.010 Setbacks Abutting A Public Street. Where a building site abuts upon any highway or public street, there shall be a landscape setback, measured from the planned highway right-of-way line, as indicated in the Circulation Element of the General Plan, and improved as provided herein:
.0101 A project abutting an arterial highway shall have an average landscape setback of not less than twenty (20) feet in depth, with a minimum fifteen (15) feet permitted; provided, however, that for every foot of building frontage having a setback of less than twenty (20) feet, there shall be a foot of building frontage having a setback correspondingly greater than twenty (20) feet.
.0102 A project abutting any public street other than an arterial highway shall have a minimum landscape setback of fifteen (15) feet.
.0103 The following encroachments are permitted abutting a public street:
(a) Cornices, eaves, belt courses, sills, buttresses, and fireplaces may encroach not more than 30 inches.
(b) Open, unenclosed balconies may encroach not more than three (3) feet.
(c) Private patios for ground-floor residential units may encroach not more than eight (8) feet.
(d) Covered or uncovered porches or landings that do not extend above the level of the first floor of the building, and that include an open railing not more than thirty-six (36) inches in height, may encroach not more than five (5) feet.
(e) Decorative guard railing for safety protection around hazardous areas.
(f) Trees, shrubs, flowers or plants.
(g) Fences and walls that comply with Section 18.46.110.
.020 Setbacks – Other. An open setback shall be provided around each building adjacent to interior lot lines, private streets, public or private alleys, or buildings located on the same building site. Minimum setback requirements shall be measured perpendicular to building walls, and are determined based on the design of the building wall parallel to the street, interior property line, or adjacent building. Each building wall shall be categorized as primary, secondary or blank. based on the following criteria relating to the placement of windows and doors:
.0201 Primary. Building walls that contain entrances and exits and/or windows opening into living spaces where most activity occurs, such as dining rooms, living rooms, family rooms, kitchens and bedrooms. Building walls with balconies are also included.
.0202 Secondary. Building walls that contain windows opening into bathrooms, closets, stairwells and corridors.
.0203 Blank. Building walls with no window openings or points of access.
.030 Setbacks Abutting Interior Property Lines. Setbacks for structures abutting an interior property line shall be provided along the entire length of the building as follows:
Height of Structure | Building Wall Category | Structural Setback | Landscaped Portion of Setback |
1 story | All | 10 feet | 5 feet minimum |
2 story | Primary | 15 feet | 5 feet minimum |
Secondary | 15 feet | ||
Blank | 15 feet | ||
3 story | Primary | 20 feet | 5 feet minimum |
Secondary | 15 feet | ||
Blank | 15 feet | ||
4 story | Primary | 25 feet | 10 feet minimum |
Secondary | 20 feet | ||
Blank | 15 feet | ||
.0301 Setbacks Abutting Interior Property Lines Within One Hundred Fifty (150) Feet of Single-Family Residential Zones. Setbacks for structures abutting a single-family residential zone, or located within one hundred fifty (150) feet of a single-family residential zone, shall be provided along the entire length of any interior site boundary line as follows:
Height of Structure | Building Wall Category | Structural Setback | Landscaped Portion of Setback |
1 story | All | 20 feet | 10 feet minimum |
2 story | Primary | 35 feet | 10 feet minimum |
Secondary | 25 feet | ||
Blank | 20 feet | ||
3 story | Primary | 55 feet | 10 feet minimum |
Secondary | 45 feet | ||
Blank | 40 feet | ||
4 story | Primary | 75 feet | 15 feet minimum |
Secondary | 65 feet | ||
Blank | 60 feet | ||
.0302 The following encroachments are permitted abutting interior property lines, except within 150 feet of Single-Family Residential Zones:
(a) A patio cover outside the minimum interior landscape setback when located within an existing ground-floor private patio area. Patio cover shall not exceed 10 feet in height.
(b) Cornices, eaves, belt courses, sills, buttresses and fireplaces may encroach not more than four (4) inches for each one (1) foot of the width of the setback.
(c) Fixed awnings may encroach no more than three (3) feet.
(d) Private patios for ground-floor residential units may encroach not more than eight (8) feet.
(e) Covered or uncovered porches or landings that do not extend above the level of the first floor of the building, and that include an open railing not more than thirty-six (36) inches in height, may encroach not more than five (5) feet.
(f) Decorative guard railings for safety protection around hazardous areas.
(g) Trees, shrubs, flowers or plants.
(h) Pedestrian walkways.
(i) Outdoor recreational facilities outside the minimum interior landscape setback.
(j) Vehicular accessways outside the minimum interior landscape setback.
(k) Fences and walls that comply with Section 18.46.110.
.050 Setbacks Between Buildings. A minimum 15-foot wide setback between parallel walls of two (2) separate buildings shall be provided.
.0501 The following encroachments are permitted between buildings:
(a) A patio cover when located within an existing ground-floor private patio area. Patio cover shall not exceed 10 feet in height.
(b) Private patios for ground-floor residential units may encroach not more than five (5) feet.
(c) Covered or uncovered porches or landings that do not extend above the level of the first floor of the building, and that include an open railing not more than thirty-six (36) inches in height, may encroach not more than five (5) feet.
(d) For properties developed with existing ground-floor private patio areas, a maximum ten (10) foot high patio cover may be permitted over the existing permitted patio area.
(e) Decorative guard railings for safety protection around hazardous areas.
(f) Trees, shrubs, flowers or plants.
(g) Pedestrian walkways.
(h) Outdoor recreational facilities.
(i) Vehicular accessways.
(j) Fences and walls that comply with Section 18.46.110.
.060 Street Wall Facades. Street wall facades shall be architecturally enhanced through the use of arcades, colonnades, recessed entrances, window details, bays, variation in building materials, and other details such as cornices and contrasting colors. Total blank walls (without windows or entrances) are prohibited. In addition to architectural massing requirements, building facades shall be articulated through the use of separated wall surfaces, contrasting colors and materials, variations in building setbacks, and attractive window fenestrations.
.070 Required Improvement of Setback Areas. Required setbacks shall be landscaped with lawn, trees, shrubs or other plants, as set forth in Chapter 18.46 (Landscaping and Screening), and shall be permanently maintained in a neat and orderly manner.
.080 Modifications. The standard prescribed in this section may be modified pursuant to a conditional use permit. The application shall be processed pursuant to Chapter 18.60 (Procedures) and Chapter 18.66 (Conditional Use Permits).
(Ord. 5920 § 1 (part); June 8, 2004: Ord. 6031 § 11; August 22, 2006: Ord. 6382 § 25; October 18, 2016: Ord. 6461 § 4; April 16, 2019: Ord. 6473 §§ 4 - 6; December 3, 2019: Ord. 6526 § 4; February 15, 2022: Ord. 6555 § 9; April 4, 2023.)