This chapter shall apply to all land within the Low Density Residential (R-L) zone. The purpose of the R-L zone is to provide areas that serve as a transition between the urban environment and the surrounding agriculture at a density of 0.1 to two dwellings per gross acre.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

A.

Uses shall be permitted or not permitted, conditionally permitted, administratively permitted, or temporarily permitted as prescribed in the land use table in Section 18.08.020.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

The minimum lot area shall be twenty thousand square feet, except as provided for urban lot splits under the provisions of California Government Code Section 65852.21, which allows a minimum lot size of one thousand two hundred square feet per parcel.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018; Ord. No. 529-25, § 1(Exh. A), 6-24-2025)

A.

The minimum lot frontage shall be forty feet.

B.

The minimum lot width shall be eighty feet for interior lots and ninety feet for corner lots.

C.

The minimum lot depth shall be one hundred feet for lots fronting on a local street and one hundred thirty feet for lots fronting on collector or arterial streets.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

Not more than one dwelling unit shall be allowed on each lot, unless approved as an accessory dwelling unit in accordance with Section 18.60.030.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

The maximum coverage of a lot in the R-L zone shall be forty percent.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

A.

Only permitted accessory structures shall be placed within a building setback area.

B.

The front building setback area shall be a minimum twenty-five feet from the front lot line for lots fronting a local street, and thirty-five feet from the front lot line for lots fronting a collector or arterial street.

C.

The rear building setback shall be a minimum thirty feet from the rear lot line for one-story buildings and a minimum forty feet for multi-story buildings, except as provided for duplexes and urban lot split parcels under the provisions of California Government Code Section 65852.21, which allows a minimum rear building setback of four feet.

D.

The interior side building setback area shall be a minimum ten feet from an interior side lot line for one-story buildings and a minimum fifteen feet from the interior side lot line for multi-story buildings, except as provided for duplexes and urban lot split parcels under the provisions of California Government Code Section 65852.21, which allows a minimum interior side building setback of four feet.

E.

The street side building setback area shall be a minimum twenty-five feet from a street side property line where the lot line fronts a local street, and thirty-five feet from the street side lot line where the lot line fronts a collector or arterial street, except as provided for duplexes and urban lot split parcels under the provisions of California Government Code Section 65852.21, which allows a minimum street side building setback of four feet.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018; Ord. No. 503-20, § 2(Atts. 2, 4), 10-27-2020; Ord. No. 529-25, § 1(Exh. A), 6-24-2025)

The minimum distance between structures shall be ten feet, except as provided by the building code.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

The maximum structure height shall be thirty-five feet.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

A.

The width of a driveway and any paved area shall not cumulatively exceed forty percent of the width of the lot's street frontage on which the driveway and any paved area faces. In the case of "L" or "U" shaped driveways or other configurations besides perpendicular driveways, the paved area of these driveways shall not exceed fifty percent of the front building setback area.

B.

On corner lots, the driveway shall be located on the side of the lot adjacent to the interior lot line.

C.

On key lots, the driveway shall be located on the side of the lot that is not adjacent to the rear lot line of the adjacent reverse corner lot.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

Accessory structures may be located with a required rear or side building setback area subject to all of the following:

A.

The walls shall be at least five feet from rear and side lot lines.

B.

The accessory structure shall be separated from other structures by a minimum of ten feet.

C.

Any accessory structure greater than one hundred twenty square feet shall first secure approval of a building permit.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018; Ord. No. 503-20, § 2(Atts. 2, 4), 10-27-2020)

A.

Mechanical equipment shall be located a minimum of ten feet from a side lot line that adjoins a neighboring side lot line.

B.

Above or below ground swimming pools shall be set back five feet from all lot lines.

C.

Decks, balconies, and other types of platforms with a floor height over two feet high shall be set back five feet from the rear and interior side lot lines and ten feet from the street side lot line.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

A.

Off-street parking and off-street loading facilities shall be provided on the site for each use as prescribed in Chapter 18.54.

B.

Single-family dwellings shall provide a minimum of one covered and one uncovered parking space. Other uses shall provide parking as prescribed in Chapter 18.54.

C.

Required parking spaces may not be provided in within any front, side, or rear building setback area.

D.

The exterior siding and roofing materials utilized on garages and carports shall match the design and materials of any single-family dwelling on the same lot.

E.

No recreation vehicle, including without limitation camping trailer, boat trailer, utility trailer, boat, pickup camper, motor home, dune buggy, or similar vehicle/trailer shall be stored or parked, except within an enclosed side or rear yard or within a garage or carport except if a side or rear yard is not accessible due to existing legal permanent structures. A recreational vehicle or trailer may be parked in a driveway or adjacent to a driveway if it does not create a nuisance or safety problem as determined by the director.

F.

All recreational vehicles or trailers parked in a location visible from the street are to be clean and maintained so as not to detract from the neighborhood. Also, see Chapter 10.76 of the Chowchilla Municipal Code.

G.

No recreational vehicle or trailer shall be used as a residence.

H.

All motor vehicles incapable of movement under their own power, other than in cases of emergency, shall be stored in an entirely enclosed space, garage, or carport. Vehicles with custom fitted covers may be stored in an open area when it does not create a nuisance or safety problem as determined by the director, cause complaints from neighbors, or violate any section of this code.

I.

Repair of vehicles owned by the resident of the property and storage of parts shall be within an enclosed garage, or carport if no garage exists. Repair of vehicles not owned by the resident of the property is prohibited. Vehicle repair and storage of parts are prohibited in a driveway and the front or street side building setback areas.

J.

Garages and carports are to be primarily used for the parking of four-wheeled vehicles. The use of garages or carports for general storage, recreation activities, or other uses that prevent the use of the garage or carport for the parking of at least one, four-wheeled vehicle is prohibited.

K.

Driveways shall be designed so that vehicles are not required to back out onto collector or arterial streets.

L.

No off-street parking requirements shall be imposed for duplexes or urban lot split units created under California Government Code Section 65852.21 that are either 1) located within one-half mile walking distance of either a high-quality transit corridor, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 21155 of the Public Resources Code, or a major transit stop, as defined in Section 21064.3 of the Public Resources Code, or 2) located within one block of a car share vehicle location.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018; Ord. No. 529-25, § 1(Exh. A), 6-24-2025)

There is no open space requirement in the R-L zone.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

A.

Landscaping shall be provided for each use as prescribed in Chapter 18.52 standards.

B.

Except for driveways and approved parking areas, all yard areas and setback areas visible from the street(s) shall be landscaped with live plant materials and ornamentation common to the Chowchilla area or up to one hundred percent of the yard and setback area may be landscaped with artificial turf and other permeable surfaces.

C.

Required landscaping is to be installed prior to occupancy of the residence, apartment, or office and continually maintained pursuant to Chapter 18.52. The director may grant an exception to this section to avoid planting in inclement weather.

D.

Landscaped areas are not to be used or converted to parking areas or any other use which results in the damage or removal of the landscaping. However, the widening of an existing paved driveway perpendicular to the street is permitted if the total width of the existing paving and the new paving does not exceed forty percent of the lot frontage along the street.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

Fences and walls shall be provided on the site for each use in accordance with Sections 18.50.110 and 18.50.120.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

Signs placed in the R-L zones shall be subject to the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 18.56.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)

Structures and the use of structures or land shall be subject to the requirements and standards prescribed in Chapter 18.50.

(Ord. No. 491-18, § 2(Exh. A), 10-9-2018)