Centralia City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 20
04 GENERAL PROVISIONS 1
§ 20.04.010 Title.
This title shall be known as the zoning ordinance of the city of Centralia.
(Ord. 2024 § 1 (part), 1999; Ord. 2209 § 2 (part), 2008)
§ 20.04.020 Intent.
It is the intent of this title to:
A.
Facilitate orderly growth and development of the city of Centralia, consistent with the policies, goals and objectives of the Centralia comprehensive plan;
B.
Protect the health and general welfare of the city's residents;
C.
Promote sound economic development and protect property values;
D.
Preserve and protect vital aspects of the natural environment;
E.
Designate land use districts and provide for compatibility between the several districts;
F.
Provide flexible regulations and controls for the intensity and character of land use;
G.
Provide for the administration and enforcement of these regulations. As the public health, safety and general welfare is superior to the interests and pecuniary gains of the individual, the intent of this title may limit the use of property and prevent its most profitable gain. If some reasonable use of property is allowed by this title, the effect is not confiscatory and is a proper exercise of police power.
(Ord. 2024 § 1 (part), 1999; Ord. 2209 § 2 (part), 2008)
§ 20.04.030 Interpretation.
Where the conditions imposed by any provision of this title upon the use of land or building or upon the size, location, coverage or height of buildings are either more restrictive or less restrictive than comparable conditions imposed by any other provisions of this title or of any other ordinance, resolution or regulation, the provisions which are more restrictive shall govern.
(Ord. 2024 § 1 (part), 1999; Ord. 2209 § 2 (part), 2008)
§ 20.04.040 Exemptions.
A.
The following structures and their uses shall be exempt from the regulations of this title:
1.
Wires, cables, conduits, vaults, laterals, pipes, mains, valves or other similar equipment for the distribution to consumers of telephone or other communications, electricity, gas or water or the collection of sewage, or surface or subsurface water operated or maintained by a governmental entity or a public utility or other city-franchised utilities including customary meter pedestals, telephone pedestals, distribution transformers and temporary utility facilities required during building construction, whether any such facility is located underground or aboveground; but only when such facilities are located in a street right-of-way or in a street easement less than twenty-five feet in width. This exemption shall not include any substation located on or above the surface of the ground or any such distribution facility located in an easement of twenty-five feet or more in width, which shall be regulated by the provisions of this chapter;
2.
Railroad tracks, signal bridges and similar facilities and equipment located on a railroad right-of-way, and maintenance repair work on such facilities and equipment listed as conditional uses.
B.
The enforcing officer may exempt the following from the minimum setback requirements set forth in this title when the subjects are located outside the public right-of-way and are obviously intended to serve the public interest: telephone booths and pedestals, utility equipment, substations, mail boxes, bus shelters, public bicycle shelters or any other similar structure or device.
(Ord. 2024 § 1 (part), 1999; Ord. 2209 § 2 (part), 2008; Ord. 2445 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2020)
§ 20.04.050 Permitted intrusions into required yards.
A.
Cornices, eaves and other similar architectural features may project from the foundation or wall into any minimum yard setback requirement a maximum distance of two feet.
B.
Open, unwalled and uncovered steps or ramps, not more than four feet in height, may extend into the required front or rear yard setback requirement not more than five feet.
C.
Decks may be permitted to encroach into all residential district rear yard setbacks, provided a minimum setback of fifteen feet is retained and the deck is not more than thirty inches above existing natural grade, measured at deck floor from the highest point. In no case shall a deck be constructed in a required side yard.
D.
Awnings and marquees may be allowed within required front yards and over sidewalks or public right-of-way in commercial and industrial zones if all the following requirements are satisfied:
1.
The building official and the city engineer or their designees determine that the placement of the awning or marquee within the setback areas or over the public sidewalk does not impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic flow or create any other type of hazard to the public;
2.
The awning or marquee is specifically designed to benefit pedestrians by providing shelter and creating a friendlier pedestrian environment;
3.
The development of an awning or a marquee within the setback area or over public sidewalk is consistent with the goals of the Centralia comprehensive plan, standards of the specific zone in which it is proposed to be located and is consistent with the character of the surrounding neighborhood;
4.
Uniform building codes and uniform fire codes are satisfied for the structure and location.
(Ord. 2024 § 1 (part), 1999; Ord. 2209 § 2 (part), 2008)
§ 20.04.060 Vision clearance area.
Vision clearance areas are required for all fences, walls, hedges or vegetation as per CMC § 18.10.030, Design and Development Guidelines manual.
(Formerly 20.04.070; Ord. 2024 § 1 (part), 1999; Ord. 2209 § 2 (part), 2008; Ord. 2354 § 1, 2015)
§ 20.04.070 Chickens, ducks and other fowl, domestic and wild.
A.
Lots ten thousand eight hundred ninety square feet or less are allowed up to five ducks or female chickens. Lots greater than ten thousand eight hundred ninety square feet are allowed one additional duck or female chicken for every additional one thousand square feet of lot area up to a maximum number of twenty.
B.
Ducks and female chickens shall be confined within a suitably fenced area large enough for appropriate exercise.
C.
Suitable sanitary structures (coops) shall be provided and must be designed to protect the ducks and female chickens on all sides from weather, predators and to prevent rodents.
D.
Roosters, geese and other fowl and/or birds, domestic or wild, are prohibited.
E.
Violation of this section shall be declared to be an infraction. The penalty for any infraction specified in this section shall be not more than one hundred nineteen dollars for the first violation, one hundred sixty-nine dollars for the second infraction committed within one year, and two hundred sixty-nine dollars for the third and subsequent infractions committed within one year. Each and every day or portion thereof in which an infraction is committed shall constitute a separate and distinct infraction.
(Ord. 2368 § 2, 2016; Ord. 2382 § 1, 2017)
§ 20.04.080 Dogs, cats, and farm or livestock animals.
A.
Animals are permitted in all zoning districts with the following regulations:
2.
Household Animals as Defined as Dogs and Cats.
a.
Four per lot or household – no more than four dogs or cats, or a combination thereof, which are four months of age or older shall be kept at any residence or commercial establishment at any time.
b.
This provision shall not apply to permitted kennels, grooming parlors, or veterinary clinics.
c.
This section shall not apply to the birth of puppies or kittens in a situation which is not an intentional commercial breeding business so long as the number of dogs or cats is reduced down to four or less within three months from the birth of the puppies or kittens.
3.
Farm or Livestock Animals.
b.
Minimum lot size: minimum of at least one-half acre of unencumbered pasture and free of residential structures except for an accessory structure/animal barn. A residential home shall not be included and must be set back as per the zoning standards.
c.
Sheep, Goats, Pigs, Llamas, Miniature Horses, and Similar Medium-Sized Animals.
i.
Animals permitted two per one-half acre.
e.
Animals Permitted per One-Half Acre. The maximum number of animals is not cumulative. A maximum of one species precludes any other species. For example, on one-half acre, one horse may be kept, or two sheep, but one horse and two sheep are not allowed.
f.
Barn or Outbuildings. All barn buildings must adhere to Centralia city building codes.
g.
Waste Management. Animal owners shall engage in effective waste management. Animal waste may not be kept or stockpiled in a manner that attracts pests or rodents, and owners may not keep animal waste in a manner that produces unreasonable odor. Acceptable methods of waste management include chemical treatment off-site disposal, composting, or incorporation of waste into soil. Nothing in this section excuses any person from compliance with any local, state, or federal law or regulation.
h.
Chemical Use. Chemicals that threaten Centralia's critical aquifer water supply or are incompatible with common residential uses, pets, and landscaping shall be prohibited.
i.
Feed. All animal feeds that attract pests and rodents must be stored and managed in such a way as to minimize or eliminate such nuisances.
j.
Noise. Animals that contribute unusually excessive noise, such as crowing, braying or barking, during late night or early morning hours must be housed in such a manner as to minimize their effects on neighbors.
k.
All animals shall be provided a barn or covering; large animals such as horses, livestock, sheep and goats shall have access to pasture or an exercise area free of excessive mud in wet weather.
4.
Honey Beekeeping (Apiary).
a.
Minimum lot size: minimum of at least one-half acre of unencumbered pasture and free of residential structures except for an accessory structure/animal barn. A residential home shall not be included and must be set back as per the zoning standards.
b.
No more than two hives per lot are allowed. For the purposes of counting the total number of outdoor animals, each hive shall count as one animal.
c.
Colonies shall be maintained in small movable frame hives.
d.
Adequate space shall be maintained in the hives to prevent overcrowding and swarming.
e.
Colonies shall be requeened with a young hybrid queen annually, or as often as necessary to prevent swarming or aggressive behavior.
g.
Hives shall not be located within twenty-five feet of any property line, except when there is a solid fence at least six feet high separating the hive from the property line, extending at least twenty feet from the hive along the property line in both directions, the hives can be within ten feet.
h.
Hives are prohibited between the primary street frontage and the residence.
i.
Bees living in trees, buildings or any other space (except in movable frame hives), abandoned colonies or diseased bees shall constitute a public nuisance and shall be removed.
(Ord. 2445 §§ 1, 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2020)