§131.0464 Supplemental Requirements for Residential Zones-

• (a) Supplemental Requirements for RS Zones

  • (1) Manufactured homes are permitted as residential dwelling units subject to all regulations of the applicable zone in addition to the following supplemental regulations:

    • (A) Siding shall be of nonreflective material such as wood, vinyl, stucco, decorative stone, or masonry;

    • (B) Roofing materials shall be of nonreflective material such as concrete tiles, fiberglass shingles, or composition shingles, shakes, or tiles;

    • (C) Eaves shall be between 12 and 16 inches measured from the vertical side of the exterior wall; and

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  - (D) The foundation along the exterior perimeter shall conform to the Building Regulations and shall consist of poured concrete, masonry, or approved all-weather material.  If the foundation material is not masonry or concrete, it shall match the siding material of the home. 

• (b) Supplemental Requirements for RX Zones:

  • (1) For lots without alley access, a minimum of 25 percent of the length of the building facade on the ground floor must be utilized for habitable space.

  • (2) Manufactured homes are permitted as residential dwelling units provided they comply with the regulations in Section 131.0464(a)(1).

• (c) Supplemental Requirements for RT Zones:

  • (1) When an RT development exceeds 12 units and the lots are greater than 90 feet in depth, the front façade of one-third of the dwelling units must be offset 3 feet from the front façade of the remaining units.

  • (2) For all dwelling units , 20 percent of the area of the front façade shall be used for door and window area.

  • (3) One building articulation feature from each category listed below shall be incorporated into each dwelling unit :

Category A: Elevated first floor Projecting balcony Bay windows (2)

Category B: Turret (with or without cupola) Inset balcony Angled side planes (2) Projecting (or inset) elevated entry

Category C Planter boxes Trellises Inset windows Projecting covered entry

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Dormer s

Inset entry

Building articulation features shall be provided in accordance with the following regulations. Those features that may project into the required front and street side yards are indicated and are subject to the requirements in Section 131.0461(c).

• (A) Elevated First Floor . The elevation of the ground story (first floor ) shall be 42 inches above proposed grade .

• (B) Projecting Balcony. A maximum of one projecting balcony is permitted for each story above the first story . Each balcony may be roofed or unroofed. Open or solid safety railings not to exceed 42 inches in height are permitted. (See Section 131.0461(b)(1) for yard encroachment regulations).

• (C) Bay Windows. At least two bay windows per elevation are required. A minimum of 40 percent of each bay window elevation shall be glass. (See Section 131.0461(b)(2) for yard encroachment regulations).

• (D) Turret. The minimum size of a turret shall be 6 feet by 6 feet or shall have a 6-foot diameter in plan dimensions. Turrets shall extend from the ground (first story ) level for the full height of the building or shall extend from the second story to the full height of the building. A turret may project into the space above the angled building envelope plane to 5 feet above the maximum permitted structure height .

For each story , at least 40 percent of the turret elevation shall be glass. At the first story , an entry door may substitute for an equal square footage amount of glass area. Only one bay window per story may be used if a turret is provided. (See Section 141.0461(b)(3) for yard encroachment regulations).

• (E) Inset Balcony. A maximum of two inset balconies are permitted per elevation. Each balcony may be roofed or unroofed. Open or solid safety railings not to exceed 42 inches in height are permitted.

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• (F) Angled Side Planes. At both side setbacks , the structure shall observe 60-degree planes sloping inward above 25 feet in height to the maximum permitted building height. At minimum, angled planes must be located on the front 50 percent of the structure . Dormers may project from the angled side planes to the side property lines but may not be closer than 3 feet to a street side property line .

• (G) Projecting Elevated Entry. One projecting entry is permitted per elevation. The entry must be unenclosed on three sides and may have a maximum 42-inch-high open safety railing. The entry shall be a minimum of 6 feet and a maximum of 8 feet wide. The entry may have an unenclosed balcony with the same horizontal dimensions above it. Stairs providing access to the entry for buildings with an elevated first floor shall not be included in the determination of width. (See Section 131.0461(b)(4) for yard encroachment regulations).

• (H) Planter Boxes. Planter boxes shall be of wood, brick, stone, or finished/patterned concrete construction. The minimum total area of the planter boxes shall be 40 square feet. The walls of the planter boxes shall be at least 24 inches and no more than 36 inches high. The planter boxes shall be located adjacent to the structure , entry, walkway, or property line . Wrought iron fencing (and gate), at least 50 percent open, may be placed in the required front yard either separately or in conjunction with the planter boxes, in accordance with the fence height regulations in Chapter 14, Article 2, Division 3 ( Fence Regulations).

• (I) Trellises. Trellises shall be at least 50 percent open in plan view. Diagonal supports from the building wall extending within a 45-degree angle from the building wall to the horizontal portion of the projection are permitted. (See Section 131.0461(b)(5) for yard encroachment regulations).

• (J) Inset Windows. A maximum of two inset windows are permitted per story . The window surface must be set back at least 6 inches from the front facade.

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  - (K) Projecting Covered Entry.  One projecting covered entry is permitted per elevation.  The entry shall be at least 6 feet but no more than 8 feet wide.  The required cover shall be no more than 50 percent open.  The entry may have an unenclosed balcony with the same horizontal dimensions, above it.  (See Section 131.0461(b)(4) for _yard encroachment_ regulations). 

  - (L) _Dormers_ . _Dormers_ may project into the space above the angled _building envelope_ plane. _Dormers_ may have pitched or curved roofs. The maximum width for _dormers_ is 5 feet. At the side and _street_ side _setbacks_ a minimum separation of 10 feet between _dormers_ is required. (See Section 131.0461(b)(6) for _yard encroachment_ regulations). 

  - (M) Inset Entry.  One inset entry is permitted per elevation.  Inset entries shall be either at _grade_ or elevated.  The entry must be set back at least 24 inches from the facade and may have a maximum 42-inch-high open safety railing. 

• (d) Supplemental Requirements for RM-1-1, RM-1-2, RM-1-3 Zones

  • (1) For lots with a width of 60 feet or less, not more than two 10-foot-wide garage doors or garage entries or a single 16-foot-wide garage door or entry on the building facade is permitted, except when that door accesses underground parking. For each additional 25 feet of street frontage , an additional 10 feet maximum width garage door or garage entry is permitted.

  • (2) For lots with a width of 50 feet or less, at least 40 percent of the length of the building facade on the ground floor must enclose habitable area (not garage or parking entrance); for lots greater than 50 feet in width, at least 50 percent of the length of the building facade on the ground floor must enclose habitable area. See Diagram 131-04X.

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Diagram 131-04X

Ground Floor Habitable Space Requirement

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----- Start of picture text -----
Habitable area Parking area
Building facade Parking entry
enclosing habitable area driveway
Lot width of 50' Max 60% of length
or less - min 40% of of building facade
length of building facade
Lot width of more Max 50% of length
than 50' - min 50% of of building facade
length of building facade
Length of building facade
----- End of picture text -----

• (3) Within the front façade on all floors above the first floor , a transparent glass window or windows with an aggregate area of at least 20 square feet shall be provided for each dwelling unit that faces the street .

• (e) Supplemental Requirements for the RM-2-4, RM-2-5, RM-2-6 Zones

• (1) For lots with a width of 60 feet or less, not more than two 10-foot-wide garage doors or garage entries or a single 16-foot-wide garage door or entry on the building facade is permitted, except when that door accesses underground parking. For each additional 25 feet of street frontage , an additional 10 feet maximum width garage door or garage entry is permitted.

  • (2) Garages, carports, and other parking entries in the building facade shall be set back at least an additional 5 feet from the facade wall enclosing habitable space, as shown in Diagram 131-04Y.

  • (3) For lots with a width of 50 feet or less, at least 40 percent of the length of the building facade on the ground floor must enclose habitable area (not a garage or parking entrance); for lots greater than 50 feet in width, at least 50 percent of the length of the building facade on the ground floor must enclose habitable area. See Diagram 131-04Y.

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Diagram 131-04Y

Parking Area/ Habitable Space Offset

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----- Start of picture text -----
H abitable area Park ing area
5' min
Building fac ade
enc los ing habitable area Park ing entry
driv ew ay
Lot w idth of 50'
or les s - min 40% of
length of building fac ade
Lot w idth of 50'
or les s than 50' - min 50%
of length of building fac ade
Length of building fac ade
----- End of picture text -----

• (4) Within the building façade on all floors above the first floor , a transparent glass window or windows with an aggregate area of at least 20 square feet shall be provided for each dwelling unit that faces the street .

• (f) Supplemental Requirements for the RM-3-7, RM-3-8, RM-3-9 Zones

  • When the ground floor of a building is used for parking and the parking is adjacent to a required yard , the parking area must be screened by a minimum 6-foot-high fence or 6-foot-high landscaping. A pedestrian entry to the building from each street must be provided.

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Amended 11-28-2005 by O-19444 N.S.; effective 2-9-2006.) (Amended 7-22-2024 by O-21836 N.S.; effective 10-5-2024.)

[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-21836 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment.

Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-21836-SO.pdf ]

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