D. The word “permitted” means permitted without the requirement for a use permit, but subject to all applicable regulations.

E. The words “conditionally permitted” mean permitted subject to the granting of a conditional use permit, and subject to all other applicable regulations.

“Accessory use, structure, or building” means a use or structure subordinate to the principal use of a lot, or of a principal building on the same lot, and serving a purpose clearly incidental to a permitted principal use of the lot or of the building, and which accessory use or structure is typically associated, or otherwise is compatible with the principal permitted uses and/or structures authorized under zoning regulations applicable to the property. Accessory dwelling units allowed for in this title shall not be considered accessory structures or buildings. In residential districts, accessory buildings are permitted only if constructed simultaneously with or subsequent to the same main building on the same lot. Also see definition of “secondary use.”

In residential districts accessory buildings are allowed; provided, that they conform to the requirements as follows:

Accessory Use Types. In addition to the principal uses expressly included therein, each use classification type shall be deemed to include such uses as are customarily associated with and are appropriate, incidental, and subordinate to, such a principal use. Such accessory uses include, but are not limited to, the uses indicated below:

“Advertising message” means that copy of a sign describing products or services being offered.

“Affordable housing” means housing affordable to households with very low, low, or moderate incomes as defined in this chapter.

“Affordable housing project” means a housing development in which all of the units are deed-restricted for occupancy to very low-, low-, and moderate-income households. In nonresidential districts, such projects may include up to 25 percent of nonresidential square footage.

“Agriculture, indoor growing or harvesting” means the growing and harvesting of shrubs, plants, flowers, trees, vines, fruits, vegetables, hay, grain, and similar food and fiber crops in a greenhouse, warehouse, or other structure.

“Agriculture, outdoor growing or harvesting” means the growing and harvesting of shrubs, plants, trees, flowers, vines, fruits, vegetables, hay, grain and similar food and fiber crops outdoors.

“Alcoholic beverage tasting establishment” means a retail establishment that primarily sells one or more alcoholic beverage (wine, cidery, or distilled spirits) on behalf of one or more wineries, cideries, or distilleries and enables consumers to taste wine, cider, or distilled spirits, either with or without charge, as a regular part of the sales business, and may include incidental sales of other retail items.

“Alley” means a dedicated public way intended primarily to provide secondary vehicular access to abutting properties.

“Alteration” means any enlargement, addition, relocation, repair, remodeling, change in the number of dwelling units, development of or change in an open area, but excluding painting, ordinary maintenance for which no building permit is required, and demolition or removal.

“Animal, domestic” means a small animal of the type generally accepted as household pets, including dogs, rabbits, goats, cats, birds, and the like, but not including bees, roosters, hens, ducks, geese, poultry, sheep, swine, horses, cattle and the like, or other animals determined by the Planning Commission to be inappropriate as a household pet, either generally or in a particular situation or setting.

“Animal hospital” means an establishment for the care and treatment of animals, including veterinary offices, where all facilities are within an enclosed building, except for any exercise runs.

“Animal hospital, office only” means an establishment for the care and treatment of animals, including veterinary offices, where all facilities are within an enclosed building, and there are no exterior animal-related uses such as dog runs or kennels.

“Applicant” means any person, firm, partnership, association, or any other entity which seeks City permits and approvals, including individual owner, managing partner, officer of a corporation, or any other operator, manager, employee, or agent of an entity required to file an application for a permit under this title.

“Artist work studios and arts-related fabrication” means a work space for artists and artisans, including individuals practicing one of the fine arts or performing arts, or skilled in an applied art or craft. There may be incidental retail sales of items produced on the premises. This category may also include incidental instruction.

“Authorized agent” means the person specifically authorized by an owner to represent and act on behalf of the owner and to act as an operator, manager, and contact person of a nonhosted vacation rental, and to provide and receive any notices identified in this section on behalf of the owner, applicant, permittee, or authorized agent.

“Automotive gas or fueling station ” means a retail business selling gasoline and/or other fossil fuel-based motor vehicle fuels, and related products.

Automotive Sales, Service, and Repair. Automotive sales, repair, and service uses include the following uses, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission:

“Bed and breakfast inn” means a residential structure in which guests are lodged on an overnight basis for compensation, and in which meals may be served in conjunction with said lodging. There shall be a maximum of five guest rooms in residential zones and 10 guest rooms in nonresidential zones. Residential structures with two or fewer guest rooms for rent are exempt from the requirements for bed and breakfast inns.

“Bedroom” means a private room in a dwelling unit planned and intended for sleeping, separated from other rooms by a door, accessible to a bathroom without crossing another bedroom, and having a closet for clothing storage and other related purposes.

“Beekeeping, amateur” means an apiary site made or prepared for the use of bees which is owned and operated by a person who possesses nine or fewer colonies and is not in the business of beekeeping.

“Beekeeping, commercial” means an apiary site made or prepared for the use of bees which is owned and operated by a person, persons, or businesses who possesses nine or greater colonies and is in the business of beekeeping.

“Boarding or lodging house” means a residential structure, other than a hotel or motel, in which lodging and/or meals for three or more persons is provided for compensation, whether directly or indirectly.

“Building” means any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls, used or intended to be used for the shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, or property.

“Building frontage” means the width of a building fronting on a street, excluding alleys, service ways and private accesses.

“Building inspector” means the building official or his duly authorized deputy assistant.

“Building, main” means a building in which is conducted the principal use of the lot or parcel on which it is situated.

“Building site” means a lot or parcel of land, in single or joint ownership, and occupied or to be occupied by a main building and accessory buildings or by a dwelling group and its accessory buildings, together with such open spaces as are required by the terms of this title and having its principal frontage on a street, road, or highway.

“Business frontage” means that primary frontage within a parcel of land such as in a shopping center which is the user’s place of business. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Canopy or marquee” means a permanent roof-like shelter extending from part or all of a building face over a public right-of-way and constructed of some durable material such as metal, glass, plastic, or wood.

“City” means the City of Sebastopol.

“Combining district” means a zoning district that is applied in combination with other district designations.

“Commercial use” means a use that involves the exchange of cash, goods or services, barter, forgiveness of indebtedness, or any other remuneration in exchange for goods, services, lodging, meals, entertainment in any form, or the right to occupy space over a period of time.

Community Assembly Civic Uses. “Community assembly civic uses” include the activities typically performed by, or at, the following institutions or installations and similar uses as determined by the Planning Commission:

“Community care facility” means a facility, place or building which is maintained and operated to provide nonmedical residential care, day care, or home finding agency services for children, adults, or children and adults, including, but not limited to, the physically handicapped, mentally impaired, or incompetent persons, developmentally disabled, mentally disordered children and adults, court wards and dependents, neglected or emotionally disturbed children, alcohol- or drug-addicted children or adults, battered adults or children, and aged persons and serves 13 or more persons.

Community Care Residential.

Community Education Civic Uses.

“Community garden” means an area of land used to grow and harvest noncommercial food crops by individuals or collectively by members of a group and may be arranged into multiple plots.

Community Nonassembly Civic Uses. Community nonassembly cultural civic uses include the activities performed by the following institutions and similar uses as determined by the Planning Commission:

“Conditional use” means a use of property that may be permitted only by conditional use permit and which use must comply with all terms and conditions of the permit.

“Conditional use permit” means a permit which may be granted under the provisions of this code and which, when granted, authorizes a particular use to be made of a particular premises, subject to compliance with all the terms and conditions contained in the permit.

Convenience Sales and Service. Convenience sales and service uses include the following uses, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission:

Demolition. For the purposes of this title, “demolition” involves the whole or substantial removal of a structure or part thereof as determined by the Building Official and Planning Director. The City shall generally consider a structure to have been demolished if at least one-half of its exterior walls have been removed.

“Developer” shall mean a person, firm, corporation, partnership, or agency who proposes to divide, subdivide, or construct improvements on, real property for oneself or for others.

“Development agreement” means an agreement that is between the City and any person having a legal or equitable interest in real property for the development of the property and that conforms to the requirements of the SMC and Government Code Sections 65864 through 65869.5.

“District” means a portion of the City within which certain uses of land and buildings are permitted or prohibited and within which certain yards and other open spaces are required and certain height limits are established for buildings, as set forth and specified in this code. The application of a district to a parcel may be referred to as “zoning” and references to the application of a district to a parcel may be referred to as “zoned.”

“District, base” means the primary district applied to a parcel or portion thereof.

“District, combining” means a district whose regulations supplement or supersede one or more of the regulations of the base zoning district.

“Downtown” means the area shown in Figure 17.08-1.

“Drive-through use” means an establishment that sells products or provides services to occupants in vehicles, including drive-in or drive-up windows and drive-through services whether with an attendant or employee or by automation. This includes nonrestaurant drive-through uses, as well as restaurant drive-through uses. A drive-through business that serves a use not related to a restaurant, fast-food restaurant or formula fast-food restaurant includes the operation of a drive-through service at a bank or financial institution, food sales, personal services, and retail sales (e.g., department store, pharmacy). Drive-through restaurants include drive-through businesses that operate in conjunction with a restaurant, fast-food restaurant or formula fast-food restaurant. Drive-through uses are prohibited, except for specified existing uses. This definition does not encompass automotive service stations, oil change businesses, car washes, or similar uses as determined by the Planning Commission.

“Dwelling” or “dwelling unit” means a room or group of internally connected, habitable rooms that have sleeping, cooking, and sanitation facilities, but not more than one kitchen occupied by or intended for one household on a long-term basis. A “dwelling” is the same as an independent housekeeping unit.

“Dwelling, accessory” (same as “accessory dwelling unit” or “second unit”) means a residential dwelling unit which provides complete independent living facilities and includes permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same parcel as another dwelling is situated. Accessory dwelling units may be constructed within, be attached to, or be detached from the principal dwelling unit. An accessory dwelling unit shall not be considered an accessory structure or building.

“Dwelling groups” means a group of two or more detached or semi-attached, one-family, two-family, or multifamily dwellings occupying a parcel of land, in one ownership and having any yard or court in common.

“Dwelling, multifamily” means a building or portion thereof, which is designed, built, rented, leased, let, or hired out to be occupied, or which is occupied as the same residence of two or more families living independently of each other and doing their own cooking in such building.

“Dwelling, permanent” means a room or group of internally connected rooms that have sleeping, cooking, and sanitation facilities, but not more than one kitchen, which constitutes an independent housekeeping unit, occupied by or intended for one or more permanent residents on a long-term basis (30 days or more), and is constructed on a permanent foundation, with permanent utility connections.

“Dwelling, single-family” means a detached or attached building designed for, or used exclusively for, residence purposes by one household, which includes facilities for sleeping, cooking, living, and sanitation. All single-family dwellings shall meet the following minimum standards:

“Dwelling, temporary” means a detached structure that is designed or used for residence purposes by one household, may be moved under its own power, towed, or on a trailer, is not attached to a permanent foundation, and is not occupied on a permanent basis. Temporary dwellings are limited to the following:

“Dwelling, two-family” means a building containing not more than two kitchens and that is designed and/or used to house not more than two families, living independently of each other.

Dwelling Unit, Principal. A “principal dwelling unit” or “principal unit” is an existing or proposed single-family home, duplex, triplex, apartment house, or condominium. A principal dwelling unit must be located on the same parcel as a proposed accessory dwelling unit. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Employee housing (agricultural)” means housing for commercial agricultural employees as described in Health and Safety Code Sections 17021.5 and 17021.6, and employee housing as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 17008 and the other applicable provisions of the Employees Housing Act at Health and Safety Code Section 17000 et seq., and to include a residential safety management plan.

“Employee housing (six or fewer employees)” means employee housing, as defined by Health and Safety Code Section 17008, for six or fewer employees. Employee housing (six or fewer employees) that is consistent with Health and Safety Code Section 17021.5 is considered a residential use of property and shall be subject only to those restrictions that apply to other residential dwellings of the same type (e.g., single-family dwelling, multifamily, etc.) in the same zone.

“Exercise facilities” means a training facility, including health clubs, that may include exercise equipment for the purpose of physical exercise by human beings, and may provide instruction in weight training, bodybuilding, yoga, and cardiovascular training, as well as general health and fitness instruction.

Extensive Commercial. Extensive commercial uses include the following uses, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission:

Extensive Impact Civic Uses. “Extensive impact uses” include the activities typically performed by, or the maintenance and operation of, public and public utility corporation yards, reservoirs and water tanks, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Factory-built housing” is defined by State law. See Government Code Section 19971.

“Family” means the same as “household.”

Family Day Care Homes.

“Farmers’ market, outdoor” consists of a certified California farmers’ market, pursuant to the requirements of Division 17, Chapter 10.5, Article 1 of the Food and Agricultural Code and Title 3, Division 3, Chapter 1, Subchapter 4, Article 6.5 of the California Code of Regulations, or their successor provisions, which is held outdoors.

“Flood elevation, 100-year” means flood hazard areas identified on the FEMA flood insurance rate map which are identified as special flood hazard areas (SFHA). SFHA are defined as the area that will be inundated by the flood event having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The one percent annual chance flood is also referred to as the base flood or 100-year flood.

“Floor area” means the total of the gross horizontal areas of all floors, including usable basements and cellars, within the outer surfaces of the exterior walls of buildings, or the centerlines of party walls separating such buildings or portions thereof, but not including any area within the building utilized for off-street parking spaces. If exterior walls exceed 12 inches in thickness, the calculation may be performed using an assumed wall thickness of 12 inches.

“Floor area ratio (FAR)” means the measure of the intensity of nonresidential uses which is the maximum gross floor area of a building permitted on a site divided by the total area of the site, expressed in decimals to one or two places.

Food Sales. Food sales uses include stores that sell food, such as a vegetable and fruit store, bakery, and meat market.

“Frontage” means a front lot line; also the length thereof.

“Frontage of property” means any lineal dimension of a parcel of property abutting on a public street or way. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

Group Home. See “Community care facility.” (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Habitat and/or wildlife conservation” means the management and conservation of an area with sensitive ecological habitat, wildlife habitat, or other environmental resources.

“Health care civic uses” include the activities typically performed by the following institutions, and similar uses as determined by the Planning Commission:

“Health care facility” means a facility, place or building which is maintained and operated to provide health care. Health care facilities shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, clinics, and home health agencies, all of which are licensed by the State Department of Health Services, and defined in the Health and Safety Code.

“Height, building” means the maximum allowable height shall be measured as the vertical distance from the natural grade of the site to an imaginary plane located the allowed number of feet above and parallel to the grade. The natural grade shall not be artificially raised to gain additional building height.

“Home occupation” means an accessory activity of a nonresidential nature, which is performed within a living unit, accessory structure located on the premises, or within a garage attached thereto and reserved therefor, by an occupant of the living unit, and which is customarily incidental to the residential use of the living unit.

“Homeless shelter” means a residential facility operated by a provider which provides temporary accommodations to persons or families with low income for a period of generally not more than six months. Such use may also provide meals, counseling and other services, as well as common area for users of the facility. Such facility may have individual rooms, but is not developed with individual dwelling units.

“Hostel” means a place where travelers may stay for a limited duration at low cost in a facility that is licensed or otherwise recognized by a national or international hostel organization that may include dormitory-like sleeping accommodations.

“Hotel” means a residential building other than a bed and breakfast inn containing six or more guest rooms which are used, rented or hired for sleeping purposes by transient guests or travelers for generally less than 30 consecutive days. Such uses may also include accessory uses such as beauty and barber shops, restaurants, florists, small shops, and indoor athletic facilities. Hotel includes “motel” uses.

“Household” means one or more persons, whether or not related by blood, marriage or adoption, jointly occupying a dwelling unit in a living arrangement characterized by the sharing of common living areas, including area and facilities for food preparation. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Incidental food service” means a retail use for the on-site consumption of food and/or beverages where less than 250 square feet (interior and exterior) is utilized for on-site consumption of any food or beverage, including seating, counter space, or other eating arrangement.

“Industrial, general” includes the following uses, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission:

“Industrial, heavy” includes the following uses, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission:

“Industrial, light” includes the following uses, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission:

“Inhabited area” means any residence, any other structure regularly occupied by people, or any outdoor area used by people on a regular basis. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Junior accessory dwelling unit” means a unit that is no more than 500 square feet in size and contained entirely within an existing single-family structure. A junior accessory dwelling unit may include separate sanitation facilities, or may share sanitation facilities with the existing structure.

“Junk yard” means the use of more than 100 square feet of the area of any lot or the use of any portion of that half of any lot, which half adjoins any street for the storage of junk, including scrap metals, salvage or other scrap materials or for the dismantling or “wrecking” of automobiles or other vehicles, or machinery, whether for sale or storage. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Kennel, animal boarding” means a commercial facility for the grooming, keeping, boarding or maintaining of five or more domestic animals (four months of age or older), except for dogs or cats or domestic animals for sale in pet shops, or patients in animal hospitals.

“Kitchen” shall mean a room, space, or area with equipment for the preparation and cooking of food. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Laboratory” means a facility for testing, analysis, and/or research. Examples of this use include medical labs, soils and materials testing labs, and forensic labs.

“Live-work” means a residential use providing an integrated housing unit and work space, occupied by a single household, that accommodates joint residential occupancy and work activity, and which includes complete kitchen space and sanitary facilities as well as working space reserved for and regularly used by one or more occupants of the unit in conjunction with an approved home occupation. The nonresidential ground floor portion of the unit shall comprise no less than one-third of the ground floor space, not including stairwells.

“Loading space” means an off-street space or berth on the same lot with a building or contiguous to a group of buildings, for the temporary parking of vehicles while loading or unloading merchandise or materials.

“Lot” means a recorded lot or parcel of real property under single ownership, lawfully created as required by the applicable Subdivision Map Act and City ordinance requirements, including this title and SMC Title 16, Subdivisions.

“Lot area” means the area of a lot measured horizontally between bounding lot lines.

“Lot, corner (exterior)” means a lot situated at the intersection of two or more streets which streets have an angle or intersection of not more than 135 degrees.

“Lot coverage” means the maximum area of a lot, expressed as a percentage of a lot’s total area, that may be encumbered by structures over 30 inches in height, exclusive of eaves, cornices and the like. Wheelchair ramps and lifts and other features providing access for the disabled, open arbors, and solar energy equipment shall not be considered lot coverage.

“Lot, flag” means a lot having only its access strip fronting on a public street.

“Lot, interior” means a lot other than a corner lot.

“Lot, key” means an interior lot adjacent to a corner lot, the side line of which is contiguous with the rear lot line of the corner lot.

“Lot line” means the property line bounding the lot:

“Lot, through” means a lot, other than a corner lot, having frontage on two parallel, or approximately parallel, streets. The “front” yard of a through lot shall be the street frontage from which the residence is addressed, or in the case of a vacant lot, the street frontage from which the neighboring properties are addressed.

“Lot width” means the horizontal distance between the side lot lines, measured at right angles to the lot depth at a point midway between the front and the rear lot lines.

“Low-income housing” means housing that is affordable to a household whose combined income is at or between 50 percent to 80 percent of the median income for Sonoma County, as established by HUD or the State Department of Housing and Community Development.

“Lumberyard” means an area used for the storage, distribution, and sale of lumber and lumber products, but not including the manufacture, remanufacture, or fabrication of lumber, lumber products or firewood. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Manufactured housing” has the same meaning as “manufactured home” as defined by State law. See Government Code Section 18007.

“Manufacturing, commercial” means the fabrication, processing, assembly, or blending of organic or inorganic materials and/or substances into new products and are usually directed to the wholesale market or industrial uses. Commercial manufacturing uses include the following uses, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission:

“Mechanical equipment” includes electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, cooking, air conditioning, and pool and spa equipment.

“Mezzanine” means an intermediate floor, placed within a room, open to a room below it, the area of which does not exceed one-third of the floor below. A mezzanine shall not be considered a story.

Mixed-Use Residential. Mixed-use residential uses include the allowance of permanent residential uses such as multifamily residences or live-work dwelling units in conjunction with nonresidential uses allowed in the zoning district; or in the case of planned community projects as a separate but integral part of a commercial and/or industrial development and where, generally, the residential square footage does not exceed more than 85 percent nor less than 25 percent of the square footage of the project.

“Mobile food truck” means a motorized vehicle or trailer towed by a motorized vehicle from which food or drink (prepared on site or pre-packaged) is sold or served to the general public, whether consumed on site or elsewhere. They are retail food facilities and health regulated businesses subject to Chapter 17.355 SMC.

“Mobile home” is defined by State law. See Government Code Section 18008.

“Mobile home park” means an area or parcel of land where one or more mobile home lots are rented, available for rent, owned, or available for sale.

“Moderate-income housing” means housing affordable to households whose combined income is above 80 percent and at or below 120 percent of the median income for Sonoma County, as established by HUD or the State Department of Housing and Community Development.

Motel. See “Hotel.” (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Nameplate” means a nonilluminated sign not exceeding two square feet in area identifying only the name and occupation or profession of the occupant of the premises on which the sign is located.

“Neighborhood food sales and service” means food sales and service that is oriented to offices, residential and commercial uses located in the immediate vicinity of the establishment. Such establishments cannot exceed 1,600 square feet in size, must be pedestrian oriented and without drive-through features, and may have no more than 25 square feet of signage on the premises.

“Nicotine, tobacco or smoke shops, vape shops” means any store, stand, booth, concession, or other place at which sales of tobacco, tobacco products, nicotine products, or smoking devices or accessories are made to purchasers for consumption or use.

“NIER” means nonionizing electromagnetic radiation (i.e., electromagnetic radiation primarily in the visible, infrared, and radio frequency portions of the electromagnetic spectrum).

“Nonconforming structure/building” means a structure or a portion thereof which was lawfully erected and which has been lawfully maintained, but which, because of the application of the provisions of this code, no longer conforms to the regulations and requirements of the district in which it is located.

“Nonconforming use” means a use of land or of a structure which was lawfully established and has been lawfully maintained but which, because of the application of the provisions of this code, no longer conforms to the regulations and requirements of the district in which it is located. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

Office. Office uses include the following uses, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission:

“Open space, usable” means outdoor area on the ground, or other features such as a roof, balcony, deck, or porch which is designed and used for outdoor living, recreation, pedestrian access, or landscaping. Does not include off-street parking areas.

“Outdoor barbecue, commercial” means any outdoor facility for cooking food directly over hot coals, gas or other means, smoking food, or other similar methods and where the food is intended to be sold or distributed for commercial purposes.

“Overlay district” means a zoning district that overlays and replaces the prior district. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Parapet or parapet wall” means that portion of a building wall that rises above the roof level.

“Parcel of property” means any real property shown on the latest adopted tax roll as a unit, or as contiguous units under common ownership.

“Park, community” means a publicly owned outdoor recreation facility for use by local residents or visitors to nearby establishments and may include trails, picnic areas, sports fields and facilities, a swimming pool, water play area, and playground facilities. The community park use does not include “sports park” uses.

“Park, sports” or “sports facility” means a privately owned indoor or outdoor recreation facility that is provided for organized, competitive use and may include soccer fields, golf courses, sports courts, multiple swimming or diving pools, and similar uses.

“Parking facility, public or commercial” means freestanding parking lots or structures operated by the City or a private entity. Does not include towing impound and storage facilities.

“Passive recreational area” means an area that is generally open space, is publicly accessible, and has minimal development. Minimal development includes trails, benches, and parking areas, but does not include active recreation facilities, such as playgrounds and ball fields.

“Planning staff” means Planning Director, City Planner, Planning Consultant, or other person appointed by the City Manager to serve as the City’s planning staff.

“Plant nursery” means a commercial agricultural establishment engaged in the production of ornamental plants and other nursery products, grown under cover either in containers or in the soil on the site, or outdoors in containers. Also includes establishments engaged in the sale of these products (e.g., wholesale and retail nurseries) and commercial-scale greenhouses. The sale of house plants or other nursery products entirely within a building is also included under retail.

“Premise or premises” means a parcel of property.

“Public service use or facility” means a use operated or used by a public body or public utility in connection with any of the following services: water, wastewater management, public education, parks and recreation, library, fire and police protection, solid waste management, or utilities.

“Public view” means, for antennas and the like, where some portion of the minor antenna or telecommunications facility will be visible from a public street or public place, or from four or more adjoining private properties. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Quasi-public use” means a use serving the public at large, and operated by a private entity under a franchise or other similar governmental authority designed to promote the interests of the general public or operated by a recognized civic organization for the benefit of the general public. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Readily visible” means an object that stands out as a prominent feature of the landscape when viewed with the naked eye.

“Recreational vehicle” (RV) means a motor home, travel trailer, truck camper, or camping trailer, with or without motive power, originally designed for human habitation for recreational, emergency, or other occupancy, which:

“Research and development” means a facility for scientific research, and the design, development and testing of electrical, electronic, magnetic, medical, biotechnical, optical and computer, telecommunications, food and drink, or comparable components or products in advance of product manufacturing, and the assembly of related products from parts produced off site, where the manufacturing activity is secondary to the research and development activities. Research and development includes maker spaces where shared manufacturing tools, such as 3-D printers, laser cutters, and other art and craft supplies are used for the invention and fabrication of physical products, but not for mass production.

Residential Uses, Permanent. “Permanent residential uses” include the occupancy of living accommodations on a 30-day or longer basis, and similar uses as determined by the Planning Commission.

Residential Uses, Semi-Transient. “Semi-transient residential uses” include the occupancy of living accommodations partly on a weekly or longer basis and partly for a shorter time period, under the same ownership or management, and similar uses as determined by the Planning Commission.

Residential Uses, Transient. “Transient residential uses” include the following residential uses occupied primarily on an overnight or less-than-weekly basis, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission. Also see “Hotel,” “Hostel” and “Bed and breakfast inn” definitions.

“Restaurant” means a use providing preparation and retail sale and consumption of food and beverages, including dining establishments, cafes, coffee shops, sandwich shops, ice cream parlors, and similar uses, except for uses qualifying as incidental food service. “Restaurant” includes the following categories:

“Restaurant, walk-up” means an establishment that, by design of its physical facilities, service, or packaging, encourages or permits pedestrians to receive food service or obtain food products without entering the establishment.

Retail Sales. Retail sales uses include the following uses, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission:

“Retail use” means an establishment or other use that does not fit into the “retail sales, general” category where the sale of goods or merchandise to the general public takes place.

“Roof line” means the top edge of the roof (ridge) or top of the parapet, whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Satellite dish” means any device incorporating a reflective surface that is solid, open mesh, or bar configured that is shallow dish, cone, horn, or cornucopia shaped and is used to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals. This definition is meant to include, but is not limited to, what are commonly referred to as satellite earth stations, TVROs and satellite microwave antennas.

“Satellite earth station” means a telecommunications facility consisting of more than a single satellite dish smaller than 10 feet in diameter that transmits to and/or receives signals from an orbiting satellite.

“School” means an institution of learning for minors, whether public or private, offering a regular course of instruction required by the Education Code. This definition includes an elementary school, middle or junior high school, senior high school, or any special institution of education, but it does not include a vocational or professional institution of higher education, including a junior college and any other college or university.

“Secondary use” means a use or activity which is incidental and subordinate to the principal use of the site or a primary building on the site, and does not alter the principal use of such parcel or building.

“Senior housing” means age-restricted residential housing that is designed, intended and operated for occupancy by persons 55 years of age or older. At least 80 percent of the occupied units shall be occupied by at least one person who is 55 years of age or older, consistent with Federal and State law requirements.

“Shared parking” means parking spaces that are generally available for users, and not reserved for one specific use, such as in mixed-use areas, where parking spaces for retail uses are available in the evening for residents.

“Shopping center” means primarily retail commercial site with three or more separate businesses sharing common pedestrian and parking areas.

“Sign” means a visual communications device used to convey a message to its viewer.

“Sign, abandoned” means a sign which no longer directs, advertises or identifies a legal business establishment, product or activity on the premises where such sign is displayed or shows a correct direction.

“Sign, animated” means any sign which includes action or motion. Not applicable to flashing or changing signs.

“Sign, area identification” means a permanent sign used to identify a neighborhood, subdivision, shopping district, industrial district, agricultural district or any special community area.

“Sign area, total aggregate” means the combined total display area of copy for each sign located on the premises.

“Sign, attached” means a wall, fascia, window or other sign affixed to a building.

“Sign, awning” means signage located anywhere on an awning or similar rigid or nonrigid canopy projecting from the wall of a building.

“Sign, banner” means a temporary sign composed of lightweight material either enclosed or not enclosed in a rigid frame, secured or mounted so as to allow movement of the sign by the wind.

“Sign, changeable copy” means a sign on which copy is changed manually or electrically but not limited to time, temperature and date.

“Sign, construction” means a temporary sign identifying the persons, firms or businesses directly connected with a construction project.

“Sign, development project” means a temporary sign identifying a proposed development project, or one which is under construction.

“Sign, directional” means a sign designed to guide or direct pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

“Sign, double-faced” means a freestanding or projecting sign with two sign faces back-to-back facing in opposite directions.

“Sign face” means the entire face of a sign on which copy could be placed.

“Sign, flashing” means any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light source, or which includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing light by means of animation, or externally mounted light source.

“Sign, freestanding,” also referred to as “ground sign,” “monument sign,” “detached sign” or “pole sign,” means a sign erected on a freestanding frame, or support, mast or pole and not attached to a building or other structure.

“Sign, freestanding, height” means the vertical distance by which the top of the sign extends above the average elevation of the natural grade.

“Sign, identification” means a sign which is limited to the name, address and number of a building, institution or person and to the activity carried on in the building or institution, or the occupation of the person.

“Sign, incidental” means a small sign pertaining to hours of operation, goods, products, services or facilities which are available on the premises where the sign occurs and intended primarily for the convenience of the public.

“Sign, memorial” means a sign, table or plaque memorializing a person, event, structure or site.

“Sign, modular” means a freestanding or projecting sign, other than a double-faced sign, which has more than one sign face.

“Sign, multi-tenant” means a sign identifying the individual use or tenants in a multiple-occupancy building or in a building group.

“Sign, nonconforming (legal)” means an advertising structure or sign which was lawfully erected and maintained prior to the formal adoption of a sign ordinance and any amendments thereto, and presently fails to conform to all applicable regulations and restrictions of the ordinance.

“Sign, off-premises” means a sign including but not limited to billboards that advertise goods, products, services or facilities or direct persons to a different location from where the sign is installed.

“Sign, on-premises” means any sign identifying or advertising a business, person, activity, goods, products or services located on the premises where the sign is installed and maintained.

Sign, Pole. See “Sign, freestanding.”

“Sign, political” means a temporary sign announcing or supporting political candidates or issues in connection with any national, State or local election.

“Sign, portable” means any sign not attached to the ground or a building (such as a sandwich board or A-frame sign).

“Sign, projecting” means a sign which is attached to and projects from the structure or building face.

“Sign, public service information” means any sign intended primarily to promote items of general interest to the community such as time, temperature, date, atmospheric conditions, news or traffic control, etc.

“Sign, real estate or property” means any sign pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of land or buildings. Usually a temporary sign.

“Sign, roof” means any sign erected upon, against, or above a roof line.

“Sign, rotating or moving” means any sign or portion of a sign which moves in a revolving or other manner.

“Sign, special event” means a sign advertising or pertaining to any civic, patriotic or special event of general public interest taking place within the City.

“Sign, temporary” means a sign which is not permanently affixed and which is posted for no longer than 30 days. Any other device constructed of lightweight material used for the purpose of conveying a message.

“Sign, temporary automotive service station” means a temporary sign such as merchandise display signs, promotions, and signs located on the fuel pumps.

“Sign, temporary window” means a sign painted on the window or constructed of paper, cloth or other like material and attached to the interior or exterior side of window or glass area. Does not include display merchandise.

“Sign, unlawful” means a sign which contravenes this title or which a public official may declare unlawful if it becomes dangerous or a traffic hazard to public safety; a nonconforming sign for which a permit required under a previous ordinance was not obtained.

“Sign, wall” means a sign attached to or erected against a wall of a building. Any sign affixed in such a way that its exposed face is parallel to the plane of the building.

“Single room occupancy housing” means multifamily residential buildings containing housing units with a minimum floor area of 150 square feet and a maximum floor area of 375 square feet which may have kitchen and/or bathroom facilities, and where each housing unit is restricted to occupancy by no more than two persons and is offered on a monthly rental basis or longer. Such units shall count as one-half a unit for purposes of calculating densities.

“Storage, personal or vehicle” means (1) structure or structures containing individual, compartmentalized stalls or lockers rented as individual storage spaces and characterized by low parking demand, and (2) a service facility (maybe covered) for the long-term rental of space for storage of operative cars, trucks, buses, recreational vehicles, and other motor vehicles.

“Story” means that portion of a building included between two consecutive floors of a building or the portion between a floor and the roof. A basement shall not be considered a story if the finished floor above it does not exceed six feet above natural grade for more than 50 percent of the total perimeter of the building, provided the finished floor above the basement is not more than 12 feet above grade at any point.

“Street” means a public or private thoroughfare which affords principal means of access to abutting property, except an alley as defined herein.

“Structural alteration” means any change in the supporting members of a building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders, which change requires the issuance of a building permit.

“Structure” means anything which is constructed or erected, and which is located on the ground or is attached to something having location on the ground.

“Studio unit” means a dwelling unit other than a single room occupancy unit that does not have a separate bedroom, and is equal to or less than 600 square feet in floor area. Such units shall count as one-half a dwelling unit for purposes of calculating densities.

“Supportive housing” means housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied by the target population, and that is linked to an on-site or off-site service that assists 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 (Government Code Section 65582(f)). Supportive housing is considered a residential use of property, and shall be subject only to those restrictions that apply to other residential dwellings of the same type in the same zone. (Ord. 1123 Exh. A § 1, 2019; Ord. 1122 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Tandem parking” means a group of two parking spaces arranged one behind the other where one space blocks access to the other space.

“Target population” means persons with low incomes who have one or more disabilities, including mental illness, HIV or AIDS, substance abuse, or other chronic health condition, or individuals eligible for services provided pursuant to the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare and Institutions Code) and may include, among other populations, adults, emancipated minors, families with children, elderly persons, young adults aging out of the foster care system, individuals exiting from institutional settings, veterans, and homeless people. (Government Code Section 65582(g)).

“Temporary care unit” means a manufactured home, recreational vehicle, or park trailer used as a temporary dwelling unit associated with providing care to one or more persons due to an age-related, health, or medical condition. The dwelling may be used by the person(s) providing care or by the person(s) needing care.

Transient. Transient uses include the following residential uses, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission. Such uses may also include accessory uses such as beauty and barber shops, restaurants, florists, and small shops

“Transitional commercial site” means a parcel of land located within the CN, CO, CG or CH District, which is adjacent to any residential district.

“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 six months from the beginning of the assistance (Government Code Section 65582(h)). Transitional housing is considered a residential use of property, and shall be subject only to those restrictions that apply to other residential dwellings of the same type (e.g., single-family dwelling, multifamily, etc.) in the same zone. (Ord. 1123 Exh. A § 1, 2019; Ord. 1122 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Utility civic uses” include the maintenance and operation of the following installations and similar uses as determined by the Planning Commission:

“Vacation rental” means any transient occupancy use of 30 days or less of a dwelling unit or accessory dwelling unit for which the City has issued a vacation rental permit pursuant to this section. The term “vacation rental” shall be used to include all hosted vacation rentals and all nonhosted vacation rentals.

“Very low-income housing” means housing affordable to a household whose combined income is less than 50 percent of the median income for Sonoma County as established by HUD or the State Department of Housing and Community Development. (Ord. 1111, 2018)

Warehouse, Storage and Transport. Storage and transport warehouse uses include the provision of warehousing and storage, freight handling, shipping and trucking services, and similar uses, including storage, processing, packaging, and shipping facilities for mail order and e-commerce retail establishments, as may be determined by the Planning Commission. The sale of products from these establishments is not encouraged. Examples of these establishments include:

Warehouse, Wholesaling and Distribution. “Wholesaling and distribution warehouse” facilities include:

Wholesale Sales, General. General wholesale sales uses include sales of a nonretail nature, generally to the trades or other specific sector, and similar uses as may be determined by the Planning Commission.

“Wineries, distilleries, brewing facilities” means an establishment that produces wine, spirits, ales, beers, meads, hard ciders, and/or similar beverages to serve on site. Sale of beverages for off-site consumption is also permitted in keeping with the regulations of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), and any applicable City regulations. May include the distribution of beverages for consumption at other sites. (Ord. 1116 § 3, 2018; Ord. 1111, 2018)

“Yard” means an open space, other than a court, on a lot with a structure, which open space is required to be unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground to the sky, except for such encroachments as are specifically permitted by this code.

“Yard, front” means a yard measured into a lot from its front lot line or lines. A required front yard shall extend the full width of the lot between its side lot lines.

“Yard, secondary front ” means the secondary yard fronting a public street on a corner (exterior) lot.

“Yard, rear” means a yard measured into a lot from its rear lot line; provided, that in cases where there is no rear lot line, the rear yard shall be measured into the lot from the rearmost point of the lot depth, parallel to said lot depth. A required rear yard shall extend the full width of the lot between its side lot lines.

“Yard, side” means a yard measured into a lot from one or more of its side lot lines. A required side yard shall extend between the required front yard and rear yard, or the front or rear lot lines in cases where no front yard or rear yard is required. (Ord. 1129 Exh. A § 1, 2019; Ord. 1111, 2018)