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Yorba Linda City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 18

12 COMMERCIAL ZONES

§ 18.12.010 Purpose.

In addition to the purpose outlined in Section 18.02.020, the commercial zones are included in the zoning regulations to achieve the following objectives:
A. 
To provide appropriately-located areas for office uses, retail stores, service establishments, and other businesses offering commodities and services required by residents of the City and surrounding market area.
B. 
To encourage office and commercial uses to concentrate for the convenience of the public and for a more mutually beneficial relationship to each other.
C. 
To provide adequate space to meet the needs of modern commercial development, including off-street parking and loading areas.
D. 
To minimize traffic congestion and to avoid the overloading of utilities by preventing the construction of buildings of excessive size in relation to the amount of land around them.
E. 
To protect commercial properties from noise, odor, smoke, unsightliness, and other objectionable influences incidental to industrial uses.
F. 
To promote high standards of site planning, architecture and landscape design for office and commercial developments within the City.
(Ord. 2004-884; Ord. 2019-1056 § 3)

§ 18.12.020 Commercial-office (C-O) zone.

This zone is intended as an area primarily for the development of professional and administrative offices and other support/ancillary services or businesses with setback, landscaping and architectural requirements designed to make such uses relatively compatible with residential uses.
(Ord. 2004-884; Ord. 2019-1056 § 3)

§ 18.12.030 Commercial-neighborhood (C-N) zone.

This zone is intended for neighborhood shopping centers which provide limited retail business service and office facilities for the convenience of residents of the neighborhood. These shopping centers are intended to be compatible with a residential environment at locations indicated on the General Plan.
(Ord. 2004-884; Ord. 2019-1056 § 3)

§ 18.12.040 Commercial-general (C-G) zone.

This zone is intended as an area for the location of retail and wholesale commercial activities.
(Ord. 2004-884; Ord. 2019-1056 § 3)

§ 18.12.050 Permitted and conditional uses.

Table 18.12-1 identifies the permitted uses, and accessory uses within the commercial zones. Uses in the table are permitted subject to the permit criteria referenced. Any use not included shall be considered prohibited.
Table 18.12-1
COMMERCIAL LAND USE MATRIX
Use
C-O
C-N
C-G
Comments
Alcoholic beverage sales, accessory
•
C
C
 
Animal boarding
•
C
C
See Ch. 18.20 Art. VII
Animal day care
•
C
C
See Ch. 18.20 Art. VII
Animal grooming
•
P
P
See Ch. 18.20 Art. VII
Animal hospital, large animal
•
•
•
See Ch. 18.20 Art. VII
Animal hospital, small animal
•
C
C
See Ch. 18.20 Art. VII
Appliance store/repair (over 10,000 sq. ft.)
•
•
P
 
Arcade
•
C
C
See Ch. 18.20 Art. IV
Artist/photographer studio
•
P
P
 
Athletic/health club (10,000 sq. ft. or less)
C
C
C
 
Athletic/health club (over 10,000 sq. ft.)
C
•
C
 
Automobile sales/service
•
•
(I)
See Ch. 18.18 Art. IV
Automotive, truck, trailer repair/painting
•
•
(I)
See Ch. 18.18 Art. IV
Bank, financial institution
P
P
P
 
Bar, cocktail lounge
•
•
C
 
Blueprint/photocopying
P
P
P
 
Caretakers quarters
•
•
C
 
Carwash
•
•
C
 
Catering service
•
•
C
 
Christmas tree/pumpkin sales
T
T
T
 
Church/temple/religious institution
C
C
C
 
Club/lodge
C
•
C
 
Coffee house, no entertainment
•
P
P
 
Coffee house, with entertainment
•
C
C
 
Co-generation plant
C
C
C
 
Commercial recreation
C
C
C
 
Commercial tutoring facility
P
P
P
 
Communication facility
C
C
C
See Ch. 18.20 Art. XI
Convalescent hospital/nursing home
C
•
C
 
Convenience store
•
P
P
 
Day care center/nursery
C
C
C
 
Department store
•
•
C
 
Discount store/warehouse (over 100,000 sq. ft.)
•
•
C
 
Drive-through facilities
C
C
C
 
Drug store/pharmacy
C
P
P
 
Equipment yards, rental/sales
•
•
C
 
Feed store
•
•
C
 
Fortune telling/palmistry
•
•
C
 
Fruit/vegetable stand
T
T
T
 
Funeral home/mortuary/crematory
•
•
C
 
Furniture upholstering/refinishing
•
P
P
 
Garden supply
•
C
C
 
General retail store (10,000 sq. ft. or less)
•
P
P
 
General retail store (over 10,000 sq. ft.)
•
•
C
 
Golf course, tennis/swim club
C
C
C
 
Greenhouse, commercial
•
•
C
 
Hospital
C
•
C
 
Hotel/motel
•
•
C
 
Ice/vending machine
•
A
A
 
Kennel, commercial
•
•
C
See Ch. 18.20 Art. VII
Laboratory, sample
P
P
P
 
Laundromat
•
P
P
 
Laundry, pick up and delivery
•
P
P
 
Library/museum, public
C
C
C
 
Liquor store
•
C
C
 
Live entertainment
•
C
C
 
Massage establishment
•
C
C
See Ch. 18.20 Art. XII
Medical/dental clinic (less than 10,000 sq. ft.)
P
P
P
 
Medical/dental clinic (10,000 sq. ft. or greater and located within a center with shared parking)
C
C
C
 
Mini-warehouse/self-storage
•
•
(I)
See Section 18.18.410.D
Motorbike, motorcycle sales/service
•
C
(I)
See Ch. 18.18 Art. IV
Newsstand
P
P
P
 
Nursery, retail
•
C
C
 
Office, business/professional
P
P
P
 
Outdoor event
T
T
T
 
Outdoor sales
•
C
C
 
Outdoor storage/display
•
C
C
 
Packing house
•
•
C
 
Park/recreational facility, public
C
•
C
 
Parking lot kiosk
•
C
C
 
Parking lot, commercial
•
C
C
 
Performing arts center
•
•
C
 
Political/philanthropic headquarter
•
P
P
 
Print shop/lithography
•
•
P
 
Public building/grounds
C
C
C
 
Public utility facility
C
C
C
 
Public utility office
P
P
P
 
Recreational court
C
C
C
See Ch. 18.20 Art. III
Recreational facility, private
C
C
C
 
Recreational vehicle, boat, trailer sales/service
•
•
(I)
See Ch. 18.18 Art. IV
Recycling collection facility, small
•
A
A
See Ch. 18.32
Restaurant
C
C
C
 
Retail food
•
P
P
 
Retail/service business
P
P
P
 
School, vocational/trade
C
C
C
 
School/educational institution, private
C
C
C
 
Service station
•
C
C
See Ch. 18.18 Art. IV
Single room occupancy housing facility
•
•
C
 
Stable, commercial
•
•
C
 
Supermarket
•
C
C
 
Tattoo parlor
•
•
C
 
Theater/cinema
•
•
C
 
Tire sales/service
•
•
C
See Ch. 18.18 Art. IV
Travel agency
P
P
P
 
Thrift store
C
C
C
 
Used car sales
•
•
(I)
See Ch. 18.18 Art. IV
Vehicle rental/leasing (excluding trucks over 1 ton)
C
C
C
See Ch. 18.18 Art. IV
Waste management facility
•
C
C
See Ch. 18.32
(A = Accessory Use; C = Conditional Use; T = Temporary Use; P = Permitted Use;
• = Prohibited Use; (I) = Conditionally permitted only in Imperial Highway Combining Zone, see Chapter 18.18, Article 4)
(Ord. 2004-884; Ord. 2014-1008; Ord. 2019-1056 § 3)

§ 18.12.060 Property development standards.

The standards in Table 18.12-2 shall apply to developments within the commercial zones.
Table 18.12-2
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
 
Zones
Standard
C-O2
C-N2
C-G2
Minimum lot size1
10,000 sq. ft.
10,000 sq. ft.
5 acres
Minimum lot width
100 ft.
100 ft.
300 ft.
Minimum lot depth
100 ft.
60 ft.
300 ft.
Minimum front setback
25 ft.
25 ft.
25 ft.
Minimum side setback, interior
5 ft.
10 ft.
10 ft.
Minimum side setback, street2
10 ft.
10 ft.
10 ft.
Minimum rear setback
10 ft.
10 ft.
10 ft.
Lot coverage, maximum
60%
35%
50%
Building height, maximum3
N/A
35 ft.
35 ft.
Off-street parking
See Chapter 18.22
1
Any legally established lot that is at least 4,000 sq. ft. and has a minimum 20-foot wide vehicular access to a street may be used as a building site. Lot area is defined as a site which may, as in the case of shopping centers, consist of more than one parcel.
2
The street side setback in any C zone shall be a minimum of 25 feet along any arterial street, and 15 feet along any collector street as defined within the General Plan, or as otherwise approved by the Planning Commission.
3
Steeples, crosses and other religious symbols on churches and religious institutions may exceed the height limit in accordance with Section 18.24.110. See also Section 18.26.030 of the Zoning Code for additional design standards related to height determinations for structures.
(Ord. 2004-884; Ord. 2019-1056 § 3)

§ 18.12.070 Special requirements.

A. 
Setbacks Adjacent to R Zones. In any C zone a minimum setback of 50 feet shall be required whenever a lot in the C zone abuts a lot in any residential zone. The setback may be used for required open off-street parking areas.
B. 
Building Height. Where a commercial or office use abuts property in any residential zone, no two-story building shall be constructed without issuance of a conditional use permit to be approved by the Planning Commission.
C. 
Enclosed Uses. All uses, including display, storage and sales, shall be within a fully-enclosed building. Outdoor uses, including lumber and building supplies, restaurant outdoor dining areas, and nursery plant stock, may be permitted subject to approval of a conditional use permit by the Planning Commission.
D. 
Car Washes. Car washes, both coin-operated and full service, may be permitted if allowed by the base zone regulations, subject to approval of a conditional use permit by the Planning Commission. All related activities, such as vacuuming, drying, detailing, and/or waxing shall be conducted within the enclosed building, or in a specified area as approved by the conditional use permit. As determined by the Community Development Director, the applicant may be required to prepare and submit with the conditional use permit application, an acoustical analysis prepared by an acoustical engineer.
(Ord. 2004-884; Ord. 2019-1056 § 3)

§ 18.12.080 Performance standards.

A. 
Landscaping.
1. 
In all C zones, required front and street side yards shall be landscaped to a depth of not less than 10 feet except, however, that when adjacent to an arterial or collector street as defined by the General Plan, the minimum front and/or side yards shall be landscaped to a depth of not less than 25 feet and 15 feet, respectively. Remaining front and street side yard areas of setbacks may be used for required off-street parking. The landscaping shall consist predominantly of plant materials except for necessary walks and drives.
2. 
All required landscaping shall be permanently maintained in a neat and orderly condition. Where landscaping is required for portions of lot(s) to be publicly-dedicated, the landscaping shall be maintained by the property owner for a period of one year from the date of the installation of the landscaping or until the City accepts maintenance responsibilities, whichever occurs first.
B. 
Screening Abutting an R Zone:
1. 
Where a commercial or office use abuts property in any residential zone the minimum building setback shall be 50 feet, and a masonry wall six feet in height and screen landscaping at least 15 feet in width shall be erected and maintained between such uses and the residential zone.
2. 
Whenever off-street parking areas are situated across the street from property in a residential zone, a masonry wall or berm three feet in height shall be erected between the required landscape area and the parking area to adequately screen said parking areas from the residential properties.
C. 
Noise Levels. The noise level emanating from any commercial use or operation shall not exceed the levels prescribed in Chapter 8.32 (Noise Control) of the Municipal Code.
D. 
Mechanical Equipment. All mechanical equipment, including heating and air conditioning units, and trash receptacle areas, shall be completely screened from surrounding properties by use of a wall or fence or shall be enclosed within a building, including when determined to be viewed from surrounding higher elevations and higher building floors. Structural and design plans for any required screening under the provisions of this section shall be approved by the Community Development Director and Building Official.
E. 
Lighting. All exterior lighting attached directly to a building in any manner shall be hooded, screened or directed downward/inward in such a manner that the lighting element is not directly visible from the adjacent streets and properties. Exceptions to this provision are:
1. 
Seasonal holiday decorations between Thanksgiving Day and January 15th;
2. 
No more than 14 additional days in any given calendar year for any other seasonal holiday decorations as approved by the Community Development Director; and
3. 
Any lighting approved by the Planning Commission as a part of a conditional use permit process.
(Ord. 2004-884; Ord. 2019-1056 § 3)

§ 18.12.090 Accessory structures.

A. 
In any C zone, accessory structures shall not be located in front of the main building.
B. 
In any C zone, accessory structures shall meet all of the setback requirements for main buildings.
C. 
In any C zone, porches, steps, architectural features such as canopies or eaves, and chimneys, balconies, or stairways may project not more than four feet into any required setback area.
(Ord. 2004-884; Ord. 2019-1056 § 3)

§ 18.12.100 Wall and fence requirements and restrictions.

A. 
In any required front or street side setback area, a wall or fence shall not exceed three feet in height.
B. 
In any required rear or interior side setback area, a wall or fence shall not exceed six feet in height.
C. 
The Community Development Director may administratively approve a deviation of 10 percent or less to the height provisions contained in subsections A and B above. A deviation of 11 percent to 20 percent over the prescribed standard contained in subsections A and B above, and/or retaining walls and/or combination retaining and screen walls up to a maximum height of nine feet may be approved subject to the granting of an administrative adjustment in accordance with Chapter 18.38 of this title.
D. 
Walls and fences shall also comply with Section 18.26.090 and Section 18.26.100 of this title.
(Ord. 2004-884; Ord. 2019-1056 § 3)