A. 
In a C-M zone, notwithstanding any other provision of this title, only the uses listed in Table A, below, shall be permitted, subject to the requirements and development standards specified by this chapter, and subject to the provisions of Chapter 21.44 of this title governing off-street parking requirements.
B. 
The uses permitted by conditional use permit, as indicated in Table A, shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 21.42 of this title.
C. 
A use similar to those listed in Table A may be permitted if the City Planner determines such similar use falls within the intent and purposes of this zone, and is substantially similar to the specified permitted uses.
D. 
A use category may be general in nature, where more than one particular use fits into the general category (ex. in some commercial zones "office" is a general use category that applies to various office uses). However, if a particular use is permitted by conditional use permit in another zone, the use shall not be permitted in this C-M heavy commercial—limited industrial zone (even under a general use category) unless it is specifically listed in Table A of this chapter as permitted or conditionally permitted.
Table A
Permitted Uses
In the table, below, subject to all applicable permitting and development requirements of the municipal code. "P" indicates use is permitted. (See notes 2 and 3 below)
"CUP" indicates use is permitted with approval of a conditional use permit. (See notes 2 and 3 below)
1 = Minor Conditional Use Permit (Process One), pursuant to Chapter 21.42 of this title.
2 = Conditional Use Permit (Process Two), pursuant to Chapter 21.42 of this title.
3 = Conditional Use Permit (Process Three), pursuant to Chapter 21.42 of this title.
"Acc" indicates use is permitted as an accessory use.
Use
P
CUP
Acc
Adult businesses (subject to Chapters 8.60 and 21.43)
X
 
 
Airports
 
3
 
Alcoholic treatment centers
 
2
 
Amusement parks
 
3
 
Any use permitted in other commercial zones is permitted in the C-M zone, with exceptions as set out in note 1, below
X
 
 
Aquaculture (defined: Section 21.04.036)
 
1
 
Aquaculture stands (display/sale) (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(10))
 
1
 
Arcades—coin-operated (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(15); defined: Section 21.04.091)
 
1
 
Assembly of electrical appliances such as: (A) electronic instruments and devices, (B) radios and phonographs, including manufacture of small parts, such as coils
X
 
 
Auction houses or stores
X
 
 
Auto storage/impound yards (i.e., overnight product storage) (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(18))
 
1
 
Biological habitat preserve (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(30); defined: Section 21.04.048)
 
2
 
Boat building (limited to those craft which may be transported over a state highway without permit)
X
 
 
Body and fender works, including painting
X
 
 
Book printing and publishing
X
 
 
Bookbinding
X
 
 
Bowling alley (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(35); defined: Section 21.04.057)
 
1
 
Breweries
X
 
 
Breweries with retail accessory use, including tasting rooms, up to 20% of the gross floor area of the building or suite (as applicable) or 2,000 square feet, whichever is less (see Note 4 below)
 
3
 
Building material storage yards
X
 
 
Cabinet shops
X
 
 
Carpet cleaning plants
X
 
 
Ceramic products, manufacture of, using only previously pulverized clay and kilns fired only by electricity or low pressure gas
X
 
 
Child day care center (subject to Chapter 21.83; defined: Section 21.04.086)
 
2
 
Churches, synagogues, temples, convents, monasteries, and other places of worship
 
2
 
Cleaning and dyeing plants
X
 
 
Clubs—nonprofit, business, civic, professional, etc. (defined: Section 21.04.090)
 
1
 
Columbariums and mausoleums (not within a cemetery)
 
2
 
Delicatessen (defined: Section 21.04.106)
X
 
 
Drive-thru facilities (excluding restaurants)
 
1
 
Dwelling on the same lot on which a factory is located when such dwelling is used exclusively by a caretaker or superintendent of such factory and his or her family.
When such dwelling is established, all required yards in the R-3 zone shall be maintained
X
 
 
Educational facilities, other (defined: Section 21.04.137)
 
1
 
Educational institutions or schools, public/private (defined: Section 21.04.140)
 
2
 
Fairgrounds
 
3
 
Farmworker housing complex, small (subject to Section 21.10.125; defined: Section 21.04.148.4)
 
1
 
Feed and fuel yards
X
 
 
Frozen food lockers
X
 
 
Gas stations (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(65))
 
2
 
Glass studios, staining, edging, beveling and silvering in connection with sale of mirrors and glass for decorating purposes
X
 
 
Greenhouses > 2,000 square feet (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(70))
 
1
 
Hazardous waste facility (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(75); defined: Section 21.04.167)
 
3
 
Hospital, industrial emergency (not full hospital or mental hospital)
X
 
 
Kennels (defined: Section 21.04.195)
 
1
 
Laboratories, experimental, motion picture, testing
X
 
 
Laundries
X
 
 
Lumber yards (no planing mills and burners)
X
 
 
Machine shops
X
 
 
Mini-warehouses/self storage
 
2
 
Mobile buildings (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(90); defined: Section 21.04.265)
 
1
 
Mortuaries
 
2
 
Musical instruments, manufacture of
X
 
 
Newspaper/periodical printing and publishing
X
 
 
Oil and gas facilities (on-shore) (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(95))
 
3
 
Outdoor dining (incidental) (subject to Section 21.26.013; defined: Section 21.04.290.1)
 
 
X
Packing/sorting sheds > 600 square feet (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(70))
 
1
 
Parcel service delivery
X
 
 
Parking facilities (primary use) (i.e., day use, short-term, nonstorage)
 
1
 
Pawnshops (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(105))
 
3
 
Plumbing shops and plumbing shop supply yards
X
 
 
Pool halls, billiard parlors (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(110); defined: Section 21.04.292)
 
2
 
Public scales
X
 
 
Public/quasi-public buildings and facilities and accessory utility buildings/facilities (defined: Section 21.04.297)
 
2
 
Racetracks
 
3
 
Radio/television/microwave/broadcast station/tower
 
2
 
Recreation facilities
 
1
 
Recreational vehicle storage (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(120); defined: Section 21.04.299)
 
1
 
Recycling collection facilities, large (subject to Chapter 21.105; defined: Section 21.105.015)
 
2
 
Recycling collection facilities, small (subject to Chapter 21.105; defined: Section 21.105.015)
 
1
 
Recycling process/transfer facility
 
2
 
Restaurants (bona fide public eating establishment) (defined: Section 21.04.056)
 
1
 
Satellite antennae (>1 per use) (defined: Section 21.04.302)
 
1
 
Satellite television antennae (subject to Sections 21.53.130 through 21.53.140; defined: Section 21.04.302)
 
 
X
Sheet metal shops
X
 
 
Signs (subject to Chapter 21.41)
 
 
X
Stadiums
 
3
 
Tattoo parlors (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(140))
 
3
 
Theaters (motion picture or live)—Indoor
 
2
 
Thrift shops (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(150))
 
1
 
Tire rebuilding, recapping and retreading
X
 
 
Transit passenger terminals (bus and train)
 
2
 
Transit storage (ex. rolling stock)
 
2
 
Veterinary clinic/animal hospital (small animals) (defined: Section 21.04.378)
 
1
 
Wholesale businesses, storage buildings and warehouses
X
 
 
Windmills (exceeding height limit of zone) (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(160))
 
2
 
Wireless communication facilities (subject to Section 21.42.140(B)(165); defined: Section 21.04.379)
 
1 / 2
 
Notes:
1.
Any use permitted in the commercial zones is allowed in the C-M zone, except: (A) Hotels and motels, (B) Hospitals (however, industrial emergency hospitals are permitted), (C) Residential care facilities, (D) Professional care facilities, (E) Private clubs, fraternities, sororities and lodges, excepting those the chief activity of which is a service customarily carried on as a business, (F) Institutions of a philanthropic or eleemosynary nature, including correctional and mental.
2.
Any use meeting the definition of an entertainment establishment, as defined in Section 8.09.020 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code (CMC), shall be subject to the requirements of CMC Chapter 8.09.
3.
For properties which are located within the boundaries of the Carlsbad Research Center (CRC) Specific Plan, please refer to the CRC Specific Plan for a list of allowable uses, setback requirements, etc.
4.
The retail use shall be accessory to the permitted use and wholly contained within the building. All products for retail sale shall be produced, distributed, and/or warehoused on the premises. No outdoor display of merchandise or retail sales shall be permitted unless customarily conducted in the open. Parking for the accessory retail use shall be determined based on the parking requirement for the primary use pursuant to CMC Chapter 21.44.
(Ord. 9060 § 1200; Ord. 9252 § 2, 1970; Ord. 9455 § 7, 1976; Ord. 9502 § 7, 1978; Ord. 9674 § 2, 1983; Ord. 9785 § 19, 1986; Ord. 9804 § 6, 1986; Ord. NS-87 § 3, 1989; Ord. NS-208 § 3, 1992; Ord. NS-791 § 23, 2006; Ord. CS-063 § III, 2009; Ord. CS-102 §§ LXII—LXIV, 2010; Ord. CS-164 § 10, 2011; Ord. CS-189 §§ XXXI, XXXII, 2012; Ord. CS-224 § XXV, 2013; Ord. CS-225 §§ V, VI, 2013; Ord. CS-326 § 5, 2017)
Every use permitted shall be subject to the following conditions and limitations:
(1) 
When an industrial area fronts or sides upon a thoroughfare, the opposite side of which is classified for "R" purposes, there shall be maintained a building line setback of ten percent of the average depth of the lots in each block of such industrial area, provided such setback shall not be less than ten feet nor exceed fifty feet in depth. A minimum strip of landscaping approved by the Planning Commission shall be maintained along all frontage of the setback area. In addition thereto, the following uses may be permitted in such setback area:
(A) 
Landscaping,
(B) 
Motor vehicle parking (only if surfaced in such manner as to eliminate dust or mud),
(C) 
Employees recreational area without structures,
(D) 
Driveways (only if surfaced in such manner as to eliminate dust or mud),
(E) 
Railroad spur tracks, excluding storage of railroad motive power equipment or rolling stock,
(F) 
An ornamental open type fence not over eight feet in height, made of material such as woven wire, wood, welded wire, chain link or wrought iron;
(2) 
All uses shall be conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building, or within an area enclosed on all sides with a solid wall or uniformly painted fence not less than five feet in height, except such uses as gasoline stations, electrical transformer substations, horticultural nurseries and other enterprises customarily conducted in the open, provided such exclusion shall not include storage yards, contractor's yards and like uses;
(3) 
All operations conducted on the premises shall not be objectionable by reason of noise, odor, dust, mud, smoke, vibration or other similar causes.
(Ord. 9060 § 1201; Ord. NS-439 § 9, 1998; Ord. NS-492 § 9, 1999)
A. 
Except as otherwise provided in this section, no building in the C-M zone shall exceed a height of thirty-five feet, and allowed height protrusions as described in Section 21.46.020 shall not exceed a height of forty-five feet.
B. 
Building height above thirty-five feet may be permitted subject to the following:
1. 
Building height up to a maximum of forty-five feet may be permitted through the approval of a minor site development plan processed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 21.06 of this title, provided that:
a. 
The project complies with the provisions of subsection B.3 of this section.
b. 
The allowed height protrusions as described in Section 21.46.020 do not exceed a height of forty-five feet; with the exception of architectural features such as flagpoles, steeples or architectural towers, which may be permitted up to fifty-five feet if the decision-making authority makes the specific findings that the protruding architectural features:
i. 
Do not function to provide usable floor area;
ii. 
Do not accommodate and/or screen building equipment;
iii. 
Do not adversely impact adjacent properties; and
iv. 
Are necessary to ensure a building's design excellence.
2. 
Building height above forty-five feet may be permitted through approval of a site development plan processed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 21.06 of this title, provided that:
a. 
The project complies with the provisions of subsection B.3 of this section.
b. 
The allowed height protrusions as described in Section 21.46.020 do not exceed the height authorized by the decision-making authority.
c. 
The decision-making authority finds that:
i. 
The height of the building(s) will not adversely affect surrounding properties; and
ii. 
The building(s) will not be unduly disproportional to other buildings in the area.
3. 
All required setbacks shall be increased at a ratio of one horizontal foot for every one foot of vertical construction beyond thirty-five feet. The additional setback area shall be maintained as landscaped open space.
(Ord. 9060 § 1202; Ord. 9645 § 1, 1982; Ord. NS-180 § 20, 1991; Ord. NS-240 § 6, 1993; Ord. CS-164 § 10, 2011; Ord. CS-178 § XXIV, 2012)
No front yard shall be provided except as may be required by a precise plan.
(Ord. 9060 § 1203)
No side yards shall be provided except as may be required by a precise plan.
(Ord. 9060 § 1204)
On any lot, the rear lot line of which abuts property in any "R" zone and no alley intervenes, no building shall be erected closer than ten feet to the rear lot line; provided further, if such a lot abuts upon an alley, no building shall be erected closer than five feet to the rear lot line of such lot.
(Ord. 9060 § 1205)
Outdoor eating facilities for employees shall be provided outside all industrial/office buildings containing more than five thousand square feet, as follows, except as noted below:
(1) 
A minimum of three hundred square feet of outdoor eating facilities shall be provided for each five thousand square feet of building area. Credit towards the required amount of square footage will be given for indoor eating facilities on a 1:1 basis, as determined by the City Planner.
(2) 
The area shall be easily accessible to the employees of the building.
(3) 
The area shall be located such that a sense of privacy is apparent.
(4) 
The area shall be landscaped and provided with attractive outdoor furniture, i.e., metal, wood, or concrete picnic tables, benches/chairs and trash receptacles.
(5) 
The site size, location, landscaping and furniture required above shall be approved as part of the required discretionary action (tentative map, site development plan, planned unit development, etc.) required under this title. If no discretionary permit is required, a site plan showing the location, landscaping and facilities required above shall be submitted to the City Planner for approval prior to the issuance of any building permits.
(6) 
This section shall not apply to industrial/office buildings which are located within one thousand feet of an approved mini-park or a city park which is accessible by walking as determined by the City Planner.
(Ord. 9786 § 1, 1986; Ord. CS-164 § 10, 2011; Ord. CS-178 § XXV, 2012)