Chapter 18.14
RM-1,800 RESIDENTIAL: MULTIFAMILY 1,800 ZONE

Sections

18.14.010    Purpose of zone.

18.14.020    Permitted uses.

18.14.025    Hazardous substances.

18.14.030    Lot area.

18.14.040    Lot area per dwelling unit.

18.14.050    Lot width.

18.14.060    Front yard.

18.14.070    Side yard.

18.14.075    Rear yard.

18.14.080    Height.

18.14.090    Permissible lot coverage.

18.14.100    Placement of buildings and structures.

18.14.110    Recreation area required.

18.14.010 Purpose of zone.

The principal objective and purpose to be served by this zone and its application is to establish areas permitting a greater population density than is allowed in more restrictive zones and to permit the providing of accommodations for those who desire to live in a residential atmosphere without the necessity to individually maintain a dwelling unit. A related consideration is to make it possible to more efficiently and economically design and install all physical public service facilities in terms of size and capacity to adequately and permanently meet needs resulting from a defined intensity of land use. [Ord. 1237 § 3, 1999; Ord. 175 § 1(24.14.010), 1964.]

18.14.020 Permitted uses.

In an RM-1,800 zone only the following uses are permitted and as specifically provided in and allowed by this chapter, subject to the off-street parking requirements and the general provisions and exceptions set forth in this title beginning with chapter 18.36 DMMC.

(1) Any use permitted in an RM-2,400 zone; provided, all such uses shall conform to the conditions set forth in the zone in which they are first permitted, except that for dwellings the yards, open spaces, and lot coverage permitted by this zone shall apply;

(2) Accessory uses, buildings, and structures set forth in the single-family residential zone except that where more than one dwelling unit is located on the premises private garages shall be limited to accommodating not more than two cars for each dwelling unit, and a boathouse or hangar shall be limited to accommodating not more than one private noncommercial pleasure craft for each dwelling unit on the premises;

(3) Multiple dwelling units;

(4) Open air public parking areas for the parking of automobiles without monetary charge except when operated by, or for, a public parking authority, when the property upon which it is located in an RM-1,800 zone abuts upon a lot zoned for commercial purposes whether or not an alley intervenes; provided:

(a) Access to such parking lot shall be only from the commercial or business park zoned property it is intended to serve, or from an alley if there is one;

(b) In either such case there shall be installed along the entire length of all street property lines of the lot used for such public parking purposes a continuous fence, hedge, or wall five feet in height located no closer to the street property line than 10 feet and the area between the fence and the street lot line shall be landscaped and maintained with grass, hardy evergreen shrubs, or ground cover;

(c) A solid wall or view-obscuring fence or hedge not less than five feet nor more than six feet in height shall be erected and maintained on any exterior boundary line which is a common property line with residential property when such residential property is used for residential purposes;

(d) The parking area shall be developed as required, and no such area shall be used for an automobile, trailer, or boat sales area or for the accessory storage of such vehicles;

(5) (Repealed by Ord. 584);

(6) Planned unit development as provided in chapter 18.52 DMMC;

(7) Unclassified uses as provided in chapter 18.32 DMMC. [Ord. 1237 §§ 3, 4, 1999; Ord. 584 § 7(part), 1983; Ord. 557 § 4, 1983; Ord. 255 § 2(part), 1969; Ord. 248 § 3, 1969; Ord. 175 § 1(24.14.020), 1964.]

18.14.025 Hazardous substances.

(1) No use permitted in this chapter, with the exception of public utility and service facilities, shall store any hazardous substance, except that for the purposes of this chapter the following substances shall be exempt:

(a) Heating oil stored in an underground tank sufficiently contained so as to preclude soil and ground water contamination;

(b) Gasoline stored in an approved Underwriters Laboratory container;

(c) Prepackaged retail quantities of fertilizers, pesticides, and auto and home care products only for home use.

(2) Failure to comply with any of the requirements of this section shall be deemed a violation and shall result in enforcement by civil penalty as set forth in DMMC 18.72.060. Any person or business who fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter, or permits a violation to continue after receiving written notice of violation from the community development director, shall be deemed to be causing or permitting a public nuisance and shall be liable in an action for abatement filed by the city in superior court. [Ord. 757 § 10, 1988.]

18.14.030 Lot area.

The minimum required area of a lot in an RM-1,800 zone shall be 7,200 square feet; provided, that in a multiple lot subdivision approved subsequent to August 3, 1964, the minimum lot area shall be deemed to have been met if the average lot area is not less than 7,200 square feet. In computing the average square foot area of lots in a subdivision, not more than 25 percent of the number of lots may contain an area less than 7,200 square feet and in no case shall a lot contain less than 6,400 square feet. For lots containing more than 7,200 square feet of area not more than 8,000 square feet of area may be credited in determining the average. [Ord. 175 § 1(24.14.030), 1964.]

18.14.040 Lot area per dwelling unit.

In an RM-1,800 zone the lot area per dwelling unit shall be not less than 1,800 square feet. Where a lot contains more than 7,200 square feet of area, there may be one dwelling unit for each 1,800 square feet of lot area in excess of 7,200 square feet of area. [Ord. 175 § 1(24.14.040), 1964.]

18.14.050 Lot width.

In an RM-1,800 zone every lot shall have a width of not less than 60 feet. [Ord. 175 § 1(24.14.050), 1964.]

18.14.060 Front yard.

In an RM-1,800 zone every lot shall have a front yard with a depth not less than 20 feet. [Ord. 255 § 2(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.14.060), 1964.]

18.14.070 Side yard.

In an RM-1,800 zone every lot shall have a side yard on each side of the lot which side yard shall have a width of not less than 15 feet. Exceptions:

(1) Structures two stories in height may have side yards of 10 feet in width;

(2) Structures one story in height may have a side yard of five feet from one side and 10 feet from the other side. [Ord. 255 § 2(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.14.070), 1964.]

18.14.075 Rear yard.

In an RM-1,800 zone every lot shall have a rear yard with a depth of not less than 20 feet. [Ord. 255 § 2(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.14.075), 1964.]

18.14.080 Height.

In an RM-1,800 zone no building or structure shall exceed a height of 35 feet. [Ord. 175 §§ 1(24.14.080), 16, 1964.]

18.14.090 Permissible lot coverage.

If a dwelling, rest home, nursing home, or convalescent home is involved, all buildings, including accessory buildings and structures but not including private swimming pools on residential lots or any open areas used to provide parking space, shall not cover more than 50 percent of the area of the lot. If a dwelling or rest home, nursing home, or convalescent home is not involved, then the maximum permissible lot coverage shall not apply. [Ord. 175 § 1(24.14.090), 1964.]

18.14.100 Placement of buildings and structures.

Placement of buildings and structures on any lot in an RM-1,800 zone shall conform to the following:

(1) Interior Lots.

(a) Any building containing one or more dwelling units or accessory living quarters shall observe a distance of not less than 15 feet from any lot side line and 20 feet from the rear property line. Exceptions:

(i) Structures two stories in height may observe a distance of not less than 10 feet from any lot side line;

(ii) Structures one story in height may observe a distance of not less than five feet from one lot side line and not less than 10 feet from the other lot side line;

(b) The distance between a building containing one or more dwelling units or accessory living quarters and any other buildings on the same lot shall be not less than 10 feet;

(c) On the rear third of a lot accessory buildings not containing accessory living quarters may be built to the lot side lines and the lot rear line; provided, not less than 10 feet of the lot rear line shall be free and clear of all buildings; and provided further, if the lot rears upon an alley, a garage with a vehicular entrance from the alley shall maintain a distance of not less than 15 feet from the centerline of the alley.

(2) Corner Lots and Reverse Corner Lots.

(a) Any building containing a dwelling unit or accessory living quarters and any other building on the same lot shall observe a distance of not less than 15 feet from any lot side line and 20 feet from the rear property line. Exceptions:

(i) Structures two stories in height may observe a distance of not less than 10 feet from any lot side line;

(ii) Structures one story in height may observe a distance of not less than five feet from one lot side line and not less than 10 feet from the side street side;

(b) The distance between a building containing one or more dwelling units or accessory living quarters and any other buildings on the same lot shall be not less than 10 feet;

(c) On the rear third of a corner lot accessory buildings not containing accessory living quarters may be built to the lot interior side line and the lot rear line; provided, if the lot rears upon an alley a garage with a vehicular entrance from the alley shall maintain a distance of not less than 15 feet from the centerline of such alley;

(d) On the rear third of a reverse corner lot accessory buildings not containing accessory living quarters may be built to the lot interior side line, but no building shall be erected closer than five feet to the property line in which case accessory buildings may be built to the lot rear line unless the accessory building is a garage with a vehicular entrance directly from the alley, in which case such building shall maintain a distance of not less than 15 feet from the centerline of the alley;

(e) In all cases the width of the required side yard on the side street side shall be observed. [Ord. 255 § 2(part), 1969; Ord. 175 §§ 1(24.14.100), 17, 1964.]

18.14.110 Recreation area required.

On-site recreation area shall be provided as specified in chapter 18.45 DMMC. [Ord. 901 § 3, 1991.]