Chapter 19.1108 — Single Family Standards

The standards specified in this chapter shall govern all lots or parcels within the City designated as single family.

• A. The entire front yard and side yard abutting a street shall be kept and maintained free and clear of all construction and automotive materials or parts, trash, refuse, debris, trash storage receptacles, inoperative motor vehicles, discarded or broken materials, appliances, furniture, junk, equipment, or similar materials.

• B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, emergency or minor repairs of a motor vehicle owned by a person residing upon the lot or parcel may be conducted on an otherwise inoperative motor vehicle upon a paved driveway or paved parking area provided, however, that such emergency or minor repair shall be concluded within 72 hours of the commencement thereof.

• C. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections A and B of this section, a side yard abutting a street shall be treated the same as a rear yard, so long as the side yard abutting a street is screened by an approved wall or fence.

• A. All storage of materials including, but not limited to, trash and trash receptacles, newspapers, building and automotive materials, landscape maintenance tools, equipment, debris, inoperative motor vehicles, camper shells not mounted on motor vehicles or boats and trailers within side yards shall be screened by approved walls, fences, storage buildings, and/or landscaping materials from view from abutting property, public and private streets, and public and private rights-of-way. A pedestrian access way shall be maintained within one side yard on a property.

• B. All storage within the side yard shall be kept and maintained free of weeds, overgrown grass, debris, litter, or any combination thereof.

• A. All storage of materials including, but not limited to, trash and trash receptacles, newspapers, building and automotive materials, landscape maintenance tools, equipment, debris, inoperative motor vehicles, camper shells not mounted on motor vehicles or boats and trailers within rear yards shall be screened by approved walls, fences, storage buildings, and/or landscaping materials from view from abutting property, public and private streets, and public and private rights-of-way.

• B. Any materials stored, kept, or maintained pursuant to subsection A of this section shall not cover an area greater than 50 percent of the total square footage of the rear yard.

• C. All storage within the rear yard shall be kept and maintained free of debris, litter, or any combination thereof.

• A. All parking of motor vehicles, non-motorized, recreational, and utility vehicles on a single family lot or parcel shall occur within a garage, or carport, or upon an approved driveway, or other allowed paved parking area within the front yard, or within the side yard or rear yard. If parked in a side yard, a pedestrian access way shall be maintained on one side yard. Such nonmotorized, recreational, and utility vehicles shall include but not be limited to trailers, campers, travel trailers, camper shells, boats and boat trailers, utility vehicles such as skip loaders, forklifts, and bobcats, fifth wheel vehicles, and all terrain vehicles.

• B. No person shall park or store any commercial vehicle, commercial trailer or related commercial equipment upon any single family lot or parcel except commercial automobiles, pickup trucks, panel delivery trucks, and station wagons which do not exceed a gross weight of three tons (unladen) and provided that no more than two such vehicles may be parked on any such lot or parcel.

• C. A violation of subsection A of this section shall constitute an infraction which, upon conviction, shall be punishable as set forth in Section 19.148.020A of this Title, or any successor provision thereto. Nothing in this subsection C shall affect the availability of civil remedies set forth in Section 19.148.030 of this Title, or which are otherwise provided by law, in the event of noncompliance with this section.

• (Ord. 1402 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1476 § 3, 2005)

All buildings, structures, and paved areas within any lot or parcel designated as single family shall be kept and maintained in a manner so as to not detract from the appearance of the immediate neighborhood and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the user, occupant, and the general public. All such buildings, structures, and paved areas shall be deemed substandard and in violation of this section when any or all of the same display evidence of dilapidated conditions including, but not limited to, the following:

• A. Faulty, sagging, or leaking roof or roofs.

• B. Substantial areas of deteriorated building siding materials including, but not limited to, dry rot, termite infestation, dented or rusting metal siding, broken or missing pieces of stucco, or other siding materials.

• C. Broken or missing windows.

• D. Inadequate site drainage and/or standing water adjacent to building foundations.

• E. Broken or inoperable sanitary and plumbing facilities and/or fixtures.

• F. Broken or missing foundation.

• G. Broken, torn, or missing attic vent screens.

• H. Broken, ripped, or torn window screens.

• I. Structural defects such as warped, bowed, or sagging structural members including, but not limited to, headers, sills, beams, eaves, doorways, doorjambs, and similar structural or architectural elements.

• J. Holes in siding areas.

All landscaped areas within any lot or parcel designated as single family shall be kept and maintained in a manner so as not to detract from the appearance of the immediate neighborhood and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the user, occupant, and general public. Landscaped areas shall be kept in a neat and clean condition, free of weeds, debris and dead, diseased or dying vegetation, and broken or defective decorative elements of the landscaped area. Vegetation in landscaped areas shall be mowed, groomed, trimmed, pruned, and watered as to keep the same in a healthy, growing condition. Irrigation systems shall be kept in good working condition and repair so as to prevent leaks, or create public health hazards.

All fences and walls upon any lot or parcel designated as single family shall be kept and maintained in a manner so as not to detract from the appearance of the immediate neighborhood and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the user, occupant, and general public. All such fences and walls shall be deemed substandard and in violation of this section when any or all of the same display evidence of dilapidated conditions including, but not limited to, the following:

• A. Sagging, broken, rotted, or defective support posts or other structural members.

• B. Missing or broken fence boards.

• C. Damaged or missing blocks from a block wall.

• D. Substantial areas of deterioration including dry rot, broken or missing pieces of stucco, holes, or warped or leaning fence or wall areas.

• E. Chain link fence material which is damaged or broken.

• F. Height extensions of walls or fences in violation of the Buena Park Zoning Ordinance.