Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cerritos council introduces ordinance to remove citywide cap on self-storage facilities
Summary
The council introduced an ordinance to remove the municipal codelimit of four self-storage facilities citywide, saying existing development standards will remain and new proposals will still undergo planning review; the motion passed 4-1 after council questions about location, enforcement and traffic.
The Cerritos City Council moved on Oct. 13 to introduce an ordinance that would remove the citywide cap limiting self-storage facilities to four locations. Staff said the proposed development code amendment (DCA 2025-3) would delete the quantity cap but leave all other development standards intact, including architectural and site development requirements and a 1,000-foot spacing rule between facilities.
Sabrina Chan, advanced planning manager, told the council that there are currently four self-storage facilities in Cerritos with average occupancy rates near 90 percent and unit sizes ranging from 9 to 480 square feet. Chan said the planning commission reviewed DCA 2025-3 on Oct. 1 but did not reach a majority recommendation, so the item returned to the council for independent consideration. Staff recommended second reading and adoption on Nov. 13 with implementation beginning Dec. 13, 2025.
Council members asked detailed questions about likely locations, traffic impacts and how the city would prevent storage units from being used as unauthorized warehouses for e-commerce businesses. Chan reiterated that self-storage uses would remain limited to industrial zones (M and MC-2) and that the municipal code retains site design, landscaping and operational rules; enforcement would follow the city—s standard building, zoning and business license processes.
Council Member Jennifer Hong sought assurances on how the city would detect and respond if businesses used storage units to operate without required permits. City staff said enforcement teams would respond if they became aware of unauthorized business activity and that Cerritos requires a business license for entities operating inside the city.
Council Member Polito moved to waive full reading and introduce the ordinance; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Linda Johnson and passed 4 to 1. No written public comments were received and no members of the public spoke during the hearing.
If adopted at second reading, the change would allow additional self-storage facilities in appropriate industrial zones to proceed through the city—s standard development review process. The council emphasized those proposals would still be subject to review by planning staff, the planning commission and the council, as well as the city—s existing development standards.
The council concluded the hearing by instructing staff to return for second reading on the schedule included in the agenda report.
