Sioux City City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 25

07 Definitions

25.07.010 Word Usage.

Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in this chapter shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning they have in common usage and to give this chapter its most reasonable application.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sec. 25.07.020 Abbreviations and Acronyms

Table 25.07.020 Meaning of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
ac.	Acres
ADA	American with Disabilities Act
BMP	Best Management Practice
du	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
ft.	Feet
in.	Inches
LSR	Landscape Surface Ratio
Max.	Maximum
Min.	Minimum
N/A	Not Applicable
OSR	Open Space Ratio
POA	Property Owner's Association
sf.	Square Feet
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development
u/a	Units Per Acre

Table 25.07.020 Meaning of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
ac.	Acres
ADA	American with Disabilities Act
BMP	Best Management Practice
du	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
ft.	Feet
in.	Inches
LSR	Landscape Surface Ratio
Max.	Maximum
Min.	Minimum
N/A	Not Applicable
OSR	Open Space Ratio
POA	Property Owner's Association
sf.	Square Feet
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development
u/a	Units Per Acre

Table 25.07.020 Meaning of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
ac.	Acres
ADA	American with Disabilities Act
BMP	Best Management Practice
du	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
ft.	Feet
in.	Inches
LSR	Landscape Surface Ratio
Max.	Maximum
Min.	Minimum
N/A	Not Applicable
OSR	Open Space Ratio
POA	Property Owner's Association
sf.	Square Feet
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development
u/a	Units Per Acre

Table 25.07.020 Meaning of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
ac.	Acres
ADA	American with Disabilities Act
BMP	Best Management Practice
du	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
ft.	Feet
in.	Inches
LSR	Landscape Surface Ratio
Max.	Maximum
Min.	Minimum
N/A	Not Applicable
OSR	Open Space Ratio
POA	Property Owner's Association
sf.	Square Feet
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development
u/a	Units Per Acre

(Ord. 2015-0215)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Adjacent Property means property that touches or is directly across a public street, private street, or access easement, or right-of-way (other than a freeway or principal arterial) from the subject property.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Administrator

Administrator means the Community Development Operations Manager for the City of Sioux City, Iowa.

(Ord. 2018-0196)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Adult Day Care

Adult Day Care means a facility that provides care for the elderly and / or functionally impaired adults in a protective setting for a portion of a 24-hour day.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Adult Entertainment

Adult Entertainment means any exhibition, display, activity, or dance that involves the appearance or exposure to view of specified anatomical areas.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Adult Entertainment Business

Adult Entertainment Business shall mean an “adult bookstore or adult video store,” “adult cabaret,” “adult model studio,” “adult motel,” “adult motion picture theater,” or “adult theater.”

“Adult Bookstore or Adult Video Store” means a commercial establishment that:
1. has a substantial portion of its displayed merchandise which consists of, or
2. has a substantial portion of the wholesale value of its displayed merchandise which consists of, or
3. has a substantial portion of the retail value of its displayed merchandise which consists of, or
4. derives a substantial portion of its revenues from the sale or rental, for any form of consideration of, or
5. maintains a substantial section of its sales or display space for the sale or rental, for any form of consideration, of any one or more of the following: books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, compact discs, digital video discs, slides, or other visual representations which are characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of “specified sexual activities” or “specified anatomical areas.”
6. The term “Adult Bookstore or Adult Video Store” shall also include a commercial establishment which regularly maintains one or more “Adult Arcades.” “Adult Arcade” means any place to which the public is permitted or invited wherein coin-operated or slug-operated or electronically, electrically, or mechanically controlled still or motion picture machines, projectors, or other image-producing devices regularly show images distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon matter exhibiting or describing “specified sexual activities” or specified “anatomical areas,” and where the booth(s) or room(s) in which such images are shown contain less than twenty (20) individual seats for patrons.
“Adult Cabaret” means a nightclub, bar, juice bar, restaurant bottle club, or similar commercial establishment, regardless of whether alcoholic beverages are served, which regularly features persons who appear nude or semi-nude.
“Adult Model Studio” means any place where a person, who regularly appears in a state of nudity or state of semi-nudity is provided for money or any form of consideration to be observed, sketched, drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly depicted by other persons. It is a defense to prosecution for any violation of this ordinance that a person appearing in a state of nudity or state of semi-nudity did so in a modeling class operated:
1. By a college, junior college, or university supported entirely or partly by taxation;
2. By a private college or university which maintains and operates educational programs in which credited are transferable to college, junior college, or university supported entirely or partly by taxation; or:
3. In a structure:
  1. Which has no sign visible from the exterior of the structure and no other advertising that indicates a semi-nude person is available for viewing; and
  2. Where, in order to participate in a class a student must enroll at least three days in advance of the class.
“Adult Motel” means a motel, hotel, or similar commercial establishment which: (a) offers public accommodations, for any form of consideration, and which regularly provides patrons with closed-circuit television transmissions, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition of “specified sexual activities” or “specified anatomical areas” and which regularly advertises the availability of such material by means of a sign visible from the public right-of-way, or by means of any off-premises advertising, including but not limited to, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets or leaflets, radio or television, and (b) offers a sleeping room for rent for a period of time less than ten (10) hours.
“Adult Motion Picture Theater” means a commercial establishment where films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides, or similar photographic reproductions or visual images which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of “specified sexual activities” or “specified anatomical areas” are regularly shown for any form of consideration, and where the booth(s) or room(s) in which such images are shown contain more than twenty (20) individual seats for patrons.
“Adult Theater” means a theater, concert hall, auditorium, or similar commercial establishment which, for any form of consideration, regularly features persons who appear in state of semi-nudity or live performances which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exposure of “specified anatomical areas” or “specified sexual activities.”
“Distinguished or Characterized by their Emphasis Upon” means the dominant or principal theme of the object described by such phrase. For instance, when the phase refers to films “which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of Specified Sexual Activities or Specified Anatomical areas,” the films so described are those whose dominant or principal character and theme are the exhibition or description “specified anatomical areas” or “specified sexual activities.”
“Established” shall mean and include any of the following:
1. The opening or commencement of any adult entertainment business as a new business; or
2. The conversion of an existing business, whether or not an adult entertainment business, to another adult entertainment business.
“Features” means to offer the goods or services so modified by that term to the public as one of the intended profit-making objectives of the commercial enterprise, which enterprise holds itself forth to the public, through marketing, advertising, signage, promotions, or merchandise display, as a place where said goods or services may be obtained
“State of Nudity” means the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, vulva, anus, anal cleft or cleavage with less than a fully opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple and areola.
“Operate” shall mean to cause to function or to put or keep in a state of doing business. A person may be found to be operating or causing to be operated an adult entertainment business regardless of whether that person is an owner or part owner of the business.
“Person” shall mean individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity.
“Regularly” means and refers to the consistent and repeated doing of the act so described.
“Semi-Nude or State of Semi-Nudity” means the showing of the female breast below a horizontal line across the top of the areola and extending across the width of the breast at that point, or the showing of the male or female buttocks. This definition shall include the entire lower portion of the human female breast, but shall not include any portion of the cleavage of the human female breasts exhibited by a dress, blouse, shirt, leotard, or similar wearing apparel provided the areola is not exposed in whole or in part.
“Specified Anatomical Areas” shall mean human genitals, anus, cleft of the buttocks, or the female breast.
“Specified Sexual Activities” means any of the following:
1. sex acts, normal or perverted, including intercourse, oral copulation, masturbation or sodomy; or
2. excretory functions as a part of or in connection with any of the activities described in (1) above.
“Substantial” means more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the item so modified.

Allowed Use

Allowed Use means a use allowed by right in a zoning district without the need for special administrative review and approval, upon satisfaction of the standards and requirements of this Zoning and Sign Code.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Amenity

Amenity means aesthetic or other characteristics of a development that increase its desirability to a community or its marketability to the public. Amenities may differ from development to development but may include such things as a unified building design, recreational facilities, views, landscaping and tree preservation, or attractive site design.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Animal Boarding

Animal Boarding means any premises where any combination of dogs, cats or other household pets, totaling four or more animals, six months of age or older, are boarded or bred for the intention of profit.

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Automobile Repairs and Service, Heavy

Automobile Repairs and Service, Heavy means the general repair, rebuilding, or reconditioning of engines, motor vehicles, or trailers, including body work, framework, welding, and major painting service.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Automobile Wash

Automobile Wash means any area or business using self-service, in-bay automatic, or conveyor equipment for cleaning and washing motor vehicles, whether as a part of another business operation (e.g., as an accessory use to an automobile fueling or charging station, automobile sales, rental, and service), or as a stand-alone operation, of any type, on a commercial basis. The phrase "automobile wash" includes fleet and municipal in-bay automatic and conveyor automobile wash facilities.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Bed and Breakfast Home

Bed and Breakfast Home means a lodging service that:

Provides overnight or short-term accommodations to guests or visitors, usually including provision of breakfast;
Is located in a large single-family residential building that has been adapted for this use;
Is always owned and operated by the residential owner or resident manager of the structure;
Include no more than five sleeping rooms for guests; and
Accommodates each guest or visitor for no more than seven consecutive days during any one month period.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Bed and Breakfast Inn

Bed and Breakfast Inn means:

Existing single-family structure or portion thereof, which was originally constructed for residential purposes;
Contains not more than eight rooming units for accommodating, for compensation, persons who are transients; and
Occupied by a full-time resident owner or resident manager.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Certificate of Appropriateness

Certificate of Appropriateness means a permit issued by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) granting an applicant approval for the alteration, change, demolition, relocation, excavation, or new construction of a contributing site, contributing structure, landmark, noncontributing structure, or noncontributing site in an historic district.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Certificate of Occupancy

Certificate of Occupancy means a statement setting forth that a building or structure complies with this Code, and that the building or structure may be used for the purposes stated therein.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Child

Child means either of the following:

A person 12 years of age or younger; or
A person 13 years of age or older but younger than 19 years of age who has a developmental disability as defined under Federal Development Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-402, as codified in 42 U.S.C §15002(8).

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Closure

Closure means the determination, usually mathematical, determining that the perimeter of a survey constitutes a polygon.

Commercial Retail means commercial and retail uses that do not include regular outside storage or sales. The phrase "commercial retail" includes uses that are comparable to the following:

Furniture and home furnishings stores;
Electronics and appliance stores;
Paint and wallpaper stores;
Food and beverage stores;
Health and personal care stores;
Clothing and clothing accessory stores;
Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores;
General merchandise stores; and
Miscellaneous store retailers.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Commission

Commission means the Planning and Zoning Commission of Sioux City, Iowa. Also referred to as the "Planning and Zoning Commission".

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Community Garden

Community Garden means a private or public facility for cultivation of fruit, flowers, vegetables, or ornamental plants by more than one person or family.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Complete Streets Policy

Complete Streets Policy means a transportation policy and design approach that requires streets to be planned, designed, operated, and maintained to enable safe, convenient and comfortable travel and access for users of all ages and abilities regardless of their mode of transportation.

Corporate Boundaries means the legally described perimeter of the City.

Development

Development means the act of physically altering land to allow construction or private or public improvements. Approval of a final plat alone does not constitute development.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Detailed Engineering Plans

Detailed Engineering Plans mean detailed plans guiding the construction of public improvements other than grading including, but not limited to streets, sewers, and water pipes.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Detention Pond

Detention Pond means an area where storm water is collected, held and released at a rate that is slower than its intake.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Development Approval

Development Approval means any written authorization from a governmental entity that authorizes the commencement of development.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Dimension

Dimension means a measurable extent of some kind, such as length, breadth, depth, or height.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Division

Division shall mean the splitting of a parcel or tract of land into more than one parcel or tract of land for conveyance or tax purposes. The term may be used as distinct from a subdivision.

Driveway

Driveway means a private accessway, primarily for vehicles, leading from a street to a dwelling unit, parking lot, parking garage, or loading area.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Driveway Approach

Driveway Approach means an area of the public street right-of-way located behind the roadway and property adjacent to the public right-of-way that is intended to provide access for vehicles from the roadway to the adjacent property.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Duplex

Duplex means a building with two dwelling units that is located on a single lot that is designed or arranged to be occupied by two families living independently.

Illustrative Standard (Side-by-Side) Duplex

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.
Illustrative Vertical (Over-Under) Duplex

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Dwelling

Dwelling means any structure, or portion thereof, which is designed or used for residential purposes; provided, however, that the following are not dwellings:

Transient accommodations; and
Institutional care facilities such as hospitals, rest homes, orphanages, and homes for the aged.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Dwelling, Attached

Dwelling, Attached means two or more dwelling units in a single structure or attached structures, each of which could have a single lot, which are separated from each other by a dividing wall. Such units may be side-by-side, back-to-back, or both. This includes twin homes and townhouses.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Dwelling Unit

Dwelling Unit means any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, eating, and sanitation by one family.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Easement

Easement means a right to cross, occupy, or otherwise use someone else's land for a specified purpose.

Electrical Substation means a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system in which:

Voltage is transformed from high to low, or the reverse;
The type of current is changed;
Current is gathered from distributed power generation facilities, such as wind turbines or photovoltaic panels;
Current is switched to back-up lines; or
Circuits are parallelized in case of failure.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Encroachment

Encroachment means an advancement or intrusion beyond the lines or limits as designated and established by this Code, and to infringe or trespass into or upon the possession or right of others without permission.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Exception

Exception means a variance, or approved deviation from the requirements of a subdivision that is approved in writing by the City Council.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Extraction

Extraction means the business enterprise of excavation and removal of stone, sand, gravel, soil, or similar earthen materials from a site, whether the intent is to increase the utility and values of the site or to use the materials for landfilling on another site.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Extraterritorial Annexation Agreement

Extraterritorial Annexation Agreement means an agreement made between the City and the owner of unincorporated property to annex their property into the City at a later date.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Extraterritorial Subdivision Final Plat

Extraterritorial Subdivision Final Plat means a subdivision plat of property within two miles of the corporate boundaries the City of Sioux City’s corporate boundaries lying within Iowa.

Floodplain, Enclosed Area Below Lowest Floor means the floor of the lowest enclosed area in a building when all the following criteria are met:

1.
The enclosed area is designed to flood to equalize hydrostatic pressure during flood events with walls or openings that satisfy the provisions of Subsection 25.04.190.12 (2.e.1. and 2.) of this chapter, and
2.
The enclosed area is unfinished (not carpeted, drywalled, etc.) and used solely for low damage potential uses such as building access, parking or storage, and
3.
Machinery and service facilities (e.g., hot water heater, furnace, electrical service) contained in the enclosed area are located at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation, and
4.
The enclosed area is not a “basement” as defined in this section.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Existing Construction

Floodplain, Existing Construction means any structure for which the “start of construction” commenced before the effective date of the first floodplain management regulations adopted by the community.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Existing Factory-built Home Park or Subdivision

Floodplain, Existing Factory-built Home Park or Subdivision means a factory-built home park or subdivision for which the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the factory-built homes are to be affixed (including at a minimum, the installation of utilities, the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads) is completed before the effective date of the first floodplain management regulations adopted by the community.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Expansion of Existing Factory-built Home Park or Subdivision

Floodplain, Expansion of Existing Factory-built Home Park or Subdivision means the preparation for additional sites by the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the factory-built homes are to be affixed (including at a minimum, the installation of utilities, the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads).

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Flood means a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas resulting from the overflow of streams or rivers or from the unusual and rapid runoff of surface waters from any source.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Flood Hazard Addendum

Floodplain, Flood Hazard Addendum means an attachment to a final plat showing areas subject to flooding.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Floodplain, Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)

Floodplain, Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) means the official map prepared as part of (but published separately from) the Flood Insurance Study which delineates both the flood hazard areas and the risk premiums zones applicable to the community.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215; 2021-0460)

Effective on: 5/22/2021

Floodplain, Flood Insurance Study (FIS)

Floodplain, Flood Insurance Study (FIS) means a report published by FEMA for a community issued along with the community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map(s). The study contains such background data as the base flood discharge and water surface elevations that were used to prepare the FIRM.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Floodplain means any land area susceptible to being inundated by water as a result of a flood.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Floodplain Management

Floodplain, Floodplain Management means an overall program of corrective and preventive measures for reducing flood damages and promoting the wise use of floodplains, including but not limited to emergency preparedness plans, flood control works, floodproofing and floodplain management regulations.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Historic Structure means any structure that is:

1.
Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places, maintained by the Department of Interior, or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing of the National Register;
2.
Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
3.
Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
4.
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified by either
1. a.
  an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior, or
2. b.
  directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Lowest Floor

Floodplain, Lowest Floor means the floor of the lowest enclosed area in a building including a basement except when the criteria listed in the definition of Floodplain, Enclosed Area Below Lowest Floor are met.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Maximum Damage Potential Development

Floodplain, Maximum Damage Potential Development means hospitals and like institutions; buildings or building complexes containing documents, data, or instruments of great public value; buildings or building complexes containing materials dangerous to the public or fuel storage facilities; power installations needed in emergency or other buildings or building complexes similar in nature or use.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Recreational Vehicle means a vehicle which is:

1.
Built on a single chassis;
2.
400 square feet or less when measured at the horizontal largest projection;
3.
Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck; and
4.
Designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as a temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Routine Maintenance of existing Buildings and Facilities

Floodplain, Routine Maintenance of existing Buildings and Facilities means repairs necessary to keep a structure in a safe and habitable condition that do not trigger a building permit, provided they are not associated with a general improvement of the structure or repair of a damaged structure. Such repairs include:

1.
Normal maintenance of structures such as re-roofing, replacing roofing tiles and replacing siding;
2.
Exterior and interior painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work;
3.
Basement sealing;
4.
Repairing or replacing damaged or broken window panes;
5.
Repairing plumbing systems, electrical systems, heating or air conditioning systems and repairing wells or septic systems.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)

Floodplain, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) means the land within a community subject to the “base flood”. This land is identified on the community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map as Zone A, A1-30, AE, AH, AO, AR, and/or A99.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Substantial Improvement means any improvement to a structure which satisfies either of the following criteria:

1.
Any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure either (i) before the “start of construction” of the improvement, or (ii) if the structure has been “substantially damaged” as is being restored, before the damage occurred. The term does not, however, include any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing violations of state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which have been identified by the local code enforcement official and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions. The term also does not include any alteration of an “historic structure” provided the alteration will not preclude the structure's designation as a "historic structure".
2.
Any addition which increases the original floor area of a building by 25 percent or more. All additions constructed after the effective date of the first floodplain management regulations adopted by the community shall be added to any proposed addition in determining whether the total increase in original floor space would exceed 25 percent.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Variance

Floodplain, Variance means a grant of relief by a community from the terms of the flood plain management regulations.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Violation

Floodplain, Violation means the failure of a structure or other development to be fully compliant with the community’s floodplain management regulations.

General Plan shall also be referred to as the Comprehensive Plan.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Grade

Grade means the elevation of the surface of the ground or paving. Also, the physical process of changing the surface of the ground. Also, the slope of a street expressed as a percentage of rise to run.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Grading Plan

Grading Plan means part of a preliminary plat describing existing topography and proposed changes to said topography.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Gross Floor Area ("GFA")

Gross Floor Area ("GFA") is the sum of the total horizontal areas of every floor of every building on a lot. The measurement of gross floor area shall be computed by applying the following criteria:

The horizontal square footage is measured from the outside face of all exterior walls.
Cellars, basements, penthouses, attics, covered or uncovered porches, balconies and decks, enclosed storage or mechanical areas, mezzanines, and similar structures shall be included as GFA wherever at least seven feet are provided between the finished floor and the ceiling.
No deduction shall apply for horizontal areas void of actual floor space (for example, elevator shafts and stairwells). The protected upper floors of open atriums and foyers shall not be included.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Hardship

Hardship means a restriction on property so unreasonable that it results in an arbitrary and capricious interference with basic property rights. Hardship relates to the physical characteristics of the property, not the personal circumstances of the owner or user, and the property is rendered unusable without granting a variance, exception, or modification.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Heat-Island Effect

Heat-Island Effect means higher average temperatures that occur in urbanized areas owing to the greater absorption, retention, and generation of heat by its buildings, pavements, and human activities.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Heavy Industry

Heavy Industry means:

Any use that is classified as a "high hazard" occupancy by the City; or
Primary processing or manufacturing or repair operations not specifically defined elsewhere in this Section, which involve:
1. An outside storage area that is larger than the area of the first floor of buildings on the same lot;
2. A material risk of environmental contamination, explosion, or fire;
3. Perceptible ground vibration;
4. Excessive noise or dust;
5. Emission of objectionable odors; or
6. More than 12 trips by semi-trailer trucks per day; or
Processing of minerals (except precious and semi-precious stone cutting for jewelry or precision instruments such as lasers or watches), ores, or fossil fuels; or
Industries that are required to undergo New Source Review under the Federal Clean Air Act, or are subject to construction or operation permits pursuant to the Colorado Stationary Sources Program or Title V of the Federal Clean Air Act.
For illustrative purposes, heavy industrial uses include, but are not limited to:
1. Coal cleaning plants with thermal dryers; coke oven batteries; carbon black plants (furnace process); petroleum refineries; petroleum storage and transfer units (except retail gasoline stations); and bulk fuel dealers;
2. Facilities used in the primary or secondary production of metals (e.g., primary zinc, copper, or lead smelters; primary aluminum ore reduction plants; iron and steel mills; sintering plants; secondary metal production plants; and blacksmith shops);
3. Portland cement plants (not temporary batch plants);
4. Sawmills and pulp mills;
5. Incinerators with the capacity to charge more than 250 tons of refuse per day;
6. Lime plants; phosphate rock processing plants; sulfur recovery plants; and hydrofluoric, sulfuric, or nitric acid plants;
7. Fossil fuel combustion (boilers or electricity generation) totaling more than 250 million BTUs per hour of heat input;
8. Fabrication of building materials such as countertops, drywall, and cut stone;
9. Fabrication of vehicles, manufacturing equipment, durable goods, or pre-fabricated homes or home components;
10. Drycleaner processing plants that use PERC or comparable petrochemical solvents;
11. Meat or seafood processing plants;
12. Manufacture of glass products (e.g., window panes, bottles and jars), except hand-blown products;
13. Manufacture of plastic products (except assembly of parts that are manufactured elsewhere);
14. Plasma arc welding, cutting, gouging, surfacing, or spraying; gas welding (but not brazing); arc welding with equipment that is rated at more than 200 amps; TIG welding; and other heavy welding procedures (e.g., for structural steel, automotive body, or heavy equipment manufacture or repair);
15. Hot mix asphalt plants; and
16. Fossil fuel power plants, waste-to-energy plants, and biomass plants that produce more than 100 megawatts of electricity.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Heavy Retail

Heavy Retail means retail and/or service activities that have regular outside service or outside storage areas, larger than average enclosed floor areas devoted to commercial use, or partially enclosed structures, as listed below:

Permanent retail operations that are located outside of enclosed buildings, except nurseries;
Home centers;
Lumber and other building materials;
Lawn, garden equipment, and related supply stores;
Warehouse clubs and super stores;
Recreational equipment rental where the equipment is stored outside;
Heavy truck or recreational vehicle leasing or sales;
Manufactured home sales; and
Industrial or construction equipment leasing or sales.

Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history;
Is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past;
Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represents a work of a master, or that possesses high artistic values, or that represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
Has yield, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Indoor Commercial Amusement

Indoor Commercial Amusement means uses that provide commercial amusement indoors (except sexually oriented businesses), including, but not limited to:

Movie theaters;
Bowling alleys and pool rooms'
Video arcades;
Local area network computer gaming centers; and
Internet cafes.

The phrase "Indoor Commercial Amusement" does not include the phrase "Stadium or Arena," "Place of Assembly," nor the phrase "Indoor Recreation," nor does it include video arcades that are accessory to restaurants. The phrase "Indoor Commercial Amusement" is subsumed by the phrases "Fairgrounds," "Amusement Park," or "Destination Hotel" when such facilities include indoor commercial amusement activities.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Indoor Recreation

Indoor Recreation means uses that provide recreation opportunities indoors for the public (open to the community) or residents of a subdivision or development, which are not commercial in nature. Specifically excluded from the definition are health and exercise clubs and commercial amusement uses. This phrase includes:

Community recreation centers;
Gymnasiums;
Indoor swimming pools; or
Tennis, racquetball, or handball courts.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Inoperable Vehicle

Inoperable Vehicle means a vehicle which is not fully capable of movement under its own power or is not licensed or registered to operate legally on a public street right-of-way.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Institutional Residential

Institutional Residential means institutional housing combined with common food service, nursing, counseling, health care, or comparable services, but does not include assisted living facilities, congregate care, nursing homes, or continuing care neighborhoods. The phrase "institutional residential" includes:

Facilities, other than group homes, in which residents live in an institutional environment and are, generally, under the care or control of staff;
In-patient drug and alcoholism hospitals and rehabilitation centers, in which residents have institutional care, or are treated by staff in an institutional setting, rather than living independently; and
Any sheltered care, group care, group home, or residential substance abuse facility with more than eight total occupants.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Level of Service Standards

Level of Service Standards means a standard used by government agencies to measure the quality or effectiveness of a municipal service, such as police, fire, or library, or the performance of a facility, such as a street or highway.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Licensed Center

Licensed Center means a center issued a full or provisional license by the department under the provisions of Chapter 237A, Child Care Facilities, Iowa Code, or a center for which a license is being processed.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Light Industry

Light Industry means:

Industrial and wholesale uses that are relatively small in scale that have limited outside storage and limited environmental impacts or risks, as follows:
1. The use is conducted in buildings that have:
  1. A ground floor area of less than 80,000 square feet; or
  2. Outside storage that occupies less than 15,000 square feet; or
  3. A height of less than 45 feet; and
2. The use is one of the following:
  1. Assembly of products, instruments, electronics, office and computing machines, and fixtures from pre-manufactured components;
  2. Auto or marine body, paint, or upholstery services;
  3. Building, development, and general contracting;
  4. Communications facilities, except wireless telecommunications facilities;
  5. Food production other than restaurants and micro-breweries;
  6. Furniture making or refinishing;
  7. Manufacture of textiles and apparel;
  8. Printing and publishing, except copy centers;
  9. Special trade contractors, excluding outside storage of any equipment that is more than 12 feet in height; and
  10. Wholesale trade, durable and non-durable, except farm products and combustible or hazardous materials; and
3. Uses that have involve outside storage of heavy vehicles, and limited environmental impacts or risks, as follows:
  1. Truck rental or heavy equipment rental;
  2. Truck, recreational vehicle, and manufactured home sales; and
  3. Transportation services; and
4. Heavy industrial uses that are small in scale and involve limited environmental impacts or risks, including:
  1. High-tech heavy industry that meets the following criteria:
    1. The use occupies less than 20,000 square feet; and
    2. Receives and ships via parcel courier service, not semi-trailers;
  2. Any heavy industrial use that meets the following criteria:
    1. The use occupies less than 20,000 square feet of a masonry building;
    2. The use has no outside storage or processing; and
    3. Receives and ships via parcel courier service, not semi-trailers; and
  3. Mini-warehouses with outside storage; and
  4. Regional utility substations or distribution stations that are located on sites that are at least two acres in area.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Loess Hills

Loess Hills means a formation of wind-deposited loess soil in the westernmost parts of Iowa and Missouri, and the easternmost parts of Nebraska and Kansas, along the Missouri River.

Lot, Flag

Lot, Flag mean a lot with less than the required lot width at the front setback as specified in the bulk regulations for a zone that widens to the required minimum width farther from the street. Flag lots are intended to allow development of parcels that would otherwise be undevelopable due to constraints of terrain or size and shape of the original parcel.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Lot, Subdivision

Lot, Subdivision mean a land parcel within a subdivision, identified by number, intended as a unit for transfer or development.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Lot Line

Lot Line means the property line bounding a lot.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line, Front

Lot Line, Front means the lot line separating a lot and a public or private street right-of-way or easement.

For an interior lot, the lot line separating the lot from the right-of-way or easement.
For a corner lot, the shorter lot line abutting a public or private street or easement. In instances of equal line dimension, the front lot line shall be determined by the Director, or as may be noted on the final plat.
For a double frontage lot, the lot lines separating the lot from the right-of-way or easement of the more minor street. In cases where each street has the same classification, the front lot line shall be determined by the Director at the time of application for the original building permit for the lot, or as may be noted on the final plot.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line Home

Lot Line Home means a detached, single-family unit situated on one side lot line that orients outdoor activity within rear or side yard patio areas for better use of the site for outdoor living space.

Illustrative Lot Line Home

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5.Separation; 6. Street side yard; and 7 Rear yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line, Interior Side

Lot Line, Interior Side means the lot line that connects the front lot line to the rear lot line, running generally perpendicular, radial, or at angles to the street.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line, Rear

Lot Line, Rear shall mean a lot line not abutting a street which is opposite and most distance from the front lot line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line, Side

Lot Line, Side means lot lines between the front and rear lot lines.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Lot, Through

Lot, Through means a lot having frontage on two dedicated streets, not including a corner lot.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot of Record

Lot of Record means a lot which is part of a subdivision recorded in the office of the county recorder, or a lot or parcel described as meets and bounds, the description of which has been so recorded, and is shown as a separate unit on the last preceding county tax roll.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Width

Lot Width means the distance between side lot lines measured at the rear of the required front yard on a line parallel with a line tangent to the street right-of-way line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) means the national guidebook published by the FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) that defines and regulates the use all traffic control devices, traffic signs, traffic signals, and pavement markings in the United States.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Manufactured Home

Manufactured Home means a factory-built single family structure, which is manufactured or constructed under the authority of 42 U.S.C. Section 5403, National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 and is to be used exclusively as a place for human habitation, but which is not constructed with permanent hitch or other device allowing it to be moved other than for the purpose of moving to a permanent site, and which does not have permanently attached to its body or frame any wheels or axles. A manufactured home is transportable in one or more sections which when erected on site measures eight body feet or more in width and 40 body feet or more in length or is 320 or more square feet in area. For the purpose of these regulations, a manufactured home shall be built after June 15, 1976, and bear a seal certifying that it is in compliance with the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974.

Illustrative Manufactured Home

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.

Multiple Family means:

Buildings that contain three or more dwelling units that:
1. Are accessed by from interior elevators or hallways, or from individual exterior entrances; and
2. Are separated by interior wall and/or floors.
Multiple family does not include boarding houses, dormitories, fraternities, sororities, bed and breakfast establishments, single family attached, or commercial lodging (e.g., hotels).

Illustrative Multiple-Family Apartment

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.
Illustrative Vertical (Over-Under) Duplex

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Rear yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Front yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Multiplex

Multiplex means a multiple family building type that is designed to resemble a large single family home. Units may have either private or shared access and may arranged in a variety of configurations, including back-to-back, side-to-side, or over-under. Multiplex buildings contain three to five dwelling units per building.

Illustrative Multiplex

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.

Occupant means any person who holds a written or an oral lease of or who actually occupies the whole or a part of a building, either alone or with others.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Office, General

Office, General means uses in which professional, outpatient medical, or financial services are provided. The term includes:

Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping;
Advertising and graphic design;
Architectural, engineering, and surveying services;
Attorneys and court reporters;
Banks, mortgage companies; and financial services;
Call centers;
Computer programming;
Corporate headquarters;
Counseling services;
Data processing and word processing services;
Detective agencies;
Government offices;
Insurance;
Interior design;
Medical, dental, and chiropractic offices;
Real estate sales;
Research and development that does not include on-site manufacturing;
Retail catalog, internet, and telephone order processing, but not warehousing; and
Virtual office services.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Outdoor Commercial Amusement

Outdoor Commercial Amusement means uses that provide commercial amusement outdoors (except sexually oriented businesses), including, but not limited to:

Amusement parks or theme parks;
Fairgrounds;
Miniature golf establishments;
Golf driving ranges;
Water slides; and
Batting cages.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parking Pad means an off-street parking area adjacent to a driveway which provides parking for a single motor vehicle.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parking Space

Parking Space means an area that is used for parking of motor vehicles that:

Is accessible from a street, aisle, or alley and meets the applicable dimensional requirements of this Code; or
Is accessible from a street or alley, is located in a residential driveway, garage, or carport, and meets the dimensional requirements for a standard parking space set out in this Code.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parking, Tandem

Parking, Tandem means a parking space within a group of two or more parking spaces arranged one behind the other.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parks Plan

Parks Plan means the latest plan adopted by the City showing future parks and park development.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Paving Width

Paving Width means the width of paving between the back of one curb and the back of the other on paved streets, or the width between the two edges of asphalt paving on asphalt streets, or the width of the driven way on gravel or unimproved streets.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Peak Hour Trips

Peak Hour Trips means trips made during the busiest hour within the morning and evening peak periods using any transportation mode.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Permit

Permit means one or more documents issued by the City allowing a person to begin an activity provided for in this Sign and Zoning Code or other codes, ordinances, and regulatory provisions administered by the City. A permit allows only the work or development specified in the permit.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Person with Disabilities

Person with Disabilities means a person having:

A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of such person's major life activities so that such person is incapable of living independently;
A record of having an impairment; or
Being regarded as having an impairment.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Preschool

Preschool means a child care facility which provides to children ages three to five, for periods of time not exceeding three hours per day, programs designed to help the children to develop intellectual skills, social skills, and motor skills, and to extend their interest and understanding of the world about them.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Preplat Conference

Preplat Conference means the informal meeting of City staff, the developer, developer’s staff and other interested parties that begin each subdivision process.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Pressure Zone

Pressure Zone means zones served by individual water towers. Each pressure zone would have different service elevation limits.

Replat, Re-subdivision

Replat, Re-subdivision means a subdivision plat representing land that has previously been included in a recorded subdivision plat.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Restaurant, Drive-In or Drive-Through

Restaurant, Drive-In or Drive-Through means a restaurant located either within a retail center, or situated as a stand-alone facility, which:

Contains a drive-in or drive-through facility;
Primarily serves food that is prepared and packaged within five minutes; and
Customarily serves food in disposable containers.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Restaurant, No Drive-In or Drive-Through

Restaurant, No Drive-In or Drive-Through means an establishment that serves prepared meals to customers for consumption on-site or off-site, but does not include drive-in or drive-through facilities (but may include designated parking spaces for "curbside pickup" of food ordered in advance if the curbside pickup is a clearly subordinate function to the restaurant's operations), and includes:

Full-service restaurants;
Limited-service eating facilities; and
Special food services.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Rezoning

Rezoning means an amendment to the Official Zoning Map.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Right-of-Way

Right-of-Way means a parcel of land intended to be occupied for streets, sidewalks, utilities and other public purposes. On a plat, rights-of-way are to be separate and distinct from other lots or parcels. Rights-of-way intended for public facilities shall be dedicated to public use and title transferred to the appropriate public agency.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Riparian Area

Riparian Area means lands comprised of vegetative and wildlife areas adjacent to perennial and intermittent streams. Riparian areas are delineated by the existence of plant species normally found near freshwater.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Roof

Roof can be steep, flat or gently sloped and take many forms, gable, gambrel, hipped, stepped gable, shed, pent or Mansard. The roof type is an important key to identifying the style of a building.

Roof Types

Sewer Service means an allowed connection to a series of pipes that flow to, and terminate at, the City of Sioux City’s Waste Water Treatment Plant.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Sexually Oriented Business/Entertainment

Sexually Oriented Business/Entertainment means a “sexual device shop,” “sexual encounter center,” or “sexual escort agency.”

“Escort,” as used herein, shall be interchangeable with “sexual escort,” and means a person who, for consideration, agrees or offers to act as a companion, guide, or date for another person, and who agrees or offers to appear for the other person in a state of nudity or state of semi-nudity during the course of providing such companionship.
“Established” shall mean and include any of the following:
1. The opening or commencement of any sexually oriented business as a new business; or
2. The conversion of an existing business, whether or not a sexually oriented business, to another sexually oriented business.
“Features” means to offer the goods or services so modified by that term to the public as one of the intended profit-making objectives of the commercial enterprise, which enterprise holds itself forth to the public, through marketing, advertising, signage, promotions, or merchandise display, as a place where said goods or services may be obtained.
“State of Nudity” means the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, vulva, anus, anal cleft or cleavage with less than a fully opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple and areola.
“Operate” shall mean to cause to function or to put or keep in a state of doing business. A person may be found to be operating or causing to be operated an adult entertainment business regardless of whether that person is an owner or part owner of the business.
“Person” shall mean individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity.
“Regularly” means and refers to the consistent and repeated doing of the act so described.
“Semi-Nude or State of Semi-Nudity” means the showing of the female breast below a horizontal line across the top of the areola and extending across the width of the breast at that point, or the showing of the male or female buttocks. This definition shall include the entire lower portion of the human female breast, but shall not include any portion of the cleavage of the human female breasts exhibited by a dress, blouse, shirt, leotard, or similar wearing apparel provided the areola is not visible in whole or in part.
“Sexual Device” means any three (3) dimensional object designed and marketed for stimulation of the male or female human genital organ or anus or for sadomasochistic use or abuse of oneself or others and shall include devices such as dildos, vibrators, penis pumps, and physical representations of the human genital organs, and shall also include certain devices with non-sex related utility, such as leather whips, straps, and ligatures when said devices are marketed in a context promoting sexual or sadomasochistic uses. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include devices primarily intended for protection against sexually transmitted diseases or for preventing pregnancy.
“Sexual Device Shop” means a commercial establishment that regularly features sexual devices. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include any pharmacy, drug store, medical clinic, or any establishment primarily dedicated to providing medical or healthcare products or services, nor shall this definition be construed to include commercial establishments which do not restrict access to any portion of their premises by reason of age.
“Sexual Encounter Center” means a business or commercial enterprise that, as one of its primary business purposes, offers for any form of consideration, physical contact in the form of wrestling or tumbling between two or more persons, where one or more of the persons is in a state of nudity or state of semi-nudity.
“Sexual Escort Agency,” as used herein, means a person or business association who furnishes, offers to furnish, or advertises to furnish sexual escorts as one of its primary business purposes, for a fee, tip, or other consideration.

(Ord. 2016-0799; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 9/17/2016

Sidewalk Cafe

Sidewalk Cafe shall be defined as the expansion of a restaurant, bar, eatery, ice cream parlor, coffee shop, or similar use onto the public right-of-way immediately adjacent to the primary location of the restaurant, bar, eatery, ice cream parlor, coffee shop, or similar use.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sidewalk Sale

Sidewalk Sale means sales that are conducted by either the store owner or occupant, outside their store, on:

A public sidewalk;
A private sidewalk; or
Pedestrian areas adjacent to a sidewalk, such as pedestrian plazas.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sight Distance Triangle

Sight Distance Triangle means the triangular area formed by a diagonal line connecting two points located on intersecting street right-of-way lines, or a right-of-way line and the curb or edge of a driveway. The dimensions of this triangular area are measured 45 feet distant along the curb line from the intersection of two streets and of 15 feet along both the street and alley line from the intersection of a street and an alley. See Figure S-1, Sight Distance Triangle.

Figure S-1
Sight Distance Triangle

Sign Mobile means an electronic message center sign designed and constructed to be transported by its own wheels. When placed, a mobile sign must be supported by at least four integral metal supports which raise the wheels off the ground.

(Ord. 2015-0215)

Effective on: 5/22/2021

Sign, Monument

Sign, Monument means a freestanding ground sign:

That is of monolithic construction in which the sign's base or support is of uniform composition with the material comprising the sign area of said sign and the base or support of said sign is directly affixed in or to the ground;
Where the sign face is encompassed on the top, sides, and bottom by a border or column of the same or compatible material which border or column is not less than 12 inches wide and not more than 24 inches wide, and which border or column compliments and enhances the aesthetic effect of the sign; and
Which may be double-faced provided it has back-to-back sides.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Mural

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Portable

Sign, Portable means any sign or advertising device that is not permanently embedded in the ground or affixed to a building or other structure, including any sign that rests upon the ground, a frame, a building, or other structure or item. By its construction or nature, a portable sign may be or is intended to be freely moved from one location to another. When on a trailer, the removal of the wheels or undercarriage does not place the sign in another category, neither does the anchoring of the sign by means of concrete blocks, sandbags, or other types of temporary anchors. Portable signs include, but are not limited to, trailer signs (with or without wheels), hot air or gas filled balloons or other inflatable objects, signs mounted for advertising purposes on a vehicle that is parked and visible from street right-of-way (except signs identifying the related business when the vehicle is being used in the normal, day-to-day operations of that business), and sidewalk or curb signs. A portable sign shall not be interpreted to prohibit any lettering, advertising, or identification permitted to be mounted on or painted on and incidental to the primary use of a vehicle as a delivery, service, or transportation vehicle. Further, a portable sign shall not be interpreted to prohibit advertising on buses. Portable signs specifically identified in this Code include:

Election signs mean any temporary, portable sign in connection with any national, state, or local election; and
Sandwich board sign means a portable, non-illuminated sign consisting of two sign faces hinged at the top and separated at the bottom so that it is self-standing, which is for the purpose of directing attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment offered within a building on the site upon which the sign is located. Sandwich board signs are also referred to as A-frame signs.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Temporary

Sign, Temporary means any sign, banner, pennant, valance, or advertising device or display constructed of cloth, fabric, plastic, canvas, vinyl, cardboard, wallboard, plywood, paper, or other rigid or non-rigid materials, with or without frames, intended to be displayed for a limited period of time. Temporary signs are not permanently affixed to sign structures, structures or buildings. Common temporary signs include those for garage sales, rummage sales, open houses, etc. Other types of temporary signs that are regulated by this Code include, but are not limited to:

Interim Sign means temporary business advertising signs intended to provide signage in an interim period during which permanent signage is being fabricated, repaired, and/or prepared for installation or erection.
Grand Opening Sign means business advertising signs, bearing the words “Grand Opening,” or a similar message, to announce the opening of a new business.
Promotional Sign, Commercial means temporary business advertising signs intended to promote and attract attention to a commercial use, activity, or event for a limited number of activities or events in a calendar year.
Promotional Sign, Non-Commercial means an activity or event that does not, in any way, involve commerce, at least relative to similar activities that do have a commercial objective or emphasis. For example, advertising a free activity or event that is open to the general public, which may be hosted by a non-profit organization or a for-profit business that is staffed only by volunteers and for which there is no sales or exchange of money or in-kind services is a non-commercial activity or event.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign Area

Sign Area means:

For a freestanding or projecting sign composed of one face, the sign area shall be determined based on the outer dimensions of the frame surrounding the sign face, but excluding the structure supporting the sign unless it is part of the communication of the sign. In the case of a freestanding sign that includes blank spaces with the intention of adding wording in the future, the blank spaces shall be included in measuring sign area.
For a sign composed of two faces constructed back to back, or at less than a 60 degree angle to each other, the sign area shall be determined based on the outer dimensions of the frame of the larger of the two sides, but excluding the structure supporting the sign unless it is part of the communication of the sign.
For an off-premise sign composed of two faces constructed at more than a 60 degree angle to each other, the sign area shall be determined based on the total area of the outer dimensions of both frames surrounding the sign faces, but excluding the structure supporting the sign unless it is part of the communication of the sign.
For an off-premise sign composed of three faces, the sign area shall be determined based on the outer dimensions of all three frames surrounding the sign faces, but excluding the structure supporting the sign unless it is part of the communication of the sign.
For wall, awning, and canopy signs composed of individual letters or figures, the area is that of the smallest rectangle or other geometric shape that encompasses all the letters or symbols.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Simple Division

Simple Division means a division of a parcel or tract of land into not more than two lots that do not require any public improvements.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Single Family Attached

Single Family Attached means housing types with two or more dwelling units that are located in a single structure or attached structures:

Which are separated from each other by an un-penetrated dividing side wall (e.g., side-by-side duplexes and all types of townhomes); and/or
Which are separated by a floor (e.g., over-under duplexes and duplex townhomes), but have ground floor entrances for each unit.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Single Family Detached

Single Family Detached means a dwelling unit, designed for and occupied by not more than one family and having no roof, wall, or floor in common with any other dwelling unit.

Illustrative Single-Family Detached Dwelling

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Site Plan

Site Plan means a plan or drawing showing the location of buildings, parking, or other elements that is used for the issuing of approvals other than subdivision plans or land developments. Site plans cover a single land use issue. The drawings shall show sufficient detail to enable the Administrator to determine whether the standard requiring a site plan has been met.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sketch Plan

Sketch Plan means the informal drawing of a subdivision presented by the developer at a preplat conference.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Small Wind Energy System

Small Wind Energy System means a wind energy conversion system consisting of a wind turbine, a tower, and associated control or conversion electronics, which has a rated capacity of not more than 100 kilowatts (kW) and which is intended to primarily reduce on-site consumption of utility-supplied electricity.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Solar Access Easement

Solar Access Easement means a right expressed as an easement, covenant, condition, or other property interest in any deed or other instrument executed by or on behalf of and landowner, which protects the solar access of an actual, proposed, or designated solar energy collector at a described location by forbidding or limiting activities or land uses that interfere with access to solar energy.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Solar Array

Solar Array (also called "photovoltaic arrays" or "PV arrays") means an array of solar cells that convert energy from sunlight directly to electricity.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Specified Anatomical Areas

Specified Anatomical Areas means:

Less than completely and opaquely covered:
1. Human genitals or pubic region;
2. Human buttocks;
3. Human female breasts below a point immediately above the top of the areola; and
Human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Specified Sexual Activities

Specified Sexual Activities means activities that involve:

Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation, arousal or swelling;
Acts of human anilingus, bestiality, buggery, cunnilingus, coprophagy, coprophilia, fellatio, flagellation, masochism, masturbation, necrophilia, pederasty, pedophilia, sadism, sadomasochism, sapphism, sexual intercourse, sodomy, urolagnia or zooerasty;
Fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttocks, anus or female breast; and
Excretory functions as part of or in connection with any of the activities set forth in Items (1) through (3) of this subsection.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Storm Water Detention

Storm Water Detention means the act of collecting and holding storm water for a period of time before releasing it.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Abutting

Street, Abutting means a public right-of-way that abuts a tract of land being subdivided.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Arterial

Street, Arterial means a street that serves major activity centers, highest traffic volume corridors and longest trip demands, carries high proportions of total urban travel on minimum of mileage, interconnect and provides continuity for major rural corridors to accommodate trips entering and leaving urban area and movements through the urban area and serves demand for intra-area travel between the business districts and outlying residential areas, or is shown on the Federal Functional Classification maps as a major or minor arterial street.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Collector

Street, Collector means a street that serves both land access and traffic circulation in residential, and commercial/industrial areas, penetrates residential neighborhoods, for significant distances, distributes and channels trips between Local Service Streets and Arterials, or is shown on the Federal Functional Classification maps as a major or minor collector street.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Cul-de-Sac

Street, Cul-de-Sac means a short public way that has only one outlet for vehicular traffic and terminates in a vehicular turn-around.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Street, Dead-End

Street, Dead-End means a street that terminates with no reasonable provision made to allow vehicles to turn around.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Lighting

Street, Lighting means lights operated by the City that are used to illuminate the driven way to aid vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Traffic signals, or other lights that provide no meaningful illumination are not “street lights”.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Local

Street, Local means, depending on context, either the right-of-way for a public thoroughfare, other than an alley, or the improved portion of such a public right-of-way primarily intended for vehicular travel.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Local Service

Street, Local Service means a street that provides direct access to adjacent land, access to Collector and Arterial Streets, carries little through traffic movement, or is shown on the Federal Functional Classification maps as a local service street.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street Right-of-Way

Street Right-of-Way means the area of right-of-way that includes an existing or future public street, which may be represented on a plat, deed, or other conveyance, or acquired by prescription. The street right-of-way may also include areas for sidewalks, utilities, parkways, medians, and drainage.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Structure

Structure means anything constructed or erected with a fixed location on the ground or attached or resting on something having a fixed location on the ground. Moreover, the following shall always be considered structures:

Buildings;
Walls;
Fences;
Signs;
Billboards; and
Storage tanks.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Structure, Temporary

Structure, Temporary means a structure that is designed to be repeatedly erected or inflated (tents and inflatable structures) or buildings that are picked up and moved.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Structural Alterations

Structural Alterations is any change in the supporting members of a building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders and floor joists, ceiling joists, roof rafters, or stairways.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Substandard Lot means a lot of record that is not in the best interests of public health, safety, and welfare by reason of one or more of the following characteristics:

The lot is of a size, in square feet or by individual dimension, that is inadequate to provide for reasonable building setbacks for the purpose of providing adequate light and air, and also adequate separation for fire protection purposes;
The lot is of a size, shape, or dimension that is inadequate to meet an adequate minimum home size and accommodate on-site parking thereby placing a burden of the public right-of-way for on-street parking, which may impede traffic flow and/or create traffic hazards; or
The dwelling unit does not meet the minimum size standards that are set out by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which require that the size of a dwelling unit may be no smaller than:
1. 570 square feet in size, if the unit is designed for a family of one to four persons;
2. 850 square feet in size, if the unit is designed for a family of between five and seven persons; and
3. 1,020 square feet in size if the unit is designed for a family of eight or more persons.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Substantial Conformity

Substantial Conformity means that a planned development site plan shall not be deemed in conformity with an approved development concept plan if it:

Departs from the ranges specified in the approval;
Relocates approved circulation elements to any extent that would decrease their functionality, adversely affect their relation to surrounding lands and circulation elements, or reduce their effectiveness as buffers or amenities;
Significantly alters the arrangement of land uses within the development or significantly alters stormwater retention and retardation facilities within the development, or the location, manner, or velocity of the discharge of stormwater from the development and into a system;
Significantly alters the content of timing of the phasing plan;
Violates any provision of this Code or other City ordinances that are applicable to the proposed development; or
Departs from the development concept plan in any other manner which the City Council shall, based on stated findings and conclusions, find to materially alter the plan or concept for the proposed development.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Substantial improvement

Substantial improvement means any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure either before the improvement or repair is started, or if the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. For the purposes of this definition, substantial improvement is considered to occur when the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure. The term does not, however, include either any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications, which are solely necessary to ensure safe living conditions, or any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a state inventory of historic places.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Surety

Surety means a formal engagement (as a pledge or guarantee) given for the fulfillment of an undertaking.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Survey

Survey (See Plat of Survey)

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

SUDAS Manual

SUDAS Manual means the Statewide Urban Design Standards as adopted by the City of Sioux City.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Tandem Parking

Tandem Parking - See the definition for Parking, Tandem.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Temporary Use

Temporary Use means a use that is established for a fixed period of time with the intent to discontinue such use upon the expiration of such time.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tower

Tower means a tall structure, either square or round in shape, rising higher than the rest of the building.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tower Height

Tower Height means the height above grade of the fixed portion of the tower, excluding the wind turbine itself.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Townhome

Townhome means a single family attached dwelling with three to eight units, with each single unit going from ground to roof and with individual outside access.

Illustrative Standard (Side-by-Side) Townhome

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Rear yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Front yard.
Illustrative Vertical (Over-Under) Townhome

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Rear yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Front yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND)

Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) means development that consists of a variety of residential lot sizes and more than one housing type, along with neighborhood supportive nonresidential development, designed to give equal or greater dignity to the pedestrian compared to the automobile.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Traffic Control Device

Traffic Control Device means all signs, signals, markings, and devices placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purposes of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic, including signs denoting names of streets and highways.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Transitional Service Facility

Transitional Service Facility means a facility an authorized and licensed residence operated by a public or private agency duly authorized and licensed by the Iowa Department of Social Services or any other State agency having authority to license and approve such facilities and which houses individuals other than handicapped persons, deemed by the agency to be capable of living and in the community, being cared for by the agency and receiving continuous professional guidance.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) means programs, plans, and/or improvements designed to change individual travel behavior to encourage greater use of alternative modes of transportation, reduce single-occupancy vehicles, and reduce parking demand. Such programs typically include (but are not limited to) one or more of the following elements:

Vanpools, shuttles, and / or ride-share programs;
Compressed work weeks, flex-time, and / or staggered work hours;
Free or subsidized public transit passes;
Incentive programs for walking or bicycling to work;
Shower and locker facilities for pedestrian and bicycle commuters; and
Telecommuting.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Twin Home

Twin Home means a building designed as a single structure, containing two separate living on individually platted lots, each of which is designed to be occupied as a separate permanent residence for one family. Each unit is total separated from the other by an unpierced wall extending from the ground to the roof.

Illustrative Standard (Side-by-Side) Twin Home

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.

Wholesale

Wholesale means an establishment that is primarily engaged in selling and / or distributing merchandise to retailers; to industrial, commercial, institutional, or professional business users; or to other wholesalers. The term "wholesale" does not include wholesale membership clubs that offer memberships to the general public.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Wholesale Greenhouse or Nursery

Wholesale Greenhouse or Nursery means an agricultural operation in which plants are grown inside of greenhouses and the plants or plant products (e.g., fruit, stalks, leaves, roots, and / or seeds) are then sold wholesale.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Wireless Telecommunication Tower

Wireless Telecommunication Tower means radio or television broadcasting towers, telecommunications towers, and antenna arrays. The phrase does not include residential satellite dishes, TV or HDTV antennae, amateur radio antennae, or transmission equipment installed or located on a utility pole.

(Ord. 2019-0721)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Woodland

Woodland means an ecosystem characterized by a more or less dense and extensive tree cover. More particularly, a plant community predominantly of healthy trees and other woody vegetation, well-stocked and growing more or less closely together.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Work Live

Work Live means a building or portion of a building that is used as a workspace and a dwelling unit, where the residential use of the space is secondary or accessory to the primary use as a place of work.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Xeriscape

Xeriscape means landscaping characterized by the use of vegetation that is drought-tolerant or of low water use in character.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard

Yard means an at-grade area of a lot that is not improved with, as follows:

Generally, a yard is the area between the lot line and the portion of the principal building that is closest to the lot line; and
A required yard is the area between the lot line and the required setback in relation to that lot line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard, Front

Yard, Front means an area that extends across the full width of the lot between the front lot line and the required front setback line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard, Interior Side

Yard, Interior Side means a yard that extends from the front setback line to the rear setback line, between the interior side lot line and the interior side setback line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard, Rear

Yard, Rear means a yard extending the full width of the lot between the rear lot line and the rear setback line. For a corner lot, the rear yard does not extend beyond the side street (arterial, collector) setback line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard, Side Street

Yard, Side Street means a yard extending from the front setback line to the rear lot line, located between the side street lot line and the side street (arterial, collector) setback line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Zero Lot Line

Zero Lot Line means a dwelling type consisting of a single family, detached residence located on an individual lot with only one side yard. No windows are permitted on the zero lot line wall of the house unless permitted by Section 25.02.160, Residential and Commercial Uses of the Home Standards. The zero lot line by be achieved by:

Placing the house on a side lot line and providing a maintenance easement six feet wide on the adjoining lot; or
Locating the house so as to provide two side yards, one of which shall be a six foot side yard with a use easement for the neighboring property.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Zoning District

Zoning District means a designation shown on the Official Zoning Map as being a district enumerated in Chapter 25.02, Zoning Districts and Land Uses, in which a specific set of zoning standards apply.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Zoning Map

Zoning Map means the Official Zoning Map of the City of Sioux City, Iowa, which incorporated into this Zoning and Sign Code by operation of Section 25.02.030, Official Zoning Map, and which shows the location and boundaries of the zoning districts established by this Zoning and Sign Code.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sioux City City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 25

07 Definitions

25.07.010 Word Usage.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sec. 25.07.020 Abbreviations and Acronyms

Table 25.07.020 Meaning of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
ac.	Acres
ADA	American with Disabilities Act
BMP	Best Management Practice
du	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
ft.	Feet
in.	Inches
LSR	Landscape Surface Ratio
Max.	Maximum
Min.	Minimum
N/A	Not Applicable
OSR	Open Space Ratio
POA	Property Owner's Association
sf.	Square Feet
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development
u/a	Units Per Acre

Table 25.07.020 Meaning of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
ac.	Acres
ADA	American with Disabilities Act
BMP	Best Management Practice
du	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
ft.	Feet
in.	Inches
LSR	Landscape Surface Ratio
Max.	Maximum
Min.	Minimum
N/A	Not Applicable
OSR	Open Space Ratio
POA	Property Owner's Association
sf.	Square Feet
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development
u/a	Units Per Acre

Table 25.07.020 Meaning of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
ac.	Acres
ADA	American with Disabilities Act
BMP	Best Management Practice
du	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
ft.	Feet
in.	Inches
LSR	Landscape Surface Ratio
Max.	Maximum
Min.	Minimum
N/A	Not Applicable
OSR	Open Space Ratio
POA	Property Owner's Association
sf.	Square Feet
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development
u/a	Units Per Acre

Table 25.07.020 Meaning of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
ac.	Acres
ADA	American with Disabilities Act
BMP	Best Management Practice
du	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
ft.	Feet
in.	Inches
LSR	Landscape Surface Ratio
Max.	Maximum
Min.	Minimum
N/A	Not Applicable
OSR	Open Space Ratio
POA	Property Owner's Association
sf.	Square Feet
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development
u/a	Units Per Acre

(Ord. 2015-0215)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Adult Day Care

Adult Day Care means a facility that provides care for the elderly and / or functionally impaired adults in a protective setting for a portion of a 24-hour day.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Adult Entertainment

Adult Entertainment means any exhibition, display, activity, or dance that involves the appearance or exposure to view of specified anatomical areas.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Adult Entertainment Business

“Adult Bookstore or Adult Video Store” means a commercial establishment that:
1. has a substantial portion of its displayed merchandise which consists of, or
2. has a substantial portion of the wholesale value of its displayed merchandise which consists of, or
3. has a substantial portion of the retail value of its displayed merchandise which consists of, or
4. derives a substantial portion of its revenues from the sale or rental, for any form of consideration of, or
5. maintains a substantial section of its sales or display space for the sale or rental, for any form of consideration, of any one or more of the following: books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, compact discs, digital video discs, slides, or other visual representations which are characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of “specified sexual activities” or “specified anatomical areas.”
6. The term “Adult Bookstore or Adult Video Store” shall also include a commercial establishment which regularly maintains one or more “Adult Arcades.” “Adult Arcade” means any place to which the public is permitted or invited wherein coin-operated or slug-operated or electronically, electrically, or mechanically controlled still or motion picture machines, projectors, or other image-producing devices regularly show images distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon matter exhibiting or describing “specified sexual activities” or specified “anatomical areas,” and where the booth(s) or room(s) in which such images are shown contain less than twenty (20) individual seats for patrons.
“Adult Cabaret” means a nightclub, bar, juice bar, restaurant bottle club, or similar commercial establishment, regardless of whether alcoholic beverages are served, which regularly features persons who appear nude or semi-nude.
“Adult Model Studio” means any place where a person, who regularly appears in a state of nudity or state of semi-nudity is provided for money or any form of consideration to be observed, sketched, drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly depicted by other persons. It is a defense to prosecution for any violation of this ordinance that a person appearing in a state of nudity or state of semi-nudity did so in a modeling class operated:
1. By a college, junior college, or university supported entirely or partly by taxation;
2. By a private college or university which maintains and operates educational programs in which credited are transferable to college, junior college, or university supported entirely or partly by taxation; or:
3. In a structure:
  1. Which has no sign visible from the exterior of the structure and no other advertising that indicates a semi-nude person is available for viewing; and
  2. Where, in order to participate in a class a student must enroll at least three days in advance of the class.
“Adult Motel” means a motel, hotel, or similar commercial establishment which: (a) offers public accommodations, for any form of consideration, and which regularly provides patrons with closed-circuit television transmissions, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition of “specified sexual activities” or “specified anatomical areas” and which regularly advertises the availability of such material by means of a sign visible from the public right-of-way, or by means of any off-premises advertising, including but not limited to, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets or leaflets, radio or television, and (b) offers a sleeping room for rent for a period of time less than ten (10) hours.
“Adult Motion Picture Theater” means a commercial establishment where films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides, or similar photographic reproductions or visual images which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of “specified sexual activities” or “specified anatomical areas” are regularly shown for any form of consideration, and where the booth(s) or room(s) in which such images are shown contain more than twenty (20) individual seats for patrons.
“Adult Theater” means a theater, concert hall, auditorium, or similar commercial establishment which, for any form of consideration, regularly features persons who appear in state of semi-nudity or live performances which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exposure of “specified anatomical areas” or “specified sexual activities.”
“Distinguished or Characterized by their Emphasis Upon” means the dominant or principal theme of the object described by such phrase. For instance, when the phase refers to films “which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of Specified Sexual Activities or Specified Anatomical areas,” the films so described are those whose dominant or principal character and theme are the exhibition or description “specified anatomical areas” or “specified sexual activities.”
“Established” shall mean and include any of the following:
1. The opening or commencement of any adult entertainment business as a new business; or
2. The conversion of an existing business, whether or not an adult entertainment business, to another adult entertainment business.
“Features” means to offer the goods or services so modified by that term to the public as one of the intended profit-making objectives of the commercial enterprise, which enterprise holds itself forth to the public, through marketing, advertising, signage, promotions, or merchandise display, as a place where said goods or services may be obtained
“State of Nudity” means the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, vulva, anus, anal cleft or cleavage with less than a fully opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple and areola.
“Operate” shall mean to cause to function or to put or keep in a state of doing business. A person may be found to be operating or causing to be operated an adult entertainment business regardless of whether that person is an owner or part owner of the business.
“Person” shall mean individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity.
“Regularly” means and refers to the consistent and repeated doing of the act so described.
“Semi-Nude or State of Semi-Nudity” means the showing of the female breast below a horizontal line across the top of the areola and extending across the width of the breast at that point, or the showing of the male or female buttocks. This definition shall include the entire lower portion of the human female breast, but shall not include any portion of the cleavage of the human female breasts exhibited by a dress, blouse, shirt, leotard, or similar wearing apparel provided the areola is not exposed in whole or in part.
“Specified Anatomical Areas” shall mean human genitals, anus, cleft of the buttocks, or the female breast.
“Specified Sexual Activities” means any of the following:
1. sex acts, normal or perverted, including intercourse, oral copulation, masturbation or sodomy; or
2. excretory functions as a part of or in connection with any of the activities described in (1) above.
“Substantial” means more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the item so modified.

(Ord. 2016-0799; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 9/17/2016

Agriculture

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Airport

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Airport Hazard

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Airport Hazard Area

Airport Hazard Area means any area of land or water upon which an airport hazard might be established if not prevented as provided by this Code and Chapter 329, Airport Zoning, of the Iowa Code.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Airport Height

Airport Height means, unless otherwise specified, the datum shall be mean sea level in all zones set out in this Code and shown on the airport hazard zoning map.

(Ord. 2022-0020)

Apartment

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Apiary

Apiary means a place in which a colony or colonies of bees are kept; for example, in a stand or shed for beehives, or a bee house containing a number of beehives.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Applicant

Applicant means a person, firm, or agency that executes the necessary forms to obtain a development order for any zoning, building, land disturbance, or other activity regulated by this Code.

Bike Trails Plan

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Bond

Bond means a document issued by a surety, in return for a fee or premium, guaranteeing the performance of the terms and conditions of a development approval.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Bufferyard

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Building

Building means any structure having a roof or partial roof supported by columns, posts, or walls for the enclosure of persons, animals, equipment, or chattels of any kind.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Building Coverage Ratio

Building Coverage Ratio means the footprint of all buildings (area within the exterior walls) on a parcel or lot as a percentage of the total area of the parcel or lot.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Building Envelope

Building Envelope means the area formed by the front, side, and rear building restriction or setback lines of a lot within which the principal buildings must be located.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Building Permit

Building Permit means an official document or certificate issued by the City which authorizes the construction or siting of any building.

Carport means a roofed structure not more than 75 percent enclosed by walls and attached to the principal building for the purpose of providing shelter for one or more motor vehicles.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Certificate

Certificate means a statement, or attestation placed on a final plat by various City and County agencies or departments, indicating approval of a plat.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Certificate of Appropriateness

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Certificate of Occupancy

Certificate of Occupancy means a statement setting forth that a building or structure complies with this Code, and that the building or structure may be used for the purposes stated therein.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Child

Child means either of the following:

A person 12 years of age or younger; or
A person 13 years of age or older but younger than 19 years of age who has a developmental disability as defined under Federal Development Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-402, as codified in 42 U.S.C §15002(8).

Effective on: 1/1/1901

City Clerk

City Clerk means an elected or appointed official whose job is to take care of the records and official papers and business of the City.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

City Council

City Council means the City Council of Sioux City, Iowa.

Column means a support pillar, usually round, found on porches and as a decorative detail.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Commercial Outdoor Sales Event

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Commercial Retail

Commercial Retail means commercial and retail uses that do not include regular outside storage or sales. The phrase "commercial retail" includes uses that are comparable to the following:

Furniture and home furnishings stores;
Electronics and appliance stores;
Paint and wallpaper stores;
Food and beverage stores;
Health and personal care stores;
Clothing and clothing accessory stores;
Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores;
General merchandise stores; and
Miscellaneous store retailers.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Commission

Commission means the Planning and Zoning Commission of Sioux City, Iowa. Also referred to as the "Planning and Zoning Commission".

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Community Garden

Community Garden means a private or public facility for cultivation of fruit, flowers, vegetables, or ornamental plants by more than one person or family.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Complete Streets Policy

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Composting Facility

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Cupola means a decorative, small, projecting tower at the top of the roof of a building, often square, round or octagonal in shape.

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Detention Pond

Detention Pond means an area where storm water is collected, held and released at a rate that is slower than its intake.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Development Approval

Development Approval means any written authorization from a governmental entity that authorizes the commencement of development.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Dimension

Dimension means a measurable extent of some kind, such as length, breadth, depth, or height.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Division

Division shall mean the splitting of a parcel or tract of land into more than one parcel or tract of land for conveyance or tax purposes. The term may be used as distinct from a subdivision.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Effective Date

Effective Date means the date that this Code first became effective.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Elder

Façade

Façade means an elevation of a building that faces a street or that includes a principal public entrance.

Floodplain

Floodplain means any land area susceptible to being inundated by water as a result of a flood.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Enclosed Area Below Lowest Floor

Floodplain, Enclosed Area Below Lowest Floor means the floor of the lowest enclosed area in a building when all the following criteria are met:

1.
The enclosed area is designed to flood to equalize hydrostatic pressure during flood events with walls or openings that satisfy the provisions of Subsection 25.04.190.12 (2.e.1. and 2.) of this chapter, and
2.
The enclosed area is unfinished (not carpeted, drywalled, etc.) and used solely for low damage potential uses such as building access, parking or storage, and
3.
Machinery and service facilities (e.g., hot water heater, furnace, electrical service) contained in the enclosed area are located at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation, and
4.
The enclosed area is not a “basement” as defined in this section.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Existing Construction

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Existing Factory-built Home Park or Subdivision

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Floodplain, Flood

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Flood Hazard Addendum

Floodplain, Flood Hazard Addendum means an attachment to a final plat showing areas subject to flooding.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Floodplain, Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215; 2021-0460)

Effective on: 5/22/2021

Floodplain, Flood Insurance Study (FIS)

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Floodplain means any land area susceptible to being inundated by water as a result of a flood.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Floodplain Management

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Floodproofing

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Historic Structure means any structure that is:

1.
Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places, maintained by the Department of Interior, or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing of the National Register;
2.
Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
3.
Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
4.
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified by either
1. a.
  an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior, or
2. b.
  directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.

Floodplain, Recreational Vehicle means a vehicle which is:

1.
Built on a single chassis;
2.
400 square feet or less when measured at the horizontal largest projection;
3.
Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck; and
4.
Designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as a temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Routine Maintenance of existing Buildings and Facilities

1.
Normal maintenance of structures such as re-roofing, replacing roofing tiles and replacing siding;
2.
Exterior and interior painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work;
3.
Basement sealing;
4.
Repairing or replacing damaged or broken window panes;
5.
Repairing plumbing systems, electrical systems, heating or air conditioning systems and repairing wells or septic systems.

Grade

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Grading Plan

Grading Plan means part of a preliminary plat describing existing topography and proposed changes to said topography.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Gross Floor Area ("GFA")

The horizontal square footage is measured from the outside face of all exterior walls.
Cellars, basements, penthouses, attics, covered or uncovered porches, balconies and decks, enclosed storage or mechanical areas, mezzanines, and similar structures shall be included as GFA wherever at least seven feet are provided between the finished floor and the ceiling.
No deduction shall apply for horizontal areas void of actual floor space (for example, elevator shafts and stairwells). The protected upper floors of open atriums and foyers shall not be included.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Hardship

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Heat-Island Effect

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Heavy Industry

Heavy Industry means:

Any use that is classified as a "high hazard" occupancy by the City; or
Primary processing or manufacturing or repair operations not specifically defined elsewhere in this Section, which involve:
1. An outside storage area that is larger than the area of the first floor of buildings on the same lot;
2. A material risk of environmental contamination, explosion, or fire;
3. Perceptible ground vibration;
4. Excessive noise or dust;
5. Emission of objectionable odors; or
6. More than 12 trips by semi-trailer trucks per day; or
Processing of minerals (except precious and semi-precious stone cutting for jewelry or precision instruments such as lasers or watches), ores, or fossil fuels; or
Industries that are required to undergo New Source Review under the Federal Clean Air Act, or are subject to construction or operation permits pursuant to the Colorado Stationary Sources Program or Title V of the Federal Clean Air Act.
For illustrative purposes, heavy industrial uses include, but are not limited to:
1. Coal cleaning plants with thermal dryers; coke oven batteries; carbon black plants (furnace process); petroleum refineries; petroleum storage and transfer units (except retail gasoline stations); and bulk fuel dealers;
2. Facilities used in the primary or secondary production of metals (e.g., primary zinc, copper, or lead smelters; primary aluminum ore reduction plants; iron and steel mills; sintering plants; secondary metal production plants; and blacksmith shops);
3. Portland cement plants (not temporary batch plants);
4. Sawmills and pulp mills;
5. Incinerators with the capacity to charge more than 250 tons of refuse per day;
6. Lime plants; phosphate rock processing plants; sulfur recovery plants; and hydrofluoric, sulfuric, or nitric acid plants;
7. Fossil fuel combustion (boilers or electricity generation) totaling more than 250 million BTUs per hour of heat input;
8. Fabrication of building materials such as countertops, drywall, and cut stone;
9. Fabrication of vehicles, manufacturing equipment, durable goods, or pre-fabricated homes or home components;
10. Drycleaner processing plants that use PERC or comparable petrochemical solvents;
11. Meat or seafood processing plants;
12. Manufacture of glass products (e.g., window panes, bottles and jars), except hand-blown products;
13. Manufacture of plastic products (except assembly of parts that are manufactured elsewhere);
14. Plasma arc welding, cutting, gouging, surfacing, or spraying; gas welding (but not brazing); arc welding with equipment that is rated at more than 200 amps; TIG welding; and other heavy welding procedures (e.g., for structural steel, automotive body, or heavy equipment manufacture or repair);
15. Hot mix asphalt plants; and
16. Fossil fuel power plants, waste-to-energy plants, and biomass plants that produce more than 100 megawatts of electricity.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Heavy Retail

Permanent retail operations that are located outside of enclosed buildings, except nurseries;
Home centers;
Lumber and other building materials;
Lawn, garden equipment, and related supply stores;
Warehouse clubs and super stores;
Recreational equipment rental where the equipment is stored outside;
Heavy truck or recreational vehicle leasing or sales;
Manufactured home sales; and
Industrial or construction equipment leasing or sales.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Height

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Heliport or Helistop

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Historic District

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Historic Preservation Commission

Historic Preservation Commission means the Sioux City Historic Preservation Commission.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Historic Preservation Officer

Historic Preservation Officer means the officer charged with the role of supervising the City's historic preservation program.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Historic Site

Historic Site means a structure or building which:

Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history;
Is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past;
Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represents a work of a master, or that possesses high artistic values, or that represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
Has yield, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Home Business

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Home Occupation

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Hospital

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Hotel

Hotel means a building in which lodging is provided in hotel units to the public for compensation in five or more rooms and which is open to transients.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Immediate Neighborhood

Immediate Neighborhood means the same subdivision or the homes within a three block area.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Impervious Area

Impervious Area means an area that does not allow significant amounts of water to infiltrate into the ground. Examples of impervious surfaces are blacktop and concrete.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Impervious Coverage Ratio

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Improvements

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Indoor Commercial Amusement

Indoor Commercial Amusement means uses that provide commercial amusement indoors (except sexually oriented businesses), including, but not limited to:

Movie theaters;
Bowling alleys and pool rooms'
Video arcades;
Local area network computer gaming centers; and
Internet cafes.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Indoor Recreation

Community recreation centers;
Gymnasiums;
Indoor swimming pools; or
Tennis, racquetball, or handball courts.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Inoperable Vehicle

Inoperable Vehicle means a vehicle which is not fully capable of movement under its own power or is not licensed or registered to operate legally on a public street right-of-way.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Institutional Residential

Facilities, other than group homes, in which residents live in an institutional environment and are, generally, under the care or control of staff;
In-patient drug and alcoholism hospitals and rehabilitation centers, in which residents have institutional care, or are treated by staff in an institutional setting, rather than living independently; and
Any sheltered care, group care, group home, or residential substance abuse facility with more than eight total occupants.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Landfill

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Landmark

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Legal Description

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Lighting, Indirectly Illuminated means illumination that is so arranged that the light is reflected from the sign to the eyes of the viewer.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Loess Hills means a formation of wind-deposited loess soil in the westernmost parts of Iowa and Missouri, and the easternmost parts of Nebraska and Kansas, along the Missouri River.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Local Street

Local Street means a street (arterial, collector) that provides access to individual lots or land uses.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Area

Lot Area means the area of a lot within the lot lines.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Lot, Subdivision

Lot, Subdivision mean a land parcel within a subdivision, identified by number, intended as a unit for transfer or development.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Lot Line

Lot Line means the property line bounding a lot.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line, Front

Lot Line, Front means the lot line separating a lot and a public or private street right-of-way or easement.

For an interior lot, the lot line separating the lot from the right-of-way or easement.
For a corner lot, the shorter lot line abutting a public or private street or easement. In instances of equal line dimension, the front lot line shall be determined by the Director, or as may be noted on the final plat.
For a double frontage lot, the lot lines separating the lot from the right-of-way or easement of the more minor street. In cases where each street has the same classification, the front lot line shall be determined by the Director at the time of application for the original building permit for the lot, or as may be noted on the final plot.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line Home

Illustrative Lot Line Home

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5.Separation; 6. Street side yard; and 7 Rear yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line, Interior Side

Lot Line, Interior Side means the lot line that connects the front lot line to the rear lot line, running generally perpendicular, radial, or at angles to the street.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line, Rear

Lot Line, Rear shall mean a lot line not abutting a street which is opposite and most distance from the front lot line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line, Side

Lot Line, Side means lot lines between the front and rear lot lines.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Masonry means a type of construction using stone, brick, tile or concrete block using mortar.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Mature Tree

Mature Tree means any tree with a trunk with a diameter of 10 inches or more, measured 12 inches above existing grade.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Medical Lab

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Medical or Dental Office

Medical or Dental Office means a use where medical, dental, psychiatric, psychological, chiropractic, and other outpatient services are performed.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Mixed Housing

Mixed Housing means a residential development that consists of a variety of lot sizes and more than one housing type.

(Ord. 2025-0832)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Motor Vehicle Sales Service and Repair

(Ord. 2025-0832)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Motor Vehicle Sales, Indoor Showroom Only

(Ord. 2025-0832)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Multiple Family

Multiple Family means:

Buildings that contain three or more dwelling units that:
1. Are accessed by from interior elevators or hallways, or from individual exterior entrances; and
2. Are separated by interior wall and/or floors.
Multiple family does not include boarding houses, dormitories, fraternities, sororities, bed and breakfast establishments, single family attached, or commercial lodging (e.g., hotels).

Illustrative Multiple-Family Apartment

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.
Illustrative Vertical (Over-Under) Duplex

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Rear yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Front yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Multiplex

Illustrative Multiplex

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.

Obstruction

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Oriel Window

Oriel Window means a projecting bay window supported by brackets or a triangular support piece.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Outdoor Commercial Amusement

Outdoor Commercial Amusement means uses that provide commercial amusement outdoors (except sexually oriented businesses), including, but not limited to:

Amusement parks or theme parks;
Fairgrounds;
Miniature golf establishments;
Golf driving ranges;
Water slides; and
Batting cages.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Parapet

Parapet means a low stone or brick wall at the top of a building. A crenelated parapet has rhythmic breaks in the wall to create a pattern of battlements.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parcel of Land

Parcel of Land means one or more lots which are designated by the owner or applicant as land to be used or developed as a unit, or which has been developed as a unit.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parcel Proposed for Development

Parcel Proposed for Development means any parcel of land which is the subject of an application for development approval.

Parking Space means an area that is used for parking of motor vehicles that:

Is accessible from a street, aisle, or alley and meets the applicable dimensional requirements of this Code; or
Is accessible from a street or alley, is located in a residential driveway, garage, or carport, and meets the dimensional requirements for a standard parking space set out in this Code.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parking, Tandem

Parking, Tandem means a parking space within a group of two or more parking spaces arranged one behind the other.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parks Plan

Parks Plan means the latest plan adopted by the City showing future parks and park development.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Paving Width

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Peak Hour Trips

Peak Hour Trips means trips made during the busiest hour within the morning and evening peak periods using any transportation mode.

Pillar

Pillar means a support column without classical detailing.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Pilaster

Pilaster means a narrowly protruding column attached to a wall, giving the illusion of a real free standing support column.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Place of Assembly

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Planned Neighborhood

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Truck container, with or without the chassis attached to it;
Moving van;
Portable moving container (POD);
Pre-assembled storage structure; or
Shipping container.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Portico

Portico means a small entrance porch.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Preschool

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Preplat Conference

Preplat Conference means the informal meeting of City staff, the developer, developer’s staff and other interested parties that begin each subdivision process.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Pressure Zone

Pressure Zone means zones served by individual water towers. Each pressure zone would have different service elevation limits.

Private Residential Clubhouse means a premises which are part of a multiple-family development that is devoted to the social and recreational use of the occupants and guest of the development.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Private Restrictions

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Prohibited Use

Prohibited Use means a use that is not allowed in the specified district and in some cases the entire City.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Property Line

Property Line means a line or curve that forms the legal boundary of a lot or parcel. Property lines are further classified as front, interior side, street side, or rear.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Replat, Re-subdivision

Replat, Re-subdivision means a subdivision plat representing land that has previously been included in a recorded subdivision plat.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Restaurant, Drive-In or Drive-Through

Restaurant, Drive-In or Drive-Through means a restaurant located either within a retail center, or situated as a stand-alone facility, which:

Contains a drive-in or drive-through facility;
Primarily serves food that is prepared and packaged within five minutes; and
Customarily serves food in disposable containers.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Restaurant, No Drive-In or Drive-Through

Full-service restaurants;
Limited-service eating facilities; and
Special food services.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Rezoning

Rezoning means an amendment to the Official Zoning Map.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Right-of-Way

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Riparian Area

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Roof

Roof Types

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Runway

Runway means a designated portion of the airport prepared for landing and takeoff of aircraft along the centerline of its longest dimension.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Salvage Yard

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Seasonal Sale

Seasonal Sales means sales of items that are available depending on an annually recurring period of time, depending on certain activities, celebrations, or crop availability.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Self-Storage Facility

Self-Storage Facility means a structure containing separate storage spaces, which may be of various sizes, leased or rented on an individual basis.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Setback

Setback means a stated minimum distance from a lot line to a building, structure, or use.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sewer Service

Sewer Service means an allowed connection to a series of pipes that flow to, and terminate at, the City of Sioux City’s Waste Water Treatment Plant.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Sexually Oriented Business/Entertainment

Sexually Oriented Business/Entertainment means a “sexual device shop,” “sexual encounter center,” or “sexual escort agency.”

“Escort,” as used herein, shall be interchangeable with “sexual escort,” and means a person who, for consideration, agrees or offers to act as a companion, guide, or date for another person, and who agrees or offers to appear for the other person in a state of nudity or state of semi-nudity during the course of providing such companionship.
“Established” shall mean and include any of the following:
1. The opening or commencement of any sexually oriented business as a new business; or
2. The conversion of an existing business, whether or not a sexually oriented business, to another sexually oriented business.
“Features” means to offer the goods or services so modified by that term to the public as one of the intended profit-making objectives of the commercial enterprise, which enterprise holds itself forth to the public, through marketing, advertising, signage, promotions, or merchandise display, as a place where said goods or services may be obtained.
“State of Nudity” means the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, vulva, anus, anal cleft or cleavage with less than a fully opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple and areola.
“Operate” shall mean to cause to function or to put or keep in a state of doing business. A person may be found to be operating or causing to be operated an adult entertainment business regardless of whether that person is an owner or part owner of the business.
“Person” shall mean individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity.
“Regularly” means and refers to the consistent and repeated doing of the act so described.
“Semi-Nude or State of Semi-Nudity” means the showing of the female breast below a horizontal line across the top of the areola and extending across the width of the breast at that point, or the showing of the male or female buttocks. This definition shall include the entire lower portion of the human female breast, but shall not include any portion of the cleavage of the human female breasts exhibited by a dress, blouse, shirt, leotard, or similar wearing apparel provided the areola is not visible in whole or in part.
“Sexual Device” means any three (3) dimensional object designed and marketed for stimulation of the male or female human genital organ or anus or for sadomasochistic use or abuse of oneself or others and shall include devices such as dildos, vibrators, penis pumps, and physical representations of the human genital organs, and shall also include certain devices with non-sex related utility, such as leather whips, straps, and ligatures when said devices are marketed in a context promoting sexual or sadomasochistic uses. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include devices primarily intended for protection against sexually transmitted diseases or for preventing pregnancy.
“Sexual Device Shop” means a commercial establishment that regularly features sexual devices. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include any pharmacy, drug store, medical clinic, or any establishment primarily dedicated to providing medical or healthcare products or services, nor shall this definition be construed to include commercial establishments which do not restrict access to any portion of their premises by reason of age.
“Sexual Encounter Center” means a business or commercial enterprise that, as one of its primary business purposes, offers for any form of consideration, physical contact in the form of wrestling or tumbling between two or more persons, where one or more of the persons is in a state of nudity or state of semi-nudity.
“Sexual Escort Agency,” as used herein, means a person or business association who furnishes, offers to furnish, or advertises to furnish sexual escorts as one of its primary business purposes, for a fee, tip, or other consideration.

(Ord. 2016-0799; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 9/17/2016

Sidewalk Cafe

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sidewalk Sale

Sidewalk Sale means sales that are conducted by either the store owner or occupant, outside their store, on:

A public sidewalk;
A private sidewalk; or
Pedestrian areas adjacent to a sidewalk, such as pedestrian plazas.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sight Distance Triangle

Figure S-1
Sight Distance Triangle

Sign, Attached

Sign, Attached means any sign supported by uprights, braces, or other devices, or painted on, or otherwise attached to any building.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Double-Faced

Sign, Double-Faced means any sign with copy on two faces that are back to back, facing in opposite directions.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Festoons

Sign, Festoons means a string of ribbons, tinsel, small flags, pinwheels, or similar devices.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Flag (Official)

Sign, Flag (Official) means a duly adopted flag or seal of the United State, State of Iowa, Woodbury County, or the City of Sioux City.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Home Occupation means any unlighted sign not over one square foot in area attached flat against the dwelling and displaying only the occupants name and/or address and/or occupation.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Identification

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Illegal

Sign, Illegal means any sign and/or advertising device erected without a permit required by this Code, or in violation of any of the limitations, prohibitions, or requirements of this Code.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Illuminated

Sign, Illuminated means any sign with an artificial light source incorporated internally or externally (directly or indirectly) for the purpose of illuminating the sign.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Incidental

Sign, Incidental means any small sign, emblem, or decal informing the public of goods, facilities, or services available on the premises.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

(Ord. 2015-0215)

Effective on: 5/22/2021

Sign, Monument

Sign, Monument means a freestanding ground sign:

That is of monolithic construction in which the sign's base or support is of uniform composition with the material comprising the sign area of said sign and the base or support of said sign is directly affixed in or to the ground;
Where the sign face is encompassed on the top, sides, and bottom by a border or column of the same or compatible material which border or column is not less than 12 inches wide and not more than 24 inches wide, and which border or column compliments and enhances the aesthetic effect of the sign; and
Which may be double-faced provided it has back-to-back sides.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Public

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Pylon

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Roof Line

Sign, Roof Line means the top edge of a roof or building parapet, whichever is higher, excluding any cupolas, pylons, chimneys, or minor projections.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Roof

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Sandwich Board

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Scenic Area

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Subdivision Entrance

Sign, Subdivision Entrance means a freestanding or wall sign identifying a recognized subdivision, condominium complex, or residential development and denoting its entrance or exit.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Swinging

Sign, Swinging means any sign installed on an arm or mast that is, by design, intended to allow the sign to swing due to wind action.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Temporary

Interim Sign means temporary business advertising signs intended to provide signage in an interim period during which permanent signage is being fabricated, repaired, and/or prepared for installation or erection.
Grand Opening Sign means business advertising signs, bearing the words “Grand Opening,” or a similar message, to announce the opening of a new business.
Promotional Sign, Commercial means temporary business advertising signs intended to promote and attract attention to a commercial use, activity, or event for a limited number of activities or events in a calendar year.
Promotional Sign, Non-Commercial means an activity or event that does not, in any way, involve commerce, at least relative to similar activities that do have a commercial objective or emphasis. For example, advertising a free activity or event that is open to the general public, which may be hosted by a non-profit organization or a for-profit business that is staffed only by volunteers and for which there is no sales or exchange of money or in-kind services is a non-commercial activity or event.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Construction

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Political

Sign, Political means any temporary, portable sign announcing or supporting candidates or issues in connection with any national, state, or local election.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Real Estate

Sign, Real Estate means any temporary, portable sign advertising the real estate upon which the sign is located as being for rent, lease, or sale.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Snipe

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Time and Temperature

Sign, Time and Temperature means an electronic or computer-generated sign that displays only the time, temperature, and date.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Traveling Message

Simple Division means a division of a parcel or tract of land into not more than two lots that do not require any public improvements.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Single Family Attached

Single Family Attached means housing types with two or more dwelling units that are located in a single structure or attached structures:

Which are separated from each other by an un-penetrated dividing side wall (e.g., side-by-side duplexes and all types of townhomes); and/or
Which are separated by a floor (e.g., over-under duplexes and duplex townhomes), but have ground floor entrances for each unit.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Single Family Detached

Single Family Detached means a dwelling unit, designed for and occupied by not more than one family and having no roof, wall, or floor in common with any other dwelling unit.

Illustrative Single-Family Detached Dwelling

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.

Solar Array (also called "photovoltaic arrays" or "PV arrays") means an array of solar cells that convert energy from sunlight directly to electricity.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Specified Anatomical Areas

Specified Anatomical Areas means:

Less than completely and opaquely covered:
1. Human genitals or pubic region;
2. Human buttocks;
3. Human female breasts below a point immediately above the top of the areola; and
Human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Specified Sexual Activities

Specified Sexual Activities means activities that involve:

Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation, arousal or swelling;
Acts of human anilingus, bestiality, buggery, cunnilingus, coprophagy, coprophilia, fellatio, flagellation, masochism, masturbation, necrophilia, pederasty, pedophilia, sadism, sadomasochism, sapphism, sexual intercourse, sodomy, urolagnia or zooerasty;
Fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttocks, anus or female breast; and
Excretory functions as part of or in connection with any of the activities set forth in Items (1) through (3) of this subsection.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

State

State means the State of Iowa.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Salvage Facility and Yard

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Stacking Space

Stacking Space means a temporary waiting area for motor vehicles obtaining a service or other activity.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Stoop

Stoop means the uncovered wide step leading into the front or main door of a building.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Storage Yard

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Storm Water

Storm Water means rain water flowing from a particular site.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Storm Water Detention

Storm Water Detention means the act of collecting and holding storm water for a period of time before releasing it.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Abutting

Street, Abutting means a public right-of-way that abuts a tract of land being subdivided.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Arterial

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Collector

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Cul-de-Sac

Street, Cul-de-Sac means a short public way that has only one outlet for vehicular traffic and terminates in a vehicular turn-around.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Street, Dead-End

Street, Dead-End means a street that terminates with no reasonable provision made to allow vehicles to turn around.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Lighting

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Local

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Local Service

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street Right-of-Way

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Structure

Buildings;
Walls;
Fences;
Signs;
Billboards; and
Storage tanks.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Structure, Temporary

Structure, Temporary means a structure that is designed to be repeatedly erected or inflated (tents and inflatable structures) or buildings that are picked up and moved.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Structural Alterations

Structural Alterations is any change in the supporting members of a building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders and floor joists, ceiling joists, roof rafters, or stairways.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Stucco

Stucco means a thin coating of plaster applied over exterior walls.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Subdivider

Subdivider means the owner or agent of the owner who undertakes to cause a parcel of land to be designed, constructed as a subdivision.

Substandard Lot means a lot of record that is not in the best interests of public health, safety, and welfare by reason of one or more of the following characteristics:

The lot is of a size, in square feet or by individual dimension, that is inadequate to provide for reasonable building setbacks for the purpose of providing adequate light and air, and also adequate separation for fire protection purposes;
The lot is of a size, shape, or dimension that is inadequate to meet an adequate minimum home size and accommodate on-site parking thereby placing a burden of the public right-of-way for on-street parking, which may impede traffic flow and/or create traffic hazards; or
The dwelling unit does not meet the minimum size standards that are set out by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which require that the size of a dwelling unit may be no smaller than:
1. 570 square feet in size, if the unit is designed for a family of one to four persons;
2. 850 square feet in size, if the unit is designed for a family of between five and seven persons; and
3. 1,020 square feet in size if the unit is designed for a family of eight or more persons.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Substantial Conformity

Substantial Conformity means that a planned development site plan shall not be deemed in conformity with an approved development concept plan if it:

Departs from the ranges specified in the approval;
Relocates approved circulation elements to any extent that would decrease their functionality, adversely affect their relation to surrounding lands and circulation elements, or reduce their effectiveness as buffers or amenities;
Significantly alters the arrangement of land uses within the development or significantly alters stormwater retention and retardation facilities within the development, or the location, manner, or velocity of the discharge of stormwater from the development and into a system;
Significantly alters the content of timing of the phasing plan;
Violates any provision of this Code or other City ordinances that are applicable to the proposed development; or
Departs from the development concept plan in any other manner which the City Council shall, based on stated findings and conclusions, find to materially alter the plan or concept for the proposed development.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Substantial improvement

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Surety

Surety means a formal engagement (as a pledge or guarantee) given for the fulfillment of an undertaking.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Survey

Survey (See Plat of Survey)

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

SUDAS Manual

SUDAS Manual means the Statewide Urban Design Standards as adopted by the City of Sioux City.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Tandem Parking

Tandem Parking - See the definition for Parking, Tandem.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Temporary Use

Temporary Use means a use that is established for a fixed period of time with the intent to discontinue such use upon the expiration of such time.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tower

Tower means a tall structure, either square or round in shape, rising higher than the rest of the building.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tower Height

Tower Height means the height above grade of the fixed portion of the tower, excluding the wind turbine itself.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Townhome

Townhome means a single family attached dwelling with three to eight units, with each single unit going from ground to roof and with individual outside access.

Illustrative Standard (Side-by-Side) Townhome

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Rear yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Front yard.
Illustrative Vertical (Over-Under) Townhome

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Rear yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Front yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Traffic Control Device

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Transitional Service Facility

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

Vanpools, shuttles, and / or ride-share programs;
Compressed work weeks, flex-time, and / or staggered work hours;
Free or subsidized public transit passes;
Incentive programs for walking or bicycling to work;
Shower and locker facilities for pedestrian and bicycle commuters; and
Telecommuting.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tree

Tree means a plant having at least one well-defined stem or trunk and normally attaining a mature height of at least 15 feet, with an average mature spread of 15 feet.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tree, Evergreen

Tree, Evergreen means a plant species with foliage that persists and remains green year round.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tree, Large

Tree, Large means any self-supporting woody plant of a species that normally achieves an overall height at maturity of 30 feet or more.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Truckload Sale

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Truck Stop

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Turret

Turret means a small tower at the corner of a building.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Twin Home

Illustrative Standard (Side-by-Side) Twin Home

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Urban Farming

Effective on: 6/13/2015

Urban Renewal Plan

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Warehousing/Distribution means a facility where goods are received from heavy trucks and then stored for subsequent delivery to off-site wholesalers, retailers, or consumers.

(Ord. 2019-0721)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Woodland

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Work Live

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Xeriscape

Xeriscape means landscaping characterized by the use of vegetation that is drought-tolerant or of low water use in character.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard

Yard means an at-grade area of a lot that is not improved with, as follows:

Generally, a yard is the area between the lot line and the portion of the principal building that is closest to the lot line; and
A required yard is the area between the lot line and the required setback in relation to that lot line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard, Front

Yard, Front means an area that extends across the full width of the lot between the front lot line and the required front setback line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard, Interior Side

Yard, Interior Side means a yard that extends from the front setback line to the rear setback line, between the interior side lot line and the interior side setback line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard, Rear

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard, Side Street

Yard, Side Street means a yard extending from the front setback line to the rear lot line, located between the side street lot line and the side street (arterial, collector) setback line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Zero Lot Line

Placing the house on a side lot line and providing a maintenance easement six feet wide on the adjoining lot; or
Locating the house so as to provide two side yards, one of which shall be a six foot side yard with a use easement for the neighboring property.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Zoning District

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Zoning Map

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sioux City City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 25

07 Definitions

25.07.010 Word Usage.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sec. 25.07.020 Abbreviations and Acronyms

Table 25.07.020 Meaning of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
ac.	Acres
ADA	American with Disabilities Act
BMP	Best Management Practice
du	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
ft.	Feet
in.	Inches
LSR	Landscape Surface Ratio
Max.	Maximum
Min.	Minimum
N/A	Not Applicable
OSR	Open Space Ratio
POA	Property Owner's Association
sf.	Square Feet
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development
u/a	Units Per Acre

Table 25.07.020 Meaning of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
ac.	Acres
ADA	American with Disabilities Act
BMP	Best Management Practice
du	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
ft.	Feet
in.	Inches
LSR	Landscape Surface Ratio
Max.	Maximum
Min.	Minimum
N/A	Not Applicable
OSR	Open Space Ratio
POA	Property Owner's Association
sf.	Square Feet
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development
u/a	Units Per Acre

Table 25.07.020 Meaning of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
ac.	Acres
ADA	American with Disabilities Act
BMP	Best Management Practice
du	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
ft.	Feet
in.	Inches
LSR	Landscape Surface Ratio
Max.	Maximum
Min.	Minimum
N/A	Not Applicable
OSR	Open Space Ratio
POA	Property Owner's Association
sf.	Square Feet
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development
u/a	Units Per Acre

Table 25.07.020 Meaning of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
ac.	Acres
ADA	American with Disabilities Act
BMP	Best Management Practice
du	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
ft.	Feet
in.	Inches
LSR	Landscape Surface Ratio
Max.	Maximum
Min.	Minimum
N/A	Not Applicable
OSR	Open Space Ratio
POA	Property Owner's Association
sf.	Square Feet
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development
u/a	Units Per Acre

(Ord. 2015-0215)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Adult Day Care

Adult Day Care means a facility that provides care for the elderly and / or functionally impaired adults in a protective setting for a portion of a 24-hour day.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Adult Entertainment

Adult Entertainment means any exhibition, display, activity, or dance that involves the appearance or exposure to view of specified anatomical areas.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Adult Entertainment Business

“Adult Bookstore or Adult Video Store” means a commercial establishment that:
1. has a substantial portion of its displayed merchandise which consists of, or
2. has a substantial portion of the wholesale value of its displayed merchandise which consists of, or
3. has a substantial portion of the retail value of its displayed merchandise which consists of, or
4. derives a substantial portion of its revenues from the sale or rental, for any form of consideration of, or
5. maintains a substantial section of its sales or display space for the sale or rental, for any form of consideration, of any one or more of the following: books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, compact discs, digital video discs, slides, or other visual representations which are characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of “specified sexual activities” or “specified anatomical areas.”
6. The term “Adult Bookstore or Adult Video Store” shall also include a commercial establishment which regularly maintains one or more “Adult Arcades.” “Adult Arcade” means any place to which the public is permitted or invited wherein coin-operated or slug-operated or electronically, electrically, or mechanically controlled still or motion picture machines, projectors, or other image-producing devices regularly show images distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon matter exhibiting or describing “specified sexual activities” or specified “anatomical areas,” and where the booth(s) or room(s) in which such images are shown contain less than twenty (20) individual seats for patrons.
“Adult Cabaret” means a nightclub, bar, juice bar, restaurant bottle club, or similar commercial establishment, regardless of whether alcoholic beverages are served, which regularly features persons who appear nude or semi-nude.
“Adult Model Studio” means any place where a person, who regularly appears in a state of nudity or state of semi-nudity is provided for money or any form of consideration to be observed, sketched, drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly depicted by other persons. It is a defense to prosecution for any violation of this ordinance that a person appearing in a state of nudity or state of semi-nudity did so in a modeling class operated:
1. By a college, junior college, or university supported entirely or partly by taxation;
2. By a private college or university which maintains and operates educational programs in which credited are transferable to college, junior college, or university supported entirely or partly by taxation; or:
3. In a structure:
  1. Which has no sign visible from the exterior of the structure and no other advertising that indicates a semi-nude person is available for viewing; and
  2. Where, in order to participate in a class a student must enroll at least three days in advance of the class.
“Adult Motel” means a motel, hotel, or similar commercial establishment which: (a) offers public accommodations, for any form of consideration, and which regularly provides patrons with closed-circuit television transmissions, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition of “specified sexual activities” or “specified anatomical areas” and which regularly advertises the availability of such material by means of a sign visible from the public right-of-way, or by means of any off-premises advertising, including but not limited to, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets or leaflets, radio or television, and (b) offers a sleeping room for rent for a period of time less than ten (10) hours.
“Adult Motion Picture Theater” means a commercial establishment where films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides, or similar photographic reproductions or visual images which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of “specified sexual activities” or “specified anatomical areas” are regularly shown for any form of consideration, and where the booth(s) or room(s) in which such images are shown contain more than twenty (20) individual seats for patrons.
“Adult Theater” means a theater, concert hall, auditorium, or similar commercial establishment which, for any form of consideration, regularly features persons who appear in state of semi-nudity or live performances which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exposure of “specified anatomical areas” or “specified sexual activities.”
“Distinguished or Characterized by their Emphasis Upon” means the dominant or principal theme of the object described by such phrase. For instance, when the phase refers to films “which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon the exhibition or description of Specified Sexual Activities or Specified Anatomical areas,” the films so described are those whose dominant or principal character and theme are the exhibition or description “specified anatomical areas” or “specified sexual activities.”
“Established” shall mean and include any of the following:
1. The opening or commencement of any adult entertainment business as a new business; or
2. The conversion of an existing business, whether or not an adult entertainment business, to another adult entertainment business.
“Features” means to offer the goods or services so modified by that term to the public as one of the intended profit-making objectives of the commercial enterprise, which enterprise holds itself forth to the public, through marketing, advertising, signage, promotions, or merchandise display, as a place where said goods or services may be obtained
“State of Nudity” means the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, vulva, anus, anal cleft or cleavage with less than a fully opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple and areola.
“Operate” shall mean to cause to function or to put or keep in a state of doing business. A person may be found to be operating or causing to be operated an adult entertainment business regardless of whether that person is an owner or part owner of the business.
“Person” shall mean individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity.
“Regularly” means and refers to the consistent and repeated doing of the act so described.
“Semi-Nude or State of Semi-Nudity” means the showing of the female breast below a horizontal line across the top of the areola and extending across the width of the breast at that point, or the showing of the male or female buttocks. This definition shall include the entire lower portion of the human female breast, but shall not include any portion of the cleavage of the human female breasts exhibited by a dress, blouse, shirt, leotard, or similar wearing apparel provided the areola is not exposed in whole or in part.
“Specified Anatomical Areas” shall mean human genitals, anus, cleft of the buttocks, or the female breast.
“Specified Sexual Activities” means any of the following:
1. sex acts, normal or perverted, including intercourse, oral copulation, masturbation or sodomy; or
2. excretory functions as a part of or in connection with any of the activities described in (1) above.
“Substantial” means more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the item so modified.

(Ord. 2016-0799; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 9/17/2016

Agriculture

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Airport

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Airport Hazard

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Airport Hazard Area

Airport Hazard Area means any area of land or water upon which an airport hazard might be established if not prevented as provided by this Code and Chapter 329, Airport Zoning, of the Iowa Code.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Airport Height

Airport Height means, unless otherwise specified, the datum shall be mean sea level in all zones set out in this Code and shown on the airport hazard zoning map.

(Ord. 2022-0020)

Apartment

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Apiary

Apiary means a place in which a colony or colonies of bees are kept; for example, in a stand or shed for beehives, or a bee house containing a number of beehives.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Applicant

Applicant means a person, firm, or agency that executes the necessary forms to obtain a development order for any zoning, building, land disturbance, or other activity regulated by this Code.

Bike Trails Plan

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Bond

Bond means a document issued by a surety, in return for a fee or premium, guaranteeing the performance of the terms and conditions of a development approval.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Bufferyard

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Building

Building means any structure having a roof or partial roof supported by columns, posts, or walls for the enclosure of persons, animals, equipment, or chattels of any kind.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Building Coverage Ratio

Building Coverage Ratio means the footprint of all buildings (area within the exterior walls) on a parcel or lot as a percentage of the total area of the parcel or lot.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Building Envelope

Building Envelope means the area formed by the front, side, and rear building restriction or setback lines of a lot within which the principal buildings must be located.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Building Permit

Building Permit means an official document or certificate issued by the City which authorizes the construction or siting of any building.

Carport means a roofed structure not more than 75 percent enclosed by walls and attached to the principal building for the purpose of providing shelter for one or more motor vehicles.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Certificate

Certificate means a statement, or attestation placed on a final plat by various City and County agencies or departments, indicating approval of a plat.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Certificate of Appropriateness

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Certificate of Occupancy

Certificate of Occupancy means a statement setting forth that a building or structure complies with this Code, and that the building or structure may be used for the purposes stated therein.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Child

Child means either of the following:

A person 12 years of age or younger; or
A person 13 years of age or older but younger than 19 years of age who has a developmental disability as defined under Federal Development Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-402, as codified in 42 U.S.C §15002(8).

Effective on: 1/1/1901

City Clerk

City Clerk means an elected or appointed official whose job is to take care of the records and official papers and business of the City.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

City Council

City Council means the City Council of Sioux City, Iowa.

Column means a support pillar, usually round, found on porches and as a decorative detail.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Commercial Outdoor Sales Event

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Commercial Retail

Commercial Retail means commercial and retail uses that do not include regular outside storage or sales. The phrase "commercial retail" includes uses that are comparable to the following:

Furniture and home furnishings stores;
Electronics and appliance stores;
Paint and wallpaper stores;
Food and beverage stores;
Health and personal care stores;
Clothing and clothing accessory stores;
Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores;
General merchandise stores; and
Miscellaneous store retailers.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Commission

Commission means the Planning and Zoning Commission of Sioux City, Iowa. Also referred to as the "Planning and Zoning Commission".

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Community Garden

Community Garden means a private or public facility for cultivation of fruit, flowers, vegetables, or ornamental plants by more than one person or family.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Complete Streets Policy

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Composting Facility

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Cupola means a decorative, small, projecting tower at the top of the roof of a building, often square, round or octagonal in shape.

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Detention Pond

Detention Pond means an area where storm water is collected, held and released at a rate that is slower than its intake.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Development Approval

Development Approval means any written authorization from a governmental entity that authorizes the commencement of development.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Dimension

Dimension means a measurable extent of some kind, such as length, breadth, depth, or height.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Division

Division shall mean the splitting of a parcel or tract of land into more than one parcel or tract of land for conveyance or tax purposes. The term may be used as distinct from a subdivision.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Effective Date

Effective Date means the date that this Code first became effective.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Elder

Façade

Façade means an elevation of a building that faces a street or that includes a principal public entrance.

Floodplain

Floodplain means any land area susceptible to being inundated by water as a result of a flood.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Enclosed Area Below Lowest Floor

Floodplain, Enclosed Area Below Lowest Floor means the floor of the lowest enclosed area in a building when all the following criteria are met:

1.
The enclosed area is designed to flood to equalize hydrostatic pressure during flood events with walls or openings that satisfy the provisions of Subsection 25.04.190.12 (2.e.1. and 2.) of this chapter, and
2.
The enclosed area is unfinished (not carpeted, drywalled, etc.) and used solely for low damage potential uses such as building access, parking or storage, and
3.
Machinery and service facilities (e.g., hot water heater, furnace, electrical service) contained in the enclosed area are located at least one (1) foot above the base flood elevation, and
4.
The enclosed area is not a “basement” as defined in this section.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Existing Construction

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Existing Factory-built Home Park or Subdivision

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Floodplain, Flood

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Flood Hazard Addendum

Floodplain, Flood Hazard Addendum means an attachment to a final plat showing areas subject to flooding.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Floodplain, Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215; 2021-0460)

Effective on: 5/22/2021

Floodplain, Flood Insurance Study (FIS)

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Floodplain means any land area susceptible to being inundated by water as a result of a flood.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Floodplain Management

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Floodproofing

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Historic Structure means any structure that is:

1.
Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places, maintained by the Department of Interior, or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing of the National Register;
2.
Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
3.
Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
4.
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified by either
1. a.
  an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior, or
2. b.
  directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.

Floodplain, Recreational Vehicle means a vehicle which is:

1.
Built on a single chassis;
2.
400 square feet or less when measured at the horizontal largest projection;
3.
Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck; and
4.
Designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as a temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use.

(Ord. 2024-0646)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Floodplain, Routine Maintenance of existing Buildings and Facilities

1.
Normal maintenance of structures such as re-roofing, replacing roofing tiles and replacing siding;
2.
Exterior and interior painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work;
3.
Basement sealing;
4.
Repairing or replacing damaged or broken window panes;
5.
Repairing plumbing systems, electrical systems, heating or air conditioning systems and repairing wells or septic systems.

Grade

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Grading Plan

Grading Plan means part of a preliminary plat describing existing topography and proposed changes to said topography.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Gross Floor Area ("GFA")

The horizontal square footage is measured from the outside face of all exterior walls.
Cellars, basements, penthouses, attics, covered or uncovered porches, balconies and decks, enclosed storage or mechanical areas, mezzanines, and similar structures shall be included as GFA wherever at least seven feet are provided between the finished floor and the ceiling.
No deduction shall apply for horizontal areas void of actual floor space (for example, elevator shafts and stairwells). The protected upper floors of open atriums and foyers shall not be included.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Hardship

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Heat-Island Effect

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Heavy Industry

Heavy Industry means:

Any use that is classified as a "high hazard" occupancy by the City; or
Primary processing or manufacturing or repair operations not specifically defined elsewhere in this Section, which involve:
1. An outside storage area that is larger than the area of the first floor of buildings on the same lot;
2. A material risk of environmental contamination, explosion, or fire;
3. Perceptible ground vibration;
4. Excessive noise or dust;
5. Emission of objectionable odors; or
6. More than 12 trips by semi-trailer trucks per day; or
Processing of minerals (except precious and semi-precious stone cutting for jewelry or precision instruments such as lasers or watches), ores, or fossil fuels; or
Industries that are required to undergo New Source Review under the Federal Clean Air Act, or are subject to construction or operation permits pursuant to the Colorado Stationary Sources Program or Title V of the Federal Clean Air Act.
For illustrative purposes, heavy industrial uses include, but are not limited to:
1. Coal cleaning plants with thermal dryers; coke oven batteries; carbon black plants (furnace process); petroleum refineries; petroleum storage and transfer units (except retail gasoline stations); and bulk fuel dealers;
2. Facilities used in the primary or secondary production of metals (e.g., primary zinc, copper, or lead smelters; primary aluminum ore reduction plants; iron and steel mills; sintering plants; secondary metal production plants; and blacksmith shops);
3. Portland cement plants (not temporary batch plants);
4. Sawmills and pulp mills;
5. Incinerators with the capacity to charge more than 250 tons of refuse per day;
6. Lime plants; phosphate rock processing plants; sulfur recovery plants; and hydrofluoric, sulfuric, or nitric acid plants;
7. Fossil fuel combustion (boilers or electricity generation) totaling more than 250 million BTUs per hour of heat input;
8. Fabrication of building materials such as countertops, drywall, and cut stone;
9. Fabrication of vehicles, manufacturing equipment, durable goods, or pre-fabricated homes or home components;
10. Drycleaner processing plants that use PERC or comparable petrochemical solvents;
11. Meat or seafood processing plants;
12. Manufacture of glass products (e.g., window panes, bottles and jars), except hand-blown products;
13. Manufacture of plastic products (except assembly of parts that are manufactured elsewhere);
14. Plasma arc welding, cutting, gouging, surfacing, or spraying; gas welding (but not brazing); arc welding with equipment that is rated at more than 200 amps; TIG welding; and other heavy welding procedures (e.g., for structural steel, automotive body, or heavy equipment manufacture or repair);
15. Hot mix asphalt plants; and
16. Fossil fuel power plants, waste-to-energy plants, and biomass plants that produce more than 100 megawatts of electricity.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Heavy Retail

Permanent retail operations that are located outside of enclosed buildings, except nurseries;
Home centers;
Lumber and other building materials;
Lawn, garden equipment, and related supply stores;
Warehouse clubs and super stores;
Recreational equipment rental where the equipment is stored outside;
Heavy truck or recreational vehicle leasing or sales;
Manufactured home sales; and
Industrial or construction equipment leasing or sales.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Height

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Heliport or Helistop

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Historic District

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Historic Preservation Commission

Historic Preservation Commission means the Sioux City Historic Preservation Commission.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Historic Preservation Officer

Historic Preservation Officer means the officer charged with the role of supervising the City's historic preservation program.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Historic Site

Historic Site means a structure or building which:

Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history;
Is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past;
Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represents a work of a master, or that possesses high artistic values, or that represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
Has yield, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Home Business

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Home Occupation

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Hospital

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Hotel

Hotel means a building in which lodging is provided in hotel units to the public for compensation in five or more rooms and which is open to transients.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Immediate Neighborhood

Immediate Neighborhood means the same subdivision or the homes within a three block area.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Impervious Area

Impervious Area means an area that does not allow significant amounts of water to infiltrate into the ground. Examples of impervious surfaces are blacktop and concrete.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Impervious Coverage Ratio

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Improvements

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Indoor Commercial Amusement

Indoor Commercial Amusement means uses that provide commercial amusement indoors (except sexually oriented businesses), including, but not limited to:

Movie theaters;
Bowling alleys and pool rooms'
Video arcades;
Local area network computer gaming centers; and
Internet cafes.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Indoor Recreation

Community recreation centers;
Gymnasiums;
Indoor swimming pools; or
Tennis, racquetball, or handball courts.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Inoperable Vehicle

Inoperable Vehicle means a vehicle which is not fully capable of movement under its own power or is not licensed or registered to operate legally on a public street right-of-way.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Institutional Residential

Facilities, other than group homes, in which residents live in an institutional environment and are, generally, under the care or control of staff;
In-patient drug and alcoholism hospitals and rehabilitation centers, in which residents have institutional care, or are treated by staff in an institutional setting, rather than living independently; and
Any sheltered care, group care, group home, or residential substance abuse facility with more than eight total occupants.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Landfill

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Landmark

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Legal Description

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Lighting, Indirectly Illuminated means illumination that is so arranged that the light is reflected from the sign to the eyes of the viewer.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Loess Hills means a formation of wind-deposited loess soil in the westernmost parts of Iowa and Missouri, and the easternmost parts of Nebraska and Kansas, along the Missouri River.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Local Street

Local Street means a street (arterial, collector) that provides access to individual lots or land uses.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Area

Lot Area means the area of a lot within the lot lines.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Lot, Subdivision

Lot, Subdivision mean a land parcel within a subdivision, identified by number, intended as a unit for transfer or development.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Lot Line

Lot Line means the property line bounding a lot.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line, Front

Lot Line, Front means the lot line separating a lot and a public or private street right-of-way or easement.

For an interior lot, the lot line separating the lot from the right-of-way or easement.
For a corner lot, the shorter lot line abutting a public or private street or easement. In instances of equal line dimension, the front lot line shall be determined by the Director, or as may be noted on the final plat.
For a double frontage lot, the lot lines separating the lot from the right-of-way or easement of the more minor street. In cases where each street has the same classification, the front lot line shall be determined by the Director at the time of application for the original building permit for the lot, or as may be noted on the final plot.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line Home

Illustrative Lot Line Home

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5.Separation; 6. Street side yard; and 7 Rear yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line, Interior Side

Lot Line, Interior Side means the lot line that connects the front lot line to the rear lot line, running generally perpendicular, radial, or at angles to the street.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line, Rear

Lot Line, Rear shall mean a lot line not abutting a street which is opposite and most distance from the front lot line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Lot Line, Side

Lot Line, Side means lot lines between the front and rear lot lines.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Masonry means a type of construction using stone, brick, tile or concrete block using mortar.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Mature Tree

Mature Tree means any tree with a trunk with a diameter of 10 inches or more, measured 12 inches above existing grade.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Medical Lab

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Medical or Dental Office

Medical or Dental Office means a use where medical, dental, psychiatric, psychological, chiropractic, and other outpatient services are performed.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Mixed Housing

Mixed Housing means a residential development that consists of a variety of lot sizes and more than one housing type.

(Ord. 2025-0832)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Motor Vehicle Sales Service and Repair

(Ord. 2025-0832)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Motor Vehicle Sales, Indoor Showroom Only

(Ord. 2025-0832)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Multiple Family

Multiple Family means:

Buildings that contain three or more dwelling units that:
1. Are accessed by from interior elevators or hallways, or from individual exterior entrances; and
2. Are separated by interior wall and/or floors.
Multiple family does not include boarding houses, dormitories, fraternities, sororities, bed and breakfast establishments, single family attached, or commercial lodging (e.g., hotels).

Illustrative Multiple-Family Apartment

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.
Illustrative Vertical (Over-Under) Duplex

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Rear yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Front yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Multiplex

Illustrative Multiplex

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.

Obstruction

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Oriel Window

Oriel Window means a projecting bay window supported by brackets or a triangular support piece.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Outdoor Commercial Amusement

Outdoor Commercial Amusement means uses that provide commercial amusement outdoors (except sexually oriented businesses), including, but not limited to:

Amusement parks or theme parks;
Fairgrounds;
Miniature golf establishments;
Golf driving ranges;
Water slides; and
Batting cages.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Parapet

Parapet means a low stone or brick wall at the top of a building. A crenelated parapet has rhythmic breaks in the wall to create a pattern of battlements.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parcel of Land

Parcel of Land means one or more lots which are designated by the owner or applicant as land to be used or developed as a unit, or which has been developed as a unit.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parcel Proposed for Development

Parcel Proposed for Development means any parcel of land which is the subject of an application for development approval.

Parking Space means an area that is used for parking of motor vehicles that:

Is accessible from a street, aisle, or alley and meets the applicable dimensional requirements of this Code; or
Is accessible from a street or alley, is located in a residential driveway, garage, or carport, and meets the dimensional requirements for a standard parking space set out in this Code.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parking, Tandem

Parking, Tandem means a parking space within a group of two or more parking spaces arranged one behind the other.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parks Plan

Parks Plan means the latest plan adopted by the City showing future parks and park development.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Paving Width

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Peak Hour Trips

Peak Hour Trips means trips made during the busiest hour within the morning and evening peak periods using any transportation mode.

Pillar

Pillar means a support column without classical detailing.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Pilaster

Pilaster means a narrowly protruding column attached to a wall, giving the illusion of a real free standing support column.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Place of Assembly

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Planned Neighborhood

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Truck container, with or without the chassis attached to it;
Moving van;
Portable moving container (POD);
Pre-assembled storage structure; or
Shipping container.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Portico

Portico means a small entrance porch.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Preschool

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Preplat Conference

Preplat Conference means the informal meeting of City staff, the developer, developer’s staff and other interested parties that begin each subdivision process.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Pressure Zone

Pressure Zone means zones served by individual water towers. Each pressure zone would have different service elevation limits.

Private Residential Clubhouse means a premises which are part of a multiple-family development that is devoted to the social and recreational use of the occupants and guest of the development.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Private Restrictions

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Prohibited Use

Prohibited Use means a use that is not allowed in the specified district and in some cases the entire City.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Property Line

Property Line means a line or curve that forms the legal boundary of a lot or parcel. Property lines are further classified as front, interior side, street side, or rear.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Replat, Re-subdivision

Replat, Re-subdivision means a subdivision plat representing land that has previously been included in a recorded subdivision plat.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Restaurant, Drive-In or Drive-Through

Restaurant, Drive-In or Drive-Through means a restaurant located either within a retail center, or situated as a stand-alone facility, which:

Contains a drive-in or drive-through facility;
Primarily serves food that is prepared and packaged within five minutes; and
Customarily serves food in disposable containers.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Restaurant, No Drive-In or Drive-Through

Full-service restaurants;
Limited-service eating facilities; and
Special food services.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Rezoning

Rezoning means an amendment to the Official Zoning Map.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Right-of-Way

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Riparian Area

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Roof

Roof Types

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Runway

Runway means a designated portion of the airport prepared for landing and takeoff of aircraft along the centerline of its longest dimension.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Salvage Yard

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Seasonal Sale

Seasonal Sales means sales of items that are available depending on an annually recurring period of time, depending on certain activities, celebrations, or crop availability.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Self-Storage Facility

Self-Storage Facility means a structure containing separate storage spaces, which may be of various sizes, leased or rented on an individual basis.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Setback

Setback means a stated minimum distance from a lot line to a building, structure, or use.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sewer Service

Sewer Service means an allowed connection to a series of pipes that flow to, and terminate at, the City of Sioux City’s Waste Water Treatment Plant.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Sexually Oriented Business/Entertainment

Sexually Oriented Business/Entertainment means a “sexual device shop,” “sexual encounter center,” or “sexual escort agency.”

“Escort,” as used herein, shall be interchangeable with “sexual escort,” and means a person who, for consideration, agrees or offers to act as a companion, guide, or date for another person, and who agrees or offers to appear for the other person in a state of nudity or state of semi-nudity during the course of providing such companionship.
“Established” shall mean and include any of the following:
1. The opening or commencement of any sexually oriented business as a new business; or
2. The conversion of an existing business, whether or not a sexually oriented business, to another sexually oriented business.
“Features” means to offer the goods or services so modified by that term to the public as one of the intended profit-making objectives of the commercial enterprise, which enterprise holds itself forth to the public, through marketing, advertising, signage, promotions, or merchandise display, as a place where said goods or services may be obtained.
“State of Nudity” means the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, vulva, anus, anal cleft or cleavage with less than a fully opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple and areola.
“Operate” shall mean to cause to function or to put or keep in a state of doing business. A person may be found to be operating or causing to be operated an adult entertainment business regardless of whether that person is an owner or part owner of the business.
“Person” shall mean individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity.
“Regularly” means and refers to the consistent and repeated doing of the act so described.
“Semi-Nude or State of Semi-Nudity” means the showing of the female breast below a horizontal line across the top of the areola and extending across the width of the breast at that point, or the showing of the male or female buttocks. This definition shall include the entire lower portion of the human female breast, but shall not include any portion of the cleavage of the human female breasts exhibited by a dress, blouse, shirt, leotard, or similar wearing apparel provided the areola is not visible in whole or in part.
“Sexual Device” means any three (3) dimensional object designed and marketed for stimulation of the male or female human genital organ or anus or for sadomasochistic use or abuse of oneself or others and shall include devices such as dildos, vibrators, penis pumps, and physical representations of the human genital organs, and shall also include certain devices with non-sex related utility, such as leather whips, straps, and ligatures when said devices are marketed in a context promoting sexual or sadomasochistic uses. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include devices primarily intended for protection against sexually transmitted diseases or for preventing pregnancy.
“Sexual Device Shop” means a commercial establishment that regularly features sexual devices. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include any pharmacy, drug store, medical clinic, or any establishment primarily dedicated to providing medical or healthcare products or services, nor shall this definition be construed to include commercial establishments which do not restrict access to any portion of their premises by reason of age.
“Sexual Encounter Center” means a business or commercial enterprise that, as one of its primary business purposes, offers for any form of consideration, physical contact in the form of wrestling or tumbling between two or more persons, where one or more of the persons is in a state of nudity or state of semi-nudity.
“Sexual Escort Agency,” as used herein, means a person or business association who furnishes, offers to furnish, or advertises to furnish sexual escorts as one of its primary business purposes, for a fee, tip, or other consideration.

(Ord. 2016-0799; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 9/17/2016

Sidewalk Cafe

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sidewalk Sale

Sidewalk Sale means sales that are conducted by either the store owner or occupant, outside their store, on:

A public sidewalk;
A private sidewalk; or
Pedestrian areas adjacent to a sidewalk, such as pedestrian plazas.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sight Distance Triangle

Figure S-1
Sight Distance Triangle

Sign, Attached

Sign, Attached means any sign supported by uprights, braces, or other devices, or painted on, or otherwise attached to any building.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Double-Faced

Sign, Double-Faced means any sign with copy on two faces that are back to back, facing in opposite directions.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Festoons

Sign, Festoons means a string of ribbons, tinsel, small flags, pinwheels, or similar devices.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Flag (Official)

Sign, Flag (Official) means a duly adopted flag or seal of the United State, State of Iowa, Woodbury County, or the City of Sioux City.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Home Occupation means any unlighted sign not over one square foot in area attached flat against the dwelling and displaying only the occupants name and/or address and/or occupation.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Identification

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Illegal

Sign, Illegal means any sign and/or advertising device erected without a permit required by this Code, or in violation of any of the limitations, prohibitions, or requirements of this Code.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Illuminated

Sign, Illuminated means any sign with an artificial light source incorporated internally or externally (directly or indirectly) for the purpose of illuminating the sign.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Incidental

Sign, Incidental means any small sign, emblem, or decal informing the public of goods, facilities, or services available on the premises.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

(Ord. 2015-0215)

Effective on: 5/22/2021

Sign, Monument

Sign, Monument means a freestanding ground sign:

That is of monolithic construction in which the sign's base or support is of uniform composition with the material comprising the sign area of said sign and the base or support of said sign is directly affixed in or to the ground;
Where the sign face is encompassed on the top, sides, and bottom by a border or column of the same or compatible material which border or column is not less than 12 inches wide and not more than 24 inches wide, and which border or column compliments and enhances the aesthetic effect of the sign; and
Which may be double-faced provided it has back-to-back sides.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Public

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Pylon

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Roof Line

Sign, Roof Line means the top edge of a roof or building parapet, whichever is higher, excluding any cupolas, pylons, chimneys, or minor projections.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Roof

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Sandwich Board

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Scenic Area

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Subdivision Entrance

Sign, Subdivision Entrance means a freestanding or wall sign identifying a recognized subdivision, condominium complex, or residential development and denoting its entrance or exit.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Swinging

Sign, Swinging means any sign installed on an arm or mast that is, by design, intended to allow the sign to swing due to wind action.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Temporary

Interim Sign means temporary business advertising signs intended to provide signage in an interim period during which permanent signage is being fabricated, repaired, and/or prepared for installation or erection.
Grand Opening Sign means business advertising signs, bearing the words “Grand Opening,” or a similar message, to announce the opening of a new business.
Promotional Sign, Commercial means temporary business advertising signs intended to promote and attract attention to a commercial use, activity, or event for a limited number of activities or events in a calendar year.
Promotional Sign, Non-Commercial means an activity or event that does not, in any way, involve commerce, at least relative to similar activities that do have a commercial objective or emphasis. For example, advertising a free activity or event that is open to the general public, which may be hosted by a non-profit organization or a for-profit business that is staffed only by volunteers and for which there is no sales or exchange of money or in-kind services is a non-commercial activity or event.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Construction

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Political

Sign, Political means any temporary, portable sign announcing or supporting candidates or issues in connection with any national, state, or local election.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Real Estate

Sign, Real Estate means any temporary, portable sign advertising the real estate upon which the sign is located as being for rent, lease, or sale.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Snipe

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Time and Temperature

Sign, Time and Temperature means an electronic or computer-generated sign that displays only the time, temperature, and date.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sign, Traveling Message

Simple Division means a division of a parcel or tract of land into not more than two lots that do not require any public improvements.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Single Family Attached

Single Family Attached means housing types with two or more dwelling units that are located in a single structure or attached structures:

Which are separated from each other by an un-penetrated dividing side wall (e.g., side-by-side duplexes and all types of townhomes); and/or
Which are separated by a floor (e.g., over-under duplexes and duplex townhomes), but have ground floor entrances for each unit.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Single Family Detached

Single Family Detached means a dwelling unit, designed for and occupied by not more than one family and having no roof, wall, or floor in common with any other dwelling unit.

Illustrative Single-Family Detached Dwelling

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.

Solar Array (also called "photovoltaic arrays" or "PV arrays") means an array of solar cells that convert energy from sunlight directly to electricity.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Specified Anatomical Areas

Specified Anatomical Areas means:

Less than completely and opaquely covered:
1. Human genitals or pubic region;
2. Human buttocks;
3. Human female breasts below a point immediately above the top of the areola; and
Human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Specified Sexual Activities

Specified Sexual Activities means activities that involve:

Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation, arousal or swelling;
Acts of human anilingus, bestiality, buggery, cunnilingus, coprophagy, coprophilia, fellatio, flagellation, masochism, masturbation, necrophilia, pederasty, pedophilia, sadism, sadomasochism, sapphism, sexual intercourse, sodomy, urolagnia or zooerasty;
Fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttocks, anus or female breast; and
Excretory functions as part of or in connection with any of the activities set forth in Items (1) through (3) of this subsection.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

State

State means the State of Iowa.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Salvage Facility and Yard

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Stacking Space

Stacking Space means a temporary waiting area for motor vehicles obtaining a service or other activity.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Stoop

Stoop means the uncovered wide step leading into the front or main door of a building.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Storage Yard

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Storm Water

Storm Water means rain water flowing from a particular site.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Storm Water Detention

Storm Water Detention means the act of collecting and holding storm water for a period of time before releasing it.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Abutting

Street, Abutting means a public right-of-way that abuts a tract of land being subdivided.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Arterial

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Collector

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Cul-de-Sac

Street, Cul-de-Sac means a short public way that has only one outlet for vehicular traffic and terminates in a vehicular turn-around.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Street, Dead-End

Street, Dead-End means a street that terminates with no reasonable provision made to allow vehicles to turn around.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Lighting

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Local

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street, Local Service

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Street Right-of-Way

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Structure

Buildings;
Walls;
Fences;
Signs;
Billboards; and
Storage tanks.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Structure, Temporary

Structure, Temporary means a structure that is designed to be repeatedly erected or inflated (tents and inflatable structures) or buildings that are picked up and moved.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Structural Alterations

Structural Alterations is any change in the supporting members of a building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders and floor joists, ceiling joists, roof rafters, or stairways.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Stucco

Stucco means a thin coating of plaster applied over exterior walls.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Subdivider

Subdivider means the owner or agent of the owner who undertakes to cause a parcel of land to be designed, constructed as a subdivision.

Substandard Lot means a lot of record that is not in the best interests of public health, safety, and welfare by reason of one or more of the following characteristics:

The lot is of a size, in square feet or by individual dimension, that is inadequate to provide for reasonable building setbacks for the purpose of providing adequate light and air, and also adequate separation for fire protection purposes;
The lot is of a size, shape, or dimension that is inadequate to meet an adequate minimum home size and accommodate on-site parking thereby placing a burden of the public right-of-way for on-street parking, which may impede traffic flow and/or create traffic hazards; or
The dwelling unit does not meet the minimum size standards that are set out by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which require that the size of a dwelling unit may be no smaller than:
1. 570 square feet in size, if the unit is designed for a family of one to four persons;
2. 850 square feet in size, if the unit is designed for a family of between five and seven persons; and
3. 1,020 square feet in size if the unit is designed for a family of eight or more persons.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Substantial Conformity

Substantial Conformity means that a planned development site plan shall not be deemed in conformity with an approved development concept plan if it:

Departs from the ranges specified in the approval;
Relocates approved circulation elements to any extent that would decrease their functionality, adversely affect their relation to surrounding lands and circulation elements, or reduce their effectiveness as buffers or amenities;
Significantly alters the arrangement of land uses within the development or significantly alters stormwater retention and retardation facilities within the development, or the location, manner, or velocity of the discharge of stormwater from the development and into a system;
Significantly alters the content of timing of the phasing plan;
Violates any provision of this Code or other City ordinances that are applicable to the proposed development; or
Departs from the development concept plan in any other manner which the City Council shall, based on stated findings and conclusions, find to materially alter the plan or concept for the proposed development.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Substantial improvement

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Surety

Surety means a formal engagement (as a pledge or guarantee) given for the fulfillment of an undertaking.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Survey

Survey (See Plat of Survey)

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

SUDAS Manual

SUDAS Manual means the Statewide Urban Design Standards as adopted by the City of Sioux City.

(Ord. 2020-0858; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 12/1/2020

Tandem Parking

Tandem Parking - See the definition for Parking, Tandem.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Temporary Use

Temporary Use means a use that is established for a fixed period of time with the intent to discontinue such use upon the expiration of such time.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tower

Tower means a tall structure, either square or round in shape, rising higher than the rest of the building.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tower Height

Tower Height means the height above grade of the fixed portion of the tower, excluding the wind turbine itself.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Townhome

Townhome means a single family attached dwelling with three to eight units, with each single unit going from ground to roof and with individual outside access.

Illustrative Standard (Side-by-Side) Townhome

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Rear yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Front yard.
Illustrative Vertical (Over-Under) Townhome

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Rear yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Front yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Traffic Control Device

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Transitional Service Facility

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

Vanpools, shuttles, and / or ride-share programs;
Compressed work weeks, flex-time, and / or staggered work hours;
Free or subsidized public transit passes;
Incentive programs for walking or bicycling to work;
Shower and locker facilities for pedestrian and bicycle commuters; and
Telecommuting.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tree

Tree means a plant having at least one well-defined stem or trunk and normally attaining a mature height of at least 15 feet, with an average mature spread of 15 feet.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tree, Evergreen

Tree, Evergreen means a plant species with foliage that persists and remains green year round.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tree, Large

Tree, Large means any self-supporting woody plant of a species that normally achieves an overall height at maturity of 30 feet or more.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Truckload Sale

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Truck Stop

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Turret

Turret means a small tower at the corner of a building.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Twin Home

Illustrative Standard (Side-by-Side) Twin Home

Legend: 1. Minimum lot area; 2. Minimum lot width; 3. Front yard; 4, Interior side yard; 5. Street side yard; and 6 Rear yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Urban Farming

Effective on: 6/13/2015

Urban Renewal Plan

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Warehousing/Distribution means a facility where goods are received from heavy trucks and then stored for subsequent delivery to off-site wholesalers, retailers, or consumers.

(Ord. 2019-0721)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Woodland

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Work Live

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Xeriscape

Xeriscape means landscaping characterized by the use of vegetation that is drought-tolerant or of low water use in character.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard

Yard means an at-grade area of a lot that is not improved with, as follows:

Generally, a yard is the area between the lot line and the portion of the principal building that is closest to the lot line; and
A required yard is the area between the lot line and the required setback in relation to that lot line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard, Front

Yard, Front means an area that extends across the full width of the lot between the front lot line and the required front setback line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard, Interior Side

Yard, Interior Side means a yard that extends from the front setback line to the rear setback line, between the interior side lot line and the interior side setback line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard, Rear

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Yard, Side Street

Yard, Side Street means a yard extending from the front setback line to the rear lot line, located between the side street lot line and the side street (arterial, collector) setback line.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Zero Lot Line

Placing the house on a side lot line and providing a maintenance easement six feet wide on the adjoining lot; or
Locating the house so as to provide two side yards, one of which shall be a six foot side yard with a use easement for the neighboring property.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Zoning District

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Zoning Map

Effective on: 1/1/1901