Community Commercial Pedestrian-Oriented (CCP) District Guide for Long Beach
The CCP: Community Commercial Pedestrian-Oriented District in Long Beach is designed to provide medium-scale commercial uses that encourage pedestrian activity by requiring buildings to be built to the street property line with parking located at the side or rear. Most retail, financial, and personal service uses are permitted by right, while more intensive activities like drive-through facilities, car washes, and large-scale fitness centers require conditional or administrative approval. Residential uses are generally prohibited in the Long Beach CCP designation, with limited exceptions for live-work units and accessory caretaker residences [Section 21.32.020].
Overview of Use Classifications
The following table defines the permitting symbols used throughout the Long Beach Municipal Code for the CCP district [Section 21.32.110]:
| Symbol | Definition |
|---|---|
| Y | Permitted by right |
| N | Not permitted |
| C | Conditional Use Permit (CUP) required |
| AP | Administrative Use Permit (AUP) required |
| A | Accessory Use |
| T | Temporary Use |
Permitted Retail and Service Uses
The CCP District in Long Beach emphasizes a mix of commercial activities that serve the local community while maintaining a walkable environment.
Retail Trade
- Permitted (Y): Basic retail sales (clothing, antiques, books), eating places without drive-throughs, book and video stores, money orders/transfers, and building supply stores without outdoor lumber yards [Table 32-1].
- Administrative Permit (AP): Gun shops, thrift stores, and vending carts.
- Conditional Use (C): Adult-use cannabis dispensaries (over 750 sq. ft.), and large merchandise malls [Table 32-1].
Personal and Professional Services
- Permitted (Y): Accounting, advertising, architecture, law, medical offices, tutoring centers (up to 2,500 sq. ft.), barber/beauty shops, dry cleaners, and shoe repair [Table 32-1].
- Administrative Permit (AP): Laundromats, massage establishments (as a primary use), and tutoring centers over 2,500 sq. ft.
- Conditional Use (C): Veterinary clinics with boarding and fitness facilities over 25,000 sq. ft. [Table 32-1].
Financial Services
- Permitted (Y): Banks, credit unions, savings and loans, and escrow offices.
- Conditional Use (C): Car title loans, check cashing, payday loans, and signature loans [Table 32-1].
Automotive and Transportation Uses
Because the CCP District is pedestrian-oriented, automotive uses are heavily regulated to minimize impact on foot traffic.
- Permitted (Y): Auto detailing (hand-held machines only), limousine services, and parking services (as a principal use).
- Administrative Permit (AP): Minor auto repair (tune-ups, oil changes), vehicle rental agencies, and vehicle parts sales (with or without installation) [Table 32-1].
- Conditional Use (C): Car washes, drive-through facilities, and mobile food trucks at construction sites (Temporary - T).
- Prohibited (N): Motorcycle/jet ski sales and repair, recreational vehicle storage, and general/major auto repair (bodywork, painting) [Table 32-1].
Public and Institutional Uses
The City of Long Beach allows several community-focused institutional uses within the CCP district.
- Permitted (Y): Community assembly uses (accessory only, <25% GFA), religious assembly (up to 25,000 sq. ft.), day-care or pre-schools, public libraries, and publicly run post-secondary schools [Table 32-1].
- Administrative Permit (AP): Social service facilities without food distribution.
- Conditional Use (C): Convalescent hospitals, regular hospitals, and emergency shelters [Table 32-1].
- Prohibited (N): Social service facilities with food distribution [Table 32-1].
Residential and Mixed-Use Restrictions
Residential development is highly restricted in the Long Beach CCP district to prioritize commercial frontage.
- Permitted (Y): Live-Work units are the only primary residential-adjacent use allowed by right [Table 32-1].
- Administrative Permit (AP): Artist studios with residence and caretaker's residences (only in conjunction with a permitted nonresidential use).
- Prohibited (N): Standard single-family detached/attached dwellings, duplexes, triplexes, multi-family dwellings, group homes, and supportive/transitional housing [Table 32-1].
Prohibited Signs and Structures
In the CCP District, certain aesthetic and structural elements are barred to maintain the character of the pedestrian corridor:
- Billboards: Billboards and off-premises signs are strictly prohibited in the CCP district [Table 44-1].
- Freestanding Signs: New freestanding signs (pole signs) are not permitted; monument signs, wall signs, and awning signs must be used instead [Table 44-1].
- Outdoor Storage: Open storage of merchandise or materials is prohibited [Section 21.32.225].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.15.2332 – Ready-to-eat food definition.
- Section 21.30.040 – Table of zoning districts.
- Section 21.32.020 – Descriptions of commercial districts.
- Section 21.32.110 – Permitted uses in commercial districts.
- Section 21.32.225 – Screening and storage requirements.
- Table 32-1 – Uses in Commercial Zoning Districts.
- Table 44-1 – Zoning Districts for Major Signs.