Commercial Zoning Districts in Long Beach

Long Beach classifies "commercial" land uses as categories characterized by the exchange of goods and services for financial or other consideration [§ 21.15.560]. The city establishes commercial districts to create, preserve, and enhance areas for diverse commercial activities while ensuring compatible interactions with residential consumers and transportation systems [§ 21.32.010].

The city currently establishes 12 distinct commercial zoning districts, categorized by their scale, intent, and primary orientation [§ 21.32.020].

Commercial Districts of General Applicability

These districts serve broader needs along major routes and provide specific functions for the city's infrastructure:

• CO (Office Commercial District): Permits mixed residential and commercial uses along major arterial routes.
• CH (Highway Commercial District): Preserves areas for automobile-oriented uses requiring large frontages and high visibility along major highways.
• CT (Tourist and Entertainment Commercial District): Dedicated to the development of the city's tourist and entertainment industry, emphasizing intense uses and aesthetically pleasing environments.

Neighborhood Commercial Districts

These districts consist of small-scale, low-intensity centers and corridors designed to meet the daily needs of surrounding residents. Development must be compatible with residential neighborhoods and promote pedestrian or bicycle access [§ 21.32.020.B].

• CNP (Neighborhood Pedestrian): Oriented toward pedestrians, with buildings located along the primary street frontage and parking situated behind them.
• CNA (Neighborhood Automobile-Oriented): Features buildings set back from the property line with parking located between the building and the street.
• CNR (Neighborhood Commercial and Residential): A mixed-use district permitting small-scale commercial uses and/or moderate-density residential development (R-3-T densities).

Community Commercial Districts

These districts provide medium-scale uses intended to serve an entire community. They are typically located on major or minor arterials with larger lot sizes [§ 21.32.020.C].

• CCA (Community Automobile-Oriented): Permits retail and service uses, including convenience and comparison shopping. Note that any reference to the former CR (Retail Center) or CC (Commercial Corridor) districts is treated as a reference to CCA [§ 21.32.040].
• CCP (Community Pedestrian-Oriented): Encourages pedestrian activity with buildings built to the street property line and parking located to the side or rear.
• CCR (Community R-4-R): Similar to CCA but permits moderate-density residential development at R-4-R densities.
• CCN (Community R-4-N): Similar to CCA but permits medium-density residential development at R-4-N densities.

Regional Commercial and Storage Districts

• CHW (Regional Highway District): Provides for large-scale, mixed-scale commercial uses on large sites in activity centers. These are located on major arterial streets and regional traffic corridors. Residential use is strictly prohibited in this district [§ 21.32.020.D].
• CS (Commercial Storage District): Encourages storage uses in areas difficult to use due to parcel shape, access, or adverse environmental conditions. It often serves as a buffer between incompatible uses [§ 21.32.020.E].

Use Regulations and Transitional Zoning

The principal use in all commercial districts must be commercial, though some allow for mixed-residential uses [§ 21.32.110]. Uses are classified in the city's Use Tables as follows:

• Y: Permitted by right.
• N: Not permitted.
• C: Conditional Use Permit required.
• AP: Administrative Use Permit required.
• A: Accessory use.
• T: Temporary use.

Transitional Designations

The city is in a "transitional period" to rezone all commercial properties to the modern designations. During this time, the following equivalents are used for zoning map purposes [§ 21.32.130]:

• CO properties are treated as CCN.
• CH properties are treated as CHW.
• CT zoning is being phased out as no equivalent district is currently established in the title.

High-Rise Overlay

Specific districts are deemed appropriate for the high-rise overlay zone, including CO (Commercial Office), CC (Commercial Corridor), CT (Commercial Tourist), and CS (Commercial Storage) [§ 21.39.030].