Division II. Zoning Districts

Chapter 15.10
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS

Sections:

15.10.010    Purpose and intent.

15.10.020    Permitted uses in residential districts.

15.10.030    Residential development standards.

15.10.040    PRD – Planned residential development overlay district.

15.10.010 Purpose and intent.

A. Purpose and Intent. The purpose and intent of the residential zoning districts is to provide for a range of residential densities and dwelling types consistent with the plans and policies of the general plan land use and other elements and to foster high quality, attractive and livable residential neighborhoods.

B. Residential Districts. The purpose of each residential district is as follows:

1. RL Residential – Low Density District. To provide for the development and preservation of low density neighborhoods with single-family detached or attached residences and condominiums. Maximum density is eight units per gross acre.

2. RM Residential – Medium Density District. To provide for the development and preservation of medium density neighborhoods containing detached and attached single-family homes on smaller lots, duplexes, townhomes, apartments, and condominiums. Each project will have ample common open space and recreation facilities. Maximum density is 18 units per gross acre.

3. RH Residential – High Density District. To provide for the development and preservation of high density neighborhoods consisting primarily of attached and multiple dwelling units such as townhomes, apartments, condominiums, and senior housing. Each project will have ample common open space and recreation facilities. Maximum density is 30 units per gross acre.

4. RVH Residential – Very High Density District. To provide for the development and preservation of very high density neighborhoods consisting primarily of multiple dwelling units such as apartments, condominiums, and senior housing. Each project will have ample common open space and recreation facilities. Maximum density is 50 units per gross acre.

5. PRD Planned Residential Development Overlay District. This is an overlay district which is to be combined with one of the residential base districts described preceding. The PRD overlay district provides for the development and preservation of planned unit developments with attached homes, detached homes, or a mixture of both. Each project will have ample common open space and recreation facilities. Setbacks and other development standards are to be tailored specifically to each project. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2010-123 § 3 (Exh. A)].

15.10.020 Permitted uses in residential districts.

A. Development Permits Required. Table 15.10.020 in this section identifies whether a use or structure is permitted within a zoning district. However, in most cases development to establish a land use requires approval of a site development permit and/or other permits as set out in Chapter 15.74 AVMC, Discretionary Permits.

B. PRD Permitted Uses. Per AVMC 15.10.040, the permitted uses within the planned residential development district shall be the same as those in the underlying base district. Therefore, permitted uses for the PRD district are not included in Table 15.10.020.

C. Table of Permitted Uses. Table 15.10.020 specifies those uses and structures which are permitted within each residential district. If a use or structure is not listed as permitted, it is prohibited unless specifically determined to be permitted in accordance with AVMC 15.06.050, Unlisted land uses. The letters in the columns beneath the district designations mean the following:

1. “P” – The use is permitted as a principal use within the district.

2. “A” – The use is permitted only if accessory to the principal use on the site.

3. “C” – The use is permitted as a principal or accessory use if a conditional use permit is approved.

4. “AUP” – The use is permitted as a principal or accessory use if an administrative use permit is approved.

5. “TUP” – The use is permitted on a temporary basis if a temporary use permit is approved.

6. “NP” – The use is not permitted in the district.

TABLE 15.10.020:

PERMITTED USES IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS 

	RL Low Density Residential	RM Med. Density Residential	RH High Density Residential	RVH Very High Density Res.
RESIDENTIAL USES:
Boarding or rooming houses, group quarters	NP	C	C	C
Employee quarters, six or fewer persons	P	NP	NP	NP
Multifamily dwellings, low barrier navigation centers	NP	P	P	P
Residential care facilities, six or fewer persons	P	P	P	P
Single-family dwellings, detached	P	P	NP	NP
Single-family dwellings, attached	P	P	P	P
Single-room occupancy housing	NP	P	P	P
Individual manufactured homes including mobilehomes on single-family lots, subject to AVMC 15.14.100	P	P	NP	NP
Mobilehome parks and developments, subject to AVMC 15.14.100	C	C	C	C
Alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities that are licensed by the state for a maximum capacity of six or fewer persons	P	P	P	P
Homeless and emergency shelters	NP	C	C	C
Transitional and supportive housing	P	P	P	P
Short-term rentals (see AVMC 15.14.165)	NP	NP	NP	NP
OPEN SPACE AND RECREATIONAL USES:
Public and private parks, playfields, recreational facilities, and open space, lighted or unlighted, subject to Chapter 15.46 AVMC, Noise Standards and Film Shoots, and AVMC 15.22.110, Outdoor lighting in nonresidential areas	P	P	P	P
Clubhouses and community pools and cabanas	P	P	P	P
ACCESSORY USES AND STRUCTURES: (subject to Chapter 15.14 AVMC)
Fences and walls, subject to AVMC 15.14.030	A	A	A	A
Patio covers and other yard structures, subject to AVMC 15.14.050	A	A	A	A
Storage sheds and yard buildings, subject to AVMC 15.14.060	A	A	A	A
Swimming pools and spas, subject to AVMC 15.14.070	A	A	A	A
Accessory dwelling unit on a lot with one single-family detached dwelling, subject to AVMC 15.14.080	A	A	A	A
Guest houses, subject to AVMC 15.14.090	A	A	NP	NP
Home occupations, subject to AVMC 15.14.150	A	A	A	A
Small child day care homes in single-family detached dwellings, serving up to 6 children,* subject to AVMC 15.14.160	A	A	NP	NP
Large child day care homes in single-family detached dwellings, serving up to 12 children,* subject to AVMC 15.14.160	AUP	AUP	NP	NP
* Up to 2 additional children may be served pursuant to the provisions of AVMC 15.14.160 and California Health and Safety Code Sections 1597.44 and 1597.465.
The keeping of household pets, including domestic cats, dogs, household birds, household fish, small nonpoisonous reptiles, hamsters, other small rodents, and other common household pets if in compliance with the provisions of AVMC Title 6. Animal control and licensing requirements for pets, wild and exotic animals and all other animals in the city shall be pursuant to AVMC Title 6.	A	A	A	A
Other accessory uses and structures which are customarily associated with and subordinate to the principal use on the premises and are consistent with the purpose and intent of the zoning district as determined by the director	A	A	A	A
TEMPORARY USES:
Garage sales	A	A	A	A
Construction and guard offices, subject to AVMC 15.14.170	TUP	TUP	TUP	TUP
Model home complexes and sales offices, subject to AVMC 15.14.180	TUP	TUP	TUP	TUP
Professional film, video and still photography, subject to Chapter 15.46 AVMC	TUP	TUP	TUP	TUP
Special outdoor community and other events	Regulated by Chapter 11.05 AVMC
OTHER USES:
Amateur radio, satellite dish and video receiving antennas	As provided in Chapter 15.44 AVMC
Commercial marijuana activity; marijuana manufacturing; marijuana delivery; and marijuana cultivation (except as permitted by AVMC 15.40.020)	NP	NP	NP	NP
Cultivation of industrial hemp, as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 11018.5	NP	NP	NP	NP
Wireless communication antennas and facilities	As provided in Chapter 15.42 AVMC

[Ord. 2024-237 § 4; Ord. 2018-202 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2017-192 § 5; Ord. 2016-181 § 2; Ord. 2016-179 § 3; Ord. 2015-172 § 2; Ord. 2015-166 § 3; Ord. 2012-146 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2012-140 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2011-131 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2010-123 § 3 (Exh. A)].

15.10.030 Residential development standards.

A. Table of Development Standards. The following table sets out standards for development in residential districts:

 

TABLE 15.10.030:

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS 

HEIGHT AND AREA STANDARDS:
	RL Low Density Residential		RM Medium Density Residential	RH High Density Residential	RVH Very High Density Res.	PRD3 Planned Res. Development
Maximum structure height1	35 feet, maximum 2 stories (lofts do not count as a separate story)		35 feet	45 feet	65 feet	As approved for each project
Building site area, minimum (square feet)	3,000		5,000	5,000	5,000
Building site coverage for entire project at initial development	No maximum		60%	60%	60%
Minimum common open area (in addition to boundary landscaping), subject to AVMC 15.62.060	n/a		25%	25%	25%
MINIMUM BUILDING SETBACKS2:
	RL		RM	RH	RVH	PRD3
	Single-Family Detached	Single-Family Attached	For single-family detached and attached: same setbacks as RL; otherwise, n/a	n/a	n/a	As approved for each project
Front:	10 feet	10 feet
Side:	10 feet for one side only; or 10 feet aggregate for both sides	0 feet on attached side; 10 feet on open side
Rear:	10 feet	10 feet
Minimum perimeter setback	n/a	n/a	20 feet	20 feet	20 feet4	20 feet4
LANDSCAPING:
	RL		RM	RH	RVH	PRD3
Minimum boundary landscaping, subject to AVMC 15.62.060	n/a	n/a	For multifamily, 15 feet minimum, 20 feet minimum average
Minimum parking lot landscaping	n/a		Minimum 4% of parking lots serving 10 or more cars shall be landscaped in addition to boundary landscaping.
Drought tolerance	n/a		Minimum 50% of landscaping must be drought tolerant.
OTHER STANDARDS:
Fences and other accessory structures			See Chapter 15.14 AVMC
Screening			See AVMC 15.62.060
Signs and parking			See Chapters 15.34 and 15.38 AVMC

1See Chapter 15.30 AVMC for additional provisions regarding height limits.

2Setbacks are measured from ultimate street right-of-way line. Also, setbacks are subject to the provisions of AVMC 15.14.040, Encroachments into setbacks.

3The PRD standards shown are for projects approved after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this code. For projects approved prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this code, setbacks and other development standards shall be as established by the buildings as they exist on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this code.

4All minimum perimeter setbacks shall be increased 1 foot for every foot in height above 35 feet.

[Ord. 2013-150 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2011-131 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2010-123 § 3 (Exh. A)].

Cross-reference: affordable housing incentives, Chapter 15.58 AVMC; housing and reasonable accommodation, Chapter 15.66 AVMC.

15.10.040 PRD – Planned residential development overlay district.

A. Application of Overlay District.

1. This is an overlay district which is to be combined with one of the residential base districts described in this chapter. The PRD overlay district provides for the development and preservation of planned unit developments with attached homes, detached homes, or a mixture of both. Each project will have ample common open space and recreation facilities.

2. The PRD overlay district may be used in combination with any residential base district, such as “RL,” “RM” or other residential district. The overlay district shall be indicated on the official zoning map by means of a cross-hatched or other pattern over the base district designation.

B. Permitted Uses and Development Standards.

1. Permitted Land Uses. Permitted land uses in the PRD overlay district shall be the same as in the underlying base district.

2. Development Standards. Development standards for projects approved after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this code are shown in Table 15.10.030. For projects approved prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this code, development standards shall be as established by the buildings as they exist on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this code.

C. Accessory Structures.

1. Conformance with Supplementary Regulations. Except as otherwise set out in this section, accessory structures shall conform to the provisions of Chapter 15.14 AVMC, Supplemental Residential Regulations.

2. Condominium Projects. For condominium projects, room additions, spas and accessory structures such as patio covers, outdoor fireplaces, play equipment, air conditioning units and similar facilities may be constructed in common area subject to the following requirements:

a. Prior written approval by the homeowners association (HOA) that owns the common area shall be submitted to the planning department. The HOA approval shall be stamped or otherwise written on the construction plans to the satisfaction of the director. However, replacement of existing air conditioning units at the same location shall not require HOA approval.

b. No such accessory improvements shall be allowed in front of the front building wall of a residence unless an exception permit is approved.

c. No such accessory improvements shall be allowed within five feet of any public street right-of-way unless an exception permit is approved. [Ord. 2013-150 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2012-140 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2010-123 § 3 (Exh. A)].

Cross-reference: residential condominium conversions, Chapter 15.54 AVMC.