Pacific City Zoning Code
20.40 RS
Single-Family Residential Districts
20.40.010 Description and purpose.
The RS single-family residential districts are intended for medium density, urban single-family residential use. A stable and healthful environment, together with the full range of urban services, makes this the most important land use of the community. (Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 1488 § 1, 2001; Ord. 485 § 4.01, 1971).
20.40.020 Permitted buildings and uses.
In the RS districts, the following buildings and uses are permitted, subject to the general provisions and exceptions set forth in this chapter, and regulations set forth in Chapters 20.01, 20.20, 20.68 and 20.72 PMC:
A. The following accessory buildings and uses incidental to the uses permitted in this chapter:
1. Carports or garages for the sole use of occupants of premises and their guests, attached or detached (without fee to guests), for storage of motor vehicles, boats, recreational vehicles and/or planes;
2. Greenhouse, private and noncommercial;
3. Storage buildings for yard maintenance equipment and household goods;
4. Recreational facilities for private use;
5. Mobile food vendor, accessory in parks, schools or public plazas only, subject to a temporary use permit (see Chapters 5.36 and 16.100 PMC and PMC 20.68.695); and
6. Accessory dwelling units;
B. Adult family homes;
C. Agricultural uses, limited to the following:
1. Berry and bush crops;
2. Flower gardening;
3. Orchards, tree crops, the raising and harvesting of;
4. Truck gardening, the raising and harvesting of vegetables for home consumption;
D. Churches, subject to PMC 20.68.660;
E. Electric vehicle infrastructure, levels 1 and 2 only, subject to the provisions of Chapter 20.76 PMC;
F. Family day care;
G. Home occupations, subject to PMC 20.68.180;
H. Parks, private and public, playgrounds, golf courses, driving ranges, or community centers, subject to PMC 20.68.670;
I. Public and semipublic buildings, essential to the physical and economic welfare of an area, such as fire stations, substations and pump stations. Rear and side yards for these uses shall be a minimum of 25 feet in width. No stockpiling or storage of materials shall be allowed;
J. Utility or Public Maintenance Facilities 1 and 2. Rear and side yards for these uses shall be a minimum of 25 feet in width. Any outside storage shall be screened by 20 feet of Type I landscaping and by building/s located on site.
K. Rooms, rented to not more than four persons other than those occupying a single-family dwelling, provided there is compliance with health and building code requirements;
L. Schools, public or private, elementary, junior and senior high, subject to PMC 20.68.670;
M. Single-family dwellings;
N. Water supply facilities 1 and 2;
O. Duplexes;
P. Stacked flats;
Q. Cottage housing;
R. Courtyard apartments. (Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 1992 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1962 § 1, 2017; Ord. 1952 § 8, 2017; Ord. 1805 § 4, 2011; Ord. 1611 § 9, 2005; Ord. 1221 § 10, 1995; Ord. 982 § 2, 1985; Ord. 594 § 1, 1976; Ord. 485 § 4.02, 1971).
20.40.030 Buildings and uses permitted conditionally.
The city may grant a conditional use permit (CUP) for any of the following buildings and uses in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 20.20 PMC:
A. Churches, when using existing buildings;
B. Group care homes;
C. Homes for the aged, including assisted and unassisted living facilities;
D. Hospitals;
E. Libraries;
F. Permanent supportive housing (shall conform to Chapter 20.96 PMC – Multifamily Housing Design Standards) (see PMC 20.68.200 for applicable regulations);
G. Transitional housing (shall conform to Chapter 20.96 PMC – Multifamily Housing Design Standards) (see PMC 20.68.200 for applicable regulations); and
H. Unassisted senior housing complexes, at densities supportable by available infrastructure and land use compatibility, within 2,000 feet walking distance of the senior center, measured from the center of the housing complex to the senior center entrance following pedestrian routes. (Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 2053 § 4, 2022; Ord. 1952 § 9, 2017; Ord. 1558 § 1, 2003; Ord. 1505 § 11, 2001; Ord. 1504 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1488 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1170 § 2, 1992; Ord. 485 § 4.03, 1971).
20.40.040 Principal building development standards – Lot area, lot width, yard setbacks, building lot coverage and building height.
Development Standards | Zones | Additional Regulations | |
|---|---|---|---|
RS 6 | RS 11 | ||
Minimum Lot Area | 6,000 sq. ft. | 11,000 sq. ft. |
|
Minimum Lot Width | 50 feet | 70 feet |
|
Minimum Front Yard Setback | 22 feet (1)(2) | 22 feet (1)(2) | 1. On noncorner lots the minimum shall be 22 feet or the average of the front setbacks on the two nearest lots on the same side of the street, whichever is less. 2. Corner lots shall observe the minimum front yard setback requirements on one street side. A 15-foot minimum setback requirement shall be observed on the second street side. |
Minimum Side Yard Setback | 15 feet combined minimum for both side yards with one side yard at least 10 feet. | 15 feet combined minimum for both side yards with one side yard at least 10 feet. | Where a utility easement adjoins a side lot line, the setback shall be at least as wide as the easement. |
Minimum Rear Yard Setback | 20 feet | 20 feet |
|
Maximum Building Lot Coverage | • Interior lots – 35 percent • Corner lots – 40 percent | • Interior lots – 35 percent • Corner lots – 40 percent |
|
Maximum Building Height | 30 feet or two and one-half stories, whichever is the lesser height. | 30 feet or two and one-half stories, whichever is the lesser height. |
|
Maximum Number of Residential Units per Lot | Two principal dwelling units | One principal dwelling unit | 1. In the RS 6 zone, no more than one principal dwelling unit is permitted on lots with two or more accessory dwelling units. |
(Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 1952 § 16, 2017).
20.40.050 Accessory building development standards – Yard setbacks, lot coverage and building height.
Development Standards | Zones | Additional Regulations | |
|---|---|---|---|
RS 6 | RS 11 | ||
Minimum Front Yard Setback | 22 feet (1)(2)(3)(4) | 22 feet (1)(2)(3)(4) | 1. On noncorner lots the minimum setback shall be 22 feet or the average of the front setbacks on the two nearest lots on the same side of the street, whichever is less. 2. Corner lots shall observe the minimum front yard setback requirements on one street side. A 15-foot minimum setback requirement shall be observed on the second street side. 3. The 22-foot setback shall be on the narrowest street frontage on a corner lot. 4. On through lots of 140 feet in length or less, the setback is 10 feet (see PMC 20.68.150(B)). |
Minimum Side Yard Setback | • Five feet • Three feet, accessory building 200 sq. ft. or less | • Five feet • Three feet, accessory building 200 sq. ft. or less | 1. Where a utility easement adjoins a side lot line, the setback shall be at least as wide as the easement. 2. Accessory buildings shall not occupy more than 50 percent of the width of the side yard. |
Minimum Rear Yard Setback | • Five feet • Three feet, accessory building 200 sq. ft. or less | • Five feet • Three feet, accessory building 200 sq. ft. or less | 1. Accessory buildings shall not occupy more than 50 percent of the width of the rear yard. 2. See PMC 20.92.058 regarding accessory dwelling units and accessory buildings. 3. If abutting a public alley, detached accessory dwelling units shall be exempt from these setback requirements. |
Maximum Building Lot Coverage | See PMC 20.06.100 | See PMC 20.06.100 |
|
Maximum Building Height | 1. Accessory buildings greater than 200 sq. ft. – See PMC 20.06.100 2. Accessory building 200 sq. ft. or less – 14 feet | 1. Accessory buildings greater than 200 sq. ft. – See PMC 20.06.100 2. Accessory building 200 sq. ft. or less – 14 feet | See PMC 20.06.100 for the height of accessory buildings greater than 200 sq. ft. |
Maximum Number of Accessory Dwelling Units per Lot | Two accessory dwelling units | Two accessory dwelling units | 1. In the RS 6 zone, no accessory dwelling unit will be permitted on lots with two or more principal dwelling units. |
(Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 1952 § 17, 2017).
20.40.060 Parking.
All uses shall conform to the general provisions and exceptions set forth in Chapter 20.72 PMC, Parking and Loading. (Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 1952 § 10, 2017; Ord. 485 § 4.12, 1971. Formerly 20.40.120).
20.40.070 Maximum lot coverage.
Repealed by Ord. 1952. (Ord. 485 § 4.07, 1971).
20.40.080 Corner lots.
Repealed by Ord. 1952. (Ord. 1501 § 1, 2001; Ord. 485 § 4.08, 1971).
20.40.090 Lots abutting an alley.
Repealed by Ord. 1501. (Ord. 485 § 4.09, 1971).
20.40.100 Area of interior lots.
Repealed by Ord. 1578. (Ord. 485 § 4.10, 1971).
20.40.110 Signs.
Any signs shall meet the requirements of Chapter 20.84 PMC, Sign Code. (Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 1962 § 2, 2017; Ord. 485 § 4.11, 1971).
20.40.120 Parking.
Recodified to PMC 20.40.060 by Ord. 1952. (Ord. 485 § 4.12, 1971).