Long Beach IL: Light Industrial Zoning District Guide
The IL: Light Industrial District in the City of Long Beach is reserved for clean, non-nuisance industrial operations that maintain a minimum lot size of 15,000 square feet and a maximum building height of 60 feet. The district emphasizes enclosed production and research activities, permitting a blend of manufacturing and professional offices while requiring a 20-foot setback when abutting any residential neighborhood.
Purpose and General Character
The IL District is established by the City of Long Beach to provide for a broad range of industrial and manufacturing uses that contribute to the municipal tax base while remaining compatible with the surrounding community [Section 21.33.010].
The general character of the IL District is defined by clean, "non-nuisance" industries. These businesses typically operate entirely within enclosed structures and have limited secondary impacts regarding traffic, air emissions, noise, and glare. Common examples of developments in the IL District include research and development facilities, "flex space," small-scale incubator industries, and modern industrial complexes set in park-like environments [Section 21.33.020.A].
Permitted Land Uses
In the City of Long Beach, land uses in industrial zones are often classified by their Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes. The IL District allows for a variety of primary and accessory uses, subject to specific performance standards.
Industrial and Manufacturing
- Permitted (Y): Cannabis cultivation, urban agriculture, and manufacturing for various goods including textiles, apparel, chemicals, and electronics [Table 33-2].
- Conditional (C): Large-scale food processing (e.g., meat products, fats, and oils) and manufacturing that involves more intensive processes [Table 33-2].
- Enclosure Requirement: All production, processing, and manufacturing activities in the IL District must be conducted within an entirely enclosed structure [Section 21.33.150.A.2].
Commercial and Professional
- Permitted (Y): Professional offices, banks, medical offices, and retail trade intended to serve nearby employees. Adult-use cannabis dispensaries are also permitted [Table 33-2].
- Administrative Use (AP): Tutoring centers, personal services, and laundry/garment services [Table 33-2].
- Accessory Office Space: Industrial buildings in the IL District may include accessory office space. If the tenant space is 5,000 square feet or larger, the office component is limited to 25% of the gross floor area (GFA). For smaller spaces, it may reach up to 45% of GFA [Section 21.33.170].
Institutional and Other Uses
- Permitted (Y): Emergency shelters and public libraries [Table 33-2].
- Accessory (A): Caretaker's residences, provided they are used in conjunction with a permitted nonresidential use [Table 33-2].
Development Standards
All structures and developments within the Long Beach IL District must adhere to specific spatial and intensity limitations to ensure order and safety.
Site and Intensity Standards
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Size | 15,000 sq. ft. |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | 55% |
| Maximum Building Height | 4 stories or 60 ft. (whichever is more restrictive) |
| Maximum Non-Building Structure Height | 45 ft. |
| Minimum Landscaped Area | Per Chapter 21.42 |
Setback and Yard Requirements
| Required Setback/Yard Area | IL District Requirement |
|---|---|
| Yard Fronting on Minor Arterial or Greater Street | 10 ft. |
| Yard Fronting on Local or Collector Street | 6 ft. |
| Parking Lot Setback from Street | 5 ft. |
| Yard Abutting Alleys | 10 ft. from centerline |
| Yard Abutting Residential District | 20 ft. |
| Yard Abutting Nonresidential District | 0 ft. |
Outdoor Storage and Screening
The City of Long Beach imposes strict regulations on how materials are kept outside in the IL District to prevent blight.
- Location: Accessory outdoor storage of goods or equipment is permitted only in side and rear yards. It is prohibited in the required front street or side street yard setbacks [Section 21.33.150.A.1].
- Screening: All outdoor storage areas must be completely screened from public view and adjacent properties. The screening must be the same height as the materials stored, and stored goods may not exceed a height of 8 feet [Section 21.33.150.A.1].
- Fencing: Industrially zoned properties in Long Beach may construct fences up to 12 feet high in "other yard areas" (outside of required front setbacks) [Table 43-1].
- Residential Buffers: A minimum 5-foot wide landscaped strip must be provided as a buffer along any yard area in the IL District that abuts a residential district or a school [Section 21.42.040.B.4.a].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.33.010 - Purpose
- Section 21.33.020 - Districts established
- Section 21.33.150 - Outdoor storage and activities
- Section 21.33.170 - Accessory office space in industrial buildings
- Table 33-2 - Uses In Industrial Districts
- Table 33-3 - General Development Standards
- Table 33-4 - Minimum Required Setbacks/Yards Areas
- Table 43-1 - Fence and Garden Wall Height Limits
- Section 21.42.040 - Landscaping standards