STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
PH 4
7/14/2026
TN
Date: July 14, 2026
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Patti Garibay, Director - Community Development
Kendall Brekke - Planning Manager
Subject: 2026 Zone Text Amendment to Title 17 of the Lancaster Municipal Code (ZTA26- 002)
Recommendation:
Introduce Ordinance , for Zone Text Amendment No. 26-002 (ZTA26-002) for the 2026 Zone Text Amendment to Title 17 of the Lancaster Municipal Code to provide clarification, consistency, and compliance with City policies and best practices.
G.C. Section 84308: No
Fiscal Impact:
None.
Background:
The City of Lancaster (City) periodically updates the Lancaster Municipal Code (LMC) to reflect current legislation and regulations, codify new and current city policies, and provide code clarifications.
The previous Zone Text Amendment (ZTA25-001) was approved by the City Council on May 12, 2025. This ZTA accomplished several comprehensive clarifications and reorganizations necessary for day-to-day code implementation, including establishing Commercial and Industrial Use Charts, adding flexibility to certain development processes, furthering compliance with State law, and creating consistency in certain use definitions and categories.
A recent moratorium on tobacco uses was established by the City Council on October 28, 2025, and on December 9, 2025 that moratorium was extended to October 1, 2026. This moratorium 2 4
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identifies a local threat to the public safety, health, and welfare of the Lancaster community related to tobacco retailer businesses, and on that basis prohibits new or expanding tobacco uses for the duration of the moratorium. The moratorium additionally calls for staff to study the conditions of concern and establish appropriate new guidelines in response.
Planning staff has received reports from City leadership and the Lancaster Police Department (LPD), and through that coordination has identified four business categories which pose a higher concern for unlawful activity. These categories are summarized as M.A.R.T. uses, comprised of Massage, Alcohol, Recycling, and Tobacco. Associated revisions to Title 5 – Business Licenses and Regulations were approved by the City Council on April 28, 2026. For certain M.A.R.T. uses, these revisions removed “deemed approved” status and added requirements for proof of current Planning entitlements at business license renewal.
Project Description:
Zone Text Amendment
The City proposes to update the LMC with text amendments to Title 17, including strengthened development standards for recycling uses, an amortization schedule for certain business types, clarified definitions, and improved consistency throughout.
The project only consists of text amendments. No changes to the City’s zoning map or development densities are proposed. No construction or development is proposed as part of the project. The proposed amendments would require the approval of the City Council.
The project is necessary because it aims to address current state legislation and regulations, implement new and current city policies and procedures, and address necessary regulations to tobacco uses and other similar businesses.
Summary
The Zone Text Amendment Summary Table provides a summary of the 2026 Zone Text Amendment including the item number for reference, category, LMC section, and description, included as Attachment B. The proposed LMC amendment language is detailed in a redline/strikethrough document included in this staff report as Attachment C. The proposed amendment language without redlines, or “clean” version, is included as Attachment D.
The Planning Commission heard the proposed Zone Text Amendment and General Plan Amendment during their regular meeting on June 15, 2026, and voted to recommend approval to the City Council. The staff report is included as Attachment E.
Environmental Review
Pursuant to Sections 15162 and 15168(c)(2) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the proposed Zone Text Amendment and General Plan Amendment are within the scope of the Program Environmental Impact Report (State Clearinghouse (SCH) No. 2007111003) for the existing General Plan and within the scope of the Negative Declaration of the Safety Element Update (SCH No. 2021080292), and no further environmental review is required.
KB/vm
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Attachments:
A. Ordinance No.
B. Zone Text Amendment Summary Table
C. Redlines
D. Proposed Amended Code
E. Planning Commission Staff Report Packet, June 15, 2026