Long Beach Zoning Districts for Bars, Taverns, and Nightclubs
Establishments such as bars, taverns, and nightclubs are primarily permitted within the City of Long Beach through a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in nearly all Commercial and Industrial zones, including the CNP, CCA, and IL districts. These businesses are strictly prohibited in the CS (Commercial Storage) district and must adhere to a high-intensity parking ratio of 20 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area for tavern spaces. All such uses are subject to the City of Long Beach Alcohol Nuisance Abatement ordinance and specific performance standards regarding noise, lighting, and security.
Permitted Zoning Districts
The City of Long Beach regulates bars, taverns, and nightclubs primarily under the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 5813. According to the City of Long Beach use tables, these establishments are classified as "Conditional Uses," meaning they require discretionary review and the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) before operation [Table 32-1].
Commercial Zoning Districts
In the City of Long Beach, the following commercial districts allow bars, nightclubs, and cabarets with alcohol (SIC 5813) subject to a CUP:
- Neighborhood Commercial: CNP (Pedestrian-Oriented), CNA (Automobile-Oriented), and CNR (Commercial and Residential).
- Community Commercial: CCA (Automobile-Oriented), CCP (Pedestrian-Oriented), CCR (Community R-4-R), and CCN (Community R-4-N).
- Regional Commercial: CHW (Regional Highway).
Bars and nightclubs are explicitly prohibited in the CS (Commercial Storage) district [Table 32-1].
Industrial Zoning Districts
The City of Long Beach also permits bars, taverns, and nightclubs in all industrial districts, provided they obtain a CUP:
- Industrial Districts: IL (Light Industrial), IM (Medium Industrial), IG (General Industrial), and IP (Port-related Industrial) [Table 33-2].
Definitions and Use Classifications
The City of Long Beach Municipal Code provides specific definitions for these entities to distinguish them from general restaurants:
- Tavern: Includes bars, pubs, cocktail lounges, and similar establishments that operate under a Type 48 or Type 42 Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) license and sell beer, wine, and distilled spirits for consumption on the premises. This classification also includes establishments where food service is secondary to the sale of alcohol [Section 21.15.3000].
- Nightclub: Refers to any bar, cocktail lounge, or dance club with an entertainment permit for live amplified music and dancing in conjunction with alcoholic beverage sales (Type 48 license) [Section 21.15.1855].
- Cabaret: A nightclub or theater featuring live performances by dancers, strippers, or similar entertainers [Section 21.15.475].
Off-Street Parking Requirements
The City of Long Beach imposes specific parking standards for these uses based on the square footage of the area devoted to the tavern or dance floor activities.
| Use Type | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| Tavern | 20 per 1,000 sq. ft. of Gross Floor Area (GFA) |
| Nightclub (Dance Floor Area) | 25 per 1,000 sq. ft. of GFA |
| Nightclub (Lounge/Tavern Area) | 20 per 1,000 sq. ft. of GFA |
| Nightclub (Dining Area) | 10 per 1,000 sq. ft. of GFA |
Establishments in the City of Long Beach with a combination of these uses must calculate the sum of all required spaces for each respective area [Table 41-1C].
Special Development and Performance Standards
Bars, taverns, and nightclubs in the City of Long Beach must comply with the Alcohol Nuisance Abatement "Deemed Approved" Ordinance. This includes maintaining the following standards:
Location and Operation
- Fortunetelling Proximity: No new fortunetelling uses may be located within 1,000 feet of an existing tavern [Section 21.52.273].
- Sound and Noise: All uses must comply with the City of Long Beach noise regulations (Chapter 8.80). Industrial businesses must discontinue operations producing noise levels higher than those permitted between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. when located near residential or hospital properties [Section 21.33.090].
- Lighting: Exterior lighting must have a minimum intensity of 1.25 foot-candles and use proper cut-offs to avoid glare onto adjacent residential properties [Section 21.57.020].
Security and Maintenance
Establishments must provide security cameras with full coverage of entries and exits, maintaining recordings for a minimum of 30 days. These recordings must be accessible to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) upon request. Furthermore, owners must remove any graffiti from the property within 24 hours of its appearance [Section 21.57.020].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.15.475 - Cabaret
- Section 21.15.1855 - Nightclub
- Section 21.15.3000 - Tavern
- Table 32-1 - Uses In All Other Commercial Zoning Districts
- Table 33-2 - Uses In Industrial Districts
- Table 41-1C - Required Number of Parking Spaces for Commercial, Industrial/Manufacturing and All Other Uses
- Section 21.52.201 - Alcoholic beverage sales uses
- Section 21.52.273 - Tattoo or fortunetelling services
- Section 21.57.020 - Alcohol Nuisance Abatement Definitions and Performance Standards