Calistoga City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
19 R-3 MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL/OFFICE DISTRICT
§ 17.19.010 Purpose and intent.
The intent of the R-3 Multifamily/Office District is to increase the diversity and affordability of housing stock in Calistoga by providing housing close to downtown services and to provide convenient access to professional office uses for residents and businesses, while ensuring that care is taken to preserve the character of existing neighborhoods.
(Ord. 699 § 2, 2014)
§ 17.19.020 Uses allowed.
Uses allowed in the R-3 district are as follows:
A.
Uses Allowed without Use Permit.
1.
Multifamily dwellings.
2.
Supportive housing.
3.
Transitional housing.
4.
Residential care, limited, as defined and operated in accordance with State law.
5.
Uses determined by the Planning Commission to be similar in nature, as provided by Chapter 17.03 CMC.
6.
At least one ADU and up to 25 percent of the existing dwelling units within the portions of an existing multifamily dwelling structure that are not used as livable space, in accordance with Chapter 17.37 CMC.
7.
Up to two ADUs on a lot that has an existing multifamily dwelling if they are detached from the multifamily dwelling, in accordance with Chapter 17.37 CMC.
B.
Uses Requiring a Use Permit.
1.
Bed and breakfast inns and facilities, in accordance with Chapter 17.35 CMC.
2.
Family child care, large, as defined and operated in accordance with State law.
3.
Convalescent and congregate care facilities.
4.
Religious institutions.
5.
Public and private schools.
6.
Public facilities.
7.
Offices.
8.
One or more dwelling units accessory to a primary on-site office use.
9.
Geothermal activity (exploration, development and use).
10.
Uses determined by the Planning Commission to be similar in nature, as provided by the procedures in Chapter 17.03 CMC.
11.
Residential care for seven or more elderly, chronically ill or disabled persons, operated in accordance with State law.
C.
Accessory Buildings and Uses. The following accessory buildings and uses are allowed; provided, that no accessory building or use shall be constructed or established prior to the construction of the primary building nor on a lot separate from the primary building.
1.
Garages, carports, storage buildings, pool houses, club houses, on-site management offices and similar structures.
2.
Home occupations in accordance with Chapter 17.43 CMC.
3.
The keeping of household pets.
4.
Family child care, small, as defined and operated in accordance with State law.
5.
The keeping of up to four domestic chickens on a lot of 6,000 square feet or more that is developed with no more than one dwelling unit, subject to the provisions of Chapter 6.06 CMC.
D.
Prohibited Uses. The following uses are prohibited in the R-3 district:
1.
Transient commercial occupancies of dwelling units.
2.
Other uses not specified in subsections (A) through (C) of this section.
(Ord. 699 § 2, 2014; Ord. 700 § 2(4), 2014; Ord. 710 § 5, 2015; Ord. 744 § 2 (Exh. A), 2020)
§ 17.19.030 Lot area and dimensions.
Minimum lot area and lot dimensions in the R-3 district are as follows:
A.
Minimum Lot Area.
1.
Corner lots: 10,000 square feet.
2.
Interior lots: 9,000 square feet.
B.
Minimum Lot Width.
1.
Corner lots: 100 feet.
2.
Interior lots: 90 feet.
C.
Minimum lot depth: 120 feet.
(Ord. 699 § 2, 2014; Ord. 740 § 2 (Exh. A), 2018)
§ 17.19.040 Development standards.
The following standards apply to development within the R-3 district:
A.
Minimum setbacks for main buildings are as follows:
1.
Front yard: 15 feet.
2.
Side yards shall be not less than one-half the height of the building; provided, that:
a.
The interior side yard for a one-story building the height of which is less than 15 feet shall not be required to be more than five feet.
b.
An interior side yard shall be not less than five feet nor be required to be more than 15 feet.
c.
The street side yard for a corner lot shall be not less than 15 feet.
d.
The street side yard for a reverse corner lot shall be not less than 15 feet.
3.
Rear yard: 10 feet for one-story buildings, 15 feet for two-story buildings.
B.
Minimum setbacks for accessory buildings are as follows:
1.
Setbacks from property lines for accessory buildings and structures shall be as provided in CMC § 17.38.050.
2.
For garages and carports opening onto a street, the minimum distance between the opening of such garage or carport and the lot line shall be 20 feet.
C.
Maximum lot coverage: 40 percent.
D.
Maximum floor area ratio for office uses: 0.80.
E.
Maximum Height.
1.
Primary buildings and structures: 25 feet.
2.
Accessory structures: 15 feet.
F.
A minimum of 300 square feet of usable open space shall be provided for each dwelling unit, subject to the following location and design criteria:
1.
Required open space may be group (common) and/or private open space.
2.
Each square foot of private open space shall be considered the equivalent of two square feet of group open space and may be so substituted.
3.
Private open space located at ground level shall have a minimum area of 150 square feet.
4.
Private open space shall be adjacent to the dwelling unit being served.
5.
The minimum dimension in any one direction for any group open space shall be 15 feet.
6.
Up to 20 percent of the required open space may be a garden, balcony, deck, or similar usable open space feature located on the roof of a building other than an attached garage or carport.
7.
Up to 50 percent of ground level open space may be covered by an overhang or balcony.
8.
All required open space shall be planted or shall have a dust-free surface, such as concrete, landscape pavers or similar material.
9.
No required open space shall be located in a parking area, driveway, service area or required front yard area.
10.
No required open space shall have a slope greater than eight percent.
(Ord. 699 § 2, 2014; Ord. 733 § 3, 2018; Ord. 740 § 2 (Exh. A), 2018)
§ 17.19.050 Other development requirements.
Additional requirements that apply to development in the R-3 district include, but are not limited to, the following:
A.
Design review, per Chapter 17.06 CMC.
B.
Affordable housing, per Chapter 17.08 CMC.
C.
Off-street parking and loading, per Chapter 17.36 CMC.
D.
General provisions and exceptions, per Chapter 17.38 CMC.
E.
Use permits, per Chapter 17.40 CMC.
F.
Fences, hedges or walls, per Chapter 17.52 CMC.
G.
Repealed by Ord. 720.
H.
Requests for reasonable accommodation, per Chapter 17.60 CMC.
I.
Objective design standards contained in the City of Calistoga residential design guidelines[1] shall apply to a qualifying affordable housing project on a parcel identified as a reuse site to accommodate lower income housing in the 2023-2031 Housing Element.
[1]
Editor's Note: Residential Design Guidelines and Objective Design Standards are included as an attachment to this title.
J.
Minimum density requirements, per Section 17.03.110 CMC.
K.
Multifamily residential dwellings are allowed by right, subject to design review approval, on the following lower income sites (parcels) at the densities specified in this Chapter, provided at least 20% of the units are affordable to lower income households:
APN | Housing Element Identifier |
011-072-020 | C |
Design review shall be required for by right residential projects.
(Ord. 699 § 2, 2014; Ord. 720 § 2, 2015; Ord. 766 § 3, 2024; Ord. 780, 12/9/2025)
