A. Required Yard Area. Except as otherwise specified in this title, required yard areas shall be kept free of buildings and structures.
B. Exclusivity of Required Yard Area. No yard or other open space provided around any building for the purpose of complying with this chapter shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for any other building or structure.
C. Vertical Clearance. Except as otherwise provided in this title, every part of a required yard shall be open from its lowest point to the sky unobstructed. Building overhangs, bay windows, and other such elements may intrude as permitted, pursuant to Section 17.56.050 (Allowed Encroachments or Projections into Required Yards).
D. Lots Abutting Two (2) or More Streets. In the case of a lot abutting two (2) or more streets, the main buildings and accessory buildings shall be erected so as not to encroach upon the required yards of any of the streets.
E. Double-Frontage Lots. Where a double-frontage lot has a depth of one hundred and twenty-five (125) feet or more, such lot may be treated as two (2) lots, with the rear lie of each approximately equidistant from the front lot lines, provided all the yard requirements are met.
F. Lot Area, Depth, Width, and Setback Reduction. Where a lot area or a lot width, depth, or setback has been reduced for an existing legally created lot by not more than fifteen percent (15%) as a result of acquisition of dedication for a highway, road, drain, or other public purpose, as a result of dedication pursuant to a condition of approval, the lot area or yard so reduced may be included in determining compliance with lot area or yard requirements in the same manner as if the acquisition or dedication has not taken place.
G. Setback Measurement. The setback of all buildings and structures shall be measured at a right angle from the property line and determined by the exterior boundaries of the streets and highways and their proposed widening and extensions as indicated on the circulation plan roadway system and sizing map of the city's general plan, or if it does not appear in the circulation plan, in the city's improvement standards. Except as permitted in Section 17.56.050 (Allowed Encroachments or Projections into Required Yards), structures shall not extend beyond required setback lines.
H. Special Yard Requirements Prevail. Nothing contained in these general requirements shall be deemed to reduce special yard requirements as set forth in the regulations in Article II (Zoning Districts, Allowed Uses, and Development Standards).
(Ord. 2010-02 § 1 (part), 2010)