Palouse City Zoning Code
§ 17.04.040
Single-unit residential district R1.
A.
Purpose of Single-Unit Residential District. Intended to establish areas for low-density residential developments consisting of detached single-unit dwellings with a maximum density of six dwelling units per acre. The purpose and intent of this district is to provide areas free from noise, hazards, dust and traffic normally associated with commercial and industrial activities. The provisions for this zone are intended to preserve existing character and value of residential neighborhoods.
B.
Principal Uses Permitted Outright. The following principal uses in the single-unit residential district (R1) shall be permitted outright:
1.
Single-family dwellings;
2.
Public schools;
3.
Parks and open space;
4.
Low-impact home-based businesses; provided, that only one outside person is employed;
5.
All agriculture, horticulture or general farming, excluding agriculture uses which would present a danger to the health or safety of neighboring residences or which would be a nuisance because of continuing noise, odor or air pollution problems, such as feed lots, fertilizer, or petroleum products storage, or commercial poultry operations;
6.
Existing telecommunication facilities and support structures.
a.
Ordinary maintenance of existing telecommunications facilities and support structures, as defined herein, shall be exempt from zoning and permitting requirements. In addition, the following facilities are not subject to the provisions of this section: (i) antennas used by residential households solely for broadcast radio and television reception; (ii) satellite antennas used solely for residential or household purposes; (iii) COWs placed for a period of not more than 120 days at any location within city of Palouse after a declaration of an emergency or a disaster; and (iv) television and AM/FM radio broadcast towers and associated facilities.
C.
Accessory Uses Permitted Outright. The following accessory uses in the single-unit residential district (R1) shall be permitted outright:
1.
Accessory uses and buildings normally incidental to the above permitted residential uses, excluding structures for the storage of farm products for eventual sale;
2.
A garage or group of garages containing space for private storage and maintenance of automobiles, excluding heavy farm and commercial equipment;
3.
Greenhouses intended for private use;
4.
Household pets and other animals kept for the private use and enjoyment of the resident as long as a nuisance, health or environmental hazard is not created (subject to rules and restrictions found in PMC Title 6 and Chapter 17.24 PMC).
5.
Household materials kept for the use of the resident as long as a nuisance, health, or environmental hazard is not created.
D.
Conditional Uses Permitted. The board of adjustment may grant conditional use permits to the following uses under such conditions that apply within this title or which may be further set forth by the board of adjustment to achieve harmony with permitted uses at the time of permit:
1.
Home occupations that employ more than one person beyond the occupants of the dwelling;
2.
Duplexes and triplexes;
3.
Churches;
4.
Fire, police, EMT facilities, or other community or public buildings necessary for government or utility functions;
5.
Temporary uses necessary for community convenience. The proposed use shall be consistent with the comprehensive plan;
6.
Child care centers;
7.
Assisted living facilities (adult family home);
8.
School's barns and stables;
9.
Temporary housing for construction purposes as defined in PMC § 17.04.020. Owner-occupied, temporary housing for property owners only during construction of a single-unit dwelling. The permit shall be limited to 180 days (six months). If an extension is needed, it must be a new application to the board of adjustment and limited to another 180 days, maximum. Only one extension may be applied for. If the approved limit has been exceeded by the owner, city utilities will be disconnected by Palouse public works staff. Additionally, at that time residing in the temporary housing will no longer be permitted. Fines may be assessed according to PMC § 1.12.010.
Before application can be made for a conditional use for temporary housing, the following criteria must be met:
a.
Building permit for the residence must be approved by the city building inspector;
b.
Only the property owner may apply for a conditional use permit to reside in temporary housing during construction of his or her single-unit dwelling;
c.
Water and sewer utilities must be extended to the property and an account set up for payment of monthly rates during construction;
10.
Wireless telecommunication facilities and support structures. Any action taken to construct or collocate a wireless telecommunication facility, tower, and/or support structure will be understood, evaluated, and processed as a "variance" by the board of adjustment. As such, all procedural actions taken by the board of adjustment will adhere to PMC § 17.04.100(C).
a.
Wireless telecommunication facility and support structure applications can be obtained at Palouse City Hall.
b.
Abandonment and Removal. If a telecommunication facility, tower and/or support structure is abandoned, and it remains abandoned for a period in excess of 12 consecutive months, the city of Palouse may require that such structure be removed only after first providing written notice to the owner of the structure and giving the owner the opportunity to take such action(s) as may be necessary to reclaim the structure within 30 days of receipt of said written notice. In the event the owner of the structure fails to reclaim the structure within the 30-day period, the owner of the structure shall be required to remove the same within six months thereafter. The city of Palouse shall ensure and enforce removal by means of its existing regulatory authority.
E.
Density, Lot Size and Setback. The following shall apply in the single-unit residential district (R1):
1.
Lot Size. Not less than 7,000 square feet for single dwelling units, except lots of record on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title having less than 7,000 square feet on that date.
2.
Setback Required. The minimum setback for all uses from the property boundaries shall be 20 feet for front yards and 10 feet for rear yards, as measured from the drip line of any improvement to the centerline of the adjacent alley, five feet for side yards except 15 feet for side yards along flanking street or corner lot.
3.
Height Limit. No building shall exceed a height of 35 feet from lowest grade.
4.
Lot Coverage Limit. For residential uses and accessory structures, maximum lot coverage shall not exceed 48 percent. Newly constructed single-family dwelling units shall have a minimum of 750 square feet of living area; duplexes shall have a minimum of 1,500 square feet; and triplexes shall have a minimum of 2,250 square feet.
5.
Home-based businesses, including storage, shall be conducted wholly within an enclosed building except for off-street parking, loading, unloading.
6.
Conditional Nonresidential Structures. Conditional nonresidential structures shall blend with the general overall appearance of existing residences by having a siding which is comparable in appearance to that of existing residences.
7.
Barns and Stables. Animal sheds, barns and stables shall be set back the same as any structure in the R1 zone. See PMC Title 6 for minimum pasture size requirements.
8.
Off-Street Parking. All uses shall conform to the off-street parking requirements of PMC § 17.04.120.
9.
Noise and Odor Levels. Noise and odor levels shall not exceed those normally expected in a residential neighborhood. Odors are addressed in PMC § 8.12.020.
F.
Prohibited Uses.
1.
There is no residing in tents, campers, or motorized vehicles for greater than 29 days per annum, except as provided in subsection (D)(9) of this section.
2.
Mini-storage business is prohibited outright.
(Ord. 922 § 1, 2014; Ord. 954 § 1, 2017)
