Chapter 19.320 — Development Standards—Yards and Related Encroachments — Buena Park Zoning Code

§ 19.320.010. Setbacks. ¶

The following minimum setback requirements apply to residential development within the RS zones.

Yard	Minimum Setbacks
Front Yard Setbacks (Front yard setback is measured from the primary street lot line to the closest exterior wall of a building's facade)
Front Yard(A)	The minimum required front yard setback shall be 20 feet.
Side Yard Setbacks (Side street setback is measured from building's facade) (Side yard setback is measured from the facade)	the side street lot line to the closest exterior wall of a side yard lot line to the closest exterior wall of a building's
RS-6 and RS-8 Zones — Side Yard
Side Yard not abutting a street(B)	5 feet
Side Yard abutting a street for a Reversed Corner Lot(C)	10 feet (1)
Side Yard abutting a street for other Corner Lots(D)	10 feet
Accessory Structures less than or equal to 120 sq. ft.	May be located up to the rear or side property line behind a solid wall or fence, not less than 6 feet in height. If located less than 3 feet from an interior lot line, shall have no wall openings facing the adjoining property and no drainage onto the adjoining property.
Accessory Structures greater than 120 sq. ft.	Shall be located at least fve (5) feet from the rear or interior side property line, and at least ten (10) feet from the street side property line.
RS-10 and RS-16 Zones — Side Yards
Side Yard not abutting a street(B)	10 feet
Side Yard abutting a street for a Reversed Corner Lot(C)	15 feet (1)
Side Yard abutting a street for other Corner Lots(D)	15 feet
Accessory Structures less than or equal to 120 sq. ft.	May be located up to the rear or side property line behind a solid wall or fence, not less than 6 feet in height. If located less than 3 feet from an interior lot line, shall have no wall openings facing the adjoining property and no drainage onto the adjoining property.
Accessory Structures greater than 120 sq. ft.	Shall be located at least ten (10) feet from the rear or interior side property line, and at least ffteen (15) feet from the street side property line.
Rear Yard Setbacks (Rear yard setback is measured from the facade)	rear yard lot line to the closest exterior wall of a building's
Rear Yard(E)	25 feet (2)
Notes:
A Reversed Corner Lot is defned pursuant to Section19.104.080. (1)

Notes:

(2) Rear yard setbacks may be decreased by to five (5) feet if at least 70% of the rear twenty-five (25) feet of the lot remains open and uncovered.

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(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)

§ 19.320.020. Encroachments and Projections. ¶

A. In all RS zones, encroachments are permitted within the minimum required setbacks, as indicated in Table 19.320.020.

Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES	Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES	Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES	Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES	Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES	Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES	Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES
			Side Yard		Rear Yard
			Along a Street
Type of Encroachment	Front Yard	Not Along a Street (interior lot line)	Reversed Corner Lot	Other Corner Lot	Not Along a Street (interior lot line)	Along a Street or Alley
Walkways and driveways.	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
All vehicle parking and storage.	See Section 19.336.040	See Section 19.336.040	See Section 19.336.040	See Section 19.336.040	See Section 19.336.040	See Section 19.336.040
Real estate signs.	Permitted	Not Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Not Permitted	Permitted
Fences, walls, and hedges (subject to Chapter19.328).	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
Mechanical equipment: freestanding with 5 ft. maximum height, subject to screening requirements.	Not Permitted	Permitted	Permitted, only where a screening fence is permitted.	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted, only where a screening fence is permitted.
Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES	Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES	Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES	Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES	Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES	Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES	Table 19.320.020 PERMITTED ENCROACHMENTS IN MINIMUM REQUIRED SETBACKS — ALL RS ZONES
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			Side Yard		Rear Yard
			Along a Street
Type of Encroachment	Front Yard	Not Along a Street (interior lot line)	Reversed Corner Lot	Other Corner Lot	Not Along a Street (interior lot line)	Along a Street or Alley
Other above-ground utilities (e.g., transformer boxes, pedestal terminals, etc.) subject to screening requirements.	Permitted (in approved easements)	Permitted (in approved easements)	Permitted (in approved easements)	Permitted (in approved easements)	Permitted (in approved easements)	Permitted (in approved easements)
Swimming and therapeutic pools, including above- ground installations and subject to fencing requirements.	Not Permitted	Permitted, with 5 ft. min. setback	Permitted, with 10 ft. min. setback	Permitted, with 5 ft. min. setback	Permitted, with 5 ft. min. setback	Permitted, with 5 ft. min. setback
Decorative pool, with max. 18-inch depth.	Not Permitted	Permitted	Not Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
Trash areas and other permitted outdoor storage.	Not Permitted	Permitted, if screened from public view.	Permitted, if screened from public view.	Permitted, if screened from public view.	Permitted, if screened from public view.	Permitted, if screened from public view.
Play equipment, play structure,	Not Permitted	Permitted	Not Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted playhouse, etc., if Building Permit is required.
Patio covers, gazebos, and cabanas.	Not Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
BBQ islands, frepits, and detached freplaces.	Not Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
Fountains.	Permitted	Not Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
EV charging stations.	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted

B. Certain building projections are permitted into the minimum required setbacks as indicated below.
1. A projection of not more than 2.5 feet is permitted into the front, side, and rear yard setback for the following architectural features:
  - a. Cantilevered eaves.
  - b. Awnings or shading devices.
  - c. Sills, cornices, buttresses.
  - d. Chimneys and Fireplaces with a maximum 8-foot length along the wall.
  - e. Cantilevered mechanical equipment (subject to screening requirements in Section 19.340.020 ).
2. A projection of not more than 6 feet is permitted into the front yard and reversed corner side yard setback for the following features:
  - a. Patio slabs.
  - b. Decks.
  - c. Stoops.
  - d. Planters or similar features.
3. The maximum height of the features referenced in subsection B.2 shall be 24 inches, except railings may extend 3.5 feet above deck or tread. Railing must be open-type as required by Chapter 19.328 .
4. The features referenced in subsection B.2 shall also be permitted to encroach into the interior side or rear yard setback as well as into other corner side yards if located behind fences or walls as specified in Chapter 19.328 .
(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)

§ 19.320.030. Pedestrian Access to Dwelling. ¶

A. For every single-family dwelling, a minimum three foot and maximum five foot wide pedestrian walkway, other than the driveway, shall provide direct access from the sidewalk to the main entry.
(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)

§ 19.320.040. Future Rights-of-Way. ¶

A. This section is applicable only where a portion of a lot is within an area planned to be part of a future street, alley, or other public right-of-way as determined from an officially adopted plan, and the acquisition of such portion would not reduce the buildable lot width to less than 40 feet.
B. All required setbacks, yards, and open areas shall be provided in addition to the future right-ofway areas, and the future right-of-way lines shall be considered to be lot lines for purposes of measuring such other setbacks, yards, and open areas.
C. Permitted Encroachments. The following encroachments are permitted within the future rightsof-way area:
1. Utility-owned pole lines within approved easements.
2. Access walkways and driveways.
3. Uncovered parking—to the same extent as permitted in adjoining front, side, or rear yard.
4. Storage (vehicles for over 24 hours, trash areas, other permitted outdoor storage)—to the same extent as permitted in adjoining side or rear yard.

Recreation facilities which are subject to building permit (play equipment, play structure, playhouse, etc.)—to the same extent as permitted in adjoining side or rear yard.
Real estate signs.
Fences, walls, hedges, and berms—to the same extent as permitted in adjoining front, side, or rear yard.
Landscaping, other than hedges.

(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)

§ 19.320.050. Right-of-Way Improvements. ¶

The purpose of this section is to establish requirements for right-of-way improvements for all RS zoned parcels within the City of Buena Park on which property improvements are made. "Right-ofway improvements" shall include curbs, gutters, sidewalks, street pave outs, driveway approaches, handicap ramps, water lines and appurtenances, sewer lines and appurtenances, storm drainage facilities, property dedications of right-of-way, streetlights, pavement markings, signs, and street trees.

(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)

§ 19.320.060. Street Dedication and Improvement. ¶

No building permit shall be issued until the following requirements are met:

A. All streets, alleys, and other public rights-of-way shown on plans approved by the City Council and which abut the subject property shall be dedicated to the planned right-of-way line or a deed of dedication deposited in escrow with an escrow agent acceptable to the City Attorney, the delivery of which is conditioned upon the required permit being granted.
B. All improvements of streets, alleys, and other public rights-of-way which abut the subject property and are required in order to conform to improvement standards approved by the City Council shall be installed, or a performance bond, in a reasonable amount to be determined by the City Engineer, with sureties to be approved by the City Attorney, shall be filed with the City Clerk, or cash in a like amount shall be deposited with the Finance Director, to be placed in a trust fund.
C. Required Improvements. Any construction of a new primary dwelling unit or expansion of 50% or more of the existing floor area of a primary dwelling unit, shall be required to provide the following right-of-way improvements as are deemed necessary and applicable by the Director of Public Works:
1. Sidewalk and Parkway. Construction or repair of a sidewalk and parkway along the project frontage. The sidewalk shall have a minimum clear width of five (5) feet with a parkway, or six (6) feet if the sidewalk adjoins the curb.
2. Curb and Gutter. Construction or repair of curbs and gutters adjoining the site. All unused curb cuts shall be replaced with a full-height curb and gutter.
3. Street Trees. As required by Subsection 18.24.190 of the Municipal Code.
4. Bicycle Trail. As required by Subsection 18.64.020 . Construction of bicycle trail as required by the "Fourth District Bikeways Strategy" adopted by the Orange County Transportation.
D. Encroachment Permit Required. Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person to encroach or make or cause to be made any encroachment in the public right-of-

way or on property subject to a public utility easement, or other easement available for use by public utilities, without first obtaining an encroachment permit from the Public Works Department.

Encroachment permits for right-of-way improvements shall be obtained prior to the issuance of a building permit and prior to any work being done within the right-of-way.
Street improvement plans for all work in the public right-of-way shall be prepared by a licensed civil engineer, whose signed engineer's stamp shall appear on the plans. Final construction plans and specifications shall be approved by the City Engineer, and released for construction, prior to the issuance of the encroachment permit.

E. Parkways. A parkway (i.e., planting strip or tree buffer) is a portion of the street right-of-way lying between the curb and sidewalk.

Any objects placed in the parkway (e.g., rocks, benches, etc.) shall not present a hazard or public nuisance and shall not block a clear line of sight across the parkway.

(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)