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Chapter 156 — COASTAL ZONING REGULATIONS

§ 156.039 USABLE OPEN SPACE.

Eureka Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Eureka

(A) Group or private usable open space shall be provided for each dwelling unit in the RM, OR, CN, CS, and CW Districts as prescribed in the zoning schedule set forth in § 155.025 of this title. Each square foot of private usable open space shall be considered equivalent of two square feet of group usable open space and may be so substituted. All required usable open space shall be planted area, or shall have a dust free surface, or shall be water surface, provided that not less than 10% of the required group usable open space at ground level shall be landscaped with trees and other plant materials suitable for ornamentation. No required usable open space shall be located in a parking area, driveway, service area, or required front yard or have a slope greater than 10%.

(B) Group usable open space shall have a minimum area of 300 square feet, and a square inscribed within it shall have a minimum dimension of 15 feet. Required space may be located on the roof of an attached garage or carport, but not more than 20% of the required space shall be located on the roof of a building containing habitable rooms.

(C) Private usable open space located at ground level shall have a minimum area of 150 square feet, and a square inscribed within it shall have a minimum dimension of 10 square feet, and a square inscribed within it shall have a minimum dimension of five feet. Private usable open space shall be adjacent to, and not more than four feet above or below, the floor level of the dwelling unit served. Not more than 50% of ground level space may be covered by an overhang, balcony, or patio roof. Aboveground level space shall have at least one exterior side open above the railing height.

(D) Usable open space shall be permanently maintained by the owner in a neat and orderly condition.

('63 Code, § 10-5.2929) (Ord. 417-C.S., passed 12-6-84; Am. Ord. 512-C.S., passed 3-8-90) Penalty, see § 150.999

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▸ Contents — Eureka Zoning Code
Eureka Zoning Code
  1. Article I — NAME AND SEAL; FORM OF GOVERNMENT; BOUNDARIES; MUN…
  2. Article II — ELECTIONS
  3. Article III — CITY COUNCIL
  4. Article IV — MAYOR
  5. Article V — ORDINANCES
  6. Article VI — ADMINISTRATION
  7. Article VII — FISCAL ADMINISTRATION
  8. Article VIII — OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
  9. Article IX — FRANCHISES
  10. Article X — INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL
  11. Article XI — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
  12. Chapter 10 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  13. Chapter 30 — CITY COUNCIL
  14. Chapter 31 — CITY OFFICIALS
  15. Chapter 32 — CITY DEPARTMENTS
  16. Chapter 33 — BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
  17. Chapter 34 — PERSONNEL POLICIES
  18. Chapter 35 — FINANCE, REVENUE AND TAXATION
  19. Chapter 36 — HEALTH FACILITY REVENUE BONDS
  20. Chapter 37 — ELECTIONS
  21. Chapter 38 — CIVIL EMERGENCIES
  22. Chapter 39 — CITY POLICY
  23. Chapter 40 — TRANSFERS OF CITY-OWNED REAL PROPERTY
  24. Chapter 50 — SEWERS
  25. Chapter 51 — SOLID WASTE
  26. Chapter 52 — UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICTS
  27. Chapter 53 — WATER
  28. Chapter 54 — STORM WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND DISCHARGE CONT…
  29. Chapter 55 — ENERGY
  30. Chapter 56 — STREETS
  31. Chapter 70 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  32. Chapter 71 — TRAFFIC RULES
  33. Chapter 72 — STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING
  34. Chapter 73 — BICYCLES
  35. Chapter 75 — MOBILE VENDORS OPERATING UPON A STREET
  36. Chapter 90 — ABANDONED VEHICLES
  37. Chapter 91 — ANIMALS
  38. Chapter 92 — FIRE PREVENTION
  39. Chapter 93 — PARKS AND RECREATION
  40. Chapter 94 — HEALTH AND SANITATION
  41. Chapter 95 — MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
  42. Chapter 96 — PARADES AND ASSEMBLIES
  43. Chapter 97 — SMOKING
  44. Chapter 98 — STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
  45. Chapter 99 — TRAINS AND RAILROADS
  46. Chapter 100 — HARBOR REGULATIONS
  47. Chapter 101 — FILMING
  48. Chapter 102 — BEEKEEPING
  49. Chapter 103 — PRIVATE SECURITY AND FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
  50. Chapter 104 — MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE
  51. Chapter 110 — BUSINESS LICENSES
  52. Chapter 112 — AMBULANCES
  53. Chapter 113 — AMUSEMENTS
  54. Chapter 114 — CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEMS
  55. Chapter 115 — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS AND OUTDOOR DINING AREAS
  56. Chapter 117 — MASSAGE PARLORS
  57. Chapter 118 — SOLICITORS, CANVASSERS, AND SIDEWALK VENDORS
  58. Chapter 119 — SECOND-HAND DEALERS
  59. Chapter 120 — TAXICABS AND LIMOUSINES
  60. Chapter 121 — OTHER VEHICLES FOR HIRE
  61. Chapter 122 — FOREIGN-TRADE ZONE
  62. Chapter 130 — OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE AND SAFETY
  63. Chapter 131 — PROPERTY OFFENSES
  64. Chapter 132 — DRUG OFFENSES
  65. Chapter 133 — WEAPONS OFFENSES
  66. Chapter 134 — ABATEMENT OF CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTIES
  67. Chapter 150 — BUILDING REGULATIONS
  68. Chapter 151 — AIRPORT ZONING
  69. Chapter 152 — PLANNING AND ZONING ADMINISTRATION
  70. Chapter 153 — FLOOD HAZARD AREA REGULATIONS
  71. Chapter 154 — SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
  72. Chapter 155 — ZONING REGULATIONS
  73. Chapter 155 — ZONING REGULATIONS (old)
  74. ▸ Chapter 156 — COASTAL ZONING REGULATIONS
    Overview
    1. § 156.001 TITLE.
    2. § 156.002 OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES.
    3. § 156.003 NATURE OF COASTAL ZONING REGULATIONS.
    4. § 156.004 INTERPRETATION.
    5. § 156.005 APPLICATION; DEVELOPERS TO COMPLY; EXCEPTIONS.
    6. § 156.006 DEFINITIONS.
    7. § 156.007 INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.
    8. § 156.008 DISTRICTS.
    9. § 156.009 DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.
    10. § 156.010 CONFORMITY REQUIRED.
    11. § 156.011 ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS BY MAP.
    12. § 156.012 DIVISION OF LAND USE AND ZONING MAP.
    13. § 156.013 DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS; PURPOSES.
    14. § 156.014 DESIGNATION OF DRAINAGE CONTROL AREA.
    15. § 156.015 REQUIRED CONDITIONS.
    16. § 156.016 DRAINAGE CONTROL PLAN TO BE APPROVED.
    17. § 156.017 DRAINAGE CONTROL PLAN TO BE SUBMITTED.
    18. § 156.018 REFERRAL TO AND ACTION OF DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
    19. § 156.019 ACTION OF CITY COUNCIL.
    20. § 156.020 STATUS OF APPROVED DRAINAGE CONTROL PLAN.
    21. § 156.021 DRAINAGE CONTROL, MINIMUM FLOOR ELEVATION, AND SITE …
    22. § 156.030 BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL DISTRICTS.
    23. § 156.031 EXTENSIONS OVER PROPERTY LINES AND EASEMENTS.
    24. § 156.032 SITE AREA AND DIMENSIONS; REQUIREMENTS AND EXCEPTION…
    25. § 156.033 FRONT YARDS; REQUIREMENTS AND EXCEPTIONS.
    26. § 156.034 SIDE AND REAR YARDS; REQUIREMENTS AND EXCEPTIONS.
    27. § 156.035 TRAFFIC SIGHT OBSTRUCTIONS.
    28. § 156.036 PROJECTIONS INTO YARDS.
    29. § 156.037 HEIGHT LIMITS.
    30. § 156.038 ACCESSORY STRUCTURES.
    31. § 156.039 USABLE OPEN SPACE.
    32. § 156.040 SCREENING AND LANDSCAPING.
    33. § 156.041 EMERGENCY SHELTERS.
    34. § 156.050 APPLICATION.
    35. § 156.051 PUBLIC ACCESS STANDARDS.
    36. § 156.052 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE STANDARDS.
    37. § 156.053 NATURAL HAZARDS STANDARDS.
    38. § 156.054 VISUAL RESOURCES STANDARDS.
    39. § 156.055 PUBLIC WORKS STANDARDS.
    40. § 156.056 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
    41. § 156.065 WC — CONSERVATION WATER DISTRICT.
    42. § 156.066 WD — DEVELOPMENT WATER DISTRICT.
    43. § 156.067 NR — NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT.
    44. § 156.068 AC — COASTAL AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT.
    45. § 156.069 RS — ONE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
    46. § 156.070 RM — MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
    47. § 156.071 OR — OFFICE AND MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
    48. § 156.072 CW — WATERFRONT COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
    49. § 156.073 CN — NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
    50. § 156.074 CS — SERVICE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
    51. § 156.075 CP — PLANNED SHOPPING CENTER COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
    52. § 156.076 MC — COASTAL DEPENDENT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.
    53. § 156.077 ML — LIMITED INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.
    54. § 156.078 MG — GENERAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.
    55. § 156.079 P — PUBLIC DISTRICTS.
    56. § 156.080 PF/M — PUBLIC FACILITY/MARINA.
    57. § 156.081 PD — PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT COMBINING DISTRICTS.
    58. § 156.082 AR — ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMBINING DISTRICT.
    59. § 156.083 Q — QUALIFIED COMBINING DISTRICT.
    60. § 156.095 PURPOSES.
    61. § 156.096 APPLICABILITY; PERMIT REQUIRED.
    62. § 156.097 EXEMPTIONS; NOTICE OF EXEMPT DEVELOPMENT.
    63. § 156.098 CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS; NOTICE OF EXCLUDED DEVELOPME…
    64. § 156.099 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS; FEES.
    65. § 156.100 ACTION ON COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT.
    66. § 156.101 PUBLIC HEARING ON DEVELOPMENTS; NOTICE.
    67. § 156.102 NOTICE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTION WHERE HEARING CONT…
    68. § 156.103 PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE; COASTAL ZONE PROCEDURES.
    69. § 156.104 NOTICE OF DEVELOPMENTS NOT APPEALABLE TO THE COASTAL…
    70. § 156.105 RESERVED.
    71. § 156.106 DETERMINATION OF APPLICABLE NOTICE AND HEARING PROCE…
    72. § 156.107 REQUIRED FINDINGS.
    73. § 156.108 APPEALS.
    74. § 156.109 FINALITY OF CITY ACTION.
    75. § 156.110 FINAL CITY ACTION; NOTICE.
    76. § 156.111 FAILURE TO ACT; NOTICE.
    77. § 156.112 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTION; EFFECTIVE DATE.
    78. § 156.113 EXHAUSTION OF LOCAL APPEALS.
    79. § 156.114 EMERGENCY COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT.
    80. § 156.115 AMENDMENTS TO COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMITS.
    81. § 156.116 LAPSE OF COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT.
  75. Chapter 157 — HISTORIC PRESERVATION
  76. Chapter 158 — CANNABIS
  77. Chapter 159 — WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES

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