“Accessory building or structure” means a subordinate building or structure or a portion of a principal building, the use of which is incidental and related to that of the principal building use on the same lot.

“Accessory dwelling unit” means a habitable dwelling unit that provides basic requirements for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. An accessory dwelling unit is accessory to the primary unit on a lot and may be added to, created within, or detached from the primary single-family dwelling unit.

“Adjacent” means to abut.

“Adult cabaret” means any room, place or space whatsoever in the city in which any music and/or singing, except that which is piped in, dancing or other similar entertainment is permitted in connection with any hotel, restaurant, cafe, club, tavern, eating place, directly or indirectly selling, serving or providing the public with or without charge, food, or liquor.

“Adult family home” means a residential home in which a person or persons provide personal care, special care, room, and board to more than one but not more than six adults who are not related by blood or marriage to the person or persons providing the services and subject to Chapter 70.28 RCW.

“Affordable housing” means, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, residential housing whose monthly costs, including utilities other than telephone, do not exceed thirty percent of the monthly income of a household whose income is:

“Alley” means a thoroughfare which has been dedicated or deeded to the public for public use and which affords a secondary means of access to abutting property in most cases.

“Amendment” means a change in the wording, context, or substance of this title, adoption of a zoning map hereunder, or a change in the zone boundaries upon zoning maps adopted hereunder.

“Animal clinic/hospital” means a structure used for veterinary care of sick or injured animals. The boarding of animals is limited to short-term care, and is accessory to the principal use. This definition does not include kennels.

Apartment. See “Dwelling, multiple-family,” AMC 22.08.016.

Appeal, Closed Record. As defined by RCW 36.70B.020(1), a “closed record appeal” means an administrative appeal on the record to a local government body or officer, including the legislative body, following an open record hearing on a project permit application when the appeal is on the record with no or limited new evidence or information allowed to be submitted and only appeal argument allowed.

Appeal, Open Record. As defined by RCW 36.70B.020(3), an “open record appeal” means a hearing, conducted by a single hearing body or officer authorized by the local government to conduct such hearings, that creates the local government’s record through testimony and submission of evidence and information, under procedures prescribed by the local government by ordinance or resolution. An open record hearing may be held prior to a local government’s decision on a project permit to be known as an “open record predecision hearing.” An open record hearing may be held on an appeal, to be known as an “open record appeal hearing,” if no open record predecision hearing has been held on the project permit.

“Applicant” means person or persons applying for a city-issued permit.

“Assisted senior living facility” means any facility that provides either permanent or temporary residence for senior citizens and provides opportunities for common dining areas, although some facilities may offer kitchen facilities in individual rooms as well. Some facilities may offer minor health services on site, such as a resident nurse. An assisted senior living facility is not a nursing home/convalescent home, adult family home, or community residential facility.

“Auction house” means an establishment where the property of others is sold by a broker or auctioneer to persons who attend scheduled sales periods or events. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Basement” means that portion of a building between floor and ceiling, which is partly below and partly above grade, but so located that the vertical distance from grade to floor below is less than the vertical distance from grade to ceiling. A basement, when designed for or occupied for business or industrial purposes, or for dwelling purposes (recreational room or family room excepted), shall be considered a story.

“Bed and breakfast facilities” means accommodations and limited food service for travelers or transient guests in a single-family residence. The owner of the residence shall reside on the premises and the facility shall comply with all state regulations.

“Block” means all property abutting upon one side of a street between intersecting and intercepting streets, or between a street and railroad right-of-way, waterway, terminus or dead-end street, or city boundary line. An intercepting street shall determine only the boundary of the block on the side of the street which it intercepts.

“Boarding (lodging or rooming) house” means a residential development with sleeping units that are independently rented and lockable and provide living and sleeping space, and residents share kitchen facilities with other sleeping units in the building. Other names that may refer to this include “co-living housing,” “congregate living facilities,” “single-room occupancy,” and “residential suites.”

“Brew pub,” also known as a “microbrewery,” means an eating and drinking establishment, which includes the brewing of beer, ale or malt beverage as an accessory use to a full-service restaurant. The amount of beverage produced on the premises cannot be less than two hundred forty barrels or exceed two thousand four hundred barrels in any calendar year. No more than thirty percent of the product brewed may be sold off-premises in either bottles or kegs. A loading and unloading area must then be provided for. A full-service restaurant as defined by AMC 22.08.044 must occupy at least fifty percent of the gross floor area of the brew pub and restaurant, combined. Any brew pub that does not meet the requirements of this definition will be considered a tavern as defined by AMC 22.08.048.

“Building” means any structure having a roof built for support, shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels or property of any kind.

“Building height” means the vertical distance from the average elevation of the proposed finished grade from all four corners of a building to the highest point of a flat roof, the deck line of a mansard roof, and the mean height between eaves and ridge for gable, hip and gambrel roofs.

“Building line” means the edge or side of the building nearest a lot line. The line facing the front lot line is the front building line. The line facing the side of the lot is the side building line; the line facing the rear of the lot is the rear building line.

Building, Main. “Main building” means the principal building or buildings on a lot or building site designed or used to accommodate the primary use to which the premises are devoted.

“Building official” means that official designated, by city council, as the official responsible for accepting, reviewing and approving or rejecting plans for building or occupancy, and applications for building and occupancy permits, and for interpretation and enforcement of ordinances related thereto.

“Building setback line” means a line beyond which the footprint or foundation of a building shall not exceed.

“Building site” means a parcel of land assigned to a use, to a main building, or to a main building and its accessory buildings, together with all yards and open spaces required by this title, whether the area so devoted is comprised of one lot, a combination of lots, or combination of lots and fractions of lots. (Ord. 1255-25 § 3, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Cafeteria” or “limited service restaurant” means an establishment that provides food services, where patrons order or select items and pay before eating, and where food and drink may be consumed on premises, taken out, or delivered to customers’ location. This definition includes establishments where specialty snacks, such as ice cream, frozen yogurt, cookies, or popcorn, or nonalcoholic beverages, such as coffee, juices, or sodas, are served.

“Carport” means a covered shelter for an automobile open on two or more sides.

“Charitable or welfare institution” means a use that provides essential goods or services, such as food, housing, clothing, counseling, aid, or assistance to those in need, for no fee or compensation or at a fee recognized as being significantly less than that charged by profit-making organizations.

“City” means the city of Algona, Washington.

“City clerk” means the city clerk/treasurer of Algona.

“Clearing” means an activity which removes or seriously damages ground cover and/or trees including, but not limited to, root mat removal and/or topsoil removal by mechanical and/or chemical means.

Combustible. As defined by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “combustible” means any liquid having a flash point at or above one hundred degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius), but below two hundred degrees Fahrenheit (93.3 degrees Celsius), except any mixture having components with flash points of two hundred degrees Fahrenheit (93.3 degrees Celsius), or higher, the total volume of which makes up ninety-nine percent or more of the total volume of the mixture.

“Commercial unit” means a commercial or business operation within an enclosed structure or area for which a single business license can be issued.

“Commission” means the city of Algona planning commission.

“Community residential facility” or “CRF” means publicly or privately operated residential facilities, limited to: group homes for children, for those with disabilities, or for seniors; homes for recovering, nonusing alcoholics and addicts; or shelters for domestic violence victims. Community residential facilities do not include halfway houses.

“Comprehensive sign design plan” means building, design, landscaping and signs integrated into one architectural plan, the comprehensive plan being complete in all other building, structural and electrical requirements.

“Conditional use” means a use permitted where such uses require additional findings, controls and safeguards not required of otherwise permitted uses in such district.

“Conforming use” means an activity the nature and type of which is permitted in the zone where the property is located.

“Cottage housing” means residential units on a lot with open space that either: (a) is owned in common; or (b) has units owned as condominium units with property owned in common and a minimum of twenty percent of the lot size as open space.

“Courtyard apartment” means attached dwelling units arranged on two or three sides of a yard or court.

“Curb line” means the line at the face of the curb nearest to the nearest street or roadway. In the absence of a curb, the curb line shall be established by the public works superintendent. (Ord. 1255-25 § 3, 2025).

“Day care center” means any type of group day care programs, for children or adults, including nursery schools for children under minimum age for education in public schools, parent cooperative nursery schools, play groups for preschool children, covering after-school care for school children, and programs which provide organized learning and education experiences, provided such establishments are licensed by the state and conducted in accordance with state requirements. For the purpose of this title the below definitions shall apply. “Home-based day care” is defined separately.

“Date of decision” means the date the final decision or determination is rendered or issued, unless specified otherwise by law.

“Density” means the number of units within a specified area calculated by dividing the total number of square feet of the area by the number of dwelling units in the area. See AMC 22.84.010 for density calculation details.

“Development agreement” means a written agreement between the city and a person having ownership or control of real property, setting forth the development standards and other provisions that will govern the development and use of said property, and which is processed, approved and executed in accordance with Chapter 22.80 AMC and RCW 36.70B.170 et seq.

“Dog day care” means a facility where dogs may be groomed, trained, exercised and socialized, but not kept or bred, sold, or let for hire.

“Drainage facility” means the system of collecting, conveying, and storing surface and storm water runoff. Drainage facilities shall include but not be limited to all surface and storm water runoff conveyance and containment facilities including streams, pipelines, channels, ditches, wetlands, closed depressions, infiltration facilities, retention/detention facilities, erosion/sedimentation control facilities, and other drainage structures and appurtenances, both natural and manmade.

“Duplex” means a residential building with two attached dwelling units.

“Dwelling” means a building designed exclusively for residential purposes, including one-family, two-family and multiple dwellings, but not including hotels or motel units having no kitchens. Factory-built housing and mobile homes are dwellings when they meet state requirements under Chapter 43.22 RCW and are so certified by the state.

Dwelling, Multiple-Family. “Multiple-family dwelling” means a detached building designed exclusively for occupancy by seven or more families. This definition excludes middle housing.

Dwelling, Single-Family. “Single-family dwelling” means a detached building designed exclusively for occupancy by one family.

“Dwelling unit” means a residential living unit that provides complete independent living/housing facilities for one or more persons and that includes permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation, and that is sold or rented separately from other dwelling units. (Ord. 1255-25 § 3, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Educational institution” means elementary schools, junior high schools, middle schools, high schools, junior colleges, community colleges, colleges, or universities, or other schools giving general academic instruction in several branches of learning and study required by the education code of the state.

“Environmentally sensitive areas” means any of those areas of the city which are subject to natural hazards or those landform features which in their natural state carry, hold, or purify water; support unique, fragile, or valuable natural resources including fish, wildlife, and other organisms and their habitat; provide ground water recharge; stabilize soil; and control erosion. Environmentally sensitive areas include the following landform features: hillsides, wetlands, streams, critical aquifer recharge areas, and the protective buffers necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

Equipment, Heavy Duty. “Heavy duty equipment” means high capacity mechanical devices for moving earth or other materials, mobile power units, including, but not limited to, carryalls, graders, loading and unloading devices, cranes, drag lines, trench diggers, tractors, augers, caterpillars, concrete mixers and conveyors, harvesters, combines, or other major agricultural equipment and similar devices operated by mechanical power as distinguished from manpower.

“Essential public facilities” means any public facilities owned or operated by a unit of local or state government, public or private utility, transportation company, or any other entity that provides public services as its primary mission, and that is difficult to site. Essential public facilities shall include those facilities listed in RCW 36.70A.200, and any facility that appears on the list maintained by the Washington State Office of Financial Management under RCW 36.70A.200(4).

“Existing building” means a building that received a certificate of occupancy at least three years prior to the permit application to add housing units. (Ord. 1255-25 § 3, 2025).

“Family” means an individual or two or more persons living together as a single housekeeping unit and occupying a dwelling unit, but shall not be comprised of more persons than allowed per square foot as provided in the international codes.

“Fence” means a masonry wall or a barrier composed of posts connected by boards, rails, panels, or wire for the purpose of enclosing space or separating parcels of land. The term “fence” does not include retaining walls.

“Fiveplex” means a residential building with five attached dwelling units.

“Flash point” means the lowest temperature at which a liquid can form an ignitable mixture in air near the surface of the liquid.

“Floor area” shall be measured to the exterior face of the exterior walls on the first story and any other story which is connected by a fixed stairway or elevator, and which may be made usable for human habitation and includes the usable floor area of all accessory buildings measured similarly.

“Fourplex” means a residential building with four attached dwelling units.

“Frontage” means the measurement of the length of the property line along the street immediately adjacent to the property. (Ord. 1255-25 § 3, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Gambling premises,” as defined in RCW 9.46.0249, means any building, room, enclosure, vehicle, vessel or other place used or intended to be used for professional gambling. In the application of this definition, any place where a gambling device is found shall be presumed to be intended to be used for professional gambling.

Garage, Private. “Private garage” means an accessory building or an accessory portion of the main building, enclosed on not less than three sides and designed or used only for the shelter or storage of vehicles owned or operated only by the occupants of the main building or buildings.

“General service establishment” refers to a category of uses whose primary activity is the provision of assistance, as opposed to products, to individuals, businesses, industry, government, and other enterprises. Specific uses in this category include but are not limited to postal and courier services, equipment rentals, repair shops, laundries, automobile fueling, and other services.

“Governing body” means the city council of the city of Algona.

“Gross floor area” mean the interior habitable area of a dwelling unit including basements and attics but not including a garage or accessory structure.

“Ground cover” means small plants such as salal, ivy, ferns, mosses, grasses, or other types of vegetation which normally cover the ground, including trees less than four inches in diameter measured at twenty-four inches above the ground level. (Ord. 1255-25 § 3, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Halfway house” means a state licensed work/release facility and other housing facilities serving as an alternative to incarceration. Halfway houses do not include community residential facilities.

“Heavy commercial planned unit developments” means developments intended to encourage the maximum retail development of a parcel by supplementing the potential of the site with housing opportunities.

“Heavy retail” includes retail activities that are generally conducted indoors but may have an ancillary use, such as a garden center, where limited outdoor operations, storage, and sales may occur. This use category includes, but is not limited to, agricultural supplies, building materials, manufactured homes, and outdoor display/sales.

“Heavy service” includes service activities that may have regular exterior service or storage areas. This use category includes, but is not limited to, contractors, heating fuels, truck stops, breweries and warehousing.

“Hedge” means a fence or property boundary that is formed by a dense row of shrubs or low trees.

“Home-based day care,” as regulated by Chapter 35A.63 RCW, means a licensed day care that regularly provides day care for not more than twelve children or adults in the provider’s home in the family living quarters, for periods of less than twenty-four hours.

“Home occupation” means a profession or service activity customarily and historically conducted within a dwelling unit or accessory building by its inhabitants only, which activity is clearly incidental to the use of the land or structure for dwelling purposes and does not change the character or appearance thereof.

“Hospital” means an institution specializing in giving clinical, temporary and emergency services of a medical or surgical nature to human patients and which is licensed by state law to provide facilities and services in surgery, obstetrics and general medical practice.

“Hotel” or “motel” means any building containing six or more guest rooms intended or designed to be used, or which are used, rented, or hired out to be occupied, or which are occupied for sleeping purposes by guests. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Kennel” means a building, enclosure or portion of any premises in or at which dogs, cats or other domesticated animals are boarded or kept for hire, or in or at which dogs, cats or other domesticated animals are kept or maintained by any person other than the owner thereof, or in or at which six or more cats or four or more dogs over the age of four months are kept or maintained. This definition shall include boarding kennels, but not pet shops or animal clinics/hospitals. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Live/work unit” means a dwelling unit in combination with a shop, office, studio, or other workspace within the same unit, where the resident occupant both lives and works. A live/work unit is intended to function predominantly as living space with incidental accommodations for work-related activities that are beyond the scope of a home occupation.

“Loading lot” means a temporary, off-street parking area that is used for loading or unloading persons, merchandise, and/or material.

“Lot” means a building site that is described by reference to a recorded plat, by metes and bounds, or by section, township and range which has direct legal access to a street or has access to a street over an easement approved by the county.

Lot Area and Dimensions.

“Lot coverage” means the amount of land covered, occupied or permitted to be covered/occupied by a roofed building or buildings, usually expressed in square feet or percentage of land on the lot, and measured horizontally at the outside of external walls or supporting members of all primary and accessory structures. See AMC 22.84.020 for lot coverage calculation details.

Lot Lines.

Lot Types.

“Low-income household” means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is at or below eighty percent of the median household income adjusted for household size, for the county where the household is located, as reported by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Low-Income Household, Extremely. “Extremely low-income household” means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is at or below thirty percent of the median household income adjusted for household size, for the county where the household is located, as reported by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Low-Income Household, Very. “Very low-income household” means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is at or below fifty percent of the median household income adjusted for household size, for the county where the household is located, as reported by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Ord. 1255-25 § 3, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Major transit stop” means: (a) a stop on a high-capacity transportation system funded or expanded under the provisions of Chapter 81.104 RCW; (b) commuter rail stops; (c) stops on rail or fixed guideway systems; or (d) stops on bus rapid transit routes, including those stops that are under construction.

“Manufactured home” means a single-family dwelling constructed after June 15, 1976, in accordance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements for manufactured housing and bearing the appropriate insignia indicating such compliance.

Manufacturing, Light. “Light industrial or manufacturing” means a manufacturing use, typically having limited potential of creating noise, smoke, dust, vibration or other environmental impacts or pollution, and including, but not limited to, the following:

“Marijuana processor” means a person licensed by the State Liquor and Cannabis Board to process marijuana into marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, and marijuana-infused products, package and label marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, and marijuana-infused products for sale in retail outlets, and sell marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, and marijuana-infused products at wholesale to marijuana retailers (as defined in RCW 69.50.101 and provided herein for reference).

“Marijuana producer” means a person licensed by the State Liquor and Cannabis Board to produce and sell marijuana at wholesale to marijuana processors and other marijuana producers (as defined in RCW 69.50.101 and provided herein for reference).

“Marijuana retailer” means a person licensed by the State Liquor and Cannabis Board to sell marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana and marijuana-infused products in a retail outlet (as defined in RCW 69.50.101 and provided herein for reference).

“Medical or dental clinic” means an establishment for treatment of outpatients, and providing no overnight care for patients.

“Mitigation” means the use of any combination or all of the following actions:

“Middle housing” means buildings that are compatible in scale, form, and character with single-family houses and contain between two and six attached, stacked, or clustered homes including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, fiveplexes, sixplexes, townhouses, stacked flats, courtyard apartments, and cottage housing. This does not include multifamily dwellings or accessory dwelling units.

“Mixed use development” means the development of a parcel or structures with one or more different land uses, such as a combination of residential, office, retail or commercial use vertically integrated or a physically integrated group of structures.

“Mobile home” means a factory-built dwelling constructed prior to June 15, 1976, and acceptable under applicable state codes in effect at the time of construction or introduction of the home into the state. Mobile homes have not been built since introduction of the HUD Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act.

“Moderate-income household” means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is at or below one hundred twenty percent of the median household income adjusted for household size, for the county where the household is located, as reported by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Ord. 1255-25 § 3, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Native vegetation” means plant species which are indigenous to the area in question.

“Nonconforming building” or “nonconforming use” means a structure or land lawfully used or occupied prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title which does not conform to the use regulations for the district in which it is located.

“Nursing home/convalescent home” means residential facilities offering twenty-four-hour skilled nursing care for patients who are recovering from an illness, or receiving care for chronic conditions, mental or physical disabilities, terminal illness, or alcohol or drug detoxification. Care may include in-patient administration of medicine, preparation of special diets, bedside nursing care, and treatment by a physician or psychiatrist. This definition does not include community residential facility, assisted senior living facility, adult family home, or senior housing. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Park” means those areas of land under public ownership devoted to passive and active recreation activities and facilities. Such activities include open spaces, playgrounds, athletic fields, athletic or recreation structures.

Parking Area, Public. “Public parking area” means a structure or an open area other than a public street or alley, designed or used for the temporary parking of automobiles and available for public use, whether free, for compensation, or as an accommodation to customers or clients.

Parking Space, Off-Street. “Off-street parking space” means a space located off any public right-of-way for parking of any automobile.

“Permanent supportive housing” means subsidized, leased housing with no limit on length of stay, paired with on-site or off-site voluntary services designed to support a person living with a disability to be a successful tenant in a housing arrangement, improve the resident’s health status, and connect residents of the housing with community-based health care, treatment, and employment services.

“Personal services” means services rendered to individuals for their personal physical appearance and conditioning needs. Examples would include but not be limited to the following types of services: barber, beautician, masseur, and steam and sauna baths.

“Pet shop” means an establishment dealing in buying and selling small animals and birds such as are customarily or occasionally harbored in domestic establishments as pets, such as fish, dogs, cats, parrots, canaries and other song and decorative birds, monkeys, hamsters and similar animals, but specifically excluding dangerous animals or dangerous or poisonous or constricting reptiles; provided, no boarding or veterinarian services are rendered except bathing, grooming or clipping of dogs and cats.

“Principal unit” means the single-family housing unit, duplex, triplex, townhouse, or other housing unit located on the same lot as an accessory dwelling unit.

“Processing” means the application of labor and/or machinery to change materials from one form to another.

“Profession” means an occupation or calling requiring the practice of an art, service, or science through specialized knowledge based on a degree issued by an institution of higher learning.

“Public agency or utility yard” means a facility for open or enclosed storage, repair, and maintenance of vehicles, equipment, or related materials, excluding document storage.

“Public facilities” means land or structures owned by or operated for the benefit of the public use and necessity, including but not limited to public facilities as defined in RCW 36.70A.030, as amended, and may include streets, roads, highways, sidewalks, street and road lighting systems, traffic signals, domestic water systems, storm and sanitary sewer systems, parks and recreational facilities, and schools.

“Public hearing” means a hearing, conducted by either the city council or planning commission, that creates a record through testimony and the submission of evidence and information under procedures prescribed by law.

“Public safety facilities” means facilities for public safety and emergency services, including facilities that provide police and fire protection and ambulance services.

“Public service facilities” means facilities owned, operated, or occupied by a government agency that provide a governmental service to the public, such as public libraries, courthouses, post offices, community centers, and government offices. This general classification does not include other government facilities that are more specifically defined and regulated, such as parks, schools, public safety facilities, and utilities.

“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 of which are paid for directly by the recipients thereof. Such services shall include, but are not limited to, water supply, electric power, gas, and transportation for persons or freight. (Ord. 1255-25 § 3, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Recorded lot” means a lot as shown on an officially recorded plat or subdivision, or a parcel of land, the deed to which is officially recorded as a unit of property as described by metes and bounds.

“Recreation – indoor commercial” means a commercial recreation land use conducted entirely within a building, including, but not limited to, athletic and health clubs, pool or billiard halls, skating rinks, swimming pools, and tennis courts.

“Recreation – outdoor commercial” means a commercial recreation land use conducted primarily outdoors, including, but not limited to, water parks, amusement parks, and miniature golf courses.

“Recreational vehicle” means a vehicle or portable structure built on a chassis and designed to be used for temporary occupancy or travel, recreational or vacation use. Said vehicles may contain plumbing, heating and electrical systems, which are operated without connection to outside utilities. Recreational vehicles shall include:

“Religious institution” means a place where religious services are conducted, including accessory uses in the primary or accessory buildings such as religious education, reading rooms, assembly rooms, and residences for nuns and clergy. This definition does not include facilities for training of religious orders.

“Residence” means a building or structure, or portion thereof, which is designed for and used to provide a place of abode for human beings, but not including hotel or motel units having no kitchens. The term “residence” includes the term “residential” as referring to the type of or intended use of a building or structure.

Restaurant, Full-Service. “Full-service restaurant” means a public eating place that is used, maintained, advertised and held out to the public as a place that has a full dinner and/or lunch menu serving full-course meals, daily prepared in its own kitchen, that are typically served at a table or counter. Food prepared “to go” or “for take-out” is allowed as an accessory use as long as the same menu and kitchen are used as a full-service restaurant. A full-service restaurant may serve alcoholic beverages that are incidental and complementary to the serving of the food. A full-service restaurant may have a separate lounge where the primary function is the sale, serving and consumption of alcoholic beverages. However, the size of the lounge cannot exceed thirty percent of the gross floor area of the restaurant and lounge combined. Any eating place that serves alcoholic beverages and does not meet the requirements of this definition will be considered a tavern as defined by AMC 22.08.048.

“Retail trade” means those uses primarily engaged in the sale of goods or merchandise to the general public for personal or household consumption and rendering services incidental to the sale of such goods. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Screened” means concealed or cut off from visual access.

“Secure community transition facility” means a facility, as defined in RCW 71.09.020, for the housing of sexually violent predators.

“Self-serve storage facility” means a building or buildings containing separate storage spaces leased or rented on an individual basis, which does not include warehouses or loading docks.

“Senior housing” refers to housing stock, whether rental or occupant-owned, that specifically caters to residents aged fifty-five years and older. This definition shall include, at a minimum, all facilities that qualify as housing for older persons under the Federal Fair Housing Act and amendments thereto.

“Setback” means the minimum distance required by this title for buildings to be set back from property lines, rights-of-way, private lanes, and shared driveways.

“Shell building” means a nonresidential building that is capable of being divided into multiple leasable units or spaces with different uses but has had no use or uses identified as part of a land use permit application.

“Sign” means any commercial communications device, structure, or fixture which is visible from any public right-of-way intended to aid the business establishment in question in promoting the sale of a product, goods or service using graphics, symbols or written copy. For the purpose of this chapter, a sign shall not be considered to be building or structural design. It shall be restricted solely to graphics, symbols or written copy that is meant to be used in the aforementioned.

“Sign area” means:

Sign, Portable. “Portable sign” means any sign made of any material, including paper, cardboard, wood or metal, which is capable of being moved easily and is not permanently affixed to the ground, structure or building. (Also includes sidewalk or sandwich board signs, except those worn by a person.)

Sign, Projecting. “Projecting sign” means a sign, other than a wall sign, which is attached to and projects from a structure or building face. A marquee sign will not be considered a projecting sign.

Sign, Revolving. “Revolving sign” means any sign which rotates or turns in motion by electrical or mechanical means in a circular pattern.

Sign, Roof. “Roof sign” means a sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet of a building or structure. Mansard roof signs shall not be included.

“Sixplex” means a residential building with six attached dwelling units.

“Social service facility” means a facility housing a public or nonprofit agency that provides counseling, therapy or other social or human services to persons needing such services. This definition does not include schools, hospitals, clinics, day care, or residential uses.

“Solid waste transfer station” means a solid waste handling facility where nonhazardous solid waste is delivered by public agencies, businesses or individuals and transferred and/or sorted into other containers to be transported to another location for ultimate disposal. A solid waste transfer station may include provisions for extraction of recyclable or reusable materials, as well as collection facilities for recyclable materials.

“Stacked flat” means dwelling units in a residential building of no more than three stories on a residential zoned lot in which each floor may be separately rented or owned.

“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.

“Street” means a thoroughfare which has been dedicated to the public and designated for public use as a street.

“Street grade and right-of-way” means the officially established street grade or right-of-way lines upon which a lot fronts. If no official grade or right-of-way has been established, the grade or right-of-way shall be established by the city engineer or the existing grade or right-of-way shall be used.

“Structural alteration” means any change to the supporting members of a structure, such as bearing walls, columns or beams, or changes in the interior dimensions of the building structure, or increase in floor space.

“Structure” means anything constructed or erected above or below ground, affixed to the ground, or attached to something fixed to the ground.

“Substandard lot” means a lot or parcel of land which has less than the required minimum area or width as established by the zone in which it is located; and provided, that such lot or parcel was of record as a legally created lot on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title.

“Substantial change” means modification of the scope, use, or other attribute of a pending land use action that results in, or may result in, significant differences in the type or degree of impact(s), as determined by the public works director.

“Supergraphics” means any design or graphic which is superior in size, quality, quantity or degree over that which is allowed unconditionally by this code, and creates an overall artistic image utilizing the building on which it is displayed as background. (Ord. 1255-25 § 3, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Tandem” means having two or more vehicles, one in front of or behind the others, with a single means of ingress and egress.

“Tavern” means an establishment operated primarily for the sale of wine, beer or other alcoholic beverage that may or may not include the service of food as an accessory use.

“Townhouse” means a building that contains three or more attached single-family dwelling units that extend from foundation to roof and that have a yard or public way on not less than two sides.

“Transportation facility” means a capital facility related to air, water, or land transportation.

“Tree” means any living woody plant generally characterized by one main stem or trunk with branches, and having a diameter of four inches or more measured at twenty-four inches above ground level.

“Triplex” means a residential building with three attached dwelling units. (Ord. 1255-25 § 3, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Unlicensed vehicles” means automobiles, trucks, trailers, buses, road equipment, truck tractors or similar vehicles normally requiring a license.

“Unobstructed” means without structures, but shall not restrict plant materials (such as shrubbery); fences not exceeding six feet in height may be permitted as obstructions in the side and rear yards.

Use, Accessory. “Accessory use” means a use subordinate to the principal use and for purpose clearly incidental to those of the principal use.

Use, Principal. “Principal use” means the primary use to which the premises are devoted and the primary purpose of which the premises are used.

“Utility facility” means any privately, publicly, or cooperatively owned line, facility, or system for producing, transmitting, or distributing communications, power, electricity, light, heat, gas, oil, crude oil products, water, steam, waste, storm water not connected with highway drainage, or any other similar commodity, including any fire or police signal system or street lighting system, which directly or indirectly serves the public. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Variance” means the relaxation of the strict application of the terms of this title with respect to front, rear, and side yards or heights of buildings, where specific physical conditions unique to the site of the lot would create an unreasonable burden by making its development for permitted uses difficult or impossible.

Vehicle Repair, Major. An automobile service station which provides for the following operations if conducted within a building: lubrication of motor vehicles; brake servicing limited to servicing and replacement of brake cylinders, lines, and brake shoes; wheel balancing; engine repair, replacement, or rebuilding.

Vehicle Repair, Minor. An automobile service station which provides for the servicing of motor vehicles and operations incidental thereto limited to the retail sale of petroleum products and automotive accessories; automotive washing by hand; waxing and polishing of automobiles; tire changing and repairing; battery service, charging, and replacement, excluding repair and rebuilding; radiator cleaning and flushing, excluding steam cleaning and repair; and installation of accessories. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Wetland” is an area inundated or saturated by ground water or surface water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances does support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas (Army Corps of Engineers Regulation 33 CFR 323.2(c)). Wetlands include ponds, but do not include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from nonwetland sites, including but not limited to irrigation and drainage ditches, grass-lined swales, canals, detention/retention facilities, farm ponds, and landscape amenities. However, wetlands shall include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from nonwetland areas created to mitigate conversion of wetlands. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

“Yard” means a required open space unoccupied and unobstructed by any structure or portion of a structure from ground upward; provided, however, that fences, hedges, walls, and limited building projections may be permitted in any yard subject to limitations as indicated herein (See AMC 22.84.050).

Yard, Front. “Front yard” means a yard extending across the lot depth between the front building line of the principal building and the front lot line (See Diagram 22.08.058A).

Yard, Rear. “Rear yard” means a yard extending across the lot depth between the rear building line of the principal building and the rear lot line (See Diagram 22.08.058A).

Yard, Side. “Side yard” means a yard extending across the lot width between the side building line of the principal building and the side lot line, between the front yard and the rear yard (See Diagram 22.08.058A).

“Zone” means an area accurately defined as to boundaries and location on an official map and within which area only certain types of land uses are permitted, and within which other types of land uses are excluded, as set forth in this title. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).