§ 17.12

This chapter shall apply to all land within the Very Low-Density Residential (R-VL) zone. The purpose of the R-VL zone is to provide areas that serves as a transition between the urban environment and the surrounding agriculture at a density of 0.1 to three (3) dwellings per gross acre.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

A.

Uses shall be permitted or not permitted, conditionally permitted, administratively permitted, or temporarily permitted as prescribed in the land use table in Section 17.08.020.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

The minimum lot area shall be 15,000 square feet.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

A.

The minimum lot frontage shall be forty (40) feet.

B.

The minimum lot width shall be eighty (80) feet for interior lots and ninety (90) feet for corner lots.

C.

The minimum lot depth shall be one hundred (100) feet for lots fronting on a local street and one hundred thirty (130) feet for lots fronting on collector or arterial streets.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

Not more than one (1) dwelling unit shall be allowed on each lot, unless approved as an accessory dwelling unit in accordance with Section 17.60.030.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

The maximum coverage of a lot in the R-VL zone shall be forty (40) percent of the area of the lot.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

A.

No main structure shall be placed within a building setback area.

B.

The front building setback area shall be a minimum twenty-five (25) feet from the front lot line for lots fronting a local street, and thirty-five (35) feet from the front lot line for lots fronting a collector or arterial street.

C.

The rear building setback shall be a minimum thirty (30) feet from the rear lot line for one-story buildings and a minimum forty (40) feet for multi-story buildings.

D.

The interior side building setback area shall be a minimum ten (10) feet from an interior side lot line for onestory buildings and a minimum fifteen (15) feet from the interior side lot line for multi-story buildings.

E.

The street side building setback area shall be a minimum twenty-five (25) feet from a street side property line where the lot line fronts a local street, and thirty-five (35) feet from the street side lot line where the lot line fronts a collector or arterial street.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

The minimum distance between structures shall be ten (10) feet, except as provided by the building code.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

The maximum structure height shall be thirty-five (35) feet.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

A.

The width of a driveway and any paved area shall not cumulatively exceed forty (40) percent of the width of the lot's street frontage on which the driveway and any paved area faces. In the case of "L" or "U" shaped driveways or other configurations besides perpendicular driveways, the paved area of these driveways shall not exceed fifty (50) percent of the front building setback area.

B.

On corner lots, the driveway shall be located on the side of the lot adjacent to the interior lot line.

C.

On key lots, the driveway shall be located on the side of the lot that is not adjacent to the rear lot line of the adjacent reverse corner lot.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

Accessory structures may be located with a required rear or side building setback area subject to all of the following:

A.

The walls shall be at least five (5) feet from rear and side lot lines.

B.

The accessory structure shall be separated from other structures by a minimum of ten (10) feet.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

A.

Mechanical equipment shall be located a minimum of five (5) feet from a side lot line that adjoins a neighboring side lot line.

B.

Above or below-ground swimming pools shall be set back five (5) feet from all lot lines.

C.

Decks, balconies, and other types of platforms with a floor height over two (2) feet high shall be set back five (5) feet from the rear and interior side lot lines and ten (10) feet from the street side lot line.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

A.

Off-street parking and off-street loading facilities shall be provided on the site for each use as prescribed in Chapter 17.54.

B.

Single-family dwellings shall provide a minimum of two (2) covered parking spaces. Other uses shall provide parking as prescribed in Chapter 17.54.

C.

Required parking spaces may not be provided within any front, side, or rear building setback area.

D.

The exterior siding and roofing materials utilized on garages and carports shall match the design and materials of any single-family dwelling on the same lot. New two-car carports may be utilized in place of a two-car garage only if located at least twenty (20) feet behind the front building setback line, and must be connected to the main dwelling, have a similar roof pitch as the main dwelling, use similar roofing material and the main dwelling, and have support beams or posts that are decorative in style.

E.

No recreation vehicle, including without limitation camping trailer, boat trailer, utility trailer, boat, pickup camper, motor home, dune buggy, or similar vehicle/trailer shall be stored or parked, except within an

enclosed side or rear yard or within a garage or carport except if a side or rear yard is not accessible due to existing legal permanent structures. Also, see Chapter 10.19 of the Woodlake Municipal Code.

F.

All recreational vehicles or trailers parked in a location visible from the street are to be clean and maintained so as not to detract from the neighborhood. All recreational vehicles must be operable. Also, see Chapter 10.19 of the Woodlake Municipal Code.

G.

No recreational vehicle or trailer shall be used as a residence.

H.

All motor vehicles incapable of movement under their own power, other than in cases of emergency, shall be stored in an entirely enclosed space, garage, or carport. Vehicles with custom-fitted covers may be stored in an open area when it does not create a nuisance or safety problem as determined by the director, cause complaints from neighbors, or violate any section of this code.

I.

Repair of vehicles owned by the resident of the property and storage of parts shall be within an enclosed garage, or carport if no garage exists. Vehicle repair and storage of parts are prohibited in a driveway and the front or street side building setback areas.

J.

Driveways shall be designed so that vehicles are not required to back out onto collector or arterial streets.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

17.12.140 - Usable open space.

There is no open space requirement in the R-VL zone.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

17.12.150 - Landscaping.

A.

Landscaping shall be provided for each use as prescribed in Section 17.52 Standards.

B.

Except for driveways and approved parking areas, all yard areas and setback areas visible from the street(s) shall be landscaped with live plant materials and ornamentation common to the Woodlake area or up to one hundred (100) percent of the yard and setback area may be landscaped with artificial turf and other permeable surfaces.

C.

Required landscaping is to be installed prior to occupancy of the residence, apartment, or office and continually maintained pursuant to Chapter 17.52. The director may grant an exception to this section to avoid planting in inclement weather.

D.

Landscaped areas are not to be used or converted to parking areas or any other use which results in the damage or removal of the landscaping. However, the widening of an existing paved driveway perpendicular to the street is permitted if the total width of the existing paving and the new paving does not exceed fifty (50) percent of the lot frontage along the street.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

Fences, walls, and hedges in the R-VL zone shall conform to the design standards in Section 17.50.110, and the following:

A.

Site plan review. Fences and walls for housing projects are subject to site plan review in compliance with Chapter 17.72 of this title.

B.

These regulations do not apply to fences or walls required by regulations of a state or Federal agency, or by the city for reasons of public safety, or to retaining walls that adjoin land uses.

C.

Fences, walls, and hedges may be erected and properly maintained to the heights identified below and measured from the highest adjoining finish grade:

1.

Front and street side yards three (3) feet maximum height allowed. A fence may be four (4) feet if more than fifty (50) percent of the fencing is see-through.

2.

Rear and interior side yards wall equal to a minimum of six (6) feet and a maximum of seven (7) feet in height.

D.

Where there is a difference in the ground level (e.g., finish grade) between two (2) adjoining parcels, the height of a fence or wall constructed along the common property line shall be determined by using the highest finish grade.

E.

Walls along arterial and collector streets. If a wall is required, or if the developer of a site located along either an arterial or collector street chooses to install (or is required to install) a wall, the wall shall be installed and maintained in compliance with the following requirements:

1.

Arterial and collector streets. A combination of a landscaped berm and wall equal to a minimum of six (6) feet and seven (7) feet in height.

2.

Wall height. The wall should be a minimum of six (6) feet in height as measured from the highest-grade side.

F.

Allowable fence materials. All fences, constructed or installed within the city shall be limited to the following materials, or combination of materials:

1.

Front and street side yards:

a.

Chain link;

b.

Concrete/block;

c.

Latticework fencing;

d.

Wood;

e.

Wrought iron.

2.

Rear and interior side yards:

a.

Concrete/block;

b.

Latticework fencing;

c.

Wood.

G.

Special fence and wall requirements.

1.

Temporary fencing. Temporary fencing may be necessary to protect archaeological or historic resources and/or trees during site preparation and construction. Temporary fencing for these purposes shall be subject to the review and approval of the director.

2.

Swimming pool enclosure required.

a.

Swimming pools shall be entirely enclosed by structures, fences or walls in compliance with California Government Code Section 115920 - The Swimming Pool Act.

b.

Such fences shall have a minimum height of five (5) feet. Such fences shall be substantial and shall be constructed so there are no openings greater than three (3) inches when all gates are closed. All gates, five feet or less in width, in enclosing fences shall be self- closing and self-latching. All gates greater than five (5) feet in width shall be provided with a means of latching said gate closed. All latches on gates in enclosing fences shall be a minimum of four (4) feet above grade. No pool shall be filled with water until the enclosing fence has been constructed and approved by the building inspector. Surrounding structures, existing fences and gates shall suffice for this requirement if they comply with all requirements of this section as determined by the building inspector.

H.

The city reserves the right to remove, at the expense of the owner of the property or properties enclosed by the fence, any fence in a public easement in any emergency.

I.

Where provided, perimeter walls around residential subdivisions shall comply with the following standards:

1.

Walls shall be constructed of concrete block or a combination of landscape berm and wall.

2.

Walls shall have vertical elements (e.g., pilasters, indentations) of differing colors and/or materials at least every one hundred (100) feet.

3.

Walls shall include capstones (with limited overhang) of a coordinating color, material, and style as the rest of the wall.

4.

Walls shall be of neutral color and shall be textured with stone, brick, stucco, or other surface finish.

5.

The wall height shall be between six (6) and seven (7) feet high or as otherwise required to adequately attenuate noise of the abutting collector or arterial street or state highway.

6.

Walls shall not be located inside of the required clear visibility area at the intersections of streets.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

17.12.170 - Signs.

Signs placed in the R-VL zones shall be subject to the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 17.56.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

17.12.180 - General provisions and standards.

Structures and the use of structures or land shall be subject to the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 17.50.

(Ord. No. 650, § 3, 4-28-2025)

Chapter 17.14 - LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE