Retail and Commercial Shopping Center Zoning in Long Beach
In the City of Long Beach, retail stores and commercial shopping centers are primarily permitted by right in all Community Commercial Districts (CCA, CCP, CCR, and CCN) and the Regional Highway Commercial District (CHW). While the Neighborhood Pedestrian-Oriented Commercial District (CNP) allows retail by right, other neighborhood zones like the Neighborhood Automobile-Oriented (CNA) and Neighborhood Commercial and Residential (CNR) districts require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Certain industrial zones, specifically Light Industrial (IL), also permit retail trade, while Medium Industrial (IM) and General Industrial (IG) require a CUP [Table 32-1, Table 33-2].
Commercial Districts Permitting Retail Uses
The City of Long Beach categorizes its commercial zones into four distinct functional groups: General Applicability, Neighborhood, Community, and Regional districts. The suitability of retail stores and shopping centers depends on the specific scale and orientation of the district [Section 21.32.020].
Neighborhood Commercial Districts
These districts are designed to meet the daily needs of surrounding residents.
- Neighborhood Pedestrian (CNP): Oriented toward pedestrian activity with buildings located at the primary street frontage and parking in the rear. Retail is permitted by right [Section 21.32.020.B.1].
- Neighborhood Automobile-Oriented (CNA): Designed for auto-access with buildings set back from the property line. Retail requires a Conditional Use Permit [Section 21.32.020.B.2].
- Neighborhood Commercial and Residential (CNR): A mixed-use district where retail trade requires a Conditional Use Permit [Section 21.32.020.B.3].
Community Commercial Districts
These districts serve the broader City of Long Beach community and are typically located on major or minor arterials.
- CCA and CCP: Both the Automobile-Oriented (CCA) and Pedestrian-Oriented (CCP) districts permit retail trade by right [Section 21.32.020.C].
- CCR and CCN: These districts (related to R-4-R and R-4-N residential densities) allow retail by right to facilitate community-scale commercial activity [Table 32-1].
Regional and Special Districts
- Regional Highway (CHW): This district is intended for large-scale, mixed-use regional shopping centers on major arterial streets and regional traffic corridors [Section 21.32.020.D.1].
- Commercial Storage (CS): Retail trade is generally not permitted in this district, as it is reserved for storage and buffer uses [Section 21.32.020.E].
Industrial Districts Permitting Retail Trade
The City of Long Beach allows limited retail trade within certain industrial environments to serve local employees and provide convenience.
| Industrial District Name | Permission Level | Key Restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Light Industrial (IL) | Permitted (Y) | Intended to serve nearby industries/employees [Table 33-2]. |
| Medium Industrial (IM) | Conditional (C) | Requires a Conditional Use Permit [Table 33-2]. |
| General Industrial (IG) | Conditional (C) | Requires a Conditional Use Permit [Table 33-2]. |
| Port-Related Industrial (IP) | Not Permitted (N) | Retail is prohibited in the IP district [Table 33-2]. |
Shopping Center Classifications
The City of Long Beach defines shopping centers based on their size and the number of lease areas or tenant spaces.
| Center Type | Maximum Square Footage | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Neighborhood Shopping Center | 60,000 sq. ft. | 3+ tenant spaces; shared off-street parking [Section 21.15.2482]. |
| Retail Cluster Shopping Center | 60,000 sq. ft. | No common open parking between building and street [Section 21.15.2484]. |
| Regional Shopping Center | 100,001+ sq. ft. | Usually contains one or more department stores [Section 21.15.2486]. |
Off-Street Parking Requirements
Retail and shopping center developments must adhere to specific parking ratios established in the Long Beach Municipal Code.
| Use Type | Required Number of Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
| Shopping Centers (Neighborhood, Community, Regional) | 5 per 1,000 sq. ft. of Gross Floor Area (GFA) [Table 41-1C]. |
| General Retail Stores (Commercial Clusters) | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. of GFA [Table 41-1C]. |
| Furniture Stores | 2 per 1,000 sq. ft. of GFA [Table 41-1C]. |
| Ready-to-Eat Restaurants | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. of GFA [Table 41-1C]. |
Note: Shopping centers larger than 150,000 square feet may apply for a lower parking ratio based on a parking demand study [Section 21.41.219].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.15.2482 - Shopping center, neighborhood.
- Section 21.15.2484 - Shopping center, retail cluster.
- Section 21.15.2486 - Shopping center, regional.
- Section 21.32.020 - Districts established (Commercial).
- Section 21.41.219 - Parking requirements for uses not specified and for large shopping centers.
- 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.