San Dimas City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 18
96 C-N COMMERCIAL-NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE
§ 18.96.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the commercial-neighborhood zone is to provide for the development of limited commercial areas to serve the needs of the immediate neighborhood. Convenience goods, service businesses and other small-scale "specialty" retail or service businesses are the appropriate uses for this zone.
(Ord. 37 § 247.00, 1961; Ord. 785 § 3, 1983)
§ 18.96.020 Uses permitted.
A.
Generally. Buildings, structures and land shall be used and buildings and structures shall hereafter be erected, structurally altered or enlarged only for the following uses, plus such other uses as the director of community development determines to be similar and not more obnoxious or detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare. The determination of the director may be appealed to the planning commission and thereafter the city council pursuant to Chapter 18.212 of this title.
B.
Specifically.
1.
Convenience goods and service businesses, including such retail uses as food markets, pharmacies and liquor stores; and including such service businesses as barber and beauty shops, cleaners/laundries, small appliance repair service businesses, swimming pool supply businesses, mobile home parts and sales, electrical equipment sales and services and similar uses.
2.
Eating places, including those having take-out service facilities, provided that no such eating place shall have drive-in or drive-through service, and further provided, that such uses shall not be permitted where the number of required parking spaces for this use, pursuant to Chapter 18.156, exceeds thirty-five percent of the number of common parking spaces provided on any lot or lots upon which any development which includes eating places is located.
3.
Specialty commercial uses, including antique shops, jewelry stores, music stores, auto and truck part and supply businesses and similar uses.
4.
Professional, administrative and sales office uses.
5.
Accessory billiard use, up to a maximum of four tables, which is secondary and incidental to a use permitted or permitted with a conditional use permit, in this zone which is also defined by Section 18.08.007 of this title.
6.
Accessory massage permitted with the following primary businesses: barbershop, beauty shop, athletic club, day spa, medical doctor's office and similar uses.
7.
Neighborhood financial institutions, including banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions.
(Ord. 37 § 247.02, 1961; Ord. 785 § 3, 1983; Ord. 911 § 8 (A), 1990; Ord. 963 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1072 § 3, 1997; Ord. 1185 § 6, 2008; Ord. 1324, 6/10/2025; Ord. 1337, 6/23/2026; Ord. 1338, 6/23/2026)
§ 18.96.025 Minor conditional uses.
The following uses shall be permitted subject to a minor conditional use permit pursuant to Chapter 18.200:
A.
Animal hospital;
B.
Accessory veterinarian services, animal surgery and boarding within a pet care center;
C.
Commercial recreational and social experiences, indoor (including, but not limited to, art courses, bowling alleys, cooking classes, escape rooms, laser tag, trampoline parks, and similar);
D.
Freestanding ATM kiosks;
E.
Gyms and fitness facilities;
F.
Pet boarding, day care, veterinary care, and urgent care as a primary or accessory use to a pet care center;
G.
Studios (including, but not limited to, art, dance, gymnastics, martial arts, music, personal training, photography, Pilates, yoga, and other similar instructional-based uses).
(Ord. 1337, 6/23/2026)
§ 18.96.030 Conditional uses.
The following uses may be permitted provided that a conditional use permit is granted for any such use in accordance with Chapter 18.200 of this title:
A.
On-sale alcoholic beverages, provided that such use is a secondary and incidental use to a permitted use in this zone;
B.
On-site brewing and service of beer produced on the premises, provided that such use is secondary and incidental to a restaurant. The brewing component shall be limited to a maximum production of five thousand barrels per year unless an increased production volume is granted by the planning commission to support the commercial business after finding that the production volume and operations are compatible with the subject site and its surroundings during review of the conditional use permit;
C.
Off-sale alcoholic beverages;
D.
Outdoor sale, storage or display of merchandise and/or provision of services, provided that any such use is directly related to a permitted use within any building or structure on the same lot or parcel, except for temporary outdoor uses which are permitted in accordance with Chapter 18.196, Temporary Uses;
E.
Thrift stores;
F.
Medical office, up to a maximum of ten percent of the total square footage of the center;
G.
Childcare centers.
(Ord. 37 § 247.03, 1961; Ord. 785 § 3, 1983; Ord. 963 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1085 § 10, 1998; Ord. 1097 § 1, 1999; Ord. 1185 § 7, 2008; Ord. 1233 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1337, 6/23/2026; Ord. 1338, 6/23/2026)
§ 18.96.040 Prohibited uses.
The following uses are prohibited:
A.
Industrial uses;
B.
Residential uses;
C.
Wholesaling or warehousing businesses;
D.
Billboards and other similar off-site outdoor advertising structures;
E.
Eating places which have drive-in or drive-through service;
F.
Other uses which are inconsistent with the intent and provisions of the zone, as determined by the director of community development. The determination of the director of community development may be appealed to the planning commission development plan review board and thereafter the city council in accordance with Chapter 18.212 of this title.
(Ord. 37 § 247.04, 1961; Ord. 785 § 3, 1983; Ord. 911 § 8 (B), 1990; Ord. 1083 § 4, 1997; Ord. 1097 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1324, 6/10/2025; Ord. 1337, 6/23/2026; Ord. 1338, 6/23/2026)
§ 18.96.050 Property development standards.
The following property development standards shall apply to all land and buildings in the C-N zone, except that any lot or parcel held under a separate ownership or of record on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, which is substandard in dimensions may be used subject to all other standards.
A.
Lot Area. No minimum required.
B.
Lot Dimensions. All lots hereafter created shall comply with the following minimum standards and lots now held under separate ownership or of record may not be reduced below these standards:
1.
Width. No minimum required.
2.
Depth. Each lot shall have a minimum depth of one hundred feet.
C.
Building Site Coverage. The building site coverage shall not exceed thirty-five percent of any lot or parcel.
D.
Building Height Limit. No buildings or structures erected in this zone shall have a height greater than two stories or thirty feet, whichever is less.
1.
Notwithstanding the foregoing height limitations, penthouses or roof structures for the housing or elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building, and fire or parapet walls, skylights, towers, church steeples, flagpoles, chimneys and other similar structures may be erected to the height limits prescribed in this subsection not to exceed a height of ten feet.
2.
Air conditioning units, electrical switch gear and panels, compressors and similar mechanical equipment shall be completely enclosed including roof within an enclosure compatible with the appearance of adjacent structures.
E.
Yards. Yards shall be measured perpendicular to the property line.
1.
When a lot or parcel in the C-N zone abuts a street there shall be a yard of not less than ten feet. The required yard shall be landscaped and maintained; a complete sprinkler system shall be provided.
2.
A buffer yard of not less than thirty feet in width which may include an alley shall be provided along any residential district boundary line, and ten feet of such yard nearest the boundary line shall be improved as a planting strip. The required landscaping shall be of specimen variety and shall include trees. The remaining twenty feet of such yard may be used for off-street parking. No electrical or mechanical equipment shall be permitted in such yard. In the event a street is situated between a residential and commercial district, a buffer yard shall not be required.
F.
Walls.
1.
Masonry walls shall be erected on the zone boundary line between the C-N and R zones. Walls shall be not less than five nor more than six feet in height and shall be reduced to forty-two inches in any required yard abutting a street.
2.
Corner Cutback Areas. The cutback line shall be in a horizontal plane, making an angle of forty-five degrees with the side, front or rear property lines. They shall pass through a point not less than ten feet from the intersection of the front, side or rear property line or ten feet from the edges of a driveway where it intersects the street or alley, as the case may be.
a.
Streets and Alleys. There shall be a corner cutback area at all intersecting or intercepting streets and/or alleys.
b.
Driveways. There shall be a corner cutback area on each side of any private driveway intersecting a street or alley.
3.
Permitted Walls.
a.
Walls not greater than six feet in height shall be permitted on or within all property lines not abutting streets and on or to the rear of all yard setback lines of yards abutting streets.
b.
Walls not over forty-two inches in height shall be permitted in required yards abutting streets.
G.
Off-Street Parking. The provisions of Chapter 18.156 shall apply.
1.
Access. There shall be adequate vehicular access to off-street parking facilities from a dedicated and improved street, service road or alley. The design of the access shall conform to all standards and specifications of the city.
2.
Loading. All loading and unloading operations shall be performed on the site, and loading platforms and areas shall be screened by a landscape or architectural feature.
H.
Signs. The provisions of Chapter 18.152 shall apply.
I.
Utilities. All utilities provided for new as well as existing uses and buildings shall be installed underground unless otherwise provided for in the development plan approval.
J.
Trash Storage. A trash storage area with a minimum inside clear area measuring eight feet by ten feet enclosed by solid masonry walls and a solid gate a minimum of five feet in height shall be provided. If unroofed, no such area shall be located within forty feet of any district zoned for residential uses. Wheel stops shall be provided at a distance of one foot from rear and side walls.
K.
Landscaping. Landscaping shall be installed pursuant to an approved landscaping plan prepared by a landscape architect. The landscaping shall be maintained by an automatic electric remote-control sprinkler system. Required landscaping shall be maintained in a neat, clean and healthy condition. This shall include proper pruning, mowing of lawns, weeding, removal of litter, fertilizing, replacement of plants when necessary and the regular watering of all plantings.
L.
Sound. Sound related to commercial processes, excluding traffic noise, shall be muffled so as not to be objectionable to adjacent properties.
M.
Lights. Outdoor lighting shall be arranged so as not to reflect upon or be a nuisance to adjoining properties.
(Ord. 37 § 247.06, 1961; Ord. 343 § 2, 1971)
§ 18.96.060 Development plan approval.
Before any building is erected on any lot or parcel in this zone, a development plan shall have been submitted to and approved pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 18.12.
(Ord. 37 § 247.08, 1961; Ord. 343 § 2, 1971; Ord. 1324, 6/10/2025)
