment uses with amplified sound in the downtown hospitality transition area (hours: 8:00 a.m.— 9:00 p.m.);
	c.	Outdoor special downtown accessory entertainment uses (hours: 8:00 a.m.—9:00 p.m.).
	These uses shall meet all four of the following parameters:
	i.	The use is in compliance with all applicable requirements of Chapter 9.04 (Noise Regulations). The applicant may be required to install noise mitigating measures to ensure compliance with the noise regulations.
	ii.	For indoor music and entertainment, the exterior doors of the establishment shall remain closed when not being used for ingress/egress and self-closing mechanisms shall be installed on all exterior doors.
	iii.	For indoor music and entertainment, the establishment's windows shall remain closed when music/entertainment activities are taking place.
	iv.	The use is in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Pleasanton Municipal Code and all other applicable laws, particularly pertaining to noise, public disturbance, littering, and parking.
11	A conditional use permit shall be required for special downtown accessory entertainment uses, as defined in Chapter 18.08 of this title, and the use does not comply with the hour restrictions and/or conditions required for the use to be a permitted use or a temporary conditional use.
12	The use shall be in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.124 of this title.
13	13 The city planning commission shall make a specific finding that the use will conform with each of the required conditions prescribed in Sections 18.48.040 through 18.48.120 of this chapter, in addition to the findings prescribed in Section 18.48.060.
14	Wind energy facilities shall meet the following criteria: (1) The facilities shall not exceed a noise level of 45 dBA at any point on any residentially zoned property outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; and (2) The design of the facilities shall be streamlined (without ladders and extra appurtenances) to discourage birds from roosting on the facilities; and (3) Facilities on hillsides or ridges shall not be visible from a public right-of-way.
15	This use with outdoor storage shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124.
16	The following conditions shall apply to microbreweries and wineries: (1) The zoning administrator finds that adequate parking is available for said use; (2) If the zoning administrator determines that the use will be or is creating odor problems, an odor abatement device determined to be appropriate by the zoning administrator shall be installed within the exhaust ventilation system to mitigate brewery odors; (3) The applicant is in compliance with all applicable requirements of Chapter 9.04 of this code; (4) If operation of the use results in conflicts pertaining to parking, noise, odors, traffic, or other factors, the zoning administrator may modify or add conditions to mitigate such impacts, or may revoke the zoning certificate for the use.
17	Basement storage as defined in Section 18.08.057 shall be permitted as warehousing in the central commercial (C-C) zoning district, subject to meeting all of the following criteria:
	a.	Basement storage shall be limited to the C-C zoning district within the downtown specific plan area and limited to commercial buildings only;
	b.	Basement storage shall be limited to nontoxic, nonhazardous materials only. It is the responsibility of the storage space operator to prepare a list of prohibited storage items, to have the list approved by the Livermore-Pleasanton fire department, and to require all storage space users to agree in writing that no items on the list or other hazardous materials will be stored. The storage space shall be used for storage only and no other activities and/or uses are allowed;
	c.	Prior to allowing basement storage, the building owner shall contact the building and safety division and fire department to ensure that the basement meets applicable building and fire codes. If required, the building owner and/or responsible party shall secure all applicable permits and/or make any required changes to the basement space to ensure the space meets current code standards for fire, safety, and accessibility;
	d.	The hours of access for basement storage use shall be: Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. only;
	e.	One parking space per on-site storage employee and one parking space for storage customers. This parking requirement is in addition to the parking required for other uses on-site;
	f.	Prior to allowing and/or renting space for basement storage, the property owner and/or responsible party shall submit a zoning certificate application and secure a business license. The zoning certificate application shall be accompanied by a narrative that describes the type of storage proposed, where parking will be allowed, and the use(s) of the building and shall include a site plan and basement storage floor plan that clearly defines, but is not limited to, the following: (1) The defined area(s) and square-footage in which storage will take place; (2) How the individual storage areas will be delineated (e.g., cages, walls, etc.); (3) Access and ADA accessibility.
18	Use is not permitted on the ground floor when the property is also located in the Active Ground-Floor Overlay District, except where an exemption is granted as set forth in Chapter 18.81.
19	Medical offices shall be subject to parking requirements identified in Chapter 18.88.
20	A temporary outdoor use may be permitted pursuant to Section 18.116.040.
21	All buses shall not be stored on site and no repair work shall be conducted on-site.
22	Commercial radio and television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall be a minimum distance of 300 feet from the property lines of all of the following:
	a.	Existing or approved residences or agricultural zoning districts or in planned unit developments with a residential or agricultural zoning designation.
	b.	Undeveloped residential or agricultural zoning districts or undeveloped planned unit developments with a residential or agricultural zoning designation and without an approved development plan, unless designated as a public and institutional land use in the general plan.
	c.	Existing or approved public schools, private schools, and childcare centers, not including schools which only provide tutorial services.
	d.	Neighborhood parks, community parks, or regional parks, as designated in the general plan.
	e.	Existing or approved senior care/assisted living facilities, including nursing homes.
All commercial radio and television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall be located so as to minimize their visibility and, unless determined by the zoning administrator to be significantly hidden from view, designed to ensure that they will not appear as an aerial, antenna, and/or transmission tower. All such facilities determined by the zoning administrator to be visible from residential land uses, the I-580 and/or I-680 rights-of-way, or other sensitive land uses such as parks, schools, or major streets, shall incorporate appropriate stealth techniques to camouflage, disguise, and/or blend them into the surrounding environment, and shall be in scale and architecturally integrated with their surroundings in such a manner as to be visually unobtrusive. All applications for commercial radio and/or television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall include engineering analyses completed to the satisfaction of the zoning administrator. Said analyses shall be peer-reviewed by an outside consultant.
	If mounted on structures or on architectural details of a building, these facilities shall be treated to match the existing architectural features and colors found on the building's architecture through design, color, texture, or other measures deemed to be necessary by the zoning administrator.
	Roof-mounted aerials and antennas shall be located in an area of the roof where the visual impact is minimized. Roof-mounted and groundmounted aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall not be allowed in the direct sightline(s) or sensitive view corridors, or where they would adversely affect scenic vistas, unless the facilities incorporate the appropriate, creative techniques to camouflage, disguise, and/or blend them into the surrounding environment, as determined to be necessary by the zoning administrator.
	All commercial radio and television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall conform to the applicable requirements of Cal-OSHA and/or the FCC before commencement of, and during operation. Evidence of conformance shall be provided to the zoning administrator before final inspection of the facility by the chief building official.
	If the zoning administrator finds that an approved aerial, antenna, or transmission tower is not in compliance with this title, that conditions have not been fulfilled, or that there is a compelling public safety and welfare necessity, the zoning administrator shall notify the owner/operator of the aerial/antenna/transmission tower in writing of the concern, and state the actions necessary to cure. After 30 days from the date of notification, if compliance with this title is not achieved, the conditions of approval have not been fulfilled, or there is still a compelling public safety and welfare necessity, the zoning administrator shall refer the use to the planning commission for review. Such reviews shall occur at a noticed public hearing where the owner/operator of the aerial/antenna/transmission tower may present relevant evidence. If, upon such review, the planning commission finds that any of the above have occurred, the planning commission may modify or revoke all approvals and/or permits.
23	The service station shall be at least 60 feet from residentially planned or zoned property. All operations except the sale of gasoline and oil shall be conducted within a building enclosed on at least three sides, and the minimum site area shall be 20,000 square feet. Direct sales to the public shall be limited to petroleum products, automotive accessories, food products, and limited household goods. Tobacco product and tobacco paraphernalia sales are only permitted in compliance with Chapter 18.109.
24	Lumberyards shall not include planing mills or sawmills and shall be at least 300 feet from an R or O district.
25	The use shall be at least 300 feet from an R or O district.
26	Any use not in conjunction with a medical use that includes massage service of four or more technicians at any one time shall be subject to a minor conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124. Massage establishments shall meet the requirements of Chapter 6.24.
27	Any retail use in the C-R(m), C-R(p), and C-C Districts that includes firearm sales shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124. Firearm sales are prohibited in the C-N, C-F, MU-T, and MU-D Districts. Firearm sales in which no more than 10 firearms are stored on-site at any one time and the majority of firearms are sold through catalogs, mail order, or at trade shows are subject to a conditional use permit in the C-S District.
28	The use may include incidental care such as bathing and trimming, provided that all operations are conducted entirely within a completely enclosed building which complies with specifications for soundproof construction prescribed by the chief building official.
29	Any use that includes a drive-through shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124.
30	Liquor stores and convenience markets shall only be permitted in the C-R(m) and C-R(p) districts, and shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124 in the C-N and C-C districts.
	Tobacco stores (which are uses which primarily sell tobacco products; from which more than 60 percent of gross annual revenue is derived from the sale of tobacco products and tobacco paraphernalia; does not permit anyone under 18 years of age to be present unless with parent or guardian; and does not sell alcoholic beverages or food for consumption on the premises), shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124 in the C-R(m), C-R(p), C-N and C-C districts, but only if the proposed site also meets the restrictions of Chapter 18.109.
	Secondhand stores and/or pawn shops shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124 in the C-C district.
31	Where: (1) the subject tenant space is located within the Downtown Specific Plan area; and (2) the subject tenant space exceeds 7,500 gross square feet, a retail use shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124.
32	Homeless shelters within the SF service facilities overlay district that meet the requirements set forth in Chapter 18.82 shall be a permitted use.
33	If the subject tenant space exceeds 75,000 gross square feet, the use shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124. This requirement does not apply to light industrial uses located in Hacienda, an area defined by Ordinance 1325 and as subsequently amended.
34	Restaurants and catering establishments with outdoor dining shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124.
35	Any use shall operate only between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

(Prior code § 2-7.08; Ord. 1071 § 2, 1983; Ord. 1216 § 1, 1985; Ord. 1340 § 1, 1987; Ord. 1346 § 2, 1987; Ord. 1354 § 4, 1988; Ord. 1379 § 1, 1988; Ord. 1390 § 1, 1988; Ord. 1394 § 1, 1989; Ord. 1603 § 3, 1993; Ord. 1604 § 1, 1993; Ord. 1665 § 2, 1995; Ord. 1668 § 2, 1995; Ord. 1725 § 1, 1997; Ord. 1726 § 1, 1997; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1743, 1998; Ord. 1810 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1821 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1850 § 1, 2002; Ord. 1880, 2003; Ord. 1950 § 2 (Exh. A), 2007; Ord. 1995 § 2, 2009; Ord. 2000 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2017 § 2, 2011; Ord. 2039 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2055 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2061 § 2, 2013; Ord. 2086 § 2, 2014; Ord. 2113 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2155 §3, 2017; Ord. 2194 § 2, 2019; Ord. 2208 § 3, 2020; Ord. 2213 § 2, 2021; Ord. 2216 § 2, 2021; Ord. 2244 § 2, 2023; Ord. 2277, 5/7/2024; Ord. 2295, 7/15/2025)

§ 18.44.090 Prohibited uses.

The following uses shall not be permitted in the commercial districts:

Any use not specifically or conditionally permitted by this chapter, unless a determination is made under Chapter 18.128 of this title.

(Ord. 1880, 2003; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

§ 18.44.100 Underground utilities.

Electric and communication service wires to a new structure shall be placed underground from the nearest utility pole. If the city engineer finds, upon application by the property owner, that compliance is not feasible or economically justifiable, he or she shall permit different service arrangements. The property owner shall comply with the requirements of this section without expense to the city and shall make the necessary arrangements with the public utility involved.

(Prior code § 2-7.09; Ord. 2000 § 1, 2009)

§ 18.44.110 Off-street parking.

Off-street parking facilities shall be provided for each use in the C districts as prescribed in Chapter 18.88 of this title.

(Prior code § 2-7.10)

§ 18.44.120 Off-street loading.

Off-street loading facilities shall be provided for each use in the C districts prescribed in Chapter 18.92 of this title, except in the C-R district where the zoning administrator and/or planning commission shall establish regulations on a case by case basis in accordance with the purposes of Chapters 18.20 and 18.74, as applicable, of this title.

(Prior code § 2-7.11; Ord. 1591 § 2, 1993; Ord. 2155 §3, 2017)

§ 18.44.130 Signs.

No sign, outdoor advertising structure, or display of any character shall be permitted in the C districts, except as prescribed in Chapters 18.96 and 18.74, as applicable, of this title.

(Prior code § 2-7.12; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

§ 18.44.140 Design review.

All uses in the C districts involving exterior changes, uses, or improvements shall be subject to design review as prescribed in Chapter 18.20 of this title except for accessory dwelling units as provided in Chapter 18.106. Applicants are advised to confer with the zoning administrator before preparing detailed plans.

(Prior code § 2-7.13; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017; Ord. 2213 § 2, 2021)

Pleasanton City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 18

44 C COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS

§ 18.44.010 Purpose.

In addition to the objectives prescribed in Section 18.04.010 of this title, the C commercial districts are included in this title to achieve the following purposes:

To provide appropriately located areas for spaces offering commodities and services required by residents of the city and its surrounding market area;

To provide space for community facilities and institutions that appropriately may be located in commercial areas;

To provide adequate space to meet the needs of modern commercial development, including off-street parking and truck loading areas;

To minimize traffic congestion and to avoid overloading of utilities by preventing the construction of buildings of excessive size in relation to the amount of land around them;

To protect commercial properties from noise, odor, dust, dirt, smoke, vibration, heat, glare, heavy truck traffic, and other objectionable influences incidental to industrial uses;

To protect commercial properties from fire, explosion, noxious fumes, and other hazards.

(Prior code § 2-7.00; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

§ 18.44.020 Special purpose-C-N neighborhood commercial district.

The purpose of the C-N neighborhood commercial district is as follows:

To provide appropriately located areas for retail stores, offices, and personal service establishments patronized primarily by residents of the immediate area;

(Prior code § 2-7.01)

§ 18.44.030 Special purpose-C-C central commercial district.

The purpose of the C-C central commercial district is as follows:

To maintain compactness and encourage more intensive development in Pleasanton's central business district;

To maximize the efficiency of the central district by limiting or prohibiting uses that break the continuity of commercial frontage or are incompatible with an attractive pedestrian shopping area;

(Prior code § 2-7.02)

§ 18.44.040 Special purpose-C-R regional commercial district.

The purpose of the C-R regional commercial district is as follows:

To provide a large site at an appropriate location for a major shopping center drawing trade from the entire Amador-Livermore Valley;

To ensure that a major center will be developed in accord with high standards of site planning, architecture, and landscape design;

To minimize the adverse effect of major commercial facilities on nearby dwellings.

(Prior code § 2-7.03)

§ 18.44.050 Special purpose-C-S service commercial district.

The purpose of the C-S service commercial district is as follows:

To provide appropriately located areas for commercial uses having features that are incompatible with the purposes of the other commercial districts;

(Prior code § 2-7.04)

§ 18.44.060 Special purpose-C-F freeway interchange commercial district.

The purpose of the C-F freeway interchange commercial district is as follows:

To provide appropriately located areas for establishments catering to freeway travelers and tourists;

To provide appropriately located areas for establishments that generally require large sites and do not require close proximity to other commercial uses.

(Prior code § 2-7.05)

§ 18.44.070 Required conditions.

In a C-N and C-C district all products shall be sold primarily at the retail site.

(Prior code § 2-7.07; Ord. 1104 § 1, 1983; Ord. 1656 § 1, 1995; Ord. 2055 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

§ 18.44.080 Permitted and conditional uses.

Permitted uses and uses subject to a minor conditional use permit or conditional use permit in a C district are provided in Table 18.44.080 at the end of this section.

Tobacco product and tobacco paraphernalia sales are only permitted in compliance with Chapter 18.109.

Table 18.44.080
PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL USES
The following uses shall be permitted uses or conditional uses in a commercial, mixed-use, office, or industrial district according to the following legend:
P	Permitted Use	MU-T	Mixed Use Transitional
C	Conditional Use	CR	Regional Commercial District
MCUP	Minor Conditional Use	CS	Service Commercial District
TC	Temporary Conditional Use	CF	Freeway Interchange Commercial District
CN	Neighborhood Commercial District	O	Office District
CC	Central Commercial District	IP	Industrial Park District
MU-D	Mixed Use Downtown	IG	General Industrial District
If a property is zoned PUD, then the PUD shall be consulted for permitted and conditionally permitted uses before consulting this table. Where there is a conflict between Table 18.44.080 and the PUD, the PUD shall govern.

	C-N	C-C	C-R (m¹)	C-R (p²)	C-S	C-F	O	I-P	I-G	MU-D	MU-T³⁵
CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT
Adult entertainment establishments³		P¹⁸	P	P	P					P¹⁸	P
Art galleries	P	P	P	P						P	P
Auction rooms		C¹⁸			C	C
Bowling alleys, pool halls, indoor bocce court, and other similar uses		C	P	C	C					C
Game arcades	C	C	C	C						C
Regional attraction, including amusement parks, automobile racing stadiums, drive-in theater, miniature golf, indoor skating rinks, sports arenas, or stadiums			C	C	C	C
Theaters and auditoriums	C	P	P	P	C					P
EDUCATIONAL
Nursery schools^4, ⁵	C		C	C
Private schools with no more than 20 students at any one time⁵	C		C	C			P
Private schools with more than 20 students at any one time⁵	C		C	C			C
Schools and colleges with no more than 20 students in the facility at any one time. This category includes trade schools, business schools, heritage schools, music and art schools, tutoring, but does not include general purpose schools^5, ⁶	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P	P	MCUP		P	P¹⁸	MCUP
Schools and colleges with more than 20 students in the facility at any one time. This category includes trade schools, business schools, heritage schools, music and art schools, tutoring, but does not include general purpose schools^5, ⁶	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	C		MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	C
ENERGY/ACCESSORY USES
Accessory uses and structures, not including warehouses, located on the same site as a permitted use and the following accessory structures and uses located on the same site with a permitted use or with a conditional use which has been granted a use permit in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.124 of this title:
Emergency standby electricity generator, fuel cell, and/or battery facilities⁷, photovoltaic facilities, small electricity generator facilities⁸, and small fuel cell facilities⁹	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Special downtown accessory entertainment uses, as defined in Chapter 18.08 of this title¹⁰		P¹¹								P¹¹
Special downtown accessory entertainment uses, as defined in Chapter 18.08 of this title, and the use does not comply with the hour restrictions for the use to be a permitted use. Temporary special downtown accessory entertainment uses shall be subject to the requirements of Section 18.116.060 of this title		TC¹¹								TC¹¹
Accessory uses and structures located on the same site as a conditional use and the following accessory structures and uses located on the same site as a permitted use or a conditional use that has been granted a use permit:
Medium electricity generator facilities that meet the applicable standards of Section 18.124.420 of this title, or medium fuel cell facilities that meet the applicable standards of Section 18.124.420 of this title	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C
Large electricity generator facilities or large fuel cell facilities¹²									C
Wind energy facilities									C^{13, 14}
GOVERNMENTAL
Governmental facility, no outdoor storage¹⁵	C	P	P	P						P	P
INDUSTRIAL
Heavy industrial								C¹³	C¹³
Light industrial³³					P			P	P
Microbreweries¹⁶		P	P	P	P			P	P	P
"Radioactive materials uses" as defined in Section 18.08.445 of this title					C				C¹³
Rental yards, including the rental of hand tools, garden tools, power tools, trucks and trailers and other similar equipment					C
Warehousing, not including storage of fuel or flammable liquids³³		P^{11, 17, 18}			MCUP			MCUP	P
Wineries¹⁶		P	P	P	P			P	P	P
OFFICE/BUSINESS SERVICE
Financial institutions	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P					P¹⁸	P
Medical offices¹⁹	P	P¹⁸	P	P			P	P	P	P¹⁸	P
Offices, including, but not limited to, business, professional and administrative offices	P	P¹⁸	P	P			P	P	P	P¹⁸	P
Radio and television broadcasting studios	P	C¹⁸		P	P	P				C¹⁸
OUTDOOR USES²⁰
Airports and heliports									C¹⁷
Beekeeping meeting the requirements of Chapter 18.103 of this title for detached, single-family homes located in the Downtown Specific Plan Area		P			P					P	P
Bus depots²¹		P¹⁸		P	P	P
Car wash:
Full service				C	C	C
Self-service		C¹⁸
Seasonal sales lots	TC	TC	P	TC	TC	TC				TC
Circuses, carnivals and other transient amusement enterprises	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC				TC
Commercial radio and television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers with design review approval specified under Chapter 18.20 of this title²²		P	P		P			P	P	P	P
Farmer's markets	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC				TC
Freight forwarding terminals					C
Full-service, self-service and quick-service stations:²³	C	C¹⁸	C	C	C	C		C	C
With truck and trailer rental					C	C
With a convenience market, excluding the sale of alcoholic beverages					C	C
With a drive-through car wash					C	C
Garden centers, including plant nurseries			P	C	C	C			C
Lumberyards²⁴					C
Mobile food trucks on private construction, office sites, and other places of employment for not more than one hour per meal period and with permission of the property owners	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Newsstands	P	P	P	P	P					P	P
Outdoor art and craft shows	TC	TC		TC						TC
Parking facilities, including required off-street parking facilities located on a site separated from the uses which the facilities serve and fee parking in accordance with the standards and requirements of Chapter 18.88 of this title		C								C
Parking lots								P	P
Public utility and public service facilities including pumping stations, power transmission stations, power distribution stations, equipment buildings, service yards, drainageways and structures, water reservoirs, percolation basins, well fields, and storage tanks. These facilities must be found by the planning commission to be necessary for the public health, safety, or welfare	C	C		C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C
Recreation and sports facilities, outdoor, including racetracks, golf driving ranges, skateboard parks, riding stables					C	C
Recycling collection facilities, large								C	C
Recycling collection facilities, small	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC		TC	TC	TC
Recycling processing facilities, large									C
Recycling processing facilities, small									C
Rifle and pistol ranges, outdoor, with or without firearm sales²⁷									C
Stone and monument yards					P
Storage yards for commercial goods, supplies and equipment including fuel storage, no less than 300 feet from any R or O district					C			C	C
Taxicab stands	P	P		P	P	P
Transportation dispatch facilities for ambulances, taxicabs, limousine services, airport shuttles, tow trucks, and similar dispatch, without storage, not including truck terminals¹⁵					P				P
Truck scales					P	C
Trucking terminals, not less than 300 feet from an R or O district					C				P
Vehicle towing (with all vehicle storage inside a building, with outside storage, or both)				P	C	C
PERSONAL AND GENERAL SERVICE
Art and craft studios, with no more than 20 students in the facility at any one time. This category includes pottery, jewelry, painting, scrapbook-making, photography, sculpture, and similar studios, with or without retail sales, art/craft classes and walk-in activities for the general public⁵	P	P	P	P						P	P
Art and craft studios, with more than 20 students in the facility at any one time. This category includes pottery, jewelry, painting, scrapbook-making, photography, sculpture, and similar studios, with or without retail sales, art/craft classes and walk-in activities for the general public⁵	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP						MCUP	MCUP
Body art facility	C		P	C	C	P	C	P	P
Carpet and rug cleaning and dyeing					C
Crematoriums, mortuaries, and columbariums, not less than 300 feet from an R district					C		C
Furniture upholstery shops					C	C
Glass replacement and repair shops					P	P
Interior decorating shops	P	P¹⁸	P	P						P¹⁸	P
Kennels, and other boarding facilities for small animals²⁵					MCUP				MCUP
Laundry:
Laundries and dry cleaners	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P					P¹⁸
Linen supply services					P
Music and dance facilities with no more than 20 students in the facility at any one time⁵	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P	P				P¹⁸	MC UP
Music and dance facilities with more than 20 students in the facility at any one time⁵	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP				MCUP¹⁸	C
Personal services²⁶	P	P¹⁸	P	P			P			P¹⁸	P
Recreation and sport facilities, gymnasiums, and health clubs, indoor, with no more than 20 students in the facility at any one time^{5, 26}	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P	P		P	P	P¹⁸	MCUP
Recreation and sport facilities, gymnasiums, and health clubs, indoor, with more than 20 students in the facility at any one time^{5, 26}	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP		MCUP	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	C
Rifle and pistol ranges, indoor, with or without firearm sales²⁷			P		P				C
Taxidermists		P¹⁸		P	P				P
Veterinarian's offices:
And/or outpatient clinics excluding any overnight boarding of animals²⁸	MCUP	P¹⁸			P					P¹⁸	P
Including outpatient clinics, small animal hospitals and/or short-term overnight boarding of animals²⁸		MCUP¹⁸			P
And/or small animal hospitals including operations not conducted within an entirely enclosed building²⁵					MCUP
PLACES OF ASSEMBLY
Community facilities and conference centers with 100 or fewer attendees at any one time		MCUP¹⁸					MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	C
Community facilities and conference centers with more than 100 attendees at any one time		C¹⁸					C	C	C	C¹⁸
Meeting halls for concerts, lectures, meetings, and conferences		C¹⁸	P	C	C	C				C¹⁸
Private clubs and lodges		C¹⁸			C		C			C¹⁸
RESIDENTIAL
Nursing homes and senior care/assisted living facilities							C
Supportive housing that provides shelter for six or fewer persons in a dwelling unit, and that meets the standards of Chapter 18.107		P¹⁸								P¹⁸	P
Watchman's living quarters only when incidental to and on the same site as a permitted use								P	P
RETAIL
Bars and brew pubs		C	C	C		C				C
Feed and fuel stores					C
Restaurants and catering establishments²⁹	P	P	P	P	C	P	C	C	C	P	P³⁴
Retail:^{27, 29, 30}
Gross floor area of tenant space is up to 55,000 square feet³¹	P	P	P	P	P	P				P	P
Gross floor area of tenant space is greater than 55,000 square feet³¹		C	C	C	C	C
Sales, rental, and/or leasing of automobiles, motorcycles, and boats:
No service		P¹⁸	P	P	MCUP	C
With service				P	C	C
Sales and service of one-ton or greater trucks, trailers, and/or RVs					C	C
Service of automobiles, motorcycles, and boats:						C
Department store tire, battery and accessory shops			P	P
Repair, overhauling, and painting				C	C
Upholstery and top shops						C
Tire sales and service, not including retreading and recapping or mounting of heavy truck tires				C	P
Tires, batteries, and accessories				P	P
Wholesale establishments					C				P
Wholesale establishments without stocks		P¹⁸		P						P¹⁸
TEMPORARY LODGING
Bed and breakfast inns		C								C	MCUP
Guard's living quarters					C
Homeless shelters³²					C
Hotels and motels		P		C		P				MCUP
Low barrier navigation center		P								P	P
Single room occupancy unit facilities with up to 10 units, and that meets the standards of Chapter 18.107										MCUP	MCUP
Single room occupancy unit facilities with more than 10 units, and that meets the standards of Chapter 18.107										CUP	CUP
Trailers and mobilehome parks in accordance with the regulations prescribed in Chapter 18.108 of this title					C	C
Transitional and supportive housing that provides shelter for 6 or fewer persons in a dwelling unit, and that meets the standards of Chapter 18.107		P¹⁸								P¹⁸	P

Notes:
1	Uses which are part of a completely enclosed mall complex, except where specifically allowed outside of the mall, all activities take place entirely indoors.
2	Uses on peripheral sites physically separated from a central enclosed mall.
3	See Chapter 18.114 of this title.
4	State-mandated outdoor play areas shall face new or existing landscaping sufficient to buffer the play area from view, shall be separated from customer parking areas by a heavy wood fence or comparable barrier, shall be isolated from loading docks and associated delivery truck circulation areas, and shall contain landscaping for outdoor children's activities. The standard city noise ordinance applies.
5	The use is subject to the following conditions: (1) The facility shall adhere to all occupancy, ADA, California Building Code, and exiting requirements; (2) The zoning administrator finds that adequate parking is available for the said use, and the proposal has an effective traffic circulation system including pick-up and drop-off for business patrons; (3) The standard city noise ordinance applies; (4) If applicable, an outdoor play area proposed would not cause the ambient noise levels at the property plane to increase by 4 dB Ldn. The zoning administrator may request a noise study or other professional study in order to determine whether the use meets or exceeds this threshold.
	A use is specifically subject to a conditional use permit shall be processed as such. A use not specifically subject to a conditional use permit that cannot meet condition 4 shall be subject to a conditional use permit.
6	Music and art schools shall be at least 150 feet from an R district.
7	The facilities shall be tested from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday or Sunday only, the facilities shall not be tested for more than one hour during any day, testing shall occur a maximum of once a month, and no testing shall be on "Spare the Air Days" in Alameda County.
8	Small electricity generator facilities shall meet the following criteria: (1) The fuel source for the generators shall be natural gas, biodiesel, or the byproduct of an approved cogeneration or combined cycle facility; (2) The facilities shall use the best available control technology to reduce air pollution; (3) The facilities shall not create any objectionable odors at any point outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (4) The facilities shall not exceed a noise level of 45 dBA at any point on a residentially zoned property outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (5) On a site with fuel cell facilities, small electricity generator facilities shall not be permitted unless the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is less than one megawatt. If the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is one megawatt or greater, the small electricity generator facilities shall be subject to all requirements and processes prescribed in this title for medium or large electricity generator facilities, whichever is the most applicable, in the subject zoning district; (6) The facilities shall be cogeneration or combined cycle facilities, if feasible.
9	Small fuel cell facilities shall meet the following criteria: (1) The facilities shall not create any objectionable odors at any point outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (2) The fuel cell facilities shall not exceed a noise level of 45 dBA at any point on any residentially zoned property outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (3) On a site with electricity generator facilities, small fuel cell facilities shall not be permitted unless the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is less than one megawatt. If the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is one megawatt or greater, the small fuel cell facilities shall be subject to all requirements and processes prescribed in this title for medium or large fuel cell facilities, whichever is the most applicable, in the applicable subject district; Small fuel cell facilities are encouraged to be cogeneration or combined cycle facilities.
10	These uses include:
	a.	Indoor special downtown accessory entertainment uses with non-amplified or amplified sound in the downtown hospitality central core area and non-amplified sound in the downtown hospitality transition area (hours: 8:00 a.m.—11:00 p.m.);
	b.	Indoor special downtown accessory entertainment uses with amplified sound in the downtown hospitality transition area (hours: 8:00 a.m.— 9:00 p.m.);
	c.	Outdoor special downtown accessory entertainment uses (hours: 8:00 a.m.—9:00 p.m.).
	These uses shall meet all four of the following parameters:
	i.	The use is in compliance with all applicable requirements of Chapter 9.04 (Noise Regulations). The applicant may be required to install noise mitigating measures to ensure compliance with the noise regulations.
	ii.	For indoor music and entertainment, the exterior doors of the establishment shall remain closed when not being used for ingress/egress and self-closing mechanisms shall be installed on all exterior doors.
	iii.	For indoor music and entertainment, the establishment's windows shall remain closed when music/entertainment activities are taking place.
	iv.	The use is in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Pleasanton Municipal Code and all other applicable laws, particularly pertaining to noise, public disturbance, littering, and parking.
11	A conditional use permit shall be required for special downtown accessory entertainment uses, as defined in Chapter 18.08 of this title, and the use does not comply with the hour restrictions and/or conditions required for the use to be a permitted use or a temporary conditional use.
12	The use shall be in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.124 of this title.
13	13 The city planning commission shall make a specific finding that the use will conform with each of the required conditions prescribed in Sections 18.48.040 through 18.48.120 of this chapter, in addition to the findings prescribed in Section 18.48.060.
14	Wind energy facilities shall meet the following criteria: (1) The facilities shall not exceed a noise level of 45 dBA at any point on any residentially zoned property outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; and (2) The design of the facilities shall be streamlined (without ladders and extra appurtenances) to discourage birds from roosting on the facilities; and (3) Facilities on hillsides or ridges shall not be visible from a public right-of-way.
15	This use with outdoor storage shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124.
16	The following conditions shall apply to microbreweries and wineries: (1) The zoning administrator finds that adequate parking is available for said use; (2) If the zoning administrator determines that the use will be or is creating odor problems, an odor abatement device determined to be appropriate by the zoning administrator shall be installed within the exhaust ventilation system to mitigate brewery odors; (3) The applicant is in compliance with all applicable requirements of Chapter 9.04 of this code; (4) If operation of the use results in conflicts pertaining to parking, noise, odors, traffic, or other factors, the zoning administrator may modify or add conditions to mitigate such impacts, or may revoke the zoning certificate for the use.
17	Basement storage as defined in Section 18.08.057 shall be permitted as warehousing in the central commercial (C-C) zoning district, subject to meeting all of the following criteria:
	a.	Basement storage shall be limited to the C-C zoning district within the downtown specific plan area and limited to commercial buildings only;
	b.	Basement storage shall be limited to nontoxic, nonhazardous materials only. It is the responsibility of the storage space operator to prepare a list of prohibited storage items, to have the list approved by the Livermore-Pleasanton fire department, and to require all storage space users to agree in writing that no items on the list or other hazardous materials will be stored. The storage space shall be used for storage only and no other activities and/or uses are allowed;
	c.	Prior to allowing basement storage, the building owner shall contact the building and safety division and fire department to ensure that the basement meets applicable building and fire codes. If required, the building owner and/or responsible party shall secure all applicable permits and/or make any required changes to the basement space to ensure the space meets current code standards for fire, safety, and accessibility;
	d.	The hours of access for basement storage use shall be: Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. only;
	e.	One parking space per on-site storage employee and one parking space for storage customers. This parking requirement is in addition to the parking required for other uses on-site;
	f.	Prior to allowing and/or renting space for basement storage, the property owner and/or responsible party shall submit a zoning certificate application and secure a business license. The zoning certificate application shall be accompanied by a narrative that describes the type of storage proposed, where parking will be allowed, and the use(s) of the building and shall include a site plan and basement storage floor plan that clearly defines, but is not limited to, the following: (1) The defined area(s) and square-footage in which storage will take place; (2) How the individual storage areas will be delineated (e.g., cages, walls, etc.); (3) Access and ADA accessibility.
18	Use is not permitted on the ground floor when the property is also located in the Active Ground-Floor Overlay District, except where an exemption is granted as set forth in Chapter 18.81.
19	Medical offices shall be subject to parking requirements identified in Chapter 18.88.
20	A temporary outdoor use may be permitted pursuant to Section 18.116.040.
21	All buses shall not be stored on site and no repair work shall be conducted on-site.
22	Commercial radio and television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall be a minimum distance of 300 feet from the property lines of all of the following:
	a.	Existing or approved residences or agricultural zoning districts or in planned unit developments with a residential or agricultural zoning designation.
	b.	Undeveloped residential or agricultural zoning districts or undeveloped planned unit developments with a residential or agricultural zoning designation and without an approved development plan, unless designated as a public and institutional land use in the general plan.
	c.	Existing or approved public schools, private schools, and childcare centers, not including schools which only provide tutorial services.
	d.	Neighborhood parks, community parks, or regional parks, as designated in the general plan.
	e.	Existing or approved senior care/assisted living facilities, including nursing homes.
All commercial radio and television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall be located so as to minimize their visibility and, unless determined by the zoning administrator to be significantly hidden from view, designed to ensure that they will not appear as an aerial, antenna, and/or transmission tower. All such facilities determined by the zoning administrator to be visible from residential land uses, the I-580 and/or I-680 rights-of-way, or other sensitive land uses such as parks, schools, or major streets, shall incorporate appropriate stealth techniques to camouflage, disguise, and/or blend them into the surrounding environment, and shall be in scale and architecturally integrated with their surroundings in such a manner as to be visually unobtrusive. All applications for commercial radio and/or television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall include engineering analyses completed to the satisfaction of the zoning administrator. Said analyses shall be peer-reviewed by an outside consultant.
	If mounted on structures or on architectural details of a building, these facilities shall be treated to match the existing architectural features and colors found on the building's architecture through design, color, texture, or other measures deemed to be necessary by the zoning administrator.
	Roof-mounted aerials and antennas shall be located in an area of the roof where the visual impact is minimized. Roof-mounted and groundmounted aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall not be allowed in the direct sightline(s) or sensitive view corridors, or where they would adversely affect scenic vistas, unless the facilities incorporate the appropriate, creative techniques to camouflage, disguise, and/or blend them into the surrounding environment, as determined to be necessary by the zoning administrator.
	All commercial radio and television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall conform to the applicable requirements of Cal-OSHA and/or the FCC before commencement of, and during operation. Evidence of conformance shall be provided to the zoning administrator before final inspection of the facility by the chief building official.
	If the zoning administrator finds that an approved aerial, antenna, or transmission tower is not in compliance with this title, that conditions have not been fulfilled, or that there is a compelling public safety and welfare necessity, the zoning administrator shall notify the owner/operator of the aerial/antenna/transmission tower in writing of the concern, and state the actions necessary to cure. After 30 days from the date of notification, if compliance with this title is not achieved, the conditions of approval have not been fulfilled, or there is still a compelling public safety and welfare necessity, the zoning administrator shall refer the use to the planning commission for review. Such reviews shall occur at a noticed public hearing where the owner/operator of the aerial/antenna/transmission tower may present relevant evidence. If, upon such review, the planning commission finds that any of the above have occurred, the planning commission may modify or revoke all approvals and/or permits.
23	The service station shall be at least 60 feet from residentially planned or zoned property. All operations except the sale of gasoline and oil shall be conducted within a building enclosed on at least three sides, and the minimum site area shall be 20,000 square feet. Direct sales to the public shall be limited to petroleum products, automotive accessories, food products, and limited household goods. Tobacco product and tobacco paraphernalia sales are only permitted in compliance with Chapter 18.109.
24	Lumberyards shall not include planing mills or sawmills and shall be at least 300 feet from an R or O district.
25	The use shall be at least 300 feet from an R or O district.
26	Any use not in conjunction with a medical use that includes massage service of four or more technicians at any one time shall be subject to a minor conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124. Massage establishments shall meet the requirements of Chapter 6.24.
27	Any retail use in the C-R(m), C-R(p), and C-C Districts that includes firearm sales shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124. Firearm sales are prohibited in the C-N, C-F, MU-T, and MU-D Districts. Firearm sales in which no more than 10 firearms are stored on-site at any one time and the majority of firearms are sold through catalogs, mail order, or at trade shows are subject to a conditional use permit in the C-S District.
28	The use may include incidental care such as bathing and trimming, provided that all operations are conducted entirely within a completely enclosed building which complies with specifications for soundproof construction prescribed by the chief building official.
29	Any use that includes a drive-through shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124.
30	Liquor stores and convenience markets shall only be permitted in the C-R(m) and C-R(p) districts, and shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124 in the C-N and C-C districts.
	Tobacco stores (which are uses which primarily sell tobacco products; from which more than 60 percent of gross annual revenue is derived from the sale of tobacco products and tobacco paraphernalia; does not permit anyone under 18 years of age to be present unless with parent or guardian; and does not sell alcoholic beverages or food for consumption on the premises), shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124 in the C-R(m), C-R(p), C-N and C-C districts, but only if the proposed site also meets the restrictions of Chapter 18.109.
	Secondhand stores and/or pawn shops shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124 in the C-C district.
31	Where: (1) the subject tenant space is located within the Downtown Specific Plan area; and (2) the subject tenant space exceeds 7,500 gross square feet, a retail use shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124.
32	Homeless shelters within the SF service facilities overlay district that meet the requirements set forth in Chapter 18.82 shall be a permitted use.
33	If the subject tenant space exceeds 75,000 gross square feet, the use shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124. This requirement does not apply to light industrial uses located in Hacienda, an area defined by Ordinance 1325 and as subsequently amended.
34	Restaurants and catering establishments with outdoor dining shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124.
35	Any use shall operate only between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

§ 18.44.090 Prohibited uses.

The following uses shall not be permitted in the commercial districts:

Any use not specifically or conditionally permitted by this chapter, unless a determination is made under Chapter 18.128 of this title.

(Ord. 1880, 2003; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

§ 18.44.100 Underground utilities.

(Prior code § 2-7.09; Ord. 2000 § 1, 2009)

§ 18.44.110 Off-street parking.

Off-street parking facilities shall be provided for each use in the C districts as prescribed in Chapter 18.88 of this title.

(Prior code § 2-7.10)

§ 18.44.120 Off-street loading.

(Prior code § 2-7.11; Ord. 1591 § 2, 1993; Ord. 2155 §3, 2017)

§ 18.44.130 Signs.

No sign, outdoor advertising structure, or display of any character shall be permitted in the C districts, except as prescribed in Chapters 18.96 and 18.74, as applicable, of this title.

(Prior code § 2-7.12; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

§ 18.44.140 Design review.

(Prior code § 2-7.13; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017; Ord. 2213 § 2, 2021)

Pleasanton City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 18

44 C COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS

§ 18.44.010 Purpose.

In addition to the objectives prescribed in Section 18.04.010 of this title, the C commercial districts are included in this title to achieve the following purposes:

To provide appropriately located areas for spaces offering commodities and services required by residents of the city and its surrounding market area;

To provide space for community facilities and institutions that appropriately may be located in commercial areas;

To provide adequate space to meet the needs of modern commercial development, including off-street parking and truck loading areas;

To minimize traffic congestion and to avoid overloading of utilities by preventing the construction of buildings of excessive size in relation to the amount of land around them;

To protect commercial properties from noise, odor, dust, dirt, smoke, vibration, heat, glare, heavy truck traffic, and other objectionable influences incidental to industrial uses;

To protect commercial properties from fire, explosion, noxious fumes, and other hazards.

(Prior code § 2-7.00; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

§ 18.44.020 Special purpose-C-N neighborhood commercial district.

The purpose of the C-N neighborhood commercial district is as follows:

To provide appropriately located areas for retail stores, offices, and personal service establishments patronized primarily by residents of the immediate area;

(Prior code § 2-7.01)

§ 18.44.030 Special purpose-C-C central commercial district.

The purpose of the C-C central commercial district is as follows:

To maintain compactness and encourage more intensive development in Pleasanton's central business district;

To maximize the efficiency of the central district by limiting or prohibiting uses that break the continuity of commercial frontage or are incompatible with an attractive pedestrian shopping area;

(Prior code § 2-7.02)

§ 18.44.040 Special purpose-C-R regional commercial district.

The purpose of the C-R regional commercial district is as follows:

To provide a large site at an appropriate location for a major shopping center drawing trade from the entire Amador-Livermore Valley;

To ensure that a major center will be developed in accord with high standards of site planning, architecture, and landscape design;

To minimize the adverse effect of major commercial facilities on nearby dwellings.

(Prior code § 2-7.03)

§ 18.44.050 Special purpose-C-S service commercial district.

The purpose of the C-S service commercial district is as follows:

To provide appropriately located areas for commercial uses having features that are incompatible with the purposes of the other commercial districts;

(Prior code § 2-7.04)

§ 18.44.060 Special purpose-C-F freeway interchange commercial district.

The purpose of the C-F freeway interchange commercial district is as follows:

To provide appropriately located areas for establishments catering to freeway travelers and tourists;

To provide appropriately located areas for establishments that generally require large sites and do not require close proximity to other commercial uses.

(Prior code § 2-7.05)

§ 18.44.070 Required conditions.

In a C-N and C-C district all products shall be sold primarily at the retail site.

(Prior code § 2-7.07; Ord. 1104 § 1, 1983; Ord. 1656 § 1, 1995; Ord. 2055 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

§ 18.44.080 Permitted and conditional uses.

Permitted uses and uses subject to a minor conditional use permit or conditional use permit in a C district are provided in Table 18.44.080 at the end of this section.

Tobacco product and tobacco paraphernalia sales are only permitted in compliance with Chapter 18.109.

Table 18.44.080
PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL USES
The following uses shall be permitted uses or conditional uses in a commercial, mixed-use, office, or industrial district according to the following legend:
P	Permitted Use	MU-T	Mixed Use Transitional
C	Conditional Use	CR	Regional Commercial District
MCUP	Minor Conditional Use	CS	Service Commercial District
TC	Temporary Conditional Use	CF	Freeway Interchange Commercial District
CN	Neighborhood Commercial District	O	Office District
CC	Central Commercial District	IP	Industrial Park District
MU-D	Mixed Use Downtown	IG	General Industrial District
If a property is zoned PUD, then the PUD shall be consulted for permitted and conditionally permitted uses before consulting this table. Where there is a conflict between Table 18.44.080 and the PUD, the PUD shall govern.

	C-N	C-C	C-R (m¹)	C-R (p²)	C-S	C-F	O	I-P	I-G	MU-D	MU-T³⁵
CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT
Adult entertainment establishments³		P¹⁸	P	P	P					P¹⁸	P
Art galleries	P	P	P	P						P	P
Auction rooms		C¹⁸			C	C
Bowling alleys, pool halls, indoor bocce court, and other similar uses		C	P	C	C					C
Game arcades	C	C	C	C						C
Regional attraction, including amusement parks, automobile racing stadiums, drive-in theater, miniature golf, indoor skating rinks, sports arenas, or stadiums			C	C	C	C
Theaters and auditoriums	C	P	P	P	C					P
EDUCATIONAL
Nursery schools^4, ⁵	C		C	C
Private schools with no more than 20 students at any one time⁵	C		C	C			P
Private schools with more than 20 students at any one time⁵	C		C	C			C
Schools and colleges with no more than 20 students in the facility at any one time. This category includes trade schools, business schools, heritage schools, music and art schools, tutoring, but does not include general purpose schools^5, ⁶	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P	P	MCUP		P	P¹⁸	MCUP
Schools and colleges with more than 20 students in the facility at any one time. This category includes trade schools, business schools, heritage schools, music and art schools, tutoring, but does not include general purpose schools^5, ⁶	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	C		MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	C
ENERGY/ACCESSORY USES
Accessory uses and structures, not including warehouses, located on the same site as a permitted use and the following accessory structures and uses located on the same site with a permitted use or with a conditional use which has been granted a use permit in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.124 of this title:
Emergency standby electricity generator, fuel cell, and/or battery facilities⁷, photovoltaic facilities, small electricity generator facilities⁸, and small fuel cell facilities⁹	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Special downtown accessory entertainment uses, as defined in Chapter 18.08 of this title¹⁰		P¹¹								P¹¹
Special downtown accessory entertainment uses, as defined in Chapter 18.08 of this title, and the use does not comply with the hour restrictions for the use to be a permitted use. Temporary special downtown accessory entertainment uses shall be subject to the requirements of Section 18.116.060 of this title		TC¹¹								TC¹¹
Accessory uses and structures located on the same site as a conditional use and the following accessory structures and uses located on the same site as a permitted use or a conditional use that has been granted a use permit:
Medium electricity generator facilities that meet the applicable standards of Section 18.124.420 of this title, or medium fuel cell facilities that meet the applicable standards of Section 18.124.420 of this title	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C
Large electricity generator facilities or large fuel cell facilities¹²									C
Wind energy facilities									C^{13, 14}
GOVERNMENTAL
Governmental facility, no outdoor storage¹⁵	C	P	P	P						P	P
INDUSTRIAL
Heavy industrial								C¹³	C¹³
Light industrial³³					P			P	P
Microbreweries¹⁶		P	P	P	P			P	P	P
"Radioactive materials uses" as defined in Section 18.08.445 of this title					C				C¹³
Rental yards, including the rental of hand tools, garden tools, power tools, trucks and trailers and other similar equipment					C
Warehousing, not including storage of fuel or flammable liquids³³		P^{11, 17, 18}			MCUP			MCUP	P
Wineries¹⁶		P	P	P	P			P	P	P
OFFICE/BUSINESS SERVICE
Financial institutions	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P					P¹⁸	P
Medical offices¹⁹	P	P¹⁸	P	P			P	P	P	P¹⁸	P
Offices, including, but not limited to, business, professional and administrative offices	P	P¹⁸	P	P			P	P	P	P¹⁸	P
Radio and television broadcasting studios	P	C¹⁸		P	P	P				C¹⁸
OUTDOOR USES²⁰
Airports and heliports									C¹⁷
Beekeeping meeting the requirements of Chapter 18.103 of this title for detached, single-family homes located in the Downtown Specific Plan Area		P			P					P	P
Bus depots²¹		P¹⁸		P	P	P
Car wash:
Full service				C	C	C
Self-service		C¹⁸
Seasonal sales lots	TC	TC	P	TC	TC	TC				TC
Circuses, carnivals and other transient amusement enterprises	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC				TC
Commercial radio and television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers with design review approval specified under Chapter 18.20 of this title²²		P	P		P			P	P	P	P
Farmer's markets	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC				TC
Freight forwarding terminals					C
Full-service, self-service and quick-service stations:²³	C	C¹⁸	C	C	C	C		C	C
With truck and trailer rental					C	C
With a convenience market, excluding the sale of alcoholic beverages					C	C
With a drive-through car wash					C	C
Garden centers, including plant nurseries			P	C	C	C			C
Lumberyards²⁴					C
Mobile food trucks on private construction, office sites, and other places of employment for not more than one hour per meal period and with permission of the property owners	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Newsstands	P	P	P	P	P					P	P
Outdoor art and craft shows	TC	TC		TC						TC
Parking facilities, including required off-street parking facilities located on a site separated from the uses which the facilities serve and fee parking in accordance with the standards and requirements of Chapter 18.88 of this title		C								C
Parking lots								P	P
Public utility and public service facilities including pumping stations, power transmission stations, power distribution stations, equipment buildings, service yards, drainageways and structures, water reservoirs, percolation basins, well fields, and storage tanks. These facilities must be found by the planning commission to be necessary for the public health, safety, or welfare	C	C		C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C
Recreation and sports facilities, outdoor, including racetracks, golf driving ranges, skateboard parks, riding stables					C	C
Recycling collection facilities, large								C	C
Recycling collection facilities, small	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC	TC		TC	TC	TC
Recycling processing facilities, large									C
Recycling processing facilities, small									C
Rifle and pistol ranges, outdoor, with or without firearm sales²⁷									C
Stone and monument yards					P
Storage yards for commercial goods, supplies and equipment including fuel storage, no less than 300 feet from any R or O district					C			C	C
Taxicab stands	P	P		P	P	P
Transportation dispatch facilities for ambulances, taxicabs, limousine services, airport shuttles, tow trucks, and similar dispatch, without storage, not including truck terminals¹⁵					P				P
Truck scales					P	C
Trucking terminals, not less than 300 feet from an R or O district					C				P
Vehicle towing (with all vehicle storage inside a building, with outside storage, or both)				P	C	C
PERSONAL AND GENERAL SERVICE
Art and craft studios, with no more than 20 students in the facility at any one time. This category includes pottery, jewelry, painting, scrapbook-making, photography, sculpture, and similar studios, with or without retail sales, art/craft classes and walk-in activities for the general public⁵	P	P	P	P						P	P
Art and craft studios, with more than 20 students in the facility at any one time. This category includes pottery, jewelry, painting, scrapbook-making, photography, sculpture, and similar studios, with or without retail sales, art/craft classes and walk-in activities for the general public⁵	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP						MCUP	MCUP
Body art facility	C		P	C	C	P	C	P	P
Carpet and rug cleaning and dyeing					C
Crematoriums, mortuaries, and columbariums, not less than 300 feet from an R district					C		C
Furniture upholstery shops					C	C
Glass replacement and repair shops					P	P
Interior decorating shops	P	P¹⁸	P	P						P¹⁸	P
Kennels, and other boarding facilities for small animals²⁵					MCUP				MCUP
Laundry:
Laundries and dry cleaners	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P					P¹⁸
Linen supply services					P
Music and dance facilities with no more than 20 students in the facility at any one time⁵	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P	P				P¹⁸	MC UP
Music and dance facilities with more than 20 students in the facility at any one time⁵	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP				MCUP¹⁸	C
Personal services²⁶	P	P¹⁸	P	P			P			P¹⁸	P
Recreation and sport facilities, gymnasiums, and health clubs, indoor, with no more than 20 students in the facility at any one time^{5, 26}	P	P¹⁸	P	P	P	P		P	P	P¹⁸	MCUP
Recreation and sport facilities, gymnasiums, and health clubs, indoor, with more than 20 students in the facility at any one time^{5, 26}	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP		MCUP	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	C
Rifle and pistol ranges, indoor, with or without firearm sales²⁷			P		P				C
Taxidermists		P¹⁸		P	P				P
Veterinarian's offices:
And/or outpatient clinics excluding any overnight boarding of animals²⁸	MCUP	P¹⁸			P					P¹⁸	P
Including outpatient clinics, small animal hospitals and/or short-term overnight boarding of animals²⁸		MCUP¹⁸			P
And/or small animal hospitals including operations not conducted within an entirely enclosed building²⁵					MCUP
PLACES OF ASSEMBLY
Community facilities and conference centers with 100 or fewer attendees at any one time		MCUP¹⁸					MCUP	MCUP	MCUP	MCUP¹⁸	C
Community facilities and conference centers with more than 100 attendees at any one time		C¹⁸					C	C	C	C¹⁸
Meeting halls for concerts, lectures, meetings, and conferences		C¹⁸	P	C	C	C				C¹⁸
Private clubs and lodges		C¹⁸			C		C			C¹⁸
RESIDENTIAL
Nursing homes and senior care/assisted living facilities							C
Supportive housing that provides shelter for six or fewer persons in a dwelling unit, and that meets the standards of Chapter 18.107		P¹⁸								P¹⁸	P
Watchman's living quarters only when incidental to and on the same site as a permitted use								P	P
RETAIL
Bars and brew pubs		C	C	C		C				C
Feed and fuel stores					C
Restaurants and catering establishments²⁹	P	P	P	P	C	P	C	C	C	P	P³⁴
Retail:^{27, 29, 30}
Gross floor area of tenant space is up to 55,000 square feet³¹	P	P	P	P	P	P				P	P
Gross floor area of tenant space is greater than 55,000 square feet³¹		C	C	C	C	C
Sales, rental, and/or leasing of automobiles, motorcycles, and boats:
No service		P¹⁸	P	P	MCUP	C
With service				P	C	C
Sales and service of one-ton or greater trucks, trailers, and/or RVs					C	C
Service of automobiles, motorcycles, and boats:						C
Department store tire, battery and accessory shops			P	P
Repair, overhauling, and painting				C	C
Upholstery and top shops						C
Tire sales and service, not including retreading and recapping or mounting of heavy truck tires				C	P
Tires, batteries, and accessories				P	P
Wholesale establishments					C				P
Wholesale establishments without stocks		P¹⁸		P						P¹⁸
TEMPORARY LODGING
Bed and breakfast inns		C								C	MCUP
Guard's living quarters					C
Homeless shelters³²					C
Hotels and motels		P		C		P				MCUP
Low barrier navigation center		P								P	P
Single room occupancy unit facilities with up to 10 units, and that meets the standards of Chapter 18.107										MCUP	MCUP
Single room occupancy unit facilities with more than 10 units, and that meets the standards of Chapter 18.107										CUP	CUP
Trailers and mobilehome parks in accordance with the regulations prescribed in Chapter 18.108 of this title					C	C
Transitional and supportive housing that provides shelter for 6 or fewer persons in a dwelling unit, and that meets the standards of Chapter 18.107		P¹⁸								P¹⁸	P

Notes:
1	Uses which are part of a completely enclosed mall complex, except where specifically allowed outside of the mall, all activities take place entirely indoors.
2	Uses on peripheral sites physically separated from a central enclosed mall.
3	See Chapter 18.114 of this title.
4	State-mandated outdoor play areas shall face new or existing landscaping sufficient to buffer the play area from view, shall be separated from customer parking areas by a heavy wood fence or comparable barrier, shall be isolated from loading docks and associated delivery truck circulation areas, and shall contain landscaping for outdoor children's activities. The standard city noise ordinance applies.
5	The use is subject to the following conditions: (1) The facility shall adhere to all occupancy, ADA, California Building Code, and exiting requirements; (2) The zoning administrator finds that adequate parking is available for the said use, and the proposal has an effective traffic circulation system including pick-up and drop-off for business patrons; (3) The standard city noise ordinance applies; (4) If applicable, an outdoor play area proposed would not cause the ambient noise levels at the property plane to increase by 4 dB Ldn. The zoning administrator may request a noise study or other professional study in order to determine whether the use meets or exceeds this threshold.
	A use is specifically subject to a conditional use permit shall be processed as such. A use not specifically subject to a conditional use permit that cannot meet condition 4 shall be subject to a conditional use permit.
6	Music and art schools shall be at least 150 feet from an R district.
7	The facilities shall be tested from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday or Sunday only, the facilities shall not be tested for more than one hour during any day, testing shall occur a maximum of once a month, and no testing shall be on "Spare the Air Days" in Alameda County.
8	Small electricity generator facilities shall meet the following criteria: (1) The fuel source for the generators shall be natural gas, biodiesel, or the byproduct of an approved cogeneration or combined cycle facility; (2) The facilities shall use the best available control technology to reduce air pollution; (3) The facilities shall not create any objectionable odors at any point outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (4) The facilities shall not exceed a noise level of 45 dBA at any point on a residentially zoned property outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (5) On a site with fuel cell facilities, small electricity generator facilities shall not be permitted unless the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is less than one megawatt. If the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is one megawatt or greater, the small electricity generator facilities shall be subject to all requirements and processes prescribed in this title for medium or large electricity generator facilities, whichever is the most applicable, in the subject zoning district; (6) The facilities shall be cogeneration or combined cycle facilities, if feasible.
9	Small fuel cell facilities shall meet the following criteria: (1) The facilities shall not create any objectionable odors at any point outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (2) The fuel cell facilities shall not exceed a noise level of 45 dBA at any point on any residentially zoned property outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; (3) On a site with electricity generator facilities, small fuel cell facilities shall not be permitted unless the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is less than one megawatt. If the aggregate wattage of the two facilities is one megawatt or greater, the small fuel cell facilities shall be subject to all requirements and processes prescribed in this title for medium or large fuel cell facilities, whichever is the most applicable, in the applicable subject district; Small fuel cell facilities are encouraged to be cogeneration or combined cycle facilities.
10	These uses include:
	a.	Indoor special downtown accessory entertainment uses with non-amplified or amplified sound in the downtown hospitality central core area and non-amplified sound in the downtown hospitality transition area (hours: 8:00 a.m.—11:00 p.m.);
	b.	Indoor special downtown accessory entertainment uses with amplified sound in the downtown hospitality transition area (hours: 8:00 a.m.— 9:00 p.m.);
	c.	Outdoor special downtown accessory entertainment uses (hours: 8:00 a.m.—9:00 p.m.).
	These uses shall meet all four of the following parameters:
	i.	The use is in compliance with all applicable requirements of Chapter 9.04 (Noise Regulations). The applicant may be required to install noise mitigating measures to ensure compliance with the noise regulations.
	ii.	For indoor music and entertainment, the exterior doors of the establishment shall remain closed when not being used for ingress/egress and self-closing mechanisms shall be installed on all exterior doors.
	iii.	For indoor music and entertainment, the establishment's windows shall remain closed when music/entertainment activities are taking place.
	iv.	The use is in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Pleasanton Municipal Code and all other applicable laws, particularly pertaining to noise, public disturbance, littering, and parking.
11	A conditional use permit shall be required for special downtown accessory entertainment uses, as defined in Chapter 18.08 of this title, and the use does not comply with the hour restrictions and/or conditions required for the use to be a permitted use or a temporary conditional use.
12	The use shall be in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.124 of this title.
13	13 The city planning commission shall make a specific finding that the use will conform with each of the required conditions prescribed in Sections 18.48.040 through 18.48.120 of this chapter, in addition to the findings prescribed in Section 18.48.060.
14	Wind energy facilities shall meet the following criteria: (1) The facilities shall not exceed a noise level of 45 dBA at any point on any residentially zoned property outside of the property plane where the facilities are located; and (2) The design of the facilities shall be streamlined (without ladders and extra appurtenances) to discourage birds from roosting on the facilities; and (3) Facilities on hillsides or ridges shall not be visible from a public right-of-way.
15	This use with outdoor storage shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124.
16	The following conditions shall apply to microbreweries and wineries: (1) The zoning administrator finds that adequate parking is available for said use; (2) If the zoning administrator determines that the use will be or is creating odor problems, an odor abatement device determined to be appropriate by the zoning administrator shall be installed within the exhaust ventilation system to mitigate brewery odors; (3) The applicant is in compliance with all applicable requirements of Chapter 9.04 of this code; (4) If operation of the use results in conflicts pertaining to parking, noise, odors, traffic, or other factors, the zoning administrator may modify or add conditions to mitigate such impacts, or may revoke the zoning certificate for the use.
17	Basement storage as defined in Section 18.08.057 shall be permitted as warehousing in the central commercial (C-C) zoning district, subject to meeting all of the following criteria:
	a.	Basement storage shall be limited to the C-C zoning district within the downtown specific plan area and limited to commercial buildings only;
	b.	Basement storage shall be limited to nontoxic, nonhazardous materials only. It is the responsibility of the storage space operator to prepare a list of prohibited storage items, to have the list approved by the Livermore-Pleasanton fire department, and to require all storage space users to agree in writing that no items on the list or other hazardous materials will be stored. The storage space shall be used for storage only and no other activities and/or uses are allowed;
	c.	Prior to allowing basement storage, the building owner shall contact the building and safety division and fire department to ensure that the basement meets applicable building and fire codes. If required, the building owner and/or responsible party shall secure all applicable permits and/or make any required changes to the basement space to ensure the space meets current code standards for fire, safety, and accessibility;
	d.	The hours of access for basement storage use shall be: Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. only;
	e.	One parking space per on-site storage employee and one parking space for storage customers. This parking requirement is in addition to the parking required for other uses on-site;
	f.	Prior to allowing and/or renting space for basement storage, the property owner and/or responsible party shall submit a zoning certificate application and secure a business license. The zoning certificate application shall be accompanied by a narrative that describes the type of storage proposed, where parking will be allowed, and the use(s) of the building and shall include a site plan and basement storage floor plan that clearly defines, but is not limited to, the following: (1) The defined area(s) and square-footage in which storage will take place; (2) How the individual storage areas will be delineated (e.g., cages, walls, etc.); (3) Access and ADA accessibility.
18	Use is not permitted on the ground floor when the property is also located in the Active Ground-Floor Overlay District, except where an exemption is granted as set forth in Chapter 18.81.
19	Medical offices shall be subject to parking requirements identified in Chapter 18.88.
20	A temporary outdoor use may be permitted pursuant to Section 18.116.040.
21	All buses shall not be stored on site and no repair work shall be conducted on-site.
22	Commercial radio and television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall be a minimum distance of 300 feet from the property lines of all of the following:
	a.	Existing or approved residences or agricultural zoning districts or in planned unit developments with a residential or agricultural zoning designation.
	b.	Undeveloped residential or agricultural zoning districts or undeveloped planned unit developments with a residential or agricultural zoning designation and without an approved development plan, unless designated as a public and institutional land use in the general plan.
	c.	Existing or approved public schools, private schools, and childcare centers, not including schools which only provide tutorial services.
	d.	Neighborhood parks, community parks, or regional parks, as designated in the general plan.
	e.	Existing or approved senior care/assisted living facilities, including nursing homes.
All commercial radio and television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall be located so as to minimize their visibility and, unless determined by the zoning administrator to be significantly hidden from view, designed to ensure that they will not appear as an aerial, antenna, and/or transmission tower. All such facilities determined by the zoning administrator to be visible from residential land uses, the I-580 and/or I-680 rights-of-way, or other sensitive land uses such as parks, schools, or major streets, shall incorporate appropriate stealth techniques to camouflage, disguise, and/or blend them into the surrounding environment, and shall be in scale and architecturally integrated with their surroundings in such a manner as to be visually unobtrusive. All applications for commercial radio and/or television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall include engineering analyses completed to the satisfaction of the zoning administrator. Said analyses shall be peer-reviewed by an outside consultant.
	If mounted on structures or on architectural details of a building, these facilities shall be treated to match the existing architectural features and colors found on the building's architecture through design, color, texture, or other measures deemed to be necessary by the zoning administrator.
	Roof-mounted aerials and antennas shall be located in an area of the roof where the visual impact is minimized. Roof-mounted and groundmounted aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall not be allowed in the direct sightline(s) or sensitive view corridors, or where they would adversely affect scenic vistas, unless the facilities incorporate the appropriate, creative techniques to camouflage, disguise, and/or blend them into the surrounding environment, as determined to be necessary by the zoning administrator.
	All commercial radio and television aerials, antennas, and transmission towers shall conform to the applicable requirements of Cal-OSHA and/or the FCC before commencement of, and during operation. Evidence of conformance shall be provided to the zoning administrator before final inspection of the facility by the chief building official.
	If the zoning administrator finds that an approved aerial, antenna, or transmission tower is not in compliance with this title, that conditions have not been fulfilled, or that there is a compelling public safety and welfare necessity, the zoning administrator shall notify the owner/operator of the aerial/antenna/transmission tower in writing of the concern, and state the actions necessary to cure. After 30 days from the date of notification, if compliance with this title is not achieved, the conditions of approval have not been fulfilled, or there is still a compelling public safety and welfare necessity, the zoning administrator shall refer the use to the planning commission for review. Such reviews shall occur at a noticed public hearing where the owner/operator of the aerial/antenna/transmission tower may present relevant evidence. If, upon such review, the planning commission finds that any of the above have occurred, the planning commission may modify or revoke all approvals and/or permits.
23	The service station shall be at least 60 feet from residentially planned or zoned property. All operations except the sale of gasoline and oil shall be conducted within a building enclosed on at least three sides, and the minimum site area shall be 20,000 square feet. Direct sales to the public shall be limited to petroleum products, automotive accessories, food products, and limited household goods. Tobacco product and tobacco paraphernalia sales are only permitted in compliance with Chapter 18.109.
24	Lumberyards shall not include planing mills or sawmills and shall be at least 300 feet from an R or O district.
25	The use shall be at least 300 feet from an R or O district.
26	Any use not in conjunction with a medical use that includes massage service of four or more technicians at any one time shall be subject to a minor conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124. Massage establishments shall meet the requirements of Chapter 6.24.
27	Any retail use in the C-R(m), C-R(p), and C-C Districts that includes firearm sales shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124. Firearm sales are prohibited in the C-N, C-F, MU-T, and MU-D Districts. Firearm sales in which no more than 10 firearms are stored on-site at any one time and the majority of firearms are sold through catalogs, mail order, or at trade shows are subject to a conditional use permit in the C-S District.
28	The use may include incidental care such as bathing and trimming, provided that all operations are conducted entirely within a completely enclosed building which complies with specifications for soundproof construction prescribed by the chief building official.
29	Any use that includes a drive-through shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124.
30	Liquor stores and convenience markets shall only be permitted in the C-R(m) and C-R(p) districts, and shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124 in the C-N and C-C districts.
	Tobacco stores (which are uses which primarily sell tobacco products; from which more than 60 percent of gross annual revenue is derived from the sale of tobacco products and tobacco paraphernalia; does not permit anyone under 18 years of age to be present unless with parent or guardian; and does not sell alcoholic beverages or food for consumption on the premises), shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124 in the C-R(m), C-R(p), C-N and C-C districts, but only if the proposed site also meets the restrictions of Chapter 18.109.
	Secondhand stores and/or pawn shops shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124 in the C-C district.
31	Where: (1) the subject tenant space is located within the Downtown Specific Plan area; and (2) the subject tenant space exceeds 7,500 gross square feet, a retail use shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124.
32	Homeless shelters within the SF service facilities overlay district that meet the requirements set forth in Chapter 18.82 shall be a permitted use.
33	If the subject tenant space exceeds 75,000 gross square feet, the use shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124. This requirement does not apply to light industrial uses located in Hacienda, an area defined by Ordinance 1325 and as subsequently amended.
34	Restaurants and catering establishments with outdoor dining shall be subject to a conditional use permit as prescribed in Chapter 18.124.
35	Any use shall operate only between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

§ 18.44.090 Prohibited uses.

The following uses shall not be permitted in the commercial districts:

Any use not specifically or conditionally permitted by this chapter, unless a determination is made under Chapter 18.128 of this title.

(Ord. 1880, 2003; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

§ 18.44.100 Underground utilities.

(Prior code § 2-7.09; Ord. 2000 § 1, 2009)

§ 18.44.110 Off-street parking.

Off-street parking facilities shall be provided for each use in the C districts as prescribed in Chapter 18.88 of this title.

(Prior code § 2-7.10)

§ 18.44.120 Off-street loading.

(Prior code § 2-7.11; Ord. 1591 § 2, 1993; Ord. 2155 §3, 2017)

§ 18.44.130 Signs.

No sign, outdoor advertising structure, or display of any character shall be permitted in the C districts, except as prescribed in Chapters 18.96 and 18.74, as applicable, of this title.

(Prior code § 2-7.12; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)

§ 18.44.140 Design review.

(Prior code § 2-7.13; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017; Ord. 2213 § 2, 2021)