Chapter 17.08 — R-A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL/ AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT

This district is intended:

A.

Primarily for application to areas located at the fringe of the city's corporate area, where denser population and full provision of urban services is inappropriate.

B.

To provide living areas which combine certain advantages of both urban and rural location by limiting development to very low density concentrations of one-family dwellings and permitting limited numbers of animals and fowl to be kept for pleasure or hobbies, free from activities of a commercial nature.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-301)

Permitted uses in the R-A district are:

A.

One-family dwellings, but not more than one dwelling per lot;

B.

Home occupations subject to provisions of Section 17.04.920;

C.

Accessory buildings:

Garages,

Servant's quarters and accessory living quarters without kitchens on parcels of land having a minimum lot area of twenty-four thousand square feet or more,

Dwellings for hired agricultural employees on farms or ranches containing ten acres or more,

Swimming pools, garden structures, recreation rooms, hobby shops for private use only;

D.

Raising of field crops, fruit and nut trees, vines, vegetables, horticultural specialties greenhouses, not sold on property;

E.

Nurseries for producing trees, vines and other horticultural stock, with necessary temporary farm labor camps;

F.

Raising of livestock on a site containing an area of not less than thirty-six thousand square feet, provided however that the number of livestock shall not exceed a number equal to four adult animals in any combination, and their immature offspring, per each thirty-six thousand square feet, and further provided that the keeping of such domestic animals shall be conducted in a safe and healthy manner as may be governed by the health officer of the county;

G.

Breeding, hatching, raising, and fattening of birds, rabbits, chinchillas, hamsters, and other small animals and fowl on a domestic basis;

H.

Storage of petroleum products for use by the occupants of the premises but not for resale or distribution;

I.

Farm buildings to include, but not limited to wind machines, coops, tank houses, storage tanks, barns, stables, silos, and other farm out-buildings;

J.

The keeping of household pets, subject to the provisions of Section 17.04.940;

K.

Tract offices, model homes and construction materials storage yards, of a temporary nature, within the tract being developed and subject to the conditions applicable to subdivision signs on site as set forth in Section 17.08.180C;

L.

Carnival (see Section 17.04.320);

M.

Transitional and supportive housing;

N.

Second residential unit.

O.

Developmentally disabled housing, eight [or] fewer persons.

(Ord. No. 380, § 1, 8-24-2016; Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-302; Ord. No. 385, § 1, 2-13-2019)

Uses permitted subject to conditional use permit in the R-A district are:

A.

Any additional use permitted or conditionally permitted in the O district;

B.

Churches;

C.

Nursery schools or child care nurseries, not to exceed ten children;

D.

Roadside stands for the sale of agricultural products produced on the same site;

E.

Private or parochial schools of an elementary, secondary, or college level;

F.

Public schools, parks and playgrounds;

G.

Subdivision signs;

H.

Water pump stations;

I.

Incidental and accessory structures and uses located on the same site as a conditional use;

J.

Sale of agricultural products in a separate structure, (wholesale only).

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-303)

Uses expressly prohibited in the R-A district are:

A.

Multiple family residential uses;

B.

Commercial uses;

C.

Industrial uses;

D.

Permanent farm labor camps;

E.

Advertising structures.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-304)

The minimum lot area in the R-A district shall be twenty-four thousand square feet.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.1)

Lot dimensions in the R-A district are:

A.

Each lot shall have not less than one hundred twenty feet lot width and frontage on a public street.

B.

Each lot shall have not less than one hundred twenty feet lot depth.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.2)

The provisions of Section 17.08.020 shall apply.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.3)

A.

No building or structure erected in this district shall have a height greater than two stories, not to exceed thirty feet.

B.

No accessory buildings in this district shall have a height greater than story, not to exceed twelve feet to plate height.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.4)

A.

No main building shall be erected within fifty feet of the right-of-way of any railroad line or the Friant-Kern Canal, except for publicly-owned structures, to include city hall, and related structures.

B.

Swimming Pools.

Swimming pools shall not be located in any required front yard or side yard and its projection to the rear property line when abutting a street.

Swimming pools shall not be located within five feet of any required front yard setback or within feet of any required side yard setback and its projection to the rear property line, when abutting a street.

Swimming pools may be located in any required exterior side yard and rear yard provided a space of not less than five feet is maintained from the side and rear property lines.

Swimming pools shall not be located within public utility easements.

C.

Garages or carports shall be located not less than twenty feet from any street frontage where the garage door or carport opening faces the street. Where yard requirements pose a greater setback such setback shall apply.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.5A)

A.

The minimum front yard shall be thirty feet.

B.

Cul-de-sac lots shall have a front yard of not less than twenty-five feet.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.5B)

The minimum side yard shall be ten feet, except for special conditions identified below:

A.

Corner Lots. On corner lots, unless otherwise specified in this code, the side yard abutting the street shall be not less than twenty feet in width.

B.

Reversed Corner Lots. On a reversed corner lot, the side yard abutting the street shall be not less than twenty feet. Private garages located in the side yard shall be at least thirty feet from the property line on the side street, and not less than five feet from the rear property line on said reversed corner lot.

C.

Accessory Buildings on Side Yards.

Any accessory building located less than eighty feet from the front property line shall have the same minimum side yard as that required for the main building, regardless of whether or not said accessory building is attached to the main building.

An accessory building may be located on a side property line when said building is located eighty feet or more from the front property line.

An accessory building having an opening on an alley shall be located not less than twenty-five feet from the opposite side of the alley; provided, however, that no such accessory building shall be located less than five feet from the property line.

Accessory buildings located in the side yard or its projection to the rear property line when abutting a street shall be at least thirty feet from the property line on the side street, and not less than five feet from the rear property line on a reversed corner lot.

D.

Main Building Abutting Alley. When siding on an existing alley, a main building shall be located not less than thirty feet from the opposite side of the alley.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.5C)

A.

The minimum rear yard shall be twenty feet.

B.

Accessory Buildings. Nonresidential accessory buildings may be permitted in a required yard in accordance with Title 19, Sections 17.60.060(F) and 17.60.060(G)(3), and as follows:

An accessory building may be located on the rear property line when said building is not abutting an existing alley and is not located on an easement.

An accessory building having an opening on an alley shall be located not less than twenty-five feet from the opposite side of the alley, or not less than five feet from the property line.

Where any building or structure, except swimming or wading pools, occupies space in a required rear yard, the amount of space so occupied shall be provided elsewhere on the lot, exclusive of required yard areas. The substitute space shall have minimum dimensions of eight feet by eight feet.

C.

Exceptions—Permitted Projections into Required Yards.

Cornices, eaves, belt courses, sills, fireplace chimneys and other similar architectural features may extend or project into a required side yard not more than five inches for each one foot of the width of such required side yard and may extend or project into a front or rear yard not more than thirty inches.

Uncovered, unenclosed porches, platforms or landing places which do not extend above the level of the first floor of the building may extend into any front yard a distance of not more than six feet, and such features may not extend into a court more than twenty percent of the width of the court and in no case more than six feet, and may extend into any side or rear yard not more than three feet. An open work railing may be installed or constructed on any such porch, platform or landing place provided it does not exceed thirty-six inches in height.

Open, unenclosed stairways or balconies not covered by roof or canopy may extend or project into a required front yard not more than thirty inches.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.5D)

A.

The minimum distance between separate structures shall be ten feet.

B.

No animal or fowl pen, coop, stable, barn or corral shall be located within thirty feet of any dwelling or other building used for human habitation, or within eighty feet of the front property line of the subject property.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.6)

The maximum lot area covered by structures shall be thirty percent of the total lot area.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.7)

A.

Corner Cut-off Areas. The provisions of the O district, Section 17.06.130C, shall apply.

B.

Permitted Fences, Hedges and Walls.

Fences, hedges and walls, not greater than six feet in height, shall be permitted on or within all rear and side property lines on interior lots and on or to the rear of all front yard setback lines.

No fence, wall or hedge over three feet in height shall be permitted in any required front yard, or in the required side yard on the street side of a reversed corner lot, except as follows:

a.

On parcels of five acres or more a fence of greater height shall be permitted subject to a conditional use permit;

b.

On all parcels, regardless of the size of the parcel, a fence composed of wire mesh capable of admitting at least ninety percent of the light as measured on a reputable light meter of a height not over four feet shall be permitted.

Fences or structures over six feet in height, to enclose tennis courts, or other game areas located within the rear half of the lot, shall be composed of wire mesh capable of admitting at least ninety percent of light as measured on a reputable light meter. Such fences shall be permitted in the required side or rear yard and subject to a conditional use permit.

(Ord. 289 § 1, 1997; Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.8)

Adequate off-street parking and loading areas shall be provided on the site for each use prescribed in Chapter 17.60 or as may be otherwise required by the planning commission pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 17.60.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.9)

A.

There shall be vehicular access from a dedicated and improved street or alley to off-street parking facilities on the property requiring off-street parking.

B.

There shall be pedestrian access from a dedicated and improved street or alley to property used for residential purposes.

C.

There shall be an adequate paved turning area on lots facing on and having access to major and secondary highways to permit motor vehicles to head into the street.

D.

If vehicular access is by way of a driveway parallel with a side lot line, there shall be an access way of not less than ten feet from the street or alley to the building site, the way to be for both pedestrian and vehicular access.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.10)

Unlighted signs and other commercial advertising shall be permitted in this district only as herein provided:

A.

Name plates shall be permitted subject to the following conditions:

Name plates shall not exceed two square feet in area.

Name plates shall display only the:

a.

Name of the premises upon which it is displayed,

b.

Name of the owner or lessee of the premises,

c.

Address of the premises,

d.

Nature of home occupation engaged in on the premises.

Name plates shall be affixed flush to the building in which the home occupation is located.

B.

"For Rent" and "For Sale" signs shall be permitted.

C.

Subdivision Signs—On Site. Temporary real estate signs advertising real property which has been subdivided for purposes of sale or lease shall be permitted.

D.

Institutional Signs. For institutional uses, including churches, private clubs, and similar uses, institutional signs shall be permitted subject to the following regulations:

One free standing sign per frontage:

a.

The sign may contain only the name of the institution and identify services rendered, occupants or groups thereof.

b.

The sign shall not exceed thirty-two square feet in area, exclusive of architectural features and shall not exceed eight feet in height.

c.

The sign may not be internally illuminated but may be floodlighted, providing floodlights do not cast direct light on adjoining streets or properties.

d.

The sign shall not be permitted within fifteen feet of the front property line when located in the front yard or in the street side yard of corner lots and reverse corner lots. Subject to securing a conditional use permit, free standing signs may be located not closer than ten feet of the property line.

One sign attached on and parallel to the face of the main building.

a.

The sign may contain only the name of the institution occupants, or groups thereof.

b.

Letter or numeral heights shall not exceed one foot.

c.

The sign shall not exceed ten square feet in area.

d.

The sign may not be internally illuminated but may be floodlighted.

One reader board sign:

a.

The sign shall not exceed ten square feet in area.

b.

The board may not be internally illuminated but may be floodlighted, provided floodlights do not cast direct light on adjoining streets or properties.

c.

The sign shall only contain information incidental to the services rendered on the premises.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-305.11)

All uses shall be subject to Chapters 17.52 through 17.64.

(Ord. 211 (part), 1980: prior code § 11-1-306)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 359, § 2(Exh. A), adopted February 22, 2012, repealed the former Section