Part 2 — On-Site Parking and Storage of Vehicles in the R-1 and R-2 Residential Zoning…

The purpose of this article is to establish standards to regulate on-site parking and storage of vehicles, in the R-1 and R-2 residential zoning districts within the City, to ensure that the on-site parking and storage of vehicles: (a) does not create public safety or public nuisance issues; (b) does not create an adverse aesthetic from street rights-of-way or adjacent/neighboring properties; and (c) does not create an adverse impact to adjacent parcels or the surrounding neighborhood. (§ 3, Ord. 1165, eff. January 4, 2019)

For the purposes of this article, "paved driveway" shall mean a surface area improved by means of application of concrete, cement, asphalt, blacktop, bricks, interlocking pavers, or other all-weather impermeable material which provides direct access to a garage or carport from a public street or private street, with a City-approved driveway approach or curb cut for access.

For the purposes of this article, "paved driveway extension" shall mean that area of the front yard adjacent to the public right-of-way, and between the paved driveway and its nearest side property line, that is improved for use in a manner substantially similar to the paved driveway.

For the purposes of this article, "improved parking area" shall mean a surface area improved by means of application of concrete, cement, asphalt, blacktop, bricks, interlocking pavers, or other allweather impermeable material accessed from a public or private street, with a City-approved driveway approach or curb cut for access. (§ 3, Ord. 1165, eff. January 4, 2019)

• (a) All paved driveways, paved driveway extensions, and or improved parking areas in the R-1 and R-2 residential zoning districts within the City require a zoning clearance certificate issued by the Community and Economic Development Director verifying that the improvement complies with the requirements of this Article and/or other applicable provisions of the Los Banos Municipal Codes whether or not a building permit is required.

• (b) Paved driveways, paved driveway extensions, and or improved parking areas in the R-1 and R- 2 residential zoning districts approved as part of a discretionary approval such as a site plan, conditional use permit, or variance shall not require a zoning clearance certificate.

• (c) Access other than from a City-approved driveway approach or curb cut shall require an encroachment permit issued by the Public Works Director. The Director may grant relief from the requirements of this subsection in order to address practical hardships that would result from the application of this subsection, subject to reasonable conditions. In evaluating the hardship and imposing reasonable conditions the Director shall consider the degree and nature of the hardship as against the stated purpose of this article.

• (d) Use of a handicap sidewalk curb ramp or return or landing for required driveway approach and access is strictly prohibited.

• (§ 3, Ord. 1165, eff. January 4, 2019)

• (a) No vehicle, including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and campers, nor any utility trailer, camper shell, watercraft, or other similar equipment, nor any other mode of transportation, whether or not motorized or operational, shall be parked or stored upon any lawn, landscaped, or other unpaved surface in the R-1 and R-2 residential zoning districts.

• (b) Parking on a graveled driveway in existence on January 1, 2019 that otherwise meets the requirements of this Article shall be permitted as a nonconforming use. Nonconforming driveways may continue to be utilized as long as they are maintained in good operational condition as determined by the Chief Building Official and do not create a hazard or a public nuisance, except as follows:

  • (1) If a residential property is redeveloped, and the costs exceed more than 50% of the value of the property, the parking and paving requirements must be brought up to current development requirements and shall no longer be considered a nonconforming condition.

  • (2) If the use of a residential property is changed to a nonresidential use, the parking and paving standards for the new use must comply with current paving and parking requirements specified for the new use.

• (c) Existing nonconforming gravel driveways shall be maintained with compressed gravel or compacted crushed stone within a distinct border and shall be maintained with a minimum surface to base depth of four (4″) inches.

• (§ 3, Ord. 1165, eff. January 4, 2019)

§ 9-3.2018. On-site vehicle parking and vehicle storage—Front yard—Lot coverage.

• (a) No vehicle, including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and campers, nor any utility trailer, camper shell, watercraft, or other similar equipment, nor any other mode of transportation, whether or not motorized or operational, shall be parked or stored in a residential front yard except on a paved driveway or paved driveway extension or improved parking area specifically and properly designed for the purpose of parking vehicles as defined in Section 9-3.2015 .

• (b) No more than 50% of the residential front yard may be improved with a paved driveway, paved driveway extension, and or improved parking area or any combination thereof.

• (c) No more than 50% of the residential front yard may be used for on-site vehicle parking.

• (d) No vehicle, in excess of twelve (12′) feet six (6″) inches in height including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and campers, nor any utility trailer, camper shell, watercraft, or other similar equipment, nor any other mode of transportation, whether or not motorized or operational, shall be parked or stored in a residential front yard.

• (e) No semi truck or tractor or semi truck or tractor trailer shall be parked or stored in a residential front yard.

• (f) Recreational vehicles and utility trailers are subject to the regulations set forth in Part 3 of this article in addition to the provisions of this Part 2.

• (§ 3, Ord. 1165, eff. January 4, 2019)

• (a) No vehicle, including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and campers, nor any trailer, camper shell, watercraft, or other similar equipment, nor any other mode of transportation, whether or not motorized or operational, shall be parked or stored in a residential side yard except on a paved driveway or paved driveway extension or improved parking area specifically and properly designed for the purpose of parking vehicles as defined in Section 9-3.2015 .

• (b) No vehicle, in excess of twelve (12′) feet six (6″) inches in height including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and campers, nor any trailer, camper shell, watercraft, or other similar equipment, nor any other mode of transportation, whether or not motorized or operational, shall be parked or stored in a residential side yard.

• (c) No semi truck or tractor or semi truck or tractor trailer shall be parked or stored in a residential side yard.

• (d) Recreational vehicles and utility trailers are subject to the regulations set forth in Part 3 of this article in addition to the provisions of this Part 2.

• (§ 3, Ord. 1165, eff. January 4, 2019)

§ 9-3.2020. On-site vehicle parking and vehicle storage—Back yard.

• (a) No vehicle, including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and campers, nor any trailer, camper shell, watercraft, or other similar equipment, nor any other mode of transportation, whether or not motorized or operational, shall be parked or stored in a residential back yard except on a paved driveway or paved driveway extension or improved parking area specifically and properly designed for the purpose of parking vehicles as defined in Section 9-3.2015 .

• (b) No vehicle, in excess of twelve (12′) feet six (6″) inches in height including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and campers, nor any trailer, camper shell, watercraft, or other similar equipment, nor any other mode of transportation, whether or not motorized or operational, shall be parked or stored in a residential back yard.

• (c) No semi truck or tractor or semi truck or tractor trailer shall be parked or stored in a residential back yard.

• (d) No more than three vehicles, including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and campers, nor any trailer, camper shell, watercraft, or other similar equipment, nor any other mode of transportation, whether or not motorized or operational, shall be parked or stored in a residential back yard with the following limitations:

  • (1) No more than one vehicle parked or stored in a residential back yard may exceed the height of the fence line to a maximum of twelve (12′) feet six (6″) inches.

  • (2) Except as set forth above in subsection (1) vehicles parked or stored in a residential back yard shall not exceed the height of the fence line.

• (e) Recreational vehicles and utility trailers are subject to the regulations set forth in Part 3 of this article in addition to the provisions of this Part 2.

• (§ 3, Ord. 1165, eff. January 4, 2019)