Chapter 19.12 — COMMERCIAL ZONES (C-P, C-G, C-F)
Duarte Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Duarte
Sections in this part
19.12.010 - Purposes of commercial zones. ¶
The City has established three commercial zones to implement General Plan policies regarding the accommodation of necessary and desired commercial goods and services in the City, and to achieve the following:
A.
C-P Commercial-Professional zone. The C-P zone provides locations appropriate for administrative and professional offices, with limited accessory retail and service uses.
B.
C-G Commercial-General zone. The C-G zone provides locations for a wide variety of commercial enterprises and intended to serve local and regional needs.
C.
C-F Commercial-Freeway zone. The C-F zone provides locations along Interstate 210 for large, autooriented, and regional-serving retail commercial developments that benefit from the increased exposure and regional traffic afforded by a freeway-adjacent location, and where development standards can be tailored to attract and maintain such regionally oriented uses.
19.12.020 - Land uses and permit requirements.
A.
Allowed land uses.
1.
Table 2-5 indicates the uses allowed within each commercial zone and any permits required to establish the use, pursuant to Article 7 (Permit Processing Procedures) and Article 8 (Development Code Administration).
2.
See Article 9 for land use definitions.
3.
Land uses that are not listed in Table 2-5 or are not shown in a particular zone are not allowed (see Uses Not Classified in Section 19.04.040), except as otherwise provided by Section 19.04.020 (Rules of Interpretation).
B.
Applicable regulations. Where the last column in the Table 2-5 includes a Chapter or Section number, the regulations in the referenced Chapter or Section shall apply to the use. Provisions in other Sections of this Development Code may also apply.
| TABLE 2-5 ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS |
Commercial Zone Permit Requirements | Commercial Zone Permit Requirements | Commercial Zone Permit Requirements | Commercial Zone Permit Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P = Permitted By Right A = Permitted as Accessory Use MUP = Minor Use Permit CUP = Conditional Use Permit — = Not Allowed |
||||
| Land Use | C-P | C-G | C-F | Specifc Use Regulations |
| Retail Trade Uses | ||||
| Alcohol Beverage Sales | ||||
| Alcohol Sales (of-sale) | — | CUP | CUP | See 19.60.030 (Alcohol Beverage Sales Business) |
| Alcohol Sales (on-sale), Accessory Only |
A | A | A | |
| Convenience Store | CUP | CUP | A | |
| Pawn Shop | — | — | — | |
| Retail Store (Up to 20,000 sf) | P | P | * | *: When not located within a recognized shopping center |
| Retail Store (Greater than 20,000 sf) | — | P | P | |
| Secondhand Store | — | CUP | — | |
| Shopping Center | ||||
| Neighborhood | — | CUP | — | See 19.12.040 (Limitations on Shopping Centers) |
| Community | — | CUP | CUP | |
| Regional | — | CUP | CUP | |
| Tobacco Product, Electronic Cigarette and Vaping Devices, Electronic Cigarette and Vaping Accessories, and Tobacco Paraphernalia Sales |
— | A | A | See 19.60.167 |
| Tobacco Shop | — | MUP | MUP | See 19.60.165 |
| Vehicle Rental | — | MUP | MUP | |
| Vehicle Sales — New | — | CUP | P |
| Vehicle Sales — Used (sites < 1.5 acres) |
— | — | CUP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Sales — Used (sites 1.5 acres or greater) |
— | — | P | |
| Vehicle Parts Sales (including stereos/alarms, but no installation) |
— | P | P | |
| Vending Machines — Outside | MUP | MUP | MUP | See 19.60.180 (Vending Machines — Outdoor) |
| Business, Financial, and Professional | ||||
| ATMs | A | A | A | |
| Financial Institutions and Related Services |
P | P | P | |
| Ofces — Business or Corporate | P | P | A | |
| Eating and Drinking Establishments | ||||
| Accessory Food Service (open to public) |
A | A | A | |
| Bars, Lounges, Nightclubs, and Taverns |
— | CUP | CUP | |
| Fast Food (no late-night hours) | CUP | P | P | See 19.60.050 (Drive- through and Drive-up Facilities). See also |
| Fast Food (with late-night hours) | CUP | P | P | 19.60.110 (Late Night and/or Twenty-Four Hour Uses) |
| Outdoor Cooking — Accessory | CUP | CUP | CUP | Only allowed in association with an approved restaurant use or through Temporary Use or Special Events Permit |
| Outdoor Dining | ||||
| Limited (up to 800 sf, inclusive) | A | A | A | |
| General (more than 800 sf) | CUP | CUP | CUP | See 19.60.110 (Outdoor Dining) |
| Outdoor Seating | A | A | A | |
| Restaurant — Sit-down (no late hours) |
P | P | P |
| Restaurant — Sit-down (with late hours) |
CUP | CUP | P | See Section 19.60.190 (Late Night and/or Twenty-Four Hour Uses) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take-Out Service | A | P | P | |
| Service Uses — General | ||||
| Animal Grooming | — | P | P | No overnight boarding of animals allowed. |
| Maintenance and Repair Services (other than vehicle) |
P | P | P | |
| Personal Services, General | P | P | P | |
| Postal and Mailing Services | P | P | P | |
| Printing and Duplicating Services (Commercial) |
P | P | P | |
| Studio — Art, Dance, Martial Arts, Music |
P | P | CUP | |
| Vehicle Repair and Services | ||||
| Automobile Washing/Detailing | — | CUP | A | |
| Fueling Stations | — | CUP | CUP | See 19.60.060 (Fueling Stations) |
| Vehicle Repair — General (Major Repair/Body Work) |
— | — | A | |
| Vehicle Repair — Limited (Minor Repair/Maintenance) |
— | MUP | A | See 19.60.170 (Vehicle Repair Facilities — General |
| Vehicle Repair — Limited (Accessory installation, such as stereos, alarms, and window flm) |
— | CUP | A | and Limited) |
| Veterinary Services | MUP | CUP | CUP | Boarding allowed only in association with veterinary care. |
| Service Uses — Restricted | ||||
| Electronic Cigarette and Vaping Establishments |
— | — | — | |
| Funeral Homes and Mortuaries, w/o crematorium |
MUP | MUP | — | |
| Personal Services, Restricted | CUP | CUP | CUP |
| Tobacco Smoking Establishments | — | CUP | — | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor Accommodations | ||||
| Hotels/Motels | — | CUP | — | |
| Long-Term Hotel (Extended Stay) | CUP | — | — | |
| Care Uses | ||||
| Day Care Facility | — | CUP | — | See 19.60.100 (Large and Small Family Child Day Care Facilities) |
| Residential Care Facilities | CUP | CUP | — | |
| Medical-Related and Social Services | ||||
| Ambulance Services (Limited feet) | MUP | MUP | — | |
| Emergency/Urgent Care Clinic | P | MUP | — | |
| Medical, Dental Clinics/Ofces | P | P | CUP | |
| Medical Supplies | P | P | P | |
| Outpatient Surgery/Care Facilities | P | P | — | |
| Pharmacy | P | — | P | |
| Transportation, Communication, and Infrastructure Uses | ||||
| Public and Private Parking Lots and Structures (not associated with a primary use) |
MUP | MUP | MUP | |
| Utilities | CUP | CUP | CUP | |
| Recreation and Education | ||||
| Commercial Recreation and Entertainment |
— | CUP | CUP | |
| Game Arcade, Internet Cafe, or Similar Business |
— | CUP | — | See 19.60.090 (Internet Cafe and Game Arcades) |
| Health/Fitness Facilities | ||||
| Small — 2,000 sf or less | MUP | MUP | MUP | |
| Large — 2,001 sf or greater | CUP | CUP | CUP | |
| Schools, Private | CUP | CUP | — | |
| Schools, related to medical professions |
CUP | CUP | — | |
| Other Uses |
| Late Night and/or 24-Hour Use within 300 feet of any legal residential use or zone |
CUP | CUP | CUP | See Section 19.60.190 (Late Night and/or Twenty-Four Hour Uses) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accessory Structures | A | A | A | |
| Assembly/Meeting Facilities (Less than 5,000 sf) |
MUP | MUP | — | |
| Drive-Through or Drive-Up Facilities |
— | CUP | CUP | See 19.60.050 (Drive- through and Drive-up Facilities) |
| Museums | CUP | CUP | — | |
| Outdoor Displays/Sales (Permanent) | CUP | CUP | CUP | |
| Outdoor Entertainment (when accessory to a primary use) |
CUP | CUP | CUP | |
| Places of Religious Assembly | CUP | CUP | — | See 19.60.140 (Places of Religious Assembly) |
| Recycling Facilities | ||||
| Reverse Vending Machine | — | MUP | — | See 19.60.150 (Recycling Facilities) |
| Small Collection Facility | — | MUP | — | |
| Special Events | See Chapter 19.124 (Temporary Use Permits) |
|||
| Temporary Uses | See Chapter 19.124 (Temporary Use Permits) |
(Ord. No. 852, § 2, 8-26-2014; Ord. No. 856, § 1, 3-10-2015)
19.12.030 - Commercial zones general development standards.
New land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures, shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements in Table 2-6, and the development standards in Article 3 (Regulations Applicable to All Zones). Standards for accessory structures are set forth in Chapter 19.34 (Accessory Structures).
TABLE 2-6 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
| TABLE 2-6 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development Feature | C-P | C-G | C-F | Additional Requirements |
| Lot Dimensions | ||||
| Lot Area — minimum | 10,000 sf | 10,000 sf | 40,000 sf | |
| Lot Width — minimum | 100 ft | 100 ft | 200 ft |
| Floor-Area Ratio — maximum | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height — maximum | 50 ft | 50 ft | 60 ft | See 19.32.040 for measurement and exceptions |
| Setbacks (minimum) | ||||
| Front or adjacent to a street | 15 ft | 15 ft | 15 ft | See also Section 19.32.020 (Permitted Projections into |
| Side (interior, each) | ||||
| Abutting nonresidential | 0 ft | 0 ft | 0 ft | Required Setback |
| Abutting residential | 20 ft | 20 ft | 25 ft | Areas) and Section |
| Side (Street side) | 15 ft | 15 ft | 15 ft | 19.32.050 (Yards — Measurement and Requirements). |
| Rear | ||||
| Abutting alley | 15 ft | 15 ft | 15 ft | |
| Abutting alley | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Abutting residential | 15 ft | 15 ft | 20 ft |
19.12.040 - Limitations on shopping centers. ¶
No more than 40 percent of leasable gross space can be devoted to eating and drinking establishments within a shopping center having more than four tenant spaces.
19.12.042 - Limitations on service-based uses in C-F zoned properties. ¶
A.
No more than 50 percent of the gross floor area of the shopping center, excluding anchor tenant(s), can be devoted to service-based uses, including but not limited to uses consisting of:
1.
Financial institutions and related services.
2.
Offices.
3.
Service uses—General category.
4.
Veterinary services.
Service uses—Restricted category.
6.
Medical-related and social services category.
7.
Health/fitness facilities.
B.
For the purposes of this Section, an anchor tenant is defined as a retail business consisting of 20,000 square feet or more of gross floor area.
(Ord. No. 856, § 2, 3-10-2015)
19.12.050 - Limitations on outdoor use and storage.
A.
Permitted outdoor uses. All permitted uses in the C-P, C-G, and C-F zones shall be conducted wholly within an enclosed structure, except the following:
1.
Parking lots.
2.
Vehicle sales areas.
3.
Any recreation use that requires use of outdoor space.
4.
Service station fuel dispensing activities.
5.
Plant nurseries.
6.
Garden and bulky hardware supplies associated with a home improvement or similar retail business, provided that all such outdoor use shall be fully screened and secured by walls or fencing materials (see Section 19.60.130 [Outdoor Displays, Permanent]).
Outdoor dining areas associated with restaurants (see Section 19.60.120 [Outdoor Dining]).
8.
Temporary outdoor sales or special events with the approval of a Temporary Use Permit pursuant to Chapter 19.124 (Temporary Use Permits).
B.
Outdoor storage prohibited. All types of outdoor storage shall be prohibited.
19.12.060 - Other applicable regulations. ¶
In addition to the requirements contained in this Chapter 19.12 (Commercial Zones), regulations contained in the following Chapters may apply to development in commercial zones.
Chapter 19.32, Site Planning and General Development Standards.
Chapter 19.34, Accessory Structures.
Chapter 19.36, Fences, Walls, and Hedges.
Chapter 19.38, Off-Street Parking Regulations and Design.
Chapter 19.40, Landscaping.
Chapter 19.42, Signs.
Chapter 19.44, Architectural and Design
Standards.
Chapter 19.48, Property Maintenance.
Chapter 19.50, Performance Standards.
Chapter 19.52, Sustainable Development Practices.
Article 4, Standards for Specific Land Uses and Activities.
Chapter 19.14 - HOSPITAL ZONE (H)
Sections:
19.14.010 - Purpose of the Hospital zone.
The purposes of the Hospital zone is to provide for areas appropriate for health care-related uses (and limited accessory retail and service uses) that provide necessary community and regional facilities to support and promote good health and medical care, and that provide jobs for all educational and skill levels. Such uses generally benefit from good regional access.
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