El Cerrito Municipal Code Ch. 19.03 Rules of Measurement

The purpose of this Chapter is to explain how various measurements referenced in this Zoning Ordinance are to be calculated.

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)

For all calculations, the applicant shall be responsible for supplying drawings illustrating the measurements that apply to a project. These drawings shall be drawn to scale and of sufficient detail to allow easy verification upon inspection by the Zoning Administrator.

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)

When calculations result in fractions, the results will be rounded as follows:

A. General Rounding. Fractions of one-half (0.5) or greater shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number and fractions of less than one-half (0.5) shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, except as otherwise provided.

B. Density Rounding. For purposes of computing the maximum number of residential units allowed on a lot, any fraction shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number.

C. Rounding for State Affordable Housing Density Bonus. For projects eligible for bonus density pursuant to Government Code Section 65915 or any successor statute, and Chapter 19.22, Affordable Housing Bonus, any fractional number of permitted bonus density units shall be rounded up to the next whole number. See Section 19.22.030.

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)

A. Measurements are Shortest Distance. When measuring a required distance, such as the minimum distance between a structure and a lot line, the measurement is made at the closest or shortest distance between the two objects. See Figure 19.03-A.

[Figure]

B. Distances are Measured Horizontally. When determining distances for setbacks and structure dimensions, all distances are measured along a horizontal plane from the appropriate line, edge of building, structure, storage area, parking area, or other object. These distances are not measured by following the topography or slope of the land. See Figure 19.03-B.

[Figure]

C. Measurements Involving a Structure. Measurements involving a structure are made to the closest wall of the structure. Chimneys, eaves, cornices, and bay windows up to 12 feet in length are not included in the measurement. Other features, such as covered porches and entrances, are included in the measurement. Structures or portions of structures that are entirely underground are not included in measuring required distances.

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)

A. General. Height shall be considered the vertical distance from the highest point of any structure to the ground level directly below, except as otherwise provided in this Section.

B. Measuring Building Height on Sloped Lots. Height shall be measured from any point on top of the building to a line directly below which connects to opposite perimeter walls, or other perimeter support systems, at the lower of natural or finished grade. All parts of a building, except for allowed projections specifically listed in this Zoning Ordinance, shall comply with maximum height limits. See Figure 19.03-C.

[Figure]

C. Measuring the Height of Buildings Located Near Retaining Walls. If any portion of a building lies within the setback area of a lot and the base of the retaining wall is at a lower elevation than the building, the height of the building shall be calculated from the base of the retaining wall (at the lower of natural or finished grade) rather than from the base of the building wall. See Figure 19.03-D.

[Figure]

D. Measuring the Height of Combined Fences and Retaining Walls. When a fence is constructed on top of or within one foot of the face of an above-ground retaining wall, and located in a required yard, the height of the fence shall be measured from the top of the fence to the midpoint height of the retaining wall. See Figure 19.03-E.

[Figure]

E. Measuring the Height of Decks. Deck height is measured from grade to the top of the floor of the deck if there is no rail or if the rail walls are more than 50 percent open, and from the ground to the top of the rails for all other situations.

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)

A. Lot Width. Minimum lot width as required by this Title shall be measured at the front setback line as determined by the zoning of the parcel.

B. Lot Depth. Lot depth is measured along an imaginary straight line drawn from the midpoint of the front property line of the lot to the midpoint of the rear property line or to the most distant point on any other lot line where there is no rear lot line. See Figure 19.03-F.

[Figure]

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)

Lot slope is calculated as an average slope of the ground area within the required setback lines (buildable area) for primary structures on a site. Lot slope is based on existing grade. The elevations of the points where required setback lines intersect are used to determine the average elevation of each setback line. Specifically, the average elevation of each setback line is calculated by adding the elevations at the line's intersection points and dividing by two. The average lot slope is then calculated by subtracting the average elevation of the most uphill setback line and the average elevation of the most downhill setback line and dividing the sum by the average distance between these two setback lines, as illustrated in Figure 19.03-G. Where required setback lines do not intersect to form a four-sided polygon, average lot slope shall be calculated by dividing the difference between the elevations of the highest and lowest points within the buildable area by the horizontal distance between said points. See Figure 19.03-G.

[Figure]

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)

A. Existing Trees. Existing trees are measured at a height of four-and-one-half feet above the ground. Trees on slopes are measured from the ground level on the lower side of the tree. If a tree splits into multiple trunks below four and one-half feet, the trunk's diameter is measured at its most narrow point below the split.

B. New Trees. New trees are measured in caliper inches, which is the diameter of the trunk six inches above the ground.

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)

Floor area is the horizontal area (expressed in square feet) of all floors included within a building or buildings, according to the following rules:

A. Included in Floor Area. Floor area is deemed to include:

1. The floor of atrium and lobby areas;

2. Enclosed and roofed storage and equipment spaces;

3. Enclosed and roofed halls, stairways, and elevator shafts;

4. Enclosed and roofed porches and balconies;

5. Portions of basements and attics that meet Building Code height requirements for living space;

6. The actual floor space of mezzanines, interior balconies, and lofts.

B. Excluded from Floor Area. Floor area does not include:

1. Unenclosed balconies, decks, porches, and stairs;

2. Substandard height portions of attics and basements (per Title 16, Buildings and Construction);

3. The area within a building adjacent to, and in an imaginary horizontal plane with, interior balconies, mezzanines, or lofts.

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)

Floor area ratio (FAR) is the ratio of the floor area of all principal and accessory buildings on a lot to the lot area. To calculate FAR, floor area is divided by lot area, and typically expressed as a decimal. For example, if the floor area of all buildings on a lot totals 20,000 square feet, and the lot area is 10,000 square feet, the FAR is expressed as 2.0.

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)

Lot coverage is the ratio of the footprint of all structures on a lot to the lot area, typically expressed as a percentage. The footprints of all principal and accessory structures, including garages, carports, and roofed porches, shall be summed in order to calculate lot coverage. The following structures shall be excluded from the calculation:

A. The following unenclosed and unroofed structures: porches, landings, balconies, and stairways less than three feet in height;

B. Unenclosed and unroofed decks less than eighteen inches in height;

C. Eaves and roof overhangs projecting up to four feet from a wall;

D. Trellises and similar structures that do not have solid roofs;

E. Swimming pools and hot tubs that are not enclosed in roofed structures.

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)

The width of a garage is not limited to the garage door, but is considered the width of that portion of a building facade that is backed by a garage space. It is measured from midpoint to midpoint of any enclosing walls that lie perpendicular to the garage door or entry.

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)

Sign height is measured in the same method as other structures (See Section 19.03.050). Calculation of sign area is described in Section 19.26.080.

(Ord. 2008-2 Div. II (part), 2008.)