Allowed Locations for Bars, Taverns, and Nightclubs in Grass Valley
In the City of Grass Valley, bars, taverns, and nightclubs are restricted to specific commercial and traditional community zones and always require the approval of a Use Permit (UP). These establishments are permitted only in the Town Core (TC), Neighborhood Center (NC), Neighborhood Center-Flex (NC-Flex), and Central Business District (C-2) zones [Table 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2-10]. Development within these areas must comply with stringent parking standards, though some exemptions exist for smaller storefronts located in the historic downtown districts [Section 17.36.040].
Permitted Zoning Districts
The City of Grass Valley identifies "Bar, tavern, night club" as a specific land use category. This use is not permitted by right in any district; it is a "conditional" use requiring a discretionary review process to ensure compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.
| Zoning District Name | Zone Symbol | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|
| Town Core | TC | Use Permit (UP) |
| Neighborhood Center | NC | Use Permit (UP) |
| Neighborhood Center-Flex | NC-Flex | Use Permit (UP) |
| Central Business District | C-2 | Use Permit (UP) |
All other districts, including the Community Business District (C-1), Heavy Commercial (C-3), Office Professional (OP), and various Residential and Industrial zones, expressly prohibit these uses [Table 2-7, 2-10].
Operational Definitions
The City of Grass Valley Development Code provides distinct definitions for these establishments to clarify their primary function and regulatory scope [Section 17.100.020]:
- Bar/Tavern: A business where alcoholic beverages are sold for on-site consumption that is not part of a larger restaurant. This includes pubs and similar establishments where food service is subordinate to alcohol sales. It also includes microbreweries ("brew-pubs") and beverage tasting facilities.
- Night Club: A facility serving alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption that provides entertainment, such as live music, dancing, or comedy.
Neither definition includes "Adult-Oriented Businesses," which are regulated under separate standards in the City of Grass Valley [Section 17.40.010].
Parking Standards
Establishments in the City of Grass Valley must provide adequate off-street parking based on their capacity or square footage. However, the City provides specific relief for smaller businesses in the Traditional Community Development zones to support the walkable nature of the historic core.
General City Standards
For most areas in the City of Grass Valley, parking for bars and nightclubs is calculated as follows [Table 3-3]:
| Use Type | Vehicle Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| Bar, cocktail lounge, night club, tavern | 1 space for each 4 seats; OR 1 space for each 200 sf of floor area, whichever yields more spaces. |
District-Specific Exemptions
In the Town Core (TC), Neighborhood Center (NC), and Neighborhood Center-Flex (NC-Flex) districts, the City of Grass Valley adjusts these requirements based on the size of the ground-floor use [Section 17.21.040, 17.21.050, 17.21.060]:
| Ground Floor Use Size | Parking Requirement in TC, NC, or NC-Flex |
|---|---|
| Uses < 3,000 square feet | No off-street parking required |
| Uses > 3,000 square feet | 1 space per 400 sf (TC) or 1 space per 500 sf (NC/NC-Flex) |
Development and Use Limitations
When reviewing a Use Permit for a bar, tavern, or nightclub, the City of Grass Valley review authority must find that the proposed activity is compatible with existing and future land uses in the vicinity [Section 17.72.060].
In the Town Core (TC) Zone, the City of Grass Valley primary intent is to strengthen the pedestrian-oriented nature of the historic downtown. In the Central Business District (C-2), bars and nightclubs are permitted to maintain the existing auto-oriented development patterns of the downtown that are not yet covered by the Town Core standards [Section 17.24.020].
Sections Cited
- Section 17.21.040 - Town core (TC) standards
- Section 17.21.050 - Neighborhood center (NC) standards
- Section 17.21.060 - Neighborhood center flex (NC-Flex) standards
- Section 17.24.020 - Purposes of commercial and industrial zones
- Section 17.24.030 - Commercial and industrial zone land uses and permit requirements
- Section 17.36.040 - Number of parking spaces required
- Section 17.40.010 - Intent and purpose (Adult-Oriented Business)
- Section 17.72.060 - Use permits and minor use permits
- Section 17.100.020 - Definitions of specialized terms and phrases