Chapter 17.09 DEFINITIONS

A. For the purpose of interpreting this title, certain terms or words are defined in this chapter. Except where specifically defined in this chapter, all words used in this title shall carry the customary meaning.

B. Words used in the present tense include the future and the future includes the present; the plural includes the singular and the singular includes the plural.

C. “Building” includes “structure.”

D. “Lot” includes “plot.”

E. “Occupied” or “used” shall be considered as though followed by the words “or intended,” “or arranged,” or, “or designed to be used or occupied.”

F. “Shall” is mandatory. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007].

17.09.020 A definitions.

“Abandoned sign” means any sign located on property that is vacant and unoccupied for a period of four months or more.

Accessory Building. See “Building, accessory,” WRMC 17.09.030.

“Accessory dwelling unit” is a second dwelling unit either in or added to an existing single-family detached dwelling, or in a separate structure on the same lot as the primary dwelling. The dwelling is a complete, independent living facility with provisions within the accessory unit for cooking, eating, sanitation, and sleeping, and has an entry separate from that of the main dwelling. Accessory units are also commonly known as “mother-in-law” units or “carriage houses.” An ADU is distinguishable from a duplex in that, unlike a duplex, it is clearly subordinate to the primary dwelling unit, both in use and appearance. Manufactured homes or recreational vehicles shall not be used as accessory dwelling units.

“Accessory use” means a use subordinate or incidental to the principal use of a building where such use is located on the same lot with the principal use of the building.

“Administrator” means the director of the West Richland community development department or his or her designee(s).

“Adult family home” means a residential home in which a person or persons provides personal care, special care, room, and board to more than one but not more than six adults who are not related by blood or marriage to the person or persons providing the services.

“Adult retail store” means a retail establishment in which 25 percent or more of the stock in trade consists of equipment, items or products distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matters depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas as defined herein.

“Adult use business” means any adult bookstore, adult mini-theater, adult motion picture theater, adult panoram establishment, adult retail store or live adult entertainment establishment, as defined in this chapter, or any establishment which provides one or more of the activities listed herein. Video retail outlets that, as their sole business activity, provide take-home merchandise are specifically excluded from the scope and operation of this chapter.

“Agricultural building” means a structure designed and constructed to store farm implements or hay, grain, poultry, livestock, fruit, and other agricultural products. An agricultural building is not to be used for human habitation; processing, treating or packaging agricultural products; nor shall it be a place used by the public. Controlled atmosphere and cold storage warehouses are not agricultural buildings. An agricultural building that is permitted in conjunction with a commercial agricultural operation shall be considered a “main building” as to development requirements. Agricultural buildings not located on commercial agricultural operations are to be considered “accessory buildings” as to the development requirements.

“Alley” means a narrow service way, not less than 20 feet wide, providing a secondary public means of access to abutting properties.

“Alteration,” applied to a building or structure, means:

1. A change or rearrangement of the structural parts in the existing facilities; or

2. An enlargement or addition on a building or structure; or

3. Moving a building or structure from one location or position to another; or

4. A change of use.

“Alteration, structural” means any change of supporting members of a building such as bearing walls, columns, beams, or girders.

“Amendment” means a change in the wording, content, or substance of this title, adoption of maps hereunder, or a change in the boundaries of maps adopted hereunder.

“Antenna” means the surface from which wireless radio signals are sent and received by a wireless communication facility.

“Apartment” means a dwelling unit in a multiple-family building.

“Apartment house” means the same as dwelling, multiple-family.

“Applicant” means any person who files a permit application with the city and is either the property owner of the land in question, a lessee, another person entitled to possession of the property, or an authorized agent of such entities.

“Area, net site” means the total area within the property lines exclusive of external streets.

“Art studio” means the working place of a painter, sculptor or photographer and/or including the study of an art such as dancing, singing, acting, musical instruments, etc. An art studio does not include uses such as or similar to body painting and pornographic sales or displays.

“Assisted living facility” means a home or other institution, licensed by the state of Washington, providing housing, basic services and assuming general responsibility for the safety and well-being of residents under Chapter 18.20 RCW and Chapter 388-78A WAC. These facilities may provide care to residents with symptoms consistent with dementia requiring additional security measures.

“Awning sign” means a signed affixed to a fixed or retractable canvas (or other sturdy fabric), wood or metal covering, erected over a window, door, balcony or deck. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 14-19 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 24-12 § 1 (Exh. A), 2012; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.020 – 17.09.100].

17.09.030 B definitions.

“Banner sign” means a sign consisting of a piece of fabric or similar material, attached by one or more edges to a pole or staff or other device, or to a building facade, intended for display.

“Basement” means a story partly underground, but having at least one-half of its height above the average level of the adjoining ground. A basement shall be counted as a story for the purposes of height measurement if the vertical distance between the ceiling and the average level of the adjoining ground is more than five feet or if it is used for business or dwelling purposes.

“Bed and breakfast facility” means a private home or inn offering lodging on a temporary basis to transient guests, such as travelers and tourists, and which may provide food services.

“Beehive” means a manmade receptacle used to house a swarm of bees.

“Billboard” means a ground, wall, or roof sign erected, constructed, or maintained for the purpose of displaying outdoor advertising by means of pictorial or reading matter attached thereto or posted thereon and available by means of rental to persons other than the owner or lessee of the sign.

“Blade sign” means a sign that is attached to a building, or to a projection from a building, and is perpendicular to the front of a building.

“Board of adjustment” means the West Richland board of adjustment which consists of five members appointed by the mayor to serve for terms of four years, and whose purpose is to hear and decide applications for variances.

“Building” means a roof supported by walls or columns for the enclosure of persons, animals or property of any kind or nature.

“Building, accessory” means a supplemental building, the use of which is incidental to that of the main or principal building and which is located on the same lot.

“Building, detached” means a building surrounded by open space as required by this title.

“Building facade” means that portion of any exterior elevation of a building extending from the grade of the building to the top of the parapet wall or eaves for the entire width of the building elevation.

“Building, front line of” means the line of the face of the building nearest the front line of the lot. This face includes sun parlors and covered porches whether enclosed or unenclosed, but does not include steps.

“Building height” means the vertical distance measured from the average grade plane to the highest point of a structure; provided, that television antennas, chimneys, and similar appurtenances shall not be used in calculating height. For structures other than buildings, it is the vertical distance measured from adjacent grade to the top of the structure.

“Building line” means the line of that face or corner or part of a building nearest the property line.

“Building, main” means a building in which is conducted the principal use of the lot on which it is situated.

“Business; business use” means an activity with the intention of earning a profit and which generally relates to commercial and industrial engagements. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.110 – 17.09.190].

17.09.040 C definitions.

“Cannabis” means all parts of the plant Cannabis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin. For the purposes of this title, “cannabis” does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks, except the resin extracted therefrom, fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination. The term “cannabis” includes cannabis products and usable cannabis.

“Canopy sign” means a sign attached to a freestanding structure affording protection from the elements to persons or property thereunder.

“Caretaker” means a person engaged to look after or maintain property and who may reside on the subject property.

“Carrier” means an entity that provides wireless communication services.

“Car wash” or “automatic car wash” means any structure providing equipment such as conveyors, blowers, steam cleaners, high pressure water sprayers (pressure above that maintained by the city), or other mechanical devices for the purpose of laundering motor vehicles.

“Carnival/fair – temporary” means a traveling or temporary show or event that may include amusement shows, performances, music events, games, rides, farm displays, and similar attractions.

“Charging levels” means the electrical force, or voltage, at which an electric vehicle’s battery is recharged. Levels 1, 2 and 3 are the most common electric vehicle charging levels, and include the following specifications:

1. Level 1 is considered slow charging, requiring a 15- or 20-amp breaker on a 120-volt AC circuit and standard outlet.

2. Level 2 is considered medium charging, requiring a 40-amp to 100-amp breaker on a 240-volt circuit.

3. Level 3 is considered fast charging, requiring a 60-amp or higher dedicated breaker on a 480-volt or higher three-phase circuit with special grounding equipment. Level 3 charging uses an off-board charger to provide the AC to DC conversion, delivering DC directly to the car battery.

“Child care center” means an entity that regularly provides child day care and early learning services for a group of children for periods of less than 24 hours licensed by the Washington State Department of Early Learning, under Chapter 170-295 WAC.

“Church” means a building or buildings intended for religious worship including ancillary activity and improvements such as religious education, assembly rooms, kitchen, reading room, recreation hall, child care areas, and may include a residence for church staff. This definition does not include schools devoted primarily to nonreligious education.

“Classification” means a use category in the broad list of land uses, in which certain uses, either individually or as to type, are identified as possessing similar characteristics or performance standards and are permitted as compatible uses in the same zone or classification. A classification, as the term is employed in this title, includes provisions, conditions, and requirements related to the permissible location of permitted uses.

“Clinic” means a building designed and used for the medical and surgical diagnosis and treatment of outpatients under the care of doctors and nurses.

“Club, membership” means an organization catering exclusively to members and their guests in premises and buildings for recreational, social, and athletic purposes where such operations are not conducted primarily for gain and also where there are no vending, merchandising or commercial activities except as required generally for the membership and purposes of such club.

“Clubhouse” means an assembly place or facility used for and providing fraternal, social, and/or recreational programs designed to accommodate and serve segments of the community, such as residents of a development.

“Co-applicant” means all persons and/or entities joining with an applicant in an application for a land development/use permit, including the owners of the subject property and any tenants proposing to conduct a development activity subject to a development permit.

“Co-location” means the use of a single tower by more than one licensed wireless communication carrier.

“Commercial coach” means a structure (or unit) that is transportable in one or more sections, is built on a permanent chassis, is used for temporary commercial purposes with or without a permanent foundation and may include plumbing, mechanical, electrical and other systems.

“Commercial use” means any premises devoted primarily to the wholesaling or retailing of a product or service for the purpose of generating an income.

“Community development department” means the West Richland department responsible for administering the provisions of this title.

“Community recreation facilities” means development designed and intended for daytime recreational uses, including picnic areas, basketball courts, swimming pools, tennis courts, outdoor kitchens/cooking areas, and playgrounds.

“Community recycling centers” means a principal use of land, devoted to a facility and operation which receives, stores, and redistributes presorted recyclable material, including white goods. Community recycling centers shall be considered a commercial land use. Operation of the community recycling center shall be restricted to the collection or redemption of recycling material, which may be packaged for shipment and temporarily stored until transported to a separate processing facility. Community recycling centers are intended to be compatible with surrounding commercial land uses and not include on-site processing.

“Comprehensive plan” means the official document or elements thereof, adopted by the West Richland city council pursuant to Chapter 36.70A RCW, and intended to guide the physical development of the city.

“Comprehensive plan land use designation” means the official land use designation or classification of the West Richland comprehensive plan land use map, as adopted by the West Richland city council pursuant to Chapter 36.70A RCW.

“Concealment technology” means the use of technology through which a wireless communications facility is designed to resemble an object which is not a wireless communications facility and which is already present in the natural environment, or designed to resemble or be placed within an existing or proposed structure.

“Concurrency” means adequate capital and transportation facilities and services are available when the impacts of development occur or a financing plan is adopted which will fund required improvements within six years.

Conditional Use. See “Use, conditional.”

“Container storage” means a unit originally or specifically used or designed to store goods or other merchandise during shipping or hauling by a vehicle, including but not limited to rail cars of any kind, truck trailers, or multimodal shipping containers.

“Contractor” means any person, firm or corporation who or which, in the pursuit of an independent business, undertakes to, or offers to undertake, or submits a bid to, construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck or demolish, for another, any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation or other structure, project, development, or improvement attached to real estate or to do any part thereof; or who, to do similar work upon his or her own property, employs members of more than one trade upon a single job or project or under a single building permit except as otherwise provided herein. “Contractor” includes any person, firm, corporation, or other entity covered by this subsection.

“Contractor storage yard” means a site used for the storage of tools, equipment, materials, vehicles, sand, rock, gravel, vegetation, debris and other materials ancillary to work being performed off site, for another, by a contractor engaged in such work. This definition of a contractor storage yard excludes private landowners and their personal equipment solely engaged in agricultural activities on their own personal property pursuant to this subsection.

“Coverage” means that percentage of the plot or lot area covered by the building area. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 14-19 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 35-14 § 1, 2014; Ord. 24-12 § 1 (Exh. A), 2012; Ord. 19-12 § 1 (Att. A), 2012; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.200 – 17.09.290].

17.09.050 D definitions.

“Day care center” means a state-licensed entity regularly providing care for 13 or more children for periods of less than 24 hours. A day care center is not located in a private family residence unless the portion of the residence to which the children have access is used exclusively for the children during the hours the center is open or is separate from the usual quarters of the family.

“Day care provider, family” means an entity regularly providing care during part of the 24-hour day to six or fewer children in the family abode of the person(s) under whose direction the children are placed; or a state-licensed entity regularly providing care during part of the 24-hour day to between six and 12 children in the family abode of the person(s) under whose direction the children are placed. See WAC 365-196-210(14).

“Day care, mini-center” means a state-licensed entity providing care during part of the 24-hour-day period for 12 or fewer children in a facility other than the family abode of the person or persons under whose direct care the children are placed, or for the care of seven through 12 children in the family abode of such person or persons.

“Density” means the intensity of activity occurring per unit of land area, ordinarily expressed as the number of families or dwelling units per acre.

“Development” means any physical manmade change to improved or unimproved property, site or parcel including, but not limited to, construction, placement and/or the manipulation of buildings or other structures, clearing, dredging, filling, grading, paving, mining, excavation or drilling operations.

“Directional sign” means a sign without advertising that directs people to a location. Such signs may include a logo or other business or site identification.

“Dog kennel” or “cat kennel” means any lot, premises, building, or structure where six or more dogs or six or more cats over six months of age are kept.

“Driveway” means that space or area of a lot that is primarily intended for the movement of motor vehicles within the lot or from the lot to a public street.

“Dwelling” means a single unit within a building or portion thereof providing a complete independent living space for one household, including permanent facilities for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. Dwelling units may be either detached (i.e., freestanding) or attached (i.e., sharing common walls with other such units), as specified by the individual zoning districts, provided attached dwelling units shall be of site-built or modular construction.

“Dwelling, multiple-family” means a building or portion thereof used or designed as a residence for three or more households and containing three or more dwelling units.

“Dwelling, one-family” and “dwelling, single-family” mean a building designed or occupied by not more than one household and containing only one dwelling unit. In determining permitted uses, single-family dwellings include site-built homes, factory-built homes, and designated manufactured homes meeting siting standards of WRMC 17.54.090. It does not include recreational vehicles, travel trailers, or other structures designed for temporary or recreational use.

“Dwelling, two-family” or “duplex” means a building designed or occupied exclusively by two households and containing two dwelling units. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.292 – 17.09.340].

17.09.060 E definitions.

“Easement” or “private way” means an interest in land owned by another that entitles its holder to a specific limited use such as for utilities or access.

“Electronic message board” means an electronic sign that is changed electronically and that is illuminated by light bulbs, light-emitting diodes, fiber optic, plasma, cold cathode, EL wire, or other similar technology.

“Elementary school” means a school for early education that provides the first four to eight years of basic education and is recognized by the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

“Equipment cabinet” means an enclosed structure at the base of the tower, within which are housed batteries, backup power generator, and electrical equipment necessary for the operation of a wireless communication facility. This equipment is connected to the antenna by cable.

“Essential public facilities” means public facilities and privately owned or operated facilities serving a public purpose that are typically difficult to site. They include but are not limited to airports, state education facilities, state or regional transportation facilities, prisons, jails, other correctional facilities, and solid waste handling facilities. These facilities are of statewide and regional significance. Local transit service is not considered an essential public facility. Essential public facilities will be allowed in locations appropriate for the services provided and the people served.

“Essential use” means that use for the preservation or promotion of which the use district was created, and to which all other permitted uses are subordinate.

“Event center, commercial” means a facility located on private property that primarily functions to provide a facility for any type of social gathering and consisting of multipurpose meeting and/or recreational facilities, typically consisting of one or more meeting or multipurpose room and a kitchen, food trucks, and/or outdoor barbecue facilities, that are available for use by various private groups for such activities as meetings, parties, weddings, receptions, and dances.

“Externally illuminated sign” means a sign that has lighting directed onto its surface externally. [Ord. 17-23 § 1, 2023; Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 14-19 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 35-14 § 1, 2014; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.360 – 17.09.370].

17.09.070 F definitions.

“FAA” means the Federal Aviation Administration.

Family. See “Household.”

“FCC” means Federal Communications Commission.

“Fence” means an upright structure serving as an enclosure, barrier or boundary, usually made of posts, boards, wire, iron, steel or masonry.

“Fire station” means a facility or other area for storing firefighting apparatuses such as fire engines and related vehicles, personal protective equipment, fire hoses and other specialized equipment. Fire stations frequently contain office, living space and training facilities for the firefighters and support staff.

“Flag” means a fabric sign attached to a pole, including, but not limited to, official flags of the United States of America, states of the United States, counties, municipalities, official flags of foreign nations, and flags of nationally or internationally recognized nonprofit organizations.

“Flood” means a temporary rise in stream, lake, or tidal water level that results in inundation of areas not ordinarily covered by water.

“Floodplain” means area that would be inundated by a flood of such magnitude that it would occur theoretically at least once in 100 years.

“Floor area” or “floorspace” means the sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of the building or buildings measured from the exterior faces or exterior walls or from the centerline of walls separating two buildings. In particular, the floor area of a building or buildings includes but is not limited to:

1. Basement space;

2. Floorspace for mechanical equipment, with structural headroom of seven feet and six inches or more;

3. Elevator shafts and stairwells at each floor;

4. Penthouses;

5. Attic space, whether or not a floor has actually been laid, providing structural headroom of seven feet and six inches or more;

6. Interior balcony and mezzanines;

7. Enclosed porches;

8. Accessory uses not including space for accessory off-street parking; providing, however, that the floor area or floorspace of the building shall not include:

a. Cellar space, except that the cellar space used for retailing shall be included for the purposes of calculating requirements for accessory off-street parking spaces, and accessory off-street loading spaces;

b. Elevator and stair bulkheads, accessory water tanks and cooling towers;

c. Attic space, whether or not a floor has actually been laid, providing structural headroom of less than seven feet and six inches;

d. Uncovered steps;

e. Terraces, breezeways, and open spaces;

f. Accessory off-street parking spaces.

“Floor area” or “floorspace ratio” of a building means a quotient of the floor area or floorspace of a building divided by its lot area.

“Food and beverage product manufacturing, small scale” means uses such as micro-wineries, small-scale craft production, micro-breweries, coffee roasting facilities, and the like, where products are produced, fermented, roasted and/or otherwise prepared for retail or wholesale production. These uses are small-scale in nature and are limited to the annual production of up to 15,000 gallons of spirits, production of up to 6,000 barrels of beer, or the production of up to 50,000 liters of wine.

“Food vending vehicle” means the vending of food and/or beverages from a large vehicle that is equipped to both book and sell food, and that is capable of being moved from place to place.

“Freestanding sign” means a single-faced or multifaced sign, supported from the ground by one or more columns, uprights, braces or similar support structure, and not attached to any building.

“Funeral home” means a building or part thereof used for human funeral services. Such building may contain space and facilities for (1) embalming and the performance of other services used in the preparation of the dead for burial; (2) the performance of autopsies and other surgical procedures; (3) the storage of caskets, funeral urns and other related funeral supplies; (4) the storage of funeral vehicles; and (5) facilities for cremation. For the purpose of this title, where a funeral home is permitted, a funeral chapel shall also be permitted. [Ord. 8-23 § 1, 2023; Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 8-20 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 7-10 § 10, 2010; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.380 – 17.09.410].

17.09.080 G definitions.

“Game arcade” means an entertainment venue featuring primarily video games, simulators, and/or other amusement devices where persons under 21 years of age are not restricted.

“Garage, private” means a sheltered or enclosed space designed and used for the storage of motor vehicles or boats of the residents of the premises. Space therein may be used for not more than one commercial vehicle whose gross vehicle weight shall not exceed 8,000 GVW. Temporary storage of farm vehicles for not to exceed three consecutive days is permissible. Space may be rented to not more than two vehicles of other than the occupants of the building to which the garage is accessory.

“Garage, public” means any garage other than a private garage, available to the public, operated for gain and which is used for storage, repair, rental, greasing, washing, servicing, adjusting or equipping of automobiles or other motor vehicles.

“Garage or yard sales” means sales of personal household items conducted on the premises of a residential dwelling and occurring no more frequently than a total of 15 days in any one calendar year.

“Gas station” means building and premises for dispensing motor vehicle fuels, oil, grease and related supplies, and which may provide automobile servicing and repair.

Gross Floor Area. See “Floor area.”

“Guest ranch” means a working farm or ranch that provides a farming or ranching experience to tourists for a fee, and includes accessory rooming and boarding for that purpose. A guest ranch may include up to 20 boarding rooms, for tourist use only. Also known as “dude ranch.”

“Guyed tower” means a monopole or lattice tower that is tied to the ground or other surface by diagonal cables. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 35-14 § 1, 2014; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.420 – 17.09.429].

17.09.090 H definitions.

“Hazardous waste” means all dangerous and extremely hazardous waste as defined in RCW 70.105.010, except for moderate-risk waste.

“Hazardous waste storage” means the holding of dangerous waste for a temporary period as regulated by State Dangerous Waste Regulations, Chapter 173-303 WAC.

“Hazardous waste treatment” means the physical, chemical or biological processing of dangerous waste to make wastes nondangerous or less dangerous, safer for transport, amenable for energy or material resource recovery, amenable for storage or reduced in volume.

“Hazardous waste treatment and storage facility, off-site” means treatment and storage facilities which treat and store wastes generated on properties other than those on which the off-site facilities are located.

“Hazardous waste treatment and storage facility, on-site” means treatment and storage facilities which treat and store wastes generated on the same, geographically contiguous or bordering property.

Height, Building. See “Building height.”

“Height, wireless communication facility” means the distance measured from ground level to the highest point on the WCF even if the highest point is an antenna.

“Hobby agriculture” means the raising of farm crops including vegetables or fruit for sale on the land on which the crops are grown.

“Home, factory-built” means any structure designed primarily for human occupancy, other than a manufactured or mobile home, the structure or any room of which is either entirely or substantially prefabricated or assembled at a place other than a building site. Factory-built homes conform to all state and local building codes and fall within the land use category of single-family detached dwellings.

Home, Modular. See “Home, factory-built.”

“Home occupation, large-scale” means a business or professional enterprise operated out of a residential dwelling or accessory building by a resident of the household and potentially up to two nonresident employees, which is of a scale and character that does not alter or detract from the residential character of the property or neighborhood, and is incidental and accessory to the primary use of the property for residential purposes.

“Home occupation, small-scale” means a business or professional enterprise operated out of a residential dwelling by a resident of the household, which is of a scale and character that does not alter or detract from the residential character of the dwelling or neighborhood, and is incidental and accessory to the primary use of the dwelling for residential purposes.

“Hospital” unless otherwise specified, includes, but is not limited to, sanitariums, sanitoriums, preventoriums, clinics, rest homes, nursing homes, convalescent homes and any other place for the diagnosis, treatment or care of human ailments.

“Hospital or clinic for small animals” means a hospital or clinic for dogs, cats, birds, and the like, provided any treatment rooms, cages, pens, or kennels are maintained within a completely enclosed, soundproof building and that such hospital or clinic is operated in such a way as to produce no objectionable odors outside its walls.

“Hotel” means a building containing rooms intended or designed to be used or which are used, rented or hired out to be occupied for sleeping purposes by guests, and in which only a general kitchen and dining rooms are provided within the building or an accessory building.

“Household” means an individual, two or more persons related by blood or marriage, a group of two or more disabled residents protected under the Federal Fair Housing Amendment Act of 1988, adult family homes as defined under Washington State law, or a group living arrangement where six or fewer residents receive supportive services such as counseling, foster care, or medical supervision at the dwelling unit by resident or nonresident staff. Up to six residents not related by blood or marriage who live together in a single-family dwelling, or in conjunction with any of the above individuals or groups, shall also be considered a household. For purposes of this definition, minors living with parent or legal guardian shall not be counted as part of the maximum number of residents. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 14-19 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 13-08 § 1, 2008; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.431 – 17.09.485].

17.09.100 I definitions.

“Industrial use” means facilities for the processing, manufacture, fabrication, assembly, treatment, packing, storage, sales and/or distribution of raw, partially finished or finished materials.

“Industrial use, light” means a use involving basic processing and manufacturing of materials or products predominantly from previously prepared materials or finished products or parts, including processing, fabrication, assembly, treatment, packaging, incidental storage, sales, and distribution of such products.

“Internal illuminated letter sign” means an illuminated sign where the sign’s contents are separately lit from inside the letters or logos.

“Internal illuminated sign” means an illuminated sign having an opaque surface, allowing its contents to be read. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020].

17.09.110 J definitions.

“Junkyard” means a lot or structure or part thereof used primarily for the collecting and/or sale of waste, paper, rags, scrap metal or discarded materials and/or for the collection, dismantling, storage and salvaging of machinery and/or vehicles for the sale of parts. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.490].

17.09.120 K definitions.

Kennel. See WRMC 17.09.050. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020].

17.09.130 L definitions.

“Land use designation” means a land use classification and designation indicated on the city’s comprehensive plan land use map.

“Land use map” means a map which identifies the boundaries of the various land use designations listed within the city’s comprehensive plan.

“Large domestic animals” means any emu, ostrich, horses, cows, sheep, goats, llamas, ponies, oxen or other hoofed animals. Swine (hogs and pigs) are not permitted within the city.

“Lattice tower” means a type of mount that is either self-supporting with multiple legs and cross bracing of structural steel or additionally supported with diagonal cables.

“Laundromat” means a business premises equipped with individual clothes-washing machines for use by retail customers exclusive of laundry facilities provided as accessory use in an apartment house, apartment or hotel.

“Laundry” means a business where clothes and/or other fabrics are sent to be cleaned.

“Library” means an organized collection of resources made accessible to the public for reference or borrowing supported with money derived from taxation.

“Licensed carrier” means a company authorized by the FCC to build and operate a commercial mobile radio service system.

“Light-duty truck” means a truck with an empty scale weight of 6,000 pounds or less. It includes vehicles such as pickup trucks, vans and utility vehicles.

“Line, street” means the dividing line between the dedicated right-of-way of a street and an adjacent lot.

“Lot” means land occupied or to be occupied by a principal use or a building and its accessory buildings or by a dwelling group and its accessory buildings, together with such open spaces as are required under the provisions of this title having not less than the minimum area required by this title for the lot in a district in which such land is situated. The lot shall also have its principal frontage upon a street or on such other means of access as may be determined by the provisions of this title to be adequate.

“Lot, corner” means a lot abutting on and at the intersection of two or more streets.

“Lot coverage” means the percentage of the lot covered by buildings. Covered porches, covered patios, decks 30 inches or more above grade, pools more than 48 inches above grade, pergolas, gazebos, and any other roofed structure, whether structural or decorative, shall be considered a building when calculating lot coverage.

“Lot, depth of corner” means a mean horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines measured in the general direction of its side lot lines.

“Lot, interior” means a lot other than a corner lot.

“Lot line” means any line dividing one lot from another.

“Lot, through” means an interior lot having frontage on two parallel or approximately parallel streets, except that lots with access from a nonarterial, but having frontage on an arterial where there is no access, are not considered through lots for the purpose of setbacks.

“Lot, width of” means the average width measured at right angles to the depth. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 35-14 § 1, 2014; Ord. 29-09 § 1 (Att. A), 2009; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.495 – 17.09.600].

17.09.140 M definitions.

“Manufactured home” means a single-family residence constructed after June 15, 1976, in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements for manufactured housing and bearing the appropriate insignia indicating compliance (HUD Code – “Red Label”).

“Manufactured home, designated” means a manufactured home constructed after June 15, 1976, in accordance with state and federal requirements for manufactured homes, which:

1. Is comprised of at least two fully enclosed parallel sections each of not less than 12 feet wide by 36 feet long; and

2. Was originally constructed with, and now has, a composition shake or shingle, coated metal, or similar roof of not less than 3:12 pitch; and

3. Has exterior siding similar in appearance to siding materials commonly used on conventional site-built International Building Code single-family residences.

“Manufactured home, new” means any manufactured home required to be titled under RCW Title 46, which was not previously titled to a retail purchaser, and is not a used mobile home as defined in RCW 46.04.302. (Regulated under the HUD construction and safety standards.)

“Manufactured home park” means a site containing spaces with required improvements and utilities that are leased for the long-term placement of manufactured homes. This term shall also include “mobile home park” as that term is used in other titles of the West Richland Municipal Code.

“Manufactured home subdivision” means an existing subdivision created for the placement of manufactured homes on individual lots.

“Manufactured or mobile home, decertified” means a former mobile home or manufactured home that no longer qualifies as such, due to completion of the Department of Labor and Industry decertification process, as outlined in L&I publication F622-063-000, Decertification of Manufactured and Mobile Homes. Decertified mobile and manufactured homes are neither permitted uses, nor permitted accessory structures under this title.

“Marijuana” means all parts of the plant cannabis, whether growing or not, with a THC concentration greater than three-tenths percent on a dry weight basis; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the plant, its seeds or resin. For the purposes of this chapter, “cannabis” or “marijuana” does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the mature stalks, except the resin extracted therefrom, fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination.

“Marijuana cultivation” means the planting, growing, harvesting, drying or processing of marijuana plants or any part thereof.

“Marijuana-infused products” means products that contain marijuana or marijuana extracts and are intended for human use. The term “marijuana-infused products” does not include usable marijuana.

“Marquee” means a roof-like projection over the entrance to a store, theater, hotel, or similar building.

“Marquee sign” means a sign attached to a marquee.

“Mini-storage facility” means a building or group of buildings containing separate, individual, private and self-contained units for the storage of household or business goods, provided no hazardous substances or conditions are maintained within the facility. A “mini-storage facility” also includes outdoor storage areas suitable for the storage of licensed automobiles, recreational vehicles, boats, commercial vessels, etc.

“Mobile home” means a factory-built dwelling built prior to June 15, 1976, to standards other than the HUD Code, and acceptable under applicable state codes in effect at the time of construction or introduction of the home into the state (Chapter 296-150M WAC). Mobile homes are single-family residences, transportable in one or more sections that are eight feet or more in width and 32 feet or more in length, built on a permanent chassis, designed to be used as a permanent dwelling and constructed before June 15, 1976.

“Modification” means the changing of any portion of a structure/use/activity from its description in a previous approved permit.

“Monopole” means the type of mount that is self-supporting with a single shaft, typically of wood, steel or concrete.

Motel. See “Hotel.”

“Motor vehicle repair shop” means a building or portion of a building arranged, intended or designed to be used for making repairs to motor vehicles.

“Mount” means the structure or surface upon which antennas are placed including, but not limited to:

1. Roof-Mounted. Mounted on the roof of a building.

2. Side-Mounted. Mounted on the side of a structure including a tower.

3. Ground-Mounted. Mounted on the ground. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 35-14 § 1, 2014; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.610 – 17.09.640].

17.09.150 N definitions.

“Neon sign” means a luminous-tube sign that contains neon or other inert gases at a low pressure which glow brightly when high voltage is applied to them.

“Nonconforming use” means:

1. A lawful building, structure or use of land existing at the time of the enactment of the ordinance codified in this title, which does not conform to the regulations of the district, zone or overlay zone in which it is situated; or

2. A building, structure or use of land which does not conform to the regulations of the district or zone in which it is situated as a result of the reclassification of property under the provisions of this title or any amendment thereto.

“Nurseries or greenhouses, retail” means establishments conducting retail sales of plants and related items.

“Nursery school” means a school designed to provide daytime care and/or daytime instruction for five or more children.

“Nursing or convalescent home” means any building with less than 15 sleeping rooms where persons are housed or lodged and furnished with meals and nursing care and which premises are licensed by the state. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.650 – 17.09.670].

17.09.160 O definitions.

“Occupancy” means using or residing in a structure, dwelling, or recreational vehicle, whether temporary or permanently.

“Office, business or professional” means any room, studio, suite or building used primarily for the conduct of a business such as accounting, correspondence, research, editing, administration or analysis; or the conduct of a business by salesmen, sales representatives or manufacturer’s representatives.

“On-site sewage disposal system” means an integrated arrangement of components for a residence, building, industrial establishment or other places not connected to a public sewer system which:

1. Convey, store, treat, and/or provide subsurface soil treatment and disposal on the property where it originates, upon adjacent or nearby property; and

2. Includes piping, treatment devices, other accessories, and soil underlying the disposal component of the initial and reserve areas.

“Open space” may consist of: shrub-steppe habitats; mountains and ridges; special geological and topographical features; meadows; wetlands; riparian habitats and washes; lakes; urban green spaces, parks, sports and play fields; working agricultural and ranch lands; cultural, historical, and archaeological sites; and other valued landscapes and ecosystems. Open spaces may be publicly or privately owned and managed.

“Open space, natural” may consist of: shrub-steppe habitats; mountains and ridges; special geological and topographical features; meadows; wetlands; riparian habitats and washes; lakes; urban green spaces, parks, sports and play fields; working agricultural and ranch lands; cultural, historical, and archaeological sites; and other valued landscapes and ecosystems. Open spaces may be publicly or privately owned and managed and may also mean any land so designed for preservation, according to criteria established in Chapter 84.34 RCW. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 6-12 § 1 (Att. A), 2012; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.680].

17.09.170 P definitions.

“Parapet” means that portion of a building wall which extends above the roof of the building.

“Park model” means a park trailer as defined in the American National Standards Institute A119.5 Standard for park trailers. Recreational park trailers are recreational vehicles primarily designed and intended to provide temporary living quarters for recreation, camping or seasonal use. They are built on a single chassis, mounted on wheels with a gross trailer area not to exceed 400 square feet when set up. Two different types of recreational park trailers are typically commercially available. One is less than eight feet six inches in width and is designed for frequent travel on highways, while the other is wider than eight feet six inches (usually 12 feet in width) and must be transported with special movement permits issued by the state Department of Transportation. The eight feet six inches unit is expandable when it reaches its destination utilizing slide-outs or tip-outs. The wider, less mobile units are usually sited in RV parks for extended terms.

“Parking lot” means an area, not within a building or other structure, where motor vehicles may be stored for the purpose of temporary, daily or overnight off-street parking. For the purpose of this title, a “parking lot” includes a motor vehicle display lot, and a commercial parking lot.

“Parking space” means an off-street space of a size adequate to temporarily park a motor vehicle and having access to a public street.

“Patio” means a concrete slab, wooden deck or other surfacing material, which may be surrounded by a sight screen and which may have a roof.

“Permitted use” means any use authorized or permitted alone or in conjunction with another use in a specified district and subject to the limitations of the regulations of such district.

“Person” includes individuals, partnerships, associations, or corporations.

Planning/Technical Committee. The planning/technical committee membership shall consist of representatives from the city engineering department and the city community development department and such other entities not within city government as the city planner shall establish, such as a representative from the fire department, the post office, the irrigation district, the REA, etc. The city planner shall act as chairperson of the planning/technical committee. The purpose for the committee is to compare the feasibility of a proposed project to city ordinances, codes, and regulations and advise the planning commission and the city council of such comparison in terms of their applicability.

“Playground” means a public outdoor recreation area for children, usually equipped with swings, slides and other playground equipment, owned and/or managed by a city, county, state or federal government.

“Portable school classroom” means a prefabricated structure consisting of one or more rooms with direct exterior egress from the classroom(s). The structure is transportable in one or more sections and is designed to be used as an educational space with or without a permanent foundation. The structure shall be capable of being demounted and relocated to other locations as needs arise.

“Poultry” means domestic fowl, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.

“Principal use” or “primary use” means the use for which a lot, structure, or building, or the major portion thereof, is designed or actually employed.

“Private” means belonging to or concerning an individual person, company or interest, and is restricted to the individual person, or arising independently of others.

“Professional office in residence” means professional office/studio located in residence of a physician, surgeon, doctor, lawyer, architect, artist, accountant, teacher, registered nurse. Such use shall be secondary and incidental to residential use of building and may be advertised by a professional nameplate or sign not to exceed 96 square inches that is attached to the main door or suspended in a window and it may be illuminated but not in a flashing manner.

“Property owner” means the party or parties having the fee interest in land, except that where land is subject to a real estate contract “owner” shall mean the contract vendee.

“Prosecuting authority” means the city of West Richland’s city attorney, his or her deputies and assistants or such other persons as may be designated by statute.

“Public agriculture school facilities” means a public school owned and operated facility whose use is to support the school’s agriculture and horticulture program to grow crops and raise small animals. “Small animals” includes sheep, goats, chickens, and rabbits, but does not include roosters. Facilities may include loafing sheds, shelters, storage and similar structures.

“Public facilities” means buildings or uses of land, whether owned, leased, or operated by a public entity.

“Public park” means an area of land for the enjoyment of the public, having facilities for rest and/or recreation, such as a baseball diamond or basketball court, owned and/or managed by a city, county, state, federal government or metropolitan park district. “Public park” does not include trails.

“Public school support facilities” means a public school owned and operated facility that is used to support the school such as warehouses, bus parking, and storage facilities.

“Public sign” means a sign placed in the right-of-way.

“Public transit center” means a facility located outside of the public right-of-way that is owned and managed by a transit agency or city, county, state or federal government for the express purpose of staging people and vehicles where several bus or other transit routes converge. They serve as efficient hubs to allow bus riders from various locations to assemble at a central point to take advantage of express trips or other route to route transfers.

“Public use” means any area, building or structure held, used, or controlled exclusively for public purposes by any department or branch of any government, without reference to the ownership of the building or structure or of the land upon which it is situated.

“Public utilities, major” means a private business or organization such as a public service corporation performing some public service and subject to special governmental regulations, or a governmental agency performing similar public services, the services by either of which are paid for directly by the recipients thereof. Such services are sized to serve regional needs beyond the immediate parcel, neighborhood or geographic area, and shall include, but are not limited to, overhead transmission lines, power generation plants and underground pipelines.

“Public utilities, normal” means a private business or organization such as a public service corporation performing some public service and subject to special governmental regulations, or a governmental agency performing similar public services, the services by either of which are paid for directly by the recipients thereof. Such services are sized to serve the immediate parcel, neighborhood or geographic area, and shall include, but are not limited to, communication and electrical power substations, water reservoirs, transmission lines, pumping lines, pumping service facilities, communication relay stations, and wireless communication facilities.

“Public utility” means a private business or organization such as a public service corporation, performing some public service and subject to special governmental regulations, or a governmental agency performing similar public services, the services by either of which are paid for directly by the recipients thereof. Such services shall include, but are not limited to, water supply, wastewater treatment, electric power, gas, irrigation, and transportation of persons or freight. [Ord. 6-23 § 1, 2023; Ord. 23-22 § 1, 2022; Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 14-19 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 3-19 § 1, 2019; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 35-14 § 1, 2014; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.690 – 17.09.740].

17.09.180 Q definitions.

“Quarry,” “sandpit,” “gravel pit,” or “topsoil stripping” means a lot or land or part thereof used for the purpose of extracting stone, sand, gravel or topsoil for sale as an industrial operation and exclusive of the process of grading the lot preparatory to the construction of a building for which application for a building permit has been made. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.750].

17.09.190 R definitions.

“Reader board” means a sign consisting of tracks to hold the sign’s content to allow frequent changes.

“Readily transportable (park model trailers)” means that the unit shall remain on its original axle(s) and tires. The trailer tongue, if removed, shall be stored under the unit and shall be able to be reattached within two hours. Skirting, if installed, shall be temporary in nature and easy removed within a four-hour time frame. Utility connections shall be temporary quick disconnect type such as cord and plug, hose, as traditionally provided in RV parks. Fixed pipe connections for water/sewage or direct wiring into the unit for electrical power is not allowed. The unit shall be transportable within four hours if able to be towed by a light duty truck, or within 48 hours if a vehicle trip permit is required from the WSDOT and towed by a heavy duty truck or semi.

“Readily transportable (recreational vehicles)” means that the recreational vehicle shall not have skirting around the perimeter of the unit, shall remain on its tires and internal jacking and leveling system, the trailer tongue/hitch shall be left attached and ready for use, and utility connections, when made, shall be temporary quick disconnect type such as cord and plug, hose, as traditionally provided in RV parks. The unit shall be transportable within four hours either on its own motive power or towed by a light duty truck.

“Recreation center or facility” means a supervised center that provides a broad range of activities and events intended primarily for use by persons under 21 years of age, owned and/or managed by a charitable nonprofit organization, city, county, state or federal government.

“Recreational marijuana processing” means to handle or process cannabis in preparation for recreational use.

“Recreational marijuana processor” means a person licensed by the State Liquor and Cannabis Board to process marijuana into usable marijuana and marijuana-infused products, package and label usable marijuana and marijuana-infused products for sale in retail outlets, and sell usable marijuana and marijuana-infused products at wholesale to recreational marijuana retailers.

“Recreational marijuana producer” means a person licensed by the State Liquor and Cannabis Board to produce and sell recreational marijuana at wholesale to recreational marijuana processors and other recreational marijuana producers.

“Recreational marijuana production” means to manufacture, plant, cultivate, grow or harvest cannabis or marijuana for recreational purposes.

“Recreational marijuana retail outlet” means a location licensed by the State Liquor and Cannabis Board for the retail sale of usable marijuana and marijuana-infused products for recreational purposes.

“Recreational marijuana retailer” means a person licensed by the State Liquor and Cannabis Board to sell usable marijuana and marijuana-infused products in a retail outlet for recreational purposes.

“Recreational space” means interior or exterior private or public noncommercial areas designed and set aside exclusively for diversion, amusement or entertainment, including, but not limited to, swimming pools, tennis courts, rest areas, or picnicking areas. The recreational area or park land dedication required by Chapter 16.12 WRMC may, at the city council’s discretion, be included in the requirement for open spaces.

“Recreational vehicle (RV)” means a vehicular type unit primarily designed for recreational camping or travel use that has its own motive power or is mounted on or towed by another vehicle. The units include travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, folding camping trailers, truck campers, and motor homes (RCW 43.22.335).

“Recreational vehicle park” means a plot of ground upon which two or more recreational vehicles are located, established, or maintained for occupancy by recreational vehicles of the general public as temporary living quarters for recreation, education, or vacation purposes.

“Recycling accessory drop-boxes” means a temporary device, container, receptacle, or station used for only collecting recyclable materials. Recycling accessory drop-boxes shall be considered incidental and accessory to a primary principal use. Recycling accessory drop-boxes shall include: donation boxes, vending machines, collection drops and bins.

“Recycling process plant” means an enclosed building and associated grounds devoted to the receipt, separation, storage, conversion, baling and/or processing of bulk recyclable material and white goods. “Recycling process plant” also includes composting facilities established to accommodate organic materials where they will be composted, either mechanically or by hand, and then redistributed. Recycling process plants shall be considered an industrial land use which utilize specific processing machinery and equipment, other than for collection.

“Regulation” means a statute, an administrative rule, or an adjudicatory decision.

“Residential care facility” means a facility that cares for at least five, but not more than 15 functionally disabled persons, that is not licensed pursuant to Chapter 70.128 RCW, Adult Family Home.

“Residential development” means any development designed and intended for residential use regardless of the type of building in which such residence is located; i.e., conventional single-family dwellings, single-family attached, townhouses, duplexes, fourplexes or apartment houses.

“Retail sales” means the sale and/or rental of goods, merchandise and commodities for use or consumption by the immediate purchaser. “Retail sales” includes the selling of goods and services which may include convenience goods, such as food and drugs, personal services, such as tailoring, shoe repairing and barbershops, and general merchandise, such as apparel, furniture and home furnishings. The term “store” as used in this title is included in this definition.

“Review authority” means the entity, whether it be the community development department, a hearings examiner, board or commission, or city council, charged with reviewing a permit application and rendering a decision.

“Riding academy” means any establishment where horses are kept for riding, driving, or stabling for compensation or incidental to the operation of any club, association, ranch, or similar establishment.

“Right-of-way” means the land held by the public for road and utility purposes. It usually refers to the land required for the traffic lanes plus the shoulders and drainage structures on both sides of highways, roadways, bikeways and alleys.

“Roof sign” means a sign on the roof or attached behind the parapet of a building that is also attached to the roof or parapet.

“Rowhouse” means a single-family dwelling on its own lot, in a series of two or more similar dwellings in one structure but on separate lots, with interior units sharing common walls along both side property lines and end units sharing a common wall on one side property line, where parking is not incorporated within the dwelling unit. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 35-14 § 1, 2014; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.760 – 17.09.770].

17.09.200 S definitions.

“Safe injection site” means a medically supervised facility designed to provide a hygienic and stress-free environment in which individuals are able to consume illicit recreational drugs intravenously and reduce nuisance from public drug use.

“Salvage yard” means a lot or structure or part thereof used primarily for the collecting and/or sale of waste, paper, rags, scrap metal or discarded materials and/or for the collection, dismantling, storage and salvaging of machinery and/or vehicles for the sale of parts.

“Sandwich board sign” means a portable sign consisting of two sign faces hinged at the top and separated at the bottom to make itself standing.

“Secondary school” means a high and/or middle school: a school for students who have completed their primary education, usually attended by children in grades seven to 12 and recognized by the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

“Sensitive land uses” means those land uses which are particularly sensitive to the secondary effects of adult use businesses. “Sensitive land uses” include the following:

1. Churches, or other religious facilities or institutions;

2. Multiple-family and single-family residential zones;

3. Playgrounds, public parks, and libraries; and

4. Public and private schools, technical schools, training facilities which have 25 percent or more students under age 18 and licensed day care facilities.

“Setback” means the distance that buildings or uses must be removed from their lot lines, except that eave overhangs and ornamental overhangs may extend into required yard areas up to three feet.

“Sign” means any object, device, display or structure, or part thereof, situated outdoors or indoors, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event, or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, design, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination or projected images. The definition of “sign” excludes such things as murals, public art, etc., unless they include some sort of commercial advertising in the design.

“Sign area” means the smallest circle(s), triangle(s) or rectangle(s) which will enclose the individual actual sign face. The supporting structure, which does not contain any part of the sign face, is not included in this definition. If a sign has back-to-back display faces, the area of only one face will be considered the sign area. If a sign has more than one face, all areas which can be viewed simultaneously will be considered the sign area.

“Sign, ground” means a sign which is five feet or less in height above the ground and is supported by one or more poles, columns, or supports anchored in the ground.

“Sign height” means the vertical distance from the ground at the sign base to the highest point of the sign, including its supporting structure.

“Sign, off-premises” means a sign which advertises a product, service, or company not located on the property on which the sign is situated.

“Site” means a portion of a subject property.

“Siting” means the method and form of placement of a use or development on a specific area of a subject property.

“Small domestic animals” means any dogs, cats, rabbits, ducks, geese, pigeons, chickens, or other similar animals over the age of six months.

“Small wind energy systems (SWES)” means a wind energy conversion system consisting of wind turbine(s), tower(s), and associated control or conversion electronics, which has a rated capacity of not more than 100kW, and which is intended to primarily reduce on-site consumption of utility power.

“Solid planting” means planting of evergreen trees and shrubs which prevent a through and unobscured penetration of sight or light.

“Speculation (spec) tower” means a tower designed for the purpose of providing location mounts for wireless communication facilities without a binding commitment or option to lease a location upon the tower by a service provider at the time of initial application.

“Stable, private” means an accessory building in which horses are kept for private use and not for hire, remuneration or sale.

“Stable, public” means a building in which horses are kept for remuneration, hire, sale, or stabling. It may include structures and/or open roaming areas.

“Storage facilities, bulk” means an enclosed (see “Warehouse”) or outdoor area designated for the storage of either large quantities of materials or materials of large size. Includes the storage of vehicles when such storage is not incidental and subordinate to another land use and is not vehicle parking, automotive wrecking/dismantling yards or vehicle sales lots.

“Storage facilities, commercial” means an enclosed storage area(s) (within a structure) designated as support facilities for commercial activities and used for the storage of retail materials.

“Storage facilities, outdoor” means the storage of any materials, products, vehicles, equipment, junk or scrap outside the confines of an enclosed building, and more specifically defined as:

1. Merchandise Display. The display of products and materials, and operable vehicles and equipment for the principal purpose of offering for sale at retail, and incidental to the business on the premises;

2. Equipment and Material Storage. The storage of any equipment in usable condition which are not being specifically displayed as merchandise or offered for sale at retail; and

3. Junk and Scrap Storage. The storage of used products or scrap materials such as wood, cloth, paper, glass, metal, plastic, or rock material which could be refurbished, recycled or converted into usable stock or material.

“Storage facilities, storage units/mini-storage/mini-warehouse” means a building, portion of a building or group of buildings designed and/or used exclusively for the rental or lease of individual compartments which do not exceed 600 square feet in area, and are more specifically defined as:

1. An enclosed area(s) (within a structure) providing storage for residential goods, recreational equipment, and recreational vehicles; and

2. A facility for the storage of goods where storage, retrieval, and transport are the responsibilities of the renter or lessee.

Store. See “Retail sales.”

“Story” means that portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above.

“Story, half” means a story under a gable, hip, or gambrel roof, the wall plates of which on at least two exterior walls are not more than two feet above the floor of such story.

“Story, height of” means the vertical distance from a top surface of a floor to the top surface of the floor next above it. The height of the topmost story is a distance from the top surface of the floor to the top surface of the ceiling joists.

“Street” means a public or recorded thoroughfare which affords primary means of access to abutting property for the use of the general public, upon which every person has the right to pass and to use it at all times, for the purposes of travel, transportation or parking to which it is adapted and devoted.

“Street line” means the boundary line between a street and the abutting property otherwise referred to as the street right-of-way line.

“Structure” means anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on ground or attachment to something having a location on the ground. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 14-19 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 35-14 § 1, 2014; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.780 – 17.09.860].

17.09.210 T definitions.

“Temporary sign” means a nonpermanent sign not otherwise defined in the sign code intended for use for a limited period of time.

“Theater” means a building or part of a building devoted to showing moving pictures on a paid admission basis.

“Tower” means a mast, pole, or monopole, or guyed or freestanding lattice tower designed and primarily used to support antennas associated with wireless communication service. A speculation tower may consist of any one of these tower types. As part of the service, the term “tower” includes, but is not limited to, microwave towers, common carrier towers, personal communication service (PCS), and cellular telephone/data towers. In regard to wind energy systems, the term “tower” shall mean the monopole, guyed monopole or lattice structure that supports a wind generator.

“Tower height” means the distance from the grade level of the tower foundation/base to the highest point of the turbine rotator plane.

“Townhouse” means a single-family dwelling on its own lot, in a series of two or more similar dwellings in one structure but on separate lots, with interior units sharing common walls along both side property lines and end units sharing a common wall on one side property line, and with parking incorporated within the dwelling unit.

“Transmission lines” means electrical facilities, lines, equipment or appurtenances with an associated voltage of 69,000 volts or more. [Ord. 22-21 § 1, 2021; Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 14-19 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.870 – 17.09.890].

17.09.220 U definitions.

“Usable cannabis or usable marijuana” means dried flowers of the cannabis plant. The term “usable cannabis or usable marijuana” does not include marijuana-infused products or cannabis products.

“Use” means a purpose for which a parcel of land, its premises, or a building thereon is designed, arranged, occupied, maintained, or utilized. “Use” also encompasses the terms “activity,” “land development,” and “structure.”

“Use, accessory” means a use or structure on the same lot with, and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to, the principal use or structure.

“Use, conditional” means a use permitted in one or more land use districts, as defined by this title, but because of certain characteristics peculiar to it or because of exact location with reference to surrounding streets and existing improvements or demands upon public facilities, requires a special degree of control to make the use consistent with, and compatible to, other existing and permissible uses, and to ensure that the use is not detrimental to the public interest.

“Use, principal” means that the primary or principal use is the main use as distinguished from a subordinate accessory use, or the use for which a structure is specifically designed or actually employed.

“Utility facilities” means all physical facilities necessary for provision of the following services: sewer, water, electricity, natural gas, telephone, cable television, wireless communication, storm drainage.

“Utility facilities, major” means those facilities necessary to provide utility services which have a greater potential to impact neighboring properties than minor utility facilities, such as: sewage treatment plants; wastewater lagoons and spray fields; power generation facilities; transmission and distribution substations; natural gas regulator stations; domestic surface water treatment facilities; irrigation canals, ponds, and reservoirs; water towers and reservoirs; outdoor pump stations; television transmission facilities more than 30 feet in height; and utility operation and maintenance centers; as well as including any buildings or structures related to these uses.

“Utility facilities, minor” means those facilities which are necessary to provide utility services and generally involve only minor structures, such as: overhead lines and support poles; underground lines and pipes; transformers; indoor and underground pump stations; public wells; outfalls; stormwater retention ponds, infiltration trenches, and catch basins; telephone and fiber optic switching/booster facilities; cable television receiver and transmission facilities 30 feet or less in height; and private on-site facilities such as septic tanks and wells; as well as including any buildings or structures related to these uses, but does not include transmission lines. [Ord. 22-21 § 2, 2021; Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 14-19 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 35-14 § 1, 2014; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.892 – 17.09.894].

17.09.230 V definitions.

“Variance” means approval to deviate from the dimensional requirements of this title.

“Variance, major” means a variance request decided by the city’s board of adjustment.

“Variance, minor” means a variance request decided by the community development director.

“Veterinary clinic or hospital” means a facility rendering surgical and medical treatment to animals, and having overnight accommodations for small animals such as, but not limited to, dogs, cats and rabbits.

“Vision clearance area” means a triangular area of a corner lot at the intersection of two front lot lines, and through which it is necessary to retain vision clearance in the interest of public safety. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020].

17.09.240 W definitions.

“Wall sign” means a sign attached parallel to, but within six inches of, a wall, painted on a building surface, or erected and confined within the limits of the building facade and which displays only one sign face.

“Warehouse” means a structure used for the storage of goods and materials. Also see “Agricultural building.”

“Way” means a street or alley or other thoroughfare or easement permanently established for passage of persons or vehicles.

“Wind turbine” means blades and associated mechanical and electrical conversion components mounted on top of the tower whose purpose is to convect kinetic energy of the wind into rotational energy used to generate electricity.

“Window sign” means a sign placed within or on a window.

“Wireless carrier” means an entity that provides wireless communication services.

“Wireless communication facility (WCF)” means an unstaffed facility for the transmission or reception of radio frequency (RF) signals, usually consisting of an equipment cabinet or other enclosed structure containing electronic equipment, a support structure, antennas, or other transmission and reception devices. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 14-19 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.895 – 17.09.906].

17.09.250 X definitions.

Reserved.

17.09.260 Y definitions.

“Yard” means an unoccupied space open from the ground line to the sky on the same lot with the building or structure.

“Yard, front” means an open and unoccupied space on the same lot with the main building and which space extends the full width of the lot situated between the street line and the front line of the building, projected to the side lines of the lot. The depth of the front yard shall be measured between the front line of the building and the front property line. Covered porches, covered carports, enclosed parking or storage spaces (garages), or raised platforms (decks) higher than two inches above the average grade whether enclosed or unenclosed shall be considered as a part of the structures and shall not be projected into the required front yard. For the purpose of this title, the front yard is that area abutting the street, the name of which constitutes the common address of the property.

“Yard, rear” means an open unoccupied space on the same lot with main building extending the full width of lot and situated between rear line of lot and rear line of building. Depth of the rear yard shall be measured between rear line of the lot or centerline of an access easement and the rear line of the building.

“Yard, side” means an open unoccupied space on the same lot with the building or buildings, which space is situated between the furthermost projection of the building and the side lines of the lot extending from the front yard to the rear yard. Any lot line not a rear line or a front line is a side line. [Ord. 39-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020; Ord. 15-17 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 40-07 § 1, 2007. Formerly 17.09.910 – 17.09.940].

17.09.270 Z definitions.

“Zoning district” or “district” means the various districts listed in this title as identified in Chapter 17.12 WRMC.

“Zoning map” means the official map which identifies the parcel-specific boundaries of the various zoning districts listed in this title. [Ord. 21-20 § 3, 2020].