Chapter 9

For the purpose of this Chapter, the words, terms and phrases set forth in the following Sections shall have the meaning and construction given therein, except where used in a context which clearly indicates a different meaning or construction.

9191.002 Abut or Abutting.

Shall mean two (2) or more lots or areas of land or two (2) or more objects which touch one another.

9191.006 Access.

Shall mean a place or way by which pedestrians or vehicles are physically and legally permitted to have ingress to and/or egress from a property or use.

9191.010 Accessory.

Shall mean a use, building or facility incidental, related, and clearly subordinate to a principal use, building or facility established on the same lot.

9191.011 Accessory Dwelling Unit.

Shall mean an attached or detached residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one (1) or more persons. An accessory dwelling unit includes (1) an efficiency unit, as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 17958.1, and (2) a manufactured home, as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 18007. This definition shall be interpreted to be consistent with the definition for “accessory dwelling unit” in Government Code Section 65852.2, as may be amended. (Ord. 22-2211, § 21)

9191.012 Accessory Dwelling Unit, Junior.

Shall mean a residential dwelling unit that is no more than five hundred (500) square feet in size and is contained within a single-family residence. This definition shall be interpreted as consistent with the definition for “junior accessory dwelling unit” in Government Code Section 65852.22, as may be amended. (Ord. 22-2211, § 22)

9191.014 Action.

Shall mean a deliberative or authoritative decision of an officer or official body, including, but not limited to, a denial, approval, hearing or continuance of a matter under consideration.

9191.016 Adult Business.

Shall mean any one (1) of the following:

A. Any business wherein the preponderant business is the offering of services, materials, goods and/or products which are characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing, or relating to “nude” or “semi-nude” persons or “specified sexual activities” between persons for observation by patrons therein. Such business shall include, but not be limited to, an adult bookstore, adult video store, adult arcade, adult theater or other similar business;

B. Any business which utilizes or encourages sexual arousal, sexual gratification and/or sexual stimulation of a customer or prospective customer in connection with the sale or offering for sale of service, goods or materials. Such business shall include, but not be limited to, Turkish bath, “nude” or “semi-nude” modeling studio, business using “nude” or “semi-nude” models in offering lingerie or intimate apparel for sale, sexual catharsis center, sexual encounter establishment, bondage or discipline parlor, escort bureau or other similar business; or

C. Any business, having as a portion of its goods for sale, products which replicate or are designed to simulate “specified anatomical areas,” as defined in CMC 9191.620, and which are designed to be placed on “specified anatomical areas” to cause sexual excitement thereof. Such business shall include, but not be limited to, a sexual novelty store or other similar business.

This definition of adult business does not apply, nor shall it be interpreted to apply, to any business conducted, operated by or employing licensed chiropractors, licensed physicians, licensed physical therapists, licensed psychologists, licensed social workers or licensed marriage family counselors when performing functions under or pursuant to their respective licenses. (Added by Ord. 94-1035U, § 8; Ord. 94-1037, § 9; Ord. 06-1349, § 7)

Massage Service. See CMC 9138.91(B).

Tattoo Service. See CMC 9138.92(B).

9191.018 Alley.

Shall mean a public or private right-of-way which affords a means of vehicular access to the side or rear of one (1) or more lots having frontage on a street.

9191.022 Alley, Public.

Shall mean an alley dedicated for public use.

9191.026 Alter or Alteration.

Shall mean reconstruction, remodeling, addition or expansion of facilities involving more than maintenance and repair of existing facilities.

9191.026.5 Alternative Transportation.

Shall mean the use of modes of transportation other than the single passenger motor vehicle, including but not limited to carpools, vanpools, buspools, public transit, walking and bicycling. (Ord. 93-1002, § 2)

9191.027 Amusement Machine.

Shall mean a device, apparatus, or game of skill or chance designed or constructed to operate by the depositing of any coin, plate, disc, slug, or key. (Ord. 83-637U, § 7; Ord. 84-685, § 7)

9191.028 Arcade.

Shall mean any place of business to which the public is permitted or invited wherein four (4) or more coin- or token-operated amusement machines, still or motion picture machines, projection machines or similar contrivances are maintained. If an arcade is located within another business establishment it shall be deemed to be a separate business requiring a separate business license. (Ord. 83-637U, § 8; Ord. 84-685, § 8)

Area. See Lot Area or Floor Area.

9191.030 Authorized Agent or Representative of Owner.

Shall mean anyone who has authority to make requests or applications, speak for or make presentations on behalf of the owner of any property. An authorized agent or representative shall be responsible for any information or data which he presents to the City. As used in this Chapter, any party who is or will be a plaintiff in an action in eminent domain or acquire property shall be considered an authorized agent or representative for said property.

Automobile Dismantling or Wrecking Yard. See Vehicle Dismantling Yard.

Automobile Impounding Yard. See Vehicle Impounding Yard. (Ord. 16-1602, § 13)

9191.034 Basement.

Shall mean that portion of a building between a floor and ceiling which is partly below and partly above grade and so located that the vertical distance from average finished grade to the finished floor level below is less than the vertical distance from the average finished grade to ceiling. A basement shall be considered to be a story. (See Figure 1 at the end of this Part.)

9191.038 Boarding House.

Shall mean the same as Rooming House.

9191.040 Bona Fide Restaurant.

Shall mean an establishment which, on a regular basis and manner, is open for the serving of meals to patrons for compensation and which has adequate kitchen facilities suitable for the preparation of a variety of complete cooked meals, over and beyond such foods as sandwiches or salads. (Ord. 82-621, § 6)

9191.042 Borrow Pit.

Shall mean any place or premises where dirt, soil, sand, gravel or other material is removed by excavation for any purpose other than that necessary and incidental to grading or construction for a specific project on the premises.

9191.046 Building.

Shall mean any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals, chattel or property of any kind.

Building or Structure, Accessory. See Accessory.

9191.054 Building Code.

Shall mean the City of Carson Building Laws.

9191.058 Building Height.

Shall mean any vertical distance from the average finished grade to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof, to the deck line of a mansard roof or to the average height of the highest gable of a pitch or hip roof.

9191.062 Building, Main.

Shall mean a building in which is conducted a principal use of the lot upon which it is situated.

9191.066 Building Official.

Shall mean the officer or other designated authority charged with the administration and enforcement of the City of Carson Building Laws, or his duly authorized representative.

9191.066.5 Buspool.

Shall mean a vehicle carrying sixteen (16) or more passengers commuting on a regular basis to and from work with a fixed route, according to a fixed schedule. (Ord. 93-1002, § 2)

9191.067 Cargo Container Storage Facilities – Terms Defined.

A. Cargo Container. Shall mean any container sufficiently durable for repeated use which, by virtue of its own particular design, permits the temporary storage and protection of bulk commodities, goods and other cargo, and which may be transported in various modes without intermediate loading or unloading.

B. Cargo Container Parking. Shall mean the parking of a trailer, detached from the tractor unit, on which is loaded one (1) or more cargo containers.

C. Cargo Container Storage. Shall mean the storage or stacking of one (1) or more cargo containers. (Ord. 87-819, § 9; Ord. 87-822, § 4)

9191.070 Carport.

Shall mean a permanently roofed structure with not more than two (2) enclosed sides, used or intended to be used for automobile shelter or storage.

9191.072 Carpool.

Shall mean a vehicle carrying two (2) to six (6) persons commuting together to and from work on a regular basis. (Ord. 93-1002, § 2)

9191.073 Carson Civic Center.

Shall mean that area within the City of Carson bounded by 213th Street on the north, Avalon Boulevard on the west, Carson Street on the south, and having an eastern boundary delineated as one hundred (100) feet west of Garston Avenue between 213th Street on the north and Desford Street on the south, thence along Desford Street to the private street located between the Carson Community Center on the west and 1 and 2 Civic Plaza on the east, thence south along said private street to Carson Street. (Added by Ord. 94-1035U, § 9; Ord. 94-1037, § 10)

9191.074 Cellar.

Shall mean that portion of a building between a floor and ceiling which is wholly or partly below grade and so located that the vertical distance from average finished grade to the finished floor level below is equal to or greater than the vertical distance from average finished grade to the ceiling. A cellar shall not be considered a story. (See Figure 1 at the end of this Part.)

9191.078 Cemetery.

Shall mean land used or intended to be used for the burial or interment of the dead and dedicated for cemetery purposes. Cemetery includes columbaria, crematories and mausoleums, and may include mortuaries and chapels when operated in conjunction with and within the boundary of such cemetery.

9191.082 Centerline.

Shall mean the centerline of a street or other right-of-way as established by official surveys. If two (2) or more centerlines appear on official surveys, or in the absence of an official survey, the centerline shall be determined by the Director of Public Works.

9191.084 Check Cashing or Check Cashing Business.

Shall mean any business or type of service that is required to obtain a check casher permit from the Attorney General’s Department of Justice and/or provides services which include the acts of cashing checks, warrants, drafts, money orders, or other commercial paper serving the same purpose for compensation. Check cashing does not include any form of deferred deposit, payday loan, or short-term lending. (Ord. 09-1419, § 2)

9191.086 Child or Children.

Shall mean a person or persons under eighteen (18) years of age.

9191.090 Child Day Care.

Shall mean the part-time care of children who are not residents of the premises. Community Day Care Facilities are not included in this definition.

9191.094 Church.

Shall mean a building, including a temple or other place of religious worship, together with its accessory buildings and uses, where persons regularly assemble for religious worship and which building, together with its accessory buildings and uses, is maintained and controlled by an organized religious body. Rescue missions, tent revivals and other temporary assemblies are not included in this definition.

9191.098 Clinic, Dental or Medical.

Shall mean a health facility providing diagnosis, treatment or care to patients not confined to the facility as inpatients. Care may include, but is not limited to, the provision of medical, surgical, dental, mental health, rehabilitation, podiatric, optometric or chiropractic services (California Administrative Code, Title 17, Section 400).

9191.102 Club, Private.

Shall mean any building or premises used by an association of persons, whether incorporated or unincorporated, organized for some common purpose such as the promotion of literature, science, politics or good fellowship, but not including a group organized solely or primarily to render a service customarily carried on as a commercial enterprise.

9191.106 Commission.

Shall mean the Planning Commission of the City of Carson.

9191.110 Common Area.

Shall mean an entire project area excepting all lots or units granted to or reserved for individual owners or tenants.

9191.114 Community Care Facility.

Shall mean any facility, place, or building that is maintained and operated to provide nonmedical residential care, day treatment, adult day care, or foster family agency services for children, adults, or children and adults, including, but not limited to, the physically handicapped, mentally impaired, incompetent persons, and abused or neglected children, and includes the types of facilities listed in the California Health and Safety Code Sections 1500 through 1518 (California Community Care Facilities Act). Residential community care facilities and community day care facilities are included in this definition. (Ord. 13-1525, § 5)

9191.118 Community Care Facility, Residential.

Shall mean any family home, group care facility or similar facility for twenty-four (24) hour a day nonmedical care of persons in need of personal services, supervision or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual (California Health and Safety Code, Section 1502(a)). Small Family Home Community Care Facilities are included in this definition.

9191.122 Community Care Facility, Small-Family Home.

Shall mean a residential community care facility which is the family residence of the licensee in which care and supervision are provided for not more than six (6) persons, exclusive of members of the licensee’s family.

9191.126 Community Day Care Facility.

Shall mean any facility which provides nonmedical care to persons in need of personal services, supervision or assistance essential for sustaining activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual on less than a twenty-four (24) hour a day basis (California Health and Safety Code, Section 1502(b)).

9191.130 Compatible Use.

Shall mean a use that, because of its manner of operation and characteristics, is or would be in harmony with other existing, permitted or specified uses on the same site or adjacent property.

9191.134 Conditional Use Permit.

Shall mean an approval of a land use granted pursuant to CMC 9172.21. A Special Use Permit granted under previous regulations and continued in effect by the provisions of this Chapter is deemed to be a Conditional Use Permit.

9191.138 Condominium Common Area.

Shall mean the entire project excepting all units granted to or reserved for individual condominium owners.

9191.142 Condominium Documents.

Shall mean the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (the Declaration), the description of the Project Elements, the Condominium Plan establishing a plan for residential condominium ownership, and the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Association of the owners.

9191.146 Condominium Owner.

Shall mean the owner of a condominium unit.

9191.150 Condominium Plan.

Shall mean a plan consisting of a description or survey map of the surface of the land in the project, a diagram showing the dimensions and locations of the units, and a certificate acknowledging the intent to create a condominium project and consenting to the recordation of such a plan pursuant to local ordinance and Title 6, Part 4, Division II (Section 1350, et seq.) of the California Civil Code by the record owner of the property and all record holders of security interests therein.

9191.154 Condominium Project.

Shall mean the entire parcel of real property divided or to be divided into condominiums and common area including all structures located or to be located on such real property.

9191.158 Condominium Project Elements.

Shall mean the condominium units which are to be conveyed, the areas and spaces which are to be assigned to such units, and the common areas which are to be shared by the owners of all units. Such elements constitute the totality of the condominium project and are enumerated in a formal declaration or statement within the condominium documents that includes the incidents of the condominium grant. Such enumerative description may contain irrevocable limitations on the use of the Project Elements which are not appropriate for the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions.

9191.162 Condominium, Residential.

Shall mean an estate in real property consisting of an undivided interest in common in a portion of a parcel of real property together with a separate interest in space in a complex devoted to residential purposes located on such real property. A residential condominium may include, in addition, a separate interest in other portions of such real property. Such estate may, with respect to the duration of its enjoyment, be either an estate of inheritance or perpetual estate, an estate for life, or an estate for years, such as a leasehold or subleasehold. A residential condominium is a unique land use which has many similarities to the ownership of a single-family dwelling, except that it is usually marked by higher urban densities, contiguity of living units and the aforementioned common interest in the parcel of real property on which it is situated. Residential stock cooperatives are included in this definition for the purpose of meeting the requirements of CMC 9128.11 through 9128.17. (Ord. 80-532, § 1; Ord. 84-700, § 4; Ord. 85-720, § 17)

9191.166 Condominium Unit.

Shall mean the elements of a condominium project which are not owned in common with the owners of other condominiums in the project.

Convalescent Home or Convalescent Hospital. See Long-Term Health Care Facility.

9191.168 Cooperative, Residential Stock.

Shall mean a corporation formed or availed of primarily for the purpose of holding title to, either in fee simple or for a term of years, improved real property, if all or substantially all of the shareholders of such corporation receive a right of exclusive occupancy in a portion of the real property, title to which is held by the corporation, which right of occupancy is transferable only concurrently with the transfer of the share or shares of stock in the corporation held by the person having such right of occupancy. (Ord. 80-532, § 11; Ord. 84-700, § 4)

9191.170 Council.

Shall mean the City Council of the City of Carson.

9191.174 Curb Return.

Shall mean that portion of a curb which is curved to meet intersecting streets. The curb return begins at a point which is tangent to the curb alignment and ends at a point tangent to the curb alignment of the intersecting street.

9191.176 Deferred Deposit or Deferred Deposit Originator.

Shall mean any business or type of service that is required to obtain a deferred deposit originator license from the California Department of Corporations and provides services such as a transaction whereby a person defers depositing a customer’s personal check until a specific date, pursuant to a written agreement for a fee or other charge. Also includes any type of short-term lending. (Ord. 09-1419, § 2)

9191.178 Department Store.

Shall mean a store having a minimum floor area of one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet that carries several lines of merchandise, including apparel, home furnishings and appliances, and housewares, and that is organized into separate departments for the purpose of service, promotion, accounting and control. (Ord. 82-621)

Day Care for Children. See Child Day Care.

9191.180 Developer.

Shall mean the builder who is responsible for the planning, design and construction of a development project. A developer may be responsible for implementing the provisions of the Municipal Zoning Code as determined by the property owner. (Ord. 93-1002, § 2)

9191.182 Development.

Shall mean the activity of preparing land and constructing facilities in order to establish a land use. A development shall also mean a lot or project area together with the completed facilities and improvements thereon.

9191.184 Development Plan.

Shall mean a delineation, map or rendition and/or other description which describes the arrangement, appearance, materials, and other features (including but not limited to architecture, landscaping, parking, access, signs and open spaces) which constitute the development or proposed development of a site or any portion thereof.

9191.185 Development Project.

Shall mean a project for which a building permit is required for a commercial, industrial, institutional, or residential building having five (5) or more living units, where solid waste is collected and loaded and any residential project where solid waste is collected and loaded in a location serving five (5) or more living units. A development project shall also mean any new public facility where solid waste is collected and loaded and any improvements for areas of a public facility used for collecting and loading solid waste. (Ord. 93-1013, § 6)

9191.186 Director.

Shall mean the Community Development Director of the City of Carson, or his duly authorized representative.

9191.190 Director of Public Works.

Shall mean the Public Works Director of the City of Carson or his duly authorized representative.

9191.194 Display.

Shall mean the placement of goods, merchandise, equipment or exhibits arranged for viewing at a location visible to or accessible to the public.

9191.198 Driveway.

Shall mean a private roadway, which provides vehicular access from a street to a structure or site on adjacent grounds for the purpose of vehicle parking or loading or unloading of passengers or material.

9191.200 Driving Skill Course.

Shall mean any commercial facility whose primary business involves customers driving motor vehicles around a closed track. Customers may race against an automatic timing device, but may not race another customer. Said motor vehicles may not include motorcycles, mini-bikes, go-karts or vehicles licensed for use on public streets and/or highways. (Ord. 78-431)

9191.202 Dwelling.

Shall mean a building containing one (1) or more dwelling units. A group quarters or other building or portion thereof devoted primarily to rooming units shall not be considered to be a dwelling. For purposes of this Chapter a mobile home shall be considered a dwelling if it is certified under the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. Section 5401 et seq.) and is located on a permanent foundation system pursuant to Section 18551 of the California Health and Safety Code. (Ord. 81-566, § 1)

9191.206 Dwelling, Multiple.

Shall mean a dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units.

9191.208 Repealed.

Repealed by Ord. 22-2211. (Ord. 03-1290, § 4)

9191.210 Dwelling, Single-Family.

Shall mean a dwelling consisting of one (1) dwelling unit.

9191.214 Dwelling Unit.

Shall mean one (1) or more habitable rooms constituting a permanent, self-contained unit with a separate entrance and used or intended to be used continuously for living and sleeping purposes for not more than one (1) family and containing one, but not more than one, kitchen or kitchenette. A rooming unit is not a dwelling unit.

9191.218 Easement.

Shall mean an area on a lot, and so indicated on a subdivision map or in a deed restriction or other recorded document, reserved for or used for utilities, access or public purposes.

9191.219 Efficiency Unit.

Shall mean a separate living space with a minimum floor area of one hundred fifty (150) square feet intended for occupancy by no more than two (2) persons which contains partial kitchen and bathroom facilities. (Ord. 03-1290, § 5)

9191.222 Electric Distribution Substation.

Shall mean an assembly of equipment, which could include fuel cells and microwave, cable, radio and/or other communication facilities, as part of a system for distribution of electric power where electric energy is normally received at a subtransmission voltage and transformed to a lower voltage, and/or produced at this lower voltage in case a fuel cell is installed, for distribution to the customer.

9191.224 Emergency Shelter.

Shall mean a facility that provides immediate and short-term housing and supplemental services to homeless persons or families. Supplemental services may include food, counseling, and access to other social programs. (Ord. 13-1525, § 5)

9191.226 Exception.

Shall mean an approval granted and referred to as an Exception under previous zoning regulations. As provided in CMC 9183.3, certain Exceptions are continued in effect and are deemed to be Variances.

9191.230 Expansion.

Shall mean an enlargement or increase in floor area or an increase in the site area of a use, or an intensification of use. (Ord. 80-526, § 2)

9191.234 Family.

Shall mean any number of persons living together in a room or rooms comprising a single dwelling unit and related by blood, marriage, or adoption, or bearing the genetic character of a family unit as a relatively permanent single household, including servants and other live-in employees, who reside therein as though members of the family. Any group of persons not related by blood, marriage or adoption but inhabiting a dwelling unit, shall for the purpose of this Chapter be considered to constitute one (1) family if it is a bona fide single household, including servants and other live-in employees contained in such group. (Ord. 81-566, § 1)

9191.238 Finished Grade.

Shall mean the elevation of the ground surface at any point after completion of development.

9191.242 Finished Grade, Average.

Shall mean the average of the finished grades, at the midpoints of each wall of a building or side of a structure. In the event a building wall is parallel to and within five (5) feet of a sidewalk, the finished grade for that wall shall be measured at the sidewalk and opposite the midpoint of the wall. (See Figure 2 at the end of this Part.)

Flea Market. See Swap Meet.

9191.246 Floor Area, Gross.

Shall mean the sum of the horizontal areas of all floors within a building measured from the exterior faces of exterior walls or from the centerline of party walls separating two (2) buildings. The floor area of any basement, cellar or attic with headroom of more than six and one-half (6-1/2) feet shall be included. A basement, cellar or attic floor space with six and one-half (6-1/2) feet of headroom or less, as well as the area of courtyards, shall be excluded. For the purpose of computing required parking area, floor area devoted to parking and maneuvering shall not be included.

9191.250 Floor Area, Net.

Shall mean the gross floor area minus the area of permanent walls, elevator shafts, stairwells, housings for mechanical equipment and vent shafts.

9191.252 Floor Area Ratio (FAR).

Shall mean the gross floor area of all buildings on a lot divided by the net lot area. (Added by Ord. 94-1039, § 18)

Foster Home. See Community Care Facility, Small Family Home.

9191.254 Freeway.

Shall mean a highway with respect to which the owners of adjoining lands have no right of easement of access to or from their adjoining lands, or with respect to which such owners have only limited or restricted right of easement of access and which is declared to be such in compliance, with the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California, including principal roadways, interchange roadways connecting one freeway with another, and ingress and egress ramps connecting the freeway with other streets or highways, but not including frontage roads.

9191.258 Frontage.

Shall mean the line along which a lot abuts a public street.

9191.262 Future Right-of-Way Area.

Shall mean the portion of a lot planned to be part of a street, alley or public right-of-way, as determined by the Director in accordance with plans, policies or standards adopted by the City.

9191.266 Future Right-of-Way Line.

Shall mean the outer boundary of a future right-of-way.

9191.270 Garage.

Shall mean a building, or portion of a building, enclosed on three (3) or more sides, designed or used for the shelter or storage of vehicles.

9191.271 Garage, Subterranean.

Shall mean a structure wholly underground, or partly underground where the finished floor of the first level above the garage is not more than two (2) feet above the average curb grade adjacent to the property, except for openings for ingress and egress. (Added by Ord. 94-1039, § 18)

9191.272 Garage, Partial Subterranean.

Shall mean a structure partly underground where the finished floor of the first level above the garage is not more than five (5) feet above the average curb grade adjacent to the property, except for openings for ingress and egress. (Added by Ord. 94-1039, § 18)

9191.274 General Plan.

Shall mean the long-range, comprehensive general plan adopted by the City of Carson in accordance with the provisions of the State Planning and Zoning Law.

9191.278 Group Quarters.

Shall mean a residential facility or portion thereof in which the residents occupy rooming units.

9191.280 Gymnasium.

Shall mean a large room or building equipped for a variety of indoor sports, games, and spectator seating. The room may be equipped with bars, weights, ropes, etc., used for work-outs or games. A health club/fitness club shall not be considered a gymnasium if spectator seating is not provided. (Ord. 12-1488, § 3)

9191.282 Hedge.

Shall mean a line of shrubs or trees in which the foliage provides a continuous barrier to view or passage.

9191.286 Heliport.

Shall mean any helicopter landing area used, designed or intended to be used for the receiving or discharging of passengers or cargo, including any appurtenant facilities for passengers, cargo or the servicing, minor repair, shelter or storage of helicopters, but not including major or regular repair activities.

9191.290 Helistop.

Shall mean any helicopter landing area used, designed or intended to be used for the receiving and discharging of passengers or cargo on an occasional or intermittent basis, but not including appurtenant facilities permitted at a heliport other than a shelter for passengers.

9191.294 Hospital.

Shall mean a facility having a duly constituted governing body with overall administrative and professional responsibility and an organized medical staff which provides twenty-four (24) hour, in-patient care. This definition includes General Acute Care Hospital and Acute Psychiatric Hospital. (California Health and Safety Code, Section 1250(a) and (b).)

9191.298 Hotel, Residential.

Shall mean a building containing rooming units and designed for or occupied as a permanent abiding place for persons, with common living facilities, with or without meals. This definition does not include institutions where persons are housed under legal restraint, nor does it include health care facilities or community care facilities.

9191.302 Hotel, Transient.

Shall mean a building containing rooming units and designed for or occupied as an abiding place for transients. This definition does not include institutions where persons are housed under legal restraint, nor does it include health care facilities or community care facilities.

9191.303 Indoor Team Training Facility.

Shall mean an indoor private “training” facility that is subject to enrollment, does not provide spectator seating, does not operate as a pay-to-play format, and is not categorized as a public assembly use, physical training school, gymnasium, athletic club/health club, recreational play facility, or similar type of uses. No activities shall be conducted outdoors. The indoor sport shall require at least one (1) student and one (1) professional teacher/trainer. The facility shall only be used for the private training for team related sports/activities and only provide “training” for professional or amateur status athletes. “Training” does not include practice sessions for novice athletes or recreational play. (Ord. 12-1488, § 3)

9191.304 Intensification.

Shall mean either (1) an increase in site coverage or (2) an increase in production of goods or services as a result of a proposed increase in facilities, equipment, or utility installation. (Ord. 80-526, § 3)

9191.307 Intermodal Container Transfer Facility.

Shall mean a facility for the transfer or interchange of cargo containers (as defined in CMC 9191.067(A)) among the various transportation modes, including, without limitation, all buildings, structures, foundations, footing, pavement, rails, ties, pipes, switches, machinery, equipment, fences, wells and tanks relating thereto. (Ord. 87-822, § 5)

9191.310 Junk and Salvage.

Shall mean the recycling of old, secondhand or scrap ferrous and nonferrous metals, pipe, paper and paper products, including roofing and tar paper, manufactured plastic products, paint, manufactured clay and porcelain products, trash and similar materials, and may also include the baling of cardboard boxes, paper and paper cartons.

9191.314 Junk and Salvage Yard.

Shall mean any premises, establishment or place of business which is maintained, operated or used for storing, keeping, buying, selling, dismantling or processing of junk and salvage.

9191.318 Kennel.

Shall mean a place where four (4) or more dogs or cats, aged four (4) months or more, are kept, boarded or trained, whether by the owners of the dogs and cats or by persons providing facilities and care, with or without compensation.

9191.322 Kitchen.

Shall mean any space within a building used, designed or intended to be used for the cooking or preparation of food.

9191.326 Laboratory.

Shall mean a building or portion thereof devoted to the testing and analysis of any material, animal or person, but where no manufacturing is conducted on the premises except for experimental or testing purposes, including but not limited to prosthodontics.

9191.330 Landscaping.

Shall mean a designed or natural arrangement of growing plant material such as trees, shrubs, vines, ground cover, flowers or lawn. In addition, features such as rocks, fountains, pools and benches may be included.

9191.334 Livestock.

Shall mean any large, live domestic animals, including but not limited to horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, hogs and live fowl such as chickens, turkeys, peacocks, guineas, geese or ducks.

9191.338 Loading Area.

Shall mean an off-street space or berth on the same lot with a building, or group of buildings, designed or used for temporary parking of a commercial vehicle while loading or unloading merchandise or materials.

9191.342 Long-Term Health Care Facility.

Shall mean a facility which maintains and operates twenty-four (24) hour skilled nursing services for the care and treatment of chronically ill or convalescent patients, or provides supportive, restorative and preventive health services in conjunction with a socially oriented program for its residents and which maintains and operates twenty-four (24) hour services including board, room, personal care and intermittent nursing care. (California Health and Safety Code, Section 148(a).)

9191.346 Lot.

Shall mean a parcel of real property that has been legally separated from other parcels of real property and has a distinct number or other designation as shown on a plat map, subdivision map, parcel map, record of survey map or as defined by a metes and bounds description in a deed, in each case recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Los Angeles County. The legal status of a lot is governed by the Subdivision Map Act of the State of California (Government Code 66410 et seq.). (Ord. 89-897, § 1)

9191.350 Lot Area.

Shall mean the total extent of surface, measured in a horizontal plane, within the lot lines of a lot, and shall mean net lot area unless otherwise indicated.

9191.354 Lot Area, Net.

Shall mean that area of a lot exclusive of:

1. Public streets, alleys, walkways and other existing public rights-of-way.

2. Proposed public rights-of-way such as alleys and streets and other necessary public sites, when approved for inclusion within a proposed development project.

3. Other public or private easements where the owner of the servient tenement does not have the right to use the entire surface of land in any manner.

9191.358 Lot, Corner.

Shall mean a lot situated at the intersection of two (2) or more streets having an angle of intersection of not more than one hundred thirty-five (135) degrees. (See Figure 3 at the end of this Part.)

9191.362 Lot Depth.

Shall mean the horizontal distance measured from the midpoint of the front lot line to the midpoint of the rear lot line.

9191.364 Lot Frontage.

See Frontage.

9191.366 Lot, Interior.

Shall mean a lot other than a corner lot. (See Figure 3 at the end of this Part.)

9191.370 Lot Line.

Shall mean any line bounding a lot as herein defined.

9191.374 Lot Line, Front.

In the case of a lot having frontage on only one (1) street, said frontage is the front lot line.

In the case of corner lot, the Director shall determine the front lot line based upon the orientation of existing or proposed development on the subject lot and/or adjacent lots.

In the case of a lot at the intersection of two (2) streets which have an angle of intersection of more than one hundred thirty-five (135) degrees, both frontages shall be considered to be front lot lines.

In case of a through lot, both street frontages shall be considered to be front lot lines, except if access across any such frontage is prohibited, it shall not be considered a front lot line.

In the case of a lot having frontage on three (3) or more streets, the Director shall determine which frontage or frontages shall be considered front lot lines based upon the orientation of existing or proposed development on the subject lot and/or adjacent lots.

9191.376 Lot Line, Interior.

Shall mean a lot line which is common to two (2) abutting lots.

9191.378 Lot Line, Rear.

Shall mean a lot line which is opposite and most distant from the front lot line. In the case of an irregular, triangular or gore-shaped lot, the rear lot line shall be an assumed line parallel to and passing through the point of the lot which is at the greatest distance from the front lot line.

In the case of a through lot with two (2) front lines, there is no rear lot line.

In the case of a lot where the front lot line is determined by the Director, the Director shall also determine which, if any, lot lines shall be considered the rear lot line.

9191.382 Lot Line, Side.

Shall mean any lot line which is not a front lot line or a rear lot line.

9191.386 Lot, Through.

Shall mean a lot having frontage on two (2) parallel or approximately parallel streets. (See Figure 3 at the end of this Part.)

9191.390 Lot Width.

Shall mean the horizontal distance measured from the midpoints of the side lot lines. (Ord. 80-532, § 11)

9191.391 Manufactured Home.

Shall mean a transportable structure which in the traveling mode is eight (8) feet or more in width and forty (40) feet or more in length and is a minimum of three hundred twenty (320) square feet and which is built on a permanent chassis and is designed to be used as a dwelling with a permanent foundation. (Ord. 03-1290, § 6)

9191.391.5 Medical Marijuana Dispensary.

“Medical marijuana dispensary” means any establishment, business, enterprise, or location where marijuana is distributed, transmitted, given, or otherwise provided to qualified patients or primary caregivers in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Sections 11362.5 through 11362.83, inclusive, commonly referred to as “The Compassionate Use Act of 1996” and Senate Bill 420. A “medical marijuana dispensary” shall not include the following uses, as long as the location of such uses is otherwise regulated by this Code or applicable law: a clinic licensed pursuant to Health and Safety Code Division 2, Chapter 1; a health care facility licensed pursuant to Health and Safety Code, Division 2, Chapter 2; a residential care facility for persons with chronic life-threatening illness licensed pursuant to Health and Safety Code, Division 2, Chapter 3.01; a residential care facility for the elderly licensed pursuant to Health and Safety Code, Division 2, Chapter 3.2; a residential hospice or a home health agency licensed pursuant to Health and Safety Code, Division 2, Chapter 8; as long as any such use complies strictly with applicable law including, but not limited to, Health and Safety Code Section 11362.5 et seq. Medical marijuana dispensaries are prohibited in the City of Carson. (Ord. 08-1410, § 10)

9191.392 Mini-Mart, Indoor.

Shall mean an indoor retail sales establishment for the purpose of selling new merchandise where two (2) or more individual sellers rent, lease or otherwise purchase the right to sell their products. Indoor mini-mart includes businesses conducted in a common room or rooms of a building but does not include businesses conducted in a single tenant commercial building, a multiple tenant commercial building that has separate primary exterior entrances for each tenant, or in a mall as defined by Sections 711 through 715 of Chapter 7 of Title 26 of the Los Angeles County Unified Building Code and further, accessory uses such as separate concessionaires, lessees, vendors, and kiosks provided such accessory uses are not the primary use of the building. (Ord. 87-813, § 6)

9191.393 Mixed-Use.

Shall mean the type of development which allows a combination of land uses within a single development (e.g., residential, commercial and recreational uses). (Added by Ord. 94-1039, § 18)

9191.394 Mobile Home.

Shall mean a structure, transportable in one (1) or more sections, designed or used for human habitation by one (1) family. (Ord. 80-532, § 11; Ord. 81-566, § 1)

9191.398 Mobile Home Park.

Shall mean any area or tract of land intended, maintained or designed for the purpose of supplying a location or accommodation for two (2) or more mobile homes including all buildings used or intended to be used as part of the equipment of such facility regardless of whether a charge is made for such use. Not included in this definition are trailer camp, trailer court, trailer park and similar terms. (Ord. 81-550, § 3)

9191.400 Mobile Home Site.

Shall mean that portion of a mobile park designated for use or occupancy of one (1) mobile home, including all appurtenant facilities thereon for the exclusive use of the occupants of said mobile home.

9191.402 Motel.

Shall mean a building or group of buildings containing rooming units or dwelling units with automobile parking space provided in connection therewith, and designed, intended to be used or used primarily for the accommodation of transient automobile travelers. This definition shall include auto cabins, tourist courts, motor courts, motor lodges and similar type uses. An establishment shall be considered a motel if it is required by the Health and Safety Code of the State of California to obtain the names and addresses of the guests and the make, year and license number of the vehicle and the State in which the vehicle is registered.

9191.406 Motor Vehicles.

Shall mean a self-propelled device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved or drawn upon a street or highway, except a device moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

9191.410 Nonconformity.

Shall mean any use or characteristic of land or property, or portion thereof, or activity or circumstance, which does not conform to the regulations of this Chapter, but which was lawfully established under the regulations which prevailed at the time of such establishment.

9191.411 Nude or Semi-Nude.

The term “nude” shall mean a person completely without clothing or covering. The term “semi-nude” shall mean a person whose “specified anatomical areas,” as defined in CMC 9191.620, are less than completely and opaquely covered or who appears to have human male genitals which are in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered. (Added by Ord. 94-1035U, § 10; Ord. 94-1037, § 11)

Nursing Home. See Long-term Health Care Facility

9191.414 Occupancy.

Shall mean the purpose for which land or a structure is used or intended to be used. Change of occupancy does not include a mere change of owners, tenants or proprietors.

9191.416 Off-Sale Business.

Shall mean an off-sale business (incidental) or off-sale business (primary), other than a department store or supermarket, as defined below.

“Off-sale business (incidental)” means an establishment required to obtain a State Alcoholic Beverage Control License (type 20 or 21) and in which less than or equal to twenty (20) percent of the gross floor area is utilized for the sale, display or storage of beer, wine, distilled spirits for consumption off-site.

“Off-sale business (primary)” means an establishment required to obtain a State Alcoholic Beverage Control License (type 20 or 21) and in which more than twenty (20) percent of the gross floor area i s utilized for the sale, display or storage of beer, wine, or distilled spirits for consumption off-site. “Off-site business (primary)” may include, but is not limited to, such uses as liquor stores, wine shops, etc. (Ord. 01-1231, § 4)

9191.418 Open Space.

Shall mean ground areas other than the following:

1. Public rights-of-way.

2. Driveways.

3. Trash areas.

4. Parking areas.

5. Loading areas.

6. Vehicle maneuvering areas.

7. Ground area covered by building or structures other than permitted encroachments.

9191.421 Open Space, Private.

Shall mean open space which has an average gradient of not more than five (5) percent. Private open space may include but is not limited to balconies, patios, terraces, and roof gardens and, in all cases, shall be contiguous to individual dwelling units. Front, side, and rear yard setbacks shall not be credited toward private open space. (Added by Ord. 85-720, § 13)

9191.422 Open Space, Usable.

Shall mean open space which has an average gradient of not more than five (5) percent. Usable open space may include, but is not limited to, balconies, terraces, and roof gardens. Children’s playgrounds, private open space and/or side and rear yard setbacks may be credited toward usable open space. (Ord. 85-720, § 14)

9191.424 Organic Refuse Landfill Site.

Shall mean a disposal site in which organic waste matter has been deposited and which is characterized by decomposition of the organic waste matter through an anaerobic microbial process. (Ord. 79-449)

9191.426 Outdoor Festival.

Shall mean any music festival, dance festival, “rock” festival or similar musical activity to which both of the following apply:

1. Attendance by more than five hundred (500) persons is desired or may reasonably be expected; and

2. The festival will be held at any place other than in a permanent building or permanent installation which has been constructed for the purpose of or is so constructed that it can be used for conducting such activities.

9191.430 Park or Playground, Public.

Shall mean a publicly owned and supervised recreation area and appurtenant facilities.

9191.434 Parking Area.

Shall mean an area, other than a street or alley, available for temporary storage of vehicles in active use regardless of whether such vehicle storage is for remuneration. Areas for display, long-term storage, impounding or dismantling of vehicles or for truck loading and maneuvering are not included in this definition.

9191.438 Parking Building or Structure.

Shall mean a building or structure, or portion thereof, within or upon which a parking area is located.

9191.439 Parking Area, Employee.

Shall mean the portion of total required parking at a development used by onsite employees. (Ord. 93-1002, § 2)

9191.442 Parking Lot.

Shall mean a parking area not located within or upon a parking building of structure.

9191.443 Parking – Preferential.

Shall mean parking spaces designated or assigned, through use of a sign or painted space markings for carpool or vanpool vehicles carrying commute passengers on a regular basis that are provided in a location more convenient to a place of employment than parking spaces provided for single occupant vehicles. (Ord. 93-1002, § 2)

9191.446 Parking Space.

Shall mean a readily accessible off-street area, not including aisles, driveways, walkways, ramps, loading, maneuvering or work areas, maintained exclusively for the parking of one (1) motor vehicle.

9191.450 Parkway.

Shall mean that portion of a street located between the property line and the face of the curb, or between the property line and edge of the pavement if no curb exists.

9191.454 Passageway.

Shall mean a way by which pedestrians have a safe, adequate and usable access to and between buildings.

9191.456 Payday Loan.

See Deferred Deposit. (Ord. 09-1419, § 2)

9191.458 Person.

Shall mean an individual, firm, co-partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, syndicate, the Federal, State, City or County Government, or Special District, or any other group or combination acting as an entity.

9191.460 Physical Training School.

Shall mean a business that provides non-team-related training, lessons, or classes that are subject to enrollment and does not provide spectator seating. The physical class shall include at least one (1) student and (1) one instructor. Physical training schools include classes/lessons/training for dance, ballet, tap, martial arts, and other non-team-related type of uses. (Ord. 12-1488, § 3)

9191.462 Planned Development.

Shall mean the planning, construction or implementation and operation of any use or structure, or combination of uses and structures, based upon a comprehensive and complete design or plan treating the entire complex of land, structures and uses as a single project.

9191.466 Planning Division.

Shall mean the Planning Division of the Community Development Department of the City of Carson.

9191.470 Plot Plan.

Shall mean the same as Site Plan.

9191.474 Premises.

Shall mean the same as Site.

9191.478 Project Area.

Shall mean a lot or combination of contiguous lots, whether or not held in the same ownership, which are used or intended to be used for a planned development.

9191.482 Project Grading.

Shall mean any excavation or fill, or combination thereof, necessary and incidental to building construction or other lawful development of the premises.

9191.486 Property Line.

Shall mean the same as Lot Line.

9191.490 Public Use.

Shall mean a use operated exclusively by a public body, said use having the purpose of serving the public health, safety or general welfare, and including uses such as public schools, parks, playgrounds, hospitals, administrative and service facilities.

9191.492 Public Works Director.

See Director of Public Works.

9191.494 Quasi-Public Use.

Shall mean a use operated by a private nonprofit educational, religious, recreational, charitable or medical institution, said use having the purpose primarily of serving the general public, and including uses such as churches, private schools, universities, private hospitals and youth centers.

9191.506 Recreational Vehicle.

Shall mean a camp car, camper, motor home, travel trailer or similar vehicle, with or without motive power, but not a mobile home.

9191.508 Recycling Facilities – Terms Defined.*

A. Collection Recycling Facility, Large. Shall mean a center, occupying an area greater than five hundred (500) square feet, for the acceptance of recyclable materials from the public by means of a bulk or single-feed reverse vending machine, a mobile recycling unit, a kiosk unit or a permanent building. A large collection recycling facility shall be the primary use on the site.

B. Collection Recycling Facility, Small. Shall mean a center, occupying an area less than five hundred (500) square feet, for the acceptance of recyclable materials from the public by means of a bulk or single-feed reverse vending machine, a mobile recycling unit, or a kiosk unit. A small collection recycling facility shall be incidental to an existing primary commercial use, and shall not include any type of power-driven processing equipment other than that required to operate a reverse vending machine.

C. Convenience District. Shall mean an area within a one-half mile radius of a supermarket that is designated by the California Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling, as a “convenience zone.” “Convenience district” shall have the same meaning as “convenience zone” as said term is used in the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986. At least one (1) certified recycling facility shall be permitted within a convenience district unless exempted by the California Department of Conservation.

D. Mobile Recycling Unit. Shall mean an automobile, truck, trailer or van, licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is used for the collection of recyclable materials. A mobile recycling unit also means the bins, boxes or containers transported by trucks, vans, or trailers, and used for the collection of recyclable materials. A mobile recycling unit shall not occupy an area of more than five hundred (500) square feet.

E. Processing Facility for Recyclables. Shall mean a building or enclosed space used for the collection and processing of recyclable materials. Processing means the preparation of material for efficient shipment, or to an end-user’s specifications, by such means as baling, briquetting, compacting, flattening, grinding, crushing, mechanical sorting, shredding, cleaning and remanufacturing.

F. Processing Facility for Recyclables, Heavy. Shall mean any processing facility for recyclables other than a light processing facility for recyclables.

G. Processing Facility for Recyclables, Light. Shall mean a processing facility for recyclables that occupies an area of under forty-five thousand (45,000) square feet of gross collection, processing and storage area and has up to an average of two (2) outbound truck shipments per day. Light processing facilities for recyclables are limited to baling, briquetting, crushing, compacting, grinding, shredding and sorting of source-separated recyclable materials and repairing of reusable materials. A light processing facility for recyclables shall not shred, compact or bale ferrous metals other than food and beverage containers.

H. Recyclable Materials. Shall mean reusable material including, but not limited to, metals, glass, plastic and paper, which is intended for reuse, remanufacture, or reconstitution for the purpose of using the altered form. Recyclable material does not include refuse, hazardous materials or waste. Recyclable material may include used motor oil collected and transported in accordance with Sections 25250.11 and 25143.2(b)(4) of the California Health and Safety Code.

I. Recycling Areas (Areas for Recycling). Shall mean any space allocated for collecting and loading of recyclable materials. Such areas shall have the ability to accommodate receptacles for recyclable materials. Recycling areas shall be accessible and convenient for those who deposit as well as those who collect and load any recyclable materials placed therein.

J. Recycling Facility. Shall mean a center for the collection or processing of recyclable materials. Recycling facilities include small collection recycling facilities, large collection recycling facilities, light processing facilities for recyclables and heavy processing facilities for recyclables. A recycling facility does not include storage containers or processing activity located on the premises of a residential, commercial, or manufacturing use and is used solely for the recycling of material generated by that residential property, business or manufacturer.

K. Recycling Facility, Certified. Shall mean a recycling facility certified by the California Department of Conservation as meeting the requirements of the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986.

L. Reverse Vending Machine, Bulk. Shall mean a reverse vending machine which is designed to accept more than one (1) empty recyclable beverage container at a time and will pay by weight rather than by individual container.

M. Reverse Vending Machine, Single-Feed. Shall mean an automated mechanical device, similar in size and appearance to a soda vending machine, which accepts empty recyclable beverage containers one (1) at a time and issues to the consumer, based upon the number of containers deposited, a cash refund or a redeemable credit slip with a value not less than the container’s redemption value as determined by the State. (Ord. 87-819, § 10; Ord. 93-1002, § 7)

* Editor’s Note: See the Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act passed in 1986 for provisions regarding compliance and penalties.

Religious Worship, Place of. See Church.

Repairs and Services, Major Automobile. See CMC 9138.11(A)(5).

Repairs and Services, Minor Automobile. See CMC 9138.11(A)(4).

9191.510 Residence or Residential.

Shall mean a dwelling, group quarters, mobile home or other permanent living accommodations, or features pertaining thereto.

9191.514 Retail.

Shall mean the purchase, sale, distribution, delivery or other transaction involving the handling or disposition of any article, substance, commodity or service, for profit or livelihood, direct to the ultimate consumer.

Retail Petroleum Outlet. See CMC 9138.11 (A)(2).

9191.518 Retirement Home.

Shall mean a facility which offers or provides lodging, with or without meals, primarily for aged persons, but does not include any facility defined as a Community Care Facility.

9191.522 Rooming House.

Shall mean either: A dwelling or portion thereof which is used to accommodate seven (7) or more roomers; or any other residential building containing rooming units, regardless of whether a common meal service is provided. Retirement homes, senior citizen homes and residential hotels are not included in this definition.

9191.526 Rooming Unit.

Shall mean one (1) or more habitable rooms with separate entrances and used or intended to be used for living and/or sleeping purposes. The basic distinction between a rooming house and a dwelling unit shall be that a rooming unit shall not have a kitchen or kitchenette. For the purpose of this definition, a sleeping room in a transient hotel, motel without kitchens, rooming house, fraternity house, sorority house or dormitory shall constitute a rooming unit. Where rooming units are not clearly delineated, each one hundred (100) square feet of common sleeping area shall be considered one (1) rooming unit.

9191.530 Scenic Highway.

Shall mean a roadway designated as a scenic highway in the Scenic Highway Element of the General Plan of the City of Carson or a roadway within the Scenic Highway System of the State of California.

9191.534 School, Private.

Shall mean a private institution of learning which is generally supported by tuition, fee, or donation and which offers instruction in areas of academic, vocational and avocational pursuits, but not including a trade school.

9191.538 School, Public.

Shall mean a publicly owned institution of learning supported primarily by public funds.

9191.542 School, Trade.

Shall mean a school primarily offering instruction in the technical and/or trade skills such as electronic schools, automotive and aircraft technician’s schools and similar establishments.

9191.544 Second Primary Unit.

Shall mean a second residential dwelling unit, other than an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit, on a parcel with one (1) and only one (1) existing residential unit that is not an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit. (Ord. 22-2210, § 12)

9191.546 Secondhand Store.

Shall mean any business offering merchandise for sale where the greater portion of the merchandise is secondhand or used.

9191.550 Service Yard, Public Utility or Public Service.

Shall mean any building or premises used primarily for the office, warehouse, storage yard or vehicle equipment maintenance of a public utility including microwave, radio, cable and/or other communication facilities.

9191.554 Setback.

Shall mean the shortest horizontal distance, measured at ground level and above, between a building or structure and a lot line or other specified line.

9191.556 Sidewalk.

Shall mean the paved portion of a parkway intended exclusively for pedestrian travel.

9191.558 Sign.

Shall mean any name, figure, painting, character, outline, spectacle, display, delineation, announcement, advertising, billboard, signboard, device, appliance or any other thing of similar nature to attract attention outdoors or on the face, wall or window of any building, and shall include all parts, portions, units and materials composing of the same, together with the frame, background, support and anchorage therefor.

9191.566 Sign, Business.

Shall mean a sign directing attention to the principal business, profession or industry located upon the premises where the sign is displayed, or to type of products sold, manufactured or assembled, or to services or entertainment offered on said premises.

9191.567 Sign, Electronic Message Center.

Shall mean any sign which is controlled by electronic process or remote control in such a manner that different copy changes are instantaneously displayed on the same lamp bank. (Ord. 80-513, § 5)

9191.568 Sign Face.

Shall mean a single sign display surface.

9191.570 Sign Face Area.

Shall mean the total surface area computed by drawing intersecting straight lines which form the boundary of the area within which words, letters, figures, symbols or pictures could be placed.

9191.574 Sign, Flashing or Scintillating.

Shall mean any sign which by any method or manner of illumination either flashes on or off, winks or blinks with varying light intensity; shows motion or creates the illusion of motion; or revolves in a manner to create the illusion of being on or off. Automatic changing signs such as public service time and temperature signs or electronic message center signs shall not be considered a flashing or scintillating sign. (Ord. 80-513, § 4)

9191.578 Sign, Free-Standing.

Shall mean any sign supported directly on the ground. This definition includes pole signs, ground signs and other signs detached from a building.

9191.582 Sign, Illuminated.

Shall mean any sign designed to emit or brightly reflect artificial light.

9191.584 Sign, Off-Site.

Signs that direct attention to a business, commodity, industry, or other commercial activity sold, offered, or conducted elsewhere than on the premises upon which such sign is located. (Ord. 15-1563, § 13)

9191.585 Sign, On-Site.

Signs that direct attention to a business, commodity, industry, or other commercial activity sold, offered, or conducted on the premises upon which such sign is located.

All signs on private property that display noncommercial messages or designs are considered on-premises signs, irrespective of where they are placed. (Ord. 15-1563, § 13)

9191.585.1 Sign, Open House.¹

Temporary directional signs for real estate events. (Ord. 15-1563, § 13)

9191.586 Sign, Outdoor Advertising.

Shall mean any sign directing public attention to a business, profession, product or service that is not a principal business, profession, product or service which is sold, manufactured, conducted or offered on the premises where such a sign is erected or maintained. Billboards are included in this definition.

9191.587 Sign, Temporary.

Any sign subject to a time limitation or used for a limited time period or purpose; or, any sign with a useful life of one (1) year or less. (Ord. 15-1563, § 13)

9191.590 Sign, Real Estate Advertising.

Shall mean an on-site sign or sign structure offering property for sale, lease or rent, which may contain the name, address and/or telephone number of a real estate broker or property owner. (Ord. 15-1563, § 14)

9191.594 Sign, Revolving.

Shall mean a sign or portion thereof which rotates, moves or appears to move in some manner by mechanical, electrical, natural or other means.

9191.598 Sign Structure.

Shall mean a structure existing, erected or maintained to serve as a stand, frame or other background for the support or display of signs. This definition is limited to free-standing structures which have the primary purpose of supporting a sign, except that a building or other structure upon which a sign is mounted shall be counted as a sign structure for the purpose of regulating the number of sign structures permitted.

9191.602 Sign, Subdivision Directional.

Shall mean a temporary sign used for the purpose of providing travel directions to a subdivision development.

9191.606 Sign, Wall.

Shall mean any sign posted, painted on, suspended from or otherwise affixed to the wall of any building or structure in an essentially flat position or with the exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of such wall.

9191.608 Single-Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing.

Shall mean housing consisting of single-room dwelling units with no more than four hundred (400) square feet of habitable space that is the primary residence of its occupant or occupants. The unit must contain either food preparation or sanitary facilities (and may contain both). An accessory structure (i.e., garage) does not qualify as an SRO. Efficiency units are included in this definition. (Ord. 13-1525, § 5)

9191.610 Site.

Shall mean a project area or lot or portion thereof used or intended to be used for a land use or group of interrelated land uses. Site shall also mean an individually reserved, leased or owned unit of land within a planned development, condominium project or mobile home park.

9191.614 Site Plan.

Shall mean a rendition of a plan to scale, showing all of the uses, yard areas, parking, landscaping, structures and other features existing or proposed on a site.

9191.618 Special Use Permit.

Shall mean an approval of a land use granted and referred to as a Special Use Permit under previous zoning regulations. As provided in CMC 9183.3, certain Special Use Permits are continued in effect and are deemed to be Conditional Use Permits.

9191.620 Specified Anatomical Areas.

Shall mean any of the following:

A. The human genitals or the human pubic region;

B. The perineum or any portion of the crease of the human buttocks; or

C. The portion of the human female breasts that includes the nipple or that portion of the breast which has a different pigmentation than the main portion of the breast. (Added by Ord. 94-1035U, § 11; Ord. 94-1037, § 12)

9191.621 Specified Sexual Activities.

Shall mean any of the following:

A. Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal;

B. Acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse, oral copulation, or sodomy; and

C. Fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttocks, or female breasts. (Added by Ord. 94-1035U, § 12; Ord. 94-1037, § 13)

9191.622 Stable.

Shall mean a structure or portion thereof used for the shelter or care of horses or similar animals.

9191.626 Storage.

Shall mean the use of land or structures for the accumulation or holding of goods, merchandise, equipment or material.

9191.630 Storage, Outdoor.

Shall mean the storage outside of an enclosed building for any purpose other than display.

9191.634 Story.

Shall mean that portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above. Story includes a basement but not a cellar.

9191.638 Street.

Shall mean a right-of-way open to or intended to be opened to the public primarily for the movement of vehicles and access to adjacent property. This definition does not include an alley, walkway, freeway or frontage road. (Ord. 80-532, § 11)

9191.642 Street, Arterial.

Shall mean a street designated as a Major or Secondary Highway on the Master Plan of Highways of the General Plan of the City of Carson.

Street Centerline. See Centerline.

9191.646 Street, Collector.

Shall mean a street designated as a Collector Street on the Master Plan of Highways of the General Plan of the City of Carson.

Street Frontage. See Frontage.

9191.650 Street, Private.

Shall mean a street not dedicated for public use.

9191.654 Street, Public.

Shall mean a street dedicated for public use.

9191.658 Structure.

Shall mean anything constructed or erected which requires location on the ground or is attached to something having a location on the ground, except outdoor areas such as walks, paved areas, tennis courts, and similar open recreation areas. This definition includes buildings.

Structure, Accessory. See Accessory.

9191.662 Structure Height.

Shall mean the vertical distance from the average finished grade to the highest part of the structure.

9191.666 Structure, Unoccupiable.

Shall mean any structure which is not defined as a building.

9191.668 Supermarket.

Shall mean a departmentalized self-service chain or independent retail market, used primarily for the retailing of a variety of food, convenience goods, and household merchandise arranged in open mass display, with a minimum floor area of twenty thousand (20,000) square feet. (Ord. 82-621)

9191.669 Supportive Housing.

Shall mean housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied by the target population, and that is linked to on-site or off-site services that assist the supportive housing resident in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status, and maximizing his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community. This definition excludes housing for halfway houses intended for occupancy of parolees or convicted persons, group quarters for members of a religious order, boarding or rooming house, fraternity or sorority house, dormitory or similar group quarters. (Ord. 13-1525, § 5)

9191.670 Swap Meet (Including Flea Markets).

Shall mean a business conducted for the purpose of selling new or used merchandise in a parking lot, drive-in theater, or other outdoor facility where two (2) or more individuals rent, lease or otherwise purchase the right to sell their products at the location. Swap meets shall include flea markets. Swap meets shall not include fairs or bazaars when conducted by a church, school or other nonprofit public service organization; provided, that said events do not occur more than four (4) times in any one (1) year unless approved by the Director for additional events. Further, swap meets shall not include indoor mini-marts or auction houses or similar businesses conducted on a permanent basis. Any sales use which is advertised as a swap meet or variant shall be construed as a swap meet under this definition. (Ord. 86-763U, § 2; Ord. 87-813, § 2; Ord. 98-1135, § 3)

9191.674 Tandem.

Shall mean a group of two (2) or more objects arranged or following one behind the other.

Temple. See Church.

9191.678 Tradefair.

Shall mean an indoor or outdoor exhibit of new product by manufacturers or distributors. This definition specifically excludes swap meet and flea market.

9191.679 Trailer.

Shall mean a vehicle, with or without motive power, which is designed or used for human habitation. Included in this definition is camp car, camper, motor home, travel trailer, recreational vehicle or similar vehicle, but not a mobile home. (Ord. 81-550, § 4)

9191.680 Trailer Park.

Shall mean any area or tract of land intended, maintained or designed for the purpose of supplying a location or accommodation for two (2) or more trailers including all buildings used or intended to be used as part of the equipment of such facility regardless of whether a charge is made for such use. Included in this definition are trailer camp, trailer court and similar terms. (Ord. 81-550, § 5)

9191.682 Transfer Station for Refuse.

Shall mean an area, including any necessary buildings or structures, for the temporary storage and salvage of rubbish, garbage or industrial waste, but not including the processing of junk and salvage and not including a waste disposal facility.

9191.686 Transportation Demand Management (TDM).

Shall mean the alteration of travel behavior usually on the part of commuters through programs of incentives, services and policies. TDM addresses alternatives to single occupant vehicles such as carpooling and vanpooling, and changes in work schedules that move trips out of the peak period or eliminate them altogether (as is the case in telecommuting or compressed work weeks). (Ord. 93-1002, § 2)

9191.690 Transient.

Shall mean a person who receives lodging at a given location, with or without meals for a period of not more than one hundred eighty (180) days.

9191.692 Transitional Housing.

Shall mean a building or group of buildings configured as rental housing developments, but operated under program requirements that call for the termination of assistance and recirculation of the assisted unit to another eligible program recipient at some predetermined future point in time, which shall be no less than six (6) months. This definition excludes housing for halfway houses intended for occupancy of parolees or convicted persons, group quarters for members of a religious order, boarding or rooming house, fraternity or sorority house, dormitory or similar group quarters. (Ord. 13-1525, § 5)

9191.694 Transmission Line, Major.

Shall mean a utility line for the transmission of electrical energy at voltages of thirty-three thousand (33,000) volts or above.

9191.696 Trip Reduction.

Shall mean reduction in the number of work-related trips made by single occupant vehicles. (Ord. 93-1002, § 2)

9191.698 Truck Terminal.

Shall mean a principal use of land for trucking operations where there are dock facilities, either partially enclosed or unenclosed, for the purposes of transferring goods or breaking down and assembling tractor-trailer transport. Not included in this definition are warehouse facilities, as defined in this Part, or similar facilities used primarily for freight forwarding and the deposit, storage or safekeeping of goods. (Ord. 04-1308, § 1)

9191.699 Truck Yard.

Shall mean a principal use of land for parking or storage of trucks in active use with or without servicing or repairing of trucks as an incidental use thereto. This definition does not include parking or storage of trucks if incidental to and located on the same lot, or contiguous lot, as a permitted use, servicing only said permitted use, and wholly owned or controlled by the owners of said permitted use. Not included in this definition are warehouse facilities, as defined in this Part, or similar facilities used primarily for freight forwarding and the deposit, storage or safekeeping of goods. (Ord. 04-1308, § 2)

9191.700 Two (2) Unit Development.

Shall mean the simultaneous development of two (2) new residential dwelling units on a parcel with no existing primary residential dwelling units. (Ord. 22-2210, § 13)

9191.702 Use.

Shall mean the type of activity, occupancy or purpose for which land, buildings, or facilities are arranged, designed or intended to be occupied or maintained.

Use, Accessory. See Accessory.

9191.704 Use, Minor.

Shall mean a use which is incidental and subordinate to a principal use.

9191.710 Use, Primary.

Shall mean the predominant principal use of a lot or project area as determined by revenue, floor space, site area and/or any other criterion deemed appropriate by the Director.

9191.714 Use, Principal.

Shall mean a use which is not subordinate, incidental or accessory to some other use on the same lot or project area.

9191.716 Vanpool.

Shall mean a vehicle carrying seven (7) or more persons commuting together to and from work on a regular basis, usually in a vehicle with a seating arrangement designated to carry seven (7) to fifteen (15) adult passengers, and on a prepaid subscription basis. (Ord. 93-1002, § 2)

9191.718 Variance.

Shall mean a waiver or conditional waiver of specific regulations of this Chapter as applied to a specific case and granted by the City in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Chapter for Variances. (See CMC 9172.22.)

9191.720 Vehicle.

Shall mean any motorized form of transportation, including but not limited to automobiles, vans, buses and motorcycles. (Ord. 93-1002, § 2)

9191.722 Vehicle Dismantling Yard.

Shall mean any premises used for the dismantling or wrecking of motor vehicles and trailers required to be registered under the Vehicle Code of the State of California, including the buying, selling or dealing in such vehicles or integral parts or component materials thereof, and the storage, sale or dumping of dismantled, partially dismantled or wrecked, inoperative vehicles and trailers. Vehicle dismantling shall not include the incidental storage of inoperative or disabled vehicles in connection with the legal operation of a vehicle repair shop or body and fender repair shop.

9191.726 Vehicle Impounding Yard.

Shall mean any premises, establishment or place of business which is maintained, operated or used for storing, keeping or holding of motor vehicles and trailers, required to be registered under the Vehicle Code of the State of California, which have been legally removed or impounded by a peace officer from public or private property as prescribed by law.

9191.730 Veterinary Clinic.

Shall mean any facility providing medical or surgical treatment, clipping, bathing and similar services to dogs, cats and other small animals, but excluding a kennel, animal hospital or other overnight care on a regular basis.

9191.734 Walkway.

Shall mean a right-of-way intended exclusively for the movement of pedestrians.

9191.738 Walkway, Public.

Shall mean a walkway dedicated for public use.

9191.742 Wall, Solid.

Shall mean a wall with one hundred (100) percent of the vertical surface closed to the passage of light and air.

9191.746 Warehouse.

Shall mean a building or portion of a building used primarily for the deposit, storage or safekeeping of goods regardless of whether the goods are offered for sale.

9191.750 Waste Disposal Facility.

Shall mean any dump, land reclamation project, incinerator or other facility for burning or treating refuse, or other similar site or facility which is used or intended to be used for the disposal of rubbish, garbage or industrial waste.

9191.754 Wholesale.

Shall mean sale for resale and not for direct consumption.

9191.758 Yard.

Shall mean any open space on the same lot with a building or buildings; provided, that the open space is unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except for encroachments permitted by this Chapter.

9191.762 Yard, Front.

Shall mean a yard extending across the full width of a lot between a building and the front lot line. (See Figure 3 at the end of this Part.)

9191.766 Yard, Rear.

Shall mean a yard extending the full width of the lot between a building and the rear lot line. (See Figure 3 at the end of this Part.)

9191.770 Yard, Required.

Shall mean that portion of a yard which meets the minimum requirements of the zone in which located, and is in compliance with all other provisions of this Chapter.

9191.774 Yard Sale.

Shall mean a yard, garage, patio or similar type sale for the purpose of disposing of personal property. (See CMC 4600 through 4606.) (Ord. 80-532, § 11)

9191.778 Yard, Side.

Shall mean a yard between a building and the nearest side lot line, extending from the rear of the required front yard to the front of the required rear yard. (See Figure 3 at the end of this Part.)

9191.782 Zone.

Shall mean a designation or classification of land as shown on the Zoning Map within which uniform regulations as provided in this Chapter shall apply to the use and development of land.

9191.786 Zoning Map.

Shall mean that map specifically referred to in this Chapter as the Zoning Map, City of Carson, which shows the locations of all zones.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Code reviser’s note: Ord. 15-1563 adds this Section as 9191.586. It has been editorially renumbered to prevent duplication of numbering.