Penthouses or roof structures for the housing of elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building; fire or parapet walls, skylights, towers, roof signs, flagpoles, chimneys, smokestacks, wireless masts and similar structures may be erected above the height limits prescribed by this title.

(Ord. 177 § 2(part), 1966: prior code § 9380).

Except as provided in this chapter, every required yard shall be open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky. No yard or space provided for a building, for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this title, shall be considered as providing a yard or open space on any adjoining property or on a building site whereon a building is to be erected.

(Ord. 177 § 2(part), 1966: prior code § 9381).

When the common boundary line separating two contiguous lots is covered by a building or permitted group of buildings, such lots shall constitute a single lot for a building site and the yard spaces as required by this title shall apply to the same boundary line.

(Ord. 177 § 2 (part), 1966: prior code § 9382).

The planning commission may, by resolution, adopt a formula or establish standard practices by which to determine an appropriate and practical modification of required yards in any zones where geometric shape and dimensions and topography are such as to make the literal application of such required yards impractical. After the adoption of such formula or standard practices, the same shall be applied administratively.

(Ord. 177 § 2(part), 1966: prior code § 9383).

All corner lots shall maintain, for safety vision purposes, a triangular area, one angle of which shall be formed by the front and side lot lines separating the lot from the streets, and the sides of such triangle forming the corner angle shall each be fifteen feet in length, measured from the aforementioned angle. The third side of said triangle shall be a straight line connecting the last two mentioned points which are distant fifteen feet from the intersection of the front and side lot lines, and within the area comprising said triangle, no tree, fence, shrub or other physical obstruction higher than forty-two inches above the established grade shall be permitted.

(Ord. 177 § 2(part), 1966: prior code § 9384).

Front and side yard requirements shall not be applicable to dwellings and apartments erected above stores when such uses are both permitted in single zone.

(Ord. 177 § 2(part), 1966: prior code § 9385).

The following intrusions may project into any required yard area, but in no case shall such intrusions extend more than thirty inches into such required yards, except as follows:

A.

Cornices, eaves, belt courses, sills, buttresses or other similar architectural features;

B.

Fireplace structures;

C.

Stairways, balconies and fire escapes;

D.

Uncovered porches and platforms which do not extend above the floor level of the first floor; provided, that they may extend five feet into the front yard; covered patios may extend five feet into rear yard areas;

E.

Planting boxes or masonry planters not exceeding thirty-six inches in height;

F.

Guardrailings for safety protection around ramps.

(Ord. 177 § 2(part), 1966: prior code § 9386).

A.

In any R zone, a wall, fence or hedge thirty-six inches in height may be located and maintained on any part of a lot. On an interior lot, a wall, fence or hedge, not more than six feet in height, may be located anywhere on the lot except in those areas comprising the required front yard. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to retaining walls.

B.

Where a retaining wall protects a cut below the natural grade, and is located on the line separating lots, such retaining wall may be topped by a fence, wall or hedge of the same height that would otherwise be permitted at the location if no retaining wall existed. Where a retaining wall contains a fill, the height of the retaining wall built to retain the fill shall be considered as contributing to the permissible height of a fence, solid wall or hedge; provided, that in any event a protective fence or wall not more than thirty-six inches in height may be erected at the top of the retaining wall.

(Ord. 177 § 2(part), 1966: prior code § 9387).

Shrubs, flowers, plants and hedges not more than thirty-six inches in height, and trees shall be permitted in any required front yard.

(Ord. 177 § 2(part), 1966: prior code § 9388).

The depth of a required front yard on lots facing directly upon the arc of a cul-de-sac shall be measured on an arc parallel to the front property lines comprising the arc of the cul-de-sac and being a distance therefrom equal to one- half of the required front yard depth as prescribed for the zone. This modified front yard shall extend around the circumference of the cul-de-sac only to the points at which the rear lines of the required front yard, on the portions of the street not located on the cul-de-sac, extended, intersects the arc representing the rear line of the modified required front yard.

(Ord. 177 § 2(part), 1966: prior code § 9389).

No building permit shall be issued for any building or structure to be erected on any lot in any zone which is less than five thousand square feet in lot area.

(Ord. 177 § 2(part), 1966: prior code § 9390).

The following shall be observed where landscaping is required by the provisions of the zoning code, as to any property zoned C-M, M-1, or M-2. (For Q zone regulations, refer to Chapter 17.60.)

A.

Pavement. Pavement shall be installed in the required landscaping areas only where necessary to provide pedestrian and vehicular access to structures and parking areas on the lot. The pavement shall be constructed of asphalt or concrete and maintained in accordance with city standards. Such pavement shall occupy no more than twenty percent of any required landscaped area.

B.

General. Areas required to be landscaped shall be maintained with ground cover, shrubs and trees, as follows:

1.

Ground cover, consisting of the various species of ivy or ice plant shall be planted at a maximum of fourteen inches on center; provided, that variegated ivy shall not be permitted, and all other types of ivy shall be subject to approval of the city engineer.

2.

Colored aggregate and other landscaping materials, such as redwood bark, may be substituted for ground cover.

3.

Not less than twenty percent of the area required to be landscaped shall be planted with trees and shrubs. The type of species shall be compatible with the lot size and building size and consistent with good landscaping practice.

4.

The areas required to be landscaped by Sections 17.48.020(C), 17.52.060 and 17.56.060, shall be planted with trees and shrubs.

C.

Sprinkler System. A sprinkler system adequate to irrigate the landscaped areas shall be installed in accordance with the plumbing code of the city.

D.

Street Parkway. Parkways between curblines and the front property lines shall be landscaped in accordance with this section and compatible with the landscaping on the lot.

E.

Plans. All plans for landscaping and sprinklers shall be submitted to and approved by the city engineer prior to issuance of any building permit for any structure on the same lot. Such landscaping and sprinklers shall be installed prior to final inspection approval of the building permit work.

(Ord. 250 § 1, 1971: prior code § 9391).

There is established a minimum of a twenty-foot front yard setback from public or private streets for any construction in any "R," "C" or "M" zone of the city; provided, that said minimum shall be increased:

A.

In any zone in which a greater setback is prescribed by this zoning title;

B.

By the CRA as to any land included within the CRA when set as a part of any project plan or developer agreement.

(Ord. 426 § 1, 1988).

The following special rules shall apply to the placement of antennae in all zones of the city:

A.

A radio, television or other type of reception antenna with a diameter of four feet or more shall be considered a structure in the context of building and safety code and shall require a building permit for installation.

B.

Such an antenna shall not be:

1.

Roof-mounted (if it is a satellite dish antenna);

2.

Located in a front yard area;

3.

Located in a side yard area;

4.

Located where it would be visible from the street in the front or side of the building;

5.

Roof-mounted antennas, if after being granted through a variance, shall require a six-foot-high minimum screen/shield.

C.

Ground-mounted antennas shall conform to the setback and other requirements as accessory buildings within the respective use zones. The maximum height of such structure shall not be more than ten feet.

D.

Relief from the requirements of this section may be provided by a variance.

(Ord. 427 §1, 1988)