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Battle Ground City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 17

106 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS R3, R5, R7, R10, R12, R16, R20

§ 17.106.010 Purpose.

It is the city's intent that residential neighborhoods be developed and preserved against intrusions by incongruous land uses.
These districts are intended to: recognize, maintain and protect established residential areas; establish densities where a full range of community services and facilities are present or will be present at the time of development; and provide for additional related uses such as schools, parks, churches and other uses necessary to serve the immediate residential areas.
A. 
The R3, R5 and R7 districts are intended to establish and recognize existing neighborhoods that are predominantly occupied by detached residential structures. These districts allow between three and seven units per acre. New development will be predominantly detached residential with flexibility to provide attached units and allow for a variety of lot sizes. The application of the districts to individual areas will be based on existing development patterns, access to goods and services and environmental constraints.
B. 
The R10, R12, R16 and R20 districts are intended to establish new and recognize existing neighborhoods of higher residential densities composed of both attached and detached housing. New development is predominantly attached housing with allowances and flexibility to provide small lot detached housing. The application of the districts to individual areas will be based on existing development patterns, access to goods and services and environmental constraints.
(Ord. 99-004 § 4 (part), 1999; Ord. 04-024 § 16 (part), 2004; Ord. 17-06 § 2 (part), 2017)

§ 17.106.020 Uses.

The following list includes the uses that are permitted, conditional or prohibited in the residential zones. "P" means permitted outright, "C" means permitted via a conditional use permit, "X" means prohibited.
Table 17.106-1 Permitted Uses in Residential Zones
Use
R3
R5
R7
R10
R12
R16
R20
Churches, including cemeteries and customary accessory buildings and uses, subject to BGMC § 17.135.050
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
Single-family detached buildings
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Cottage housing
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Single-family detached buildings, existing
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Single-family attached dwellings (townhouses)
X
P
P
P
P
P
P
Two-family dwellings (duplexes)
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Two-family dwellings (duplexes) on corner lots
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Manufactured homes on individual lots, subject to the requirements of BGMC § 17.135.102
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Accessory apartments, subject to BGMC § 17.135.010
Attached
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Detached
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Adult care homes (six or fewer residents) as defined in BGMC § 17.103.020
P1
P1
P1
P1
P1
P1
P1
Group living (seven or more residents) as defined in BGMC § 17.103.325
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Permanent Supportive Housing
X
X
P
P
P
P
P
Transitional housing as defined in BGMC § 17.103.700
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Apartments
X
X
C
P
P
P
P
Co-living housing
X
X
P
P
P
P
P
Manufactured home parks, subject to BGMC § 17.135.100
X
X
X
X
C
C
C
Commercial day care centers as part of a project incorporating residential units meeting the minimum densities of Table 17.106-2
X
X
X
X
P
P
P
Family day care centers as regulated by RCW 35.63.185 and with conformity demonstrated through the city's business license program
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Carports and garages
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Utility storage buildings and implement sheds
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Guest houses, but not including accessory apartments
P
P
P
X
X
X
X
Swimming pools and tennis courts
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Gardens and noncommercial greenhouses
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Home occupations, defined in BGMC § 17.103.360 and subject to the supplementary regulations of BGMC § 17.135.090
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Clubs, lodges, fraternal institutions and other places of assembly for membership groups
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
Neighborhood retail, pursuant to BGMC § 17.106.050
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Accessory uses and structures normally incidental to one or more permitted principal uses
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Parks, playgrounds
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Golf courses and country clubs
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
Public and semipublic buildings, structures and uses including public and private schools
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Mobile food pod
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Notes:
1.
Adult care homes are permitted by right subject to an inspection by the building official for compliance with applicable state law.
(Ord. 99-004 § 4 (part), 1999; Ord. 00-004 § 1(B), 2000; Ord. 00-024 § 2 (part), 2000; Ord. 04-024 § 16 (part), 2004; Ord. 05-014 § 2, 2005; Ord. 06-07 § 3, 2006; Ord. 13-07 § 16, 2013; Ord. 15-04 § 23 (part), 2015; Ord. 17-06 § 2 (part), 2017; Ord. 20-09 § 2 (part), 2020; Ord. 21-35 § 2, 2021; Ord. 22-20 § 2, 2022; Ord. 26-13, 6/1/2026)

§ 17.106.030 Dimensional requirements.

Dimensional requirements within the residential districts shall be in accordance with Table 17.106-2.
Table 17.106-2
Residential Lot Development Standards
R3
R5
R7
R10
R12
R16
R20
Minimum average lot area (square feet)
10,500
6,300
4,500
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Minimum average lot area for density transfer (square feet)
8,000
4,600
3,300
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Minimum lot area (square feet)
6,300
4,000
3,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
Maximum density (units per gross acre)
3
5
7
10
12
16
20
Minimum density (units per net acre) 1
N/A
N/A
N/A
5
6
8
10
Minimum lot frontage (feet)
30
25 2
20 2
20 2
16 2
16 2
16
Minimum setbacks (feet)
Residence front yard 3, 7
Minimum 10
Minimum 10
Minimum 10
Minimum 10
Minimum 10
Minimum 10
Minimum 10
Garage (minimum) 4
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
Side yard 5, 7
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Street side yard7
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
Rear yard 4, 7
20 6
20 6
10
10
10
10
10
Maximum building lot coverage (%)
50
50
50
60
60
70
80
Maximum height (feet)
35
35
35
35
45
45
45
Refer to Table 17.131-1 for landscaping requirements
1 Net acres shall be based on the total area of the site minus public-private road rights-of-way, stormwater facilities, and land voluntarily or required to be set aside for parks, open space or environmental protection.
2 Lots may be approved without any frontage where they are part of a cottage development where appropriate easements are granted to gain access to the public or private street and the shared parking areas.
3 Attached front porches may intrude into required minimum front yard setbacks up to six feet.
4 Garages accessed via alleys may be located zero lot line to the edge of alley right-of-way if side entry and five feet from edge of alley right-of-way if front entry.
5 Where a permitted use by the code, townhouses are not required to meet the side yard setback on the attached side(s).
6 Structures such as patio covers, decks, and bay windows are permitted to be set back ten feet. A rear yard setback abutting a park, open space, wetland, or other critical area may be reduced to ten feet.
7 Eaves, cornices, chimneys and similar projections may extend over a required front, rear, or side yard by not more than two feet per BGMC § 17.129.030.
(Ord. 99-004 § 4 (part), 1999; Ord. 00-004 § 1(C), 2000; Ord. 00-024 § 2 (part), 2000; Ord. 04-024 § 16 (part), 2004; Ord. 06-07 § 4, 2006; Ord. 13-07 § 17, 2013; Ord. 16-15 § 2 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 2 (part), 2017; Ord. 20-09 § 2 (part), 2020; Ord. 22-20 § 2, 2022)

§ 17.106.035 Density transfer provisions.

A. 
To provide for the protection of natural resources and to meet the density goals of the comprehensive plan, density may be transferred from one portion of a site due to wetland, greenway or critical area regulations to other buildable portions of the site consistent with the requirements of this section.
B. 
Density transfer provisions shall be limited to development within the R3, R5, and R7 zoning districts.
C. 
Portions of sites identified as sensitive due to the presence of steep slopes, unstable land, historical or archaeological sites, wetlands and buffers, commons, land voluntarily or mandatorily set aside for parks and open space or other permanent physical development limitations, as may be determined or approved by the planning director or hearing examiner, may be eligible for transfer of density. Land set aside or encumbered to accommodate the facilities, utilities or rights-of-way that, including required or existing rights-of-way, stormwater facilities or other utilities required to serve the development, shall not be eligible for density transfer, except as provided for in Chapter 17.128 BGMC, Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces.
D. 
Transferable density is calculated by multiplying the acreage of the encumbered area (described in subsection C of this section) by the maximum density authorized in the underlying R3, R5, or R7 zoning districts. For example, if a development has two acres of encumbered area, and the underlying zoning is R3, the number of transferable lots or units is six (two acres x three units per acre = six).
E. 
The maximum number of units which can be transferred is limited to the number of whole units (fractions of units shall be rounded down) which would have been allowed on the unbuildable area.
F. 
Density transferred to the buildable portions of a development are subject to the lot size standards referenced in Table 17.106-2.
G. 
Density transferred to the buildable portion of a site shall not exceed one hundred twenty percent of the density authorized by the underlying zone. For example, if the buildable portion of a site is ten acres, and the underlying zoning is R3, the maximum units or density that could be received is thirty-six lots or units (ten acres x three units) x one and two-tenths of density transfer = thirty-six units.
H. 
If the amount of transferrable density described in subsection D of this section exceeds the amount receiving density described in subsection G of this section, subsection G of this section shall govern.
I. 
Nothing in this section shall be construed as to guarantee a minimum density or exceed the maximum gross densities of a given development as referenced in Table 17.106-2.
(Ord. 04-024 § 16 (part), 2004; Ord. 17-06 § 2 (part), 2017; Ord. 24-20 § 1, 2024)

§ 17.106.040 Single-family and duplex design standards.

A. 
Applicability. The provisions of this section shall apply to all new residential development projects within the city of Battle Ground.
B. 
Architectural Variety. To assure variety in architecture and to reduce the dominance of garages on the streetscape, the following provisions shall apply to new single-family dwellings and duplex structures:
1. 
No four contiguous lots shall have repetitive facades. Each single-family residence shall contain a covered front porch or entry and pathways to the public sidewalks. Facades shall be substantially different beyond mirrored plans (see subsection (B)(2) of this section) and shall contain at least five of the following design features:
a. 
Dormers;
b. 
Bay windows;
c. 
Pillars or posts;
d. 
Varied facade with at least three offset walls;
e. 
Varied rooflines such as hipped or pitched roofs;
f. 
Color;
g. 
Decorative patterns on exterior finish (e.g., scales/shingles, wainscoting, and similar features);
h. 
Use of contrasting materials, such as brick or stone, on a minimum of twenty-five percent of the facade;
i. 
Decorative window patterns;
j. 
Other architectural elements that the planning director finds compatible with the residential character of the subdivision.
2. 
In cases where facade elevations appear mirrored, as referenced in subsection (B)(1) of this section, at least four differing design features must be identified on the elevations as listed in subsection (B)(1) of this section, including:
a. 
One of the design features shall include either subsection (B)(1)(d) of this section, "varied facade with at least three offset walls," or subsection (B)(1)(e) of this section, "varied rooflines such as hipped or pitched roofs"; and
b. 
Three other design elements listed in subsections (B)(1)(a) through (B)(1)(c) and (B)(1)(f) through (B)(1)(i) of this section.
3. 
Garages. These additional design standards are for garages and only apply to the primary front setback:
a. 
Attached front-loaded garages can be set forward no more than ten feet from the front face of the residential structure or covered front porch. To qualify as a covered front porch under this subsection, the porch must extend the full length of the street-fronting building facade that is not devoted to the garage.
b. 
Attached side-loaded garages shall have windows, doors or other architectural treatments covering at least thirty percent of the wall facing the street.
c. 
Detached garages shall be set back behind the front edge of the primary residential building unless approved by the planning director.
4. 
Alleys. Where houses are served by alleys, all garages and on-site parking shall be accessible from the alley and the facade of the house facing the public street shall be designed as the front of the house including, but not limited to, a primary building entrance consisting of inward swinging door(s), porches, windows and pathways to the public sidewalks.
(Ord. 99-004 § 4 (part), 1999; Ord. 01-006 § 1, 2001; Ord. 04-024 § 16 (part), 2004; Ord. 05-014 § 3, 2005; Ord. 07-15 § 6, 2007; Ord. 09-08 § 11, 2009; Ord. 13-07 § 18, 2013; Ord. 15-04 § 23 (part), 2015; Ord. 16-15 § 2 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 2 (part), 2017; Ord. 22-20 § 2, 2022; Ord. 25-08 § 1, 2025)

§ 17.106.050 Neighborhood retail.

A. 
Neighborhood Retail. Neighborhood retail uses shall be permitted as a conditional use pursuant to Chapter 17.148 BGMC throughout all residential districts, unless the neighborhood retail site was approved through the subdivision review process, subject to the provisions of site plan approval (Chapter 17.143 BGMC).The following criteria shall be met for neighborhood retail uses:
1. 
Uses shall be limited to the following:
a. 
Retail sales of groceries or disposable household items;
b. 
Personal service establishments;
c. 
Professional offices;
d. 
Restaurants and other food service establishments not exceeding one thousand square feet in seating area.
2. 
No single building housing a collection of uses shall have more than four thousand square feet of gross floor area dedicated to nonresidential uses. All neighborhood retail uses shall be enclosed in a single building.
3. 
Neighborhood retail uses shall be located on a parcel that is sufficient to accommodate all required development standards and conditions but which does not exceed fifteen thousand square feet.
4. 
No neighborhood retail use shall be located within one-quarter mile of any other commercial retail use or commercial zone.
5. 
Neighborhood retail uses shall be on lots located at the corner of the intersection of two public streets, one of which shall have a functional classification of major collector or higher and both of which shall have sidewalks.
6. 
Buildings shall observe the setbacks required in the zone within which they are located, but shall have no parking or maneuvering separating the building and the sidewalk.
7. 
At least fifty percent of the street-facing facade shall be comprised of windows or open store fronts that allow views into the building. No reflective coating or other method of limiting views is permitted.
8. 
Buildings shall be designed with respect to height, scale, massing and architectural feature and constructed with materials that are compatible with surrounding neighborhood architecture.
9. 
Signs associated with neighborhood retail uses shall not exceed thirty-two square feet in area and five feet in height, shall not be internally lit, neon or flashing, and shall be subject to all other applicable provisions of Chapter 17.139 BGMC, Signs.
10. 
Neighborhood retail uses shall provide parking consistent with Chapter 17.133 BGMC to a maximum of seven off-street parking spaces. On-street parking may be utilized to meet this requirement. Off-street parking shall be located to the side or rear of the building. All other provisions of Chapters 17.133 and 17.143 BGMC shall be applicable.
11. 
The side and rear property lines shall be improved with a B3 buffer, with fencing associated with such buffer in compliance with BGMC § 17.135.080.
12. 
Neighborhood retail uses shall be restricted to the ground floor of the structure they occupy.
13. 
Residential uses are permitted on the second floors of neighborhood retail buildings.
14. 
Drive-through, drive-up or other similar development types are not allowed.
(Ord. 99-004 § 4 (part), 1999; Ord. 04-024 § 16 (part), 2004; Ord. 17-06 § 2 (part), 2017)

§ 17.106.060 Cottage housing standards.

A. 
The total floor area of each cottage shall not exceed 1,600 square feet. Floor area shall not include any space with a floor-to-ceiling height of less than six feet.
B. 
Cottage housing shall comply with the density provisions of the underlying zone except within the R5 and R7 districts where two cottage units are allowed in place of each allowed single-family unit.
C. 
A minimum of four and a maximum of 12 cottages are allowed in any single cluster and development. A cottage development may contain more than one cluster, provided all other cottage housing standards are met.
D. 
The height limit is 35 feet; provided, that all parts of the roof above 18 feet shall be pitched with a slope of at least 6:12.
E. 
Cottage units shall be oriented around, and have covered porches and main entries facing, a common usable open space of at least 200 square feet per unit that is generally square or round. Each common open space shall have a minimum dimension of 15 feet on any side.
F. 
Each cottage shall be provided with private use open space contiguous to the cottage of at least 200 square feet with no dimension of less than 10 feet. The total percentage of common and private open space for cottage housing must be at least 20%.
G. 
A covered porch of at least 60 square feet in size with a minimum dimension of five feet on any side shall be provided for each cottage.
H. 
Parking areas shall not occupy more than 50% of the lot frontage, nor qualify as common open space, as required in subsection F of this section.
I. 
Setbacks for the exterior of the project shall be the same as the base zoning district. There are no required setbacks for interior lot lines provided the 10-foot minimum separation to buildings shall be met.
J. 
Interior fences may not exceed 36 inches in height.
K. 
A pedestrian pathway a minimum of five feet in width shall connect the public street with all cottages and from the shared parking areas to all cottages.
L. 
Each cottage shall be located on a separate lot or shall be a condominium.
M. 
If a legally established single-family dwelling is located on the parent parcel of a cottage development, the dwelling may remain and be incorporated into the development. The dwelling is considered grandfathered and does not need to meet the size limitations.
N. 
If common trash and recycling are proposed, identify their location and provide appropriate screening as identified in BGMC § 17.131.020.
(Ord. 04-024 § 16 (part), 2004; Ord. 07-15 § 10, 2007; Ord. 09-08 § 12, 2009; Ord. 17-06 § 2 (part), 2017; Ord. 26-13, 6/1/2026)

§ 17.106.070 Multifamily development standards.

In addition to the standards required through site plan review or other chapters of this title, the following provisions shall apply to multifamily development:
A. 
Building Location and Orientation. Multifamily development shall be constructed consistent with the following requirements:
1. 
Parking lots shall be located to the side and/or behind buildings designed pursuant to Chapter 17.133 BGMC.
2. 
Units adjacent to public or private streets shall have the primary building entrances located on the facade facing the street or meet additional architectural variety standards.
B. 
Pedestrian Access and Circulation. Pedestrian access routes shall be provided from the public street(s) to all primary building entrances in the form of a continuous separated pathway of at least five feet in width. Pedestrian routes that cross driveways or vehicular access aisles shall be composed of treated surfaces, such as scored, brushed, stamped and colored concrete and brick pavers, in order to differentiate the pedestrian system from the vehicular system. Where pedestrian routes cross driveways or vehicular access aisles, different paving material shall be provided as noted above. Pedestrian circulation routes shall be a minimum of five feet in width.
C. 
Building Modulation. Building facade modulation or appropriate architectural treatment shall occur at least every twenty-five feet along the length of facades facing adjacent properties or public streets. Minimum modulation depth shall be three feet.
D. 
Architectural Variety. All building elevations facing a public or private street that do not provide primary entrances along the right-of-way must be designed with additional architectural features in the combination of windows, porches, and/or balconies.
E. 
Roof Line Variation. Roof lines shall be varied to break up the overall bulk and mass of multifamily buildings. Roof line variation shall be accomplished by using one or more of the following methods: vertical or horizontal offset ridge line, variations in roof pitch, or other technique shown to break up the overall bulk and mass of the building.
F. 
Building Variation. Developments with multiple structures shall use appropriate architectural variations and use of colors to differentiate buildings within the development.
G. 
Recreation. Apartment complex development of twelve units or more shall provide common open space/recreation areas on site for use and enjoyment of owners and residents within the development, according to the following minimum provisions:
1. 
The designated recreational area shall be a minimum of fifteen percent of the overall site area. Recreation space must be designed to serve as a centralized recreational facility, not merely leftover space along the edges of required yards and standard landscaping. This area may include open space area(s), play structures, sport courts, outdoor recreational features, trails and paths, community gardens or other similar types of facilities.
2. 
Open space/recreation areas do not include the following: parking lots, driveways, private/public street rights-of-way, required storage areas, etc.
(Ord. 04-024 § 16 (part), 2004; Ord. 13-07 § 19, 2013; Ord. 15-04 § 23 (part), 2015; Ord. 16-15 § 2 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 2 (part), 2017; Ord. 19-22 § 2, 2019)

§ 17.106.080 Townhouse development standards.

In addition to the standards required through this chapter or other chapters of this title, the following provisions shall apply to townhouse development:
A. 
Each townhouse shall be located on its own lot of record created through a land division process.
B. 
No more than six townhouses shall be allowed in a single building.
C. 
Townhouses shall comply with the design standards for single-family residences pursuant to BGMC § 17.106.040.
(Ord. 04-024 § 16 (part), 2004; Ord. 17-06 § 2 (part), 2017)

§ 17.106.090 Institutional and nonresidential development standards.

In order to address impacts and increased incompatibility between residential and nonresidential development, nonresidential uses and institutional uses not addressed elsewhere in this title shall comply with the following provisions:
A. 
Landscaped buffers of ten feet in width and meeting the B2 standard shall be provided along all property lines which abut a residentially zoned property.
B. 
A paved pedestrian connection a minimum of six feet in width shall be provided from the public street(s) serving the site to the primary building entrance.
C. 
Off-street parking shall be located behind or to the side of the building.
D. 
Buildings shall be oriented towards and located not more than thirty feet from the front property line, or shall be designed to provide clear and unfettered pedestrian access to the building and add design elements to the building facade that create a sense of arrival.
E. 
A minimum of twenty percent of the site shall be landscaped.
(Ord. 04-024 § 16 (part), 2004; Ord. 06-07 § 5, 2006; Ord. 17-06 § 2 (part), 2017)

§ 17.106.100 Co-living housing.

In addition to the standards required through site plan review or other chapters of this title, the following provisions shall apply to co-living housing development:
A. 
Density. A sleeping unit may not be counted in co-living housing as more than one-quarter of a dwelling unit for purposes of calculating dwelling unit density. A cap on the number of co-living sleeping units allowed per building is invalid where there are no equivalent limits on the number of units permitted in a multifamily building in the same zone.
1. 
Co-living housing may not be excluded from participating in affordable housing incentive programs.
B. 
Sleeping Unit Dimensional Standards. Sleeping units must be at a minimum 70 square feet. An in-unit bathroom and in-unit kitchen is optional. However, if not provided, each sleeping unit must have access to a shared bathroom and a shared kitchen.
C. 
Common Spaces. Common spaces are required as part of any co-living housing development.
D. 
Off-Street Parking Standards. A maximum of 0.25 off-street parking spaces per sleeping unit may be required.
E. 
Conversions. Existing buildings can be converted into co-living housing.
1. 
For co-living units, a density bonus is authorized up to 50% more than what is allowed in the underlying zone.
2. 
Additional parking requirements cannot be imposed on the addition of co-living units added within an existing building.
3. 
No additional exterior design or architectural requirements on the existing building shall be imposed.
4. 
For co-living authorized in the commercial districts, ground-floor units are prohibited.
F. 
Water and Sewer. For the purpose of calculating sewer connection fees, a co-living unit may not be calculated at more than one-half of a unit, unless the city engineer makes a finding of fact that connection fees should exceed the one-half threshold.
G. 
Impact Fees. The impact fee schedule should reflect the proportionate impact of new housing units, including multifamily and condominium units.
H. 
Short-Term Rentals. Co-living housing sleeping units shall not be used as short-term rentals.
(Ord. 26-13, 6/1/2026)