201.03: DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS: — Porterville Zoning Code

Table 201.03 prescribes the development standards for Residential Districts. Additional regulations are denoted in the right hand column. Section numbers in this column refer to other sections of this Chapter, while individual letters refer to subsections that directly follow the table.

TABLE 201.03: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS -

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
Standard	RS-1	RS-2	RM-1	RM-2	RM-3	Additional Regulations

Standard	RS-1	RS-2	RM-1	RM-2	RM-3	Additional Regulations
Lot and density standards:
Minimum lot area (sq. ft.)	12,500	6,000	6,000	6,000	6,000	Subsection 201.04C, “Reduced Minimum Lot Size, Width, And Depth”
Minimum lot width (ft.)	90	60	60	60	60	Subsection 201.04C, “Reduced Minimum Lot Size, Width, And Depth”
Minimum lot depth (ft.)	100	75	75	75	75	Subsection 201.04C, “Reduced Minimum Lot Size, Width, And Depth”
Maximum density (units/net acre)	3.1	7.5	11.3	15.0	30.5
Minimum density (units/net acre)	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	10.0
Minimum area per dwelling unit (sq. ft.)	n/a	n/a	3,000	1,500	1,000
Building form and location:
Maximum height (ft.)	35	35	35	50	50	Section 201.03(a); and section 300.06, “Heights And Height Exceptions”
Minimum yards (ft.):
Residence (front)	15	15	15	15	15	Section 201.03(b); and section 300.01, “Building Projections Into Yards”
Porch (front)	10	10	10	10	10
Garage (front)	20	20	20	20	20
Interior side	5	5	5	5	5	Section 201.03(c), (d) and (f); and section 300.01, “Building Projections Into Yards”
Street side	10	10	10	10	10	Section 201.03(e); and section 300.01, “Building Projections Into Yards”
Rear	10	5	5	10	10	Section 201.03(f); and section 300.01, “Building Projections Into Yards”
Maximum building coverage (% of lot)	30	45	45	50	60

Minimum courtyard dimension	n/a	n/a	n/a	20	20	Section 201.03(g)
Additional standards:
Private open space (sq. ft. per unit)	n/a	n/a	200	75	50	Subsection 201.04B, “Residential Multi- Family Development”
Common open space (sq. ft. per unit)	n/a	n/a	n/a	100	100	Subsection 201.04B, “Residential Multi- Family Development”

Additional Development Regulations:

(a) Transitional Standards. Where a site is adjacent to an RS-1, RS-2, or RM-1 district, the following standards apply: (1) The maximum height within forty (40) feet of an RS-1, RS-2, or RM-1 district boundary is thirty-five (35) feet. The maximum height within fifty (50) feet of an RS-1, RS-2, or RM-1 district boundary is forty (40) feet.

FIGURE 201.03(a)(1): RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TRANSITIONAL STANDARDS

(2) Buildings exceeding thirty (30) feet in height must be set back or stepped back one (1) foot from the required interior side and rear setback lines for every foot of height above thirty (30) feet.

(b) Front Yards. Where more than sixty (60) percent of such portion of the lineal frontage of lots improved with residential buildings within any block is comprised of lots with less than the minimum front yard requirement, then the minimum front yard requirement for other residential buildings in such block may be reduced to the average of the actual front yards of all of the lots in such block with existing residential buildings, counting those which have front yards of greater depth than the minimum requirement.

FIGURE 201.03(b): FRONT YARDS

(c) Existing Structures. When the existing side yard setback is less than required in this Chapter, additions to such structures may conform to the existing setback, provided that the addition does not encroach closer to the property line than the existing structure.

(d) Attached Single-Family Dwellings. Required setbacks apply to the ends of rows of attached single-family dwellings. FIGURE 201.03(d): SETBACKS FOR ATTACHED SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS

(e) Street Side Yard - Reversed Corner Lots. Reversed corner lots shall have a minimum street side yard width of twelve (12) feet. No accessory structure shall project beyond the extension of the required front yard line of the lot in the rear (key lot).

(f) Increased Yard for Certain Institutional Uses. Any building erected or used for a school, government, or other institutional use mentioned elsewhere in this Chapter, shall be located at least fifteen (15) feet from an RS district, notwithstanding any lesser requirement in the district where located, provided such building shall not be required to be located more than five (5) feet from any lot line adjacent to any alley. The City Council may waive this requirement for accessory buildings to provide reasonable accommodation.

(g) Minimum Courtyard Dimensions. Courtyards surrounded by building walls on three (3) sides shall have a minimum dimension of twenty (20) feet.

(h) Driveways Accessing a Major Thoroughfare. Properties accessing a collector or arterial street shall be developed in such a way as to provide an on-site turnaround to prevent vehicles from backing onto the public right of way. Design of said driveway requires approval of the City Engineer.

(Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019; amd. Ord. 1917, 10-7-2025)