Allowed and Prohibited Uses in the Long Beach CNR Zoning District

In the City of Long Beach, the Neighborhood Commercial and Residential (CNR) district is a mixed-use designation that integrates small-scale commercial activities with moderate-density residential developments. This district strictly prohibits high-impact automotive uses, such as car washes and gasoline sales, and limits building heights to 28 feet and two stories to maintain the neighborhood's pedestrian-oriented character [Section 21.32.020.B.3].

Permitted Residential Uses

The City of Long Beach allows several residential uses within the CNR district, often adhering to the density standards of the R-3-T (Townhouse) residential zone.

Permitted by Right (Y): Single-family or multifamily residential, live-work units, group homes (6 or fewer persons), and supportive housing [Table 32-1].
Administrative Use Permit Required (AP): Artist studios with residences and caretaker residences [Table 32-1].
Prohibited (N): Senior or disabled housing, special group residences (such as dormitories or fraternity houses), and residential care facilities for 7 or more persons [Table 32-1].

Permitted Commercial and Retail Uses

Commercial activities in the Long Beach CNR district are intended to serve the immediate needs of the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Permitted by Right (Y): Basic retail sales (including antiques and used books), secondhand stores, book and video stores, restaurants without drive-through facilities, banks (without drive-throughs), and business office support services (such as copy or fax shops) [Table 32-1].
Administrative Use Permit Required (AP): Thrift stores, tutoring centers larger than 2,500 square feet, and auto detailing with handheld machines only [Table 32-1].
Conditional Use Permit Required (C): Alcoholic beverage sales (on-premises or off-premises) if located within 500 feet of a residential district [Table 32-1].

Permitted Service and Professional Uses

The Long Beach CNR district accommodates a variety of professional services and institutional uses.

Permitted by Right (Y): Professional services including medical offices, law firms, accounting, architecture, and real estate offices. Public libraries and publicly run post-secondary schools are also permitted [Table 32-1].
Institutional Use Permissions: Small religious assembly uses (up to 2,500 sq. ft. of floor area or 100 occupants) are permitted by right. Larger religious facilities require an Administrative Use Permit or Conditional Use Permit based on size [Table 32-1].

Prohibited Uses

To protect the residential quality and pedestrian environment, the City of Long Beach prohibits several high-intensity or automobile-centric uses in the CNR district.

Automotive/Transportation: Car washes, gasoline sales, general auto repair, limousine services, motorcycle or jet ski sales/repair, and recreational vehicle storage [Table 32-1].
Commercial/Entertainment: Drive-in theaters, pawn shops, and mortuaries [Table 32-1].
Industrial: All manufacturing and industrial uses categorized under the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) are generally prohibited, as the zone is reserved for neighborhood commercial and residential functions [Table 33-2].

Development Standards for CNR

The City of Long Beach imposes specific physical standards to ensure compatibility between commercial and residential uses within the CNR district.

Standard Type	CNR District Requirement
Maximum Building Height	28 feet; 2 stories [Table 32-2]
Minimum Lot Size	5,000 square feet [Table 32-2]
Front Street Setback	0 feet or 8 feet (8' required for ground-floor residential) [Table 32-2]
Side Street Setback	0 feet or 5 feet (5' required for ground-floor residential) [Table 32-2]
Setback Adjacent to Residential	10 feet for side yard; 20 feet for rear yard [Table 32-2]
Residential Density	Consistent with the R-3-T Zone [Table 32-3]

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