Chapter 17.08
BUSINESS DISTRICTS
Sections:
Article I. General Requirements
17.08.030 Lot size requirements.
17.08.070 Off-street parking and loading.
Article II. District Requirements
17.08.200 B-1 community shopping district.
17.08.210 B-2 service business district.
17.08.220 B-3 general commercial district.
17.08.230 B-4 restricted office district.
Article I. General Requirements
17.08.010 Permitted uses.
Permitted uses of land or buildings, as hereinafter listed, shall be permitted in the districts indicated under the condition specified. No building or zoning lot shall be devoted to any use other than a use permitted hereinafter in the zoning district in which such building or zoning lot shall be located, with the exception of the following:
A. Uses lawfully established on the effective date of this title; and
B. Conditional uses allowed in accordance with the provisions of RMC 17.08.020.
Uses already established on the effective date of this title, and rendered nonconforming by the provisions thereof, shall be subject to the regulations of Chapter 17.05 RMC (Nonconforming Buildings, Structures, and Uses). (1980 Zoning Code § 8, Part A 1)
17.08.020 Conditional uses.
Conditional uses as hereinafter listed may be allowed in the zoning districts indicated, subject to the issuance of conditional use permits in accordance with the provisions of RMC 17.03.110. (1980 Zoning Code § 8, Part A 2)
17.08.030 Lot size requirements.
Lot size requirements shall be as set forth under each zoning district.
A. No use shall be established or hereafter maintained on a lot recorded after the effective date of this title which is of less area than prescribed hereinafter for such use in the zoning district in which it is to be located.
B. No existing building or dwelling unit shall be converted so as to conflict with, or further conflict with, the lot size requirements of the district in which such building is located. (1980 Zoning Code § 8, Part A 3)
17.08.040 Yard requirements.
A. Yard requirements shall be as set forth under each zoning district in Article II of this chapter for all buildings, structures, and uses, except as may be established by the president and board of trustees and reflected on the zoning map.
B. Fuel and food dispensing devices with a height of not over six feet shall be exempt from the established front yard or corner side yard requirements, but all such dispensing devices shall be set back from the front lot line and the corner side lot line a distance of not less than fifteen feet.
C. All required yards shall be unobstructed from the ground level to the sky, except as allowed in RMC 17.04.070(E). All accessory buildings when attached to principal buildings shall comply with the yard requirements of the principal buildings. (1980 Zoning Code § 8, Part A 4)
17.08.050 Building height.
The requirements established under each zoning district in Article II of this chapter shall determine the maximum building height allowable for the building or buildings. (1980 Zoning Code § 8, Part A 5)
17.08.060 Signs.
Signs shall be allowed in business districts in accordance with the regulations established in Chapter 17.10 RMC. (1980 Zoning Code § 8, Part A 6)
17.08.070 Off-street parking and loading.
Off-street parking and loading facilities, accessory to uses allowed in business districts, shall be provided in accordance with the regulations established in Chapter 17.11 RMC. (1980 Zoning Code § 8, Part A 7)
Article II. District Requirements
17.08.200 B-1 community shopping district.
The community shopping district is primarily intended to provide convenience shopping for persons residing in adjacent residential areas, and to permit such uses as are necessary to satisfy those basic shopping needs which occur daily or frequently and so require shopping facilities in relative proximity to places of residence.
A. Uses allowed in the B-1 district are subject to the following conditions:
1. Dwelling units are not permitted below the second floor.
2. All business establishments shall be retail or service establishments dealing directly with consumers. All goods produced on the premises shall be sold at retail on the premises where produced.
3. All business, servicing, or processing, except for off-street parking or loading, shall be conducted within completely enclosed buildings.
4. Establishments of the “drive-in” type offering goods or services directly to customers waiting in parked motor vehicles are not permitted.
5. The parking of trucks as an accessory use, when used in the conduct of a permitted business listed hereafter in this section, shall be limited to vehicles of not over one-and-one-half tons capacity when located within seventy-five feet of a residence district boundary line. Any parking of trucks on land adjacent to residential property shall be screened therefrom by a wall, fence, or densely planted compact hedge, not less than five nor more than eight feet in height.
B. Permitted Uses.
1. Antique shops.
2. Art and school supply stores.
3. Art shops or galleries.
4. Automobile accessory stores.
5. Bakeries, retail.
6. Repealed by Ord. 2014-31.
7. Reserved.
8. Reserved.
9. Bicycle sales, rental, and repair stores.
10. Blueprinting and photostating establishments.
11. Book and stationery stores.
12. Business machine sales and service.
13. Camera and photograph supply stores.
14. Candy and ice cream stores.
15. Carpet and rug stores, retail sales only.
16. Chartered financial institutions.
17. China and glassware stores.
18. Coin and philatelic stores.
19. Currency exchanges.
20. Dairy products sales.
21. Department stores.
22. Drug stores or pharmacies.
23. Dry-cleaning establishments.
24. Dry goods stores.
25. Dwelling units, above the ground floor.
26. Electrical and household appliance stores, including radio and television sales, and repair.
27. Employment agencies.
28. Florist shops.
29. Food stores, grocery stores, meat markets and delicatessens.
30. Furniture stores, including upholstering when conducted as part of the retail operations and secondary to the principal use.
31. Furrier shops, including the incidental storage and conditioning of furs.
32. Garden supply, tool, and seed stores.
33. Gift shops.
34. Hardware stores.
35. Hobby shops, for retail of items to be assembled or used away from the premises.
36. Household appliance stores.
37. Jewelry stores, including watch repair.
38. Launderettes and hand laundries.
39. Leather goods and luggage stores.
40. Locksmith shops.
41. Millinery shops.
42. Musical instrument sales and repair.
43. Newspaper distribution agencies.
44. Office machine sales and servicing.
45. Offices, business and professional.
46. Office supply stores.
47. Orthopedic and medical appliance stores.
48. Optician sales, retail.
49. Paint, glass, and wallpaper stores.
50. Pet shops.
51. Phonograph record and sheet music stores.
52. Photography studios, including the developing of film and pictures when conducted as part of the retail business on the premises.
53. Post office.
54. Radio and television sales, service, and repair shops.
55. Repair, rental, and servicing of any article the sale of which is a permitted use in the district.
56. Restaurants.
57. Schools – music, dance or business.
58. Sewing machine sales and service – household appliances only.
59. Shoe, clothing and hat repair stores.
60. Shoe stores.
61. Sporting goods stores.
62. Tailor shops.
63. Theaters (indoor).
64. Tobacco shops.
65. Toy shops.
66. Travel bureaus and transportation ticket offices.
67. Variety stores.
68. Wearing apparel shops.
69. Accessory uses, incidental to and on the same zoning lot as a principal use.
C. Conditional Uses. The following conditional uses may be allowed in the B-1 district, subject to the provisions of RMC 17.03.110:
1. Clinics, medical and dental.
2. Parking lots and structures, other than accessories, for the storage of private passenger automobiles.
3. Parks, libraries, and other public uses.
4. Planned developments, business.
5. Public utility and service uses.
6. Secondhand stores and rummage shops.
7. Accessory uses incidental to and on the same zoning lot as a principal use.
8. Barbershops.
9. Beauty shops.
10. Nail shops.
D. Lot Size Requirements. In the B-1 district there shall be provided not less than one thousand square feet of lot area for each dwelling unit on a lot. Planned developments shall have a minimum lot area of two acres.
E. Yard Requirements.
1. Front Yard. No specific requirement.
2. Transitional Yards. Where a side lot line coincides with a side or rear lot line in an adjacent residence district, a yard shall be provided along such side lot line. Such yard shall be equal in dimension to the minimum side yard which would be required under this title for a residential use on the adjacent residential lot.
F. Building Height Limitations. In the B-1 district, no building or structure height shall exceed three stories or forty-five feet, unless specifically authorized by conditional use permit. (Ord. 2014-31 §§ 3, 4, 2014; Ord. 2007-42, 2007; Ord. 93-3, 1993; Ord. 90-23, 1990; Ord. 90-20, 1990; Ord. 88-7, 1988; 1980 Zoning Code § 8, Part B 8.1)
17.08.210 B-2 service business district.
The service business district is designed to accommodate the low-intensity service and light commercial uses that have located along urban arterials.
A. Uses allowed in the B-2 district are subject to the following conditions:
1. Dwelling units are not permitted below the second floor, and then only by conditional use permit.
2. Establishments of the “drive-in” type offering goods or services directly to customers waiting in parked motor vehicles are allowed by conditional use permit only.
3. The parking of trucks as an accessory use, when used in the conduct of a permitted business listed hereafter in this section shall be limited to vehicles of not over one-and-one-half tons capacity when located within thirty feet of a residence district boundary line. Any parking of trucks on land adjacent to residential property shall be screened therefrom by a wall, fence, or densely planted compact hedge, not less than five nor more than eight feet in height.
B. Permitted Uses. The following uses are permitted in the B-2 district:
1. Any use permitted in the B-1 district, except for dwelling units.
2. Business service and supply shops.
3. Clinics, medical and dental.
4. Funeral homes.
5. Heating, plumbing and electrical contractors showrooms, offices and shops.
C. Conditional Uses. The following conditional uses may be allowed in the B-2 district, subject to the provisions of RMC 17.03.110:
1. Automobile service stations.
2. Car washes.
3. Day care centers.
4. Drive-in uses.
5. Dwelling units above the ground floor.
6. Hotels and motels.
7. Industrial arts vocational training center.
8. Motor vehicle repair.
9. Motor vehicle sales.
10. Parking lots and structures.
11. Planned developments, business.
12. Printing establishments.
13. Public utility and service uses.
14. Wholesale businesses.
15. Accessory uses, incidental to, and on the same zoning lot as a principal use.
D. Lot Size Requirements. In the B-2 district there shall be provided not less than one thousand six hundred square feet of lot area for each dwelling unit on a lot. Planned developments shall have a minimum lot area of two acres.
E. Yard Requirements.
1. Front Yard. No specific requirement.
2. Transitional Yards. Where a side lot line coincides with a side or rear lot line in an adjacent residence district, a yard shall be provided along such side lot line. Such yard shall be equal in dimension to the minimum side yard which would be required under this title for a residential use on the adjacent residential lot.
F. Building Height Limitations. In a B-2 district, no building or structure height shall exceed three stories or forty-five feet. (Ord. 2015-48 § 3, 2016; Ord. 2012-44 § 3, 2012; Ord. 2000-14 § 1, 2000; 1980 Zoning Code § 8, Part B 8.2)
17.08.220 B-3 general commercial district.
The B-3 general commercial district is intended to accommodate those commercial activities which may be incompatible with the predominantly retail uses permitted in the B-1 community shopping district; and whose service area is not confined to any one neighborhood.
A. Uses allowed in the B-3 district are subject to the following conditions:
1. Dwelling units and rooming units, other than those located in a hotel or motel or watchmen’s quarters located on the premises where employed, are not permitted.
2. All business, servicing, or processing shall be conducted within completely enclosed buildings, with the following exceptions: establishments of the “drive-in” type offering goods or services directly to customers waiting in parked motor vehicles, display of merchandise for sale to the public, and off-street parking and loading.
3. The unenclosed parking of trucks as an accessory use shall be limited to vehicles of not over one-and-one-half tons capacity when located within seventy-five feet of a residence district boundary line. Any parking of trucks on land adjacent to residential property shall be screened therefrom by a wall, fence, or densely planted compact hedge, not less than five nor more than eight feet in height.
B. Permitted Uses. Any use permitted in the B-2 district shall be permitted in the B-3 district, and, in addition, the following uses shall be permitted:
1. Auction rooms.
2. Boat showrooms, sales and repairs.
3. Car washes.
4. Drive-in establishments for uses permitted.
5. Electrical showrooms and shops.
6. Exterminating shops.
7. Farm and implement stores.
8. Funeral homes.
9. Feed and seed stores.
10. Greenhouses and nurseries.
11. Heating and air-conditioning showrooms and shops.
12. Hotels and motels.
13. Laboratories: medical, dental, research and testing.
14. Laundries.
15. Medical and dental clinics and laboratories.
16. Parking lots and structures.
17. Repealed by Ord. 2014-31.
18. Physical culture and health services, gymnasiums, reducing salons.
19. Plumbing showrooms and shops.
20. Printing shops.
21. Recording or sound studios.
22. Schools, business or commercial.
23. Taxidermists.
24. Accessory uses, incidental to and on the same zoning lot as a principal use.
C. Conditional Uses. The following uses shall be allowed as conditional uses in the B-3 district, subject to the provisions of RMC 17.03.110:
1. Amusement establishments, including: bowling alleys, pool halls, dance halls, swimming pools, skating rinks, and other similar indoor amusement facilities.
2. Animal hospitals and kennels.
3. Automobile service stations.
4. Building material and products sales and storage.
5. Cartage and express facilities.
6. Contractor or construction offices, shops, and yards.
7. Day care centers.
8. Garages for storage, repair, and servicing of motor vehicles, including body repair, painting, and engine rebuilding.
9. Machinery sales.
10. Mobile home sales.
11. Model homes and garage displays.
12. Motor vehicle sales.
13. Parks, libraries and other public uses.
14. Planned developments, business or commercial.
15. Public utility and service uses.
16. Stadiums, auditoriums, and arenas – open or enclosed.
17. Theaters, drive-in.
18. Trailer and camper-trailer sales and rental for use with private passenger motor vehicles.
19. Wholesale establishments.
20. Woodworking shops.
21. Accessory uses, incidental to and on the same zoning lot as a principal use.
22. Gas stations/mini marts.
D. Lot Size Requirements. None, except for planned developments, which shall provide at least two acres of lot area.
E. Yard Requirements.
1. Front and Corner Side Yards. Uses allowed in the B-3 district shall provide a front yard and a corner yard of not less than thirty feet in depth.
2. Interior Side Yard. A minimum interior side yard of ten feet in depth shall be provided.
3. Rear Yard. Each lot shall be provided with a rear yard of at least twenty feet in depth, except where the rear lot line coincides with a railroad right-of-way line, in which case the rear yard may be reduced to three feet.
4. Transitional Yard. No building or structure in the B-3 district shall be located within twenty feet of a residence district boundary line, unless such building or structure is effectively screened from such residence district property by a wall, fence, or densely planted compact hedge, not less than five feet nor more than eight feet in height; in the event of such screening, the transitional yard requirements specified in the B-1 district shall apply in the B-3 district. The zoning administrator may waive this requirement if the structure, use, or building is already effectively screened by natural topography or existing screening comparable to the types mentioned.
F. Building Height Limitations. In the B-3 district, no building or structure height shall exceed three stories or forty-five feet. (Ord. 2014-31 § 5, 2014; Ord. 2002-44 § 1, 2002; Ord. 93-3, 1993; Ord. 90-23, 1990; Ord. 90-5, 1990; 1980 Zoning Code § 8, Part B 8.3)
17.08.230 B-4 restricted office district.
The B-4 restricted office district is designed primarily to allow for the location of office and civic buildings and uses and institutional structures in a mutually compatible environment. Dwellings and other compatible private facilities may be allowed by conditional use permit.
A. Permitted Uses. The following uses are permitted in the B-4 district:
1. Cultural and civic institutions, as follows:
a. Municipal buildings.
b. Public libraries and public art galleries.
c. Public museums and aquariums.
2. Educational institutions as follows:
a. Elementary schools.
b. High schools.
c. Music, dancing, business and commercial schools.
3. Health and medical institutions, as follows:
a. Hospitals.
b. Medical and dental clinics.
4. Offices, business, professional and governmental.
5. Recreational and social facilities as follows:
a. Parks and playgrounds.
b. Recreational buildings and community centers, noncommercial.
6. Accessory uses incidental to and on the same zoning lot as the principal use. Such incidental accessory uses shall include cafeterias, restaurants, gift shops, flower shops, snack bars, drug stores, barber shops, beauty parlors, banks, and office supply stores (not including office machinery and furniture), conducted for the convenience of the employees, patients, patrons or visitors. Said uses shall be designed and located totally within the confines of the principal use. Primary access to the incidental retail uses shall be from within the principal use. All exterior signs related to said uses shall conform to the applicable sign regulations.
B. Conditional Uses. The following conditional uses may be allowed in the B-4 district, subject to the provisions of RMC 17.03.110:
1. Clubs and lodges, private.
2. Convalescent and nursing homes, including extended medical care facilities.
3. Day care centers.
4. Dwellings.
5. Funeral homes.
6. Parking lots and garages other than accessory for the storage of private passenger automobiles only.
7. Personal services, including barber shops and beauty parlors.
8. Planned developments, office or institutional.
9. Public utility and public service uses as follows:
a. Fire stations.
b. Police stations.
c. Post offices.
d. Telephone exchanges, telephone transmission equipment buildings, and microwave relay towers.
10. Religious institutions as follows:
a. Churches, chapels, temples and synagogues.
b. Convents, seminaries, monasteries and nunneries.
c. Rectories, parsonages and parish homes.
d. Religious retreats.
11. Accessory uses incidental to and on the same zoning lot as the principal use.
C. Lot Size Requirements. In the B-4 district there shall be provided not less than one thousand square feet of lot area for each dwelling unit on a lot. Planned developments shall have a minimum lot area of two acres.
D. Yard Requirements.
1. Front Yard. No specific requirement.
2. Transitional Yards. Where a side lot line coincides with a side or rear lot line in an adjacent residence district, a yard shall be provided along such side lot line. Such yard shall be equal in dimension to the minimum side yard which would be required for a residential use on the adjacent residential lot.
E. Building Height Limitations. In the B-4 district no building or structure height shall exceed three stories or forty-five feet, unless specifically authorized by conditional use permit. (Ord. 93-3, 1993; 1980 Zoning Code § 8, Part B 8.4)