Loyalton Municipal Code Ch. 12.08.2 Definitions
Loyalton Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-02 · Loyalton
Cite as: Loyalton Municipal Code Chapter 12.08.2 · Text as of 2026-10-02
2-1.
Definitions Generally
Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions set forth or otherwise provided for in
this Chapter shall be used in the interpretation and construction of this Part. Words used
in the present tense include the future; the singular number shall include the plural, and the
plural the singular; the word “buildings” shall include the word “structure”, and word
“used” shall include the words “arranged, designed, constructed, altered, converted, rented,
leased or intended to be used,” and the word “shall” is mandatory and not discretionary.
2-2.
Abut, abutting, adjoining
“Abut”, “abutting”, or “adjoining” all mean contiguous to or touching.
2-3.
Access, Vehicular
“Access” means the physical means by which an individual in a vehicle is able to enter
upon public or private property from a street. “Ingress” and “egress” are other words for
access.
2-4.
Accessory Dwelling Unit
“Accessory dwelling unit” means an attached or a detached residential dwelling unit that
provides complete independent living facilities for 1 or more persons and is located on the
same lot as the proposed or existing primary residence. It shall include permanent
provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. An accessory dwelling unit
also includes an efficiency unit, as defined in the California Health and Safety Code
§ 17958.1, and a manufactured home, as defined California Health and Safety Code
§ 18007 (also refer to § 18.100.010(E)).
2-5.
Accessory Use, Accessory Structure, Accessory Building
A.
“Accessory use” means a land use that is associated with an existing permitted or
conditional use within a zoning district (does not include accessory or junior accessory
dwellings).
B.
“Accessory structure or accessory building” means a usual and customary building
normally associated with a permitted or conditional use (does not include accessory or
junior accessory dwellings).
2-6.
Acre
“Acre” means a measure of real property equaling 43,560 square feet.
2-7.
Affordable Housing Development
“Affordable housing development” means a development project that results in adding
residential dwellings or mixed-use projects consisting of at least 2/3rds of the square footage
of the buildings devoted to residential uses, which are restricted to lower income families
as defined in California Health and Safety Code § 50106. Affordable housing development
may also include supportive and transitional housing (also see “Housing development”).
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2-8.
Agriculture Equipment Sales
“Agriculture equipment sales” means a business, which is primarily engaged in the sale of
equipment, vehicles, materials, supplies and tools to serve farming, ranching or timber
interests and businesses.
2-9.
Agriculture Product Sales
“Agriculture product sales” means the sale of food or fiber commodities from the property
where produced, with stands for the purpose of displaying and selling these commodities.
2-10. Airport, Airstrip
“Airport” or “heliport” means a place on land or water, where aircraft may land and take
off, receive and disembark passengers or cargo, may take on fuel, purchase accessories or
obtain service or repair. “Airstrip” also means airport.
2-11. Alley
“Alley” means a public or private thoroughfare, which affords a secondary means of access
to abutting property.
2-12. Apartment
“Apartment” means a dwelling unit located within a structure that contains one or more
attached dwelling units in which the units are available for rent or lease. “Apartment” also
means an individual unit within a multiple family residential development.
2-13. Apartment Complex
“Apartment complex” means a multiple family residential project or development.
2-14. Area
“Area” means a piece of land that can be definitively described and located with specific
boundaries.
2-15. Assisted Living Facility
“Assisted living facility” means a residential facility that makes available, to 3 or more
adults, room-and-board and at least the following services: personal services; protective
oversight; social care due to impaired capacity to live independently; and regular
supervision that is available on a 24-hour basis, but not to the extent that regular 24-hour
medical or nursing care is required. This phrase does not include any facility licensed in
this state as a residential care facility.
2-16. Attached Housing
“Attached housing” means dwelling units that are attached to each other on at least one
side, possibly divided from one another by firewalls or other physical partitions.
2-17. Automobile Sales
“Automobile sales” means a land use in which the primary business is based upon retail or
wholesale transactions involving the transfer of title to motor vehicles including
automobiles, light utility vehicles, trucks, motorcycles, recreation vehicles, and all-terrain
vehicles.
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2-18. Automobile Salvage Yard
“Automobile salvage yard” means an individual or entity engaged in the business of
acquiring or buying salvage automobiles (including non-repairable vehicles) for resale in
their entirety or as spare parts, or rebuilding, restoration or crushing of such vehicles.
2-19. Automobile Service
“Automobile service” means a land use, which is involved in the business of repairing,
modifying and maintaining motor vehicles.
2-20. Automobile Service Station
“Automobile service station” means any place where motor fuel or lubricating oil or grease
is offered for sale to the public and deliveries are made directly into vehicles.
2-21. Bar, Club, Lounge
“Bar”, “club” or “lounge” mean a land use in which the primary activity is the sale of
alcoholic beverages for onsite consumption. A bar, club, or lounge may also provide
entertainment for its patrons.
2-22. Base Zoning District
“Base zoning district” means the underlying zone that dictates land use and primary
objective development standards.
2-23. Bed and Breakfast Inn
“Bed and breakfast inn/establishment” means a business which involves accommodations
in 5 or fewer guest rooms potentially with breakfast available for guests of the inn.
2-24. Block
“Block” means all property facing one side of the street or between a street and the railroad
right-of-way, property along a dead-end street, or un-subdivided land. The intercepting
street determines only the boundary of the block on the side of the street that it intercepts.
2-25. Boarding House
“Boarding house” is a structure where lodging and meals for boarders are provided for
compensation.
2-26. Bottling Plant
“Bottling plant” means a land use in which beverages, including, water, are processed for
sale, resale, or distribution.
2-27. Building
“Building” means any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls and intended
for the shelter, housing or enclosure of any individual, animal, process, equipment, goods
or material of any kind or nature. “Building” shall include “structure.”.
2-28. Building Coverage
“Building coverage” means the percentage of land area covered by the building footprint.
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2-29. Building Footprint
“Building footprint” means the land area covered by a building as measured at its perimeter
foundation walls including any roofed area that may not have perimeter foundation walls.
2-30. Building Official
“Building Official” means the person in charge of the City’s building permits and other
permits as assigned.
2-31. Building Inspector
“Building inspector” means the person performing the City’s building inspections, as
appointed by the City Council.
2-32. Building, Residential
“Residential building” means a building designed to be used exclusively for dwelling
purposes.
2-33. Building Setback
“Building setback” means the required minimum distance from a property line or edge of
a road easement or property right-of-way to the closest point of any building.
2-34. Building Site
“Building site” means the portion of a parcel of land, in a single or joint ownership, and
occupied or to be occupied by a building, together with such open spaces as are required
by the terms of this Part.
2-35. Business
“Business” means a land use established for the purposes of commerce and as a means of
generating revenue or income.
2-36. Business, Wholesale
“Wholesale business” means the selling of commodities in large quantities, as to retailers
or jobbers rather than to consumers directly, but not including the storing and/or sale of
any material or commodity, and not including the processing or manufacture of any product
or substance.
2-37. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
“California Environmental Quality Act” means a state law requiring state and local
agencies to regulate activities with consideration for environmental protection. If a
proposed activity has the potential for a significant adverse environmental impact, an
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) must be prepared and certified as to its adequacy
before taking action on the proposed project.
2-38. Campground
“Campground” means a parcel of land upon which individuals may occupy locations for
overnight accommodations in a recreational vehicle, tent or cabin.
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2-39. Carport
“Carport” means a structure which is attached or detached from another building, and
which is open on at least two sides with a covering for vehicle storage.
2-40. Cemetery
“Cemetery” means a place for the internment of the remains of the deceased either by
burial, cryostorage, mausoleum, or cremation.
2-41. Centerline
“Centerline” means the line located equidistant from the edges of an easement or right-of-
way. Centerline of a road right-of-way or easement does not necessarily mean the center
of the physical location of the road.
2-42. Church
“Church” means a land use that is used for the purposes of conducting religious services
and religious education. Whether or not any reference is made, a church includes all other
places of worship for any denomination.
2-43. City
“City” means the City of Loyalton.
2-44. City Council
“City Council” means the City Council of the City of Loyalton.
2-45. Civic Center
“Civic center” means an area developed or to be developed with any of the following public
buildings or uses including offices, libraries, playgrounds, parks, assembly halls, police
stations and fire stations.
2-46. CEQA Guidelines
“CEQA guidelines” means the procedures and guidelines for implementation of the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) including any specific requirements
adopted by the City of Loyalton.
2-47. Clinic
“Clinic” means a land use, which is established for the purposes of providing a health or
life-style related service for humans and animals.
2-48. Cohousing
“Cohousing” means a group of 7 to 70 residential units (cottages, single-family detached,
lot lines or duplex types) that are organized according to a site plan that encourages
interaction among residents and which includes a common house and other common
facilities (e.g., open space, playground equipment, gardens, etc.). The residential units
typically face each other across a pedestrian street or courtyard, with cars parked on the
periphery. The common house typically includes a common kitchen, dining area, sitting
area, children’s playroom and laundry and also may contain a workshop, library, exercise
room, crafts room and/or one or two guest rooms. Transitional or supportive housing that
complies with State of California program requirements is also included in this term.
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2-49. Combining District, Combining Zone
“Combining district” or “combining zone” means a land use classification that combines
with a base zone to add additional planning opportunities to the use of land.
2-50. Commercial
“Commercial” means a use related to commerce and the production of revenue or income.
2-51. Community Care Facility
“Community care facility” means any facility, place or building which is maintained and
operated to provide non-medical residential care, emergency shelters, adult day care or
home finding agency services for children, adults or children and adults, including, but not
limited to, the physically handicapped, mentally impaired or incompetent persons.
“Community care facility” shall include residential facility, residential care facility for the
elderly, adult day care facility, home finding agency and social rehabilitation facility, as
defined in California Health and Safety Code § 1502.
2-52. Conditional Use Permit
“Conditional use permit” means a land use permit issued in a zone for uses which have the
potential to be incompatible with neighboring land uses and zoning and are to be permitted
following a public hearing in which interested parties have the opportunity to comment.
“Use permit” also means conditional use permit.
2-53. Construction
“Construction” means the physical development of a parcel, including site excavation and
grading, framing and finishing, up to the point of final inspection, use, or occupancy,
whichever occurs first.
2-54. Consumer Service
“Consumer service” means a business, which derives its principal revenue from offering
an intangible product for sale, or provides a service.
2-55. Contractor’s Equipment Yard
“Contractor’s equipment yard” means a parcel of land that is used for the temporary or
ongoing outside storage of equipment, tools, materials, and vehicles used in the
performance of a contractor’s business.
2-56. Corner Lot
“Corner lot” means a lot that has two or more parcel lines contiguous to a public street.
2-57. Date of Decision
“Date of the decision” granting or denying a permit under this Part means the date on which
the decision is announced or final vote taken.
2-58. Day Care Center, Family and Adult Day Care Home
A.
“Day care center” means a land use to which children are taken for care and/or educational
experience, other than that of a public or private school, while parents or legal guardians
are unavailable to watch the children for periods of less than 18 hours with no land-use
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limit on the number of children within the facility unless otherwise specified in the
facility’s permit.
B.
“Small family day care home” means a day care center in the home of the person operating
the facility and providing care for no more than 8 children, including children who are
members of the provider’s family (California Health and Safety Code § 1597.44).
C.
“Large family day care home” means a day care center in the home of the person operating
the facility and providing care for no more than 14 children, including children who are
members of the provider’s family (California Health and Safety Code § 1597.46).
D.
“Day health care center” means a land use to which adults, generally those over the age of
60, are taken for care or activities while the children or guardians of the adults are
unavailable to watch or care for the adult (California Health and Safety Code § 1570.7). A
health care facility must be licensed as a medical institution and provides twenty-four-hour
medical care.
2-59. Density
“Density” means either of the following:
A.
For residential use, density means the number of dwelling units per acre.
B.
For non-residential use, density means the percentage of lot coverage.
2-60. Density, Gross
“Gross density” means the total number of units permitted under the property’s general
plan designation or zone district before streets or other dedications are provided.
2-61. Density, Net
“Net density” means the total number of units permitted under the property’s general plan
designation or zone district excluding street area and other dedications.
2-62. Density Bonus
“Density bonus” means a density increase over the otherwise maximum permitted density
for residential dwelling units as specified by the zoning district.
2-63. Development
“Development” means on land, in or under land or water, the placement or erection of any
solid material or structure; discharge or disposal of any dredged material or of any gaseous,
liquid, solid or thermal waste; grading, removing, dredging, mining or extraction of any
materials; change in the density of intensity of use of land, including, but not limited to,
subdivision pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act (commencing with California
Government Code § 66410) and any other division of land except where the land division
is brought about in connection with the purchase of such land by a public agency for public
recreational use; change in the intensity of use of water or of access thereto; construction,
reconstruction, demolition or alteration of the size of any structure, including any facility
of any private, public or municipal utility; and the removal or harvesting of major
vegetation other than for agricultural purposes and timber harvesting operations.
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2-64. Development Standard
“Development standard” means a set of regulations contained within each zoning district
of this Chapter setting forth minimum requirements or specifications which must be met
by all applicants for permits; including but not limited to: lot dimensions, setbacks and
height limits; lot coverage; animal densities; parking and signs.
2-65. Discretionary
“Discretionary” means review and/or action by the City which requires the exercise of
judgment or deliberation that may include approval or disapprove an activity or project.
Discretionary is distinguished from situations where the public agency or body merely has
to determine whether there has been conformity with applicable statutes, ordinances or
regulations that would be considered Nondiscretionary or Ministerial (see definitions
herein).
2-66. Disabled Person
A person who has a medical, physical or mental condition that limits a major life activity,
as those terms are defined in California Government Code § 12926, anyone who is
regarded as having such a condition or anyone who has a record of having such a condition.
It includes a person or persons or an authorized representative of a disabled person.
The term “disabled person” does not include a person who is currently using illegal
substances, unless he or she has a separate disability.
2-67. District
“District” means a portion of the City within which certain uses of lands, buildings or
structures are permitted or prohibited, and within which certain yards and other open spaces
are required and certain height limits are established for the same as set forth in this Part.
2-68. Drive-In Restaurant/Drive-Up Window
“Drive-in restaurant/drive-up window” means a restaurant where customers are either
served outside of the building with a walk-up window, a drive-up window for vehicles, or
otherwise served in their vehicle without having to enter the restaurant.
2-69. Dwelling
Dwelling or dwelling unit shall mean a room or group of internally connected rooms that
have sleeping, cooking, eating and sanitation facilities, which constitute an independent
housekeeping unit, occupied by or intended for one household on a long-term basis.
2-70. Dwelling Group
“Dwelling group” means a group of two or more dwellings located on a parcel of land in
one ownership and having any yard or court in common.
2-71. Dwelling Unit
“Dwelling unit” means a habitable room or group of internally connected or more habitable
rooms, designed to be occupied by one family, with facilities for living, sleeping, cooking,
eating and sanitation that have permanent sleeping, cooking, eating and sanitation facilities
which constitute an independent housekeeping unit, occupied by or intended for one
household on a long-term basis.
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2-72. Dwelling Unit, Accessory Dwelling Unit "Accessory dwelling" means an attached or a detached residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons and is located on the same lot with a proposed or existing primary residence. It shall include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same parcel as the single-family or multifamily dwelling is or will be situated. An accessory dwelling unit also includes an efficiency unit, as defined in California Health and Safety Code § 17958.1, and a manufactured home, as defined in California Health and Safety Code § 18007 (refer to section 18.100.010(E)). 2-73. Dwelling Unit, Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit
2-74. "Junior accessory dwelling" means a unit that is no more than 500 square feet of interior livable space in size and contained entirely within a single-family residence.
2-75. Dwelling, Duplex
“Duplex” means a dwelling unit that consists of two independent units that are attached.
2-76. Dwelling, Fourplex
“Fourplex” means a single detached building designed for and occupied by four families
alone, living independently of each other as separate units and having four kitchens (does
not include accessory or junior accessory dwellings).
2-77. Dwelling, Multiple Family or Multi-Family
“Multiple family dwelling” or “multi-family dwelling” means a single detached building
designed for and occupied exclusively by two or more families living independently of
each other as separate units, including apartment houses, condominiums, duplexes,
triplexes and fourplexes.
2-78. Dwelling, Primary and Proposed Unit
"Primary dwelling" means the single-family dwelling or each multifamily dwelling unit
but does not include an accessory or junior accessory units. An attached garage is
considered part of the primary dwelling unit. Proposed Dwelling” means a dwelling that
is the subject of a permit application and that meets the requirements for permitting
2-79. Dwelling, Single-Family
“Single-family dwelling” means a single detached dwelling designed for and occupied
exclusively by one family alone. Single-family dwelling includes “factory-built housing”
as defined in California Health and Safety Code § 19971.
2-80. Dwelling, Studio Unit
“Studio dwelling unit” means a one room dwelling unit with not more than 450 square feet
of gross floor area, designed for occupancy by not more than two people. The floor area
in a loft is included as part of the gross floor area calculation.
2-81. Dwelling, Triplex
“Triplex” means a single detached building designed for and occupied by three families
alone, living independently of each other as separate units and having three kitchens.
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“Two-family dwelling” includes duplexes (does not include accessory or junior accessory
dwellings).
2-82. Easement
“Easement” means any legal right defined as an easement in California Code of Civil
Procedure § 800 et al. Generally, an easement is a right to the use of another’s land.
2-83. Electronic Component Assembly
“Electronic component assembly” means an industrial use in which the manufactured
goods are assembled from components manufactured elsewhere.
2-84. Electronic Component Manufacturing
“Electronic component manufacturing” means an industrial use in which components for
use in electronic equipment are manufactured from raw materials.
2-85. Emergency Shelter
2-86. "Emergency shelter" means housing with minimal supportive services, for homeless
persons that is limited to occupancy of six months or less by a homeless person. Emergency
shelters include interim interventions, including but not limited to, navigation centers,
bridge housing, and respite or recuperative care. No individual or household may be denied
emergency shelter because of an inability to pay. Employee Housing
“Large. “Employee housing" or “Farmworker housing" means housing consisting of no
more than thirty-six beds in a group quarters or twelve units or spaces designed for use by
a single family or household is treated as agricultural use as described in California Health
and Safety Code 17021.6. This includes housing that complies with California Health and
Safety Code Section 17008, including temporary mobile homes and any attached or
detached dwelling unit used to house farm or agricultural workers and their family
members.
“Small. “Employee housing" or “Farmworker housing" means housing for six or fewer
persons is treated as a single-family structure and residential use as described in California
Health and Safety Code Sections 17021.5. This includes housing that complies with
California Health and Safety Code Section 17008, including temporary mobile homes and
any attached or detached dwelling unit used to house farm or agricultural workers and their
family members.
2-87. Explosive
“Explosive” means and includes any chemical compound or mechanical mixture, that is
commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion, and that contains
any oxidizing and combustible units, packing, that an ignition by fire, by friction, by
concussion, by percussion, or by detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may
cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures
are capable of producing effects on contiguous objects or of destroying life or limb.
2-88. Exterior Side Yard
“Exterior side yard” means the required side yard setback area on any corner lot adjacent
to a public street.
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2-89. Family
“Family” means 1 or more persons occupying a dwelling and living together as a single
housekeeping unit in which each resident has access to all parts of the dwelling and there
is a sharing of household activities, expenses, experiences and responsibilities.
2-90. Farmworker Housing See 12.08.218.06.363 (2-85) Employee housing.
2-91. Fence, Wall
“Fence” or “wall” means a structure constructed of posts, supports, and cross members that
serves as an obstruction to mark property lines or delineate or restrict access to a portion
of property, Fences for the purpose of this Chapter includes walls, hedges, and screen
plantings.
2-92. Fire Chief
“Fire Chief” means the Fire Chief for the City of Loyalton or designee.
2-93. Flea Market
“Flea market” means a temporary land use in which a series of booths, tables, or other
temporary display areas are set up in which an individual, persons, vendors, group,
organization, or business which offer both new and used merchandise for retail trade.
2-94. Foster Family Home
“Foster family home” in accordance with California Health and Safety Code § 1502, means
any residential facility providing 24-hour care for 6 or fewer children which is owned,
leased or rented and is the residence of the foster parent or parents, including their family,
in whose care the foster children have been placed.
2-95. Frontage
“Frontage” means the total distance along a property line that abuts a public street or streets.
2-96. Garage
“Garage” means a structure intended for use for storage of vehicles and other items.
This definition does not replace the definition of a garage in the California Building Code.
A garage may be incorporated within a building.
2-97. Garage Sale
“Garage sale” means a garage, yard, lawn, patio or similar type sale held anywhere on the
premises in any residential zone district for the purpose of disposing of personal property.
2-98. General Plan
“General plan” means the City of Loyalton general plan as currently adopted including all
amendments.
2-99. Government Code
“Government Code” means the California Government Code.
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2-100. Gross Floor Area
“Gross floor area” means the total square footage of a structure as measured around the
exterior perimeter including any non-walled areas under roof and any outside storage or
sales areas.
2-101. Gross Land Area
“Gross land area” means the area of the parcel exclusive of any required public dedication.
2-102. Group Care Home
“Group care home” (also see definition of Community Care Facility) means a facility
licensed by the state pursuant to California Health and Safety Code § 1502 et seq.
2-103. Guest House
“Guest house means a detached living quarter of permanent construction, without kitchens,
which are clearly subordinate and incidental to the use of the main building on the same
lot.
2-104. Health and Safety Code
“Health and Safety Code” means the California Health and Safety Code, also written H&S.
2-105. Health Care Facility
“Health care facility” means any facility, place or building which is organized, maintained
and operated for the diagnosis, care, prevention and treatment of human illness, physical
or mental, including after convalescence and rehabilitation and including care during and
after pregnancy or for any one or more of these purposes, for one or more person, to which
the persons are admitted for a 24-hour stay or longer. “Health care facility” shall include
general acute care hospital, acute psychiatric hospital, skilled nursing facility, intermediate
care facility, intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative, special
hospital or intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled.
2-106. Height
“Height” means the vertical distance from the base elevation at the point of measurement
to the highest point on the structure, excluding chimneys, antennae, and similar
nonstructural elements.
2-107. Heliport
“Heliport” means “airport” as defined herein.
2-108. Highway
“Highway” means a state route as defined by the state of California Department of
Transportation, Caltrans.
2-109. Home Occupation
“Home occupation” means a business located in a home that is subservient to the use of
the dwelling as a residence.
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2-110. Hospital
“Hospital” means a land use in which intensive and general medical care is provided for
patients on an emergency in- and out- patient basis.
2-111. Hotel
“Hotel” means a land use in which there are six or more rooms for transient occupancy.
Motel and hotel are synonymous.
2-112. Household Pets
“Household pets” means domestic animals or fowl normally kept in the house for company
or pleasure and not for profit, such as dogs, cats, canaries, parrots, but not including a
sufficient number of dogs to constitute a kennel as defined herein.
2-113. Housing Development
“Housing development means any development project that results in adding residential
dwellings or mixed-use projects consisting of at least 2/3rds of the square footage of the
buildings devoted to residential uses. Housing development shall also include supportive
and transitional housing (also see definition of Affordable Housing Development).
2-114. Indemnification
“Indemnification” means compliance with a request to relieve the City of liability or to
accept the costs for defending the City from any action brought as a result of the project.
2-115. Industry
“Industry” means the manufacturing, fabrication, processing, reduction or assembly of any
article, substance or commodity, which results in a new product from the original materials.
2-116. Interior Side Yard
“Interior side yard” means the required setback area from any property line between two
parcels, neither of which is a public street.
2-117. Junk
“Junk” means, but is not limited to, trash; refuse; paper; glass; cans; bottles; rags; ashes;
trimming from lawns, yards, trees, and shrubbery, including plants and leaves; and other
solid waste or salvageable materials other than garbage; inoperable appliances, parts, tools;
inoperable and unregistered vehicles; vehicle parts; vehicle hulks; discarded furniture; dirt;
rocks; and materials from the demolition, alteration or construction of buildings or
structures, unless such dirt, rock, or other materials from demolition, alteration or
construction are being used for purposes of fill.
2-118. Junkyard
“Junkyard” means a place in which junk, salvaged materials or products, scrap, or other
waste materials are stored, broken up, dismantled, sorted, distributed, or sold privately or
commercially.
2-119. Kennel
“Kennel” means a land use where 4 or more dogs 4 months or older and/or 4 cats 6 weeks
or older are bred, raised, trained or boarded.
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2-120. Kitchen
“Kitchen” means any area within any structure including one or more of the following
facilities that are capable of being used for the preparation or cooking of food:
oven/microwave oven, stove, hotplate, refrigerator exceeding 6 cubic feet, dishwasher,
garbage disposal, sink having a drain outlet larger than 1.05 inches in diameter and
cabinets, counter space or other areas for storing food.
2-121. Landfill
“Landfill” means a parcel of land that is appropriately licensed for the storage of solid
waste.
2-122. Landscaping
“Landscaping” means the replacement of developed or excavated areas of a parcel with
introduced new living vegetation, shrubbery, trees, ground cover and combinations thereof.
2-123. Living Area
“Living area” means the interior habitable area for a dwelling unit, including basements
and attics, but does not include a garage or any accessory structure.
2-124. Living Space
Living space means the improved interior ‘habitable’ area within a dwelling unit
conditioned and utilized for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, bathing, washing and
sanitation purposes.
2-125. Lot
“Lot” means a legally established parcel of land.
A.
“Corner lot” means a lot located at the intersection of two or more streets, where they
intersect at an interior angle of not more than one hundred 135. If the intersection angle
is more than 135 degrees, the lot is considered an interior lot.
B.
“Flag lot” means a lot having access from the building site to a public street by means of
private right-of-way strip that is owned in fee.
C.
“Key lot” means an interior lot, the front of which adjoins the side property line of a corner
lot.
2-126. Lot Coverage
“Lot coverage” means the percent of lot covered by all building footprints. Means the
same as “Site Coverage.”
2-127. Lot Depth
“Lot depth” means the average distance from the property line fronting a road or road
easement to the rear or opposite property line.
2-128. Lot Frontage
“Lot frontage” means the width of the lot fronting on a road or private road easement,
measured along the property line.
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2-129. Lot Line
A.
“Lot line” means any legally described parcel line as follows:
B.
“Front lot line” is the shortest property line along the road or road easement.
C.
“Side lot line” is the property line intersecting with the front lot line and dividing the parcel
from other adjacent parcels or another public street.
D.
“Exterior lot line” is the property line intersecting with the front lot line and contiguous
with a public street on a corner lot.
E.
“Interior lot line” is any property line dividing the parcel from other adjacent parcels.
F.
“Rear lot line” is the property line opposite the front lot line.
2-130. Lot Width
“Lot width” means the distance from one side property line to the other side property line
measured along the front building setback line.
2-131. Low-Barrier Navigation Center
“Low-Barrier Navigation Center” means a housing shelter focused on “housing first, low-
barrier, service-enrichment for the purpose of moving people into permanent housing.
In accordance with California Government Code §§ 65660 through 65668, this housing
shelter use provides temporary living facilities while case managers connect individuals
experiencing homelessness to income, public benefits, health services, shelters and
housing.
2-132. Manufactured Housing
"Manufactured housing" means a structure constructed on or after June 15, 1976, is
transportable in one or more parts, is 8 body feet or more in width or 40 body feet or more
in length, in the traveling mode or when erected on site, is 320 or more square feet, is built
on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a single-family dwelling with or without
a foundation when connected to the required utilities and includes the plumbing, heating,
air conditioning and electrical systems contained therein. "Manufactured housing" also
includes structure that meets all the requirements of this paragraph except the size
requirements and with respect to which the manufacturer voluntarily files a certification
and complies with the standards established under the National Manufactured Housing
Construction and Safety Act of 1974.Ministerial
“Ministerial” means an action taken by the City involving little or no personal judgment.
Under the Zoning Ordinance, these actions might involve reviewing fixed (objective)
standards involving no subjective judgement in deciding whether or how a project or
activity should be carried out, such as reviewing a proposed development to comply with
building height or building setback requirements of the City’s regulations.
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2-133. Mobile Home
"Mobilehome" means a structure that was constructed prior to June 15, 1976, is
transportable in one or more sections, is eight body feet or more in width, or 40 body feet
or more in length, in the traveling mode, or when erected on site, is 320 or more square
feet, is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a single-family dwelling
with or without a foundation when connected to required utilities, and includes plumbing,
heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems contained therein. as set forth in Health
and Safety Code Section 18008. "Mobilehome" includes any structure that meets all the
requirements of this paragraph and complies with state standards for mobilehomes in effect
at the time of construction. Mobilehome does not include a manufactured home,
recreational vehicle, commercial coach, or camper as defined by state law. a commercial
modular, as defined in Section 18001.8, factory-built housing, as defined in Section 19971,
a manufactured home, as defined in Section 18007, a multifamily manufactured home, as
defined in Section 18008.7, or a recreational vehicle, as defined in Section 18010.Mobile
Home Park
“Mobile home park” means an area of land where two or more mobile home spaces are
used, rented, leased or held out for use, rent or lease, to accommodate mobile homes for
human habitation. For purposes of this Chapter, “mobile home park” shall not include a
mobile home subdivision, stock cooperative or any park where there is any combination of
common ownership of the entire park or individual mobile home spaces. This shall not
include recreational vehicle parks or portions of parks that include recreational vehicle
spaces.
2-134. Modular House
“Modular house” (see definition of Factory-Built Housing).
2-135. Motel
“Motel” means a land use in which there are six or more rooms for transient occupancy.
Motel and hotel are synonymous.
2-136. Net Land Area
“Net land area” means the area of land remaining after any required public dedication.
2-137. Nonconforming Building or Use
A.
“Nonconforming building” means a structure that does not conform to present regulations.
B.
“Nonconforming use” means a land use, which does not conform to present regulations.
C.
“Legally existing” means a use that predates present regulations but was legally
constructed or established at the time the use or construction first commenced.
2-138. Nondiscretionary
“Nondiscretionary” (see definition of Ministerial).
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2-139. Nursery
“Nursery” or “plant nursery” means a business, which is primarily engaged in the raising,
propagation, growth, or sales of vegetation, plants and supplies.
2-140. Nursing Home
“Nursing home” means a residential facility that is maintained primarily for the care and
treatment of inpatients under the direction of a physician. The patients in such a facility
require supportive, therapeutic or compensating services and the availability of a licensed
nurse for observation or treatment on a 24-hour basis. Nursing care may include but is not
limited to terminal care; extensive assistance or therapy in the activities of daily living;
continual direction, supervision or therapy; extensive assistance or therapy for loss of
mobility; nursing assessment and services which involve assessment of the total needs of
the patient, planning of patient care and observing, monitoring and recording the patient’s
response to treatment; and monitoring, observing and evaluating the drug regimen.
“Nursing home” includes intermediate nursing facilities for the mentally retarded or
developmentally disabled.
2-141. Objective Design Standards
“Objective Standards” means standards that involve no personal or subjective judgment by a public official and are uniformly verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion available and knowable by both the development applicant or proponent and the public official.
2-142. Occupancy
“Occupancy” means the establishment of a use within a structure or upon a parcel of land,
including and not limited to, installing display fixtures in a completed structure, stocking
of inventory, or commencing temporary or permanent residency, whether or not a structure
has been subject to an approved final inspection or a certificate of occupancy.
2-143. Off-Site
“Off-site” means an improvement or other reference concerning a proposed project or
subject property, which is not located on the parcel under discussion.
2-144. On-Site
“On-site” means an improvement or other reference concerning the subject property under
discussion.
2-145. Open Space
“Open space” means the portion of the lot or parcel from the ground upward that is
unoccupied by buildings, structures, parking lots and driveways, except as otherwise
permitted by City regulations. Clubhouses, recreation buildings, pools, saunas, interior
walkways, paths and similar amenities may be included in open space.
2-146. Parcel, Lot
“Parcel” or “lot” means a described area of land within an ownership. Parcel may also
mean a parcel established for tax purposes, sometimes called an assessor’s parcel.
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2-147. Park, Playground
“Park” or “playground” means a land use, which is established for the purpose of providing
passive or active recreation on a public or private basis.
2-148. Parking Area
“Parking area” means the paved portion of a parcel which is developed for the storage of
vehicles.
2-149. Parking Space
“Parking space” means an accessible and usable space on the lot for the parking of
automobiles.
2-150. Paved
“Paved” means that the required surface typically used for parking, driveways or other
vehicular access is improved with concrete, asphaltic concrete, or other similar material
capable of handling the type of vehicular traffic anticipated with the proposed use.
2-151. Permit
“Permit” means an authorization to proceed issued by the City for a specific activity.
2-152. Planned Community
“Planned community” means a large-scale development whose essential features are a
definable boundary; a consistent, but not necessarily uniform, character; overall control
during the development process by a single development entity; private ownership of
recreation amenities; and enforcement of covenants, conditions, and restrictions by a
master community association.
2-153. Planned Unit Development
“Planned unit development” means a description of a proposed unified development,
consisting at a minimum of a map and adopted ordinance setting forth the regulations
governing, and the location and phasing of all proposed uses and improvements to be
included in the development.
2-154. Planning Department
“Planning Department” means the City-appointed or designated staff or consultant of the
City of Loyalton to assist the City with planning-related matters.
2-155. Planning Director
“Planning director” means the person appointed or designated to assist the City Council
with planning-related matters.
2-156. Pre-Occupancy Inspection
“Pre-occupancy inspection” means a required inspection before any existing building
and/or a structure other than residential, is used, occupied or business license is issued
to/for.
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2-157. Professional Office
“Professional office” means a non-retail or non-commercial wholesale activity wherein
professional service is typically provided to the public, or the office is the headquarters for
a commercial or industrial activity.
2-158. Police Chief
“Police Chief” means the Police Chief for the City of Loyalton as appointed by the City.
2-159. Property Line
“Property line” is a legal boundary describing a parcel of land.
2-160. Public Agency
“Public agency” means a political subdivision, federal, state, or local government or its
departments, or governmental jurisdictions or districts.
2-161. Public Resources Code
“Public Resources Code” means the California Public Resources Code, also written PRC.
2-162. Public Services
“Public services” means services needed for development of a parcel of land. This may
include, but is not limited to, electricity, access, water, sewage collection and treatment,
and telecommunications.
2-163. Public Utility Buildings and Uses
“Public utility buildings and uses” means buildings, structures and uses of a public business
which provides a general service to the public, such as telecommunications, electricity,
water, or other services.
2-164. Public Works Director
“Public Works Director” means the Public Works Director as appointed or designated by
the City.
2-165. Reasonable Accommodation
“Reasonable accommodation” means provision of disabled persons flexibility in the
application of land use and zoning regulations and procedures or even waiving certain
requirements, when necessary to eliminate barriers to housing opportunities. It may
include adjustments to standards such as yard area modifications for ramps, handrails or
other such accessibility improvements; hardscape additions, such as widened driveways,
parking area or walkways; building additions for accessibility; tree removal; or reduced
off-street parking where the disability clearly limits the number of people operating
vehicles. Reasonable accommodation does not include an accommodation which would
(1) impose an undue financial or administrative burden on the City or (2) require a
fundamental alteration in the nature of the City’s land use and zoning program.
2-166. Recreational Vehicle
“Recreational vehicle” means a motorhome, travel trailer, park trailer, truck camper or
camping trailer, with or without motor power, designed for human habitation for
recreational or emergency occupancy, with an area of less than 480 square feet and
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consistent with California Health and Safety Code § 1810. Recreational vehicle shall also
include trailered boats.
2-167. Recreational Vehicle Park
“Recreational Vehicle Park” means any area or tract of land or a separate part within a
mobile home park, where two or more lots are rented or leased or held out for rent, or lease
to owners or users of recreational vehicles or tents.
2-168. Recreational Vehicle Storage
“Recreational vehicle storage” means a commercial activity in which recreation vehicles
are garaged either within a building, or an open enclosure for payment of a rental fee.
2-169. Residential Care Facility Licensed and Unlicensed
"Licensed Residential care facility" means any state licensed family home, group care
facility or similar facility family home, group care facility or similar facility providing 24-
hour non-medical care for persons in need of personal services, supervision or assistance
essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual.
The term includes, but is not limited to, foster care homes. A small residential care facility
provides care for a maximum of six persons, while. A a large residential care facility
provides care for seven or more than six persons.
“Unlicensed Residential Care Facility” means any family home, group home, group care
facility, or similar facility, not required to be licensed by the state and operated as a single
housekeeping unit, maintained and operated to provide twenty-four hour nonmedical care
of persons in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining
the activities of daily life or for the protection of the individual. A small residential care
facility provides care for a maximum of six persons, while a large residential care facility
provides care for seven or more persons.
2-170. Rest Home
“Rest home” (see definition of Nursing Home).
2-171. Right-of-Way, Public
“Public right-of-way” is a strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription or
condemnation and intended to be occupied by a road, trail, water line, sanitary sewer and/or
other public uses.
2-172. Rooming House
“Rooming house” means the same as “boarding house” as set forth herein.
2-173. School
“School” means an institution, public or private, established for the purpose of educating a
class of students at any grade level, either for profit or nonprofit purposes.
2-174. Second Dwelling Unit
“Second dwelling unit” (see definition of Accessory and Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit).
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2-175. Shopping Center
“Shopping center” means a commercial center, or group of commercial establishments,
planned, developed, managed and maintained as a unit, with common off-street parking
provided to serve all uses on the property.
2-176. Side and Front on Corner Lots
The front yard (of a corner lot) may face either street frontage of a corner lot, at the option
of the owner.
2-177. Sign
“Sign” means any device capable of visual communications or attraction, including
declarations, announcements, demonstrations, displays, insignias, trademarks, or symbols,
used for the purpose of informing, advertising, or promoting any business, place, or event.
2-178. Single Room Occupancy
“Single room occupancy” means a structure with a small residential room or more rooms
designed to provide living facilities for 1 person, often with cooking facilities and with
private or shared bathroom facilities.
2-179. Streamlined housing: A housing development project that meets the qualifications of Government
Code Section 65913.4 and therefore is eligible for a ministerial and streamlined approval process.
2-180. Street
“Street” means a public thoroughfare accepted by the City which affords principal means
of access to abutting property, including avenue, place, way, drive, lane, boulevard,
highway, road, except an “alley” as defined herein.
2-181. Structure
“Structure” means anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on
or above the ground or the attachment to something having location on or above the ground,
including swimming pools and patio covers.
2-182. Structure Alteration
“Structure alteration” means any change in supporting members of a structure or building.
2-183. Supportive Housing
“Supportive housing” means housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied by
the target population, and that is linked to an onsite or off-site service that assists the
supportive housing resident in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status,
and maximizing his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community.
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2-184. Tandem Parking Space
“Tandem Parking Space” means parking spaces for two or more automobiles when they are parked on a driveway or in any other location on a lot, lined up behind one another.
2-185. Target Population
Target Population means persons with low incomes who have one or more disabilities,
including mental illness, HIV or AIDS, or substance abuse, or other chronic health
condition, or individuals eligible for services provided pursuant to the Lanterman
Development Disabilities Services Act (Division 4.5 (commencing with § 4500) of the
Welfare and Institutions Code) and may include, among other populations, adults,
emancipated minors, families with children, elderly persons, young adults aging out of the
foster care system, individual exiting from institutional settings, veterans, and homeless
people.
2-186. Temporary Use
“Temporary use” means a land use, which may occur on a parcel of land for a limited time
as may be authorized herein.
2-187. Townhouse
“Townhouse” means a single-family dwelling in a row of at least three such units in which
each unit has its own front and rear access to the outside, no unit is located over another
unit and each unit is separated from any other unit by one or more common fire-resistant
walls.
2-188. Transitional Housing
"Transitional housing" means a development with buildings configured as rental housing
developments, but operated under program requirements that call for the termination of
assistance and recirculation of the assisted unit to another eligible program recipient at
some predetermined future point in time, which shall be no less than six (6) months.
2-189. Use
“Use” means the activity that takes place on a parcel of land.
2-190. Variance
“Variance” means a discretionary entitlement, which permits the departure from the strict
application of the development standards contained in this zoning ordinance.
2-191. Yard
“Yard” means the area between a property line and required setback line within any lot.
2-192. Yard, Front
“Front yard” means a yard extending across the full width of the front portion of the lot
measured from the front line of the lot to the nearest line of a building or structure wall or
required front setback line, whichever is closer to the property line.
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2-193. Yard, Rear
“Rear yard” means a yard extending across the full width of the rear portion of the lot
measured between the rear line of the lot and the nearest line of the building or structure
wall or required rear yard setback line, whichever is closer to the property line.
2-194. Yard, Side
“Side yard” means a yard between the side line of the lot and nearest structure setback or
required side yard setback line, whichever is closer to the property line and extending from
the front yard of the lot to the rear yard.
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