Chapter 9.80 — ACCESSORY STRUCTURES, STRUCTURE HEIGHTS, YARDS, WALLS AND FENCING

The purpose of this chapter is to list general requirements for accessory structures, structure heights, yards, walls and fencing which are not provided within the regulations of each zoning district.

(Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(1), 1984; Ord. 371 § 4, 1992; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)

• A. No garage or other accessory structure shall be located in any residential zone without a permitted main building.

• B. Detached accessory structures shall be at least ten feet from other buildings including the main building.

• C. Detached accessory structures shall be at least five feet from a side or rear lot line.

• D. Garages with automobile access from an alley shall not be closer than twenty-five feet from the opposite property line of the alley.

• E. No accessory structure shall occupy any portion of the side yard on the street side of the corner lot, and on a reversed corner lot no accessory structure shall be erected closer to the street than the building line of the adjacent key lot.

• F. Open, non-habitable, structures, including, but not limited to, playground equipment, gazebos, arbors and trellises, are permitted with a maximum height of ten feet above grade if set back from property lines a distance equal to the structure's height, but no less than five feet. Playground equipment and other structures with elevated platforms are limited to a maximum platform height of five feet. Structures with elevated platforms shall require additional landscape screening to restrict views into neighboring residences. Landscape improvements shall include placement of shrubs and trees along the rear and side property lines.

• (Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(2), 1984; Ord. 371 § 4, 1992; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)

• A. All structures hereafter erected and existing structures which may be reconstructed, altered, moved, maintained, or enlarged shall comply with the height regulations of the zone in which they may be located. Roof structures for the housing of elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building and fire or parapet walls, skylights, towers, church spires, chimneys, smokestacks, wireless masts or similar structures may be erected above the height limits prescribed in this title so long as the same may be safely erected, but no roof structures or any space above the height limit shall be allowed for the purpose of providing additional floor space.

• B. A flagpole, mast, or similar structure, whether freestanding or building mounted, may be permitted by the city planner pursuant to Section 9.78.040 , when appurtenant to a developed site and when the height as measured from ground level does not exceed fifty feet in residential zones; sixty feet in commercial or industrial zones on developments of less than fifteen acres in size; and one hundred feet in commercial or industrial zones on developments of fifteen acres or greater in size.

• C. Any flagpole less than fifty feet in height shall be set back twenty feet from any public right-ofway. Any flagpole greater than fifty feet in height shall be set back a minimum of forty feet from any public right-of-way.

• (Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(3), 1984; Ord. 327 § 3, 1991; Ord. 450 § 2, 1997; Ord. 563 § 1, 2002; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)

• A. All buildings hereafter erected and existing buildings which may be reconstructed, altered, moved or maintained, or enlarged shall comply with the area regulations of the zone in which they may be located.

• B. The lot area shall be that prescribed by this title and shall not be reduced, diminished or maintained so that the yard or open spaces are smaller than that prescribed by this title, and the density of population shall not be increased in any manner, except in conformity with the area regulations of the zone in which it is located.

• C. Every building and structure hereafter erected, and every use hereafter undertaken in any zone, shall be located and conducted only on a legal lot which has been surveyed and had monumentation set (as certified by a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor), and only within the lot lines of such legal lot.

• (Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(4), 1984; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)

• A. Yards shall be measured perpendicular to the property line or from a future street or highway line as shown on the general plan or established in the applicable setback regulations.

• B. Yard provisions shall apply to both main and accessory structures unless otherwise specified.

• C. No required yard or other open space around an existing building or any building hereafter erected shall be considered as providing a yard or other open space for another building on an adjoining lot or building site.

• D. A garage door, fence or gate shall not, when open or being opened, project beyond the lot line. (Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(5), 1984; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)

• A. Fences may be located within any yard, subject to the provisions contained herein.

• B. Detached accessory structures, including, but not limited to, storage sheds, patio covers, and gazebos, may extend into the side or rear yard setbacks, subject to the provisions of Section 9.80.020 concerning accessory structures.

• C. Fire escapes may extend or project into a yard not more than four feet; provided, however, that the said yard shall not thus be reduced to less than three feet in width.

• D. Cornices, canopies, eaves, belt courses, and other similar architectural features may extend or project into a required front yard not more than four feet, and may extend into a required side or rear yard not more than six inches for each one foot of width of such required side or rear yard.

• E. Uncovered porches, platforms, decks or landing places which do not extend above the level of the first floor of the building may extend into any required front yard a distance of not more than twenty percent of such front yard, and in no instance more than five feet. Such features may extend into any required side or rear yard not more than four feet. An openwork railing may be installed or constructed on any such porch, platform, deck or landing place provided it does not exceed thirty-six inches in height for residential use, and forty-two inches for a commercial use. Open, unenclosed stairways or balconies not covered by a roof or a canopy may extend or project in to a required front yard not more than four feet.

• (Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(6), 1984; Ord. 244 § 4, 1989; Ord. 371 § 5, 1992; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)

• A. Front Yard Exceptions. The following special provisions shall apply to all R1-7.2, R1-10, R1-12, RR, R2, RM, R3, RH, and PPO zones:

  1. Key lots shall have a front yard not less than the front yard for the adjoining interior lot. When the front yard on the adjoining interior lot is less than prescribed by this title, the key lot front yard may be the same, but shall in no case be less than twenty feet. In partially built-up blocks, no front yard need be deeper than the average depth of the front yards next

thereto on each side, but shall in no case be less than twenty feet. A vacant lot or a lot occupied by a building with a front yard more than twenty-five feet deep shall be deemed to have a front yard twenty-five feet deep.

2. On R1 zoned lots located on secondary, major or arterial highways, perimeter walls up to six feet high may encroach into the setback of a front yard abutting such highway, to within ten feet of the front property line.

• B. Other Special Yard Requirements. The following requirements shall apply:

  1. Churches, schools, institutions, or other similar uses when permitted in an R zone shall be removed at least twenty feet from every boundary line of the property, and no front yard as required in such zone or side yards as required shall be used for play or parking purposes.

  • a. The minimum side and rear yard setback requirement for swimming pools shall be five feet. Swimming pools shall not be permitted in a required front yard.

  • b. Setbacks for pool pump and filter installations shall be a minimum of ten feet from any property line. The city planner may reduce the required setback for pumps and filters when a solid five-foot high masonry wall (minimum height) is situated between such equipment and any adjacent property line with said wall extending a minimum distance of two feet beyond any portion of such equipment. The city planner may also approve an alternate method of sound control in lieu of a block wall where it is found that an equivalent noise reduction is achieved.

3. Reversed corner lots shall have a side yard on the street side of a width not less than ten feet.

4. Developments with one "O" side yard may be allowed by conditional use permit in an R1 or R2 zone, provided that appropriate and necessary covenants, conditions and restrictions are agreed upon and recorded by the involved property owners.

5. All ground equipment shall be set back a minimum of three feet from the property lines. Generators shall be set back a minimum of ten feet from any property line. The city planner may reduce the required setback for generators when a solid five-foot high masonry wall (minimum height) is situated between such equipment and any adjacent property line with said wall extending a minimum distance of two feet beyond any portion of such equipment.

(Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(7), 1984; Ord. 326 § 2, 1991; Ord. 361 § 2, 1992; Ord. 554 § 1, 2001; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)

Swimming pools for R1 zone properties shall be entirely enclosed by buildings, fences, or walls which are not less than five feet in height at any point, measured immediately adjacent to any such building, fence or wall on the side of such building, fence or wall opposite the swimming pool. Said fence or wall shall have self-latching gates or doors not less than five feet in height, and each such gate or door shall have latches not less than four feet above the ground level. All fencing and walls must be in place and approved by the building inspector before water shall be allowed in a pool. (Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(8), 1984; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)

• A. There shall be no parking permitted or vertical obstructions constructed within corner cut-off areas except as provided in this chapter.

• B. The following regulations shall apply to all intersections of streets, alleys, private driveways and any combination thereof in order to provide adequate visibility for vehicular traffic.

• (Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(9), 1984; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)

• A. Light poles, sign supports, fences, roof overhangs, plant materials or other similar structures may be permitted within the corner cut-off area subject to the approval of the city planner and city engineer; provided however, that:

  1. Only one structure or obstruction may be permitted in the corner cut-off area. Such structure or obstruction shall not have a horizontal dimension greater than twelve inches between the elevation of three feet and ten feet above the adjacent street, driveway or alley pavement.

  2. The corner cut-off area shall be for pedestrian use or landscaped and maintained subject to the approval of the city planner.

• B. Structures or plant material may be located within the corner cut-off area if no part of said structure or plant material exceeds three feet in height above the adjacent street, driveway or alley pavement.

• (Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(10), 1984; Ord. 554 § 1, 2001; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)

End points for corner cut-off lines shall be the following distances from the corner:

• A. On major or secondary street right-of-way lines: thirty feet;

• B. On collector street right-of-way lines: twenty-five feet;

• C. On local street right-of-way lines: twenty feet;

• D. On alley right-of-way lines: ten feet; and

• E. On private driveway lines: ten feet.

• (Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(11), 1984; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)

• A. Except for fences required per the zone district regulations, fencing is not required. However, if constructed, fencing within rear and side yards shall not exceed six feet in height. The fence may be constructed of any solid or open material except barbed wire, razor wire, electrified fence, or used materials of any kind. Alternative construction material and various metals and composites for walls and fences may be approved by the city planner, which decision may be appealed to the architectural review committee by the applicant. Solid fencing within front yards shall not exceed a height of forty-two inches and shall be constructed with finished appearance consistent with the architecture of the main building and the rear and side yard fence. Open fences not exceeding six feet in height are permitted in front yards, but chain link and other wire fences shall not be permitted. Measurement of all fencing height shall be made from the ground or from the top of a retaining wall, if fence is placed on such a wall.

• B. In the case of corner lots where driveways extend into the side yard, fences, hedges or walls shall inset at a forty-five degree angle fifteen feet on each side of such driveway; provided,

however, that this subsection shall not apply to any security fence or wall as set forth in subsection C of this section, nor to the erection of fences, walls or hedges around any building or structure used for providing public utility services.

• C. Fences and walls in industrial and agricultural zones may have an additional two feet of security fencing added onto the enclosure permitted by subsection A of this section.

• D. Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding twelve feet in height shall be permitted to enclose tennis courts located within the rear half of the lot; provided, however, such enclosure shall be located not less than three feet from any side or rear property line; and provided, further, however, that any portion of said enclosure which is higher than six feet shall be composed of wire mesh or other material whose vertical surface shall not be closed more than ten percent.

• E. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this title, fences enclosing public utility stations, substations, or other similar facility may be erected at any height as required by the California Public Utilities Commission.

• (Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(12), 1984; Ord. 244 §§ 5, 6, 1989; Ord. 814 § 1, 2018; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)

Storage containers may be allowed by a special use permit or conditional use permit depending on the length of time the container will be used. In order to be allowed the container must be anchored on a concrete pad and the exterior colors and materials must be similar as those of the main building.

(Ord. 80 Art. V(L)(13), 1984; Ord. 470 § 11, 1998; Ord. 862 § 2, 2022)