In addition to the purpose and intent described in Section 17.104.020 (Intent and Purpose), the specific purpose of the commercial zones is to achieve the goals and policies of the General Plan related to commercial areas of Lompoc.
(Ord. 1670(19) § 11)
A. 
Convenience Center Zone (CC). The Convenience Center (CC) Zone applies to areas of the City where it is appropriate to provide commercial centers adjacent to residential areas to allow for neighborhood shopping needs and walkability.
B. 
Central Business Zone (CB). The Central Business (CB) Zone applies to areas of the City that provide a wide variety of retail, office, and services uses, including visitor-oriented and auto-oriented businesses for the business and commercial needs of the City.
C. 
Old Town Commercial Zone (OTC). The Old Town Commercial (OTC) Zone applies to the Old Town area of the City that provides for medium-intensity commercial uses that serve mostly community-wide needs in a pedestrian-friendly environment characterized by street-front stores and offices with residential uses generally limited to above first floor commercial uses.
D. 
Planned Commercial Development (PCD). The Planned Commercial Development (PCD) Zone is intended to provide for the orderly development of commercial centers in conformance with the General Plan. This Zone is intended to provide flexibility in the site planning and design of various types of commercial developments along major highway corridors.
(Ord. 1670(19) § 11)
The land uses allowed in the commercial zones are listed below, together with the planning permit type required for each use.
A. 
Establishment of an Allowable Use.
1. 
Any one or more land uses allowed in Table 17.212.030.A (Commercial Zones Allowed Uses) may be established on any lot within the commercial zone, subject to the planning permit requirement listed in the Table, and in compliance with all applicable requirements of this Code. Accessory uses are allowed only in conjunction with a primary use to which the accessory use relates.
2. 
Where a single parcel is proposed for development with two or more of the land uses listed in the Table at the same time, the overall project will be subject to the highest permit level required by the Table for any individual use.
3. 
Uses not listed below may be allowed in compliance with Section 17.520.050 (Allowable Uses of Land).
B. 
Allowed Uses.
Table 17.212.030.A: Commercial Zones Allowed Uses
Use
Requirement by Zone
Specific Use Regulations
CC
CB
OTC
PCD
Agricultural Uses and Animal Keeping Use Types
Animal Raising and Keeping
P1
P1
P1
P1
17.404.040
Community Garden
P
P
P
P
17.404.070
Industrial, Manufacturing, Processing, and Wholesaling Use Types
Artisan Manufacturing
-
MUP
MUP
MUP
-
Cannabis Testing Laboratory
-
P
-
P
LMC 9.36
Manufacturing/Processing: Light/Medium
-
CUP
-
CUP
-
Micro-Alcohol Production
-
CUP
CUP
CUP
-
Recreation, Education, and Assembly Use Types
Business/Trade School
-
P
CUP
P
-
Civic/Government
-
P
P
P
-
Community Assembly, Neighborhood
-
P
CUP
P
-
Community Assembly, Regional
-
CUP
CUP
CUP
-
Entertainment, Indoor - Neighborhood
-
P
P
P
-
Entertainment, Indoor - Regional
-
CUP
CUP
CUP
-
Library/Museum
-
MUP
MUP
MUP
-
Recreation, Indoor
MUP
MUP
MUP
MUP
-
Recreation, Outdoor
P
MUP
MUP
P
-
Recreation, Passive
P
P
P
P
-
Schools, Public or Private
-
P
P
P
-
Studio, Instructional Services
P
P
P2
P
-
Residential Use Types
Caretaker's Unit
-
MUP
-
MUP
17.404.060
Emergency Shelters
P
P
CUP
CUP
17.404.090
Home Occupation
-
-
AUP
-
17.404.110
Live/Work
MUP
MUP
P
MUP
17.404.120
Multi-Family Residential
-
-
P3
-
17.404.160
Single Room Occupancy
P
P
P
P
-
Supportive Housing
-
-
P3,4
-
-
Retail Trade Use Types
Alcohol Sales
P
P
P
P
-
Bar/Nightclub
-
P
MUP
P
-
Dispensary
P
P
P
P
LMC 9.36
Drive-Through, Non-Restaurants
MUP
MUP
CUP5
MUP
-
General Retail ≤ 5,000 s.f.
P
P
P
P
-
General Retail > 5,000 s.f.
MUP
MUP
MUP
P
-
Outdoor Dining
P
P
P
P
17.404.170
Outdoor Display
AUP
MUP
AUP
AUP
17.404.180
Restaurant- w/o Alcohol Sales
P
P
P
P
-
Restaurant- w/Alcohol Sales
P
P
P
P
-
Restaurant- w/Drive Through
CUP
CUP
CUP5
CUP
-
Services Use Types
Bed & Breakfast
-
-
CUP
-
-
Day Care, Commercial
CUP
-
CUP
-
-
Dry Cleaning, Processing
P
P
-
P
-
Funeral Homes and Mortuaries
-
P
-
P
-
General Services
P
P
P
P
-
Hospital
-
P
-
P
-
Lodging
-
P
MUP
P
-
Medical Clinics and Laboratories
-
P
P
P
-
Offices, General
P
P
P
P
-
Public Services, Emergency Services
-
P
P
P
17.404.190
Safe Parking Program
AUP
AUP
AUP
AUP
17.404.205
Veterinary Clinics and Hospitals
-
P
P
P
-
Wireless Telecommunications Facility Use Types
Wireless Tower
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
17.404.220
Other Wireless Telecommunications Facility
See Section 17.404.220
Transportation Facilities Use Types
Parking Lot
P
P
P
P
-
Parking Structure
CUP
P
CUP
P
-
Passenger Transportation Facilities
-
CUP
CUP
CUP
-
Vehicle Sales and Services Use Types
Automotive Sales and Rental
-
P
P
P
-
Gas/Service Station
CUP
CUP
-
CUP
-
Large Vehicle and Boat Sales and Rental
-
P
-
P
-
Repair, Minor
-
P
P
P
-
Repair, Major
-
P
-
P
-
Other Use Types
Adult Businesses
-
MUP
-
MUP
17.404.030
Metal Storage Container
See Section 17.404.130
Temporary Use
See Section 17.404.210
Notes:
1
Permitted use on any lot containing a single-family residence, including a legal nonconforming single-family residence, provided the use complies with Section 17.404.040.
2
Chemical-based photographic studios, laundry facilities, and similar uses shall not be allowed in the OTC Zone.
3
For buildings with H Street or Ocean Avenue frontage in the OTC Zone, residential uses may only be located on the first floor if the residential use does not face the street (i.e., H Street or Ocean Avenue) and residential access is provided at the rear of the building.
4
Permitted use only if the supportive housing development satisfies all of the requirements in Government Code § 65651.
5
Limited to lots that are listed in the City's registry of Old Town Commercial lots with previously existing drive-throughs. Drive-through uses may be reestablished on these lots, and any on-site building(s) that previously functioned as a drive-through may be improved to accommodate the reestablishment of the drive-through use provided the improvements comply with Section 17.620.050 (Nonconforming Structures), if applicable.
P = Permitted Use
AUP = Administrative Use Permit (See Chapter 17.508)
MUP = Minor Use Permit required (See Chapter 17.520)
CUP = Conditional Use Permit required (See Chapter 17.520). A conditionally permitted use may be permitted subject to a Minor Use Permit when the use will be in an existing building and all applicable development standards applicable are met.
- = Use not allowed
(Ord. 1670(19) § 11; Ord. 1679(21) § 11; Ord. 1680(21) § 5; Ord. 1733(25), 10/21/25)
Table 17.212.040.A: Commercial Zones Development Standards
Development Feature
Requirement by Zone
CC
CB1
OTC
PCD1
Lot Requirements
Lot Area (min.)
7,000 s.f.
7,000 s.f.
5,000 s.f.
10,000 s.f.
Lot Area (max.)
3 acres
-
-
-
Lot Width (min.)
-
60 ft.
25 ft.
-
Setbacks
 
 
 
 
Front (min.)
10 ft.
-
-
CB standards apply unless a Preliminary Development Plan is approved (see Section 17.212.050.A)
Side - Interior (min.)
-
When adjoining residential - 10 ft.
-
 
Side - Street (min.)
-
-
-
 
Rear (min.)
15 ft.
When adjoining residential - 10 ft.
5 ft.
 
Building Form Standards
Height (max.)
30 ft.
50 ft. or 4 stories, whichever is less
45 ft.
CB standards apply unless a Preliminary Development Plan is approved (see Section 17.212.050.A)
Height (max.) - Accessory Building
20 ft.
20 ft.
20 ft.
 
Lot Coverage (max.)
-
-
-
 
Floor Area Ratio (max.)
0.5
0.5
2.0 with up to 75% of floor area for residential
 
Density Standards2
Density (max.)
-
-
44 dwelling units/net acre
-
Density (min.)
-
-
20 dwelling units/net acre
-
Build-To Requirement3 See Figure 17.212.040.1
Build-To-Area Width
-
-
0—10 ft.
CB standards apply unless a Preliminary Development Plan is approved (see Section 17.212.050.A)
H Street or Ocean Avenue
Corner Lot
-
-
25 ft. from street corner (min.)
Interior Lot
 
 
60% of street frontage (min.)
Any Other Street
All Lots
-
-
40% of street frontage (min.)
Other Standards
Accessory Structures
See Section 17.304.020 (Accessory Structures)
Fences and Walls
See Chapter 17.312 (Landscaping and Screening Standards)
Landscaping and Screening
See Chapter 17.312 (Landscaping and Screening Standards) & Title 15, Chapter 15.52 (Water Efficient Landscape and Irrigation Standards)
Parking
See Chapter 17.308 (Parking Standards)
Performance Standards
See Section 17.304.090 (Performance Standards)
Signs
See Chapter 17.316 (Sign Standards)
Additional Requirements
See Section 17.212.050 (Additional Standards and Requirements)
Notes:
1
If a lot is located within the H Street Overlay, also see standards in Chapter 17.224 (Overlay Zones).
2
Any resulting fractions shall round up, and only a whole number shall be considered in determining the number of units allowed on a lot, unless required by State density bonus law. However, in no case shall rounding allow density to exceed the maximum densities identified in Table 17.212.040.A.
3
Build-to requirements may be waived if the Director finds that: (1) plazas, courtyards, or outdoor eating areas that function as publicly accessible open space with amenities such as seating, landscaping, and lighting are located between the build-to-line and the building or are adjoining the build-to-line and the building; (2) the building incorporates an alternative entrance design that creates a welcoming entry feature facing the street; (3) a larger area is required to preserve existing mature trees or landscaping; or (4) another alternative provides a desired outcome along the street.
- = No standard
Figure 17.212.040.1: Build-To Requirement
(Ord. 1670(19) § 11; Ord. 1732(25), 11/4/2025)
A. 
Planned Commercial Development Zone. Preliminary Development Plan. An application for a Preliminary Development Plan shall be prepared, filed, and processed in compliance with Chapter 17.532 (Planned Development, Preliminary Development Plan). The Commission may approve a Preliminary Development Plan in the PCD Zone only after the findings listed in Section 17.532.050 (Findings and Decision) are made.
B. 
Old Town Commercial Zone.
1. 
Building orientation and entrances.
a. 
The primary entrance to a building shall be located to face a street or be connected to a street via a courtyard, walkway, plaza or similar public space. When it is not possible to locate the primary entrance to face the street, plaza, courtyard, or walkway, a secondary entrance should be designed to connect to these public places.
b. 
Building entrances shall be clearly identifiable with enhanced architectural features such as a change in plane (e.g., the entrance may be recessed on the street level façade), differentiation in materials and colors, lighting, modulation of roof lines to define the building entrance, or landscape treatments.
2. 
Building transparency and openings for non-residential uses. The standards of this Subsection are illustrated in Figure 17.212.050.1 (Building Transparency and Openings).
a. 
Exterior walls facing and within 20 feet of a street, park, plaza, pedestrian walkway, or other public outdoor space shall include windows, doors, or other openings for at least 60% of the building wall area located between 2.5 and eight feet above the level of the sidewalk, and such walls shall not have a continuous horizontal plane for more than 25 feet without an opening.
b. 
Openings fulfilling the requirement in Subsection 2.a shall have transparent glazing and provide views into work areas, display areas, sales areas, lobbies, or similar active spaces or into window displays that are at least three feet deep.
c. 
Windows on the ground level building façade facing a street shall not be opaque; however, this requirement may be waived by the Director if the use is a medical clinic or similar that requires privacy.
d. 
Alternatives to the building transparency requirement may be approved if the Director finds that the street-facing building walls exhibit architectural relief and detail or are enhanced with landscaping in such a way as to create visual interest at the pedestrian level.
e. 
A parking garage that does not incorporate ground-floor non-residential or residential use or is not otherwise screened or concealed at street frontages on the ground level, must provide a landscaped area at least 10 feet wide between the parking garage and public street. The landscaping may encroach into the City's right-of-way with an Encroachment Permit and shall comply with the standards in Chapter 17.312 (Landscaping and Screening Standards).
Figure 17.212.050.1: Building Transparency and Openings
3. 
Limitations on location of parking.
a. 
Building frontages must be placed within or adjoining the build-to-area where required by Table 17.212.040.A so that vehicle parking and circulation areas, including driveways, can be located behind or to the side of the building.
b. 
Surface parking may be located within 20 feet of a street facing property line when the Director makes the following findings:
(i) 
Buildings comply with the build-to-area requirement (Table 17.212.040.A); and
(ii) 
The parking area is landscaped along the public right-of-way with a hedge, trellis, and/or landscaping consistent with Chapter 17.312 (Landscaping and Screening Standards).
4. 
Pedestrian access. On-site pedestrian circulation and access shall be provided to connect all buildings on a site including connections to parking and open space amenities; there shall be a connection to the public sidewalk.
a. 
Pedestrian walkway design.
(i) 
Walkways shall be a minimum of six feet wide, shall be hard-surfaced, and paved with permeable materials.
(ii) 
Where a required walkway crosses a driveway, parking area, or loading area, it must be clearly identified using a raised crosswalk, a different paving material, or a similar method.
(iii) 
Where a required walkway is parallel and adjacent to an auto travel lane, it shall be raised or separated from the auto travel lane by a raised curb at least four inches high, bollards, or other physical barrier.
5. 
Street trees. A minimum of two trees shall be located along every 50 feet of street frontage and may only be located in City right-of-way if approved by the Urban Forestry Division. Street trees shall comply with applicable standards in Chapter 17.312 (Landscape and Screening Standards).
6. 
Limitations on outside uses. All uses, including commercial, repair, service, and storage uses shall be conducted within a completely enclosed building except as allowed by Sections 17.404.180 (Outdoor Display) and 17.404.170 (Outdoor Dining).
7. 
Solid waste and recycling container enclosures. In addition to the requirements of Sections 17.304.110 (Solid Waste and Recycling Container Enclosures) and 17.312.040.G (Equipment Screening), refuse storage and disposal areas shall be provided within trash enclosures which are screened on at least three sides from public view by a solid, decorative wall or fence, six feet in height. Slatted chain link wooden fencing, or landscaping alone, is not permitted.
(Ord. 1670(19) § 11)