Chapter 17.22 — YARD REGULATIONS AND EXCEPTIONS

To provide for open areas around structures for: visibility and traffic safety; access to and around structures; access to natural light and ventilation; separation of incompatible land uses; and space for privacy, landscaping, and recreation. (Ord. 526 § 1, 2010)

Yards shall be measured from the lot line except when abutting an existing or proposed street for which the existing right-of-way is less than that ultimately planned for. In those cases the yard shall be established from the future right-of-way boundary, as provided in Chapter 17.41 . (Ord. 526 § 1, 2010)

• A. Residence in a Rear Yard. Within a residential zone district the residence may project into a required rear yard provided an area equal to the projection is provided as a yard within the buildable area of the lot. In no event shall the rear yard be less than 10 feet for a one-story residence and 15 feet for a two-story residence.

• B. Architectural Features Allowed in Yards.

  1. Cornices, Eaves, Sills, Canopies or Similar Architectural Features. May project into a yard by a maximum of two feet.

  2. Chimneys, Bay Windows, Media Niches, Stairwells or Similar Architectural Features. May project into an interior side or rear yard by a maximum of two feet, provided the combined exception does not exceed 10 feet in length.

  3. Porches. May extend into a front yard by five feet.

  4. Residential Accessory Structures that Have Less Than 120 Square Feet of Roof Area and Are Less Than Eight Feet in Height. Are not subject to the interior side or rear yard standards of the zone district they are within.

  5. Uncovered Decks, and Similar Features that Are Less Than 18 Inches in Height. Are not subject to rear yard and interior side yard requirements of the zone district they are within, provided that they are not within three feet of the property lines. Decks and similar features over 18 inches in height, including upper floor decks and patios, must meet all of the yard requirements of the zone district within which it is located.

  6. Pools and Spas. Are not subject to rear yard and interior side yard requirements provided that they are not within three feet of the property lines. This does not apply to decks attached to pools and spas that are over 18 inches in height, which must meet all required yard requirements of the zone district in which they are located.

  7. Fences and Walls. May be placed within required yards, provided that the provisions of Chapter 17.24 are met.

  8. Attached Patio Covers. As provided in Section 17.15.040 .

  9. Ground Level Air Conditioning Units and Pool Equipment. May extend into an interior side yard or rear yard by two feet.

  10. Side Entrance Garage. The minimum yard may be reduced to 15 feet for front yards and 10 feet for street side yards provided the driveway to the garage entrance is a minimum of 20 feet in length.

• C. Main Entrance Facing an Interior Side Yard. In residential zone districts if the primary entrance to a residence faces an interior side yard, that side yard shall be a minimum of 10 feet.

• D. Yards Adjacent to Alleys.

  1. If the only right-of-way abutting a lot is an alley, it shall be considered the front yard.

  2. No part of an alley shall be considered a portion of a yard.

  3. If a side yard abuts an alley it shall be considered an interior side yard.

  4. A garage that faces a rear lot line and utilizes an alley for access shall be required to provide a five-foot yard between the building and any lot line.

• E. Front Yard Averaging. When four or more residential lots in a block have been improved with residences that are less than the required front yard, the required minimum front yard shall be the average of the lots on that block.

• (Ord. 540 § 8, 2011)