Chapter 17.78
DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Sections:
17.78.030 Front yard and rear yard setback averaging – Permitted where.
17.78.040 Private garage location exceptions.
17.78.050 Roofs or trellises over porches or terraces.
17.78.060 Sight distance requirements.
17.78.070 Cul-de-sac lot setback and dimensional requirements – Exceptions.
17.78.080 Allowed projections into setbacks.
17.78.010 Marquee setbacks.
In the commercial and industrial districts, the projection of marquees to the property line shall not be considered a violation of the building setback requirements. Marquees must conform to the construction requirements as set forth in the building code. (Ord. 3315, 2006; Ord. 2352, 1989).
17.78.020 Existing lots.
Any lot of any size can be used for a building site, subject to the regulations governing the use district in which it is located, if it was officially recorded in the city or county offices as a single lot prior to the effective date of the provisions codified in this title; provided, it has 20-foot frontage on a public street or access to a public street by a 20-foot-wide private lane. (Ord. 3315, 2006; Ord. 2352, 1989).
17.78.030 Front yard and rear yard setback averaging – Permitted where.
In residential districts where more than 50 percent of the normal or average sized lots in a block fronting one side of a street or where the adjoining lots on each side of a single lot are developed with existing buildings other than accessory buildings with front or rear yard setbacks less than the dimension required for the district, new single-family or duplex dwellings may adopt a front yard setback dimension which is the average of the existing, reduced front yard setbacks in the block or of the two adjoining lots, but in no case shall this dimension be less than 15 feet. (Ord. 3315, 2006; Ord. 2352, 1989).
17.78.040 Private garage location exceptions.
A. Private garages may be built no closer than 10 feet to the rear property line, and no closer than six feet to the main structure in residential districts provided the following conditions are met:
1. The garage shall not exceed the height of the main structure or 16 feet, whichever is lower; and
2. The size of the garage shall not exceed 900 square feet; and
3. The garage is in compliance with the International Building Code as adopted by the city.
B. Where a rear yard abuts an alley, garages and carports may be located within eight feet of the rear property lines. (Ord. 3429 § 125, 2008).
17.78.050 Roofs or trellises over porches or terraces.
Open terrace, porch or stairway roofs that provide shelter shall comply with the requirements of the main building roof. Open trellis, beam, egg crate or similar construction that does not provide shelter over open terraces, porches or stairways can be built to the property line provided the structure is designed as a part of the property line fence and does not constitute a view obstruction. (Ord. 3315, 2006; Ord. 2352, 1989).
17.78.060 Sight distance requirements.
In all districts of the city except the C-1 district, and except for controlled intersections, it shall be unlawful to install, set out or maintain or to allow the installation, setting out or maintenance of any structures, hedges, shrubbery, natural growth or other vision obstructions higher than three feet above the level of the center of the adjacent intersection or top of curb, excluding fire hydrants.
No sign shall be placed in a location that obstructs line of sight from an adjacent driveway or street or alley right-of-way or other point of ingress or egress from a property. The line of sight area shall be referred to as a sight triangle as defined in MVMC 17.78.065. No signs for a development shall be placed in any public right-of-way. No sign shall be erected which imitates or resembles any official traffic sign, signal, or device. Incidental public service signs may be approved only by the director of development services and shall be less than four square feet in area. Incidental public service signs intended for the convenience of the public and providing such messages as “entrance,” “exit,” “emergency entrance,” “no parking,” or other incidental service messages shall be allowed.
This shall not apply retroactively to permanent structures, public utility poles, trees trimmed (to the trunk) to a line at least eight feet above the level of the intersection, saplings or plant species of open growth habits and not planted in the form of a hedge, which are so planted and trimmed as to leave at all seasons a clean and unobstructed line of sight, supporting members of appurtenances to existing structures, official warning signs or signals, places where the contour of the ground is such that there can be no cross-visibility at the intersections, or signs mounted 10 feet or more above the ground and whose supports do not constitute an obstruction. Furthermore, it is unlawful to park any vehicle within this area either on the right-of-way or on private property. (Ord. 3315, 2006; Ord. 3092 § 1, 2002; Ord. 2997 § 9, 2000).
17.78.065 Sight triangle.
A “sight triangle” means a triangle-shaped portion of land 100 feet long and 15 feet wide (as shown in Figure 1) established at street, alley or driveway intersections in which nothing is erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow in such a manner as to limit or obstruct the sight distance of motorists entering or leaving the intersection.
The community and economic development director or designee may require modification or removal of structures or landscaping located in the required street setbacks, if such improvements prevent adequate sight distance to drivers entering or leaving a driveway. (Ord. 3429 § 126, 2008).
17.78.070 Cul-de-sac lot setback and dimensional requirements – Exceptions.
On any lot fronting a cul-de-sac or eyebrow street which has irregularly shaped lot lines, the setbacks may be reduced by 20 percent for any two of the four required setbacks. The required minimum lot width at the building line may also be reduced by a maximum of 20 percent. (Ord. 3315, 2006; Ord. 2352, 1989).
17.78.080 Allowed projections into setbacks.
The following may project into required yard setbacks subject to the provisions of the International Building Code:
A. Fireplace structures, bay windows, garden windows, enclosed stair landings, closets, framed fireplace shafts or similar projections not wider than eight feet measured in the general direction of the wall of which it is a part: 18 inches into any yard;
B. Uncovered porches and platforms which do not extend above the floor level of the first floor: six feet into the front yard and rear yard; provided, they may extend three feet into the side yard when they do not exceed 18 inches in height above the finished grade;
C. Planting boxes or masonry planters not exceeding 42 inches in height and two feet in width may intrude into any required front yard;
D. The eaves of a dwelling or accessory structure may project 18 inches from the line of the setback toward a property line when the setback is at least five feet; and 24 inches toward a property line when the setback is at least six feet. (Ord. 3429 § 127, 2008).