Irvine City Council Adopts Zoning Ordinance Amendment for Warehouse and Logistics Use Standards

On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, the Irvine City Council held the First Reading of the City Planning Commission and Planning staff’s recommended language for its Zoning Ordinance Amendment on “Warehouse and Logistics Use Standards, Related Definitions and Procedures.” After a presentation by staff and having factored public comments inside the Council Chamber by Rexford Industrial’s Luis Gomez and NAIOP SoCal’s Mihran Toumajan, as well as a written public comment by Dermody Properties’ Aaron Anderson, Councilmembers deliberated extensively and ultimately adopted the proposed amendment with a 6–0 vote.

Irvine Mayor Larry Agran, Councilmember William Go, and Councilmember Melinda Liu each expressed how pleased they were for industry representatives – with Councilmember Go specifically mentioning NAIOP SoCal’s efforts – to work closely with City staff and seek common ground on the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment.

In March 2025, NAIOP SoCal staff and Member companies that are long-term industrial stakeholders in Irvine met with City Manager Oliver Chi and Community Development Director Stephanie Frady, shared our industry’s best practices for infill redevelopment and new industrial development, and provided verbal and written policy recommendations on our vision for warehouse and logistics uses in commercial, industrial and medical/life sciences zones across Irvine and compatibility with other uses. City staff did, in fact, take into consideration several of our recommended policy adjustments in its proposed staff reports to the PC.

With these zoning changes, the City’s main intent is for warehouse and logistics use developments to not expand into new planning areas. In addition, the City will have greater discretion based on business activity, review processes, and development standards associated with AB 98. While our industry did not get everything that we recommended to City staff, we would like to highlight a few key provisions in the Zoning Ordinance Amendment adopted by the PC:

- All logistics facility uses require a conditional use permit regardless of size. 

- New development standards, consistent with AB 98, apply per the City’s proposed Chapter 3-44 Warehouse and Logistics Use Standards. These standards are intended “to review land use compatibility, and to address health, safety and welfare concerns."

- Discretionary projects remain subject to CEQA.

- A transportation analysis review is required for all warehouse and logistics use developments.

- For zones that allow warehouse uses by right (Note: See the “Blue” color mapped areas), the following three-tier review process was adopted:

1. Warehouses that are 175,000 sq. ft. or less will be permitted by right. Ministerial approvals will be completed by the City’s Community Development Department.

2. Warehouses that are between 175,001 and 225,000 sq. ft. require an Administrative Use Permit (AUP).

3. Warehouses that are over 225,000 sq. ft. require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the Planning Commission’s review.

- For zones that allow warehouse development yet also have identified areas where the Residential and Residential Mixed-Use (RRMU) Overlay applies (Note: See the “Orange” color mapped areas), the following two-tier review process was adopted:

1. Warehouses that are 175,000 sq. ft. or less require an AUP.

2. Warehouses that are over 175,000 sq. ft. require a CUP for the Planning Commission’s review.

The City Council’s Second Reading of the Zoning Ordinance Amendment will likely take place on June 24, 2025. For questions on the Irvine Zoning Ordinance Amendment on logistics and warehouse uses, please contact Mihran Toumajan at mtoumajan@naiopsocal.org.