Self-Storage and Warehousing Regulations in Long Beach, CA

In the City of Long Beach, self-storage and mini-warehouse facilities are primarily permitted in the Commercial Storage (CS) and General Industrial (IG) districts, both requiring a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). General industrial warehousing for wholesale trade is permitted by right in the Light Industrial (IL), Medium Industrial (IM), and General Industrial (IG) districts, while being prohibited in nearly all other commercial and residential zones [Table 32-1, Table 33-2].

Permitted Districts for Storage and Warehousing

The City of Long Beach distinguishes between "Commercial storage/self-storage" (mini-warehouses) and "Industrial warehouses" used for wholesale trade and distribution.

Self-Storage and Mini-Warehouses

These facilities are defined as land uses consisting of the rental of space for the storage of personal property or recreational vehicles [Section 21.15.570].

Zoning District	Permission Level	Additional Requirements
Commercial Storage (CS)	Conditional (C)	Subject to special conditions in Section 21.52.219.7
General Industrial (IG)	Conditional (C)	Subject to special conditions in Section 21.52.219.7
All Other Districts	Prohibited (N)	Not allowed in IL, IM, IP, or standard Commercial zones

General Warehousing and Wholesale Trade

General warehousing is associated with the storage and transshipping of goods for future distribution [Section 21.15.3300].

Zoning District	Permission Level	Notes
Light Industrial (IL)	Permitted (Y)	Primary operations must occur within enclosed structures [Section 21.33.020]
Medium Industrial (IM)	Permitted (Y)	Allows for more intensive industrial processes [Section 21.33.020]
General Industrial (IG)	Permitted (Y)	Acts as the City's "industrial sanctuary" [Section 21.33.020]
Port-Related Industrial (IP)	Permitted (Y)	Must be consistent with the Port Master Plan [Section 21.33.020]

Special Development Standards for Self-Storage

The City of Long Beach imposes strict standards for self-storage facilities to ensure they do not negatively impact surrounding areas [Section 21.52.219.7]:

Location Restrictions: Facilities are not permitted or allowed to be located within an existing business or office park.
Site Suitability: A Conditional Use Permit may only be granted if the Zoning Administrator finds the development site is impractical for standard industrial development due to its shape or topography.
Shipping Containers: Prefabricated shipping containers are prohibited on sites located within 1,000 feet of any property zoned for residential use, unless they are completely screened from public view.
Operating Hours: For facilities with metal roll-up doors, these must be lubricated and maintained regularly to minimize noise. Hours of operation and access are limited to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
Security: Applicants must submit a security plan for review and approval by the Long Beach Police Department prior to the issuance of building permits.

Parking Requirements

Off-street parking for storage and warehousing in the City of Long Beach is calculated based on the gross floor area (GFA) or the number of units [Table 41-1C].

Use Type	Required Parking Spaces
Mini-warehouse (Personal Storage)	3 spaces plus 1 space per 100 units
Wholesale sales and distribution center	3 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. of GFA
Service/Storage yards	1 space per every 5,000 sq. ft. of yard area

Sections Cited