Permitted Locations for Banks and Financial Services in Long Beach
Banks, credit unions, and financial services are primarily permitted in most commercial and some industrial districts within the City of Long Beach. In many high-traffic commercial zones, these uses are permitted by-right, while in the Neighborhood Pedestrian-Oriented Commercial (CNP) District, they require an Administrative Use Permit and are subject to specific design restrictions such as the prohibition of drive-through windows. Specialized financial services like check cashing and payday loans are more strictly regulated, requiring a Conditional Use Permit and adhering to mandatory distancing requirements from similar establishments.
Permitted Districts and Use Classifications
The City of Long Beach regulates financial institutions based on the specific type of service provided. The following table outlines the permissions for standard banking and alternative financial services across various commercial districts.
Commercial District Use Permissions
| Type of Financial Service | CNP | CNA | CNR | CCA | CCP | CCR | CCN | CHW | CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank, Credit Union, Savings & Loan | AP | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Escrow, Stocks, and Bonds Broker | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Money Orders and Money Transfers | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Check Cashing / Payday Loans | N | N | N | C | C | C | C | C | N |
| Car Title / Signature Loans | N | N | N | C | C | C | C | C | N |
Key: Y = Permitted by-right; N = Not permitted; C = Conditional Use Permit required; AP = Administrative Use Permit required. [Section 21.32.110, Table 32-1]
Industrial District Use Permissions
In the City of Long Beach Industrial Districts, banks and financial institutions are generally classified under "Professional Office and Institutional Uses."
| District | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| Light Industrial (IL) | Permitted by-right (Y) |
| Medium Industrial (IM) | Administrative Use Permit (AP) |
| General Industrial (IG) | Administrative Use Permit (AP) |
Note that in all City of Long Beach Industrial Districts, "functions related to depository banking, not elsewhere classified" (SIC 6099) are specifically prohibited [Section 21.33.060, Table 33-2].
Special Development Standards for Banks
Neighborhood Pedestrian-Oriented (CNP) District
When a bank, credit union, or savings and loan is located within the City of Long Beach CNP District, it must adhere to the following conditions:
- Drive-Throughs: Drive-thru windows and automated teller machines (ATMs) are prohibited [Section 21.52.208.B].
- Design: The project must comply with "Design of Buildings" standards to ensure pedestrian orientation [Section 21.32.230].
- Curb Cuts: In local coastal planning area D (Second Street), no new curb cuts are permitted for these uses [Section 21.52.208.C].
- Operating Hours: In Area D, banks must make their parking facilities available for public use during non-operational hours [Section 21.52.208.E].
Alternative Financial Services
For establishments such as check cashing, payday loans, and car title loans, the City of Long Beach enforces strict locational criteria:
- Distancing: Such uses cannot be located within a 1,320-foot radius of an existing approved check cashing or loan business [Section 21.52.212.B.1].
- Prohibited Areas: These uses are expressly prohibited in the CNA, CNP, CNR districts, and several Planned Development (PD) districts including PD-6, PD-25, PD-29, and PD-30 [Section 21.52.212.B.2].
Off-Street Parking Requirements
The City of Long Beach requires specific parking ratios for financial institutions to ensure adequate space for customers and staff.
| Use Type | Required Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
| Banks, Savings and Loans | 5 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. of Gross Floor Area (GFA) |
| Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) | No additional parking required for machines accessory to the bank |
| Professional Offices (General) | 4 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. of GFA (up to 20,000 GFA) |
[Section 21.41.216, Table 41-1C]
Sections Cited
- Section 21.15.335 - Bank
- Section 21.15.1050 - Financial service
- Section 21.32.110 - Permitted uses (Commercial)
- Section 21.33.060 - Permitted uses (Industrial)
- Section 21.41.216 - Parking—Required number of spaces
- Section 21.52.208 - Bank, credit union, savings and loan (Special Conditions)
- Section 21.52.212 - Check cashing, payday loans, car title loans (Special Conditions)