§ 17.84.020. Yards.

A.

General. The regulations for yards shall apply in all districts unless different yards are shown on a recorded parcel map or final map. Except as otherwise provided herein, no building or structure shall be permitted within any required yard area.

B.

Measurement from Roads. Yards, except as otherwise provided herein, shall be measured from existing property lines, or road right-of-way lines if the property lines are within a road right-of-way, except that lots fronting on roads designated in the county general plan as either an arterial or collector shall meet one of the following ultimate right-of-way criteria:

1.

If a plan line has been established for any street, as provided for in Section 17.72.070, required yards shall be measured from such line.

2.

If no plan line exists, the yard shall extend from the centerline of the road and shall extend a distance equal to one-half the distance of the ultimate right-of-way, as designated in the general plan, plus the yard required by the appropriate district.

C.

Preexisting Buildings. Buildings which existed before the effective date of this chapter and which do not comply with all of the yard requirements of the district in which they are located or as provided in this chapter, may be enlarged or modified, provided the proposed modification or expansion conforms to all applicable yard, lot coverage and other permit requirements except as otherwise provided herein.

D.

Residential Main Buildings.

1.

Preexisting Lots. For preexisting lots in districts which permit residential and accessory uses and have a minimum lot area of two acres or larger and for the Mixed Use (MU) District, one acre or larger, the minimum building setback for lots that are smaller than two net acres shall be as follows: (Note: county fire safety standards may require additional building setbacks for lots as small as one acre in size.)

a.

Front, twenty feet;

b.

Side, twelve feet on one side and five feet on the other side;

c.

Rear, ten feet.

For purposes of this section, "preexisting lots" means those lots which are legal, non-conforming or "substandard" lots which existed prior to January 10, 1984 and which are in conflict with setback requirements of this chapter.

2.

The yard requirement for additions to residential main buildings on lots larger than two acres may be reduced provided an administrative permit is approved and the following findings are made:

a.

The reduced yard is approved by the county fire warden or the fire district in which the lot is located; and

b.

The reduced yard does not create any health or safety problems; and

c.

The addition will not have an adverse impact on adjoining properties; and

d.

The reduced yard meets the minimum requirements listed in subsections (D)(1)(a) through (c) of this section.

3.

Fire Safety Setbacks. Notwithstanding the yard requirements specified in any district or any other provision of this section, dwellings constructed on parcels one gross acre or larger in size shall be set back a minimum of thirty feet from all property lines and road easements, unless the county fire warden grants a request for an exception as provided for in the county fire safety standards.

4.

Architectural Features. Cornices, eaves, canopies and similar architectural features may extend into any required yard not more than two and one-half feet.

5.

Structural Appendages. Uncovered porches, stairways, fire escapes or landing places may extend into any required front or rear yard not more than six feet, and into any required side yard not more than three feet.

6.

Dwellings Facing Side Yards. A dwelling which is to be located with the main entrance facing any side property line shall have a minimum ten-foot side yard on the main entrance side.

7.

Corner/Key Lots. For corner/key lot situations, the required street side yard of the corner lot shall be as follows:

a.

Within twenty-five feet of the side line of the key lot, the side yard shall be equal to the front yard required on the key lot; and

b.

Beyond twenty-five feet on the side line of the key lot, the side yard shall be fifty percent of the front yard required on the key lot.

8.

Flag Lots. Front yards on flag lots shall be located on either the side in which the property line is a continuation of the driveway lot line or the lot line nearest and perpendicular to the driveway.

E.

Residential Accessory Buildings.

1.

Distance From Residential Buildings. Detached accessory buildings shall be at least six feet from the residential buildings.

2.

Fire Safety Setbacks. Notwithstanding the yard requirements specified in any district or any other provision of this section, accessory buildings constructed on parcels one gross acre or larger in size shall be set back a minimum of thirty feet from all property lines and road easements, unless the county fire warden grants a request for an exception as provided for in the county fire safety standards. Pertinent zoning standards still apply.

3.

Front Yard. Detached accessory buildings shall not encroach upon a front yard, unless otherwise provided for herein.

4.

Accessory Buildings. On corner lots, accessory buildings shall be at least ten feet from street side lot lines.

5.

Garages on Street Side Yards. If an attached or detached garage faces a street side yard the minimum street side yard shall be twenty feet.

6.

Lots Smaller Than Two Acres. Accessory buildings on lots smaller than two acres shall be at least six feet from the interior side lot line on the front half of the lot and one foot from an interior side lot on the rear half of the lot, except interior residential lots in which a twelve-foot or wider side yard is required, no accessory buildings shall be permitted within that side yard area for the front fifty feet of that side yard. The minimum rear yard setback shall be one foot.

7.

Lots Larger Than Two Acres. The yard requirements for accessory buildings on lots larger than two acres may be reduced provided an administrative permit is approved and the following findings are made:

a.

The reduced yard is approved by the county fire warden or the fire district in which the lot is located; and

b.

The reduced yard does not create any health or safety problems; and

c.

The accessory building will not have an adverse impact on adjoining properties; and

d.

The reduced yard meets the minimum requirements listed in subsections (D)(1)(a) through (c) of this section.

8.

Agricultural Buildings. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section and where allowed, barns, stables, chicken houses and similar agricultural and residential accessory buildings that house animals shall not be closer than fifty feet from the front property line or road right-of-way line, ten feet from side and rear property lines, and twenty feet from any dwelling unit on the same or adjacent property.

9.

Exception — Topography. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the elevation of the front half of a lot at fifty feet from the centerline of the traveled roadway is seven feet above or below the grade of the centerline, a private garage, attached or detached, may be built to a minimum of five feet from the front line of the lot, if the lot is smaller than two acres.

(Ord. 2003-1 § 22, 2003; Ord. 98-7 § 2 (part), 1998; Ord. 95-3 §§ 76, 77, 1995; Ord. 94-4 §§ 20, 21, 1994; prior code § 5.04.020)