For the purpose of this Title, the following words, terms, phrases and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein, unless the context otherwise indicates.

4-11-010 DEFINITIONS A:

ABANDONMENT OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE FACILITIES: See RMC 4-5-120G.

ABUTTING: Lots sharing one or more property lines or easements; provided, that any improved or unimproved right-of-way of the City, other cities, or the State shall, for the purposes of this definition, disqualify lots as abutting.

ACCESS EASEMENT: See EASEMENT, ACCESS.

ACCESSORY BUILDING: A subordinate building located upon the same lot occupied by a principal use or building with which it is customarily associated, but clearly incidental to. This definition excludes accessory dwelling units.

ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT: See DWELLING UNIT, ACCESSORY.

ACCESSORY USE, AGRICULTURE OR ANIMAL HUSBANDRY: Subordinate and incidental uses, typically located upon the same lot, which support the agricultural or animal husbandry use of a site including, but not limited to the storage of agricultural products and equipment, and the sheltering of animals.

ACCESSORY USE, COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL/PUBLIC/COMMUNITY FACILITY: A use typically subordinate in size to the principal commercial, industrial, public, community facility, or other similar principal use; that would not contribute significantly to traffic generation, noise, or nuisance; and that supports the primary use operation without displacing it. Uses are typically located upon the same lot occupied by a principal use.

ACCESSORY USE, RESIDENTIAL: A subordinate use, which supports the principal residential use without displacing it, typically located upon the same lot occupied by the principal residential use with which it is customarily associated, but clearly incidental to. The accessory use is typically subordinate in size and supports the principal residential use without displacing it.

ACT, SHORELINE MANAGEMENT: (This definition for RMC 4-3-090, Shoreline Master Program Regulations, use only.) The Shoreline Management Act of 1971, chapter 90.58 RCW as amended.

ACTIVE RECREATION: See RECREATION, ACTIVE.

ACTIVITY: A happening associated with a use; the use of energy toward a specific action or pursuit. Examples of shoreline activities include but are not limited to fishing, swimming, boating, dredging, fish spawning, wildlife nesting, or discharging of materials. Not all activities necessarily require a shoreline location.

ADDITIONAL ANIMALS LICENSE: An annually renewed license issued by the Finance Department to individuals permitted to keep additional animals.

ADDITIONAL ANIMALS PERMIT: A conditionally granted permit for the keeping of household pets and/or domestic animals, when they are accessory, at greater numbers than allowed outright. For dogs, cats, and/or combinations of dogs and cats the maximum number allowable with this permit is six (6). Animals kept in small animal hospitals, clinics, pet shops, or grooming services are excluded from this definition.

ADJACENT: Lots located across a street, railroad, or right-of-way, except limited access roads.

ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS OFFICE: A use containing one or more of the day-to-day functions (e.g., management, payroll, information systems, inventory control) related to the operation of a company or affiliated corporate group.

ADMINISTRATOR: Unless otherwise specified in this Title, Administrator shall mean the Administrator of the Department of Community and Economic Development or designee.

ADULT DAY CARE/HEALTH: A program designed to meet the needs of adults with functional impairments through an individualized plan of care. It is a structured, comprehensive program that provides a variety of health, social, and related support services in a protective setting during any part of a day for a minimum of four (4) hours, but less than twenty four (24) hour care. While beds may be provided for rest periods, adult day care/health uses are not intended to function as residential facilities. A number, where specified, is the maximum number of clients present at any one period of time during the program operation. Adult day care/health programs are subclassified as follows:

1.  Adult Day Care/Health Category I: A maximum of four (4) clients upon a property containing a residential use; and a maximum of twelve (12) clients upon a property in nonresidential use.

2. Adult Day Care/Health Category II: Five (5) or more clients upon a property containing a residential use; and thirteen (13) or more clients upon a property in nonresidential use.

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS:

1. Any enterprise which, for money or any other form of consideration, features “adult live entertainment” as defined herein; or

2. Any “adult motion picture theater” as defined herein; or

3. Any adult arcade containing individual viewing areas or stations or booths, where for money or any other form of consideration one or more still or motion picture projectors, slide projectors, or similar machines, or other image-producing machines are used to show films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or other photographic reproduction of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

ADULT FAMILY HOME: A state-licensed facility providing personal care, room and board within a dwelling unit to more than one person, but not more than four (4) adults, not related by blood or marriage to the person(s) providing the service. A maximum of eight (8) adults may be permitted if the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services determines the home is of adequate size and the home and provider are capable of meeting standards and qualifications as provided for in chapters 70.128 RCW and 388-76 WAC.

ADULT LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: A person appearing nude or a live performance which is characterized by specified sexual activities as defined in RMC 4-11-190. This definition includes, but is not limited to, peep shows.

ADULT MOTION PICTURE THEATER: An enclosed building used for presenting motion picture films, video cassettes, cable television, or any other such visual media for observation by patrons there, distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

ADULT RETAIL USE: A retail establishment which, for money or any other form of consideration, either: (1) has as one of its principal purposes to sell, exchange, rent, loan, trade, transfer, and/or provide for viewing or use, off the premises, any adult-oriented merchandise; or (2) provides, as its substantial stock in trade, for the sale, exchange, rental, loan, trade, transfer, and/or provide for viewing or use, off the premises, any adult-oriented merchandise.

ADULT-ORIENTED MERCHANDISE: Any goods, products, commodities, or other wares, including but not limited to, videos, CD roms, DVDs, magazines, books, pamphlets, posters, cards, periodicals or nonclothing novelties, which depict, describe or simulate specified anatomical areas or specified sexual activities. This definition is not intended to include movies rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America or its successor organization.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: A dwelling unit reserved for occupancy as a primary residence by an eligible household that qualifies as affordable under applicable program eligibility requirements.

AGGRIEVED PARTY: A person seeking to protect what must be “arguably within the zone of interests to be protected or regulated by the statute or constitutional guarantee in question” and must allege an “injury in fact,” i.e., that he or she will be specifically and perceptibly harmed by the proposed action.

AGRICULTURE: Use of land for growing crops for sale or consumption, other than for home agriculture. This use includes the accessory uses for sales, packing, treating, or storing the produce; provided, that the operation of the accessory use is clearly incidental to the agricultural activity. This definition includes but is not limited to produce farms, vineyards, and Christmas tree farms. This definition excludes nurseries and animal husbandry.

AGRICULTURE, HOME: The accessory use of land to grow crops at a small or limited scale, for sale or consumption, when it occurs on the same site as the residence of the person primarily responsible for the crops.

AIR GAP: See RMC 4-6-100.

AIRPLANE SALES AND REPAIR: Facilities where airplanes are displayed for sale and/or brought for repair services.

AIRPORT COMPATIBLE LAND USE: Uses and structures within the Airport Influence Area that must be considered as to compatibility with aviation operations associated with the Renton Municipal Airport.

AIRPORT HAZARD: Any structure, tree or use of land which obstructs the air space required for the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off at the airport or is otherwise hazardous to landing or takeoff of aircraft.

AIRPORT INFLUENCE AREA: The area defined by the outer perimeter of “Safety Zone Six,” the Traffic Pattern Zone, on the Airport Influence Area Map (RMC 4-3-020F).

AIRPORT, MUNICIPAL: The Renton Municipal Airport, a general aviation facility located in Renton, Washington.

AIRPORT-RELATED USES: Uses that require proximity and access to an airport runway.

ALLEY: A vehicular right-of-way not over thirty feet (30') wide which is not designed for general travel and primarily used as means of vehicular and pedestrian access to the rear of abutting properties.

ALTERATION OF WATERCOURSE: Any action that will change the location of the channel occupied by water within the banks of any portion of a riverine water body.

ANIMAL FOSTER CARE PROVIDER: A homeowner and/or tenant who cares for an animal or animals not considered their household pet/pets or domestic animal/animals on a temporary basis that is not longer than one hundred twenty (120) days per animal.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY: The raising of domestic animals other than common household pets.

ANIMALS, DOMESTIC: Animals that have been bred to be tame, are dependent on human intervention for food and shelter, and are kept continually at the premises of the owner. These animals are to include: large lot domestic animals, medium lot domestic animals, small lot domestic animals, and other animals as approved by the Community and Economic Development Administrator. Bees, peafowl, and roosters are excluded from this definition.

ANIMALS, DOMESTIC – EXTRA LARGE LOT: Livestock to include horses, donkeys, cows, llamas and other animals of similar size and characteristics as approved by the Development Services Division.

ANIMALS, DOMESTIC – LARGE LOT: Animals that typically require a lot size of at least one acre; to include goats, pigs, and other animals of similar size and characteristics as approved by the Development Services Division.

ANIMALS, DOMESTIC – MEDIUM LOT: Animals that typically require at least twelve thousand five hundred (12,500) gross square feet of lot size; to include miniature goats that are smaller than twenty-four inches (24") at the shoulder and/or not more than one hundred fifty (150) pounds in weight, sheep and other animals of similar size and characteristics as approved by the Development Services Division.

ANIMALS, DOMESTIC – SMALL LOT: Animals that typically require at least four thousand five hundred (4,500) gross square feet of lot size; to include chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, and other animals of similar size and characteristics as approved by the Development Services Division.

APPEAL: A request for a review of any action pursuant to this Title, or of the interpretation of any provision of the Title by any City official.

APPELLANT: A person, organization, association or other similar group who files a complete and timely appeal as set forth in Renton Municipal Code.

APPLICANT: A person who files an application of permit under this Title and who is either the owner of the land on which that proposed activity would be located, a contract vendee, a lessee of the land, the person who would actually control and direct the proposed activity, or the authorized agent of such a person.

APPROVED: See RMC 4-6-100.

AQUACULTURE: The culture of farming of aquatic animals and plants.

AQUIFER: A geological unit of porous and permeable rock, sand or gravel capable of yielding usable amounts of water.

AQUIFER PROTECTION AREA (APA): Shall be the portion of an aquifer within the zone of capture and recharge area for a well or well field owned or operated by the City, and as identified in the City of Renton’s COR Maps, the City’s online interactive mapping application available through the City’s website. The term shall be synonymous with “wellhead protection area.”

AQUIFER PROTECTION AREA PERMIT: An authorization by the Department for a person to store, handle, treat, use or produce a hazardous material within an APA. The two (2) types of permits that will be issued pursuant to RMC 4-9-015, Aquifer Protection Areas Permits, and RMC 4-3-050, Critical Areas Regulations, are an operating permit and a closure permit.

ARBORIST, CITY: The Urban Forestry and Natural Resources Manager of the City of Renton, or his or her designee.

AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING: A designated zone AO, AH, AR/AO or AR/AH (or VO) on a community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) with a one percent (1%) or greater annual chance of flooding to an average depth of one to three feet (1 to 3') where a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable, and where velocity flow may be evident. Such flooding is characterized by ponding or sheet flow. Also referred to as the sheet flow area.

AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD: The land in the floodplain within a community subject to a one percent (1%) or greater chance of flooding in any given year. It is shown on the flood insurance rate map (FIRM) as zone A, AO, AH, A1-30, AE, A99, AR (V, VO, V1-30, VE). “Special flood hazard area” is synonymous in meaning with the phrase “area of special flood hazard.”

ARTERIAL: A street classified as a principal arterial on the City’s Arterial Street Plan.

ARTERIAL PASS-THROUGH TRAFFIC: Traffic that has neither an origin nor destination in an affected area which is diverted from an arterial road.

ARTERIAL STREET: See STREET, ARTERIAL.

ARTICULATION: The giving of emphasis to architectural elements (like windows, balconies, entries, etc.) that create a complementary pattern or rhythm dividing large buildings into smaller identifiable pieces.

ARTIFICIAL CHANNEL: A stream channel that is entirely manmade but does not include relocated natural channels.

ARTS AND CRAFTS SCHOOLS/STUDIOS: See SCHOOLS/STUDIOS, ARTS AND CRAFTS.

ASSEMBLY AND PACKAGING OPERATIONS: A facility where pre-manufactured components are assembled to construct a product. Products may be packaged and moved off-site for wholesale or retail sale. This use includes but is not limited to assembly and packaging of computer, electronics, office equipment, chemicals and allied products, fabricated metal products, and other products.

ASSISTED LIVING: A facility containing two (2) or more dwelling units where residents live in private units and receive assistance with limited aspects of personal care, such as taking medication, bathing, or dressing. Staff is on duty twenty four (24) hours per day to ensure the welfare and safety of residents. Dwelling units include a full kitchen (sink, oven or range, and refrigerator) or a kitchenette, a bathroom, a living area, and may include a call system. On the premises, facilities include: a professional kitchen, common dining room, recreation area(s), activity room, and a laundry area. Meals may be provided multiple times daily in a common dining area. This definition does not include: convalescent centers, congregate residences, boarding and lodging houses, adult family homes, and group homes I and II.

ATTIC: A finished or unfinished area, not considered a story, located between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above, and having a floor-to-ceiling height of seven feet (7') or greater for an area that constitutes no more than fifty percent (50%) of the building footprint.

AUTOMOBILE: See VEHICLE.

AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY: See RMC 4-6-100.

AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC (ADT): The average number of motor vehicles crossing in one direction per working day for any continuous thirty (30) day period.

AVERAGE HORIZONTAL ILLUMINATION: The quantity of light measured at the pavement surface and averaged over the traveled lanes expressed in foot-candles.

AVIATION-RELATED USES: Uses that offer aeronautical services to the public or provide support services to airport-related uses.

AWNING: A shelter, typically for a pedestrian walkway, that projects from and is supported by the exterior wall of a building. Awnings have noncombustible frames, but may have combustible coverings. Awnings may be fixed, retractable, folding or collapsible. Any structure which extends above any adjacent parapet or roof of a supporting building is not included within the definition of awning.

(Ord. 3891, 2-25-1985; Ord. 3981, 4-7-1986; Ord. 4346, 3-9-1992; Ord. 4367, 9-14-1992; Ord. 4521, 6-5-1995; Ord. 4522, 6-5-1995; Ord. 4636, 9-23-1996; Ord. 4651, 1-27-1997; Ord. 4680, 9-22-1997; Ord. 4716, 4-13-1998; Ord. 4720, 5-4-1998; Ord. 4821, 12-20-1999; Ord. 4827, 1-24-2000; Ord. 4828, 1-24-2000; Ord. 4851, 8-7-2000; Amd. Ord. 4963, 5-13-2002; Ord. 5100, 11-1-2004; Ord. 5124, 2-7-2005; Ord. 5137, 4-25-2005; Ord. 5153, 9-26-2005; Ord. 5201, 4-17-2006; Ord. 5286, 5-14-2007; Ord. 5356, 2-25-2008; Ord. 5387, 6-9-2008; Ord. 5450, 3-2-2009; Ord. 5470, 7-13-2009; Ord. 5473, 7-13-2009; Ord. 5520, 12-14-2009; Ord. 5603, 6-6-2011; Ord. 5633, 10-24-2011; Ord. 5640, 12-12-2011; Ord. 5675, 12-3-2012; Ord. 5676, 12-3-2012; Ord. 5726, 10-20-2014; Ord. 5791, 4-25-2016; Ord. 5841, 6-12-2017; Ord. 5899, 11-19-2018; Ord. 5954, 11-18-2019; Ord. 5958, 12-9-2019; Ord. 5977, 8-10-2020; Ord. 5984, 10-26-2020; Ord. 6068, 6-13-2022; Ord. 6135, 5-20-2024)