Chapter 21.36 — MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (R-3)

Note: Prior history: Prior Code § 9-116 and Ords. NS 926, NS 988 and NS 1001.

The regulations set forth in this chapter shall apply to all R-3 districts and shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 21.08 .

(Ord. CS 106 §6, 1984)

Except as otherwise restricted by Section 21.36.100 , the following uses are permitted in the R-3 districts:

• A. Any combination of single-family, two-family, or multi-family dwellings up to twenty-five dwelling units per net acre of land when connected to public sewer and water systems;

• B. Repealed;

• C. Accessory uses and buildings normally incidental to residential use;

• D. Repealed;

• E. Rooming house, boarding-house, hospital, residential care home, and similar uses as determined by the planning director; provided, that public sanitary sewer and water systems are connected thereto;

• F. Day care centers, family day care homes, schools offering general academic instruction equivalent to the standards prescribed by the State Board of Education, and seminaries;

• G. Club houses, community centers, fraternal lodges, public and quasi-public buildings, public parks, social halls, and similar uses as determined by the planning director;

• H. Racing homing pigeons as regulated in Chapter 21.92 ;

• I. Garage sales;

• J. Where there is a recorded subdivision map, there may be maintained one advertising sign of not more than two hundred square feet in area, illuminated but nonflashing and nonanimated, and one temporary sales office for a period of two years immediately following the recording date of the subdivision map; however the time for maintaining the sign and temporary sales office may be extended for an additional two-year period provided a use permit is first secured. Such sign and offices shall be subject to all yard requirements and located within the boundary of the subdivision;

• K. A mobile home in lieu of a permitted single-family dwelling as regulated by Chapter 21.72 ;

• L. Home occupations as regulated by Chapter 21.94 ;

• M. Accessory dwellings as regulated by Chapter 21.74 ;

• N. Single-room occupancy housing with approval of a permit in accordance with Chapter 21.100 . (Ord. CS 106 §6, 1984; Ord. CS 350 §1, 1989; Ord. CS 1290 §18, 2021; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Uses permitted, subject to first securing a use permit in each case:

• A. Mobile home parks provided, that all units are connected to a public sanitary sewer and public water system;

• B. Facilities for public utilities;

• C. Churches (excluding tent and open-air churches). (Ord. CS 106 §6, 1984)

Height limit in R-3 districts:

• A. Maximum of forty-five feet for main buildings;

• B. Maximum height of detached garages and accessory buildings, fifteen feet;

• C. No fence, hedge, or screen planting shall be constructed or permitted to grow in excess of eight feet in height within any required side or rear yard, nor in excess of three feet within any required front yard, or side yard of a corner lot except fences within the side and rear yard which enclose electrical substations which may be constructed to the height required by law or unless the planning director determines that visibility will not be obstructed.

• (Ord. CS 106 §6, 1984; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Building site area and lot width required in R-3 districts:

• A. Sites serviced by public sewer and water facilities, four thousand square feet;

• B. Sites serviced by public water and septic tank facilities or private well and public sewer facilities, twenty thousand square feet;

• C. Sites serviced by private well and septic tank facilities, one acre;

• D. Minimum lot width requirements in R-3 districts for the creation of new parcels, shall be as specified in Title 20, Subdivision Ordinance, of the County Code.

• (Ord. CS 106 §6, 1984; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Percentage of lot coverage, for aggregate buildings, maximum seventy percent. (Ord. CS 106 §6, 1984; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Yards required in R-3 districts:

• A. Front yard.

  1. Not less than seventy feet from the existing centerline of the street nor less than fifteen feet from the planned street line on a major street or expressway, whichever is the greater. The vehicle opening of any building shall be no closer than twenty feet to the property line toward which the opening faces,

  2. Not less than forty-five feet from the existing centerline of the street on a collector street (sixty feet wide), nor less than fifteen feet from the planned street line where a specific plan has been adopted. The vehicle opening of any building shall be no closer than twenty feet to the property line toward which the opening faces,

  3. Not less than forty feet from the existing centerline of the street on a minor street (fifty feet wide), nor less than fifteen feet from the planned street line where a specific plan has been adopted. The vehicle opening of any building shall be no closer than twenty feet to the property line toward which the opening faces;

• B. Side Yard, Interior Lot Line and Rear Yard. Five feet;

• C. Side Yard, Corner Lot. The main building and garage or accessory buildings not having direct vehicular access to the street may be located five feet closer to the planned right-of-way line than at the front yard;

• D. Distance Between Buildings in a Building Group. Minimum ten feet side to side; twenty feet front to side or rear to rear and forty feet front to rear;

• E. Side Yard Providing Access to Single Row of Dwellings and Interior Court Providing Access to Double Row of Dwellings. Twenty feet.

• (Ord. CS 106 §6, 1984; Ord. CS 663 §40, 1998)

See Chapter 21.76 for all off-street parking requirements. (Ord. CS 106 §6, 1984; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Construction of new buildings shall be subject to any applicable objective design standards adopted by the County at the time of building permit issuance. (Ord. CS 106 §6, 1984; Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

For parcels rezoned to R-3 effective January 8, 2026, the following standards shall apply to any development of the site:

• A. Parcels shall be developed at a minimum density of twenty dwelling units per acre;

• B. Development of single-family dwellings, other than the replacement of existing legally established single-family dwellings, shall be prohibited; and

• C. No variance to the standards required by this section shall be granted by the county and no parcel shall be rezoned unless the resulting zone will provide for an equal or greater minimum density.

• (Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)

Prior to building permit issuance for development on any parcel that adjoins a vacant or underdeveloped parcel that is zoned or designated for residential development, the following easement or dedication standards shall have been meet to the satisfaction of the directors of planning and public works:

• A. Where an adjoining parcel is five net acres or less in size, a fifty-foot-wide right of way dedication for the purpose of connecting the adjoining parcel to a public right-of-way shall be provided. A part width dedication may be accepted if the remainder of the dedication could be obtained under this same section from an adjoining parcel.

• B. Where an adjoining parcel is less than five net acres in size, a thirty-foot-wide access easement for the purpose of connecting the adjoining parcel to a public right-of-way shall be provided. A part width easement may be accepted if the reminder of the easement could be obtained under this same section from an adjoining parcel.

No easement or dedication shall be required if the directors of planning and public works determine that vehicle circulation allowing for maximum development of all adjoining parcels may be obtained by an alternative means of access. (Ord. CS 1408, 12/9/2025)