The purpose of this chapter is to establish zoning districts in the City that support commercial, industrial, general public, and community serving goods and activities, effectively implementing the General Plan. These districts provide sufficient and appropriately located land that supports the needs of City residents while minimizing their possible impacts on residential neighborhoods.
(Ord. 2014-01 § 1)
The following list identifies the City of Plymouth commercial and industrial activity zoning districts and their characteristic uses, intensity, and general development guidelines:
A. 
Village Commercial (VC). The designation covers most of the Downtown Historic District as well as land east of State Highway 49 and Old Sacramento Road. This zone is intended to consolidate uses into a walkable downtown and retain the character of historic building patterns. The historic pattern allows for zero front and side yard setbacks and two- to three-story building heights, and a floor area ratio (FAR) of 2.0. It is a mixed-use zone that allows for and encourages upper-floor residential living.
B. 
Suburban Commercial (SC). Designed to be compatible within a neighborhood environment. Therefore, it limits the floor area ratio to 1.0 and requires a landscape surface ratio of 40%. A variety of neighborhood-serving goods and services, provided in a building scale that allows for both auto and pedestrian ease of access. Design standards ensure compatibility with residential as well as other commercial uses.
C. 
Highway Commercial (HC). Accommodates the remaining commercial areas adjacent to corridors and major intersections. This district requires a landscape surface ratio of at least 20%, for enhancement of the street edge, parking lot screening, and buffering of adjacent uses. Uses in this zone should adequately address vehicular and truck access and services while maintaining a visually pleasant image of the City. Limited drive-through and other auto-oriented commercial retail activities are appropriate here with consolidated (shared access) curb cuts.
D. 
Commercial (C). This designation includes several parcels along State Highway 49 that were not rezoned through the 2013 Zoning Ordinance and Map Update process. The district is intended to:
1. 
Provide areas where commercial activities would be most appropriate and most profitable for the long-term welfare of the City and its inhabitants;
2. 
Protect such areas from encroachment by land uses that would be detrimental to commerce;
3. 
Ensure a broad range of commercial enterprises and services remain in the City and available to residents of the City; and
4. 
Encourage and promote visitors to engage in commerce in the City.
For the Commercial District's allowed uses, permit requirements, and development standards, refer to the Highway Commercial District.
E. 
Industrial/Business Park (I/BP). Activities and other high intensity or potentially impactful uses are allowed in this zone. It is intended for community and region-serving employment, services, and minor processing. Outdoor storage and processing of materials is allowed with conditions to make the use less impactful to nearby adjacent residential or retail activities. These areas in the City also reflect the historic mineral resource deposits that could be accessed in the future. Additional open space buffers are required around the outer perimeter.
(Ord. 2014-01 § 1)
Table 19.60.030-1 below identifies allowed uses and corresponding permit requirements for all Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts. Descriptions of all use types can be found in Chapter 19.98 (Glossary).
Use regulations in the table are shown using symbols as follows: "P," uses allowed by right; "AUP," uses that require an Administrative Use Permit; "CUP," uses that require approval of a Conditional Use Permit; and "N" symbolizes uses that are not permitted.
TABLE 19.60.030-1 USE MATRIX FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
Land Use Category
VC
SC
HC/C
I/BP
Retail, Office & Services
 
 
 
 
Animal Hospital/Boarding
N
AUP
P
P
Auctions/Auction House
P
P
P
P
Auto Repair & Service—No Gas
CUP
AUP
P
P
Auto Sales & Rentals
N
AUP
AUP
P
Auto Storage Yard/Towing
N
N
CUP
P
Bar/Cocktail Lounge
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
Banquet Hall/Lodge/Club
P
P
P
P
Beer or Wine Tasting (Accessory)
P
P
P
P
Brewery/Distillery/Winery
AUP
AUP
AUP
AUP
Building/Garden Materials Yard
N
AUP
AUP
P
Car Wash
N
AUP
AUP
P
Convenience Store
P
P
P
P
Dry Cleaners/Laundry
CUP
CUP
CUP
P
Emergency Shelter
N
P
P
P
Equipment Rental Yard
N
AUP
P
AUP
Farmers' Market
P
AUP
AUP
AUP
Gasoline & Propane Sales
N
AUP
AUP
AUP
Hospital—Health Care
AUP
AUP
P
P
Hotel/Motel
AUP
AUP
CUP
AUP
Liquor Store
N
CUP
CUP
CUP
Medical or Nonmedical Marijuana Dispensaries
N
N
N
N
Medical or Nonmedical Marijuana Cultivation—Outdoor
N
N
N
N
Medical or Nonmedical Marijuana Cultivation—6 Plants Within Residence or Accessory Structure
Per Ch. 19.94
Per Ch. 19.94
Per Ch. 19.94
Per Ch. 19.94
Commercial Marijuana Uses
N
N
N
N
Night Club (Live Music)
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
Office—All Professional Services
P
P
P
P
Outdoor Gathering—Events
TUP1
TUP1
TUP1
TUP1
Outdoor Storage Facility
N
N
CUP
CUP
Private Schools
P
P
P
P
Theaters
AUP
AUP
AUP
N
Restaurant, No Alcohol
P
P
P
AUP
Restaurant with Drive-Through
N
AUP
AUP
AUP
Restaurant, with Bar
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
Retail, General Personal Goods
P
P
P
CUP
Retail—More Than 5,000 sq ft
CUP
AUP
P
CUP
Retail (Accessory)
P
P
P
P
Tobacco Lounge
AUP
NP
NP
NP
Winery Tasting Room
AUP
AUP
AUP
AUP
Manufacturing, Resource Processing, Utility
 
 
 
 
Ambulance Service
AUP
AUP
AUP
AUP
Assembly—Small Shop
P
P
P
P
Asphalt/Concrete/Batch Plant
N
N
N
CUP
Emergency Response (Fire, Police)
AUP
AUP
AUP
AUP
Manufacturing/Assembly
N
N
CUP
AUP
Mining/Quarry/Extraction
N
N
N
CUP
Mortuary/Funeral Parlor
N
AUP
AUP
P
Parking Lot
CUP
CUP
AUP
P
Recreational Vehicle Storage
N
N
CUP
P
Recycling Collection Area
AUP
AUP
AUP
CUP
Truck Parking/Storage
N
N
CUP
CUP
Transfer Facility—Waste
N
N
CUP
CUP
Vehicle Dismantling/Salvage Yard
N
N
N
CUP
Warehouse/Self Storage
N
CUP
CUP
CUP
Wholesale Distribution Center
N
N
CUP
CUP
Wind Energy Conversion
N
N
N
CUP
Residential Uses
 
 
 
 
Convalescent Facility
N
P
AUP
N
Dwellings, Single-Family
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
Dwellings, Multifamily
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
Dwellings, Above Commercial
AUP
AUP
AUP
N
Employee Housing
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
Supportive Housing
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
Transitional Housing
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
Note:
1.
Temporary Use Permit is required.
(Ord. 2014-01 § 1; Ord. 2014-03 § 2; Ord. 2014-04 § 2; Ord. 2016-01 § 5; Ord. 2017-01 § 4; Ord. 2025-04, 5/8/2025)
The following development standards apply to the Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts. These guidelines, along with other chapters in this title and other City Design Guidelines, are intended to assist property owners and business developers in planning for the appropriate use and development of land.
TABLE 19.60.040-1 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Development Standards
VC
SC
HC/C
I/BP
Minimum Lot Area
none
6,000 sq ft
9,000 sq ft
12,000 sq ft
Floor Area Ratio—Minimum
0.4
0.25
0.10
0.0
Floor Area Ratio—Maximum
1.86
0.28
0.32
0.77
Maximum Impervious Surface1
80%
75%
75%
75%
Setbacks (Minimum):
 
 
 
 
Front
0 ft
5 ft
25ft
25 ft
Rear
10 ft
10 ft
25 ft
25 ft
Side Yard—Street
0 ft
10 ft
10 ft
25 ft
Side Yard—Interior Lot
0 ft
0 ft
0 ft
0 ft
Residential Buffer
n/a
25 ft
25 ft
100 ft
Maximum Building Lot Coverage
80%
75%
50%
75%
Landscape Area
0%
40%
25%
30%
Height Primary Structure
35 ft
35 ft
35 ft
35 ft
Height Accessory Structure
12 ft
12 ft
12 ft
12 ft
Setback Accessory Structure
0 ft
5 ft
5 ft
10 ft
Note:
1.
Any surface area that does not allow water to permeate the soil.
(Ord. 2014-01 § 1)