Long Beach Zoning Decisions: October 2026

In October 2026, Long Beach held 10 public meetings covering zoning matters. 8 zoning decisions had a recorded outcome this month: 7 approved (100% approval rate), 1 deferred. Activity was up 70% compared to September (123 activity items across 8 meetings).

Zoning Decisions This Month

Entertainment permit for the Bamboo Club (Item 15)

Approved.

Granted entertainment permit without dancing to Tropical Hospitality LLC DBA The Bamboo Club, restaurant at 3522 East Anaheim Street, District 3.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Mills Act program study session

Deferred.

Study session on potential modifications to the Mills Act program: expanded priority criteria (cultural heritage, public benefit, affordability for multifamily/mixed-use over 20 units), switching to an every-other-year application cycle, a 20-year limit on new contracts via non-renewal notice in year 10, retaining 100% condo owner participation, and a strategic outreach plan. No action was taken on the program; the motion to conduct the study session carried. Recommended updates return to the commission in early 2027, then go to City Council.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Receive and file West Side Promise Initiative update (District 7)

Approved.

Received and filed an update on the West Side Promise Initiative. Items covered: park improvements, the 2023 Zone In rezoning of Santa Fe Avenue and West Willow Street to mixed-use districts (with a three-story height limit), and the Green Terminal Island Freeway decommissioning and linear park plan. The Green TI work is funded with $1.75M in Elevate 28 CIP money; construction is projected in 7-10 years.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Tobacco retailer and smoking lounge regulatory framework (Item 20)

Approved.

Received and filed staff presentation and requested city attorney prepare amendments repealing LBMC Chapters 5.81 and 5.88 and replacing with a consolidated framework; zoning updates to Titles 21 and 22 defining smoke shops/lounges as distinct uses limited to commercial, industrial, and applicable specific plan/PD districts with CUP for new businesses; 600 ft buffers from schools, daycares, playgrounds, community centers, libraries; 1,000 ft spacing between smoke shops/lounges; operating conditions; tiered fines; legal non-conforming period and optional amortization (up to 3 years); possible moratorium on new tobacco retail permits. Council members expressed support for elevated approach, 6-month compliance period, moratorium, and property-owner bar after revocation. Motion carried (display malfunction).

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

General Plan conformity findings for four Pier B right-of-way vacations

Approved.

Four general plan conformity requests from the Port of Long Beach for four public right-of-way segments in the Pier B area of the Lower West Side, Council District 7: Parcel 3D (segment of Pier B Street, ~50 ft wide), Parcel 3E (segment of Pier C Street, ~80 ft wide), Parcel 3M (segment of Caspian Avenue, ~60 ft wide, between 12th and 9th Streets), and Parcel 4A (segment of 9th Street, ~80-100 ft wide). Zoning is Port-Related Industrial; general plan place type is regional serving facility; all parcels owned by the city. Vacations are needed for the Port's Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility project (construction started July 18, 2024). The Commission took the CEQA finding and each vacation as separate votes, all carried.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Receive and file National Community Planning Month update

Approved.

Received and filed a staff update on National Community Planning Month citywide, including overview of planning initiatives, Zone In rezoning efforts, housing element work, Climate Action Plan, and downtown waterfront vision. Moved and seconded by Commissioner Santos and Commissioner Lemus.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Nuisance trailer and oversized vehicle enforcement report (Item 17)

Approved.

Requested 90-day report on options to strengthen regulation of unhitched trailers, oversized vehicles, mobile billboards and trailer-based commercial activity on public streets.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Nitrous oxide retail sale ordinance (Item 18)

Approved.

Directed 60-day ordinance codifying SB 758/SB 936 nitrous oxide prohibitions and 120-day report on stronger local restrictions including youth-sensitive zones.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Top Keywords This Month

• zoning: 27 instances
• commercial: 24 instances
• residential: 19 instances
• land use: 18 instances
• industrial: 14 instances

What to Watch

• Zoning mentions were up 170% from September.
• Commercial came up 380% more often than September.
• Land use saw 125% more mentions month-over-month.
• Industrial is new this month with 14 mentions, not present in September.

Stay on Top of Long Beach Meetings

This roundup was the month in review. For what is moving in Long Beach right now, the county hub follows each new meeting and case as it is posted. Full conditions and vote records for covered decisions live with Pro at $39/mo, with 3 Project Reports a month included.

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