Provo City Zoning Code
14.22 CG
General Commercial Zone
14.22.010 Purpose and Objectives.
The General Commercial (CG) zone is established to provide a district primarily for the accommodation of commercial uses and commercial areas which have been established in locations away from the central core of the City and which are not within the shopping centers of integrated design. Though this zone will be applied to areas which have developed as “strip commercial” developments along major streets and highways, it shall not be used to promote or establish areas in which such development can be promulgated or encouraged in violation of good planning principles. The CG zone should be applied to vacant land areas for new construction only in the event that integrated shopping center development is not practical and/or desirable because of difficult size, shape, topography, or similar problems related to land otherwise deemed to be appropriate for commercial development. The location of the CG zone should be close to freeways or major arterials to provide convenient access for major traffic volumes without hazard and without traversing through a residential area. The CG zone shall not be applied to the internal areas of residential neighborhoods. Although the CG zone may be applied to existing commercial areas which have a variety of characteristics, the provisions contained herein should be used to encourage greater integrity and aesthetic improvements as these areas are redeveloped, expanded, and improved. Integrated and coordinated landscaping, parking, ingress, and signing and building design should be encouraged and regulated through the use of project plan approval procedures. New construction should be in harmony with the characteristics of the surrounding developed commercial and residential areas. The uses characteristic of this zone will be a wide range of retail stores, shops, services, and offices. This zone may be applied to areas which have existing offices, heavy commercial and institutional uses. It is the intent that the CG zone contain a mixture of compatible uses.
14.22.020 Permitted Uses.
(1) Those uses or categories of uses as listed herein, and no others, are permitted in the CG zone.
(2) All uses contained herein are listed by number as designated in the Standard Land Use Code published and maintained by the Planning Commission. Specific uses are identified by a four (4) digit number in which all digits are whole numbers. Classes or categories of such uses permitted in the zone are identified by a four (4) digit number in which the last one (1) or two (2) digits are zeros.
(3) All such categories listed herein and all specific uses contained within them in the Standard Land Use Code will be permitted in the CG zone subject to the limitations set forth herein.
(4) Permitted Principal Uses. The following principal uses and structures, and no others, are permitted in the CG zone:
Use No. | Use Classification |
|---|---|
Residential facility for elderly persons (see Section 14.34.230, Provo City Code) | |
Residential facility for persons with a disability (see Section 14.34.230, Provo City Code) | |
Commercial printing (only related to retail sales of printed products) | |
Electric transmission right-of-way (identifies areas where the surface is devoted exclusively to the right-of-way of the activity) | |
Gas pipeline right-of-way (identifies areas where the surface is devoted exclusively to the right-of-way of the activity) | |
Gas pressure control stations | |
Water pipeline right-of-way (identifies areas where the surface is devoted exclusively to the right-of-way of the activity) | |
Irrigation distribution channels | |
Water pressure control stations and pumping plants | |
Water utilities or irrigation company office | |
Sewage pipeline right-of-way (identifies areas where surface is devoted exclusively to right-of-way activity) | |
Sewage pumping stations | |
Combination utilities right-of-way (identifies areas where surface is devoted exclusively to right-of-way activity) | |
Storm drain or right-of-way (predominantly covered pipes or boxes) | |
Travel agencies | |
Building materials, except lumber (hardwood flooring - retail only) | |
Paint, glass, and wall paper | |
Electrical supplies | |
Hardware | |
Mail and phone order houses | |
Variety stores | |
Retail trade - general merchandise | |
Food stores | |
Miscellaneous retail food establishments | |
Automobile accessories (except tire recapping and vulcanizing) | |
Apparel and accessories | |
Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment (no combined warehousing) | |
Eating places (restaurants) | |
Drug and proprietary stores | |
Antiques (indoor display only) | |
Books, stationery, art, and hobby supplies | |
Sporting goods, bicycles, and toys | |
Garden supplies (entirely within a building only) | |
Jewelry | |
Ice dealers (automated machines or pick-up stations only) | |
Miscellaneous retail stores (includes florists, cigars, newspapers, magazines, photo supplies, pet stores, and other similar retail stores) | |
Banks, insurance, and real estate (office only) | |
Personal services - includes laundry, photography, beauty and barber services, clothing repair, shoe repair, etc. (except 6240 and 6299 wedding chapels and reception centers only) | |
Athletic clubs, body building studios, Spas, aerobic centers, (no gymnasiums) | |
Employment Services | |
Watch, clock, jewelry repair, etc. | |
Gunsmiths | |
Professional Services (except 6550 Data processing services) | |
Postal services | |
Educational services | |
Religious activities | |
Video Rental Shops |
(5) Permitted Accessory Uses. Accessory uses and structures are permitted in the CG zone provided they are incidental to, and do not substantially alter, the character of the permitted principal use or structure. Such permitted uses and structures include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Accessory buildings such as garages, carports, equipment storage buildings and supply storage buildings which are customarily used in conjunction with and incidental to a principal use or structure permitted in the CG zone; and
(b) Storage of materials used for construction of buildings, including the contractor’s temporary office provided that such use be located on the building site or immediately adjacent thereto, and provided further, that such use shall be permitted only during the construction period and thirty (30) days thereafter.
(6) Conditional Uses. The following uses and structures are permitted in the CG zone only after a Conditional Use Permit has been issued, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof and the standards of Section 14.34.250, Provo City Code.
Use No. | Use Classification |
|---|---|
Motels (highway frontage only) | |
Ambulance service | |
Electricity regulating substations | |
Electric utility company office | |
4818 | Small generation |
Other electric utility, NEC | |
Natural or manufactured gas storage; distribution points | |
Gas company office | |
4829 | Other gas utilities, NEC |
Water storage as part of a utility system (covered including water storage stand pipes) | |
Debris basin (a dam and basin for intercepting debris) | |
Spreading grounds (area for percolating water into underground) | |
New and used car sales | |
Motor vehicles, automobiles (used only)/retail trade | |
Service stations | |
Motorcycles, motor scooters, parts, accessories, and supplies | |
Liquor, package | |
Thrift store and general second hand merchandise (indoor display and storage only; use of outdoor collection boxes is prohibited) | |
Bottled gas | |
Personal services (wedding chapels, reception centers only) | |
Vehicle rental | |
Automobile repair (see Section 14.34.240, Provo City Code) | |
Manufacture and installation of automobile seat covers and auto tops | |
6416-17 | Auto washing and polishing |
Auto glass repair | |
Automobile services (but not repair, wash (motor clinics), auto towing yards) | |
Electrical appliance repair | |
Furniture repair | |
Saw, knife, and tool sharpening | |
Miscellaneous small item repair | |
Police protection and related activities, branch (office only) | |
Social, fraternal, and youth organizations and services | |
Motion picture theaters (indoor) | |
Coin-operated amusement or video centers | |
Miniature golf | |
Electric go-kart tracks (indoor only) | |
Dance halls, ballroom | |
Billiard and pool halls | |
Ice skating | |
Roller skating and skate boarding | |
Bowling alleys | |
Veterinarian services |
14.22.030 Lot Area.
14.22.035 Commercial and Residential Area Requirements in Mixed Residential/Commercial Use Structures.
In mixed residential/commercial use structures, the amount of commercial area shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the total lot area unless there is a corresponding reduction of residential square footage on the basis of two (2) square feet of residential area reduced to one (1) square foot of commercial area added above thirty percent (30%) of the total lot area.
14.22.040 Lot Width.
No requirement.
14.22.050 Lot Frontage.
14.22.060 Prior Created Lots.
14.22.070 Area of Zone.
14.22.080 Yard Requirements.
The following maximum yard requirements shall apply in the CG zone: (Note: All setbacks are measured from the property line.)
(1) Front Yard. Each lot or parcel of land in the CG zone shall have a front yard of not less than ten (10) feet, except that in areas developed prior to the establishment of this zone (December 12, 1974), the front yard shall be equal to the average of existing front yards on all parcels of property along the block face in which a building or structure is to be located;
(2) Side Yard. Except as provided in subsections (3), (4) (5) and (6) of this Section, each lot or parcel of land in the CG zone shall have a side yard of at least ten (10) feet when located adjacent to a residential zone. There shall be no requirements in those instances where the side property line abuts a commercial or industrial zone;
(3) Side Yard - Corner Lots. On corner lots, the side yard contiguous with the street shall be not less than ten (10) feet in width, and shall not be used for vehicular parking. Said area shall be appropriately landscaped except those portions devoted to access and driveway use;
(4) Side Yard - Driveway. See Section 14.37.100, Provo City Code;
(5) Side Yard - Accessory Building. An accessory building may be located on a side property line if, and only if, all of the following conditions are met:
(a) An accessory building has no openings on the side which is contiguous to the property line, and the wall of said building adjacent to the property line has four (4) hour fire-retardant rating; and
(b) The accessory building has facilities for the discharge of all roof drainage onto the lot or parcel on which it is erected.
(6) Rear Yard. There shall be no rear yard requirements except as may be dictated by provisions of the International Building Code; and
(7) Rear Yard - Accessory Building. No requirement.
14.22.090 Projections into Yards.
(1) The following structures may be erected on, or project into, any required yard, except into a required driveway:
(a) Fences and walls in conformance with the Provo City Code and other City codes and ordinances;
(b) Landscaping elements including trees, shrubs, and other plants; and
(c) Necessary appurtenances for utility service.
(2) The structures listed below may project into a minimum front or rear yard not more than four (4) feet, and into a minimum side yard not more than two (2) feet, except that required driveways shall remain unobstructed from the ground upward.
(a) Cornices, eaves, belt courses, sills, buttresses, or other similar architectural features;
(b) Stairways, balconies, door stoops, fire escapes, awnings, and planter boxes or masonry planters not exceeding twenty-four (24) inches in height; and
(c) Carports and loading docks in a side yard or rear yard, provided that such a structure is not more than one (1) story in height and is entirely open on at least three (3) sides, except for necessary supporting columns and customary architectural features.
14.22.100 Building Height.
In the CG zone, the height of every building or structure hereinafter designed, erected, or structurally altered or enlarged shall be regulated by conformance to the requirements of the most recent edition of the International Building Code as adopted by action of the Municipal Council. After the effective date of this Chapter (December 12, 1974), all new structures exceeding two (2) stories in height shall be served with elevators or escalators in addition to the stairways otherwise required by law.
14.22.110 Distance Between Buildings.
No requirement.
14.22.120 Permissible Lot Coverage.
No requirements except as may be dictated by yard requirements, landscape requirements, and compliance with off-street parking provisions. Permissible lot coverage for mixed residential/ commercial uses, see 14.22.035.
14.22.130 Parking, Loading, and Access.
(1) Each lot or parcel in the CG zone shall have automobile parking sufficient to meet the requirements as set forth in Chapter 14.37, Provo City Code.
(2) All parking spaces shall be built as described in Section 14.37.090, Provo City Code, and shall be provided with adequate drainage which shall not run across a public sidewalk.
(3) Parking spaces shall not be provided within a required front yard or side yard adjacent to a public street.
14.22.150 Other Requirements.
(1) Signs. See Chapter 14.38, Provo City Code.
(2) Uses Within Buildings. All uses established in the CG zone shall be conducted entirely within a fully-enclosed building except those uses deemed by the Planning Commission to be customarily and appropriately conducted in the open. Such uses may include, but would not be limited to, service stations, ice skating, miniature golf, plant nurseries, etc.
(3) Landscaping. See Chapter 15.20, Provo City Code.
(4) Trash Storage. See Section 14.34.080, Provo City Code.
(5) Walls and Fences.
(a) No wall, fence, or opaque hedge or screening material higher than thirty-six (36) inches shall be maintained within a required front yard in a CG zone.
(b) A decorative masonry wall, at least six (6) feet in height, shall be erected along all property lines which lie adjacent to a residential zone. In the case where there is mutual agreement between the property owners of the commercial zone and the adjacent residential zone, the masonry wall requirement may be modified to allow other suitable materials. A signed agreement must be submitted to the Planning Commission or its designee, indicating this agreement. In the case where there is not mutual agreement, the masonry wall will be required.
(6) Remodeling in Existing CG Zones. If the remodeling of a building in the CG zone causes the exterior of the building to be enlarged, the landscaping requirements of Subsection (3) of this Section shall apply, with the following limitations:
(a) The requirements of Subsection (3) of this Section shall not apply where those requirements would conflict with parking requirements, be incompatible with the design of existing buildings or impair ingress or egress to existing buildings or parking areas.
(b) See Chapter 15.20, Provo City Code.
(7) Transitional Development Standards. Where a lot in any business, commercial, manufacturing, industrial zone borders a residential zone the standards set forth in Section 14.34.300, Provo City Code.