Chapter 17.22 — RURBAN HOMESTEADS OVERLAY DISTRICT

modified

The Rurban Homesteads Overlay District (RHOD) was established to preserve rural character, promote a low-density, rural residential lifestyle, and ensure continued availability of lots that allow animal keeping, agricultural cultivation and retain the area's homestead heritage. It is the intent of the RHOD to protect areas for low-density, rural development by retaining large lots in a configuration that enables animal raising and keeping and to ensure that new residential development and alterations and additions to existing residences are compatible with the scale, mass and character of the rural neighborhood.

(Ord. No. 3053, § 3(Exh. A), 5-14-2025)

modified

The RHOD applies to all properties in the city identified with an RHOD on the city's zoning map.

(Ord. No. 3053, § 3(Exh. A), 5-14-2025)

modified

No lot, premise, building, or structure in the Rurban Homestead Overlay District shall be used for any use or purpose other than those specified below:

A.

One-family Dwelling. Not more than one one-family dwelling on any lot as defined by Chapter 17.150 (Use Definitions) of this title.

B.

Accessory Buildings. Accessory buildings necessary or incidental to each one-family dwelling, located on the same lot or parcel of land, including a private garage for each lawful dwelling. The capacity of each such garage shall not exceed three (3) automobiles. See Section 17.110.020 (Regulations for Specific Uses—Accessory Buildings) of this title for additional standards.

C.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). ADUs and Junior ADUs are regulated pursuant to Section 17.110.030 (Regulations for Specific Uses—Accessory Dwelling Units) of this title. The architectural style and materials of ADUs and Junior ADUs shall match that of the primary building on the property.

D.

Horses. The keeping of not more than one horse for each seven thousand five hundred (7,500) square feet of lot area.

E.

Other Animals. The keeping of not more than three (3) female goats and their offspring less than one year of age, and the keeping of not more than three (3) sheep and their offspring less than one year of age, and the keeping of not more than one cow, but only for the personal use of the family residing upon the premises or in the conduct by any member of the family residing upon the premises of any program of animal husbandry as a member of any national or nonprofit educational or character building organization.

(Ord. No. 3053, § 3(Exh. A), 5-14-2025)

modified

The regulations applicable to lots, premises, buildings and structures in the underlying zone shall apply to and be complied with as to every lot, premises, building, and structure in the RHOD.

A.

Minimum Lot Area and Width. Each lot shall have a lot area of not less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet and a width of not less than sixty (60) feet at the mid-point measured between the front and rear lot lines; provided, however, that when a lot has less area than herein required and was recorded at the time of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, the lot may be occupied by not more than one dwelling unit.

B.

Street Frontage Required. Every lot shall abut a public street for a distance of at least sixty (60) feet. Flag lots and Planned Residential Developments shall be prohibited.

C.

Lot Design. Lots shall be rectangular in shape, with side parcel lines as close as practical to ninety-degree angles with front and rear parcel lines. Lot depth shall be a minimum of two (2) times the lot width. Flag lots and planned residential development shall be prohibited.

D.

First Floor Top Plate Height. First floor top plate height shall not exceed twelve (12) feet in the front one-third of the structure.

E.

Building Height. The maximum allowable height is twenty-five (25) feet and one and one-half (1½) stories. New development, additions and alterations that will result in more than one story shall be subject to the following:

1.

Configuration. Floor area above the first story shall be wholly built into the framing of the roof.

2.

Floor Area Limit. Habitable floor area above the first story shall not exceed sixty (60) percent of the first story roofed area.

3.

Dormer. Dormers shall not exceed the height of the building ridge line, shall not overhang the outer face of the wall below, or exceed sixty (60) percent of the length of the roof.

4.

Balconies or Decks. Balconies or decks above the first floor are prohibited.

5.

Design Review. All applications for new development or additions that will result in more than one story shall require design review pursuant to Chapter 17.122 (Design Review) of this title and as follows:

a.

Application Requirement. In addition to other materials required for the submittal of a design review application, supporting materials shall be submitted to describe and provide visual representation of existing conditions and the proposed project. Supporting materials may include, but are not limited to: statements; photographs; plans; drawings; renderings; models; material samples; and the erection of story poles at the site.

b.

Review Authority. Design review shall be conducted by the Community Development Director.

c.

Notice. At least ten (10) days prior to the date of action, notice of the application shall be posted on-site and mailed to all residents and property owners of record within a three-hundred-foot radius of the subject property as shown on the latest available assessment roll. The notice shall include a general description of the application, the location of the property, the date of the decision, the procedure for submitting comments, and the procedure for appealing the decision.

d.

Call-up for Planning Commission Review. The Community Development Director may refer items directly to the Planning Commission when, in his/her discretion, the public interest would be better served by having the Planning Commission conduct Design Review. In addition, the applicant or any resident or property owner within the mailing radius may submit a written request to the Community Development Director for a call-up.

e.

Appeals. Community Development Director decisions regarding this chapter are appealable to the Planning Commission and ultimately, the City Council. Refer to Section 17.10.100 (General Regulations—Ability to Appeal) of this title.

F.

Animal Enclosures and Related Activities. Animal enclosures include barns, stables, corrals, pens, coops, bins, chutes or other enclosures designed or used for the keeping or shelter of animals. These standards shall not apply to fenced pastures or other contained animal grazing or roaming areas. This subsection may also apply to properties not located within the RHOD that are zoned R-1B and have a minimum area of twenty thousand (20,000) square feet.

1.

Location. Roofed animal enclosures shall be set back a minimum of seventy-five (75) feet from the front lot line and thirty-five (35) feet from any dwelling or other building used for human habitation other than the dwelling of the owner.

2.

Size.

a.

Unroofed animal enclosure areas shall not count towards floor area calculations, accessory structure size or lot coverage. Up to eight hundred (800) square feet of roofed animal enclosures shall be exempt from floor area calculations and accessory structure size. In addition, roofed animal enclosures greater than eight hundred (800) square feet and existing prior to May 1, 2018, shall be exempt from floor area calculations and accessory structure size.

b.

Animal housing, premises and quarters must be of sufficient size, kept clean and in a sanitary condition, properly ventilated and in good repair at all times. Sufficient size is defined as a minimum of five hundred (500) square feet of interior measurement of corral space and, for horses, each individual box stall must contain a minimum dimension of eight (8) feet in width and twelve (12) feet in length.

3.

Animal enclosures shall comply with all development standards of the land use district and adopted city codes.

4.

Maintenance.

a.

Water troughs shall be cleaned out weekly. Mosquito fish or other mosquito prevention measures shall be used in water troughs or in any standing water.

b.

Vermin, flies, standing surface water, refuse, and manure must be controlled and not accumulate so as not to be a nuisance for adjacent properties. Property owner is subject to Chapter 8.12 (Property Maintenance) of Title 8 (Health and Safety) of the El Monte Municipal Code (EMMC).

c.

Site must control dust, fumes, odors, vapors and/or unsanitary conditions. Property owner is subject to Chapter 8.12 (Property Maintenance) of Title 8 (Health and Safety) of the EMMC.

d.

Plugged in amplified noise on site relative to the operation of horses or large animals shall not be allowed.

5.

Manure Storage and Disposal.

a.

All manure disposal/storage shall be covered and protected from drainage flows, rain, and wind. Area used for non-containerized manure disposal/storage must cause no nuisance and be kept a minimum distance below and located so that it drains away from the neighboring property, facilities and water supplies.

b.

Manure must be disposed off-site at a frequency that prevents overfilling of manure bin, or storage area, and which prevents strong odors, accumulation of flies, or vermin from creating a nuisance condition. Manure storage shall be located away from the street.

6.

Trailer Parking. Horse or large animal trailers shall be located outside of the required front yard setback. Trailer parking is prohibited within the public right-of-way. All parking shall comply with Chapter 17.70 (Parking Requirements) of this title.

G.

Trees. All new development and additions more than ten (10) percent of the floor area on the site shall provide a minimum of one tree within the required front setback for every thirty-five (35) feet of street frontage. If a tree already exists within the required front setback, the applicant shall not be required to plant a new tree.

H.

Other Standards. For all other standards and requirements, refer to the underlying zone.

(Ord. No. 3053, § 3(Exh. A), 5-14-2025)