Fresno County Municipal Code Art. IV Development Requirements

A. All lawfully permitted buildings and accessory structures shall have a minimum setback of thirty feet (30') from all property lines. Planned unit developments and condominium projects shall have a minimum separation of sixty feet (60') between buildings.

B. The above setbacks and separations may be reduced to the minimum setback required by the zone district property development standards for the project if any of the following conditions exist:

1. The building is served by a community water supply system; or

2. A one-hour (1-hour) fire wall is provided for all walls adjacent to the reduced setback area; or

3. Non-combustible material extending twenty (20) feet horizontally from the furthest extent of the Building with a reduction of exposed windows on the side of the structure with a less than thirty (30) foot setback.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

All new roads or extensions of existing roads shall provide for safe access for emergency wildfire equipment and civilian evacuation concurrently, and shall provide unobstructed traffic circulation during a wildfire emergency.

(a) Roads shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing at least 75,000 pounds and provide an aggregate base.

(b) Driveways and road and driveway structures shall be designed and maintained to support at least 40,000 pounds.

(c) Project proponent shall provide engineering specifications to support design, if requested by the local authority having jurisdiction.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

All new roads or extensions of existing roads shall:

A. One lane roads shall be constructed to provide a minimum twelve-foot (12') travel lane;

B. Two lane roads shall be constructed to provide the equivalent of two (2) ten-foot (10') travel lanes.

C. Provide, for horizontal curves, an additional width of:

1. Four feet (4') for curves having a centerline radius of fifty to one hundred feet (50'—100');

2. Two feet (2') for curves having a centerline radius of one hundred to two hundred feet (100'—200').

D. Vertical clearances shall conform to the requirements in California Vehicle Code section 35250.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

A. The maximum length of new cul-de-sac roads, dead-end roads or extensions thereof, including all roads accessed from that road shall not exceed the following cumulative lengths:

1. Eight hundred feet (800') for parcels zoned for less than one (1) acre;

2. One thousand three hundred-twenty feet (1,320') for parcels zoned for one (1) to 4.99 acres;

3. Two thousand six hundred-forty feet (2,640') for parcels zoned for five (5) to 19.99 acres;

4. Five thousand two hundred-eighty feet (5,280') for parcels zoned for twenty (20) acres or larger.

B. Extensions of lengths may be approved providing that an emergency access easement, improved to a standard adequate for fire protection equipment, connects the end of the cul-de-sac to a public road.

C. Where cul-de-sac roads cross areas of differing zone districts, requiring different length limits, the shortest allowable length shall apply.

D. A turnaround shall be provided at the end of all cul-de-sac roads and at one thousand three hundred-twenty foot (1,320') maximum intervals for Subdivisions A.3 and A.4 of this Section.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

One-way roads may be approved by the Director in accordance with the following:

A. Roads shall connect to a two-lane road at both ends;

B. Roads shall provide access to a maximum of ten (10) dwelling units;

C. Roads shall have a maximum length of two thousand six hundred-forty feet (2,640');

D. A turnout shall be provided at approximately the midpoint of the length of the road exceeding one hundred-fifty feet (150') in length or every four hundred feet (400') for roads exceeding eight hundred feet (800') in length;

E. A forty-foot (40') turning radius shall be provided at all gates.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

All driveways to buildings for which permits are issued on or after September 1, 1991, shall:

A. Be improved in accordance with the requirements of this Chapter;

B. Have turnouts near the midpoint of the length of driveways exceeding one hundred-fifty feet (150') in length or every four hundred feet (400') for driveways exceeding eight hundred feet (800') in length;

C. Provide a turn-around within fifty feet (50') of buildings served by driveways in excess of three hundred feet (300') in length;

D. Driveways shall be constructed to provide a minimum ten-foot (10') travel lane. All driveways required by this Chapter shall be constructed to provide unobstructed vertical and horizontal clearance of fifteen feet (15') along its entire length.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

All gates installed after September 1, 1991, on roads and driveways shall:

A. Be inset a minimum of thirty feet (30') from the intersection of a road and provide for opening of the gate without obstructing traffic on the intersecting road;

B. Have entrances a minimum of two feet (2') wider than the traveled way serving the gate.

C. Security Gates if installed will have a Knox box type lock, which can be obtained from the local fire agency with jurisdiction.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

Signs shall be placed prior to occupancy of a building, for which a permit is issued on or after September 1, 1991, recordation of a map or document for the division of property or prior to acceptance of road improvements in accordance with the following:

A. At the intersections of all roads identifying the names of the roads;

B. At the intersection preceding a traffic limitation and no more than one hundred feet (100') before such limitation identifying the following limitations:

1. Weight;

2. Vertical clearance;

3. One-way or single-lane conditions;

4. Cul-de-sac roads, dead-end road;

5. Other limitations identified by the director.

C. Shall be visible and legible from both directions for a distance of at least one hundred feet (100');

D. Shall be placed at a height of seven feet (7') to the bottom of the sign.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

All buildings, for which a permit is issued on or after January 1, 1991, shall have a permanently posted address installed at the beginning of construction in accordance with the following:

A. Shall be physically installed on the building;

B. At the intersection of the road and driveway entrance serving the building or be visible from the road;

C. Shall be visible and legible for a minimum of one hundred feet (100') from both directions of travel along the road;

D. Shall be on a single post where multiple addresses are for a single driveway;

E. Shall be posted at intersections of roads and/or driveways to clearly indicate the direction to the structure served.

F. All signs required by this Chapter shall:

1. Have a minimum four-inch (4") letter/number height, one-half inch (½") stroke;

2. Be reflectorized;

3. Have letter/number color contrasting with the background color;

4. Be of a fire-retardant material mounted on a fire-retardant post;

5. Signs shall comply with the current adopted edition of the California Fire Code.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

All flammable vegetation and fuels caused by site development including road and driveway construction and fuel modification shall be properly disposed of prior to occupancy of a building or acceptance of road construction, whichever is appropriate.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

Emergency water for wildfire protection shall be provided for all subdivisions, divisions of parcels, Use Permits, Site Plan Reviews and existing lots used for single-family dwelling units which have an agreement and/or condition to provide water in accordance with the following:

A. Where community water systems are required, hydrants shall be installed consistent with the currently adopted fire code and as deemed necessary by the fire agency having jurisdiction prior to completion of road construction;

B. Where individual water systems are allowed, individual water supply facilities shall be provided prior to completion of building construction.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

A. Hydrants are required to be located along an all-weather surface road and shall be no closer than four feet (4') nor farther than twelve feet (12') from the roadway and in a location where fire equipment using it will not block traffic.

B. Hydrants shall not be less than fifty feet (50') nor more than five hundred feet (500') by road from the building it is to serve.

C. A turn-out or turn-around shall be provided at hydrants located on driveways or roads.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)