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A. Types of uses. For the purposes of this chapter, there are four kinds of use:

1. A permitted (P) use is one that is permitted outright, subject to all of the applicable provisions of this title.

2. A limited (L) use is permitted outright providing it is in compliance with special requirements, exceptions or restrictions.

3. A conditional use (C) is a discretionary use reviewed through the process set forth in Chapters 20.245 and 20.210 VMC, governing conditional uses and decision-making procedures, respectively.

4. A prohibited use (X) is one that is not permitted in a zoning district under any circumstances.

B. Use table. A list of permitted, limited, conditional, and prohibited uses in the commercial and mixed use zones is presented in Table 20.430.030-1.

Table 20.430.030-1. Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts Use Table

USE

CN

CC

CG

CX

WX

CPX1

MX2

RGX44

HX51

RESIDENTIAL

Household Living

L4

L4, 8

L4, 8

L42, 8

L5, 8

P6, 8

P8

P8

Group Living

P/C7

P/C7

P/C7

P/C7

P/C7

P6

P

P

Home Occupation

L10

L10

L10

L10

L10

L10

L10

L10

HOUSING TYPES

Single Dwelling Units, Attached

L4

L4

L4

L42

L4

P6

P

L4

Single Dwelling Units, Detached

X

X

X

X

X

P6

P

X

Accessory Dwelling Units

X

X

X

X

X

P6

P

P

Duplexes

L4

L4

L4

L42

L4

P6

P

X

Multi-Dwelling Units

L4

L4

L4

L42

L4

P6

P

L4

Existing Manufactured Home Development

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Designated Manufactured Home

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

New Manufactured Home

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Affordable Housing Projects

X

L8

L8

L8

L8

L8

L8

L8

P

CIVIC (Institutional)

Basic Utilities

C

C

C

P

C

C

C

C

Colleges

X

C

C

P

C

P

P

P

Community Centers

X

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Community Recreation

X

L11

L11

L11

L11

L11

L11

L11

Cultural Institutions

L19

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

Day Care

- Family Day Care Home

P/L13

P/L13

P/L13

P/L13

P/L13

P/L13

P/L13

P/L13

- Child Care Center

L13

L13

L13

L13

L13

P/L13

P/L13

P/L13

- Adult Day Care

P/C14

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

Emergency Services

X

C

P

P

C

P

P

P

Medical Centers

X

C

C

P

C

C

P

C

Parks/Open Space

- Neighborhood Parks

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

- Community Parks

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

- Regional Parks

X

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

- Trails

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

Postal Service

L19

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

Religious Institutions

X

P

P

P

C

P

P

P

Schools (not truck driving schools)

C

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

Social/Fraternal Clubs

C

L11

L11

L11

L11

L11

L11

L11

Transportation Facility

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

Park & Ride Facilities

- Surface

X

L48

L48

X

X

X

X

X

X

- Structure

X

L48

L48

L48

L48

L48

L48

X

L48

COMMERCIAL

Commercial and Transient Lodging

X

C

P

P

L18/C

L18/C

P

L18/C

Eating/Drinking Establishments

L19/20

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

Entertainment-Oriented

- Adult Entertainment

X

X

L23

X

X

X

X

X

- Indoor Entertainment

X

P/L24

P/L24

P/L24

P/L24

P/L24

P/L24

P/L24

- Major Event Entertainment

X

X

P

P

C

C

X

C

General Retail

- Sales-Oriented

L19

P

P

P25

P

P

P25, 46

P

- Personal Services

L19

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

- Repair-Oriented

X

P

P

P

X

P

P

P

- Bulk Sales

X

P

P

P

X

P

C/P53

P

- Outdoor Sales

X

C

P/L26

P/L26

X

P/L26

X

P/L26

Artisan and Specialty Goods Production

X

L40

L40

L40

X

X

X

L40, 52

Motor Vehicle Related

- Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental

X

L27

P

P

X

C27

X, L45

X

- Motor Vehicle Servicing/Repair (entirely indoors)

X

L28

L28

L28

X

C28

X

X

- Vehicle Fuel Sales

X

L28

L28

L28

C

C28

X

X

- EV Basic Charging Stations (accessory and standalone)

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

- EV Rapid Charging Stations (accessory and standalone)

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

-EV Battery Exchange Stations

X

P

P

P

X

X

P

X

Office

- General

L19

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

- Medical

L19

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

- Extended

X

P

P

P

X

X

P

X

Marina (See also Chapter 20.760 VMC)

X

P

P

P

P

P

X

P

Nonaccessory Parking

X

C

C

C43

C

C

C43

X

Self-Service Storage

X

P 3, 50

P 50

X

X

X

X

X

INDUSTRIAL

Bulk Fossil Fuel Storage and Handling Facilities

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Cleaner Fuel Storage and Handling Facilities

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Small Fossil Fuel and Cleaner Fuels Storage and Distribution Facilities

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Industrial Services

X

C

C

X

X

X

C/P54

X

Manufacturing and Production

X

C/X30

P/X31

P/X41

X

C/X32

P41

C/X32

Railroad Yards

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Research and Development

X

X

P

C

C

C

P

C

Warehouse/Freight Movement

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Waste-Related

X

X

P47

X

X

X

X

X

Wholesale Sales

X

X

C

C

X

X

X

X

Major Utility Facilities

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

OTHER

Agriculture/Horticulture

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Airport/Airpark

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Animal Kennel/Shelters

X

L33

L33

X

X

X

X

X

Cemeteries

X

C34

P34

C34

X

C34

X

C34

Detention & Post Detention Facilities

X

X

C/X35

C/X35

X

X

X

X

Dog Day Care

L36

L36

L36

L36

L36

L36

L36

L36

Heliports

X

X

X

C37

C37

C37

C37

C37

Medical Marijuana Cooperatives

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Recreational Marijuana, Production or Processing

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Recreational Marijuana Retail

X

L49

L49

X

X

X

X

L49

Mining

X

X

X

X

X

X

C

X

Rail Lines/Utility Corridors

C

P

P

P

C

C

P

C

Temporary Uses

L26

L26

L26

L26

L26

L26

L26

L26

Wireless Communication Facilities

X

L/C/X39

L/C/X39

L/C/X39

L/C/X39

L/C/X39

L/C/X39

L/C/X39

1Refer to Vancouver Central Park Plan District, Chapter 20.640 VMC.

2Refer to mixed use standards in VMC 20.430.060.

3A single ground floor caretaker/security/manager residence is allowed if it is an integral part of a mini-storage building.

4All or part of residential uses must be located above the ground floor of the structure as specified by VMC 20.430.060(B)(2) with exception of Community Commercial (CC) zoned properties fronting Broadway Street and located within the Uptown Village District of the Vancouver City Center Subarea Plan (refer to VMC 20.430.020(B)).

5Must have a minimum density of 10 dwelling units/net acre.

6Allowed pursuant to mixed use standards of VMC 20.430.060.

7Residential care homes with six or fewer residents and any required on-site staff permitted by right in housing above the ground floor; all larger group home uses are permitted conditionally.

8Eligible affordable housing projects must (a) demonstrate eligibility for Washington State Housing Finance Commission low income housing tax credits by providing at least 40 percent of units affordable to households at 60 percent of area median income or otherwise as demonstrated eligible for credits; (b) include a guarantee that the threshold is maintained for at least 30 years unless specified longer by the Finance Commission; and (c) be located on properties whose borders are within 1,000 feet of a bus rapid transit or other high capacity transit corridor, or transit corridors with existing weekday peak service frequencies of 35 minutes or less.

9The language for this footnote has been deleted.

10Subject to the provisions of Chapter 20.860 VMC, Home Occupations.

11Subject to provisions of VMC 20.895.040, Community Recreation and Related Facilities.

12The language for this footnote has been deleted.

13Family day care homes for no more than 12 children are permitted when licensed by the state. Child care centers (13 or more children) are Limited (L), subject to a Type II procedure in Chapter 20.210 VMC. Child care centers can also be approved as part of a planned development, Chapter 20.260 VMC. In all cases child care centers must meet the standards outlined in Chapter 20.840 VMC.

14In the CN zone, adult day care facilities for six or fewer adults allowed outright in the CN zone, all other facilities are permitted as conditional uses.

15The language for this footnote has been deleted.

16The language for this footnote has been deleted.

17Transportation facilities are permitted except for large or land-intensive facilities such as park-and-ride lots and water taxi and ferry stations.

18Bed-and-breakfast establishments are allowed as limited uses, subject to the provisions in Chapter 20.830 VMC, and all other lodging allowed as conditional uses.

19Limited uses subject to the development standards in VMC 20.430.040(D).

20Eating and drinking establishments are permitted only in conjunction with another permitted use on site. Exclusively or predominantly drive-through eating and drinking establishments are prohibited.

22The language for this footnote has been deleted.

23Subject to provisions in Chapter 20.820 VMC, Adult Entertainment.

24Provisions in VMC 20.895.060 apply to indoor target shooting ranges.

25Pawnshops allowed in CX and CG districts only. No more than four pawnshop establishments allowed in the CX district.

26Subject to provisions in Chapter 20.885 VMC, Temporary Uses.

27Sales/rental lots for motor vehicles only are subject to the following criteria: (a) the lot size is approximately 200 feet by 200 feet, or 100 feet by 100 feet if a corner lot, though smaller lots will be considered if shown to meet all other requirements; (b) reviewed and approved by the city transportation manager for on-site circulation, access, and parking plan; (c) located on a primary arterial with average traffic in excess of 10,000 vehicle trips per day; (d) employee/customer parking is provided at a rate of one space plus an additional space per each 5,000 square feet of lot area; (e) there is no vehicle display in setback areas, and all setbacks are landscaped rather than paved.

28Subject to provisions in VMC 20.895.070, Motor Vehicle Fuel Sales and Repair.

29The language for this footnote has been deleted.

30Microbreweries and manufacturing of optical, medical and dental devices, goods, and equipment allowed by conditional use; all others prohibited.

31Microbreweries, bakeries, printing, publishing, binding, lithography, repair shops for tools, scientific/professional instruments and motors, and manufacturing of optical, medical and dental devices, goods, and equipment allowed outright; all others prohibited.

32Microbreweries allowed by conditional use; all others prohibited.

33Subject to provisions in VMC 20.895.020, Animal Kennels/Shelters.

34Subject to provisions in VMC 20.895.030, Cemeteries.

35Secure transition facilities as per VMC 20.855.020(B)(6)(a) are prohibited.

36Subject to the provisions in Chapter 20.850 VMC, Dog Day Care.

37Subject to provisions in VMC 20.895.080, Private Use Landing Strips for Aircraft and Heliports. Airpark related uses are permitted in Pearson Airpark and Evergreen Airport only.

38The language for this footnote has been deleted.

39Subject to requirements in Chapter 20.890 VMC, Wireless Telecommunications Facilities.

40Subject to limitations in VMC 20.430.050(A). Uses defined in VMC 20.160.020(C)(10).

41Printing, binding, lithography, repair shops for tools, scientific/professional instruments and motors, computer research or assembly, and manufacturing of optical, medical and dental devices, goods and equipment permitted outright; all others prohibited.

42Ground floor residential is allowed within the CX zone with the exception of properties fronting Main Street between Sixth Street and Mill Plain.

43Parking structures are permitted outright.

44Allowed subject to provisions of Riverview Gateway Plan District standards, Chapter 20.680 VMC, and associated master plan adopted for the area of proposed development.

45Motor vehicle rental permitted where ancillary to another use.

46Retail uses shall not exceed 50,000 square feet in total floor space unless included in a mixed use building with other uses accounting for at least 20 percent of floor space, and is in full compliance with Riverview Plan District design guidelines.

47Neighborhood recycling and/or yard debris collection centers which are exempt from a state solid waste handling permit are permitted; all other waste-related uses prohibited. If a neighborhood recycling and/or yard debris collection center is handling organic materials, they shall not be stored on site for a period longer than seven days.

48See VMC 20.430.040(E), Park and Ride Facility Development Standards.

49Subject to Chapter 20.884 VMC.

50Subject to requirements and standards within the miscellaneous special use standards for self-service storage, pursuant to VMC 20.895.100.

51Allowed subject to the provisions of The Heights District Plan standards, Chapter 20.670 VMC.

52Permitted in the HX Plan district where commercial uses are permitted.

53Bulk sales are permitted outright on lots 10 through 15 of the HQ Master Plan (west end of Fishers Quarry area) only. All other areas are conditional.

54Building, heating, plumbing or electrical contractors, exterminators, janitorial and building maintenance contractors where the indoor storage of materials is more than incidental to the office use and photo-finishing laboratories are permitted outright on lots 10 through 15 of the HQ Master Plan (west end of Fishers Quarry area).

(Amended during 4/23 update; Ord. M-4402 § 3(L), 2023; Ord. M-4380 § 8, 2022; Ord. M-4374 § 2, 2022; Ord. M-4341 § 3 (Exh. B), 2021; Ord. M-4289 § 4, 2019; Ord. M-4288 § 4, 2019; Ord. M-4255 § 8, 2018; Ord. M-4254 § 3(DD), 2018; Ord. M-4187 § 7, 2016; ACM dated 1/7/2016; Ord. M-4147 § 4, 2015; Ord. M-4071 § 4, 2014; Ord. M-4035 § 4, 2012; Ord. M-4034 § 13, 2012; Ord. M-4024 § 8, 2012; Ord. M-4002 § 7, 2011; Ord. M-4002 § 7, 2011; Ord. M-3959 § 26, 2010; Ord. M-3931 § 16, 2009; Ord. M-3922 § 22, 2009; Ord. M-3911 § 5, 2009; Ord. M-3891 § 5, 2008; Ord. M-3865 § 3, 2008; Ord. M-3840 § 22, 2007; Ord. M-3832 § 6, 2007; Ord. M-3730 § 19, 2005; Ord. M-3709 § 9, 2005; Ord. M-3701 § 17, 2005; Ord. M-3698 § 5, 2005; Ord. M-3667 § 3, 2004; Ord. M-3663 § 17, 2004; Ord. M-3643, 2004)