You can buy a car from a dealer anywhere in Santa Clarita — but maybe not for long.

The Santa Clarita City Council voted unanimously last week to put a moratorium on allowing new automobile dealerships to open within city limits for 45 days while Santa Clarita considers creating an auto sales zone. Existing auto dealerships will remain open for business.

“This is commercial activity that really should be restricted to commercial zones,” City Attorney Carl Newton said.

The city established a vehicle services overlay zone in 2005. But it only applies to businesses that service cars, such as repair shops, not businesses that sell cars. The zone includes the Valencia Industrial Center and the Valencia Auto Center.

City officials say the ordinance, which keeps any new auto-sales businesses from opening through early October, is necessary because of the “recent proliferation” of retail car and truck sales throughout the city.

Senior Planner Sharon Sorensen said three automobile sales permits were approved in the last year.

City officials worry that businesses outside certain areas will have a negative effect on local businesses and residents through on- and off-site vehicle storage and maintenance and parking and sign problems, Newton said.

“It’s likely that a new code will be adopted,” Newton said.

The moratorium does not affect existing businesses. Any resolution adopted later would probably not affect existing businesses right away, either, Newton said.