A detached building that is secondary to the principal structure(s) on a site. Examples include a playhouse, woodshed, storeroom, laundry, private garage, accessory dwelling unit, or workshop.

A use that is secondary to the principal use of a building or space within a building on the same building site that serves a purpose customarily incidental to any permitted use made of the premises alone. For retail uses, an accessory use is incidental in terms of area, extent, and purpose to a primary use and in terms of display space that is occupied.

A measure of total land area of any lot including future streets, parks, and other land dedications.

The gross area of a site excluding land to be dedicated for required easements for vehicles and rights-of-way, either public or private, or land to be dedicated for schools and parks or other facilities devoted to public use.

Near or close to; sometimes contiguous; neighboring.

An "aggrieved person" means any person who, in person or through a representative, appeared at a City public hearing in connection with the decision or action appealed, or who, by other appropriate means prior to a hearing, informed the City of the nature of his/her concerns or who for good cause was unable to do either (i.e., defective notice). "Aggrieved person" includes the applicant for a permit.

A secondary vehicular accessway through the middle of a block that provides access to the rear of building sites or to buildings.

Any change, addition, or modification of any of the supporting members of a structure, such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders, that changes the exterior architectural appearance or materials of a structure or object. "Alteration" includes changes in exterior surfaces, changes in materials, additions, remodels, demolitions, and relocation of buildings or structures but excludes ordinary maintenance and repairs.

See "Accessory Use."

A small animal of the type generally accepted as a pet, including dog, cat, rabbit, songbird, fish, and the like, but not including chicken, duck, goose, pea fowl, goat, sheep, pig, hog or the like.

Any animal that is customarily raised on farms, including horses, cows, and any other animal customarily kept in a pen, corral, stable, or pond.

Any system of wires, poles, rods, reflecting discs or similar devices used for the transmission or reception, or both, of electromagnetic radiation waves.

An automated device used by the public to conduct such banking and financial transactions electronically as withdrawing or depositing cash from a bank, savings, credit union, credit card or similar account. As used in this code the term ATM does not apply to retail point-of-sale transactions within a fully enclosed location.

See "Grade, Average."

The ratio between vertical and horizontal distances expressed as a percent. See "Rules of Measurement."

A platform that projects from the wall of a building, typically above the first level, and is surrounded by a rail, balustrade, or parapet.

See "Sign Terms."

The number of dwelling units on a particular parcel of land that is in conformance with the general plan and zoning code.

The calculated floor area allowed on a site prior to consideration of bonus floor area or adjustments to floor area based on site constraints. See "Rules of Measurement."

An underground room or excavated space between five and nine feet of interior height, finished or unfinished where the finished floor level directly above the space is not more than one foot above both the existing or final grade. Any subgrade space where the finished floor elevation directly above the space is more than one foot above existing or finished grade shall be considered above-ground space. All areas where the finished floor elevation directly above a subgrade space is more than five feet above either existing or final grade shall also be considered a story. (Note: In calculating the floor area of a basement it may be necessary to count part of the area in a floor level as basement and part of the area in a floor level as above-ground space.) Basement spaces may be used for any residential occupancy allowed by the Uniform Building Code such as bathrooms, family rooms, hobby rooms, offices, mechanical equipment, storage and, if equipped with window wells, bedrooms.

Best management practices means activities, practices, and procedures to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly to the municipal storm drain system and waters of the United States. Best management practices include treatment facilities to remove pollutants from stormwater; operating and maintenance procedures; facility management practices to control runoff, spillage or leaks of nonstormwater, waste disposal, and drainage from materials storage; erosion and sediment control practices; the prohibition of specific activities, practices, and procedures; and such other provisions as the City determines appropriate for the control of pollutants.

Floor area, in addition to the floor area for a site, granted as an incentive to achieve specified design or land use objectives.

A permanent structure providing shelter occupying an area of land and enclosing volume. This implies a roof supported by walls, posts, or columns. If walls entirely enclose the space within, there usually are doorways for access and windows for light. Roofs, walls, doors, and windows are essential features of buildings.

All publicly owned real property west of North San Antonio extending from the north City boundary south to Ocean Avenue including the western terminus of Ocean Avenue west of San Antonio, and all lands west of Scenic Road extending from the south City limits north to Ocean Avenue.

See "Parking Terms."

An individual who has demonstrated knowledge and competency through obtainment of the current International Society of Arboriculture arborist certification, or who is a member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists.

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) and any subsequent amendments thereto.

"Coastal Plan" means the California Coastal Zone Conservation Plan prepared and adopted by the California Coastal Zone Conservation Commission and submitted to the Governor and the Legislature on December 1, 1975, pursuant to the California Coastal Zone Conservation Act of 1972 (commencing with Section 27000).

Include, but are not limited to, public access opportunities, visitor and recreational facilities, water-oriented activities, marine resources, biological resources, environmentally sensitive habitat areas, agricultural lands, and archaeological or paleontological resources.

In the context of CMC § 17.42.020, Urban Runoff Water Quality and Discharge Management, activities subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Construction Permits. These include construction projects resulting in land disturbance of five acres or more. These activities include clearing and grubbing, grading, excavating, and demolition.

See "Sign Terms."

The total cost required to construct, rebuild, repair, remodel or make an addition to an existing building and shall include all permanent work and permanent equipment, excluding landscaping.

The total ground area of a building site occupied by buildings; or the allowable percentage of a lot that may be occupied by buildings (i.e., building footprint) consistent with the General Plan or Zoning Code.

That area of a building site occupied, or allowed to be occupied, by materials or improvements that cover the natural soil but which are outside the perimeter of structures that count as floor area or building coverage. Depending on the nature of the materials used, lot coverage may be impermeable, semipermeable or fully permeable. See "Rules of Measurement."

The total ground area of a site occupied by materials or improvements that cover the natural soil but which are outside the perimeter of structures that count as floor area. Site coverage includes:

An area below a building having a clearance less than adult height, but accessible by crawling. Such space is typically below the first floor and is surrounded by foundation walls or supports.

The act of reconstructing, removing, taking down or destroying all or portions of an existing building or structure, or making extensive repairs or modifications to an existing building or structure, if such changes involve removal or replacement of 50 percent or more of both the structural framing and cladding or of the exterior walls within a 24-month period. When determining whether a building or structure is demolished, the following applies:

The Department of Community Planning and Building.

An open, unroofed porch or platform, either freestanding or attached to a building that is supported above grade. See also "Balcony."

In compliance with Public Resources Code Section 30106, on land, in water or under it, the placement or erection of any solid material or structure; the discharge or disposal of any dredged material or of any gaseous, liquid, solid, or thermal waste; the grading, removing, dredging, mining, or extraction of any materials; the change in the density or intensity of use of land, including subdivision in compliance with the Map Act, and any other division of land, except where the land division is brought about in connection with the purchase of the land by a public agency for public recreational use; the change in the intensity of use of water, or of access to water; the construction, reconstruction, demolition, or alteration in the size of any structure, including any facility of any private, public, or municipal utility; and the removal or harvesting of major vegetation other than for agricultural purposes and kelp harvesting. New development is any development after the effective date of these regulations. As used in these regulations, "structure" includes, but is not limited to, any building, road, pipe, flume, conduit, siphon, aqueduct, telephone line, and electrical power transmission and distribution line.

The Director of Community Planning and Building or the Director's designee.

A business primarily devoted to the sale of merchandise consistently sold below normal retail prices.

A case, cabinet, or other device having a window of glass or other transparent material, or other opening, access to which is made from other than within a structure or building.

See "Tree Terms."

Any primary or accessory business use in which business is transacted while the customer or consumer is seated in a motor vehicle.

A paved or unpaved accessway used by vehicles and pedestrians for common access to a parking space, garage, dwelling, or other structure.

See "Lot Types."

A building or group of buildings on a single building site that, in whole or in part, is designed for, or occupied by, members of two or more families dwelling independently of each other in separate areas or units.

Any building containing one or more habitable rooms with facilities for living, sleeping, cooking, and eating and containing no more than one kitchen.

An environmental impact report as required under the California Environmental Quality Act.

A sudden, unexpected occurrence demanding immediate action to prevent or mitigate loss or damage to life, health, property, or essential public services.

"Environmentally sensitive habitat area" means any area in which plant or animal life or their habitats are either rare or especially valuable because of their special nature or role in an ecosystem and which could be easily disturbed or degraded by human activities and development.

A use that precludes ordinary use in the vicinity of a temporary event for public recreation, beach access, or access to coastal waters other than for or through the event itself.

See "Grade, Existing."

The total space occupied by all structures located above average grade, expressed in cubic feet and measured from the exterior wall and roof surfaces of each building. See "Rules of Measurement."

An individual or two or more persons living together as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit and sharing common living, sleeping, cooking, and eating facilities.

"Feasible" means capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, social, and technological factors.

An enclosure or barrier made of wood or metal, used as a boundary, means of protection, privacy screening, or confinement, but not including walls, masonry structures, hedges, shrubs, trees, or other natural growth.

See "Grade, Finished."

See "Lot Types."

A surface that is horizontal or nearly so located within the interior of a structure which is suitable for walking or standing upon.

The total gross square footage included within the surrounding exterior walls of all floors contained within all enclosed buildings on a building site. See "Rules of Measurement." Also see definitions within base zoning districts in Division II.

The total floor area of all buildings or structures on a building site divided by the site area. See "Rules of Measurement."

The side of a lot or building site facing a street.

See "Parking Terms."

A linear, masonry structure used within a landscape to define a boundary, path, planting area or other design feature. Garden walls are exposed on both sides and do not retain soil, slopes or terraces. (See also "Retaining Wall").

The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea General Plan.

See "Rules of Measurement."

An accessory building, or part of a principal building, without kitchen or cooking facilities, designed to be used by members of the family occupying the dwelling to which it is accessory and their guests or servants employed on the premises. A detached garage containing one or more rooms used or adopted for use as human habitation shall be considered a guesthouse.

Any material, including any substance, waste, or combination thereof, which because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may cause, or significantly contribute to, a substantial present or potential hazard to human health, safety, property, or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed (California Health and Safety Code Section 25117).

See "Sign Terms."

The vertical distance of the dimension measured from finished grade, unless otherwise specified. See "Rules of Measurement."

See "Sign Terms."

Any activity carried out for gain by a resident conducted as an accessory use in the resident's dwelling.

Any direct or indirect nonstormwater discharge to the storm drain system, except as exempted in CMC § 17.42.020, Urban Runoff Water Quality and Discharge Management.

Either:

A surface artificially constructed so as to prevent or largely inhibit the infiltration of rainwater or runoff into the natural soils or underlying geologic materials.

Activities subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Industrial Permits as defined in 40 CFR, Section 122.26(b)(14).

The impacts a particular use or the use in combination with other uses has on its surroundings or on its demand for services and natural resources. Measures of intensity include but are not limited to requirements for water, gas, electricity, or public services; number of automobile trips generated by a use; parking demand; number of employees on a site; hours of operation; the amount of noise, light or glare generated; the number of persons attracted to the site, or, in eating establishments, the number of seats.

Any room or any part of a room designed, built, equipped, used, or intended to be used for the preparation of food and dishwashing, whether or not said room contains a cookstove or any other cooking appliance. A dining room, alcove, or similar room adjacent to or connected with a kitchen in which toasters, grills, percolators, and similar appliances are used shall not be deemed a kitchen.

The planting and maintenance of trees, ground cover, shrubs, vines, flowers, or lawn for an aesthetic or functional purpose.

A period of time which does not exceed two weeks.

Any space interior to a building having a floor suitable for walking or standing upon and that is used or designed for use by the occupants of a building.

An off-street space or berth within a building or contiguous to a group of buildings for the temporary parking of a vehicle while loading or unloading merchandise or materials or people, which abuts on a street, service drive, alley, or other appropriate means of access.

A business that regularly devotes more than 15 percent of the commercial floor area to the liquidation of manufacturers' or other retailers' stocks at prices represented to be lower than normal. Also called an "outlet store" or a "seconds store."

A room or combination of rooms used or intended to be used primarily for sleeping purposes for any consideration, whether money or other thing of value.

A designated parcel of real property established by plat, subdivision, or as otherwise permitted by law, and indicated as a separate lot upon a Final Subdivision Map, parcel map, lot line adjustment map, or record of merger filed in the Office of the County Recorder pursuant to the provisions of the California Subdivision Map Act.

The total area within the exterior lines of a lot excluding public access corridors, vehicular easements, and areas to be included in future street rights-of-way or other public facilities or uses established by easement, dedication, or ordinance.

See Figure VI-II: Lot Types.

The horizontal distance between side lot lines measured along a line that is parallel to the front lot line and located the minimum exterior setback distance from the front lot line.

A business that regularly devotes more than 15 percent of the commercial floor area to the sale of merchandise, primarily from one or a few manufacturers, generally represented as irregular, discontinued, overstocked, or not considered by the manufacturer as disposable through normal retail channels.

A use involving dividing a single business premises into spaces for separate businesses for the purpose of retail sales, whether or not walls are installed to separate such spaces, and where access to two or more of such spaces is from interior space or a common entry from the public way. A merchandise mart includes such other uses as stall merchandising or multiple enterprise businesses, but it does not include uses wherein concessions or separate departments are created within one store where there is only one business having the appearance of one business and only one set of books is kept for the business.

General, group, and individual stormwater discharge permits that regulate facilities defined in Federal NPDES regulations in compliance with the Clean Water Act. These permits include general construction activity permits, general industrial activity permits, and similar permits adopted by the Central Coast Region of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the State Water Resources Control Board.

Any tree, plant life, water feature, or rock outcropping.

Include, but are not limited to, seating, perimeter fencing, vendor tents or canopies, judging stands, portable toilets, sound or video equipment, stages, platforms, movie or film sets, etc., which do not involve grading or landform alteration for installation.

An existing building or structure that was lawfully designed, erected, or structurally altered but that does not conform with currently applicable zoning requirements prescribed for the district in which it is located.

See "Sign Terms."

See "Use, Categories Of."

Any discharge to the storm drain system that is not composed entirely of stormwater.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

Any building or portion thereof, which is not a single-family dwelling or hospital, wherein five or more persons are provided with food, lodging, and personal care by any individual, his agent or his employee for any sum of money or other thing of value, and who is therefore required by the County or the State of California to be licensed or approved for such service. A nursing home shall not provide care for drug addicts, mental patients, or alcohol addict cases. A residential care home shall be considered a nursing home for the purposes of this code.

A discontinuance of an existing use and the substitution therefore of a use of a different kind or class.

A site or portion of a site devoted to the loading or unloading of motor vehicles or trailers, including loading berths, aisles, access drives, and landscaped areas.

See "Sign Types."

See also "Yard."

Any work undertaken to restore any deterioration of or damage to a structure or any part thereof involving no change to materials or design.

An office use not otherwise defined as personal or health care services where clients visit primarily by appointment or where business is conducted by telephone. Specific uses include, but are not limited to, engineering, architectural, surveying, accounting, bookkeeping, management, and public relations.

Storage of materials, including items for sale, lease, processing, and repair, in an area outside an enclosed building.

See "Liquidation Store."

A courtyard adjacent to or within a building typically enclosed by buildings, arcades, or walls.

A structure of parallel colonnades supporting an open roof of beams and crossing rafters or trellis work over which climbing plants are trained to grow.

An individual, a group of individuals, or an association, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity, public or private.

Services such as those of barber, beautician, or cosmetologist; interior decorator not providing upholstery or repair services on the premises nor providing articles for sale on the premises; photographic studio; and studios and schools of art, music, and dance.

The physical location(s) within the City where the activities of a business are conducted.

Anything that causes or contributes to pollution, which may include paints, varnishes, and solvents; oil and other automotive fluids; nonhazardous liquid and solid wastes and yard wastes; refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or other discarded or abandoned objects, articles, and accumulations that may cause or contribute to pollution; floatables; pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers; hazardous substances and wastes; sewage, fecal coliform and pathogens; dissolved and particulate metals; animal wastes; wastes and residues that result from constructing a building or structure (including but not limited to sediments, slurries, and concrete fines); and noxious or offensive matter of any kind.

The human-made or human-induced alteration of the quality of waters by waste to a degree which unreasonably affects, or has the potential to unreasonably affect, either the waters for beneficial uses or the facilities which serve these beneficial uses (California Water Code Section 13050).

An exterior appendage to a building forming a roofed or covered approach or vestibule to a doorway.

A vehicular passageway leading through a building into an interior courtyard. Also, a porch roof projecting over a driveway at the entrance to a building and sheltering those getting in or out of vehicles.

The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and as amended (California Water Code 13000 et seq.).

In existence prior to the effective date of this title.

The act or process of applying measures to sustain the existing form, integrity, and material of a building or structure or the existing form and vegetative cover of a site.

Any proposal for a new or changed use or for new construction, alteration, or enlargement of any structure, that is subject to the provisions of this title. This term also refers to any action that qualifies as a "project" as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act.

The act or process of reproducing by new construction the exact form and detail of a vanished building, structure, or object, or a part thereof, as it appeared at a specific period of time.

The act or process of returning a property to a state of utility through repair or alteration which makes possible an efficient contemporary use while preserving those portions or features of the property which are significant to its historical, architectural, and cultural values.

Compensation, money, rent, or other bargained for consideration given in return for occupancy, possession, or use of real property.

A resale restriction placed on inclusionary units by which the price of such units and income of the purchaser will be restricted in order to assure affordability and occupancy by lower and very low-income households.

See also Chapter 17.68 CMC, Use Classifications.

A wall or similar structural device used at a grade change to hold the soil on the up-hillside from slumping, sliding, or falling.

The individual or official City body identified by these regulations as having the responsibility and authority to review, and approve or disapprove the permit applications required by these regulations.

See CMC § 17.06.020 for specific rules.

An institution providing education and having curricula comparable to that required by public schools of the State of California. See also Chapter 17.68 CMC, Use Classifications.

See "Liquidation Store."

See Chapter 17.68 CMC, Use Classifications.

As provided by Coastal Act Section 30116, those identifiable and geographically bounded land and water areas of vital interest and sensitivity within the Coastal Zone, including special marine and land habitat areas, wetlands, lagoons, and estuaries as mapped and designated on Figure 2 of the Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan (Land Habitat Sensitivity Map) and archaeological sites referenced in the California Coastline and Recreation Plan or as designated by the State Historic Preservation Officer.

A line parallel to a corresponding lot line or building site boundary. The intervening space between a setback line and the corresponding lot line or building site boundary defines a required yard area where limits on site improvements may be established based on specific zone standards. See also "Yard Types."

A bushy, woody plant, usually with several permanent stems, and usually not over 10 to 15 feet high at maturity.

Any object, structure, symbol, banner, streamer, letter, number, emblem, logo, color, display, or light, or any combination thereof which is intended to or does identify, attract attention to, advertise, announce, or communicate information of any kind to the public.

Any tree listed on the City Significant Tree List as maintained by the City Forester.

A lot, parcel, leasehold, or other physical location that is in a single ownership or under unified control. See also "Building Site."

A retail store selling a specialized line of merchandise not otherwise defined including, art and architectural supplies; candles; coins and stamps; gems, rocks, and stones; telescopes; and binoculars.

A retail store offering a full range of paper products, office forms and supplies, stationery, cards, pens, pencils, and writing supplies.

A raised platform, sometimes roofed, approached by steps and located at an entrance to a house.

A publicly owned facilities operated by the City by which stormwater is collected or conveyed, including any roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, gutters, curbs, inlets, piped storm drains, pumping facilities, retention and detention basins, natural and human-made or altered drainage channels, reservoirs, and other drainage structures which are within the City and are not part of a publicly owned treatment works as defined at 40 CFR Section 122.2.

Any surface flow, runoff, and drainage consisting entirely of water from rainstorms.

A space in a building between the upper surface of any floor and either the upper surface of the next floor above, or in the case of the topmost floor, the ceiling or roof above. Those portions of a subgrade or partially subgrade living space, space used for parking, underfloor space or crawl space are counted as a story where the finished floor above such space is five feet or more above the final grade adjacent to any exterior wall around the perimeter of the building.

A vehicular accessway that affords means of access to a block or to abutting property, including avenue, place, way, drive, lane, road, and any other thoroughfare except an alley as defined in this chapter.

A stable assembly of parts. The term "structure" includes, but is not limited to, any building, deck, garage, carport, arbor, fence, wall, stairway, road, pipe, flume, conduit, siphon, aqueduct, telephone line, and electrical power transmission and distribution line.

Floor levels, crawl spaces, basements and similar areas excavated below, or partially below, existing or finished grade, whether finished or unfinished.

Any visual change, exterior design modification or addition to a building, structure, or site design, including but not limited to changes in architectural style or details, or changes in exterior materials, paving or decks that does not meet the definition of a demolition or a rebuild, or does not comply with adopted design objectives and/or design guidelines or does not qualify for track one design review.

An activity or use of limited duration that constitutes development as defined in Section 301056 of the Coastal Act and involves the placement of nonpermanent structures or involves the exclusive use of a beach, parkland, filled tidelands, water, streets, or parking area which is otherwise open and available for general public use.

See "Temporary Event."

An open, often paved area, at a single level and at grade, serving as an outdoor living area.

A period of time less than 30 consecutive days.

Any residential unit that is occupied for the purposes of sleeping, lodging, or similar reasons for a period of less than 30 consecutive days in exchange for a fee or similar consideration. These units are required to pay transient occupancy tax and are classified as a Group R-1 occupancy if the site contains more than one transient rental unit (CMC § 15.04.020(A)(16)).

A frame supporting open latticework used as a screen or a support for growing vines or plants.

A space not counted as floor area located between existing or finished grade and the finished floor level of the first floor.

Any modification initiated by, or reasonable under the control of the operator of a use that:

A large, open porch, usually roofed and partly enclosed by a railing or by support posts, often extending across the front and sides of a house.

Capable of being seen (whether or not legible) by a person of normal height and visual acuity walking or driving on a public road.

All exterior materials of a building, including wall surfaces, windows, doors, chimneys, etc. See also "Rebuilding and Substantial Alteration."

Surface watercourses and water bodies as defined at 40 CFR 122.2 including all natural waterways and definite channels and depressions in the earth that may carry water, even though such waterways may carry water only during rains and storms and may not carry stormwater at and during all times and seasons.

A soil-retaining structure exterior to a building, located at a window having a sill height lower than the adjacent ground elevation.

An unoccupied space on a building site, unoccupied and unobstructed by structures from the ground upward. Required yard dimensions shall be measured between the property line of the building site and that part of the building or structure nearest to the property line.

See "Rules of Measurement."