Skip to main content
Loading…
This section is included in your selections.

A. Specialized Front Yard Requirements.

1. Partially Developed Blocks. Where some lots or parcels of land in a block are improved or partially improved with buildings, each lot or parcel of land in said block shall have a front yard depth of not less than the average depth of the front yards of land adjoining on either side. A vacant lot or parcel of land, or a lot or parcel of land having more than the front yard depth required in the zone, shall be considered for this purpose as having a front yard of the required depth.

2. Key Lots. The depth of the required front yard on key lots or parcels of land shall not be less than the average depth of the required front yard of the adjoining interior lot or parcel of land and the required side yard of the adjoining reversed corner lot or parcel of land.

B. Specialized Side Yard Requirements.

1. Width.

a. Each interior lot or parcel of land with a lot width of 50 feet or less shall have side yards as required by the zone, but in no event shall the width of such required side yards be less than three feet.

b. Required side yards in residential zones shall be increased one foot in width for each story of a building established above a height of one story.

2. Corner or Reversed Corner Lots. Corner or reversed corner lots or parcels of land shall have side yards as required by the zone, except that in all residential zones a required side yard on the street side of the property shall be as shown in Chapter 20.16 CMC.

C. Specialized Rear Yard Requirements.

1. Rear Yards Adjoining an Alley. Where a required rear yard adjoins an alley, one-half of the width of such alley may be considered as a part of the depth of a required rear yard.

2. Industrial Zones Adjoining a Residential Zone. Where an industrial zone adjoins a residential zone, each lot or parcel of land in the industrial zone adjoining a lot or parcel of land in a residential zone shall have a rear yard not less than 30 feet in depth along the contiguous property line.

D. Projections into Yards.

1. The following structures may be erected or projected into any required yard:

a. Fences and walls as provided in CMC 20.16.120.

b. Signs as provided in Chapter 20.72 CMC.

c. Landscape elements, including trees, shrubs, and other plants.

2. The following projections may extend into a required front or rear yard a distance not to exceed three feet, provided such projections do not approach within two and one-half feet of any front, side, or rear property line:

a. Cornices, eaves, belt courses, sills, buttresses, or other similar architectural features.

b. Fireplace structures and bays, not wider than eight feet measured in the general direction of the wall of which they are a part, provided fireplaces or bays do not project more than three feet into required front or rear yard setbacks.

c. Open and unenclosed fire escapes, balconies, stairways, and door stoops.

d. Awnings.

e. Planting boxes or masonry planters not to exceed a height of 42 inches.

f. Fish ponds and other bodies of water located in the front yard or side street yard subject to the provisions of this zoning code and any other applicable ordinance.

E. Distance between Buildings. A minimum distance of 10 feet shall be required between all main buildings established on the same lot or parcel of land or a minimum of five feet of an accessory building or garage having one-hour fire rating.

F. Open Area and Required Rear Yard. Accessory buildings may occupy more than 50 percent of a required rear yard provided an open space is substituted for the occupied rear yard. Such substitute open area shall:

1. Be equal or greater in area than one-half the area of the required rear yard;

2. Have no linear dimension less than 20 feet in length or width; and

3. Be located on the same lot or parcel of land in any area not devoted to a required yard.

G. Yard and Setback Areas Reduced by Public Use. Where an improved lot or parcel conforms with the yard or setback requirements of the zoning or setback map, and such yard or setback area is thereafter reduced due to an acquisition for public use in any manner, including, but not limited to, dedication, condemnation, or purchase, the remaining lot or parcel of land shall nevertheless be deemed to conform with such yard or setback requirements.

H. Use of Yards.

1. Storage in yards. No storage shall be permitted in any required front or side yard.

2. Vehicle Parking. See Chapter 20.64 CMC (Off-Street Parking and Loading) and Chapter 20.16 CMC (Residential Zones) for regulations pertaining to vehicle parking and storage, including boats and trailers.

3. Violations. A violation of subsection (H)(1) or (H)(2) of this section is hereby declared to be an infraction punishable by a fine in an amount established by resolution of the city council. A violation of subsection (H)(1) or (H)(2) of this section is a misdemeanor punishable pursuant to CMC 1.36.010. (Ord. 690 § 4 (Exh. A), 2018).