Division II. Base District Regulations
Chapter 17.24
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
Sections:
17.24.010 Specific purposes.
17.24.020 RS, RM, and RH districts – Land use regulations.
17.24.030 RS, RM and RH districts – Property development regulations.
17.24.040 Review of plans.
17.24.010 Specific purposes.
A. In addition to the general purposes listed in Chapter 17.04 BMC, the specific purposes of residential districts are to:
1. Provide appropriately located areas for residential development that are consistent with the general plan and with standards of public health and safety established by the municipal code;
2. Ensure adequate light, air, privacy, and open space for each dwelling, and protect residents from the harmful effects of excessive noise, population density, traffic congestion, and other adverse environmental effects;
3. Promote development of housing affordable by low- and moderate-income households by providing a density bonus for projects in which a portion of the units are affordable for such households;
4. Protect residential areas from fires, explosions, landslides, toxic fumes and substances, and other public safety hazards;
5. Protect adjoining single-family residential districts from excessive loss of sun, light, quiet, and privacy resulting from proximity to multifamily development;
6. Achieve design compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods;
7. Provide sites for public and semipublic land uses needed to complement residential development or requiring a residential environment;
8. Ensure the provision of public services and facilities needed to accommodate planned population densities.
B. The additional purposes of each R residential district are:
1. RS Single-Family Residential District. To provide opportunities for single-family residential land use, either in neighborhoods or in conjunction with agricultural pursuits, subject to appropriate standards. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes existing as of July 1, 1977, are allowed to remain, but all new residential construction shall be single-family dwellings or approved accessory structures.
2. RM Medium-Density Residential District. To provide opportunities for multiple residential uses with low land coverage, including older residences converted to duplexes and new townhouses or cluster housing with landscaped open space for residents’ use.
3. RH High-Density Residential District. To provide opportunities for an intensive form of residential development, including apartments and townhouses with relatively high land coverage, at appropriate locations in the vicinity of First Street, along the waterfront, and near convenience commercial nodes at Southampton Road, East Fifth Street and West Seventh Street. (Ord. 87-4 N.S., 1987).
17.24.020 RS, RM, and RH districts – Land use regulations.
In the following schedules, the letter "P" designates use classifications permitted in residential districts. The letter "L" designates use classifications subject to certain limitations prescribed under the "Additional Use Regulations" which follow. The letter "U" designates use classifications permitted on approval of a use permit, as provided in Chapter 17.104 BMC. The letters "P/U" designate use classifications permitted on the site of a permitted use, but requiring a use permit on the site of a conditional use. Letters in parentheses in the "Additional Regulations" column refer to the "Additional Use Regulations" following the schedule.
Where letters in parentheses are opposite a use classification heading, referenced regulations shall apply to all use classifications under the heading.
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P – Permitted U – Use Permit L – Limited (See "Additional Use Regulations") – – Not Permitted |
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RS |
RM |
RH |
Additional Regulations |
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Residential |
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(A)(B)(M) |
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Day Care, Limited |
P |
P |
P |
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Group Residential |
– |
U |
U |
(C)(D) |
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Multifamily Residential |
– |
P |
P |
(D) |
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Residential Care, Limited |
P |
P |
P |
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Single-Family Residential |
P |
P |
P |
(E)(L) |
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Commercial Uses |
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Conference and Meeting Facilities |
U |
U |
U |
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Horticulture, Limited |
L1 |
L1 |
L1 |
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Public and Semipublic |
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Clubs and Lodges |
– |
U |
U |
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Convalescent Facilities |
– |
U |
U |
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Cultural Institutions |
– |
U |
U |
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Day Care, General |
U |
U |
U |
(P) |
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Park and Recreation Facilities |
L2 |
L2 |
L2 |
(F) |
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Public Safety Facilities |
U |
U |
U |
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Religious Assembly |
U |
U |
U |
(O) |
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Residential Care, General |
– |
U |
U |
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Schools, Public or Private |
U |
U |
U |
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Utilities, Major |
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Waste Facility |
– |
– |
– |
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Utilities, Minor |
P |
P |
P |
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Visitor Accommodation |
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Bed and Breakfast Inns |
L3 |
L3 |
L3 |
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Accessory Uses |
P/U |
P/U |
P/U |
(A)(G)(H)(I)(J)(K) |
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Temporary Uses |
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Commercial Filming, Limited |
P |
P |
P |
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Personal Property Sales |
P |
P |
P |
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Street Fairs |
U |
U |
U |
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Nonconforming |
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(N) |
RS, RM, and RH Districts: Additional Use Regulations
L-1 Use permit required, and no on-site retail sales permitted.
L-2 Use permit required for private noncommercial facilities, including swim clubs and tennis clubs.
L-3 Community development director use permit required.
(A) See BMC 17.70.020, Relocated buildings (use permit required).
(B) See BMC 17.70.030, Exterior materials in R districts.
(C) Approval of a use permit shall require a finding that (1) the proposed use will have no significant unmitigated environmental impacts; and (2) the building design is compatible with surrounding buildings.
(D) Design review shall be required; see Chapter 17.108 BMC.
(E) Rooms in a dwelling unit may be rented for occupancy by not more than three persons who are not members of a single housekeeping unit; provided, that not more than two bedrooms shall be rented in each unit.
(F) Limited to facilities on sites of fewer than two acres.
(G) See BMC 17.70.070, Home occupations in R districts.
(H) See BMC 17.70.050, Nonresidential accessory structures, and BMC 17.70.060, Accessory dwelling units.
(I) See BMC 17.74.190, Driveways and carports – Design and location in R districts.
(J) See BMC 17.70.080, Swimming pools and hot tubs.
(K) See Chapter 17.104 BMC, Use Permits and Variances.
(L) See BMC 17.70.280, Manufactured homes.
(M) See BMC 17.70.300, Animals.
(N) See Chapter 17.98 BMC, Nonconforming Uses and Structures.
(O) See BMC 17.70.040, Religious assembly yard requirements.
(P) Planning commission use permit required, except that the community development director may approve use permits for general family day care homes caring for nine to 14 children, as defined in Chapter 3.4 of the California Health and Safety Code.
(Ord. 99-1 N.S.; Ord. 92-18 N.S. § 6, 1993; Ord. 92-15 N.S. § 6, 1992; Ord. 89-1 N.S. § 14, 1989; Ord. 87-4 N.S., 1987).
17.24.030 RS, RM and RH districts – Property development regulations.
The following schedules prescribe development regulations for residential districts. The first three columns establish basic requirements for permitted and conditional uses; letters in parentheses in the "Additional Regulations" column refer to the "Additional Development Regulations" following the schedule.
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Districts |
Additional Regulations |
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RS |
RM |
RH |
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Site Area per Unit (sq. ft.) |
6,000 |
3,000 |
2,000 |
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With density bonus for: |
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Low- or Moderate-Income Housing |
4,800 |
2,400 |
1,600 |
(A) |
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Elderly Housing |
– |
2,000 |
1,300 |
(A) |
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Low-Income Elderly Housing |
– |
1,500 |
1,000 |
(A) |
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Minimum Site Area (sq. ft.) |
6,000 |
6,000 |
7,500 |
(B)(C)(D) |
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Minimum Site Width (ft.) |
60 |
60 |
60 |
(R)(S) |
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Minimum Yards: |
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Front (ft.) |
20 |
20 |
20 |
(E)(F) |
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Side (ft.) |
5 |
6; 10 |
6; 10 |
(E)(G)(H) |
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Corner Side (ft.) |
10 |
15 |
15 |
(E) |
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Rear (ft.) |
15 |
15 |
15 |
(E)(G) |
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Courts |
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