6.4 R-3: RESIDENTIAL MULTIPLE FAMILY ZONE

The Residential Multiple Family or R-3 Zone is intended to apply in areas of the County where it is reasonable to permit and protect low density apartment developments. The following regulations shall apply in all Residential Multiple Family or R-3 Zones. (Former Section INL#314-30; Ord. 519, Sec. 440, 5/11/65; Amended by Ord. 1848, Sec. 12, 9/13/88; Amended by Ord. 1876, Sec. 7, 9/26/89; Amended by Ord. 2166, Sec. 12, 4/7/98; Amended by Ord. 2472, Sec. 1, 2/14/12)

314-6.4 R-3: RESIDENTIAL MULTIPLE FAMILY

Principal Permitted Uses

Two (2) family dwellings. (Amended by Ord. 2166, 4/7/98)

Accessory dwelling unit.

Dwelling groups and multiple dwellings containing four (4) or fewer units per building.

Tiny house villages and dependent unit villages with connection to public water and wastewater.

Supportive housing and transitional housing subject only to restrictions that apply to other residential dwellings of the same type in the same zone.

Emergency dependent unit villages.

The Humboldt County Code is current through Ordinance 2784, passed March 10, 2026.

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314-6.4 R-3: RESIDENTIAL MULTIPLE FAMILY
Keeping of no more than two (2) household pets for each dwelling unit.
Emergency shelters.
Single-room occupancy facilities.
Uses Permitted With a Special Permit
Tiny house villages and dependent unit villages without connection to public water and wastewater.
Uses Permitted With a Use Permit
Hotels, motels, manufactured home parks, and rooming and boarding houses. (Amended by Ord. 2335,
12/14/04)
Alternative lodge parks.
Private institutions.
Professional offices.
One (1) family dwellings and accessory dwelling units where it can be shown that the property could be
developed in the future with multifamily dwellings. The Hearing Officer may require submittal of a
development plan which shows how the multifamily dwelling units could be sited on the property in
conformance with County requirements. (Added by Ord. 2166, Sec. 12, 4/7/98)
Any use not specifically enumerated in this division, if it is similar to and compatible with the uses
permitted in the R-3 Zone.
Other Regulations
5,000 square feet, but not less than 500 square feet for each dwelling
Minimum Lot Area
unit.
Minimum Lot Width Fifty feet (50').
Maximum Lot Depth Three (3) times lot width.
Minimum Yard Setbacks*
Front Twenty feet (20').
Rear Ten feet (10').
Interior Side Five feet (5').
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The Humboldt County Code is current through Ordinance 2784, passed March 10, 2026.

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314-6.4 R-3: RESIDENTIAL MULTIPLE FAMILY
Exterior Side Same as front or one-half the front if all parts of the main building are
more than twenty-five feet (25) from the rear lot line, and the exterior
side yard does not abut a collector or higher order street. (In
questionable cases, the Public Works Director shall classify the subject
street.)
Double Frontage Lots Front and rear twenty feet (20'), except the rear yard setbacks may be
reduced to ten feet (10') where such yard abuts an alley.
Flag Lots For flag lots, the Director, in consultation with the Public Works
Department, shall establish the minimum yard that is required for a
vehicular turnaround on the lot.
The distance between separate dwelling units in a group on the same lot
shall be not less than ten (10) feet. (Amended by Ord. 2214, 6/6/00)
The distance between the front of any dwelling unit in the group and any
Special yards for multiple other building shall be not less than twenty feet (20').
dwellings on the same lot The distance between the front of any dwelling unit in the group and any
side lot line shall be not less than twelve feet (12').
All of the above distances shall be increased by two feet (2') for each two
feet (2') that any building on the lot exceeds two (2) stories.
Maximum Ground Coverage Sixty percent (60%).
Maximum Building Height Forty-five feet (45').
The maximum density as specified by the General Plan. The maximum
density for the parcel shall be calculated as the maximum density
Maximum Density permitted by the General Plan land use designation (i.e. number of
dwelling units per acre) divided by the total area within the lot and within
one-half of any adjacent street(s). (Added by Ord. 2313A, 12/16/03)
The following items shall guide the design of projects involving more than
four (4) units:
- Avoid letting garages, driveways and parking lots dominate the
Design Considerations
streetscape.
(Advisory only)
- Design to minimize conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians.
- Design public open areas to the same level of quality as any other
“space” in the development.
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The Humboldt County Code is current through Ordinance 2784, passed March 10, 2026.

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314-6.4 R-3: RESIDENTIAL MULTIPLE FAMILY
- Provide direct access to open space from the dwelling units that the
open space is intended to serve.
- Provide visual access to shared open spaces from individual units,
preferably from the kitchen, living room or dining room.
- Avoid lighting which shines directly into dwelling units on- and off-site.
- Private outdoor space, including patios, porches, decks, balconies and
yards should be of adequate size and within easy access of each dwelling
unit.
- Good landscaping is critical to the quality of any multifamily project.
(Added by Ord. 2313A, 12/16/03)
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*** Note:** Setbacks may be modified by other provisions of this Code or State law. For example, see Section 314-22.1, “Alquist-Priolo Fault Hazard” and the “Fire Safe” Regulations at Title III, Division 11.

(Former Section INL#314-30(a)(1-3); INL#314-30(b)(1-4); INL#314-30(c)(1-7; Amended by Ord. 2166, 4/7/98)