Chapter 17.08 DEFINITIONS

“Accessory use” means a structure or use incidental and subordinate to the principal use and located on the same lot as the principal use. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.015 Alley.

“Alley” means a street which affords only a secondary means of vehicular access to property. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.020 Alterations.

“Alterations” means a change or rearrangement of the structural parts or exit facilities, or an enlargement by extending the sides or increasing the height or depth, or the moving from one location to another. In buildings for commercial or industrial use the installation or rearrangement of partitions affecting more than one-third of a single floor area shall be considered an alteration. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.025 Amendment.

“Amendment” means a change in the text of the ordinance codified in this title or a change in the zone boundaries of the zoning map of the ordinance codified in this title (see also “rezone”). (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.030 Animal shelter.

“Animal shelter” means a lot or building where one or more horses, cows, sheep, goats, or other similar outside domestic animals are kept, or where three or more rabbits, chinchillas, or similar small outside domestic animals are kept. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.035 Apartment.

“Apartment” means a room or suite of two or more rooms in a multifamily dwelling having its own kitchen and bathroom facilities. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.040 Apartment house.

“Apartment house” means a building designed for occupancy by families living independently of each other in three or more dwelling units. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.045 Apartment, walk-up.

“Walk-up apartment” means an apartment located on the second or third floor of a commercial building. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.050 Area, site.

“Site area” means the total horizontal area within the property lines excluding external streets. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.055 Arterial.

“Arterial” means any street which has been designed to carry large volumes of traffic and designated as an arterial in the comprehensive plan. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.060 Automobile wrecking yard.

“Automobile wrecking yard” means any property where two or more vehicles not in running condition, or the parts thereof, are wrecked, dismantled, disassembled, substantially altered, or stored in the open, and are not to be restored to operation. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.065 Boardinghouse or roominghouse.

“Boardinghouse” or “roominghouse” means a building where lodging, with or without meals, is provided for not less than five nor more than 15 persons in addition to members of the family occupying the building. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.070 Buffer.

“Buffer” means a space, generally running along property lines, which is intended to reduce the impacts of a proposed use on adjacent property or natural features. Buffers are required to maintain existing trees or vegetation, to block or reduce noise, glare or other emissions, or to maintain privacy. Fencing or plantings may be required in this space. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.075 Building.

“Building” means any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.080 Building height.

“Building height” means the vertical distance from the highest adjoining surface, within five feet of the exterior wall, to the highest point of the roof. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.090 Building, main.

“Main building” means the principal buildings or other structure on a lot which is designed or used to accommodate the primary use to which the premises are devoted. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.095 Business or commerce.

“Business” or “commerce” means the purchase, sale, offering for sale, or other transactions involving the handling, disposition of any article, service, substance or commodity for livelihood or profit. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.100 Cemetery.

“Cemetery” means land used or intended to be used for the burial of the human dead and dedicated for cemetery purposes. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.105 Church.

“Church” means an establishment, the principal purpose of which is religious worship and for which the principal building or other structure contains the sanctuary or principal place of worship, and including accessory uses in the main building or in separate buildings or structures, including Sunday School rooms and religious education classrooms, assembly halls, kitchen, library room or reading room, recreational hall, a one-family dwelling unit and residences on the site for nuns or clergy, but excluding facilities for training of religious orders. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.110 Clear vision area.

“Clear vision area” means an area maintained at the corners of street intersections or driveways which has no obstructions to vision from 30 inches to 96 inches above the curb for a distance of 30 feet from the corner, to allow approaching vehicles to see each other. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.115 Club, private.

“Private club” means a nonprofit social organization whose premises are restricted to its members and their guests. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.120 Conditional use.

“Conditional use” means a use listed among those classified in any given zone but permitted only after a public hearing by the planning commission and the granting of a conditional use permit imposing such performance standards as will make the use compatible with other permitted uses in the same district. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.125 Conditional use permit.

“Conditional use permit” means a permit given after a review process has been completed, authorizing a use, subject to conditions attached, within a stated zone. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.130 Conforming use.

“Conforming use” means a use or activity which is permitted in a zone because it is consistent with or compatible with other permitted uses. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.135 Dangerous or wild animal.

“Dangerous or wild animal” means any animal domesticated that presents itself as a threat to the safety or well-being of people, property or other animals. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.140 Day care facilities.

“Day care facilities” means a group child day care facility, including nurseries, nursery schools, privately conducted kindergartens, and programs providing afterschool care for children. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.145 Dwelling.

“Dwelling” means a building designed exclusively for residential purposes. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.150 Dwelling, one-family or single-family.

“One-family dwelling” or “single-family dwelling” means a detached building designed exclusively for occupancy by one family. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.155 Dwelling, multifamily or apartment house.

“Multifamily dwelling” or “apartment house” means a building designed exclusively for occupancy by three or more families living independently of each other, and containing three or more dwelling units. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.160 Dwelling, two-family or duplex.

“Two-family dwelling” or “duplex” means a detached building designed exclusively for occupancy by two or more families living independently of each other, and containing two or more dwelling units. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.165 Dwelling unit.

“Dwelling unit” means one or more rooms occupied by one family and containing kitchen facilities for use solely by one family. All rooms comprising a dwelling unit shall have access through an interior door to other parts of the dwelling unit. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.170 Family.

“Family” means an individual or two or more persons related by blood or marriage, or a group of not more than five persons who are not related by blood or marriage. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.175 Fence.

“Fence” means a wall or barrier for the purpose of enclosing space or separating lots or parcels of land. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.180 Flock.

“Flock” means four or more chickens, ducks, geese or other fowl. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.185 Floor area.

“Floor area” means the sum of the gross areas of the several floors of a building, measured from the exterior faces of the exterior walls or from the centerline of walls separating two buildings, but not including:

(1) Attic space not used as living area providing headroom of less than seven feet;

(2) Basement, if the floor above is less than six feet above grade;

(3) Uncovered steps or fire escapes. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.190 Garage, commercial.

“Commercial garage” means a building used for the care, repair or storage of automobiles or where such vehicles are kept for remuneration, hire or sale. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.195 Garage, private.

“Private garage” means an accessory building or an accessory portion of the main building, designed and used only for the shelter or storage of vehicles owned by or operated only by the occupants of the main building or buildings. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.196 Garage, public.

“Public garage” means a building in which the primary function is the rental of storage space for motor vehicles. (Ord. 708 § 1, 1992).

17.08.200 Grade.

“Grade” means the finished surface of the ground, paving or sidewalk within the area between the building and the property line, or when the property line is more than five feet from the building, between the building and a line five feet from the building. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.205 Grade (ground level).

“Grade (ground level)” means the average of the finished ground level at the centers of all walls of the building. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.210 Height of building.

“Height of building” means the vertical distance from the grade to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof, to the deck line of a mansard roof, or the average height of the highest gable of a pitch or hip roof. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.215 Home occupation.

“Home occupation” means a business, occupation or profession which is carried on in a dwelling and one in which that use of the premises is secondary to the main use as a residence, and which occupation is carried on by a member of the family residing within the dwelling. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.220 Hospital.

“Hospital” means an institution specializing in providing clinical, temporary and emergency services of a medical or surgical nature to human patients and licensed by state law to provide facilities and services. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.225 Hospital or clinic, small animal.

“Small animal hospital or clinic” means an establishment in which veterinary medical services and grooming services are rendered to dogs, cats and other small animals and pets. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.230 Hotel.

“Hotel” means a building in which there are five or more guest rooms where lodging, with or without meals, is provided for a compensation, and where no provision is made for cooking in any individual room or suite, and in which building may be included one apartment for use of the resident manager, but shall not include buildings where human beings are housed or detained under legal restraint. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.235 Junkyard.

“Junkyard” means any premises devoted wholly or in part to the storage, buying or selling or otherwise handling or dealing in old rags, sacks, bottles, cans, metal, papers, rubber or other articles commonly known as junk. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.240 Kennel.

“Kennel” means a lot or building in which four or more dogs or cats at least four months of age are kept. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.245 Livestock.

“Livestock” means horses, cows, sheep, goats, swine, donkeys and mules. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.250 Loading space.

“Loading space” means a space on the same site with the use served, which provides for the temporary parking of a vehicle while loading or unloading merchandise, materials or passengers. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.255 Lot.

“Lot” means a fractional part of divided lands having fixed boundaries, being of sufficient area and dimensions to meet minimum zoning requirements for width and area. The term shall include tracts or parcels abutting a public street. (A lot is identified and/or numbered on approved plat map.) (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.260 Lot area.

“Lot area” means the total area of a lot measured in a horizontal plane within the lot boundary lines exclusive of public and private roads and easements of access to other property. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.265 Lot, corner.

“Corner lot” means a lot abutting on two or more streets other than an alley, at their intersection. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.270 Lot coverage.

“Lot coverage” means the area covered by all buildings, including accessory buildings, but excluding open parking spaces or recreational areas. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.275 Lot depth.

“Lot depth” means the average dimension of lot measured from the front lot line to the rear lot line. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.280 Lot front line.

A line separating the street from the narrow portion of the lot on the plat map shall be the “front line,” unless the wide portion of the lot is the only portion abutting the street. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.285 Lot, interior.

“Interior lot” means a lot other than a corner lot. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.290 Lot line, side.

“Side lot line” means lot lines which are not parallel to front lot lines or rear lot lines. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.295 Lot rear line.

“Lot rear line” means a lot line most distant and opposite from the lot front line. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.300 Lot, through.

“Through lot” means an interior lot having frontage on two streets. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.305 Lot width.

“Lot width” means the distance between the lot side lines at the lot side lines at the front building setback line. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.310 Main use.

“Main use” means the specific purpose for which land and/or building is designed, arranged, intended, or for which it is or may be occupied or maintained. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.315 Manufactured home (mobile home).

“Manufactured home (mobile home)” means a residential unit on one or more chassis for towing to the point of use and designed to be used with a foundation as a dwelling unit on a year-around basis, and which bears an insignia issued by a state or federal regulatory agency indicating that the manufactured home complies with all applicable construction standards of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development definitions of a manufactured home. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.320 Manufactured home (mobile home) park.

“Manufactured home (mobile home) park” means a tract of land under single ownership or control upon which manufactured homes (mobile homes) occupied as dwellings may be located. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.325 Manufactured home (mobile park) site.

“Manufactured home (mobile home) site” means a plot of ground within a manufactured home park designed to accommodate one manufactured home. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.326 Marijuana production, processing and retail sales.

Initiative 502 and the subsequent bills passed by the Washington Legislature further define the areas and distances this type of business is allowed to operate from. Generally, this type of business is prohibited from locating 1,000 feet from elementary and secondary schools, playgrounds, recreation centers, child care centers, game arcades, public parks, transit centers and libraries. (Ord. 1079 § 1, 2014).

17.08.328 Mini-storage warehouses.

“Mini-storage warehouses” means storage units to be rented to the public. (Ord. 1079 § 2, 2014; Ord. 708 § 1, 1992. Formerly 17.08.326).

17.08.330 Modular home (factory-built).

“Modular home (factory-built)” means a structure constructed in a factory of factory-assembled parts and transported to the building site, in whole or in units, which meets the requirements of the Uniform Building Code (UBC). The completed structure is not a manufactured home (mobile home) and shall be considered a single-family dwelling. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.335 Motel.

“Motel” means a group of attached or detached buildings containing individual sleeping units where a majority of such units open individually and directly to the outside, and are available to the public for rental. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.340 Nonconforming building.

“Nonconforming building” means a building, or portion thereof, which was lawfully erected and maintained prior to the ordinance codified in this title, but which does not conform to the regulations of this title. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.345 Nonconforming use.

“Nonconforming use” means a use which was lawfully established and maintained prior to the ordinance codified in this title, but which does not conform to the regulations of this title. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.350 Parcel.

“Parcel” means a tract or plot of land of any size which may or may not be subdivided or improved. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.355 Parking area, private.

“Private parking area” means an open area other than a street, alley or other public property limited to the parking of automobiles of occupants, employees or customers. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.360 Parking area, public.

“Public parking area” means an open area other than a street or alley whether publicly or privately owned, which is used for the parking of automobiles and is available to the general public. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.365 Parking space.

“Parking space” means an area which is improved, maintained and used for the sole purpose of accommodating a motor vehicle. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.370 Permitted use.

“Permitted use” means a main use authorized by action of the planning commission. The term shall not be deemed to include any nonconforming use. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.375 Person.

“Person” means every natural person, firm, partnership, association, social or fraternal organization, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, syndicate, branch of government, or any other group or combination acting as a unit. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.380 Principal use or main use.

“Principal use” or “main use” means the primary or predominant use to which the property is or may be devoted, and to which all other uses on the premises are accessory. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.385 Public use.

“Public use” means a structure or use intended or used for a public purpose by a city, a school district, the county, the state, or by any other public agency, or by a public utility. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.390 Public utility.

“Public utility” means a private business organization such as a public service corporation performing some public service and subject to special governmental regulations, or a governmental agency performing similar public services, the services by either are paid for directly by the recipients therefore. Such services shall include, but are not limited to, water supply, electric power, gas, and transportation for persons and freight. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.395 Recreational vehicle.

“Recreational vehicle” means a vehicular-type unit designed for temporary living quarters for recreational camping or travel uses, with or without motive power. This definition includes campers and motor homes. A recreational vehicle is not a manufactured home (mobile home). (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.400 Recreational vehicle park.

“Recreational vehicle park” means a tract of land under single ownership or control designed to provide safe and sanitary temporary parking for a recreational vehicle, but not intended for use as a manufactured home (mobile home) park. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.405 Residence.

“Residence” means a building, or portion thereof, which is designed for and used to provide a home for people. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.410 Rest home, convalescent home, guest home or home for the aged.

“Rest home,” “convalescent home,” “guest home” or “home for the aged” means a home operated similarly to a boarding house but not restricted to any number of guests or guest rooms and the operator of which is licensed by the state or county to give nursing, dietary and other personal services furnished to convalescents, invalids and aged persons, but in which are kept no persons suffering from mental illness, mental disease, disorder or ailment, or from a contagious or communicable disease, and in which homes are performed no surgery, maternity or other primary treatments such as customarily are performed in sanitariums or hospitals. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.415 Rezone.

“Rezone” means a change or amendment to the boundaries of a zone classification, which requires going through a review and approval process. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.420 Roof.

“Roof” means a structural covering over any portion of a building or structure, including the projections beyond the walls or supports of the building or structure. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.425 Schools.

“Schools” mean institutions of learning offering instruction in the several branches of learning and study required by the Educational Code of the State of Washington to be taught in public or private schools. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.430 Screen.

“Screen” means a vertical barrier located in a limited space intended to provide a buffering effect, particularly for noise reduction or visual separation. Screens may consist of existing or planted vegetation, attractive sight-obscuring fencing, hedges, walls or earth berms, or similar techniques. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.435 Semipublic use.

“Semipublic use” means a structure or use intended or used for a semipublic purpose by a church, lodge, club or any other nonprofit organization. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.440 Sign.

“Sign” means a device which directs attention to a product, place, activity, person, institution or business. Each display surface of a sign, other than two surfaces separated by not more than 20 inches of supporting structure constitutes a sign. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.441 Storage, private.

“Private storage” means storage for private owner use only. (Ord. 708 § 1, 1992).

17.08.445 Story.

“Story” means that portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it. If there is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling next above it shall be considered a story. If the finished floor level next above the basement or cellar is more than six feet above grade, then such basement or cellar shall be considered a story. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.450 Street.

“Street” means the entire width between the right-of-way lines or a public way and includes the terms “road,” “highway,” “avenue,” “alley” and other similar designations. The term means public way whether constructed or not. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.455 Structural alterations.

“Structural alterations” means any change in the supporting members of a building or structure. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.460 Structure.

“Structure” means something constructed or built and having a fixed base on or fixed connection to the ground or another structure. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.465 Temporary hardship unit.

“Temporary hardship unit” means a manufactured home, temporarily installed on a lot, to provide housing of a family member in need of daily care, supervision or guardianship. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.470 Travel trailer.

“Travel trailer” means a trailer house or coach not more than eight feet in width or more than 28 feet in length designed for travel and recreation uses. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.475 Unclassified or unlisted uses.

“Unclassified or unlisted uses” means uses which are not specifically named as a permitted or conditional use in any use classification contained within this title. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.480 Use.

“Use” means the purpose for which land or a structure is designed, arranged or intended, or for which it is occupied or maintained. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.485 Variance.

“Variance” means an adjustment in the specific regulations of this title regarding a particular piece of property because it is deprived of the privileges commonly enjoyed by other properties in the same vicinity. This adjustment remedies disparity in privileges. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.490 Yard.

“Yard” means an open space on a lot which is unobstructed from the ground upward, except as otherwise provided in this title. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.495 Yard, front.

“Front yard” means the narrow portion of the lot facing the street on the official plat map. In the case of an irregular front lot line, the front yard shall be on the average depth of two corners, etc., one-half way. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.500 Yard, junk.

For a definition of “junkyard,” see DMC 17.08.235. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.505 Yard, rear.

“Rear yard” means a yard between side lot lines and measured horizontally at right angles to the rear lot line from the rear lot line to the nearest point of a building. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.510 Yard, side.

“Side yard” means a yard between the front and rear yard from the side lot line to the nearest point of a building. (Ord. 669, 1990).

17.08.520 Zone.

“Zone” means an area defined as to boundaries and location of an official map (zoning map) and within which only certain types of land use are permitted, other land uses being excluded because of incompatibility or intensity of land use. (Ord. 669, 1990).