San Dimas City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 18
24 S-F SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE
§ 18.24.010 Purpose.
The S-F single-family zone is intended to provide for the development of single-family residential homes at urban standards, with not more than one main dwelling unit permitted on any lot or parcel.
§ 18.24.020 Uses permitted.
A.
Buildings, structures and land shall be used, and buildings and structures shall hereafter be erected, structurally altered or enlarged only for the following uses, plus such other uses as the commission may deem, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 18.192, to be similar and not more obnoxious or detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare. All uses shall be subject to the property development standards in Section 18.24.040.
B.
The following uses are permitted:
2.
Incidental Uses.
c.
Nonhabitable accessory buildings or structures, including, but not limited to, the following:
d.
Accessory dwelling unit,
e.
Junior accessory dwelling unit,
f.
Home care facilities, as described and regulated in Section 18.142.060 of this title shall apply.
(Ord. 37 § 223.02, 1961; Ord. 412 § 2, 1973; Ord. 565 § 2, 1977; Ord. 659 § 1, 1979; Ord. 747 § 1, 1981; Ord. 969 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1062 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1226 § 1, 2014; Ord. 1320, 9/23/2025)
§ 18.24.030 Uses permitted by conditional use permit.
The following uses may be permitted provided a conditional use permit is first obtained:
A.
Single-Family Dwellings Which Utilize the Side Yard Easements Treatment per Code Section 18.24.050.
1.
The side yard easements treatment refers to the grant of easements over required side yard areas to adjacent lots for open space purposes. It is the purpose of this use permitted by conditional use permit to provide added flexibility to the design of single-family dwellings on flat land. In order to further this purpose, dwellings shall be oriented to take maximum advantage of all private spaces surrounding them. Development plans permitted under this section shall be designed to insure compatibility with contiguous developments, so that well-planned neighborhoods develop from creative and imaginative site planning.
B.
Educational Institutions, Private and Public.
C.
Churches and Religious Institutions.
1.
Day care centers, day nurseries and nursery schools as an accessory use only.
D.
Golf Courses and Country Clubs and Related Driving Ranges. Driving ranges unrelated to golf courses are not permitted. In approving a golf course, the city shall be granted an easement or other interest to assure the future use of the golf course or country club as such thereby preserving such uses as open spaces. Such easement or other interest may provide for termination at the expiration of the economic life of the project with the consent of the city.
(Ord. 37 § 223.04, 1961; Ord. 412 § 2, 1973; Ord. 507 § 1, 1975; Ord. 807 § 1, 1984; Ord. 969 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1062 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1320, 9/23/2025)
§ 18.24.040 Property development standards.
The following property development standards shall apply to all lands, buildings or structures in the S-F zone:
A.
Lot Sizes. Each lot in the S-F zone shall have a minimum area measured in square feet as established by the zoning symbol, such as:
S-F 7,500 |
S-F 10,000 |
S-F 15,000 |
S-F 20,000 |
S-F 40,000 |
B.
Density.
1.
Density shall be based upon lot sizes and shall be determined by dividing the net usable area of the parcel to be subdivided or parcelized by the required lot area.
2.
"Net usable area" is defined to be that area of a parcel exclusive of streets, alleys, pole portion from a flag lot, drainage courses and public utility easements exceeding ten feet in width.
C.
Lot Dimensions. All lots hereafter created shall comply with the following minimum standards:
1.
Width. Except as hereafter otherwise set forth, each lot shall have the following minimum width, measured at each and every point between two boundaries at either side of the lot which are perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to a public right-of-way upon which the lot has frontage or to which the lot has access:
Required Area (Square Feet) | Minimum Width |
|---|---|
Less than 7,501 | 50 feet |
7,501 to 10,000 | 70 feet |
10,001 to 15,000 | 80 feet |
15,001 to 20,000 | 100 feet |
20,000 to 40,000 | 150 feet |
Greater than 40,001 | 200 feet |
The minimum width for a lot on a curvilinear street may be reduced by up to, but not more than, twenty percent, provided that the average width of such lot shall be equal to or greater than the minimum width otherwise required for that lot. The minimum width of a lot on a cul-de-sac may be reduced to thirty-five feet, provided that such lot expands to at least to the minimum width otherwise required.
The minimum width of a flag lot may be reduced to twenty feet, provided that this minimum width shall pertain solely to that portion of the flag lot (i.e. pole portion) upon which is located the right-of-way connecting the remainder of the flag lot to a public right-of-way, and further provided that the remainder of the flag lot shall meet the minimum width and area otherwise required. The pole portion of a flag lot shall not be calculated as minimum required lot size. The pole portion shall be used for access only and shall not be used for the placement of any structures.
Figure 1. Flag Lot  |
2.
Depth. There are no depth provisions.
D.
Building Height.
1.
No building or structure erected in this zone shall have a height greater than thirty-five feet or two stories, whichever is less, except that a steeple, spire or other similar projection above a building used primarily for religious purposes, may extend the total height of the structure and steeple, spire or other similar projection as high as forty-five feet, provided that the height of the steeple, spire or other similar projection is harmonious in design with the building or structure and with the surrounding neighborhood and a development plan is approved by the review authority in accordance with Chapter 18.12 of this title.
2.
Where a building or structure is erected on sloping terrain having a twenty-five percent gradient or more, the height of the building or structure shall be measured from the average of the lowest point and the highest point of contact with the ground to the highest portion of the structure.
E.
Yards.
1.
Front. Each lot or parcel of land shall have a front yard of not less than twenty feet in depth.
2.
Side. Each lot or parcel of land shall have a minimum twelve-foot side yard on the side of the lot closest to the driveway. The other side yard shall be a minimum of five feet. For side-facing garage, the director of community development shall determine the placement of the twelve and five-foot setbacks on a case-by-case determination. The twelve-foot side yard shall be maintained exclusive of any structural or other physical encroachments other than for the following:
a.
Eave overhangs or improvements (i.e. bay windows, fireplaces), which do not project more than twenty-four inches,
b.
Mechanical equipment such as air conditioning units, water softeners, solar panel equipment boxes, and/or generators must be no closer than five feet from the side property line, screened from public view to the extent physically possible, and located behind the front main building line, or an existing gate and/or wall.
c.
Sheds which do not require a building permit (i.e. less than one hundred twenty square feet, no higher than twelve feet and do not have any utilities), shall have a two-foot side yard setback from the property line. The edge of the roof must also be a minimum of twelve inches setback from property line to allow for onsite drainage.
d.
Recreational Vehicle Storage. The provisions of Section 18.156.100 of this title shall apply.
e.
The twelve-foot yard may be reduced behind the rear main building line to not less than five feet for open patios and other similar structures, pool equipment and swimming pools, and detached garages and accessory storage buildings which do not exceed one story in height. The floor area of such accessory buildings shall not exceed six hundred square feet.
3.
Rear.
a.
Regular Lots. Each lot or parcel of land shall have a minimum rear yard setback of ten feet for main habitable structures and five feet for accessory structures. The ten feet or five feet rear yard setback shall be maintained exclusive of any structural or other physical encroachments other than eave overhangs or improvements (i.e. bay windows, fireplaces), which do not project more than twenty-four inches into the required yard.
b.
Alley Loaded Lots.
i.
For garages accessed from the alley, the rear yard setback shall be three feet or twenty feet.
ii.
For garages not accessed from the alley and all other structures, the rear yard setback shall be five feet.
iii.
Eave overhangs or improvements (i.e. bay windows, fireplaces), which do not project more than twenty-four inches.
c.
Sheds which do not require a building permit (i.e. less than 120 square feet, no higher than 12 feet and do not have any utilities), shall have a two-foot rear yard setback from the property line. The edge of roof must also be a minimum of twelve inches setback from property line to allow for onsite drainage.
4.
Corner Lots. The interior side yard shall be a minimum of twelve feet in width and the side yard abutting the street shall be a minimum of five feet in width.
5.
When access to the twelve-foot side yard area is paved, a minimum side yard of three feet shall be maintained exclusive of paving adjacent to the property line. The three-foot side yard shall be improved with landscaping only within the required front yard setback.
6.
Each lot with an existing nonconforming dwelling unit may have additions placed with not less than five-foot side yards; except, where the required twelve-foot side yard exists on the original structure and can be maintained for any additions, or where the lot has legal access from a dedicated alley.
F.
Lot Coverage. The maximum lot coverage of all structures shall not exceed thirty-five percent of the total area of the lot. Notwithstanding, the following:
1.
Any lot with a required area of less than seven thousand five hundred square feet pursuant to this chapter may have a lot coverage from thirty-five to no more than forty percent provided that all structures on the subject property do not exceed one story.
2.
Lot coverage shall be calculated based on roof area and overhead structures such as dwelling units, garages, trellis, patios, and similar structures, but not patio slabs, hardscape, driveways, swimming pools or spas, and shall be measured from the exterior walls and posts of all structures.
3.
For storage sheds, the provisions of Chapter 18.20.210 shall apply.
G.
Fences and Walls. The provisions of Chapter 18.20.110 shall apply.
I.
Recreational Vehicle Storage. The provisions of Section 18.156.100 of this title shall apply.
§ 18.24.050 Property development standards involving side yard easements.
The following property development standards shall apply to single-family developments utilizing side yard easements.
A.
Yards.
1.
Front. There shall be a minimum front yard setback of twenty feet with a straight-in driveway, and a fifteen-foot setback with a swing-in driveway.
2.
Side. There shall be a side yard of five feet minimum on each side of the dwelling, one of which shall be granted as an easement to the adjacent neighbor to accomplish a minimum ten-foot side yard on one side of each lot.
3.
Rear. There shall be a rear yard setback of ten feet minimum.
4.
The house design and floor plan shall take advantage of the space created.
C.
Walls and Fences. Retaining walls, where necessary, garden walls and fences shall be constructed between all lots to guarantee privacy and encourage maximum use of outdoor areas.
D.
Maximum Lot Coverage. Structures and paving shall not exceed sixty percent of the individual lot area.
G.
Utilities. All utility services shall be installed underground.
H.
Lighting. All lighting shall be located in a manner such that it will not reflect upon adjoining areas.
I.
Refuse Storage. A provision shall be made for individual or collective storage containers on the development plan.
J.
Recreational Vehicle Storage. The provisions of Section 18.156.100 of this title shall apply.
K.
Open Green Areas. A minimum of forty percent of the total lot area shall be usable open space with no dimension less than ten feet, which shall not include streets, vehicular accessways or parking areas.