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§ 83.02.040 Height Measurement and Height Limit Exceptions.
   All structures shall meet the standards in this Section relating to height, except for fences and walls, which shall comply with Chapter 83.06 (Fences, Hedges, and Walls).
   (a)   Maximum Height Allowed. The height of buildings/structures shall not exceed the standards established by the applicable land use zoning district, except as otherwise provided in this Section.
   (b)   Height Measurement. Height shall be measured as the vertical distance above a referenced datum measured to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of mansard roof or to the average height of the highest gable of a pitched or hipped roof or the highest part of a structure. The reference datum shall be selected by either of the following, whichever yields a greater height of building:
      (1)   The elevation of the highest adjoining sidewalk or ground surface within a five-foot horizontal distance of the exterior wall of the building when the sidewalk or ground surface is not more than ten feet above lowest grade.
      (2)   An elevation ten feet higher than the lowest grade when the sidewalk or ground surface described in Subdivision (1) above is more than ten feet about lowest grade.
   (c)   Allowed Building/Structure Height Increases. The maximum building/structure height development standards established by Division 2 (Land Use Zoning Districts and Allowed Land Uses) may be increased as specified by this Section, provided the increase shall not conflict with airport safety regulations or conditions of an approved Conditional Use Permit.
      (1)   Institutional Structures. Institutional structures in land use zoning districts that impose a height limitation of 35 feet or less may exceed the 35 foot height limit by up to 25 feet when the required front, side, and rear setbacks are increased an additional one foot in excess of minimum requirements for each four feet in height above 35 feet.
      (2)   Miscellaneous Structures. The maximum structure height specified in a land use zoning district may be exceeded by no more than 50 percent for the following structures, except that a lower maximum height may be specified in the conditions of an approved Conditional Use Permit:
         (A)   Barns, silos, grain elevators, and other farm structures in Rural Resource Conservation (RC), Agricultural (AG), or Rural Living (RL) land use zoning districts.
         (B)   Birdhouses.
         (C)   Architectural features of religious institutions.
         (D)   Cooling towers, smokestacks or other structures that are required by allowed industrial processes in industrial land use zoning districts.
         (E)   Cupolas, domes, skylights, and gables.
         (F)   Elevator housings.
         (G)   Fire and hose towers.
         (H)   Fire or parapet walls.
         (I)   Flag poles.
         (J)   Mechanical equipment and its screening to include roof-mounted wireless telecommunications support facilities.
         (K)   Monuments.
         (L)   Noncommercial antennae up to 65 feet in residential land use zoning districts.
         (M)   Observation and carillon towers.
         (N)   Ornamental towers and spheres.
         (O)   Radio and television station towers.
         (P)   Residential chimneys, flues, smokestacks, and enclosures.
         (Q)   Solar energy collectors in the RS (Single Residential) and RM (Multiple Residential) land use zoning districts. In other land use zoning districts, these structures shall be allowed up to 65 feet. These structures shall be set back from all property lines and habitable structures at least 100 percent of the height of the structure. For noncommercial windmills, refer to Chapter 84.26 (Wind Energy Systems). Small solar collectors (less than three feet by three feet) are exempt from this requirement to be setback from property lines.
         (R)   Stairway housing.
         (S)   Water tanks and water towers.
         (T)   Distribution and transmission cables and towers.
         (U)   Other roof structures and mechanical equipment similar to those listed above.
(Ord. 4011, passed - -2007; Am. Ord. 4098, passed - -2010; Am. Ord. 4245, passed - -2014)