Chapter 17.42 — BUILDING HEIGHT MEASUREMENT AND PROJECTIONS

§ 17.42.010. Purpose. ¶

The purpose of this Chapter is to provide the rules for determining and calculating height of structures within the city. Additionally, the Chapter includes exceptions to the height requirements of the underlying Zoning District based on use type and features. The intent of these regulations is to provide for compatibility of building height when adjacent lots have different maximum height limits or there are different grade levels between a development site and its adjacent roadway.

(Ord. 1501 § 1, 2011)

§ 17.42.020. Applicability and Regulations. ¶

Except as otherwise provided by this Chapter or any other provisions of this Title, all structures shall be limited to the maximum height identified in the underlying (or applicable overlay) Zoning District as identified in Article II (Zoning Districts, Allowed Uses, and Development Standards), to the maximum height allowed for accessory structures as identified in Chapter 17.40 (Accessory Structures), or to the maximum height allowed for wireless communication facilities as identified in Chapter 17.88 (Wireless Communication Facilities). (Ord. 1501 § 1, 2011)

§ 17.42.030. Height Measurement. ¶

The height of a structure shall be measured as the vertical distance from the natural grade of the site to an imaginary plane located at the allowed number of feet above and parallel to the grade. (Ord. 1501 § 1, 2011)

§ 17.42.040. Height Exceptions. ¶

The following features and structures are exempt from the height regulations established by this Title:

A. Church spires, belfries, cupolas and domes, monuments, water towers, fire and hose towers, observation towers, lines and poles, chimneys, smokestacks, flag poles, and masts and aerials.
B. Elevator and stair penthouses, water tanks, monitors and scenery lofts, provided no linear dimension of any such structure exceeds 50 percent of the corresponding street lot line frontage.
C. Windmills in the agricultural Zoning District.
D. Towers and monuments, fire towers, hose towers, cooling towers, gas holders, or other structures where the manufacturing process requires a greater height, provided, however, that any structure above the height otherwise permitted in the underlying Zoning District shall occupy no more than 25 percent of the area of the lot and shall be located not less than 25 feet to every lot line, except the front lot line.
(Ord. 1501 § 1, 2011)