Dinuba City Zoning Code
17.19 RM
Zones Multiple-Family Residential
17.19.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the RM districts is to provide living areas within Dinuba where development is consistent with the Dinuba general plan and is limited to medium and high density areas of multifamily dwellings, along with other uses suitable to the intent of the zone, and where regulations are designed to promote the following:
A. A suitable environment for family life, recognizing that a significant part of the multifamily population is adult, including senior citizens;
B. New multifamily development that integrates well into the surrounding neighborhood and that is designed to promote a welcoming, pedestrian-friendly environment;
C. Space for community facilities, including parks, schools, churches and other facilities that will complement the residential environment;
D. Attractive and unique development projects that encompass well-designed buildings with ample landscape and off-street parking;
E. Housing that is affordable to low- and moderate-income households and to households that have special housing needs. (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)
17.19.020 Subdistricts.
In order to adequately plan for multifamily development at various densities, the following subdistricts are established:
RM-1.5 | Medium-High Density Multifamily Residential (one unit per 1,500 square feet of lot area) |
RM-2 | Medium Density Multifamily Residential (one unit per 2,000 square feet of lot area) |
RM-3 | Low Density Multifamily Residential (one unit per 3,000 square feet of lot area) |
(Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)
17.19.030 Permitted uses.
Permitted uses and conditionally permitted uses in the RM zones are listed in Chapter 17.21 (Permitted Uses in Residential and Public Zones). (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)
17.19.040 Site plan review.
No multifamily uses may be established on any lot or site in this district until a site plan has been submitted and approved consistent with Chapter 17.55 (Site Plan Review). (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)
17.19.050 Design guidelines.
The city has adopted design guidelines within a separate document. Applicants are encouraged to review and implement recommendations of the design guidelines.
Projects that are subject to processing under state law (SB 35 and SB 330) are subject to all objective development standards contained in the city’s application packet for subject projects (see Section 17.19.070). (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)
17.19.060 Development standards (also illustrated in Exhibit 19-1).
A. The following establishes zoning standards for the development of uses in the RM zones, including:
1. Density (the number of units allowed on a given site).
2. Lot size, width and depth.
3. Building height.
4. Setbacks.
5. Distance between buildings.
6. Outdoor recreational areas.
7. Porches.
8. Fences.
9. Landscaping.
10. Parking.
11. Signs.
B. Unit Density. The maximum unit densities for Dinuba’s multifamily residential districts are as follows:
District | Maximum Unit Density |
|---|---|
RM-1.5 | One dwelling per 1,500 square feet of lot area. Residential development on parcels larger than 3/4 acre shall have a minimum density of 20 units per acre to ensure affordability, consistent with state affordability standards, unless it can be demonstrated that affordability (to state of California standards) can be achieved with a lesser density. |
RM-2 | One dwelling per 2,000 square feet of lot area |
RM-3 | One dwelling per 3,000 square feet of lot area |
1. Density Bonus. The purpose of a density bonus is to encourage the private sector to construct affordable housing for “target households” as defined by the California Government Code. A density bonus can be approved by Farmersville if a private sector housing developer agrees to construct a certain percentage of units for target households and agrees to maintain their affordability for a specific time period, pursuant to state density bonus law or California Government Code Sections 65915 through 65917.5. All density bonus applications will be reviewed and processed pursuant to the applicable laws in place at the time the request is received.
C. Lot Frontage, Depth and Area.
1. The minimum lot frontage for newly established lots in all multifamily residential zones is as follows:
a. Fifty feet, all zones. Lots on cul-de-sacs or curve-frontage lots must have a minimum width of forty feet at the street right-of-way.
2. The minimum lot depth for newly established lots in all multifamily residential zones is as follows:
a. One hundred feet.
3. The minimum area of all newly created lots for all multifamily residential zones is as follows:
a. Seven thousand square feet, minimum.
D. Building Height. The maximum height of all structures shall be thirty-five feet (two stories); the maximum height of accessory structures shall be twelve feet.
E. Lot Coverage.
District | Coverage |
|---|---|
RM-1.5 | 60 percent, maximum |
RM-2 | 55 percent, maximum |
RM-3 | 50 percent, maximum |
Exhibit 19-1: Selected Development Standards in the RM Zones
F. Yard Requirements (See Table 19-1). Yard requirements (building setbacks) for structures in all multifamily residential zones shall be as follows:
Front yard:
| 15 feet, minimum; however, a garage or carport with driveway opening directly to the street must be set back at least 20 feet behind the sidewalk.(1)
|
Side yards: |
|
Interior side yard: | Five feet, minimum plus five feet for additional story.(1)
|
Corner lot street side: | 10 feet, minimum, except a garage or carport with driveway opening directly to the street must be set back at least 20 feet behind the sidewalk.(1)
|
Reverse corner lot, street side: | 15 feet, minimum, except a garage or carport with driveway opening directly to the street must be set back at least 20 feet behind the sidewalk.(1)
|
Rear yard: | 10 feet, minimum plus 10 feet per additional story.(1)
|
Special requirements: (1) Regardless of all other setback requirements, any building over one story must be set back at least 50 feet from any lot zoned R-1 or R-A. (2) Detached accessory structures no taller than 12 feet may have a zero rear or side yard setback if set back behind the front yard setback, and behind the side yard setback on the street side yard of a corner lot or reverse corner lot. (3) A detached accessory dwelling unit no higher than 12 feet may be set back a minimum of four feet from a rear or interior side property line, provided the structure is behind the front yard setback. (4) Architectural features, including eaves, sills, chimneys, cornices, and bay windows may extend up to 30 inches into a required side yard. (5) No building shall be located closer than five feet to an alley. (6) Portable carports are prohibited between a dwelling and any street abutting the lot. | |
G. Minimum Distance Between Buildings on the Same Lot. The minimum distance between a structure used for human habitation and another structure (such as another dwelling, detached garage, carport, or storage shed, etc.) shall be ten feet.
H. Building Orientation and Porch Requirements (See Also Exhibit 19-2). For sites abutting roadways that are designated by the circulation element of the Dinuba general plan as a “local” or “collector” street, the multifamily project shall be designed with dwellings abutting (and facing) the street, and parking to the rear. Further, at least fifty percent of the ground floor units abutting the street shall feature a usable covered porch measuring at least eight feet wide and six feet deep.
Exhibit 19-2: Front Orientation and Porch Requirement
Ground floor units along streets shall be oriented to face the street with the front door opening onto a usable porch. Parking is to the rear.
(Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)
17.19.070 Objective design standards.
For multifamily development projects seeking approval through the SB 35 and SB 333 procedures, objective design standards apply and these can be found in the application form for these types of projects. (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)
17.19.080 Fences, walls and hedges (see Exhibit 19-3).
A. Front Yards. Fences, walls and hedges in a required front yard setback area shall not exceed four feet in height, and the fence must be at least fifty percent open “see-through” (such as wrought-iron) from top to bottom.
B. Rear and Side Yards. Fences, walls, and hedges in the area behind the required front yard setback shall not exceed seven feet in height; however, fencing on corner lots within the street side yard is subject to the requirements in subsection (C) of this section.
C. Fences on the Street Side Yards of Corner Lots and Reverse Corner Lots.
1. Regular Corner Lots. Fences, walls and hedges within the required side yard setback area along the street side yard of a corner lot shall not exceed seven feet in height, provided the fence is set back at least five feet behind the sidewalk or property line, whichever distance is greater.
2. Reverse Corner Lots. Fences, walls and hedges within the required side yard setback area along the street side yard of a reverse corner lot shall not exceed four feet in height.
D. Corner Safety Visibility Triangle.
1. Street Intersection. No fencing higher than three feet shall be placed in the corner area of a lot formed by a triangle with its right angle at corner of the lot adjacent to the street intersection and right angle sides measuring thirty feet long.
2. Driveway/Street Intersection. No fencing higher than three feet shall be placed in triangular areas situated where a driveway intersects a street. The affected area is defined as a triangle where the right angle corner is set at the point where the driveway intersects the property line, and the right angle sides measure ten feet long.
E. Materials such as razor wire and barbed wire are prohibited in residential zones (except for temporary construction yards associated with a development project).
F. For nonresidential uses, the fencing standards of Chapter 17.25 (C-1 Zone (Neighborhood Commercial)) shall apply. (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)
17.19.090 Off-street parking and loading facilities.
A. For multifamily dwellings, a minimum of one and one-half on-site parking stalls per dwelling shall be provided on site, plus one guest space per five dwelling units. One stall per unit shall be covered with a carport or garage. All parking spaces, driveways and parking lots shall have a concrete or asphalt surface, consistent with the Dinuba improvement standards.
Parking lots shall be designed to preclude backing of vehicles onto public streets.
B. Nonresidential uses in this district shall provide off-street parking consistent with Chapter 17.49 (Auto and Bicycle Parking and Loading). (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)
17.19.100 Landscaping and irrigation.
Landscaping and irrigation improvements shall be installed in all setback and open space areas that are not otherwise occupied by improvements. All landscaping and irrigation shall be consistent with Chapter 17.47 (Landscaping and Irrigation) and the Dinuba landscape design guidelines.
Exhibit 19-3: Fencing Standards Shown on Typical Lots
(Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)
17.19.110 Open space.
At least five percent of the subject site shall be improved with landscaping and recreational facilities. Required setback areas adjacent to public streets shall not be counted toward the required five percent open space area, nor shall parking and vehicle maneuvering areas. Shared open space can include parks, playgrounds, sports courts, swimming pools, gardens, and covered patios or gazebos. The calculated space shall not include enclosed meeting or community rooms. (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)
17.19.120 Signs.
Signs shall be consistent with the requirements detailed in Chapter 17.51 (Signs and Advertising). (Ord. 2025-01 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2025)