CT: Tourist and Entertainment Commercial District Regulations in Long Beach
In the City of Long Beach, the CT: Tourist and Entertainment Commercial District is designated for high-intensity visitor-serving areas, requiring a minimum lot size of 20,000 square feet and allowing building heights up to 60 feet. Land use in this district is centered on major entertainment and hospitality facilities, permitting hotels, theaters, and large-scale retail complexes, often subject to site plan reviews and conditional use permits to ensure an aesthetically pleasing environment [Section 21.32.020].
Purpose and General Character
The CT District is specifically established by the City of Long Beach to facilitate the development of a major tourist and entertainment industry. The district's character is defined by intense, unique land uses and a high degree of sensitivity to the visual environment. According to the Long Beach Municipal Code, the CT District intends to provide areas for entertainment and tourism that feature strong transportation linkages and "aesthetically pleasing environments" [Section 21.32.020.A.3].
Unlike neighborhood-serving commercial zones, the CT District is oriented toward regional and international visitors, emphasizing high-visibility locations and large-scale projects such as the Queen Mary, the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, and major hotel complexes [Section 21.37.120 and Table 35-2].
Permitted Land Uses
The City of Long Beach permits a wide variety of commercial, residential, and institutional uses within the CT District, categorized by whether they are permitted by right (Y), require an Administrative Use Permit (AP), a Conditional Use Permit (C), or are an Accessory Use (A).
Entertainment and Commercial Uses
The CT District is the primary location for large-scale entertainment venues in the City of Long Beach.
| Use Category | Permission Level | Additional Regulations |
|---|---|---|
| Live or Movie Theaters | C / AP | Based on seating capacity [Table 32-1] |
| Restaurant (no drive-through) | Y | Permitted by right [Table 32-1] |
| Restaurant (with drive-through) | C | Subject to Section 21.45.130 [Table 32-1] |
| Hotels and Motels | C | Subject to Section 21.52.235 [Table 32-1] |
| Nightclubs and Bars | C | Subject to Section 21.52.201 [Table 32-1] |
| Amusement Arcade/Facility | Y | Up to 6,000 sq. ft. [Table 32-1] |
| Basic Retail Sales | Y | Standard commercial retail [Table 32-1] |
| Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensary | Y / C | Y up to 750 sq. ft.; C if larger [Table 32-1] |
Residential and Professional Uses
While primarily commercial, the City of Long Beach allow specific residential and professional integrations within the CT District.
| Use Category | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| Professional Offices | Y |
| Medical Offices | Y |
| Live-Work Units | Y |
| Caretaker Residence | AP |
| Group Home (6 or less) | Y |
Development Standards
The City of Long Beach maintains strict physical standards for the CT District to ensure it meets the aesthetic and functional needs of a premier tourist destination.
| Development Standard | CT District Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Size | 20,000 square feet |
| Maximum Building Height | 60 feet (High-rise overlay may apply) |
| Maximum Flagpole Height | 60 feet |
| Front Street Setback | 0 feet |
| Side Street Setback | 5 feet |
| Side/Rear Yard (Adj. to Residential) | 10 feet (Side) / 20 feet (Rear) |
| Side/Rear Yard (Adj. to Non-Residential) | 5 feet |
[Table 32-2A]
Off-Street Parking Requirements
To manage the high volume of visitors in the City of Long Beach, the CT District follows specific parking ratios for different types of developments.
| Use Type | Required Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
| Retail / Shopping Centers | 5 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Ready-To-Eat Restaurant | 4 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Hotel / Motel | 1 space per guestroom plus banquet/restaurant space |
| Professional Office | 4 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Theater | 1 space per every 3.3 fixed seats |
[Table 41-1C]
Design and Performance Standards
All new construction or major remodels in the City of Long Beach CT District are subject to site plan review [Section 21.32.030]. The city requires that:
- Architectural Themes: Facades must use consistent architectural modules and materials [Section 21.32.230].
- Lighting: Exterior lighting must be shielded from adjacent residential properties and satisfy minimum intensity requirements for safety without creating night-sky glow [Section 21.41.259].
- Landscaping: Required yard areas must contain at least five feet of width for trees, shrubs, and groundcover, excluding areas used for outdoor dining [Section 21.32.220].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.32.020 - Commercial Districts Established
- Section 21.32.110 - Permitted Uses in Commercial Districts
- Section 21.32.205 - Lot Size (Commercial)
- Section 21.32.210 - Building Height (Commercial)
- Section 21.32.220 - Yards (Commercial)
- Section 21.32.230 - Design of Buildings
- Section 21.41.216 - Required Number of Parking Spaces
- Section 21.45.130 - Drive-through Facilities
- Section 21.45.235 - Hotels/Motels
- Table 31-1 - Uses in Residential Zones (Reference)
- Table 32-1 - Uses in Commercial Zoning Districts
- Table 32-2A - Commercial Development Standards
- Table 41-1C - Required Parking Spaces