18.84.070 Yards and fences.
(a) No yard or other open space provided about any building for the purpose of complying with the regulations of this title shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for any other building or structure.
(b) In any case where a setback line, building line or official plan line has been established, the required yards on the street frontages of lots shall be measured in accordance with such lines and in no case shall the provisions of this title be construed as permitting any structure to extend beyond such line. (c) Garages, carports and other accessory buildings may be attached to and have a common wall with the main building, or, when located as required by this title, may be connected thereto by a breezeway. (d) In any R district or residential mixed use districts in the Downtown Specific Plan where fifty percent or more of the building sites in any one block or portion thereof in the same district have been improved with buildings, the required front yard shall be of a depth equal to the average of the front yards of the improved building sites, to a maximum requirement of that specified for the district but in no case less than fifteen feet. Where adjoining lots are improved with buildings, the front yard required for a vacant building site shall be the average of the yards within sixty feet of the site of each side thereof. (e) Fences in all residential (R) districts or residential mixed use districts in the Downtown Specific Plan shall not exceed six feet in height in the rear yard of any lot or seven feet in height in any interior rear yard or interior side yard up to the front yard for the property. Fences in all residential (R) districts or residential mixed use districts in the Downtown Specific Plan shall not exceed three and one-half feet in height within the front yard and within the street side yard of corner lots. (f) Barbed wire, razor wire, concertina wire, serpentine wire and similar security fencing is incompatible with community design standards and is prohibited unless individually approved based on substantial evidence by issuance of a planning commission use permit; or unless required by any law or regulation of the city, the state of California, federal government, or agency thereof. When considering an application for such fencing, for any property in the central business district, medical arts district and any commercially zoned property, the commission shall consider:
(1) Substantial evidence that such fencing is needed.
(2) The visibility of such fencing from public rights-of-way, public trails, open space, and public parks.
(3) The feasibility of other, more attractive, fencing options such as wrought iron or steel tubing. (4) The feasibility of other security options.
Such barbed wired, razor wire, concertina wire, serpentine wire and similar security fencing is prohibited in any residential districts or on commercial and manufacturing or residential mixed use zoned properties in the Downtown Specific Plan for zoned properties that abut a residentially zoned property.
In manufacturing districts outside the central business district or medical arts districtDowntown Specific Plan, such security fencing may be allowed, through a minor use permit, provided the fencing is not located on a primary street frontage.
Existing barbed wire or similar security fencing in existence at the time of the adoption of Ordinance 1437 and located in the Downtown Specific Plan/ historic district boundaries must show evidence of architectural review or other city approval or it shall be conclusively presumed such fencing does not comply with and has not received required design review approvals. Upon notice by the city that such fencing is in violation of the city design review and historic district ordinance, the property owner of such fence may apply for a use permit to keep the barbed wire or similar security fencing or remove said fencing material. In reviewing the use permit the commission must consider:
(5) Substantial evidence that such fencing is needed.
(6) The visibility of such fencing from major thoroughfares as determined by the planning commission.
(7) The feasibility of other, more attractive, fencing options such as wrought iron or steel tubing in areas highly visible to the general public.
(8) The feasibility of other security options.
(9) In considering the use permit, the commission, in its discretion, may allow existing unobtrusive barbed wire or similar security fencing to remain until such time as it must be repaired, replaced or altered due to maintenance or reconstruction.
(g) Swimming pools may be installed in rear yards provided:
(1) There is a three-foot setback from the property line as measured from the water line; (2) A six-foot fence separates the pool from a public right-of-way; and (3) If a gate is installed it must be automatically closing and lockable. (h) Structures in the residential or residential mixed use in the Downtown Specific Plan districts may extend into yards only in the following cases:
(1) Fireplaces or chimneys may project into the side or rear yard twenty-four inches for a length of ten feet measured parallel to the side or rear line of the building. (2) Uncovered steps or landings not over thirty-six inches high may project into the side or rear yard three feet for a length of ten feet measured parallel to the side or rear line of the building. (3) Eaves and other roof projections may project into a side yard for a distance not to exceed thirty inches; provided, however, the eaves may project not closer than thirty inches to a side property line.
(4) Eaves, porches and other roof projections may project into a rear yard, but no closer than ten feet to the rear property line.
(5) Balconies may project five feet into required yards; provided, however, no balcony shall project into a side or rear yard which is less than ten feet in width. (6) Porches may project into the front yard, but no closer than ten feet to the front property line. (7) Accessory buildings as provided in Section 18.96.010. (8) Parking spaces and driveways as provided under Section 18.60.040. (i) For any legally created lot within a residential zone or Downtown Specific Plan district that has an area less than six thousand square feet and a width of less than sixty feet, the required yards may be reduced as follows:
(1) Front Yard. There shall be a front yard depth of not less than twenty feet. (2) Side Yard. There shall be a side yard on each side of the building of not less than three feet. (3) Rear Yard. There shall be a rear yard depth of not less than ten feet. (j) Patios with open roofs (less than fifty percent coverage), sun shades, trellises, arbors and similar structures which are not enclosed on the sides except for required roof supports may project into the required yards as follows:
(1) To within thirty inches of the side property line;
(2) To within ten feet of the side street property line (not applicable to compact lots); (3) To within five feet of the rear property line. (Ord. 1437 § 4, 2022; Ord. 1314 § 1, 2007; Ord. 1304 § 6(A), 2006: Ord. 1299 §§ 32 and 33, 2005; Ord. 1261 § 1 (part), 2000; Ord. 1151, 1993; Ord. 1104 § 1, 1991; Ord. 974 § 19, 1982: Ord. 946 § 2 (part), 1981).
18.84.080 Height exceptions.
Towers, spires, chimneys, machinery, penthouses, scenery lofts, cupolas, water tanks, and similar architectural and utility structures and necessary mechanical appurtenances may be built and used to a height not more than twenty-five feet above the height limit established for the district in which the structures are located; provided, however, that no such architectural or utility structure in excess of the allowable building height shall be used for sleeping or eating quarters or for any commercial advertising purposes. Additional heights may be permitted upon the approval of a use permit by the planning commission. Height limitations provided in this section shall not apply to public utility transmission and distribution towers and pole lines. (Ord. 1261 § 1 (part), 2000: Ord. 1151, 1993; Ord. 1112 § 86, 1991; Ord. 946 § 2 (part), 1981).
18.84.090 Setback from levee.
A ten-foot clearance of all buildings, structures, or obstructions shall be maintained at the landward toe of the levee within the city for levee maintenance purposes. (Ord. 946 § 2 (part), 1981).