Tulare City Zoning Code

   This chapter shall apply to all land within the Service Commercial (C-4) zone. The purpose of the C-4 zone is to provide areas primarily for wholesale and heavy commercial uses and service establishments that are not suited for other commercial zones. It also provides areas for certain light industrial uses that manufacture, assemble, or package products within buildings and which do not emit fumes, odor, dust, smoke, or gas. The objectives of the C-4 zone are:

   (A)   The development of a variety of wholesale and heavy commercial and service uses, which are not suited to other commercial zones.

   (B)   Service commercial uses shall be developed in buildings and complexes that exhibit high standards of design, including:

      (1)   Attractive, tree-lined streets, which accommodate a variety of vehicles typically involved in service commercial activities.

      (2)   Commercial buildings and complexes that include generous amounts of landscaping, including parking lots designed so that they do not dominate the street scene and buildings that complement one another with tasteful design features.

      (3)   Outdoor storage of materials and outdoor repair activities conducted in screened areas.

   (C)   To ensure that commercial buildings are designed in a manner that minimizes the impact to the adjacent residential development through sensitive design that considers the impacts of noise, traffic, and lighting sources.

   (D)   To minimize traffic congestion, while providing an efficient circulation system.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   (A)   Uses shall be permitted or not permitted, conditionally permitted, administratively permitted, or temporarily permitted as prescribed in the land use table in § 10.08.030.

   (B)   Residential uses shall be subject to the development and design standards of the residential zone that are consistent with the density of the residential development. Thus, a multi-family development with a density of 12 units per acre would be subject to the development and design standards of the R-M zone. These standards include but are not limited to setbacks, height limitations, and open space.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   (A)   The minimum site area for new lots that are created by subdivision map or parcel map shall be 6,000 square feet unless a smaller site is approved with a conditional use permit in accordance with Chapter 10.80.

   (B)   Existing sites of less than 6,000 square feet may be developed in accordance with the specifications of this section.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   The minimum lot frontage shall be 40 feet unless a reciprocal use agreement for shared access and parking is recorded.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   The maximum coverage of a lot shall be 80%.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   (A)   No structure shall be placed within a building setback area.

   (B)   The minimum front building setback shall be ten feet, except where a parcel fronts on a major arterial or a residential zone district then the minimum setback shall be 20 feet. Except that driveways, canopies, parking lots, and roof overhangs may extend into a front yard by 50%.

   (C)   There shall be no required rear building setback, except where the rear lot line abuts a major arterial or a residentially zoned parcel then the minimum rear building setback shall be ten feet.

   (D)   There shall be no required side building setback, except where the side lot line abuts a major arterial or a residentially zoned parcel then the minimum side building setback area shall be ten feet.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   There is no minimum distance between structures required, except that all building code requirements shall be met.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   (A)   The maximum structure height shall be 30 feet.

   (B)   Structures up to 60 feet may be erected upon approval of a conditional use permit in accordance with Chapter 10.80.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   (A)   Wherever possible developments shall share driveways to minimize the number of driveways on public streets.

   (B)   New driveways near street corners shall be located a minimum of 150 feet from the radius curve of the curb unless otherwise specifically approved by the City Engineer.

   (C)   Sites with alleys shall utilize alley access to minimize driveways on streets as long as it is possible and practicable.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   Off-street parking and off-street loading facilities shall be provided on the site for each use as prescribed in Chapter 10.54.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   There is no minimum requirement for usable open space.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   (A)   Landscaping shall be provided for each use as prescribed in Chapter 10.52 Landscape Standards.

   (B)   A minimum of 5% of the gross lot area shall be landscaped. All exterior areas not devoted to parking, storage, driveways, walkways or loading areas shall be landscaped.

   (C)   Required landscaping is to be installed prior to occupancy and continually maintained pursuant to Chapter 10.52.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   (A)   Fences in the C-4 zone shall conform to the design standards provided in § 10.50.040.

   (B)   These regulations do not apply to fences or walls required by regulations of a state or federal agency, or by the city for reasons of public safety, or to retaining walls that adjoin land uses.

   (C)   Fences, walls, and hedges may be erected and properly maintained to the heights identified below and measured from the highest adjoining finish grade:

      (1)   Fences, walls, and hedges shall not exceed three feet in height in the front yard area unless otherwise specifically required by this title.

      (2)   Where a commercially-zoned site adjoins a site that is residentially zoned, a seven-foot-tall solid wall and a ten-foot landscape buffer shall separate the commercial development from the adjoining residential district.

   (D)   Walls along arterial and collector streets. If a wall is required, or if the developer of a site located along either an arterial or collector street chooses to install a wall, the wall shall be installed and maintained equal to a minimum of six feet and a maximum of seven feet in height.

   (E)   Allowable fence materials. All fences, constructed or installed within the city shall be limited to the following materials or a combination of materials:

      (1)   Front and street side yards:

         (a)   Concrete/block.

         (b)   Latticework fencing.

         (c)   Wood.

         (d)   Wrought iron.

      (2)   Rear and interior side yards:

         (a)   Concrete/block.

         (b)   Latticework fencing.

         (c)   Wood.

         (d)   Wrought iron

         (e)   Chain link

   (F)   Temporary fencing. Temporary fencing may be necessary to protect archaeological or historic resources and/or trees during site preparation and construction. Temporary fencing for these purposes shall be subject to the review and approval of the Director.

   (G)   The city reserves the right to remove, at the expense of the owner of the property or properties enclosed by the fence, any fence in a public easement in any emergency.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   Signs placed in the C-4 zone shall be subject to the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 10.56.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)

   (A)   All businesses, services, and processes shall be conducted entirely within a completely enclosed permanently fixed structure, except where specifically permitted by this title.

   (B)   Mechanical equipment shall be located a minimum of 15 feet from a rear or side lot line that abuts a residential zone district unless there is a parapet wall that shields the mechanical equipment.

   (C)   New development shall be required to install public infrastructure necessary to adequately serve the project, based on requirements of the City Engineer, including sewer, water, storm drainage lines, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, street paving, street lighting, and trash enclosure. These improvements shall be constructed consistent with requirements shown in the City of Tulare Standards and Specifications and shall be installed prior to occupancy of any structures on the site.

   (D)   All development in the C-4 zone shall be designed consistent with the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 10.60 Commercial District Design Standards.

(Ord. 2025-01, passed 1-7-2025)