In addition to the objectives prescribed in Section 18.04.010 of this title, the O office district is included in this title to achieve the following purposes:
A. 
To provide opportunities for offices of a semicommercial character to locate outside of commercial districts;
B. 
To establish and maintain in portions of the city the high standards of site planning, architecture and landscape design sought by many business and professional offices;
C. 
To provide adequate space to meet the needs of modern offices, including off-street parking of automobiles and, where appropriate, off-street loading of trucks;
D. 
To provide space for semipublic facilities and institutions that appropriately may be located in office districts;
E. 
To minimize traffic congestion and to avoid the overloading of utilities by preventing the construction of buildings of excessive size in relation to the amount of land around them;
F. 
To protect offices from the noise, disturbance, traffic hazards, safety hazards, and other objectionable influences incidental to certain commercial uses;
G. 
To protect offices from fire, explosion, noxious fumes and other hazards.
(Prior code § 2-6.35)
A. 
All uses shall comply with the regulations prescribed in Chapter 18.84 of this title;
B. 
All professional pursuits and businesses shall be conducted entirely within a completely enclosed structure, except for off-street parking and loading areas;
C. 
No use shall be permitted, and no process, equipment or material shall be employed which is found by the planning commission to be objectionable to persons residing or working in the vicinity or injurious to property located in the vicinity by reason of odor, insect nuisance, fumes, dust, smoke, cinders, dirt, refuse, water-carried wastes, noise, vibration, illumination, glare, unsightliness or truck traffic, or to involve any hazard of fire or explosion.
(Prior code § 2-6.36)
A. 
Permitted and conditional uses in an O district are provided in Table 18.44.080.
B. 
Tobacco product and tobacco paraphernalia sales are only permitted in compliance with Chapter 18.109.
(Prior code § 2-6.37; Ord. 1668 § 1, 1995; Ord. 1726 § 1, 1997; Ord. 1743, 1998; Ord. 1880, 2003; Ord. 1950 §2 (Exh. A), 2007; Ord. 1995 § 2, 2009; Ord. 2086 § 2, 2014; Ord. 2113 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017; Ord. 2208 § 3, 2020)
The following uses shall not be permitted in the office district:
A. 
Any use not specifically or conditionally permitted by this chapter, unless a determination is made under Chapter 18.128 of this title.
B. 
Firearm sales.
(Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1880, 2003; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)
Electric and communication service wires to a new structure shall be placed underground from the nearest utility pole. If the city engineer finds, upon application by the property owner, that compliance is not feasible or economically justifiable, he or she shall permit different service arrangements. The property owner shall comply with the requirements of this section without expense to the city and shall make the necessary arrangements with the public utility involved.
(Prior code § 2-6.39; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998; Ord. 2000 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)
In all applicable O Districts and any district that permits innovation-based businesses, equipment required for building services such as transformers, emergency generators, gas meters, and similar components shall be sited to minimize visual impact from public open spaces and primary pedestrian and vehicular routes, and such equipment shall be screened per the requirements of Chapter 18.84.
(Ord. 2297, 9/16/2025)
Off-street parking facilities shall be provided for each use in the O district as prescribed in Chapter 18.88 of this title.
(Prior code § 2-6.40; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)
Off-street loading facilities shall be provided for each use as prescribed in Chapter 18.92 of this title.
(Prior code § 2-6.41; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)
No sign, outdoor advertising structure or display of any character shall be permitted in the O district except as prescribed in Chapter 18.96 of this title.
(Prior code § 2-6.42; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)
All permitted and conditional uses in the O district shall be subject to design review as prescribed in Chapter 18.20 of this title. Applicants are advised to confer with the zoning administrator before preparing detailed plans.
(Prior code § 2-6.43; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998; Ord. 2155 § 3, 2017)