Chapter 18.08
DEFINITIONS
Sections:
18.08.020 List of definitions.
18.08.010 Intent.
For the purposes of this code, certain words and terms are defined as hereinafter set forth:
Words in the present tense include the future and the future includes the present; the singular number includes the plural and the plural the singular; the word “lot” includes the words “tract” or “parcel of land”; the term “erected” means “constructed, altered, moved, or repaired”; the words “shall” and “must” are always mandatory. The term “district” is synonymous with the term “zone”; the term “ordinance” is synonymous with the term “code.” Words not included herein, but which are defined in the building code, shall be construed as defined therein. [Ord. 1998-99-A § 10-11-1.]
18.08.020 List of definitions.
“Accessory building” means a building located on a lot or parcel of land, the use of which is appropriate, subordinate, and customarily incidental to that of the main building and/or principal use of the land.
“Animal unit” shall be one or a proportionate combination of the following:
1. One cow (bovine), horse (equine), or similar large animal;
2. Four adult sheep or feeder lambs;
3. Four goats;
4. Twenty chickens;
5. Thirty pigeons or similar small fowl;
6. Thirty rabbits or similar small animals.
For types of animals not specified above, the board of appeals shall determine the number which shall constitute an animal unit; except that, for purposes of compliance with this code, porcine (pig) and mink are specifically excluded from consideration as part of an animal unit.
For the purpose of determining compliance, said definition shall not include the unweaned offspring less than six months old of any residing animal.
“Buildable area” means a portion of a site which conforms to all minimum criteria required for placement of a structure.
“Building” means any structure built for the support, shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or property of any kind, but not including fences or corrals.
“Common area” means an area designated to serve two or more dwelling units in separate ownership with convenient access to the area.
“Comprehensive plan (master plan)” means a coordinated plan which has been prepared and adopted for the purpose of guiding development, including but not limited to a plan or plans of land use, resources, circulation, housing, and public facilities and grounds.
“Condominium” means the ownership of a single unit in a multi-unit project together with an undivided interest in common in the common areas and facilities of the property.
“Condominium project” means a development project whereby two or more units, together with an undivided interest in the common area or facility, are separately offered or proposed to be offered for sale. This definition shall apply to existing or proposed apartments, commercial or industrial buildings or structures. “Condominium project” shall also mean the property when the context so requires.
“Corral” means a fence or other barrier used for the confinement of livestock for which the primary source of food is provided from other than grazing of grass or herbage growing on the site.
“Customary residential accessory structure” means a structure constructed on the same zoning lot as a dwelling and which is intended for the incidental and exclusive use of the residents of said dwelling, including but not limited to detached garages, carports, swimming pools, tennis courts, greenhouses, storage buildings, and satellite dishes.
“Day-care center” means a dwelling unit wherein ordinary care and supervision are provided during customary daytime periods by the resident family to nonrelated persons. To qualify, said dwelling must be approved by the State Division of Social Services or other appropriate state agency.
“Density” shall mean the number of dwelling units per acre of land.
“Designated city street” means a federal or state highway or city street as shown on the official street map of the city.
“Documentation-declaration” means the legal instruments required under the provisions of this code and applicable state law for approval of large-scale development or subdivisions.
Dwelling.
1. “Dwelling unit” means one or more rooms in a building designed for living purposes (bathing, eating, and sleeping) and occupied by one family.
2. “Dwelling, one-family” means a detached residence designed for or occupied by one family.
3. “Dwelling, two-family” means a building containing two dwelling units.
4. “Dwelling, multiple-family” means a building containing three or more dwelling units.
5. “Dwelling, caretakers” means a dwelling which is occupied by an individual or family whose livelihood is derived primarily from watching or taking care of a farm, industry or other use which is located on the same premises as the dwelling.
6. “Dwelling, conventional construction” means a dwelling which is constructed in compliance with the provisions of the Uniform Building Code, Uniform Mechanical Code, National Electric Code, and State Plumbing Code as adopted by the city.
“Family” means an individual or two or more persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption, living together in a single dwelling unit and maintaining a common household. A family may include two, but not more than two, nonrelated persons living with the residing family. The term “family” shall not be construed to mean a group of nonrelated individuals, a fraternity, club, or institutional group.
“Fence, sight-obscuring” means a fence which permits vision through not more than 20 percent of each square foot.
“Final plat, record of survey map” means a plat of survey of land within a subdivision or large-scale development, which has been prepared in accordance with applicable city standards and/or state statutes for the purposes of recording in the office of the county recorder.
“Floor area” means the sum of the areas of the several floors of the building, including basements, mezzanines, and penthouses of headroom height (six feet) measured from the exterior walls or from the center line of walls separating buildings. The floor area does not include unoccupied features such as pipe trenches, exterior terraces or steps, chimneys, roof overhangs, etc.
Grade of Building.
1. For buildings fronting one street only, the elevation of the sidewalk or center line of street, whichever is higher, at right angles to the midpoint of the fronting walls.
2. For buildings fronting on more than one street, the average of the elevations of the sidewalk or center line of street out from the midpoint of the fronting wall.
3. For buildings having no walls fronting the streets, the average level of sidewalk or center line or surrounding streets, whichever is higher.
“Grade of streets and driveways” shall mean the ratio of vertical distance along such a street or driveway expressed in either percentage or degree.
“Health agency” means the health department or any representative authorized by the city council to represent them in matters relating to health and sanitation.
“Height of building” means the vertical distance from the grade to the square of the building.
“Home occupation” means any occupation conducted within a dwelling and carried on by persons residing in the dwelling.
“Household pets” means animals or fowl customarily permitted within the house and/or on the premises and kept for the company or pleasure of the occupants, such as dogs, cats, and canaries, but not including livestock or a sufficient number of dogs to constitute a kennel.
“Information brochure” means a written statement setting forth the organizational structure of a homeowners’ association, and the rights and obligations of the developers, homeowners’ association, lot owners and the city.
“Kennel” means the use of land or buildings for the keeping of three or more dogs at least four months old.
“Landscaping” shall mean the use and integration of a combination of planted trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers, lawns, rocks, foundations, pools, art works, screens, walls, fences, benches, or surfaced walkways set into an aesthetically pleasing arrangement as determined by the planning commission or their authorized representatives. However, the use of structures or surfaced walkways alone, in the absence of planted trees, lawns, etc., shall not meet the requirements of this code.
“Livestock management area” means all portions of a lot devoted exclusively to the care and keeping of livestock, including but not limited to barns, sheds, pens, coops, corrals, and pastures, but not including any portion of a parcel devoted to a dwelling, yard, garden, parking area or unutilized open area.
Lot.
1. An independently described parcel of land as shown on the records of the county recorder; or
2. Two or more contiguous parcels each of which qualifies under subsection (1) of this definition and for which a declaration of zoning lot has been approved and filed in the office of the county recorder.
“Lot, corner” means a lot abutting on two intersecting or intercepting streets where the interior angle of intersection or interception does not exceed 135 degrees.
“Lot, interior” means a lot other than a corner lot.
“Lot line, front” means the front boundary line of a lot bordering on the street or in the case of a flag lot the boundary line located closest to and approximately parallel to the street upon which the driveway portion abuts.
“Lot line, rear” means a lot line which is opposite and most distant from the front lot line. In the case of an irregular, triangular, or gore-shaped lot, the rear lot line shall be a line within the lot parallel to and at the maximum distance from the front lot line, having a length of at least 10 feet.
“Lot line, side” means any lot boundary line not a front lot line or a rear lot line.
“Main building” means one or more of the principal buildings upon a lot. Garages, carports and other buildings which are attached to a dwelling or other main building or which are situated closer to the main building than the minimum distance specified in the zone requirements shall be considered as a part of the main building.
“Manufactured housing” means a dwelling constructed in accordance with the HUD code for manufactured housing.
“Minor utility transmission project” means the construction of transmission and distribution facilities for electric power, telephone, gas and oil, water, cable TV, microwave and similar commodities for the purpose of supplying such services or commodities primarily to structures in the immediate vicinity.
“Mobile home” means a dwelling unit which is designed to be transported, after fabrication, on its own wheels or on detachable wheels and which is designed and intended for permanent occupancy as an independent dwelling unit, but which does not comply with the city’s adopted building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing codes or the HUD code for manufactured housing. The term “mobile home” shall also include any vehicle meeting the above description which is used for an office, classroom, laboratory, processing, manufacturing, retail sales, or other such use.
“Mobile home park” means an area or tract of land used to accommodate two or more mobile homes.
“Nonconforming lot of record” means a parcel of land which does not conform to the minimum area and/or width requirements for the zone in which it is located, but which was legally created and was shown on the records of the county recorder as a conforming lot of record prior to the effective date of the now controlling provisions. Substandard lots in illegal subdivisions shall not be considered as nonconforming lots of record.
“Nonconforming use or building” means a building or structure, or portion thereof, or use of a building or land existing at the time of the passage of this code which does not conform to the zoning regulations as set forth herein but which legally existed prior to the effective date of the now controlling provision.
“Off-street parking” means an area adjoining a building providing for the parking of automobiles which does not include a public street, but has convenient access to it.
“Pasture” means an area confined by wire, wood or other fence structure used for the confinement of livestock for which the primary source of food is obtained from the grazing of grass or herbage growing on the site.
“Public agency park” means a tract of land which is owned by a governmental agency and which has been partially or totally developed or designated for recreation or open space purposes.
“Public building” means a building owned and operated or owned and intended to be operated by a public agency of the United States of America, of the state of Utah, or any of its subdivisions.
“Public school” means one or more buildings, together with the appurtenant yards, incidental structures, parking areas, etc., operated by the school district or other public agency for educational purposes.
“Recreation vehicle” means a vehicle used, designed, or maintained primarily as a temporary dwelling for travel, vacation, or recreation purposes, having a width of not more than eight feet and length of not more than 40 feet, and which can be driven or pulled upon the highways without a special permit.
“Recreation vehicle court” means an area or tract of land used to accommodate two or more recreation vehicles or camper units for a short period of time (less than 30 days).
“Setback” means the shortest distance between the property line and the building or part thereof.
“Shipping container” is a container with strength suitable to withstand shipment, storage and handling. Shipping containers range from large reusable steel boxes used for intermodal shipments to the ubiquitous corrugated boxes. Shipping containers are commonly standardized resealable transportation boxes for unitized freight handling with standardized equipment. The most common sizes are 20 feet long or 40 feet long.
“Sign” means any device designed and intended to bring the subject thereof to the attention of the public; provided, however, that the following shall not be included in the application of regulations relating to signs:
1. Flags or insignia of any government except when displayed in connection with a commercial promotion.
2. Legal notices and signs used for regulation, identification, and informational purposes erected by a governmental body.
3. Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property but bearing no advertising matter.
4. Political campaign signs.
“Sign, accessory” means a sign which directs attention to a business or profession conducted on the premises.
“Sign, nonaccessory – billboard” means a sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment which is conducted, sold or offered at a location other than the premises.
“Structure” means anything constructed or erected which requires location on the ground, but not including a tent or vehicle.
“Subdivision” means the division of a tract, lot, or parcel of land into three or more plats, sites, or other divisions of land for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale or of building development.
“Tepee” is a tent, traditionally made of animal skins upon wooden poles. Modern tepees usually have a canvas covering.
“Yard” means any space on a lot other than a court, which is open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky.
“Yard, front” means a yard extending across the full width of the lot, the depth of which is the minimum horizontal distance between the main building and the front of the lot.
“Yard, required” means the open space around buildings which is required by the terms of this code.
“Yurt” is a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt and used as a dwelling by several distinct nomadic groups in the steppes of Central Asia. The structure comprises an angled assembly or latticework of pieces of wood or bamboo for walls, a door frame, ribs (poles, rafters), and a wheel (crown, compression ring) possibly steam-bent. The roof structure is often self-supporting, but large yurts may have interior posts supporting the crown. The top of the wall of self-supporting yurts is prevented from spreading by means of a tension band which opposes the force of the roof ribs. Modern yurts may be permanently built on a wooden platform; they may use modern materials such as steam-bent wooden framing or metal framing, canvas or tarpaulin, Plexiglas dome, wire rope, or radiant insulation.
“Zoning lot” means a unit of land composed of one or more parcels which:
1. Meets all existing area, width, access and other applicable requirements for lots within the zone in which it is located; and
2. Is shown as a separate lot in a subdivision or large-scale development which has been approved in accordance with the applicable ordinance or is legally exempted from compliance with said ordinances. A parcel which is part of an unapproved or illegal subdivision shall not qualify as a zoning lot. [Ord. 2023-4 §§ 1, 3; Ord. 1998-99-A § 10-11-2.]