Permitted Districts for Restaurants, Cafes, and Bakeries in Mesa

In the City of Mesa, restaurants, cafes, and retail bakeries are primarily permitted in Commercial (NC, LC, GC), Mixed-Use (MX), and Downtown (DB, DC) zoning districts. While these uses are also allowed in Employment districts and certain Residential districts, they are often subject to specific size limitations, location requirements, or the approval of a Special Use Permit (SUP).

Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts

The Mesa Zoning Ordinance designates several commercial and mixed-use zones as the primary locations for eating and drinking establishments. In these districts, use permissions depend on whether the establishment is full-service, limited-service, or a coffee shop.

Use Classification	NC	LC	GC	OC	MX
Coffee Shops/Cafes	P	P	P	P (5)	P
Restaurants, Full Service	P	P	P	—	P
Restaurants, Limited Service	P	P	P	P (5)	P
Retail Bakeries (Food & Beverage Sales)	P (14)	P	P	—	P

Key Conditions:

• (5) In the Office Commercial (OC) District, these uses are only permitted if located within an office or commercial building and occupying no more than 1,500 square feet [Table 11-6-2].
• (14) In the Neighborhood Commercial (NC) District, the maximum size for a single food and beverage store is 10,000 square feet [Table 11-6-2].
• Drive-Thru Facilities: In the NC District, drive-thrus require a Council Use Permit (CUP). They are permitted by right in LC, GC, and MX districts, but are prohibited in the OC District [Table 11-6-2].

Employment and Industrial Districts

The Mesa Zoning Ordinance allows for eating and drinking establishments within employment corridors to serve local workers, though larger facilities in heavy industrial areas require additional oversight.

Use Classification	PEP	LI (M-1)	GI (M-2)	HI
Coffee Shops/Cafes	P	P	P	P/SUP (6)
Restaurants, Full-Service	P	P	P	P/SUP (6)
Restaurants, Limited Service	P	P	P	P/SUP (6)

Key Conditions:

• (6) In the Heavy Industrial (HI) District, these uses are permitted by right if the floor area is 5,000 square feet or less. A Special Use Permit (SUP) is required if the floor area exceeds 5,000 square feet [Table 11-7-2].

Downtown Districts

Restaurants and cafes are encouraged in the urban core of the City of Mesa to promote a vibrant, walkable environment.

• Downtown Business (DB-1 and DB-2): All categories of restaurants, cafes, and bars are permitted by right [Table 11-8-3].
• Downtown Core (DC): All categories of restaurants and cafes are permitted by right [Table 11-8-3].
• Downtown Residence (DR-1, DR-2, DR-3): These districts are primarily residential and generally prohibit commercial eating establishments, though they may be allowed in specific mixed-use scenarios or historic reuses [Table 11-8-3].

Residential Districts

Under highly specific circumstances, the Mesa Zoning Ordinance allows small-scale restaurants in residential zones to serve the immediate neighborhood.

• RS, RSL, and RM Districts: Full-service and limited-service restaurants may be allowed with a Special Use Permit (SUP) [Table 11-5-2].
• Note 11 Requirements: Such establishments must be located coterminous to an intersection of an arterial street with a local or collector street. The aggregate maximum Gross Floor Area (GFA) must be less than 1,500 square feet, and drive-thru facilities are strictly prohibited [Section 11-5-2, Note 11].

Definitions and Retail Bakeries

The City of Mesa defines these uses under two primary categories:

1. Eating and Drinking Establishments: This includes businesses primarily engaged in serving prepared food or beverages. It specifically encompasses Coffee Shops/Cafes (serving nonalcoholic beverages and snacks), Full Service (order/pay after eating), and Limited Service (cafeterias, carryout, and self-service) [Section 11-86-4].
2. Food and Beverage Sales (Retail Bakeries): Retail bakeries are classified under "Food and Beverage Sales," which covers the retail sale of food for off-site preparation and consumption [Section 11-86-4].

Required Parking Standards

All eating and drinking establishments in Mesa must provide on-site parking based on their square footage and service type.

Facility Type	Indoor Area Requirement	Outdoor Seating Requirement
Establishments without Drive-Thru	1 space per 75 sq. ft.	1 space per 200 sq. ft.
Establishments with Drive-Thru	1 space per 100 sq. ft.	1 space per 200 sq. ft.
General Retail / Bakeries	1 space per 375 sq. ft.	N/A

[Table 11-32-3.A]

Sections Cited

• Section 11-5-2: Residential Districts Land Use Regulations
• Section 11-6-2: Commercial Districts Land Use Regulations
• Section 11-7-2: Employment Districts Land Use Regulations
• Section 11-8-3: Downtown Districts Land Use Regulations
• Section 11-32-3: Parking Spaces Required
• Section 11-86-4: Commercial Use Classifications