Restaurant and Food Service Zoning in the City of Long Beach
In the City of Long Beach, restaurants, cafes, and bakeries are primarily permitted by right in most Commercial and Industrial zoning districts, provided they do not include drive-through facilities. Establishments featuring drive-through service generally require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and must adhere to specific queuing, noise, and location standards to prevent interference with nearby residential areas. Bakeries and specialty food shops are officially classified as "ready-to-eat restaurants" if they are primarily designed for takeout with limited on-site seating [Section 21.15.2332].
Commercial Zoning Districts
The Long Beach Municipal Code allows "Restaurants and Ready-To-Eat Foods" across a wide spectrum of commercial zones. The permission level depends largely on whether the facility provides drive-through service and its proximity to residential neighborhoods.
Walk-in and Ready-to-Eat Establishments
Most standard restaurants and ready-to-eat establishments (such as bakeries and coffee shops) are permitted by right (Y) in the following districts:
- CNP (Neighborhood Pedestrian-Oriented Commercial)
- CNA (Neighborhood Automobile-Oriented Commercial)
- CNR (Neighborhood Commercial and Residential)
- CCA (Community Automobile-Oriented)
- CCP (Community Pedestrian-Oriented)
- CCR (Community R-4-R Commercial)
- CCN (Community R-4-N Commercial)
- CHW (Regional Highway Commercial)
In the CB District (Central Business), restaurants are permitted but must be located inside parking structures [Section 21.52.206.A].
Drive-Through Facilities
Drive-through restaurants face stricter regulations in the City of Long Beach to protect the character of neighborhood corridors.
- Prohibited: Drive-throughs are strictly prohibited in the CNP and CNR districts to maintain pedestrian orientation [Table 32-1].
- Conditional: They are permitted subject to a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in the CNA, CCA, CCP, CCR, CCN, and CHW districts [Table 32-1].
Industrial Zoning Districts
The City of Long Beach also permits food service uses within industrial areas, primarily to serve the local workforce.
- Permitted by Right (Y): Eating places without drive-through facilities are allowed in the IL (Light Industrial), IM (Medium Industrial), and IG (General Industrial) districts [Table 33-2].
- Conditional (C): Eating places with drive-through facilities are permitted in the IL, IM, and IG districts subject to a CUP [Table 33-2].
Specialized Food Service Categories
The Long Beach Zoning Regulations provide specific definitions for different types of food and beverage service:
- Ready-to-Eat Restaurants: This category includes bakeries, delicatessens, donut shops, ice cream shops, and yogurt shops. These are distinguished by having an on-site service area limited to 150 square feet [Section 21.15.2332].
- Cafes (Internet/Cyber): Under the Long Beach Municipal Code, any "computer cafe" or "internet cafe" is legally classified as a "restaurant of any type" [Section 21.15.607].
- Accessory Institutional Food Service: Cafeterias and restaurants are permitted as an accessory use (A) within the Institutional (I) District to serve the primary occupants and visitors of the institution [Table 34-1].
- Special Residential District (R-4-H): In the Dense Multiple Residential High-Rise District, ground-floor commercial uses—including restaurants—are permitted at the property line to contribute to an active street frontage [Section 21.45.160].
Technical Standards and Requirements
Off-Street Parking Ratios
Parking requirements for food service in the City of Long Beach are calculated based on the type of restaurant and the Gross Floor Area (GFA).
| Use Type | Required Number of Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
| Ready-to-Eat Restaurant | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Dinner Restaurant | 10 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA of dining area + 20 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA for tavern/dance floor |
| Detached Fast Food (on separate pad) | 5 spaces plus 1 per 3 seats in dining area, or 10 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA (whichever is greater) |
| Tavern | 20 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
Drive-Through Operation Findings
To approve a drive-through facility, the decision-maker must find that the project has adequate vehicle queuing distance, does not create pedestrian travel hazards, and includes sufficient emissions controls to prevent idling impacts on nearby sensitive receptors [Section 21.45.130].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.15.607 - Computer arcade (Definitions)
- Section 21.15.2332 - Ready-to-eat restaurant (Definitions)
- Table 31-1 - Uses in Residential Zones
- Table 32-1 - Uses in Commercial Zoning Districts
- Table 33-2 - Uses in Industrial Districts
- Table 34-1 - Uses in the Institutional District
- Table 41-1C - Required Number of Parking Spaces
- Section 21.45.130 - Drive-through facilities (Special Development Standards)
- Section 21.45.160 - Retail/office commercial uses in the R-4-H Zone
- Section 21.52.206 - Automobile related services (CB District restrictions)