Except as hereinafter provided, that certain zoning ordinance of the county of Los Angeles, known as Ordinance No. 1494, as amended, and in full force and effect on May 7, 1979, is adopted as the zoning ordinance of the city of Lancaster, to provide for the creation within the city of zones and prescribing area requirements and classes of uses of buildings, structures, improvements and premises in the zones referred to therein.

Three copies of the Los Angeles County zoning ordinance have been deposited in the office of the city clerk of the city of Lancaster and shall be at all times maintained by the clerk for the use and examination by the public.

(Prior code § 9-1.1)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1130, § 4(Exh. A), adopted May 27, 2025, repealed § 17.04.020, which pertained to substitution of certain terms and derived from Prior code § 9-1.2.

Whenever in Ordinance No. 1494 reference is made to the unincorporated area of the county of Los Angeles, such area shall be deemed to be the area included within the boundaries of the city of Lancaster.

(Prior code § 9-1.3)

This chapter is adopted as a temporary interim zoning ordinance. The city planning commission and the city attorney are directed to prepare or cause to be prepared a zoning ordinance to be presented to the city council for its adoption. Until such ordinance can be prepared and adopted, no building permit or other permit shall be issued by any officer of the city for any building, structure or use of any real property in the city, which building, structure or use is or would be in conflict with or in violation of said zoning ordinance of the county of Los Angeles, as it was in effect and applicable to that area of said county now incorporated and known as the city of Lancaster on the date immediately preceding the date of incorporation of said city, or as the same may have been amended between said date of incorporation and May 7, 1979, or as the same may hereafter be amended by this city council. Any permit issued contrary to the provisions of this ordinance shall be void. There is no intent to alter or amend any other amendments adopted by the city council to the zoning ordinance from date of incorporation.

(Prior code § 9-1.4)

Due to the conditions referred to in Section 17.04.040, the city council further adopts as a temporary interim zoning map for the city, the zoning map for the county of Los Angeles which has until the incorporation of this city governed the zoning of the area within the city. The zoning shown on said map of all property formerly in the county and now within the city shall be, and is declared to be, the zoning of such property now that it is within the city, and governed according to classification by the zoning ordinance of the county of Los Angeles as referred to in Section 17.04.040.

(Prior code § 9-1.5)

The council further adopts the master plan of highways of the county of Los Angeles, insofar as it affected the area now within the city of Lancaster before incorporation, the intention of this section being that the said master plan shall have the same effect on the area as it did before incorporation. The city clerk is directed to keep on file in his office for use by the public 3 copies of the master plan of the highways of Los Angeles County.

(Prior code § 9-1.6)

All variances, special permits, conditional use permits, exceptions and similar permits granted by the regional planning commission or the board of supervisors of Los Angeles County and validly in effect on the date of incorporation of the city of Lancaster, are approved, ratified and confirmed as to the entire premises to which the same relate with the same force and effect as if the same were reissued as of said date of incorporation in accordance with the provisions thereof.

(Prior code § 9-1.7)

This section is enacted pursuant to Section 65854 of the Government Code of the state of California.

The convenience, health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the city of Lancaster are served by amending Chapter 6, Article 3, Section 631 of the zoning ordinance (Section 17.36.020 of this code) to provide for a minimum 10-day notification of public hearing prior to any such hearing.

(Prior code § 9-1.10)

This title shall be known as, and may be cited as "The Zoning Ordinance of the City of Lancaster."

(Prior zoning ord. § 100.1)

In order to implement the adopted city general plan and pertinent goals, objectives, policies, and programs thereof pursuant to Chapters 3 and 4 of Title 7 of the Government Code, the Planning Law, or any statutes superseding those chapters; to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare of the visitors to and residents of the city; to regulate the use of buildings, structures, and land for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional purposes; to regulate location, height, bulk, and area covered by buildings and structures; and to control lot size, yards, intensity of land use, signs and off-street parking, the incorporated area of the city is divided into the following zones:

R Zones—Residential

RR Zone—Rural Residential

SRR Zone—Semirural Residential

R Zone—General Residential

MDR Zone—Moderate Density Residential

HDR Zone—High Density Residential

MHP Zone—Mobilehome Park

C Zone—General Commercial

CPD Zone—Commercial Planned Development

H Zone—Hospital

OP Zone—Office Professional

I Zones—Industrial

LI Zone—Light Industrial

HI Zone—Heavy Industrial

O Zone—Open Space

SP Zone—Specific Plan

P Zone—Public Use

MU Zones—Mixed Use

MU-N—Mixed Use-Neighborhood

MU-C—Mixed Use-Commercial

MU-E—Mixed Use-Employment

MU-TOD—Mixed Use-Transit Oriented Development

(Ord. 743.1 § 2, 1998; Ord. 743 § 2, 1998; Ord. 651 § 1, 1993; Ord. 647 § 1, 1993; prior zoning ord. § 101)

(Ord. No. 945, § 2, 7-13-2010; Ord. No. 1106, § 4(Exh. A), 10-10-2023)

Zone ( ) -VM (Vegetative Management)—For every zone listed in Section 17.04.100 an additional zone designated by the symbol -VM in combination with the respective zoning symbol in Section 17.04.100 is established.

(Prior zoning ord. § 101.3)

It is declared that in the creation of the respective zones set forth in this title, the city council has given due consideration to the suitability of each such zone created for the particular uses contained therein, the area requirements, density of land occupancy and the necessary, proper and comprehensive groupings and arrangements of industry, commerce, and the population of the city in accordance with the adopted general plan of the city.

(Prior zoning ord. § 102)

Any reference to an ordinance or state statute shall mean that ordinance or statute as amended from time to time.

(Prior zoning ord. § 103)

In interpreting and applying the provisions of this title, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare.

(Prior zoning ord. § 105)

The provisions of the ordinance codified in this title shall not be deemed or construed to repeal, amend, modify, alter or change any other ordinance or any part thereof not specifically repealed, amended, modified, altered or changed herein, except in such particulars or matters as this title is more restrictive than such other ordinances or part thereof; and that in all particulars wherein this title is not more restrictive each such other ordinance shall continue and shall be in full force and effect.

(Prior zoning ord. § 106)

Whenever a power is granted to, or a duty imposed upon, a public officer by this title, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by the commission, a deputy of the officer or a person authorized pursuant to law or ordinance by the officer, unless this title expressly provides otherwise.

(Prior zoning ord. § 107)

Whenever by ordinance an administrative power is granted to, or an administrative duty imposed upon the commission, the commission may instruct the director to exercise such administrative power or perform such administrative duty. The director shall exercise all such powers, and perform all such duties as he is instructed to do by the commission.

(Prior zoning ord. § 107.5)

The present tense includes the past and future tenses, and the future the present.

(Prior zoning ord. § 109)

The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter.

(Prior zoning ord. § 110)

The singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular.

(Prior zoning ord. § 111)

If any provisions of this title, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the title, and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

(Prior zoning ord. § 112)

Every person violating any provision of this title or any entitlement, permit, license, or exception granted hereunder is guilty of a violation of this code as specified in Chapter 1.12 of this code.

(Ord. 711 § 2, 1995: prior zoning ord. § 113)

A.

In determining compliance with the provisions of this title as it applies to the uses enumerated in the various zones, each principal use shall be considered a separate use of land provided:

1.

The accessory uses, buildings and structures shall be deemed an integral part of each principal use; and

2.

That more than one principal use may be placed on a single lot or parcel of land where not in conflict with other provisions of this title.

B.

The director shall determine whether a use, building or structure may be considered accessory pursuant to the definitions contained in this title provided, however, that where disagreement arises between said director and an applicant, the commission shall make such determination.

(Prior zoning ord. § 114)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1019, § 3, adopted February 28, 2017, repealed § 17.04.235, which pertained to medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivation and delivery, and derived from Ord. No. 1012, § 1, adopted February 9, 2016.

Unless otherwise provided in this title, the definitions established in this section shall apply wherever such terms are used in this title, whether or not such terms are capitalized. Note: Definitions which are found in Title 16 also apply to the same terms as they are used within this title.

"Accessory building or structure" means a detached subordinate building or structure, the use of which is customarily incidental to that of the main building or to the main use of the land, and which is located in the same or a less restrictive zone and on the same lot or parcel of land with the main building or use.

"Accessory dwelling unit (ADU)" shall have the meaning in subsection 17.41.012.A.

"Accessory dwelling unit, junior (JADU)" shall have the meaning in subsection 17.41.012.E.

"Accessory use" means a use customarily incidental to, related and clearly subordinate to a principal use established on the same lot or parcel of land, which accessory use does not alter said principal use nor serve property other than the lot or parcel of land on which the principal use is located.

"Adjacent" means 2 or more lots or parcels of land either adjoining or separated only by an alley, street, highway or recorded easement.

"Adjoining" means 2 or more lots or parcels of land sharing a common boundary line, or 2 or more objects in contact with each other. Lots or parcels of land which touch at corners only shall not be deemed adjoining. "Abut" or "abutting" and "contiguous" mean the same as adjoining.

"Adult" means a person who is 18 years of age or older.

"Affordability" means the economic feasibility to construct lower-income housing in the proposed development.

"Affordable housing" means housing as defined in Section 65589.5(h)(2) of the Health and Safety Code.

"Aircraft" means any contrivance, now known or hereafter invented, for use or designed for navigation of or flight in the air.

"Airport" means any area of land or water which is used or intended to be used for the landing and taking off of aircraft and any appurtenant areas used or intended to be used for airport buildings or other airport facilities or rights-of-way, together with all airport buildings and facilities located thereon. Airport includes heliport, helistop and landing strip.

"Alternative fuel" means biological materials, coal-derived liquids, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, methanol, natural gas, propane and any other fuel that the Secretary of Energy finds to be substantially not petroleum and which would yield substantial energy security benefits and substantial environmental benefits. Reformulated gasoline or other fuel derived from crude oil is not considered an alternative fuel. (From Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992).

"Alternative fuel vehicle" means motor vehicles that run on fuels other than petroleum-based fuels. As defined by the National Energy Policy Act (EPACT), this excludes reformulated gasoline as an alternative fuel.

"Amphitheater" means unroofed or partially enclosed building or structure used for public assembly and/or entertainment including sports events, theatrical performances, concerts and recitals, circuses, stock shows and conventions. "Amphitheater" shall include stadium, sports arena and outdoor theater, but shall not include an entertainment park or its accessory buildings or structures.

"Antenna" means a device used in wireless communications which radiates and/or receives commercial cellular, personal communication service, and/or data radio signals. "Antenna" shall not include any satellite dish antenna or any antenna utilized for amateur radio, citizens band radio, television, AM/FM, or shortwave radio reception purposes.

"Apartment, bachelor" means a dwelling unit in an apartment house, that combines sleeping, living, cooking and dining facilities into one habitable room. "Light housekeeping room" shall mean the same as bachelor apartment.

"Apartment, efficiency" means a dwelling unit in an apartment house, that combines sleeping, living, cooking and dining facilities into 2 habitable rooms, one of which shall be a kitchen. "Single apartment" and "efficiency living unit" mean the same as efficiency apartment.

"Apartment, one-bedroom" means a dwelling unit in an apartment house, that contains a maximum of 3 habitable rooms, one of which shall be a kitchen.

"Apartment, two or more bedroom" means a dwelling unit in an apartment house that contains more than 3 habitable rooms.

"Area, net" means the total area within the lot lines of a lot or parcel of land after public street easements or other areas to be dedicated or reserved for public uses are deducted from such lot or parcel. Does not include trails easement, or landscape easement for lots of less than 7,000 square feet.

"Automobile dismantling yard" means any premises used for the dismantling or wrecking of motor vehicles and trailers required to be registered under the Vehicle Code of the state of California including the buying, selling or dealing in such vehicles or integral parts or component materials thereof, and the storage, sale or dumping of dismantled, partially dismantled or wrecked inoperative vehicles and trailers.

Automobile dismantling shall not include the incidental storage of inoperative or disabled vehicles in connection with the legal operation of an automobile repair garage or automobile body and fender repair shop.

"Automobile impound yard" means any premises used for the temporary storage of vehicles which have been legally removed or impounded at the direction of a peace officer or by judicial order from public or private property as prescribed by law.

"Automobile parking space," as used in this title, means any permanently maintained space on the same lot or parcel of land as is located the structure it is designed to serve, so located and arranged as to permit the storage of, and be readily accessible under its own power to, a passenger automobile of average size. "Automobile storage space" means automobile parking space.

"Automobile repair" means general repair including but not limited to replacement of parts, engine and transmission rebuilding, electronic diagnosis, brakes and alignment, muffler and exhaust replacement, radiator repair or replacement, reconditioning and restoration; maintenance including tune up, oil change, and lubrication; damage repair including but not limited to body work, frame repair, upholstery and painting.

"Automobile service station" means uses where the primary business is the sale of motor vehicle fuels (including but not limited to alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquified petroleum gas (LPG), and electric recharging stations), lubricants and other refined petroleum products, and automobile accessories such as tires, batteries, windshield wiper blades and other incidental auto parts, and may also offer minor automobile repair services, but not convenience items such as food or drink other than from vending machines.

"Basement" means that portion of a building between floor and ceiling, which is partly below and partly above grade (as defined in this section), but so located that the vertical distance from grade to the floor below is less than the vertical distance from grade to ceiling.

"Biosolid material" shall have the same meaning as "Sludge."

"Borrow pit" means the same as quarry.

"Buildable area" means that portion of the lot remaining after deducting all required setbacks from the lot when considered in conjunction with maximum lot coverage.

"Building" means any structure having a roof supported by columns or by walls and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels or property of any kind.

"Building and safety official" means the building and safety official of the city.

"Building, enclosed" means a building enclosed on all sides.

"Building-mounted" means mounted to the side of a building, to the façade of a building, or to the side of another structure such as a water tank, church steeple, freestanding sign, utility tower, light pole, or similar structure, but not to include the roof of any structure.

"Campground" means a lot or parcel of land designed or used for tent camping including picnic areas, but excluding any structures for permanent human occupancy.

"Caretaker" means:

1.

A person employed by and residing on the premises of an employer; or

2.

The owner of any commercial/industrial enterprise or a member of his immediate family who assumes the primary responsibility for the necessary repair, maintenance, supervision or security of the real or personal property of the employer or owner which is located on the same or contiguous lots or parcels of land.

"Cargo container" means and includes, without limitation, a pre-manufactured, assembled reusable structure, typically made of metal but which can be made of other materials, that is delivered to a property in the city for use by an owner, occupant or licensed contractor as storage for construction materials and equipment, household items or other personal property. "Cargo container" includes, without limitation, vessels designed for packing, shipping or transportation of freight, articles, goods or commodities, and includes containers that are designed for and capable of being moved by railcar, motor vehicle, or ship. "Cargo container" does not include a storage shed or other structure that is or may be assembled at a property.

"Cellar" means that portion of a building between floor and ceiling which is wholly or partly below grade (as defined in this section) and so located that the vertical distance from grade to the floor below is equal to or greater than the vertical distance from grade to ceiling.

"Cellular" means an analog or digital wireless communication technology that is based on a system of interconnected neighboring cell sites.

"Centerline" means where reference is made to the centerline of any parkway, major or secondary highway, such centerline is deemed to be the centerline established by the county engineer for any proposed or dedicated public way which, in whole or in part, is included in any such parkway, major or secondary highway. Said established centerlines are those shown on a series of maps entitled "County Surveyor's Maps" or "County Surveyor's Filed Maps" on file in the office of the county engineer, except that, where two or more such centerlines are shown on any map in said series of maps, the centerline labeled "Proposed Centerline" is deemed to be the centerline of the parkway, major or secondary highway.

"Chapter" means a chapter of this title unless some other ordinance or statute is mentioned.

"City" means the city of Lancaster.

"City engineer" means the city engineer of the city. The functions of the city engineer may be performed by the Director of Public Works.

"Clean fuel vehicle" shall have the same meaning as stated in division 1 of the Motor Vehicle Code of California.

"Co-located facilities" means wireless telecommunication devices that are attached to existing telecommunication towers or other existing structures such as light standards and power poles.

"Commercial coach" means a structure transportable in one or more sections, designed and equipped for human occupancy for industrial, professional or commercial purposes, which is required to be moved under permit and shall include a trailer coach as defined in Section 18001.8 of the Health and Safety Code.

"Commercial parking lot or building" means a parking area or structure established or operated as a business, providing off-street parking for a fee or charge.

"Commission" means the planning commission of the city of Lancaster.

"Communication equipment building" means a building housing operating electrical and mechanical equipment necessary for the conducting of a public utility communications business, with or without personnel.

"Community care facility" means any State licensed facility, place, or building that is maintained and operated to provide nonmedical residential care, day treatment, adult day care, or foster family agency services for children, adults, or children and adults, including, but not limited to, the physically, handicapped, mentally impaired, incompetent persons, and abused or neglected children and includes those types of facilities defined in section 1502 of the State Health and Safety Code.

"Consignment store" means a store which, for a mutually agreed upon method of compensation, accepts new or used merchandise to sell on behalf of the owner.

"Dairy" means any place or premises upon which milk is produced for sale or other distribution and where 3 or more cows or 7 or more goats are in lactation.

"Day care center" means any child day care facility other than a family home, and includes infant centers, preschools, and extended day care facilities as defined in Section 1596.76 of the Health and Safety Code.

"Density bonus" means an increased density of at least 25% over the maximum authorized density of the zone which is granted to a developer or property owner of a housing project agreeing to construct a prescribed percentage of lower-income units as defined by the California Government Code Section 65915 et seq.

"Director" means the Director of Community Development of the City of Lancaster or duly authorized representative(s).

"Domestic animal" means an animal which is commonly maintained in residence with man.

"Duplex" means a building designed or used for residential purposes and containing 2 dwelling units.

"Dwelling unit" or "(DU)" means one or more habitable rooms in a building, portion of a building or mobilehome which is designed, intended to be used, or used for occupancy by one family with facilities for living, sleeping, cooking, eating and sanitation, which are legally constructed, placed or installed in accordance with all applicable provisions contained within this code including, but not limited to, the city building, plumbing, electrical and fire codes. Dwelling unit shall also include any room which contains either a kitchen, kitchenette, cooking facilities or cooking appliance. (See definition of "guest room.")

"Earth station" means structures comprising one or more large parabolic reflectors which may be mounted on a circular control building and all appurtenant equipment necessary for the receiving, amplifying or transmitting of microwave signals in connection with a public utility communication route or system employing such earth stations and satellites in space.

"Electric distribution substation" means an assembly of equipment which is part of a system for the distribution of electric power where electric energy is received at a subtransmission voltage and transformed to a lower voltage for distribution for general consumer use.

"Electric transmission substation" means an assembly of equipment which is part of a system for the transmission of electric power where electric energy is received at a very high voltage from its source of generation by means of a network of high voltage lines and where, by means of transformers, said high voltage is transformed to a lower sub-transmission voltage for purposes of supplying electric power to large individual consumers, interchange connections with other power producing agencies or electric distribution substations for transformation to still lower voltage for distribution to smaller individual users.

"Electric vehicle (EV)" means an automotive-type vehicle for highway use, such as passenger automobiles, buses, trucks, vans and the like, primarily powered by an electric motor that draws current from a rechargeable storage battery, fuel cell, photovoltaic array or other source of electrical current. For the purpose of this title, electric motorcycles and similar type vehicles and off-road self-propelled electric vehicles such as industrial trucks, hoists, lifts, transports, golf carts, airline ground support equipment, tractors, boats, and the like are not included within the definition of electric vehicle. If any significant difference, as determined by the Director, exists between this definition and the definition of electric vehicle as stated in the National Electrical Code, then the definition as stated in the National Electrical Code shall apply.

"Electric vehicle charging station (EVCS)" means a location, either within a building or out-of-doors, which is properly and legally equipped with an electric vehicle connector and at which an electric vehicle may park, connect and charge its electrical storage system.

"Electric vehicle supply equipment" means the conductors, including the ungrounded, grounded and equipment grounding conductors, the electric vehicle conductors, attachment plugs, and all other fittings, devices, power outlets or apparatuses installed specifically for the purpose of delivering energy from the premises wiring to the electric vehicle. If any significant difference, as determined by the Director, exists between this definition and the definition of electric vehicle supply equipment as stated in the National Electrical Code, then the definition as stated in the National Electrical Code shall apply.

"Emergency shelter," as defined in health and safety code 50801(e), means housing with minimal supportive services for homeless persons that is limited to occupancy of six months or less by a homeless person. No individual or household may be denied emergency shelter because of an inability to pay.

"Entertainment park" means an entertainment or amusement complex developed as a regional visitor tourist attraction and organized around a central theme such as amusement rides and attractions, tours or exhibitions, including all related accessory uses, buildings and structures designed and operated for patron participation and pleasure in conjunction therewith.

"Equivalent financial value" means the cost to the developer/property owner based on the land cost per dwelling unit. This is determined by the difference in the value of land with and without the density bonus.

"Family" means an individual or 2 or more persons living in a single dwelling unit. "Family" also mean the persons living together in a residential facility, including transitional and supportive housing.

"Family day care home" means a home which regularly provides care, protection and supervision of 14 or fewer children, in the provider's own home, for periods of less than 24 hours a day, while the parents or guardians are away, as defined in Section 1596.78 of the Health and Safety Code and includes the following:

1.

"Large family day care home" means a home which provides family day care to 7 to 14 children, inclusive, including children under the age of 10 years who reside at home.

2.

"Small family day care home" means a home which provides family day care to 8 or fewer children, including children under the age of 10 years who reside at the home.

"Floor area ratio" means the numerical value obtained through dividing the aboveground gross floor area of a building or buildings located on a lot or parcel of land by the total area of such lot or parcel of land.

"Frontage, Building" means that exterior building wall of a ground floor business establishment on the side or sides of the building fronting and/or oriented toward a public street, highway or parkway. Building frontage shall be measured continuously along said building wall for the entire length of the business establishment, including any portion thereof which is other than parallel to the remainder of the wall.

"Frontage, Street or Highway" means that portion of a lot or parcel of land which borders a public street, highway or parkway. Street or highway frontage shall be measured along the common lot line separating said lot or parcel of land from the public street, highway or parkway.

"Garage, Residential" means an enclosed building, or portion thereof, used for the storage of motor vehicles owned or operated by residents, and for storage and other uses related to normal household purposes.

"General plan" means the adopted general plan of the city and all subsequent amendments thereto.

"GPS Coordinates" means a system used in geography that enables every location on earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. GPS coordinates are usually expressed as the combination of latitude and longitude.

"Grade" (ground level) is the average of the finished ground level at the center of all walls of a building. In case walls are parallel to and within five feet of sidewalks, the above ground level shall be measured at the sidewalks.

"Gross acreage" means the total area within the boundary lines of a lot or parcel of land before public streets, easements, or other areas to be dedicated or reserved for public uses are deducted from such lot or parcel, and does not include adjacent lands already dedicated for such purposes.

"Gross floor area" means the total horizontal area of all the floors of a building enclosed within the surrounding walls, exclusive of areas within a building designed and used for the parking of vehicles.

"Ground-Mounted" means mounted to a pole, monopole, tower, or other freestanding structure specifically constructed for the purpose of supporting an antenna.

"Guest house" means living facilities having no kitchen or cooking facilities, located on the same premises with the main building, which is provided for the sole use of family members, temporary guests, or persons permanently employed on the premises. The guest house shall be either attached or detached with a separate entrance and the floor area is limited to 500 square feet. The structure shall comply with all yard, coverage and other provisions of the title for the main dwelling unit and may not be rented. (See definition for "detached living quarters.")

"Guest ranch" means any property operated as a ranch which offers guest rooms for rent or hire and which has outdoor recreational facilities such as horseback riding, swimming or hiking.

"Hazardous material" means any material that, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety or to the environment if released into the workplace or the environment. "Hazardous materials" include, but are not limited to, hazardous substances, hazardous waste, and any material which a handler or the administering agency has a reasonable basis for believing that it would be injurious to the health and safety of persons or harmful to the environment if released into the workplace or the environment; or as this definition is hereafter amended by the state of California.

"Health facility" means a facility, place, or building that is organized, maintained, and operated for the diagnosis, care, prevention, and treatment of human illness, physical or mental, including convalescence and rehabilitation and including care during and after pregnancy, or for any one or more of these purposes, for one of more persons, to which the persons are admitted for a 24-hour stay or longer, and include those facilities types defined in 1250 of the Health and Safety Code.

"Health retreat" means any use providing a preventive and rehabilitative health care program on a live-in basis and offering dietary education and control as well as physical therapy including gymnasium and other exercise equipment, solariums, yoga, swimming and outdoor recreational activities. "Health retreat" shall not include hospital, medical office or clinic or nudist camp.

"Heavy equipment" means bulldozers, graders, tractors, plows, cultivators, and similar earthmoving or farming vehicles and tools, and trucks designed to pull detachable trailers and the trailers they pull.

"Heavy equipment training school" means a lot or parcel of land used to train operators in the use of earth-moving and construction equipment including motor graders, bulldozers, rollers, earth-movers, cable and hydraulic shovels, front loaders, drilling equipment, pile drivers, standing and truck cranes, fork lifts, welders and similar equipment.

"Height" means the vertical distance from the grade to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or to the average height of the highest gable of a pitch or hip roof. In calculating the height, roof structures which comply with the provisions of Chapter 36 of the Building Code, Ordinance No. 2225, shall not be considered.

"Heliport" means any helicopter landing area used, designed or intended to be used for the receiving or discharging of passengers and cargo and shall include any appurtenant facilities for passengers, cargo, or for the servicing, repair, shelter or storage of helicopters.

"Helistop" means any helicopter landing area used, designed or intended to be used for the receiving or discharging of passengers and cargo but shall not include other appurtenant facilities permitted at a heliport other than a shelter for passengers.

"Highway line" means the ultimate right-of-way established for a regional, primary, secondary, or other arterial street or any other street by the general plan, by this title, or by Title 16 of this code. Such line is coterminous with the lot line on property adjoining a fully widened arterial or other street.

"Hog ranch" means any premises where 3 or more weaned hogs are maintained.

"Home occupation" means a use conducted for monetary gain within the boundaries of one's property, which use is incidental and secondary to the use of the property for residential purposes, and does not change the residential character or appearance of the dwelling, or adversely affect the uses permitted in the residential zone. These provisions do not apply to uses which are permitted as a matter of course within residential zones.

"Hospital" means any institution, place, building or agency licensed by the Departments of Public Health or Mental Hygiene of the state of California, which maintains and operates organized facilities for the diagnosis, care and treatment of human illness, including care during and after pregnancy. Hospital includes sanitarium, sanatorium, maternity home and convalescent hospital.

"Hospital, Small Animal" means any facility providing medical or surgical treatment, clipping, bathing, or other services, including incidental boarding to dogs, cats and other small animals.

"Hotel" means any building containing 6 or more completely furnished guest rooms or dwelling units, the majority of which have an entrance directly from an inside corridor, with automobile parking spaces provided on the lot or parcel of land for such guest rooms or dwelling units as required therefor, and such guest rooms or dwelling units are designed, intended to be used, or used for temporary sleeping purposes by registered guests. No hotel shall be allowed to have more than 40% of its total gross floor area devoted to dwelling units. (See definition of "dwelling unit.")

"Household Appliance, Large" means a tool or machine designed for a particular household use, which is operated by gas or electricity. A large household appliance includes stoves, furnaces, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and similar devices of like size.

"Junk and salvage" means old, secondhand or scrap ferrous and nonferrous metals, paper and paper products including roofing and tar paper, cloth and clothing, wood and wood products, manufactured rubber products, rope, manufactured plastic products, paint, manufactured clay and porcelain products, trash, and similar materials, and shall include dismantled machinery, equipment and parts. Junk and salvage shall also include the baling of cardboard boxes, paper and paper cartons.

"Junk and salvage yard" means any premises, establishment or place of business which is maintained, operated or used for storing, keeping, buying, selling or dismantling of junk and salvage.

"Kitchen" means any room, all or part of which is designed and used for the storage, refrigeration, cooking and preparation of food.

"Land reclamation project" means a project established to restore otherwise unsuitable land to useful purposes through the use of fill materials such as rubbish, waste, excluding sludge or biosolid materials, soil and other unwanted materials. "Land reclamation project" shall include a dump or waste disposal facility.

"Landscape maintenance" means the regular, periodic care that is necessary to keep landscaped areas active and healthy and shall include but not be limited to weed and trash removal, cultivation, irrigation, fertilizing, pruning and replacement of damaged, dying or dead plants with the approved species.

"Landscaping" means the preparation of the ground and the subsequent planting of trees, shrubs, vines, ground cover, flowers, or lawns singly or in combination with each other. In addition, the combination or design may include natural features such as rock or stone and structural features including but not limited to fountains, sculpture, walls, fences, and street furniture.

"Lodger" means a person who occupies a rented room in the house of another.

"Lot, corner" means a lot or parcel of land situated at the intersection of two or more parkways, highways or streets, which parkways, highways or streets have an angle of intersection measured within said lot or parcel of land of not more than 135 degrees.

"Lot coverage" means the total horizontal area of a lot, parcel or building site covered by any building which extends more than 3 feet above the surface of the ground and including any covered vehicular parking spaces.

"Lot depth" means the horizontal distance from the highway line to the rear lot line of the lot or parcel of land, measured from the midpoint of the highway line, where it fronts the lot, to the midpoint of the rear lot line. (See also the definition of "highway line.")

"Lot, flag" means a lot or parcel of land taking access by a strip, the owner of which lot or parcel of land has fee simple title to said strip extending from the main portion of the lot or parcel of land to the adjoining parkway, highway or street.

"Lot, interior" means a lot or parcel of land other than a corner or flag lot.

"Lot line" means a boundary line of a lot or of a parcel of land.

"Lot line, front" means a line separating the front yard from the parkway, highway or street upon which the yard fronts or, in the case of a flag lot where the front yard is oriented toward an adjoining lot, the line separating such front yard from said adjoining lot.

"Lot line, rear" means a lot line which is opposite and most distant from the front lot line. For a triangular or gore-shaped lot, the rear lot line shall mean a line 10 feet in length within the lot which is parallel to the front lot line, or parallel to the chord of a curved front lot line, and at the maximum distance from the front lot line.

"Lot line, side" means any lot boundary line which is not a front lot line or a rear lot line.

"Lot, through" means a lot having frontage on two parallel or approximately parallel parkways, highways and/or streets.

"Lot width" means the horizontal distance between side lot lines as measured at a right angle from the midpoint of a straight line drawn in accordance with the definition of "lot depth."

"Low and very low income households" means income limits published by the State Department of Housing and Community Development. This definition applies to both for-rent and for-sale housing.

"Low-barrier navigation center" means a housing first, low-barrier, service-enriched shelter focused on moving individuals experiencing homelessness into permanent housing and connecting them to services. A "low barrier navigation center" includes any facility that meets the definition and requirements set forth in Sections 65660 and 65662 of the Government Code or any similar facility owned by the city, regardless of whether it strictly meets the definition and requirements set forth in Sections 65660 and 65662 of the Government Code.

"Major highway" means a major highway or primary arterial designated on the circulation element of the general plan.

"Major wireless telecommunication facilities" means self-supporting, ground mounted facilities that exceed the maximum allowable height in the zone in which they are located. These facilities require Federal Communications Commission and Federal Aviation Administration review. The design of these structures shall best match the background color scheme as seen from the primary roadways adjacent to the site. Ground mounted cabinetry shall complement the adjacent buildings in color and material treatment. Typical major wireless telecommunication facilities include data transfer services or personal communication services (PCS), and cellular telephone towers.

"May" is permissive.

"Microwave station" means a building housing equipment necessary for the receiving, amplifying or transmitting of microwave signals, including necessary antenna systems, along a communications route or system which employs microwave frequencies assigned by the Federal Communications Commission.

"Ministorage warehouse" means a warehouse and associated office and/or residence designed and intended to serve the storage needs of a variety of users from individuals to businesses on a rental basis.

"Mini wireless telecommunication facilities" means accessory structures attached to roof tops or buildings as an accessory or complementary use to the primary land use on the site. These structures do not exceed 10% of the height of the buildings on which they are mounted and must be fully enclosed or designed in a way that is consistent with the architectural design of the buildings on-site. Typical uses of mini wireless telecommunication facilities include building to building communications, local dispatch facilities, and small satellite communications facilities.

"Minor wireless telecommunication facilities" means freestanding structures essential to the primary use of the property and which do not exceed the height limit in the zone in which they are located. The structure can be roof or building mounted or solely ground mounted and be consistent with the design of the existing buildings on-site. Typical minor wireless telecommunication facilities include radio and television towers, regional dispatch facilities, and larger satellite communications facilities.

"Mixed use development" means the development of two or more land uses including, but not limited to a combination of residential, commercial or industrial uses on a single parcel of land or in a physically integrated group of structures.

"Mobilehome" means either of the following:

1.

A structure transportable under permit in one or more sections, designed and equipped to contain not more than two dwelling units to be used with or without a foundation system; or

2.

A structure transportable under permit in one or more sections, designed to be used with a foundation system for any of the following purposes:

a.

Three or more dwelling units, as defined in Section 18003.3 of the Health and Safety Code,

b.

A dormitory. A dormitory shall mean a room or rooms inhabited for the purposes of temporary residence by two or more persons,

c.

A residential hotel, as defined in Section 50519 of the Health and Safety Code,

d.

Efficiency units, as defined in Section 17958.1 of the Health and Safety Code.

Mobilehome does not include a recreational vehicle, commercial coach, or factory-built housing as defined in Section 19971 of the Health and Safety Code. The handicap accessibility and adaptability requirements of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations applicable to dormitories, hotels and apartment houses shall be applicable to mobilehomes constructed for those purposes.

"Mobilehome lot" means a lot created through the approval of a mobilehome subdivision by the city.

"Mobilehome park" means any area or tract of land where two or more mobilehome spaces are rented or leased or held out for rent or lease to accommodate manufactured homes or mobilehomes used for human habitation as defined in Section 18211 of the Health and Safety Code.

"Mobilehome space" means an area of land within a mobilehome park designed for the accommodation of one mobilehome which is rented or leased by the owner or occupant of a mobilehome for placing a mobilehome thereon for residential purposes.

"Mobilehome subdivision" means the division, by any subdivider, of any unit or units of improved or unimproved land, or any portion thereof, shown on the latest equalized county assessment roll as a unit or as contiguous units into lots, for the purpose of sale of such lots, for use as individually owned sites for the installation of mobilehomes on foundation systems.

"Mobile recycling unit" means an automobile, truck, trailer or van, licensed by the department of motor vehicles which is used for the collection of recyclable materials. A mobile recycling unit also means the bins, boxes or containers transported by trucks, vans or trailers, and used for the collection of recyclable materials.

"Model home" means a dwelling unit which is constructed upon a proposed or recorded lot in a subdivision for which a tentative map has been approved or a final map recorded, and which is intended to be temporarily utilized as an example of a dwelling unit which has been, or is proposed to be, built in the same or similar subdivision or within a 3-mile city radius of the approval location. The number of model homes in a subdivision shall not exceed the number of separate and distinct floor plans offered by the developer. (A reverse or mirror image of an offered floor plan shall not be considered as a separate floor plan.)

"Model studio" means:

1.

Any premises on which there is conducted the business of furnishing figure models who pose for the purpose of being observed or viewed by any person or of being sketched, painted, drawn, sculptured, photographed, or otherwise similarly depicted for persons who pay a fee or other consideration or compensation or a gratuity for the right or opportunity so to depict the figure model, or for admission to or for permission to remain upon or as a condition of remaining upon the premises; and/or

2.

Any premises where there is conducted the business of furnishing or providing or procuring for a fee or other consideration or compensation or gratuity, figure models to be observed or viewed by any persons or to be sketched, painted, drawn, sculptured, photographed, or otherwise similarly depicted.

"Monopole" means a structure composed of a single spire, pole, or tower used to support antennas or related equipment.

"Motel" means a single building or group of attached or detached buildings containing completely furnished guest rooms or dwelling units, the majority of which have a separate entrance directly from outside the building, with conveniently located automobile parking spaces provided on the lot or parcel of land for such rooms or dwelling units as required therefor, which are designed, intended to be used, or used wholly or in part for the accommodation of registered guests who are primarily transient automobile travelers. No motel shall be allowed to have more than 40% of its total gross floor area devoted to dwelling units. "Motel" shall also include auto courts, motor lodges and tourist courts. (See definition of "dwelling unit.")

"Mounted" means attached or supported.

"Multiple-family project" means a building, or a portion of a building designed or used for occupancy by three or more families, living independently of each other and containing three or more dwelling units.

"Nightclub" means a place of entertainment, typically open at night, usually serving food and/or alcoholic beverages, which may have a floor show and/or offer live or recorded entertainment or music and/or space for dancing. A use that contains these operational characteristics shall be deemed a nightclub even if alcoholic beverages are not served.

"Nodes" means a connection point, redistribution point, or communication endpoint (e.g., data terminal equipment) within a telecommunications network.

"Nonconforming building or structure" means, unless otherwise specified by this title, any building or structure that was lawfully established and in compliance with all applicable ordinances and laws at the time this title or any amendment thereto became effective, but which, due to the application of this title or any amendment thereto, no longer complies with all the applicable regulations and standards of development in the zone in which it is located.

"Nonconforming use" means any use of land or property that was lawfully established and in compliance with all applicable ordinances and laws at the time this title or any amendment thereto became effective, but which due to the application of this title or any amendment thereto, no longer complies with all of the applicable regulations and standards of the zone in which it is located.

"Nudist camp" means any place where three or more persons not all members of the same family congregate, assemble, associate or engage in any activity while without clothing or covering or with partial clothing or covering but with any pubic area or any portion of the crease of the buttocks exposed in the presence of others or of each other, other than an occasional gathering in, or on the premises of a private home. Nudist camp includes growth center.

"Nuisance" means everything that endangers life, the public health, safety and welfare, gives offense to the senses, violates the laws of decency, or obstructs the reasonable and comfortable use of property by the owner or the occupant.

"Oath" means and includes affirmation.

"Open space" means space upon the land which is unoccupied by buildings, driveways and parking areas.

"Open space, private" means open space which is intended for the exclusive use of the owner or tenant of a dwelling unit, which abuts said dwelling unit and is bounded by a wall, fence or landscaping on at least two sides, and may include a patio or balcony (covered or uncovered).

"Open space, public" means open space which is available for use by the public at large.

"Open space, usable common" means open space which is available for use by all residents of the development and which is landscaped with lawns, trees and shrubs, and may contain paved walkways, patios, swimming pools, and similar improvements. Such open space shall have no dimension thereof less than 10 feet and area thereof not less than 200 square feet. All usable common open space shall be exclusive of required yards.

"Ordinance" means an ordinance of the city of Lancaster.

"Outdoor festival" means any music festival, dance festival, rock festival or similar musical activity to which both of the following apply:

1.

Attendance by more than 500 persons is desired or may reasonably be expected; and

2.

The festival will be held at any place other than in a permanent building or permanent installation which has been constructed for the purpose of or is so constructed that it can be used for conducting such activities.

It is immaterial whether music will be provided by paid or professional, or amateur performers or by prerecorded means; or whether admission is to be charged.

"Outside display" means the placement of goods, equipment, merchandise or exhibits at a location visible to the public view, other than within a building.

"Outside storage" means the storage of goods, equipment or materials outside of a building for any purpose other than outside display.

"Parcel of land" means a contiguous quantity of land, owned by, or recorded as the property of the same claimant or person, or in the possession of the same claimant or person pursuant to a recorded lease with a term of not less than 20 years.

"Pawnshop" means an establishment where a pawnbroker loans money on the security of personal property which is pledged in his keeping.

"Person" means any individual, firm, copartnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, syndicate, county, city and county, municipality, district or other political subdivision, or any other group or combination acting as a unit.

"Personal Communication Service means digital low-power, high-frequency commercial wireless radio communication technology that has the capacity for multiple communication services and the routing of calls to individuals, regardless of location.

"Pest control operator" means a person who engages in the business of eradicating or controlling any pest which is or is liable to be dangerous or detrimental to agriculture by the application of any substance, method or device, or who engages in the business of preventing, destroying, repelling, mitigating or correcting any disorder of plants by the same means or both. "Pest control operator" does not include a person engaged in the business of termite eradication or control.

"Plot plan." Whenever this title refers to a "plot plan" or "plan" it shall be construed to mean a site plan.

"Pool hall" means any entertainment establishment which has more than four pool tables or in which more than 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to pool tables and the space required to use such tables.

"Portable sign" means a freestanding sign not permanently affixed, anchored or secured to either the ground or a structure on the premises it occupies.

"Pot-bellied pig" means a pig classified as Sus scrofa jubatus Muller, or Sus scrofa (cristatus) vittatus, as commonly referred to as a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, which stands no higher than 20 inches at the shoulder and is no longer than 40 inches from the tip of the head to the end of the buttocks, and weighs no more than 120 pounds. When such animals are located in an R zone they shall be registered with a nationally recognized registry as one of the above species of pot-bellied pigs and considered as pets.

"Premises" means any lot or lots and the buildings, structures, or other improvements located thereon.

"Principal use" means a primary or dominant use established, or proposed to be established, on a lot or parcel of land.

"Private property" means any property other than public property.

"Project grading" means any excavation or fill or combination thereof, necessary and incidental to impending building construction or other lawful development of the premises. Impending building construction or other development as used in this section shall mean the initiation of such construction or development within one year of the date of application.

"Property line" means lot line.

"Pro shop" means an incidental commercial use operated in conjunction with, and on the same premises as a principal recreational use, which offers for retail sale sporting equipment and supplies customarily utilized in participating in such recreational activity. "Pro shop" does not include a general sporting goods store.

"Public property" means any real or personal property in which the city or any other governmental entity or any publicly regulated utility company possesses an ownership interest. Public property shall include, without limitation, any street, sidewalk, curb, curbstone, street lamp post, hydrant, tree, tree stake or guard, railroad trestle, electric light, power, telephone or telegraph system, any lighting system, public bridge or wall, drinking fountain, life preserver, lifesaving equipment, street sign, traffic sign or signal, street median, public park, or other publicly owned property or structure.

"Public utility service center" means any buildings or premises used for the administration of public utility repair, maintenance and installation crews including parking for vehicles, not to exceed 2 tons rated capacity, but not including warehouses or storage yards.

"Public utility service yard" means any buildings or premises used for the office, warehouse, storage yard, or maintenance garage of a public utility including microwave repeater stations when incorporated as a part of the service yard use.

"Quarry" means any place on a lot or parcel of land where dirt, soil, sand, gravel, rock, clay, decomposed granite, or other similar material is removed by excavation or otherwise. Quarry shall include mining operations for the removal of ores, precious stones, or other solid materials but shall not include project grading.

"Recreation club, commercial" means a commercial enterprise offering the use of outdoor recreational facilities to the public.

"Recreation club, private" means an association of persons who are bona fide members, paying regular dues, and organized to provide outdoor recreational facilities for members and their guests but not including an association organized primarily to render a service customarily carried on as a commercial enterprise.

"Recreation facilities, neighborhood" means outdoor recreation facilities established by an association of persons who are bona fide members and operate as a nonprofit corporation to provide outdoor recreation facilities for residents in the immediate vicinity and their guests. Such facilities may include a clubhouse, changing rooms and similar subordinate facilities in conjunction with the outdoor recreation activity but shall not include a restaurant, bar or pro shop.

"Recreational trailer park" means any area or tract of land, within an area zoned for recreational use, where one or more lots are rented or leased or held out for rent or lease to owners or users of recreational vehicles or tents and which is occupied for temporary purposes.

"Recreational vehicle" means a motor home, travel trailer, truck camper or camping trailer, with or without motive power, designed for human habitation for recreational or emergency occupancy as defined in Section 18010 of the Health and Safety Code.

"Recyclable material" means reusable material including but not limited to metals, glass, plastic and paper, which are intended for reuse, remanufacture, or reconstitution for the purpose of using the altered form. Recyclable material does not include refuse or hazardous materials. Recyclable material may include used motor oil collected and transported in accordance with Section 25250.11 and 25143.2(b)(4) of the California Health and Safety Code.

"Recycling facility" means a center for the collection and/or processing of recyclable materials. A "certified recycling facility" or "certified processor" means a recycling facility certified by the California Department of Conservation as meeting the requirements of the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986. A recycling facility does not include storage containers or processing activity located on the premises of a residential, commercial or manufacturing use and used solely for the recycling of material generated by that residential property, business or manufacturer. Recycling facilities may include the following:

1.

"Collection facility." A collection facility is a center for the acceptance by donation, redemption or purchase, of recyclable materials from the public. Such a facility does not use power-driven processing equipment except as indicated in Article VI of Chapter 17.40, Criteria and Standards for Recycling Facilities. Collection facilities may include the following:

a.

Reverse vending machine(s);

b.

Small collection facilities which occupy an area of not more than 500 square feet, and may include:

1)

A mobile unit,

2)

Bulk reverse vending machines or a grouping of reverse vending machines occupying more than 50 square feet,

3)

Kiosk type units which may include permanent structures,

4)

Unattended containers placed for the donation of recyclable materials;

c.

Large collection facilities which may occupy an area of more than 500 square feet and may include permanent structures.

2.

"Processing facility." A processing facility is a building or enclosed space used for the collection and processing of recyclable materials. "Processing" means the preparation of material for efficient shipment, or to an end-user's specifications, by such means as baling, briquetting, compacting, flattening, grinding, crushing, mechanical sorting, shredding, cleaning and remanufacturing. Processing facilities include the following:

a.

A light processing facility occupies an area of under 45,000 square feet of gross collection, processing and storage area and has up to an average of 2 outbound truck shipments per day. Light processing facilities are limited to baling, briquetting, crushing, compacting, grinding, shredding and sorting of source-separated recyclable materials and repairing of reusable materials sufficient to qualify as a certified processing facility. A light processing facility shall not shred, compact or bale ferrous metals other than food and beverage containers.

b.

A heavy processing facility is any processing facility other than a light processing facility.

"Redevelopment agency" means the redevelopment agency of the city of Lancaster.

"Renovation, exterior façade" means a resurfacing of an existing building frontage so that the façade and signs are integrated into one unit.

"Required area" means:

1.

The area of a lot which is shown as a part of a subdivision for purposes of sale, recorded as a final map or filed as a record of survey map approved as provided in the Subdivision Map Act or as provided in Ordinance No. 4478, entitled "Subdivision Ordinance," adopted March 19, 1945, except that where a parcel which otherwise would have been shown as one lot, is divided into two or more lots because of a city boundary line or a line between land the title to which was registered under the Land Title Law (Torrens Title) and land the title to which was not so registered, in which case "required area" means the area of such parcel; or

2.

The area of a lot or parcel of land the right of possession of which, by virtue of a deed duly recorded, or by a recorded contract of sale, is vested in a person who neither owns nor has a right of possession of any contiguous parcel of property; provided, that the deed or contract of sale by which such right of possession was separated has been recorded prior to the adoption by the city council of the ordinance, which imposes the area requirements upon such lot or parcel of land; or

3.

Minimum lot area is specified in the property development regulations of the zone. Required area shall not include the access strip of a flag lot extending from the main portion of the lot or parcel of land to the adjoining parkway, highway or street.

4.

Where neither subsection 1, 2 or 3 applies, the required area is:

a.

In the CPD zone the minimum lot area is 5,000 square feet.

5.

A lot shown as such on a subdivision for the purpose of lease only does not have the required area unless it complies with subsection 2, 3 or 4 of this definition.

"Residence" means a building designed as a one-family dwelling unit or a two-family dwelling unit which complies with the current adopted U.B.C.

"Reverse vending machine(s)" means an automated mechanical device which accepts at least one or more types of empty beverage containers including, but not limited to aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles, and issues a cash refund or a redeemable credit slip with a value not less than the container's redemption value as determined by the state. A reverse vending machine may sort and process containers mechanically provided that the entire process is enclosed within the machine. In order to accept and temporarily store all 3 container types in a proportion commensurate with their relative redemption rates, and to meet the requirements of certification as a recycling facility, multiple grouping of reverse vending machines may be necessary. A bulk reverse vending machine is a reverse vending machine that is larger than 50 square feet, is designed to accept more than one container at a time; and will pay by weight instead of by container.

"Roof-mounted" means mounted above the eave line of a building.

"Room, habitable" means an enclosed subdivision in a building commonly used for sleeping, living, cooking or dining purposes, excluding closets, pantries, bath or toilet rooms, service rooms, connecting corridors, laundries, unfinished attics, foyers, storage space, cellars, utility rooms, and similar spaces. For purposes of applying parking space requirements:

1.

If any of the above excluded rooms or spaces equals or exceeds 90 square feet of superficial floor area and is capable of being used for living or sleeping purposes, such room or space shall be considered a habitable room; or

2.

If any room or space equals or exceeds 150 square feet of superficial floor area and is so designed to be capable of being used for both cooking and living, living and sleeping, or cooking and sleeping purposes, such room or space shall be considered as 2 habitable rooms, except in a bachelor or efficiency apartment. Superficial floor area shall be measured as clear floor space, exclusive of fixed or built-in cabinets or appliances.

"Rooming house and boarding house" means a lodging house, or other building or structure maintained, advertised or held out to the public as a place where sleeping or rooming accommodations are furnished to the whole, or any part of the public whether with or without meals. Rooming house includes fraternity and sorority houses.

"Safety" means and includes a water supply for fire protection which complies with the requirements of Ordinance No. 7834 entitled "water ordinance," adopted August 2, 1960.

"Scenic highway" means a highway within the state scenic highway system of the state of California.

"Service provider" means an entity that has traditionally provided telephone and similar services. This includes incumbent local exchange carriers, competitive local exchange carriers, and mobile wireless communication companies. Examples include Verizon, AT & T, and Sprint.

"Scrap metal processing yard" means any establishment or place of business which is maintained, used or operated solely for the processing and preparing of scrap metals for remelting by steel mills and foundries.

"Section" means a section of this title unless some other ordinance or statute is mentioned.

"Senior mobilehome park" is a mobile home park in which at least 80% of the spaces are occupied by or intended for occupancy by at least one person who is 55 years of age or older, or in which 100% of the spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by persons 62 years of age or older.

"Shadow plan" means a diagram of the total area likely to be shaded from the sun on December 21st by an object of given height and dimension.

"Shall" is mandatory.

"Shopping center" means a group of attached commercial buildings, with a common architectural theme, which is designed and intended to house retail commercial uses on a lot(s) or parcel(s) of land with a total net area of 2 acres or more which is planned, developed and managed as an operating unit including the provision of on-site common parking and access to serve each use and its customers.

"Sign" means any name, figure, character, outline, spectacle, display, delineation, announcement, advertising, billboard, signboard, device, appliance, or any other thing of similar nature to attract attention outdoors or on the face, wall or window of any building, and shall include all parts, portions, units and materials composing the same, together with the frame, background and support of anchorage therefor, as the case may be. Any sign authorized by this title is allowed to contain noncommercial copy in lieu of any other copy.

"Sign area" means the entire surface area, excluding all support structures, of a single-faced sign or the largest face of a sign having 2 or more faces.

"Sign Area, Total" means the sum of the surface areas, excluding all support structural faces of a sign.

"Sign, awning or entrance canopy" means any sign affixed to an awning or removable canopy not permanently attached to or built as part of a building. Such signs shall be considered the same as a projecting sign for purposes of regulation.

"Sign, building identification" means a sign which contains no advertising matter other than the name and/or trademark and/or address of the building to which it is affixed or of the occupant located therein.

"Sign, bulletin or special event" means a changeable copy sign on which bulletins, notices, messages or displays are placed.

"Sign, business" means a sign directing attention to the principal business, profession or industry located upon the premises upon which the sign is displayed, to type of products sold, manufactured or assembled, or to services or entertainment offered on said premises.

"Sign, changeable copy" means a sign which is characterized by manually changeable copy, letters, symbols or numerals.

"Sign, civic organization" means a sign which contains the names of, or any other information regarding civic, fraternal or religious organizations located within an unincorporated community or city but which contains no other advertising matter

"Sign, community identification" means a sign which contains the name of an unincorporated community or city of the county and appropriate travel directions but which contains no other advertising matter.

"Sign, construction" means temporary sign denoting the architects, engineers, owners, lenders, contractors, future tenants and others associated with a construction project, but which contains no other advertising matter.

"Sign, directional and/or informational" means a sign which indicates the route to, direction of, or location of a given goal, or which provides regulatory or service information of a nonadvertising character.

"Sign face" means that portion of a sign intended to be viewed from one direction at one time. Spherical, cylindrical, or other 3-dimensional signs not having conventional sign faces shall be considered to have 2 faces and the area of each sign face shall be computed from the smallest 3-dimensional geometrical shape or shapes which will best approximate the actual surface area of said faces.

"Sign face height" means the vertical dimension of a sign face.

"Sign face length" means the horizontal dimension of a sign face.

"Sign, flashing or scintillating" means any sign which, by method or manner of illumination, flashes on or off, winks, or blinks with varying light intensity, shows motion or creates the illusion of motion, or revolves in a manner to create the illusion of being on or off.

"Sign, freestanding" means a sign which is placed on the ground or has as its primary structural support one or more columns, poles, uprights or braces in or upon the ground. "Freestanding sign" includes ground, monument, pole and post signs.

"Sign, freeway-oriented" means a sign oriented to be viewed primarily from an adjacent freeway which identifies a business engaged in the provision of food, lodging or motor vehicle fuel, and which is primarily dependent upon said freeway.

"Sign, fuel pricing" means a sign indicating, and limited to, the brand or trade name, method of sale, grade designation, and price per gallon of gasoline or other motor vehicle fuel offered for sale on the business premises; and such other information as may be required by county ordinance or state law.

"Sign, incidental business" means a business sign indicating credit cards accepted, trading stamps offered, trade affiliations and similar matters.

"Sign, lighted" means a sign which is illuminated by any source whether internal, external or indirect.

"Sign, marquee" means any sign painted on or affixed to the perimeter or border of a permanently roofed structure constructed as a part of a building and protruding over public or private sidewalks or rights-of-way. Such signs shall be considered wall signs for purposes of regulation.

"Sign, monument" means a freestanding sign which does not exceed 12 feet in height and is supported by an enclosed structure which has at least the same length and width as the sign face it supports.

"Sign, outdoor advertising" means any sign directing public attention to a business, profession, product or service that is not a primary business, profession, product or service which is sold, manufactured, conducted or offered on the premises where such sign is erected or maintained. "Outdoor advertising sign" includes billboard.

"Sign, pole" means a freestanding sign which is supported entirely by unenclosed poles or uprights in or on the ground. (This definition shall not apply to outdoor advertising signs.)

"Sign, portable" means a freestanding sign which is not permanently affixed, anchored or secured to either the ground or a structure on the premises it is intended to occupy.

"Sign, post" means a freestanding sign which is supported by not more than 2 enclosed poles or uprights in or on the ground, and the horizontal dimensions of such enclosure where it faces the same direction as the sign face is not less than 50% of the maximum length of the sign face. Where 2 enclosed poles or uprights are used the sum of the 2 equal horizontal dimensions of the enclosures is not less than 50% of the maximum length of the sign face.

"Sign, project identification" means a sign which displays only the name of a multiple-family development or project and shall be only a wall sign or monument sign.

"Sign, projecting" means a sign which is affixed to and wholly supported by an exterior wall of a building or structure other than a wall sign.

"Sign, pylon" means a freestanding sign in which the sign face is separated from ground by means of one or more supports such as enclosed poles, pole covers or columns.

"Sign, revolving" means a sign or any portion thereof which rotates, moves or appears to move in some manner by mechanical, electrical, natural or other means.

"Sign, roof" means any sign erected upon and wholly supported by the roof of any building or structure. "Roof sign" shall not include a wall sign affixed to the roof eaves or that portion of an actual or false roof varying less than 45 degrees from a vertical plane as provided by this title.

"Sign, sidewalk" means a temporary, portable sign typically near or upon a sidewalk.

"Sign structure" means a structure existing, erected or maintained to serve exclusively as a stand, frame or background for the support or display of signs.

"Sign, subdivision directional" means a temporary single-faced sign used for the purpose of providing travel directions to a subdivision development offered for public sale for the first time.

"Sign, subdivision entry" means a temporary sign which provides necessary travel directions to and within a subdivision offered for sale or lease for the first time but contains no other advertising matter.

"Sign, subdivision kiosk" means a sign erected for the purpose of providing directional information in a uniform manner to new residential developments offered for sale for the first time to the public. Said sign may identify multiple developments and shall contain no advertising information other than the name of the development and a directional arrow. Subdivision kiosk signs may also contain directional information to public facilities.

"Sign, subdivision sales" means a temporary sign which contains the name of, and information relating to, a subdivision being offered for sale or lease for the first time.

"Sign, subdivision special-feature" means a temporary sign which contains a description of the features and related information pertaining to a model home complex in a subdivision offered for sale or lease for the first time.

"Sign, temporary" means any sign which is intended to be posted for a maximum period of one year. Temporary signs include, without limitation as to content, political campaign signs, garage sale signs, search lights, real estate—for sale, lease, rent, or open house signs, holiday decorations, and seasonal sales signs.

"Sign, temporary personal message" means a sign which is of a temporary nature and which displays only personal, as opposed to commercial, messages from the resident owner or occupant of the residential premises. Such messages may include, but are not limited to, birth announcements, greeting for a birthday or anniversary, and other messages of a personal nature.

"Sign, temporary window" means any sign painted on a window or constructed of paper, cloth, canvas or other similar lightweight material, with or without frames, and affixed to the interior side of a window and displayed so as to call to the attention of persons outside the building a sale of merchandise or a change in the status of the business.

"Sign, time, temperature and public service" means a sign which uses any system to display the time of day and/or atmospheric temperature, and which may have the means to display a programmable electronic public service message. Electronic messages of an advertising nature are not permitted on such signs.

"Sign, under-marquee" means any sign suspended from the underside of a permanently roofed structure constructed as part of a building and protruding over public rights-of-way or private sidewalks.

"Sign, wall or wall-mounted" means a sign, other than a roof sign, affixed to and wholly supported by a building in such a manner that its exposed face is approximately parallel to the plane of said building and is not projecting more than 18 inches from the building face or from a permanent roofed structure projecting therefrom.

"Sign, window" means any sign which is painted on or otherwise permanently affixed to the display window glass or located inside the building within 3 feet of the display window glass.

"Single-family attached residence" means a building, containing only one kitchen, designed or used to house not more than one dwelling unit, which shares a common wall or walls with another dwelling unit or units of the same type, and which is located on a separate lot from the unit or units with which it shares a common wall or walls. No such dwelling unit may occupy any space over or above another dwelling unit.

"Single-family detached residence" means a building containing only one kitchen, designed or used to house not more than one dwelling unit, not attached to or sharing a common wall with any other dwelling.

"Slope" means the degree of deviation of surface from the horizontal, usually expressed in percent or degrees.

Slope Percentage = rise / run = (x) feet run to one foot rise

"Sludge" means the accumulated matter, whether mechanically treated, irradiated, digested, stabilized, composted, or untreated, produced in the treatment of wastewater. This includes liquid, semi-liquid, and solid material that has been mechanically dewatered or air dried.

"Solar energy system" means either of the following depending upon the context of the ordinance:

1.

Any solar collector or other solar energy device whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage and distribution of solar energy lot space heating or cooling, or for water heating, or generation of electricity; or

2.

Any structural design feature of a building, whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage and distribution of solar energy for space heating or cooling, or for water heating.

"Solid fill" means any noncombustible materials, insoluble in water, such as soil, rock, sand or gravel, that can be used for grading land or filling depressions.

"Solid fill project" means any operation on a parcel of land where more than 1,000 cubic yards of solid fill materials are deposited for any purpose including the grading or reclaiming of land.

"Special use permit" means whenever this title, or any case granted thereunder, refer to a "special permit" or a "special use permit" it shall be construed to mean a conditional use permit.

"Stable, boarding" means a stable for the boarding of horses, mules or ponies for compensation.

"Stable, commercial" means a stable which offers horses, mules or ponies for hire. Such stables may also offer training for such animals and/or riding instruction. Commercial stables may also board such animals for compensation.

"Stand" means a structure for the display and sale of products with no space for customers within the structure itself.

"Station" means the stopping place in a transportation system designed or intended to be used for the receiving or discharging of passengers and cargo, but shall not provide for the storage of the conveyance vehicle and shall not include any appurtenant facilities other than a shelter and ticketing facilities for passengers. Stations include train stations, bus stations, and similar transit stations.

"Stealth communication facilities" means wireless telecommunication facilities that may be over the height limit in the zone in which they are located, but are designed or camouflaged to blend into the surrounding background environment or be enclosed into the structure upon which they are mounted. Stealth facilities would not be recognizable as a wireless telecommunication device. Examples include wireless telecommunication facilities constructed within church steeples or towers, camouflaged by vegetation, or designed into the construction of other architectural building features.

"Story" is that portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the roof above. Story includes a basement but not a cellar.

"Street." See Section 16.04.060 of this code for definitions of the various types of streets.

"Structure" means anything construed or erected, which requires a fixed location on the ground, or is attached to something having a fixed location on the ground.

"Subdivision development" means a subdivision located wholly or partially within the city, a final map of which has been recorded prior to the date on which an application for a subdivision directional sign pursuant to the provisions of Section 17.40.220C has been filed.

"Subdivision directional sign base" means the base structure upon which subdivision directional signs are placed.

"Subdivision ordinance" means the subdivision ordinance of the city, codified as Title 16 of this code.

"Supportive housing" means housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied by the target population, and that is linked to onsite or offsite services that assist the supportive housing resident in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status, and maximizing his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community.

"Telephone repeater station" means a building used for housing amplifying equipment along aerial or underground telephone cable routes.

"Temporary wireless communications facility" means a wireless communications facility that is kept portable or mobile and deployed while a permanent facility is under construction.

"Terminal" means any facility designed or intended to be used for the receiving or discharging of passengers or cargo and providing for the temporary or permanent storage of the conveyance vehicle. Terminals include train terminals, airports, bus terminals, freight terminals, harbor terminals, or any combination of the above commonly referred to as multipurpose terminals.

"Theater" means an enclosed building used for public assembly and/or entertainment including sports events, theatrical performances, concerts and recitals, circuses, stock shows and conventions. "Theater" includes auditorium.

"Tower height" means the height of the actual tower plus one-half the rotor diameter on horizontal axis installations, and the distance from the base of the tower to the top of the unit on vertical axis installations.

"Transitional housing" means buildings configured as rental housing developments but operated under program requirements that require the termination of assistance and recirculating of the assisted unit to another eligible program recipient at a predetermined future point in time that shall be no less than 6 months from the beginning of the assistance.

"Travel trailer" means a vehicle other than a motor vehicle which is designed for human habitation and which may be moved upon a public highway without a special permit or chauffeur's license.

"Travel trailer park" means any area or tract of land or a separate designated section within a mobilehome park where one or more lots are rented or leased or held out for rent or lease to owners or users of recreational vehicles used for travel or recreational purposes.

"Use" means and includes construction, establishment, maintenance, alteration, moving onto, enlargement and occupation. Wherever this title prohibits the use of any premises for any purposes, such premises and any building, structure or improvement on such premises shall not be used, occupied, altered or improved for such purpose, and no building, structure or improvement on such premises shall be erected, constructed, established, maintained, allowed to remain, altered, moved onto, or enlarged which is designed, arranged or intended to be occupied or used for such purpose.

"Veterinary clinic, small animal" means any facility providing medical or surgical treatment, clipping, bathing and similar services to dogs, cats and other small animals, but excluding boarding or the keeping of animals on the premises other than those requiring emergency treatment or those recovering from anesthetic.

"Video game arcade" means any use where five or more coin-operated games of skill are kept and maintained for public use.

"Waste disposal facility" means any dump, transfer station, land reclamation project, incinerator except household incinerators and wood refuse to be burned in a suitable furnace, or other similar site or facility which is used or intended to be used for the transfer, salvage or disposal of rubbish, garbage or industrial waste. Waste disposal facilities do not stockpile, commercially compost, process, or handle sludge or biosolid materials.

"Wild animal" means any wild, exotic, dangerous or nondomestic animal, including but not limited to mammals, fowl, fish or reptiles.

"Wind energy conversion system" means a mechanism which is designed to utilize the natural movement of air as a means of generating electricity. The following terminology as it pertains to wind energy conversion systems is listed below:

"AWEA" means American Wind Energy Association.

"FAA" means Federal Aviation Administration.

"Guy wires" means wires or cables used in tension to support a tower.

"Non-commercial wind energy system ("NC-WES")" means a small wind energy system suitable for Rural Residential Zone (RR-1 and RR-2.5 only) meeting the requirements of Section 17.08.337, consisting of a wind turbine, tower, blades, associated controls and conversion electronics, which has a rated capacity that does not exceed the allowable rated capacity under the Emerging Renewables Fund of the Renewables Investment Plan administered by the California Energy Commission and which will be used primarily to reduce on-site consumption of utility power by converting mechanical energy into electricity.

"Tower" means the portion of the NC-WES upon which the wind turbine is mounted.

"Tower height" means the height above grade of the fixed portion of the tower measured from the ground to the top of the tower, excluding the wind turbine, blades and wind-measuring devices.

"USGS" means the United States Geological Survey.

"Utility pole" means any pole or tower owned by any utility company that is primarily used to support wires or cables necessary to the provision of electrical or other utility services regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission.

"Vertical axis wind turbine (VAWTS)" means a small scale, non-commercial vertical axis wind turbine system, designed with a vertical axis, suitable for residential zones consisting of a wind turbine, tower, blades, associated controls and conversion electronics, which has a rated capacity that does not exceed the allowable rated capacity under the Emerging Renewables Fund of the Renewables Investment Plan administered by the California Energy Commission and which will be used primarily to reduce on-site consumption of utility power by converting mechanical energy into electricity.

"Wind turbine" means a non-commercial small wind turbine consisting of a wind turbine generator and rotors, which has a rated capacity of not more than one hundred (100) kilowatts (kW) and which converts kinetic energy in wind into mechanical energy.

"Wireless telecommunications facility" means a land use facility supporting antennas whips, panels or microwave dishes that send or receive radio frequency signals. Wireless telecommunication facilities include the structures or towers and related equipment buildings or cabinetry supporting the facility and can be manned or unmanned. Wireless telecommunications do not include noncommercial communication facilities such as licensed amateur radio stations and standard radio and television receive-only antennas.

"Writing" means and includes any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report, statement or record is required or authorized by this title, it shall be made in writing in the English language unless it is expressly provided otherwise.

"Yard" means an open space on the same lot or parcel of land, other than a court, unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except as otherwise permitted by this title.

"Yard, front" means a yard extending across the full width of the lot or parcel of land. The depth of a required front yard shall be a specified horizontal distance between the highway line of any arterial or other street on which the property fronts, and a line parallel thereto on the lot or parcel of land, except as otherwise provided for a flag lot in Section 17.08.170A. On corner lots the front yard shall be located across the narrower frontage of the lot. A yard shall not be deemed a front yard if there is no right of access of any kind, pedestrian or vehicular, from the adjoining arterial or other street.

"Yard, rear" means a yard extending across the full width of the lot or parcel of land. The depth of the required rear yard shall be a specified horizontal distance between the rear lot line and a line parallel thereto on the lot or parcel of land.

"Yard, side, corner" means a yard bounded by an arterial or other street, extending from the required front yard, or the highway line on which the property fronts where no front yard is required, to the required rear yard or to the rear lot line where no rear yard is required. The width of such required side yard shall be a specified horizontal distance between the highway line of the arterial or other street on which the property sides, and a line parallel thereto on the lot or parcel of land.

"Yard, side, interior" means a yard extending from the required front yard, or the highway line on which the property fronts where no front yard is required, to the required rear yard or to the rear lot line where no rear yard is required on other than a corner side yard. The width of a required interior side yard shall be a specified horizontal distance between each such side lot line and a line parallel thereto on the lot or parcel of land.

"Yard, street side" means the same as corner side yard.

(Ord. 900 § 1, 2008; Ord. 896 § 1 (Exh. A §§ 1, 2), 2008; Ord. 862 § 1, 2006; Ord. 849 § 1 (Exh. A § 1), 2005; Ord. 758 § 1 (Exh. A § 1 (part)), 1999; Ord. 753 § 1 (Exh. A § 1 (part)), 1999; Ord. 713 § 1, 1995; Ord. 711 § 3, 1995; Ord. 681 §§ 1, 2, 1995; Ord. 663 § 1, 1994; Ord. 661 § 3, 1994; Ord. 651 § 3, 1993; prior zoning ord. §§ 120—120.25)

(Ord. No. 921, § 1, 6-9-09; Ord. No. 954, § 1, 12-14-2010; Ord. No. 989, §§ 2—5, 7, 4-9-2013; Ord. No. 1070, § 4(Exh. A), 1-14-2020; Ord. No. 1106, § 4(Exh. A), 10-10-2023; Ord. No. 1130, § 4(Exh. A), 5-27-2025)