§ 17.60.010. Property development standards.

A.

Intent and Purpose. The following general development standards are set forth in order to assure that property in the various zones of the city will be developed in a uniform and orderly manner which will promote the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, and general welfare. These development requirements shall be in addition to the property development standards set forth in each zone.

B.

Responsibility for Measurements. In measuring lot dimensions and other requirements, it shall be the responsibility of the property owner or his or her authorized agent to provide accurate dimensions and calculations. The submission of inaccurate dimensions or calculations which result in a lot or structure not complying with the requirements set forth in this chapter shall constitute a violation of this chapter, and any permits or approvals granted thereunder shall be void.

C.

Lot Widths. Lot widths in residential zones shall vary according to the size of the lot, and shall be determined as provided in the following table:

Minimum Lot Width Requirements in Residential Zones

Lot Size in Square Feet	Interior Lot	Corner Lot
6,000 to 6,999	60 feet	Not permitted
7,000 to 7,999	65 feet	70 feet
8,000 to 8,999	70 feet	75 feet
9,000 to 9,999	80 feet	85 feet
10,000 & above	85 feet	85 feet

 

D.

Yards.

1.

Encroachments. Where yards are required in this chapter, they shall not be less in depth or width than the minimum dimensions specified in any part, and they shall be at every point open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky, except as follows:

a.

Outside stairways, porches, or landing places, if unroofed and unenclosed, may extend into a required side yard for a distance of not to exceed three feet or into the required rear yard a distance not to exceed five feet.

b.

Awnings, cornice trims, eaves, decks, railings, stoops, and landings, and similar architectural features may encroach two feet into a required front, side, or rear yard.

2.

Through Lot Regulations. On through lots either separating such lot from a public thoroughfare may be designated as the front lot line. In such cases the minimum rear yard shall be the average of the yards required on lots next adjoining.

3.

Fences, Walls in Yards. Fences or walls not exceeding six feet in height may occupy any portion of a side or rear yard. In a residential single-family zone, where any such fence or wall projects beyond the front yard line or setback toward the front property line it shall not be more than six feet in height if it is of wrought iron, or other such material; provided that such material does not obscure the view to the front lawn through the fence.

a.

Walls and low silhouette plants such as hedges, and other flora along front yard property lines must be approved by city staff and shall not be more than thirty (30) inches in height.

b.

Fences and walls shall not extend beyond the property line.

c.

There shall be no visual obstructions which would interfere with intersection visibility from a corner setback area. In the corner property radius area any fence shall not be more than six feet in height provided it does not cause visual obstruction. In the corner property radius area, visual obstructions are hereby defined as any wall, obstacle mature landscaping or thing allowed, installed, set out or maintained which obscures intersection visibility.

d.

Notwithstanding the above provisions, existing walls and fences shall be permitted to remain unless and until the property owner applies for a building permit to reconstruct, remodel or otherwise perform any construction activity upon the property; at such time any walls or fences shall be brought into compliance with subsections (D)(3)(a) through (c) of this section, as a condition of obtaining such building permit.

e.

In residential districts the use of razor, chain-link, or barbed wire is prohibited. Precision concrete block shall not be used unless exterior surfaces visible from the outside of the property are covered by stucco, paint, or texture coating as approved by the community development director.

f.

Maintenance. All walls and fences shall be continuously maintained in good repair. The property owner shall be provided thirty (30) days after receiving notice from the city to repair a wall or fence. The building official may grant an extension for the repair of the wall or fence.

4.

Landscaping.

a.

Except where otherwise provided, required yards and setback areas shall be landscaped with lawn, trees, shrubs, or other plant materials and shall be permanently maintained in a neat and orderly manner as a condition to use. Decorative rock may be used for landscaping in a manner incidental and accessory to the required lawn, trees, shrubs, or other plant materials. Fountains, ponds, sculpture, planters, walkways, flagpoles for display of national, state, city or company ensigns only, light standards, and decorative screen-type walls, forty-two (42) inches or less in height, where an integral part of a landscaping scheme comprised primarily of plant materials are permitted. Entrance and exit drives and walks may be provided into parking areas. Said drives shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in width for each curb opening.

b.

Where walls are required between nonresidential and residential zones, no landscaping zones, no landscaping shall be required.

5.

Measurement. The depth of all required yards which abut a street or highway shall be measured from the planned highway right-of-way line, as specified in Section 17.66.010 of this title.

E.

Distance Between Buildings. Encroachment into required distances between buildings are permitted as specified for encroachments into yards in subsection D of this section.

F.

Accessory Structures. The following regulations shall apply to accessory structures in residential zones:

1.

Accessory structures detached from the main dwelling, may not occupy a required front yard, side yard, or corner side yard, except as provided herein.

2.

An accessory structure may occupy a required rear yard provided it is at least five feet from any interior property line, and a minimum of ten (10) feet from any street property line.

3.

An accessory structure may be a maximum of fifteen (15) feet in height and no more than one story in height.

4.

An accessory structure in the rear yard is limited to a maximum size of four hundred (400) square feet or thirty (30) percent of the size of the main dwelling, whichever is greater. Interior partitions are not allowed within accessory structures. Kitchens and full bathrooms are not allowed inside of any accessory structure, except as allowed in Section 17.16.020.C. for secondary housing units.

5.

Except for side loaded garages, the wall planes or sides of an accessory structure must be a minimum of ten (10) feet from the sides or wall planes of any other structure, measured at right angles from the wall plane or sides of the accessory structure. The corner of an accessory structure may be no closer than five feet from the corner of any other structure, provided the wall planes or sides of both structures comply with the distance requirements specified in this subsection.

6.

Accessory structures on a site may not cover more than fifty (50) percent of the required rear yard setback area.

7.

Pools and spas may encroach into any required side or rear yard provided they are at least five feet from any property line. Pools and spas may not occupy a required front yard.

8.

Mechanical and pool equipment may not occupy a required front yard.

9.

Mechanical and pool equipment may occupy a required side yard or corner side yard provided a minimum setback of three feet is provided from any property line.

10.

Mechanical and pool equipment may occupy a required rear yard provided a minimum setback of twelve (12) inches is provided from any property line and provided a minimum distance of three feet is provided from any other structure.

11.

On lots under seven thousand two hundred (7,200) square feet, an attached patio cover may encroach into a required rear yard provided a minimum setback of ten (10) feet is provided. On lots under six thousand five hundred (6,500) square feet, an attached patio cover may encroach into a required side yard or corner side yard provided a minimum setback of five feet is provided.

12.

One freestanding arbor or trellis, up to twelve (12) feet in height and open on all sides, may encroach into a required front yard, provided no more than five percent of the required yard area is covered with the arbor or trellis.

13.

Carports may be allowed in a required rear yard of any single family residential site provided they are accessible through an approved driveway that is at least eleven (11) feet clear in width. All vehicles parked in a carport must be architecturally screened from view to the street, and located behind an opaque metal gate at least six feet in height.

14.

A detached garage or carport must be a minimum of twenty (20) feet from any street property line if front loading. Side-loaded garages may be twelve (12) feet from the street line. Carports must provide a minimum of ten (10) feet from any corner street line.

15.

An attached carport accessed from the corner street must be at least fifteen (15) feet from the rear property line.

G.

Trailers Outside Camps. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain, or to permit to be placed, kept or maintained, any trailer coach being presently used or being intended for present use for human habitation upon any lot, piece or parcel of land within the city, except in a trailer camp or when all of the following regulations and conditions have been complied with:

1.

Such trailer coach shall be kept or maintained at the rear of a private residential building, other than an apartment house or hotel.

2.

Such trailer coach shall not be placed closer than ten (10) feet to any building or closer than five feet to any property line other than a public street or alley line.

3.

Such trailer coach shall be used only for sleeping quarters, and none of the sanitary and cooking facilities in such trailer coach shall be used.

4.

Such trailer coach shall not be kept or maintained for sleeping purposes as permitted herein for more than three successive nights in any successive ninety (90) days.

(Ord. 984 § 1, 2007; prior code § 070.07)

(Ord. No. 1075, §§ 10, 11, 6-10-15)