Chapter 8.24 — COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS

8.24.010 Purpose and Intent. ¶

The purpose and intent of this Chapter is to establish regulations which achieve the following:

A. Provide appropriate commercial areas for retail and service establishments, neighborhood convenience and office uses required by the residents of the City in a manner consistent with the General Plan and applicable Specific Plans.

B. Provide adequate space to meet the needs of commercial development, including off-street parking and loading.
C. Minimize traffic congestion and avoid the overloading of public services and utilities.
D. Protect commercial areas from excessive noise, illumination, unsightliness, odor, smoke, and other objectionable influences.

E. Facilitate the provision of public improvements commensurate with anticipated increase in population, and need for retail and service establishments.

F. Promote high standards of site planning and landscape design for commercial and office developments within the City.
G. Provide employment opportunities for existing and future residents of the City and those of adjacent communities.

H. Provide for land uses which meet the needs of and attract regional populations, in addition to local residents.

I. Ensure compatibility with adjacent land uses.

8.24.020 Commercial Zoning Districts. ¶

A. C-O (Commercial Office Zoning District).

Intent. The C-O zoning district is intended to provide for the continued use, expansion, and new development of commercial office use types in proximity to major transportation corridors, and to ensure compatibility with adjacent residential and commercial uses.
Use types permitted in the C-O zoning district. Automobile/Vehicle Brokerage, Banks and Financial Services, Copying and Blueprinting, Laboratory, and Office - Professional/Administrative; similar and related uses; temporary uses; and conditional uses.
Use types conducted entirely within a building. All use types permitted in the C-O zoning district shall be conducted entirely within a building.
General plan consistency. The C-O zoning district is consistent with the Retail/Office, Campus Office, and Industrial/Campus Office designations of the General Plan.

B. C-N (Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District).

Intent. The C-N zoning district is intended to provide for the continued use, expansion, and new development of small scale, low-intensity neighborhood commercial use types which serve and are in proximity to residential neighborhoods throughout the City, and to ensure compatibility with adjacent residential and commercial uses.
Use types permitted in the C-N zoning district. Automobile /Vehicle Brokerage, Banks and Financial Services, Copying and Blueprinting, Office - Professional/Administrative, Personal Services, Repair Shop, and Retail - Neighborhood; similar and related uses; temporary uses; and conditional uses.
Use types conducted entirely within a building. All use types permitted in the C-N zoning district shall be conducted entirely within a building.
General plan consistency. The C-N zoning district is consistent with the Retail/Office and Neighborhood Commercial designations of the General Plan.

C. C-1 (Retail Commercial Zoning District).

Intent. The C-1 zoning district is intended to provide for the continued use, expansion, and new development of retail commercial use types along major transportation corridors and intersections, and to ensure compatibility with adjacent residential and commercial uses.
Use types permitted in the C-1 zoning district. Automobile/Vehicle Brokerage, Banks and Financial Services, Building Materials Sales, Copying and Blueprinting, Eating and Drinking Establishment, Health Services/Clinics, Office - Professional/Administrative, Parking Lot/Garage - Commercial, Personal Services, Repair Shop, Retail - General, Retail - Neighborhood, and School - Commercial; similar and related uses; temporary uses; and conditional uses.
Use types conducted entirely within a building. All use types permitted in the C-1 zoning district shall be conducted entirely within a building with the exception of Parking Lot/Garage - Commercial. Retail - Outdoor Storage may be approved pursuant to a Conditional Use Permit.
General plan consistency. The C-1 zoning district is consistent with the Retail/Office and General Commercial designations of the General Plan.

D. C-2 (General Commercial Zoning District).

Intent. The C-2 zoning district is intended to provide for the continued use, expansion, and new development of general commercial use types along major transportation corridors and intersections, and to ensure compatibility with adjacent residential and commercial uses.
Use types permitted in the C-2 zoning district. Ambulance Service, Automobile/Vehicle Brokerage, Automobile/Vehicle Rentals, Automobile/Vehicle Repairs and Service, Banks and Financial Services, Building Materials Sales, Copying and Blueprinting, Eating and Drinking Establishment, Health Services/Clinics, Laboratory, Mini-Storage, Office - Contractor’s, Office - Professional/Administrative, Parking Lot/Garage - Commercial, Personal Services, Repair Shop, Retail - General, Retail - Neighborhood, Retail - Service, Single Room Occupancy Units, and School - Commercial; similar and related uses; temporary uses; and conditional uses.
Use types conducted entirely within a building. All use types permitted in the C-2 zoning district shall be conducted entirely within a building with the exception of Automobile/Vehicle Rentals, Parking Lot - Commercial and Retail - Service. Retail - Outdoor Storage may be approved pursuant to a Conditional Use Permit.
General plan consistency. The C-2 zoning district is consistent with the Retail/Office, Retail/Office and Automotive, and General Commercial designations of the General Plan. Rev. Ord. 1-25 (February 2025)

8.24.030 Permitted and Conditionally Permitted Land Uses, Regulations, and Performance Standards. ¶

A. Permitted and Conditionally Permitted Land Uses. For permitted and conditionally permitted land uses, please see the Land Use Matrix in Section 8.12.050.

B. Accessory Structures and Uses Regulations. For accessory structures and uses regulations, please see Chapter 8.40.

C. Adult Business Establishment Regulations. For adult business regulations, please see Chapter 8.44.
D. Density Bonus Regulations. For density bonus regulations, please see Chapter 8.52.
E. Development Agreement Regulations. For development agreement regulations, please see Chapter 8.56.
F. Development Regulations. For development regulations, please see Chapter 8.36.
G. Home Occupations Regulations. For home occupations regulations, please see Chapter 8.64.
H. Landscaping and Fencing Regulations. For landscaping and fencing regulations, please see Chapter 8.72.
I. Off-Street Parking and Loading Regulations. For off-street parking and loading regulations, please see Chapter 8.76.
J. Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations. For accessory dwelling unit and junior accessory dwelling unit regulations, please see Chapter 8.80. Rev. Ord. 17-20 (November 2020)
K. Sign Regulations. For sign regulations, please see Chapter 8.84.
L. Water Efficient Landscaping Regulations. For water efficient landscape regulations, please see Chapter 8.88.
M. Wireless Communications Facilities Regulations. For wireless communications facilities regulations, please see Chapter 8.92.

N. Performance Standards. All uses in the Commercial zoning districts shall conform to Section 8.28.030 (Industrial Performance Standards for the M-P zoning district).

O. Single Room Occupancy Unit. For Single Room Occupancy Unit regulations, please see Chapter 8.46.
P. Supportive Housing. For Supportive Housing regulations, please see Chapter 8.47.
Q. Transitional Housing. For Transitional Housing regulations, please see Chapter 8.50. Rev. Ord. 4-11 (April 2011)

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The Dublin Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2-26, passed March 3, 2026.

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