National City Municipal Code § 18.40.010 Purpose

This chapter expands upon the standards of Division 2 by addressing details of site planning, building design, landscaping, parking and loading, outdoor lighting, and signs and outdoor advertising displays. These standards are intended to ensure that all development produces an environment of stable and desirable character, is compatible with existing and future development, and protects the use and enjoyment of neighboring properties, consistent with the General Plan.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

The requirements of this chapter shall apply to existing and new development and land uses and shall be considered in combination with the standards for the applicable zone in Division 2 and Specific Use Regulations in Division 3. If there is conflict, the standards in Division 3 shall control.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)

A. Purpose. This section provides performance standards that are designed to minimize various potential operational impacts of land uses and development within the city and promote compatibility with adjoining areas and land uses.

B. Applicability. The provisions of this section apply to all new and existing land uses, in all zones, unless an exemption is specifically provided.

C. Noise. No use shall be established nor any activity conducted which violates the standards of the Noise Control Ordinance—Title 12 of the Municipal Code.

D. Air Emissions. Other than as permitted by the County of San Diego Air Pollution Control District, no visible dust, gasses, or smoke shall be emitted.

E. Combustibles and Explosives. The use, handling, storage, and transportation of combustibles and explosives shall comply with the Uniform Fire Code and California Code of Regulations Title 19.

F. Dust. Activities that may generate dust emissions (e.g., construction, grading, commercial gardening, and similar operations) shall be conducted to limit the emissions beyond the site boundary to the maximum extent feasible. Appropriate methods of dust management shall include the following, subject to approval by the building division.

1. Water all active construction areas twice per day and use erosion control measures to prevent water runoff containing silt and debris from entering the streets and storm drain system;

2. Cover trucks hauling soil, sand, and other loose material;

3. Pave, water, or apply non-toxic soil stabilizers on unpaved access roads and parking areas;

4. Sweep and collect (i.e., vacuum) paved access roads and parking areas daily; and

5. Sweep and collect (i.e., vacuum) streets daily if visible material is carried onto adjacent public streets.

6. Hydroseed or apply non-toxic soil stabilizers to inactive construction areas;

7. Enclose, cover, water, or apply non-toxic soil binders to open materials stockpiles;

8. Limit traffic speeds on unpaved roads to fifteen mph;

9. Install sandbags or other erosion control measures to prevent silt runoff to public roadways;

10. Replant vegetation in disturbed areas within ten days after project completion;

11. Install wheel washers for all exiting trucks, or wash off the tires or tracks of all trucks and equipment leaving the site;

12. Install wind breaks, or plant trees/vegetation at windward sides of construction areas, or avoid removing existing vegetation which acts as a windbreak;

13. Suspend excavation and grading activity when winds (instantaneous gusts) exceed twenty mph or dust clouds cannot be prevented from extending beyond the site; and

14. Limit area subject to excavation, grading, and other construction activities at any one time.

15. Limit access to the construction sites, so tracking of mud or dirt on to public roadways can be prevented.

16. Projects that have significant construction period exhaust emissions shall reduce fleet average emission rates. Developers or contractors shall provide a plan for approval by the city or SDAPCD demonstrating that the heavy-duty (< fifty horsepower) off-road vehicles to be used in the construction project for more than an accumulated forty hours, including owned, leased and subcontractor vehicles, will achieve emission standards similar to in-use equipment that meets CARB certified Tier II standards.

G. Ground Vibration. No ground vibration shall be generated that is perceptible without instruments by a reasonable person at the property lines of the site, except for vibrations from temporary construction or demolition activities, and motor vehicle operations.

H. Light and Glare.

1. Outdoor lighting shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 18.46 (Outdoor Lighting).

2. Any operation or activity producing glare shall be conducted or shielded so as not to cause illumination in residential zones in excess of five-tenths footcandles. Flickering or intrinsically bright sources of illumination shall be controlled so as not to be a nuisance in residential zones.

3. Illumination levels shall be measured with a photoelectric photometer having a spectral response similar to that of the human eye, following the standard spectral luminous efficiency curve adopted by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA).

I. Liquid Waste. No liquid shall be discharged into a public or private body of water, sewage system, watercourse, or into the ground, except in compliance with applicable regulations of the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

J. Odor.

1. No obnoxious odor or fumes shall be emitted that are perceptible without instruments by a reasonable person at the property line of the site. For mixed-use buildings, commercial uses that emit odors, such as restaurants and nail salons, shall be properly ventilated to as not to impact adjoining residential uses.

2. No use shall be established nor any activity conducted which violates the standards of the Odor Control Ordinance—Title 7.08—Environmental Conditions of the Municipal Code.

K. Radioactivity, Electrical Disturbance or Electromagnetic Interference. None of the following shall be emitted:

1. Radioactivity, in a manner that does not comply with all applicable State and Federal regulations; or

2. Electrical disturbance or electromagnetic interference that interferes with normal radio or television reception or with the function of other electronic equipment beyond the property line of the site; or that does not comply with all applicable Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other applicable state and federal regulations.

(Ord. No. 2024-2529, 4-2-2024)