Chapter 20.40
RS – SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
Sections:
20.40.010 Description and purpose.
20.40.020 Permitted buildings and uses.
20.40.030 Buildings and uses permitted conditionally.
20.40.040 Height regulations.
20.40.050 Detached accessory buildings.
20.40.060 Lot area, lot width and yard requirements.
20.40.070 Maximum lot coverage.
20.40.080 Corner lots.
20.40.090 Repealed.
20.40.100 Repealed.
20.40.110 Signs.
20.40.120 Parking.
20.40.010 Description and purpose.
The RS single-family residential districts are intended for medium density, urban single-family residential use. A stable and healthful environment, together with the full range of urban services, makes this the most important land use of the community. (Ord. 1488 § 1, 2001; Ord. 485 § 4.01, 1971).
20.40.020 Permitted buildings and uses.
In the RS districts the following buildings and uses are permitted as hereinafter specifically provided for by this chapter, subject to the general provisions and exceptions set forth in this chapter, and regulations set forth in Chapters 20.01, 20.20, 20.68 and 20.72 PMC:
A. Accessory buildings and uses normal and incidental to the uses permitted in this chapter;
B. Agricultural uses, limited to the following:
1. Berry and bush crops,
2. Flower gardening,
3. Orchards, tree crops, the raising and harvesting of,
4. Truck gardening, the raising and harvesting of vegetables for home consumption;
C. Churches, subject to PMC 20.68.660;
D. Home occupations, subject to PMC 20.68.180;
E. Parks, private and public, playgrounds, golf courses, driving ranges, or community centers, subject to PMC 20.68.670;
F. Public and semipublic buildings, essential to the physical and economic welfare of an area, such as fire stations, substations and pump stations. Rear and side yards for these uses shall be a minimum of 25 feet in width. No stockpiling or storage of materials shall be allowed;
G. Rooms, rented to not more than four persons other than those occupying a single-family dwelling, provided there is compliance with health and building code requirements;
H. Single-family dwellings;
I. Schools, public or private, elementary, junior and senior high, subject to PMC 20.68.670. (Ord. 1611 § 9, 2005; Ord. 1221 § 10, 1995; Ord. 982 § 2, 1985; Ord. 594 § 1, 1976; Ord. 485 § 4.02, 1971).
20.40.030 Buildings and uses permitted conditionally.
The city may grant a conditional use permit (CUP) for any of the following buildings and uses in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 20.20 PMC:
A. Churches, when using existing buildings;
B. Day nurseries;
C. Group care homes;
D. Homes for the aged, including assisted and unassisted living facilities;
E. Hospitals;
F. Libraries;
G. Nursing homes;
H. Unassisted senior housing complexes, at densities supportable by available infrastructure and land use compatibility, within 2,000 feet walking distance of the Senior Center, measured from the center of the housing complex to the Senior Center entrance following pedestrian routes. (Ord. 1558 § 1, 2003; Ord. 1505 § 11, 2001; Ord. 1504 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1488 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1170 § 2, 1992; Ord. 485 § 4.03, 1971).
20.40.040 Height regulations.
No principal building shall exceed either two and one-half stories or 30 feet in height. (Ord. 485 § 4.04, 1971).
20.40.050 Detached accessory buildings.
Detached accessory dwellings and buildings in the RS districts shall not exceed the height limit pertaining to principal buildings, and shall not occupy more than 50 percent of the area of a rear and side yard, and shall not be closer than 10 feet to the principal building. New accessory buildings 120 square feet or less shall comply with all setbacks required for the principal building, except that (A) on lots not abutting an alley the minimum rear and side yard setbacks for nonresidential accessory buildings shall be three feet with a maximum height of 14 feet. New accessory buildings greater than 120 square feet shall comply with the International Residential Code, adopted in PMC 17.04.020, and (B) an accessory dwelling unit may be built within or added to any existing accessory building built prior to July 31, 2001; provided, said existing accessory building is set back at least five feet from the rear property line; and provided, that any expansion to the foundation conforms to the setback requirements pertaining to the principal building. (Ord. 1705 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1504 § 2, 2001; Ord. 1501 § 1, 2001; Ord. 485 § 4.05, 1971).
20.40.060 Lot area, lot width and yard requirements.
A. The minimum lot size shall be 6,000 square feet in the RS-6 zone and 11,000 square feet in the RS-11 zone.
B. The minimum lot width shall be 50 feet in the RS-6 zone and 70 feet in the RS-11 zone.
C The minimum front setback in both the RS-6 and RS-11 zones shall be 22 feet; provided, that on noncorner lots the minimum shall be 22 feet or the average of the front setbacks on the two nearest lots on the same side of the street, whichever is less.
D. The minimum rear setback in both the RS-6 and RS-11 zones shall be 20 feet; provided, that where a utility or stormwater easement adjoins a rear lot line the setback shall be at least equal to the depth of the easement.
E. In both the RS-6 and RS-11 zones, one side yard setback shall be a minimum of 10 feet. The other side setback shall be a minimum of five feet, for a combined minimum of 15 feet. Where a utility easement adjoins a side lot line, the setback shall be at least as wide as the easement. For corner lots, see PMC 20.40.080. (Ord. 1578 § 6, 2004; Ord. 1501 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1489 § 2, 2001; Ord. 1114 § 2, 1990; Ord. 695 § 2, 1978; Ord. 485 § 4.06, 1971).
20.40.070 Maximum lot coverage.
The maximum lot coverage shall be as follows:
A. Interior lots, 35 percent;
B. Corner lots, 40 percent. (Ord. 485 § 4.07, 1971).
20.40.080 Corner lots.
Corner lots shall observe the minimum front yard setback requirements on one street side. A 15-foot minimum setback requirement shall be observed on the second street side. (Ord. 1501 § 1, 2001; Ord. 485 § 4.08, 1971).
20.40.090 Lots abutting an alley.
Repealed by Ord. 1501. (Ord. 485 § 4.09, 1971).
20.40.100 Area of interior lots.
Repealed by Ord. 1578. (Ord. 485 § 4.10, 1971).
20.40.110 Signs.
Only the following signs are permitted, subject to the following limitations:
A. Nameplates not exceeding one square foot in area, containing the name of the occupant of the premises;
B. One unlighted sign not exceeding six square feet in area pertaining only to the sale, lease or hire of only the particular building, property or premises upon which displayed, and for no more than three months. (Ord. 485 § 4.11, 1971).
20.40.120 Parking.
All uses shall conform to the general provisions and exceptions set forth in Chapter 20.72 PMC, Parking and Loading. (Ord. 485 § 4.12, 1971).