Article V: General Terms
Chapter 18.40
USE CLASSIFICATIONS Revised 1/24
Sections:
18.40.010 Purpose and applicability. Revised 1/24
18.40.020 Residential use classifications. Revised 1/24
18.40.030 Public and semi-public use classifications.
18.40.040 Commercial use classifications.
18.40.050 Industrial use classifications.
18.40.060 Transportation, communication, and utilities use classifications.
18.40.010 Purpose and applicability. Revised 1/24
Use classifications describe one (1) or more uses of land having similar characteristics but do not list every use or activity that may appropriately be within the classification. The Planning and Transportation Commission, upon request from the Director, shall determine whether a specific use shall be deemed to be within one (1) or more use classifications or not within any classification in this chapter. The Commission may determine that a specific use shall not be deemed to be within a classification, whether or not named within the classification, if its characteristics are substantially incompatible with those typical of uses named within the classification. (Ord. 1603 § 3 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 1438 § 4 (Exh. A (part)), 2011)
18.40.020 Residential use classifications. Revised 1/24
A. Residential Housing Types.
1. Single-Unit Dwelling. One (1) dwelling unit located on a single lot, within which all rooms are internally accessible and that is not attached to any other dwelling unit. This classification includes individual manufactured housing units installed on a foundation system pursuant to Section 18551 of the California Health and Safety Code.
2. Small Lot Single-Unit Subdivision Development. Detached single-unit dwellings located on lots less than six thousand (6,000) square feet in area.
3. Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit. A unit that is no more than five hundred (500) square feet in size and contained entirely within a single-family dwelling unit (must contain a separate, external entrance). A junior accessory dwelling unit may include separate sanitation facilities (bathroom containing, at minimum, a sink, toilet, and shower) or may share sanitation facilities with the single-family dwelling. An efficiency kitchen is required, which must include a sink and a built-in cooking facility with appliances (e.g., microwave, toaster oven, hot plate), as well as a food preparation counter and storage cabinets.
4. Accessory Dwelling Unit. An attached or detached residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one (1) or more persons. It shall include a separate external entrance and permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation (at minimum, a sink, toilet, and shower) on the same parcel as the single-family or multifamily dwelling. At a minimum, the kitchen shall contain a sink, standard refrigerator, and either a built-in cooktop or range, as well as a food preparation counter and storage cabinets.
5. Duplex. A single building on a lot that contains two (2) dwelling units or two (2) single-unit dwellings on a single lot. This use is distinguished from a second dwelling unit, which is an accessory residential unit as defined by State law and this title.
6. Townhouse Development. A group of two (2) or more attached units where each unit has its own front access and individual garage and no unit is located over another unit. This development type includes fee simple projects where each unit is separated by one (1) or more common and fire-resistant walls and owners have fee simple title to the property.
7. Multi-Unit Residential. Three (3) or more dwelling units on a site or lot. Types of multiple-unit dwellings include townhouses, garden apartments, senior housing developments, and multi-story apartment buildings. This use includes multi-unit development in which individual units are occupied exclusively by one (1) or more persons sixty-two (62) years of age or older.
8. Urban Infill Units. One (1) dwelling unit located on a single lot with another single-unit dwelling pursuant to California Senate Bill 9, wherein all rooms are internally accessible. This classification includes individual manufactured housing units installed on a foundation system pursuant to Section 18551 of the California Health and Safety Code.
B. Elderly and Long-Term Care. Establishments that provide twenty-four (24) hour medical, convalescent or chronic care to individuals who, by reason of advanced age, chronic illness or infirmity, are unable to care for themselves, and are licensed as a skilled nursing facility by the State of California, including but not limited to rest homes and convalescent hospitals, but not residential care, hospitals, or clinics.
C. Family Child Care. A child care facility licensed by the State of California that is located in a single-unit residence or other dwelling unit where resident of the dwelling provides care, protection and supervision of children in the resident’s home for periods less than twenty-four (24) hours per day for children under the age of eighteen (18). Family child care, regardless of size, can only be subject to State regulations.
1. Small. A home that provides family child care for up to six (6) children, or for up to eight (8) children if the criteria in Section 102416.5(b) of the Family Child Care Home Licensing Requirements under Title 22 are met. This includes children under the age of ten (10) who live in the licensee’s home.
2. Large. A home that provides family child care for up to twelve (12) children, or for up to fourteen (14) children, if the criteria in Section 102416.5(c) of the Family Child Care Home Licensing Requirements under Title 22 are met. This includes children under the age of ten (10) who live in the licensee’s home and the assistance provider’s children under the age of ten (10).
D. Group Residential. Shared living quarters without separate kitchen or bathroom facilities for each room or unit, offered for rent for permanent or semi-transient residents on a weekly or longer basis. This classification includes rooming and boarding houses, dormitories and other types of organizational housing, private residential clubs, and extended stay hotels intended for long-term occupancy (thirty days or more) but excludes hotels and motels, and residential care facilities.
E. Residential Care Facilities. Facilities that are licensed by the State of California to provide permanent living accommodations and twenty-four-hour primarily nonmedical care and supervision for persons in need of personal services, supervision, protection, or assistance for sustaining the activities of daily living. Living accommodations are shared living quarters with or without separate kitchen or bathroom facilities for each room or unit. This classification includes facilities that are operated for profit as well as those operated by public or not-for-profit institutions, including hospices, nursing homes, convalescent facilities, and group homes for minors, persons with disabilities, and people in recovery from alcohol or drug additions. This use classification excludes transitional housing and social service facilities.
1. Residential Care, General. A facility providing care for more than six persons.
2. Residential Care, Limited. A facility providing care for six or fewer persons.
3. Residential Care, Senior. A housing arrangement chosen voluntarily by the resident, the resident’s guardian, conservator or other responsible person; where residents are sixty years of age or older and where varying levels of care and supervision are provided as agreed to at time of admission or as determined necessary at subsequent times of reappraisal. This classification includes continuing care retirement communities and life care communities licensed for residential care by the State of California.
F. Single Room Occupancy. A residential facility where living accommodations are individual secure rooms, with or without separate kitchen or bathroom facilities for each room, are rented to one- or two-person households for a weekly or monthly period of time. This use classification is distinct from a hotel or motel, which is a commercial use.
G. Supportive Housing. Dwelling units with no limit on length of stay, that are occupied by the target population as defined in Section 53260(d) of the California Health and Safety Code, and that are 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, where possible, work in the community.
H. Transitional Housing. Dwelling units 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 months. (Ord. 1604 § 4 (Exh. B), 2023; Ord. 1603 § 3 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 1568 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 1566 (Exh. B (part)), 2020; Ord. 1480 (Exh. D (part)), 2015; Ord. 1438 § 4 (Exh. A (part)), 2011)
18.40.030 Public and semi-public use classifications.
A. Cemetery. Establishments primarily engaged in operating sites or structures reserved for the interment of human or animal remains, including mausoleums, burial places, and memorial gardens.
B. Colleges and Trade Schools, Public or Private. Public, nonprofit, or private institutions of higher education providing curricula of a general, religious or professional nature, typically granting recognized degrees, including conference centers and academic retreats associated with such institutions. This classification includes junior colleges, business and computer schools, management training, technical and trade schools, but excludes personal instructional services such as music lessons.
C. Community Assembly. A facility for public or private meetings including community centers, banquet centers, religious assembly facilities, civic and private auditoriums, union halls, meeting halls for clubs and other membership organizations. This classification includes functionally related facilities for the use of members and attendees such as kitchens, multi-purpose rooms, and storage. It does not include gymnasiums or other sports facilities, convention centers, or facilities, such as day care centers and schools that are separately classified and regulated.
D. Community Garden. Use of land for and limited to the cultivation of herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables, including the cultivation and tillage of soil and the production, cultivation, growing, and harvesting of any agricultural, floricultural, or horticultural commodity.
E. Cultural Institutions. Public or nonprofit institutions engaged primarily in the display or preservation of objects of interest in the arts or sciences that are open to the public on a regular basis. This classification includes performing arts centers for theater, music, dance, and events; buildings of an educational, charitable or philanthropic nature; libraries; museums; historical sites; aquariums; art galleries; and zoos and botanical gardens.
F. Day Care Centers. Establishments providing nonmedical care for persons on a less than twenty-four-hour basis other than family day care. This classification includes nursery schools, preschools, and day care facilities for children or adults, and any other day care facility licensed by the State of California.
G. Emergency Shelter. A temporary, short-term residence providing housing with minimal supportive services for homeless families or individual persons where occupancy is limited to six months or less, as defined in Section 50801 of the California Health and Safety Code. Medical assistance, counseling, and meals may be provided.
H. Government Offices. Administrative, clerical, or public contact offices of a government agency, including postal facilities and courts, together with incidental storage and maintenance of vehicles. This classification excludes corporation yards, equipment service centers, and similar facilities that primarily provide maintenance and repair services and storage facilities for vehicles and equipment (see Utilities, Major).
I. Hospitals and Clinics. State-licensed facilities providing medical, surgical, psychiatric, or emergency medical services to sick or injured persons. This classification includes facilities for inpatient or outpatient treatment, including substance-abuse programs as well as training, research, and administrative services for patients and employees. This classification excludes veterinaries and animal hospitals (see Animal Care, Sales, and Services).
1. Hospital. A facility providing medical, psychiatric, or surgical services for sick or injured persons primarily on an in-patient basis, and including ancillary facilities for outpatient and emergency treatment, diagnostic services, training, research, administration, and services to patients, employees, or visitors.
2. Clinic. A facility providing medical, psychiatric, or surgical service for sick or injured persons exclusively on an out-patient basis including emergency treatment, diagnostic services, administration, and related services to patients who are not lodged overnight. Services may be available without a prior appointment. This classification includes licensed facilities offering substance abuse treatment, blood banks and plasma centers, and emergency medical services offered exclusively on an out-patient basis. This classification does not include private medical and dental offices that typically require appointments and are usually smaller scale.
J. Instructional Services. Establishments that offer specialized programs in personal growth and development such as music, martial arts, vocal, fitness and dancing instruction.
K. Park and Recreation Facilities, Public. Parks, playgrounds, recreation facilities, trails, wildlife preserves, and related open spaces, all of which are noncommercial. This classification also includes playing fields, courts, gymnasiums, swimming pools, picnic facilities, tennis courts, and golf courses, botanical gardens, as well as related food concessions or community centers within the facilities.
L. Public Safety Facilities. Facilities providing public safety and emergency services, including police and fire protection and emergency medical services, with incidental storage, training and maintenance facilities.
M. Schools, Public or Private. Facilities for primary or secondary education, including public schools, charter schools, and private and parochial schools having curricula comparable to that required in the public schools of the State of California.
N. Social Service Facilities. Any noncommercial facility, such as homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and facilities providing social services such as job referral, housing placement and which may also provide meals, showers, clothing, groceries, and/or laundry facilities, typically for less than thirty days. Specialized programs and services related to the needs of the residents may also be provided. (Ord. 1438 § 4 (Exh. A (part)), 2011)
18.40.040 Commercial use classifications.
A. Adult-Oriented Business. An establishment of concern that, as a regular and substantial course of conduct, offers, sells or distributes adult-oriented merchandise, or that offers to its patrons materials, products, merchandise, services, entertainment or performances that have sexual arousal, sexual gratification, and/or sexual stimulation as their dominant theme, or are characterized by an emphasis on specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas and are not customarily open to the general public because they exclude minors by virtue of their age. This classification does not include any establishment offering professional services conducted, operated, or supervised by medical practitioners, physical therapists, nurses, chiropractors, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family counselors, osteopaths, and persons holding licenses or certificates under applicable State law or accreditation from recognized programs when performing functions pursuant to the respective license or certificate.
B. Animal Care, Sales and Services. Retail sales and services related to the boarding, grooming, and care of household pets including:
1. Grooming and Pet Stores. Retail sales of animals and/or services, including grooming, for animals on a commercial basis. Grooming or selling of dogs, cats, and similar small animals. Typical uses include dog bathing and clipping salons, pet grooming shops, and pet stores and shops. This classification excludes dog walking and similar pet care services not carried out at a fixed location, and excludes pet supply stores that do not sell animals or provide on-site animal services.
2. Kennels. A commercial, nonprofit, or governmental facility for keeping, boarding, training, breeding or maintaining four or more dogs, cats, or other household pets not owned by the kennel owner or operator. Typical uses include pet clinics, pet day care, animal hospitals for small animals, and animal shelters, but exclude pet shops and animal hospitals that provide twenty-four-hour accommodation of animals receiving medical or grooming services.
3. Veterinary Services. Veterinary services for small animals. This classification allows twenty-four-hour accommodation of animals receiving medical services but does not include kennels.
C. Artist’s Studio. Work space for an artist or artisan including individuals practicing one of the fine arts or performing arts, or skilled in an applied art or craft. This use is distinguished by incidental retail sales of items produced on the premises and does not include joint living and working units.
D. Automobile/Vehicle Sales and Services. Retail or wholesale businesses that sell, rent, and/or repair automobiles, boats, recreational vehicles, trucks, vans, trailers, and motorcycles, including the following:
1. Automobile Rentals. Rental of automobiles. Typical uses include car rental agencies.
2. Automobile/Vehicle Sales and Leasing. Sale or lease, retail or wholesale, of automobiles, light trucks, motorcycles, motor homes, and trailers, together with associated repair services and parts sales, but excluding body repair and painting. Typical uses include automobile dealers and recreational vehicle sales agencies. This classification does not include automobile brokerage and other establishments which solely provide services of arranging, negotiating, assisting, or effectuating the purchase of an automobile for others.
3. Automobile/Vehicle Repair, Major. Repair of automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, motor homes, boats and recreational vehicles, including the incidental sale, installation, and servicing of related equipment and parts, generally on an overnight basis. This classification includes auto repair shops, body and fender shops, transmission shops, wheel and brake shops, auto glass services, vehicle painting and tire sales and installation, but excludes vehicle dismantling or salvaging and tire retreading or recapping.
4. Automobile/Vehicle Service and Repair, Minor. The service and repair of automobiles, light-duty trucks, boats, and motorcycles, including the incidental sale, installation, and servicing of related equipment and parts. This classification includes the replacement of small automotive parts and liquids as an accessory use to a gasoline sales station or automotive accessories and supply store, and quick-service oil, tune-up and brake and muffler shops where repairs are made or service provided in enclosed bays and no vehicles are stored overnight. This classification excludes disassembly, removal or replacement of major components such as engines, drive trains, transmissions or axles; automotive body and fender work, vehicle painting or other operations that generate excessive noise, objectionable odors or hazardous materials, and towing services. It also excludes repair of heavy trucks, limousines or construction vehicles.
5. Automobile/Vehicle Washing. Washing, waxing, or cleaning of automobiles or similar light vehicles, including self-serve washing facilities.
6. Large Vehicle and Equipment Sales, Service and Rental. Sales, servicing, rental, fueling, and washing of large trucks, trailers, tractors, and other equipment used for construction, moving, agricultural, or landscape gardening activities. Includes large vehicle operation training facilities. Sales of new or used automobiles or trucks are excluded from this classification.
7. Service Station. Establishments primarily engaged in retailing automotive fuels or retailing these fuels in combination with activities, such as providing minor automobile/vehicle repair services; selling automotive oils, replacement parts, and accessories; and/or providing incidental food and retail services.
8. Towing and Impound. Establishments primarily engaged in towing light or heavy motor vehicles, both local and long distance. These establishments may provide incidental services, such as vehicle storage and emergency road repair services (for automobile dismantling, see Salvage and Wrecking).
E. Banks and Financial Institutions. Financial institutions providing retail banking services. This classification includes only those institutions serving walk-in customers or clients, including banks, savings and loan institutions, check-cashing services, and credit unions.
F. Business Services. Establishments providing goods and services to other businesses on a fee or contract basis, including printing and copying, blueprint services, advertising and mailing, equipment rental and leasing, office security, custodial services, photo finishing, model building, taxi or delivery services with two or fewer fleet vehicles on site.
G. Commercial Entertainment and Recreation. Provision of participant or spectator entertainment to the general public.
1. Cinema/Theaters. Facilities for indoor display of films, motion pictures, or dramatic, musical, or live performances. This classification may include incidental food and beverage services to patrons.
2. Large-Scale. This classification includes large outdoor facilities such as amusement and theme parks, sports stadiums and arenas, racetracks, amphitheaters, drive-in theaters, driving ranges, golf courses, and facilities with more than five thousand square feet in building area, including fitness centers, gymnasiums, handball, racquetball, or large tennis club facilities; ice or roller skating rinks; swimming or wave pools; miniature golf courses; bowling alleys; archery or indoor shooting ranges (outdoor ranges are prohibited); riding stables; etc. This classification may include restaurants, snack bars, and other incidental food and beverage services to patrons.
3. Small-Scale. This classification includes small, generally indoor facilities that occupy less than five thousand square feet of building area, such as billiard parlors, card rooms, health clubs, dance halls, small tennis club facilities, poolrooms, and amusement arcades. This classification may include restaurants, snack bars, and other incidental food and beverage services to patrons.
H. Eating and Drinking Establishments. Businesses primarily engaged in serving prepared food and/or beverages for consumption on or off the premises.
1. Bars/Night Clubs/Lounges. Businesses serving beverages for consumption on the premises as a primary use and including on-sale service of alcohol including beer, wine, and mixed drinks.
2. Full Service. Restaurants providing food and beverage services to patrons who order and are served while seated and pay after eating. Takeout service may be provided.
3. Convenience. Establishments where food and beverages may be consumed on the premises, taken out, or delivered, but where no table service is provided. This classification includes cafes, cafeterias, coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, carryout sandwich shops, limited service pizza parlors and delivery shops, self-service restaurants, snack bars and takeout restaurants. This classification also includes catering businesses or bakeries that have a storefront retail component.
I. Food Preparation. Businesses preparing and/or packaging food for off-site consumption, excluding those of an industrial character in terms of processes employed, waste produced, water used, and traffic generation. Typical uses include catering kitchens, bakeries with on-site retail sales, and small-scale specialty food production.
J. Funeral Parlors and Interment Services. An establishment primarily engaged in the provision of services involving the care, preparation, or disposition of the human remains and conducting memorial services. Typical uses include a crematory, columbarium, mausoleum, or mortuary.
K. Lodging. An establishment providing overnight accommodations to transient patrons for payment for periods of less than thirty consecutive calendar days.
1. Bed and Breakfast. A residential structure that is in residential use with one or more bedrooms rented for overnight lodging and where meals may be provided.
2. Hotels and Motels. An establishment providing overnight lodging to transient patrons. These establishments may provide additional services, such as conference and meeting rooms, restaurants, bars, or recreation facilities available to guests or to the general public. This use classification includes motor lodges, motels, extended-stay hotels, and tourist courts, but does not include rooming houses, boarding houses, or private residential clubs, or bed and breakfast establishments within a single-unit residence, which are separately defined and regulated.
L. Maintenance and Repair Services. Establishments engaged in the maintenance or repair of office machines, household appliances, furniture, and similar items. This classification excludes maintenance and repair of vehicles or boats (see Automotive/Vehicle Sales and Services) and personal apparel (see Personal Services).
M. Nurseries and Garden Centers. Establishments primarily engaged in retailing nursery and garden products, such as trees, shrubs, plants, seeds, bulbs, and sod that are predominantly grown elsewhere. These establishments may sell a limited amount of a product they grow themselves. Fertilizer and soil products are stored and sold in package form only. Cannabis nurseries may only produce clones, immature plants, seeds, and other agricultural products used specifically for the planting, propagation, and cultivation of cannabis. This classification includes wholesale and retail nurseries offering plants for sale.
N. Offices. Offices of firms or organizations providing professional, executive, management, administrative or design services, such as accounting, architectural, computer software design, engineering, graphic design, interior design, investment, insurance, and legal offices, excluding banks and savings and loan associations (see Banks and Financial Institutions). This classification also includes offices where medical and dental services are provided by physicians, dentists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, optometrists, and similar medical professionals, including medical/dental laboratories within medical office buildings but excluding clinics or independent research laboratory facilities and hospitals (see Hospitals and Clinics).
1. Business and Professional. Offices of firms or organizations providing professional, executive, management, or administrative services, such as accounting, architectural, computer software design, engineering, graphic design, interior design, legal offices and tax preparation offices.
2. Medical and Dental. Office use providing consultation, diagnosis, therapeutic, preventive, or corrective personal treatment services by doctors, dentists, medical and dental laboratories, and similar practitioners of medical and healing arts for humans licensed for such practice by the State of California. Incidental medical and/or dental research within the office is considered part of the office use, where it supports the on-site patient services.
3. Walk-In Clientele. An office business providing direct services to patrons or clients that may or may not require appointments. This use classification includes employment agencies, insurance agent offices, real estate offices, travel agencies, utility company offices and offices for elected officials. It does not include banks or check-cashing facilities that are separately classified and regulated.
O. Parking, Public or Private. Surface lots and structures for use of occupants, employees, or patrons on the subject site or offering parking to the public for a fee when such use is not incidental to another on-site activity.
P. Personal Services.
1. General Personal Services. Provision of recurrently needed services of a personal nature. This classification includes barber shops and beauty salons, seamstresses, tailors, dry cleaning agents (excluding large-scale bulk cleaning plants), shoe repair shops, self-service laundries, video rental stores, photocopying and photo finishing services, and travel agencies mainly intended for the consumer. This classification also includes massage establishments that are in full compliance with the applicable provisions of Section 18.23.170, Personal services, and in which all persons engaged in the practice of massage are certified pursuant to the California Business and Professions Code Section 4612.
2. Massage Establishments. Any business, including a sole proprietorship, which offers massage therapy in exchange for compensation, whether at a fixed place of business or at a location designated by the patron. Massage therapy includes the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the human body, including, but not limited to, any method of pressure or friction against, or stroking, kneading, rubbing, tapping, compression, pounding, vibrating, rocking or stimulating of, the external surfaces of the body with the hands or with any object or appliance. Exempted from this definition are massage therapists operating in conjunction with and on the same premises as a physician, surgeon, chiropractor, osteopath, nurse or any physical therapist (State-licensed professions or vocations) who are duly State-licensed to practice their respective professions in the State of California and out-service massage therapists certified pursuant to the California Business and Professions Code Section 4612.
3. Repealed by Ord. 1525.
4. Tattoo or Body Modification Parlor. An establishment whose principal business activity is one or more of the following: (a) using ink or other substances that result in the permanent coloration of the skin through the use of needles or other instruments designed to contact or puncture the skin; or (b) creation of an opening in the body of a person for the purpose of inserting jewelry or other decoration.
Q. Retail Sales.
1. Building Materials and Services. Retail sales or rental of building supplies or equipment. This classification includes lumber yards, tool and equipment sales or rental establishments, and includes establishments devoted principally to taxable retail sales to individuals for their own use. This definition does not include construction and material yards, hardware stores less than ten thousand square feet in floor area or plant nurseries.
2. Convenience Markets. Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of frequently or recurrently needed small personal items or services for residents within a reasonable walking distance. These include various general retail sales and personal services of an appropriate size and scale to meet the above criteria. Typical uses include neighborhood grocery stores, convenience markets, and drugstores.
3. Food and Beverage Sales. Retail sales of food and beverages for off-site preparation and consumption. Typical uses include food markets, groceries, liquor stores, and retail bakeries.
4. General Retail. The retail sale or rental of merchandise not specifically listed under another use classification. This classification includes retail establishments with twenty-five thousand square feet or less of sales area; including department stores, clothing stores, furniture stores, pet supply stores, small hardware stores (with ten thousand square feet or less of floor area), and businesses retailing the following goods: toys, hobby materials, handcrafted items, jewelry, cameras, photographic supplies and services (including portraiture and retail photo processing), medical supplies and equipment, pharmacies, electronic equipment, sporting goods, kitchen utensils, hardware, appliances, antiques, art galleries, art supplies and services, paint and wallpaper, carpeting and floor covering, office supplies, bicycles, video rental, and new automotive parts and accessories (excluding vehicle service and installation). Retail sales may be combined with other services such as office machine, computer, electronics, and similar small-item repairs.
5. Large-Format Retail. Retail establishments (over twenty-five thousand square feet of sales area) that sell merchandise and bulk goods for individual consumption, including membership warehouse clubs.
6. Price Point Retail. Retail establishment that sells merchandise with a preponderance of single pricing for all items in the store. Merchandise may be but is not limited to generic or private label products specially manufactured for such stores, products manufactured cheaply for a foreign market and imported, products purchased from another retailer or distributor as overstock, closeout, or seasonal merchandise at the end of the season, and promotional goods manufactured to coincide with an event that has since passed.
7. Second-Hand Store. A retail establishment that buys and sells used products that may include clothing, furniture and household goods, jewelry, household appliances, musical instruments, business machines and office equipment, hand tools, and similar items. This classification does not include book stores, antique stores, junk dealers, scrap/dismantling yards, sale of used vehicles, or pawn shops.
8. Cannabis Dispensary. An establishment where cannabis or cannabis products are offered, either individually or in any combination for retail sale, including an establishment that delivers cannabis or cannabis products as part of a retail sale.
9. A retail establishment selling firearms or ammunition is one that conducts a business by the selling, leasing or transferring of any firearm or ammunition, or to hold one’s self out as engaged in the business of selling, leasing or otherwise transferring any firearm or ammunition, or to sell, lease or transfer firearms or ammunition in quantity, in series, or in individual transactions, or in any other manner indicative of trade. (Ord. 1540 (Exh. F), 2019: Ord. 1525 § 2(1) (Exh. A (part)), 2017; Ord. 1438 § 4 (Exh. A (part)), 2011)
18.40.050 Industrial use classifications.
A. Construction and Material Yards. Storage of construction materials or equipment on a site other than a construction site.
B. Custom Manufacturing. Establishments primarily engaged in on-site production of goods by hand manufacturing or artistic endeavor, which involves only the use of hand tools or small mechanical equipment and the incidental direct sale to consumers of only those goods produced on site. Typical uses include ceramic studios, candle making shops, woodworking, and custom jewelry manufacturers.
C. Industry, General. Manufacturing of products from extracted or raw materials or recycled or secondary materials, or bulk storage and handling of such products and materials. This classification includes operations such as agriculture processing; cannabis manufacturing; biomass energy conversion; food and beverage processing; production apparel manufacturing; photographic processing plants; leather and allied product manufacturing; wood product manufacturing; paper manufacturing; chemical manufacturing; plastics and rubber products manufacturing; nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing; primary metal manufacturing; fabricated metal product manufacturing; and automotive and heavy equipment manufacturing.
D. Industry, Limited. Establishments engaged in light industrial activities taking place primarily within enclosed buildings and producing minimal impacts on nearby properties. This classification includes manufacturing finished parts or products primarily from previously prepared materials; commercial laundries and dry cleaning plants; mobile home manufacturing; monument works; printing, engraving and publishing; computer and electronic product manufacturing; furniture and related product manufacturing; and industrial services.
E. Recycling Facility. A facility for receiving, temporarily storing, transferring and/or processing materials for recycling, reuse, or final disposal. This use classification does not include waste transfer facilities that operate as materials recovery, recycling, and solid waste transfer operations and are classified as utilities.
1. Reverse Vending Machine. An automated mechanical device that accepts, sorts and processes recyclable materials and issues a cash refund or a redeemable credit slip.
2. Recycling Collection Facility. An incidental use that serves as a neighborhood drop-off point for the temporary storage of recyclable materials but where the processing and sorting of such items is not conducted on site.
3. Recycling Processing Facility. A facility that receives, sorts, stores and/or processes recyclable materials.
F. Research and Development. A facility for scientific research and the design, development, and testing of electrical, electronic, magnetic, optical, pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnology components and products in advance of product manufacturing. Includes assembly of related products from parts produced off site where the manufacturing activity is secondary to the research and development activities.
G. Salvage and Wrecking. Storage and dismantling of vehicles and equipment for sale of parts, as well as their collection, storage, exchange or sale of goods including, but not limited to, any used building materials, used containers or steel drums, used tires, and similar or related articles or property.
H. Warehousing and Storage. Storage and distribution facilities without sales to the public on site or direct public access except for public storage in small individual space exclusively and directly accessible to a specific tenant.
1. Chemical, Mineral, and Explosives Storage. Storage of hazardous materials including but not limited to pressurized gas, chemicals, minerals and ores, petroleum or petroleum-based fuels, fireworks, and explosives.
2. Indoor Warehousing and Storage. Storage within an enclosed building of commercial goods prior to their distribution to wholesale and retail outlets and the storage of industrial equipment, products and materials including but not limited to automobiles, feed, and lumber. Also includes cold storage, freight moving and storage, and warehouses. As an ancillary use, includes storage in small individual spaces exclusively and directly accessible to a specific tenant. This classification excludes the storage of hazardous chemical, mineral, and explosive materials.
3. Outdoor Storage. Storage of commercial goods in open lots.
I. Wholesaling and Distribution. Indoor storage and sale of goods to other firms for resale; storage of goods for transfer to retail outlets of the same firm; or storage and sale of materials and supplies used in production or operation, including janitorial and restaurant supplies. Wholesalers are primarily engaged in business-to-business sales, but may sell to individual consumers through mail or Internet orders. They normally operate from a warehouse or office having little or no display of merchandise, and are not designed to solicit walk-in traffic. This classification does not include wholesale sale of building materials (see Building Materials and Services).
J. Cannabis Microbusiness. A business that cultivates cannabis on an area less than ten thousand square feet and acts as a licensed distributor, Level 1 manufacturer as defined by the State, and retailer, provided such licensee can demonstrate compliance with all requirements imposed by the State on licensed cultivators, distributors, Level 1 manufacturers, and retailers to the extent the licensee engages in such activities. While the State microbusiness permit may allow retail cannabis sales, retail cannabis sales are prohibited in the City. (Ord. 1525 § 2(1) (Exh. A (part)), 2017; Ord. 1480 (Exh. D (part)), 2015; Ord. 1464 § 3 (Exh. D (part)), 2013; Ord. 1438 § 4 (Exh. A (part)), 2011)
18.40.060 Transportation, communication, and utilities use classifications.
A. Airports and Heliports. Facilities for the takeoff and landing of airplanes and helicopters, including runways, helipads, aircraft storage buildings, public terminal building and parking, air freight terminal, baggage handling facility, aircraft hangar and public transportation and related facilities, including bus operations, servicing and storage. Also includes support activities such as fueling and maintenance, storage, airport operations and air traffic control, incidental retail sales, coffee shops and snack shops and airport administrative facilities, including airport offices, terminals, operations buildings, communications equipment, buildings and structures, control towers, lights, and other equipment and structures required by the United States government and/or the State for the safety of aircraft operations.
B. Communication Facilities. Facilities for the provision of broadcasting and other information relay services through the use of electronic and telephonic mechanisms.
1. Antenna and Transmission Towers. Broadcasting and other communication services accomplished through electronic or telephonic mechanisms, as well as structures and equipment cabinets designed to support one or more reception/transmission systems. Typical uses include wireless telecommunications towers and facilities, radio towers, television towers, telephone exchange/microwave relay towers, cellular telephone transmission/personal communications systems towers, and associated equipment cabinets and enclosures.
C. Facilities within Buildings. Includes radio, television, or recording studios; telephone switching centers, but excludes antennas and transmission towers.
D. Freight/Truck Terminals and Warehouses. Facilities for freight, courier, and postal services by truck or rail. This classification does not include local messenger and local delivery services (see Light Fleet-Based Services).
E. Light Fleet-Based Services. Passenger transportation services, local delivery services, medical transport, and other businesses that rely on fleets of three or more vehicles with rated capacities less than ten thousand pounds. This classification includes parking, dispatching, and offices for taxicab and limousine operations, ambulance services, nonemergency medical transport, local messenger and document delivery services, home cleaning services, and similar businesses. This classification does not include towing operations (see Towing and Impound) or taxi or delivery services with two or fewer fleet vehicles on site (see Business Services).
F. Transportation Passenger Terminals. Facilities for passenger transportation operations. Includes rail stations and bus terminals but does not include terminals serving airports or heliports.
G. Utilities, Major. Generating plants, electric substations, solid waste collection, including transfer stations and materials recovery facilities, solid waste treatment and disposal, water or wastewater treatment plants, and similar facilities of public agencies or public utilities.
H. Utilities, Minor. Facilities necessary to support established uses involving only minor structures, such as electrical distribution lines, and underground water and sewer lines.
I. Waste Transfer Facility. A facility that operates as a materials recovery, recycling and solid waste transfer operation providing solid waste recycling and transfer services for other local jurisdictions and public agencies that are not located within the City of San Carlos. The facility sorts and removes recyclable materials (including paper, metal, wood, inert materials such as soils and concrete, green waste, glass, aluminum and cardboard) through separation and sorting technologies to divert these materials from the waste stream otherwise destined for landfill. (Ord. 1480 (Exh. D (part)), 2015; Ord. 1438 § 4 (Exh. A (part)), 2011)