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RiversideCA.gov1
RiversideCA.gov
ZONING CODE CLEAN UPPR-2023-001746 (AMD) – ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTCity CouncilJanuary 28, 2025Community & Economic Development Department RiversideCA.gov2
Implement City Council directionImplement City Council directionClarify, streamline and correct Zoning Code language PURPOSE 1 2
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RiversideCA.gov3
•Chapter 19.442 – Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) •Chapter 19.910 – DefinitionsCODE SECTION•Single-family: 1 attached or detached ADU and 1 JADU•Existing multi-family: Conversion of non-habitable space up to 25% of # of units & 2 detached ADUsCURRENT•Single-family: 1 attached/converted, 1 detached, and 1 JADU (HCD Direction)•Existing multi-family: Conversion of non-habitable space up to 25% & 8 detached ADUs (SB 1211)•New multi-family: 2 new detached ADUs•Make other minor clarifications & correctionsPROPOSEDAMENDMENT 1: ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS RiversideCA.gov4
Current Code (Single Family): One ADU (attached or detached) & one JADUACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS Primary Dwelling
ADUJADU
Primary Dwelling
Detached ADUJADUNew Direction (Single Family): One attached ADU, one detached ADU, & one JADU Attached/Converted ADU3
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ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
RiversideCA.gov6
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS – CURRENT CODEExisting multi-family development only:Can convert 25% of existing # of units and build 2 new detached units Existing multi-family development
Detached ADUs
Non-habitable space converted to ADUsPrimary units: 20Converted ADUs: 5Detached ADUs: 2TOTAL UNITS: 27 5 6
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RiversideCA.gov7
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS – NEW LEGISLATIONExisting multi-family development:Can convert 25% of existing # of units to ADUs and build 8 new detached ADUs Existing multi-family development
Non-habitable space converted to ADUsPrimary units: 20Converted ADUs: 5Detached ADUs: 8TOTAL UNITS: 33 New multi-family development Detached ADUs
Detached ADUsPrimary units: 20Converted ADUs: 0Detached ADUs: 2TOTAL UNITS: 22New multi-family development:Can build 2 new detached ADUs RiversideCA.gov8
•Chapter 19.545 (Density Bonus)CODE SECTION•Chapter 19.545 does not reflect new density bonus legislation for low-income student and senior housing (AB 3116 and AB 2694)CURRENT•Update permitted density bonus for low-income students including eligibility, number of concessions, parking •Clarify eligible senior housing development projectsPROPOSEDAMENDMENT 2: DENSITY BONUS 7 8
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RiversideCA.gov9
•Chapter 19.550 – Fences, Walls, and Landscape Materials•Chapter 19.150 – Base Zones Permitted Land UsesCODE SECTION•Electric fences require alarm user, building, and (in specific plan areas) conditional use permits•Not compliant with AB 2371CURRENT•Update Fence Chapter & Incidental Use Table to require only an alarm user permit unless adjacent to specified uses where MCUP and building permit also requiredPROPOSEDAMENDMENT 3: ELECTRIFIED SECURITY FENCES RiversideCA.gov10
•Various chapters throughout the Riverside Municipal Code related to alcohol salesCODE SECTION•“On-site” and “off-site” language in Zoning Code is inconsistent with California Government Code and Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s “on-sale” and “off-sale” regulatory terms CURRENT•Revise inconsistencies throughout the Zoning Code to align with state regulatory termsPROPOSEDAMENDMENT 4: ALCOHOL SALES LANGUAGE Image Source: Visit Riverside9
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•Chapter 19.556 – Outdoor LightingCODE SECTION•Adjacent grade is incorrectly used to describe the grade from which the maximum mounting height of luminaires should be measured CURRENT•Changeadjacent grade to finished grade to align with industry terminologyPROPOSEDAMENDMENT 5: OUTDOOR LIGHTINGImage Source: visualcomfort.com RiversideCA.gov12
•Various chapters throughout the Riverside Municipal Code related to the implementation of administrative adjustmentsCODE SECTION•No administrative adjustment procedure exists to permit minor deviations from standards without a variance•Redundant references to variances exist throughout Title 19CURRENT•Create administrative adjustment procedure and implement throughout Title 19 •Clarify in the Variance Chapter that the adjustment procedure can be used for minor deviations•Remove redundant variance language throughout Title 19PROPOSEDAMENDMENT 6: ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUSTMENT Image Source: Shutterstock.com11
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AMENDMENT 6: ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUSTMENTSUMMARY OF ADJUSTMENTSMaximum Adjustment PermittedDevelopment Standard10% increaseSign area and height20% decrease (setbacks <5 ft not permitted)Setbacks20% decreaseDistance between structures on multifamily lots10% decreaseParcel dimensions10% decreaseLandscape dimensions5% or 1 space (whichever is greater)Required parking10% change (depends on standard) Any other standard (subject to Community & Economic Development Director approval) RiversideCA.gov14
•Chapter 19.150 – Base Zones Permitted Land Uses•Chapter 19.485 – Home Occupations •Chapter 19.910 – DefinitionsCODE SECTIONS•Pet grooming and similar uses are not included as personal services•Ambiguity in permitted uses for personal services as home occupationsCURRENT•Amend the personal service definition to include pet grooming and similar uses•Clarify which personal services are permitted as home occupations•Specify in the Permitted Use Table that personal services that are home occupations are regulated separatelyPROPOSEDAMENDMENT 7: HOME OCCUPATIONS Image Source: DogTime.com13
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•Chapter 19.555 – Outdoor Equipment ScreeningCODE SECTION•Ground-mounted utility equipment must be screened with solid masonry walls or similar structures•Wood is a prohibited screening materialCURRENT•Tier screening options, w/equipment placement as preferred screening method•Expand screening options to include equipment placement, landscaping, color blending, and artwork along with solid walls•Permit wood as a screening materialPROPOSEDAMENDMENT 8: GROUND-MOUNTED UTILITY EQUIPMENT Image Source: LawnLove.com
RiversideCA.gov16
•Chapter 19.550 – Fences, Walls, and Landscape MaterialsCODE SECTION•Fences and walls in any side or rear yard may be up to six feet in height•Community feedback for higher fences and walls for properties in SFR zonesCURRENT•Raise maximum fence and wall heights in side and rear yards for properties in SFR zones 1-2 feet•Retain six-foot height maximum in sideand rear yards for properties in all other zonesPROPOSEDAMENDMENT 9: FENCE AND WALL HEIGHTS 15 16
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•Chapter 19.550 – Fences, Walls, and Landscape Materials •Chapter 17.28 – Minimum Grading Standards and General RequirementsCODE SECTION•Chapter 19.550 permits retaining walls at four feet•Chapter 17.28 permits retaining walls at three feet (if in public view) and six feet (if not in public view)CURRENT•Align retaining wall heights in Chapter 19.550 with those in Chapter 17.28•Clarify maximum combined freestanding and retaining wall height of 10 feetPROPOSEDAMENDMENT 10: RETAINING WALL HEIGHTS RiversideCA.gov18
•Various chapters throughout the Riverside Municipal CodeCODE SECTION•Minor clarifications & corrections are needed throughout the Riverside Municipal CodeCURRENT•Corrections made for the following:•Prohibited fence materials•Animal keeping and agricultural field offices•Planned Residential Development permits•Site Plan Review permits•Group housing•Hotel/motel long-term stay•Tract map preparationPROPOSEDAMENDMENTS 11-17: MINOR CORRECTIONS Image Source: Shutterstock17
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STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Strategic Priority 5 – High Performing GovernmentGoal 5.3 –Demonstrates adaptivity as an organization and enhances communication and collaboration with community members to improve transparency, build public trust, and encourage shared decision making.Cross Cutting Threads RiversideCA.gov20
RECOMMENDATIONSStaff recommends that the City Council: 1. DETERMINEthat the project is exempt from the California EnvironmentalQuality Act (CEQA) review pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule)of the CEQA Guidelines and;2. APPROVEPlanning Case PR-2023-001746 (AMD) based on the findingsoutlined in the staff report.3. INTRODUCEand subsequentlyADOPTthe attached Ordinance amendingTitle 18 – Subdivision Code and Title 19 – Zoning Code of the RiversideMunicipal Code.19 20