The Medium Density Residential Zoning District is intended to provide land area and opportunities for a range of densities and a variety of housing types, including single-family and multiple-family residential development, and townhomes. The R-2 district is also intended to provide for a compatible mix of medium density residential, educational, religious, quasi-medical, and small professional office land uses. The R-2 zoning district is consistent with the MDR (Medium Density Residential) general plan land use designation. (Ord. 1001, §1, adopted 1998; Ord. 1189, §1, adopted 2018; Ord. 1216, §2, adopted 2021; Ord. 1249, §3, adopted 2024)

The following uses are allowed in Medium Density Residential (R-2) Districts, pursuant to the development and operational standards of Article 20 if applicable:

Accessory buildings and accessory uses.

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs), as regulated by Chapter 2, Article 5.3 of this division.

Animal raising – Personal.

Beekeeping and apiaries.

Community care facility, which provides service for six (6) or fewer persons.

Community gardens.

Duplex.

Home occupations (as defined in section 9278 of this code).

Junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs), as regulated by Chapter 2, Article 5.4 of this division.

Low barrier navigation center.

Multiple-family dwellings (i.e., triplexes, fourplexes, multiplexes, condominiums, apartments, townhomes, courtyard buildings, cottage courts, dwelling groups, and single-room occupancies (SROs), etc.) that comply with the design and development standards in Chapter 2, Article 5.2 of this division are permitted by right.

Single-family dwellings, including manufactured/modular homes.

Small and large family child daycare homes.

Supportive housing, subject to the same density limitations and to the same regulations applicable to other residential dwellings of the same type.

Transitional housing, subject to the same density limitations and to the same regulations applicable to other residential dwellings of the same type. (Ord. 1001, §1, adopted 1998; Ord. 1047, §1, adopted 2003; Ord. 1205, §6, adopted 2020; Ord. 1216, §2, adopted 2021; Ord. 1244, §3, adopted 2024; Ord. 1249, §3, adopted 2024; Ord. 1257, §4, adopted 2025)

The following uses may be permitted in Medium Density Residential (R-2) Zoning Districts subject to first securing an appropriate use permit pursuant to the provisions contained in Article 20 of this Chapter:

Accredited public or private schools.

Bed and breakfast establishments.

Churches, chapels, and other places of religious assembly.

Community care facility for more than six (6) persons, but not more than twelve (12) persons.

Dwelling groups that do not comply with the design and development standards set forth in Chapter 2, Article 5.2 of this division, and require a site development permit per Chapter 1, Article 20 of this division.

Mom and pop grocery store.

Multiple-family dwellings (i.e., triplexes, fourplexes, multiplexes, condominiums, apartments, townhomes, courtyard buildings, cottage courts, dwelling groups, single-room occupancies (SROs), etc.) that do not comply with the design and development standards set forth in Chapter 2, Article 5.2 of this division, and require a site development permit per Chapter 1, Article 20 of this division.

Outdoor sales establishment.

Parks, community gardens, and playgrounds.

Professional office.

Rest homes, convalescent services, and other residential medical facilities.

Social halls, lodges, public buildings, and places of temporary public assembly.

Temporary uses meeting the purpose and intent of the R-2 zoning district. The temporary use shall be for a maximum period of six (6) months and shall be subject to permit renewal/time extension at the discretion of the Community Development Director. (Ord. 1001, §1, adopted 1998; Ord. 1216, §2, adopted 2021; Ord. 1249, §3, adopted 2024; Ord. 1257, §4, adopted 2025)

The following shall be the maximum limits for height of buildings in Medium Density Residential (R-2) Districts:

A.    For main buildings a maximum height of thirty-five feet (35').

B.    For nonresidential accessory buildings, a maximum height of twenty feet (20') or the maximum height of the main building, whichever is less.

C.    The height limits for main buildings and accessory structures may be exceeded with the securing of a variance.

D.    The heights of ADUs are subject to Chapter 2, Article 5.3 of this division. (Ord. 1001, §1, adopted 1998; Ord. 1216, §2, adopted 2021; Ord. 1249, §3, adopted 2024)

In Medium Density Residential (R-2) Districts there is no required building site area. (Ord. 1001, §1, adopted 1998; Ord. 1216, §2, adopted 2021)

In Medium Density Residential (R-2) Districts, yards shall be required in the following minimum widths, as measured from the street right-of-way:

A.    Front: Ten feet (10').

B.    Sides: Five feet (5') except for those projects that comply with all the design and development standards set forth in Chapter 2, Article 5.2 of this division.

C.    Rear: Ten feet (10').

D.    Corner Lots: On corner lots, there shall be a front setback line of ten feet (10') on each street side of a corner lot.

E.    Special Yards And Distances Between Buildings: Minimum widths shall be as follows:

1. Except in cases where fifty percent (50%) of the same side of the block is already built out, then the average setback shall apply. (Ord. 1001, §1, adopted 1998; Ord. 1216, §2, adopted 2021; Ord. 1249, §3, adopted 2024)

A.    The minimum parking area required in Medium Density Residential (R-2) Districts is as follows:

1. Single-Family Dwelling: One on-site parking space per unit.

2. Duplex: One on-site parking space per unit.

3. Multiple-Family Dwelling(s): One on-site parking space per unit.

B.    Each required off-street parking space or garage space for multiple-family residential uses shall be a minimum of nine feet (9') in width and nineteen feet (19') in depth. Thirty percent (30%) of the parking stalls in a parking lot with ten (10) or more stalls shall be compact sized (eight feet (8') in width and sixteen feet (16') in length).

C.    Each required off-street parking space or garage space for multiple-family residential uses shall open directly onto a driveway or aisle and be designed to provide safe and efficient ingress and egress for vehicles accessing such parking space. The maximum width for such driveways shall be twelve feet (12') for single-wide driveways, and twenty feet (20') for double-wide driveways and access lanes to parcels with no street frontage.

D.    All driveways on corner lots shall be located a minimum distance of twenty feet (20') from the curb return.

E.    Relief from the parking requirements in the R-2 zoning district may be approved through the discretionary review process, provided a finding is made that a reduced number of spaces would not adversely impact the health, safety, or general welfare of the public. (Ord. 1001, §1, adopted 1998; Ord. 1216, §2, adopted 2021; Ord. 1249, §3, adopted 2024)

A.    A site development permit is required for development of more than a single duplex. However, multiple-family residential projects described in section 9031 of this code that are in compliance with the design and development standards set forth in Chapter 2, Article 5.2 of this division are exempt from this requirement.

B.    Manufactured homes certified under the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 USC section 5401 et seq.) are allowed on individual residential parcels subject to the following regulations:

1. Foundation System: The manufactured home shall be attached to a permanent foundation system approved by the City Building Official and designed and constructed pursuant to section 18551 of the California Health and Safety Code.

2. Utilities: All utilities to the manufactured home shall be installed pursuant to City standard practices and policies.

3. Permits: All applicable building, site development, and encroachment permits associated with development of residential property shall be secured prior to any on-site construction.

C.    All development projects that are not multiple-family residential projects, or that do not comply with the design and development standards set forth in Chapter 2, Article 5.2 of this division, and that require discretionary review, shall include a proposed landscaping plan commensurate with the size and scale of the proposed development project. Landscaping plans shall be submitted as a required component of all site development and use permits at the time of application filing.

1. All proposed landscaping plans shall comply with the following standards:

a. Landscape plantings shall be those which grow well in Ukiah’s climate without extensive irrigation. Drought-resistant and native plants shall constitute the majority of the plantings selected.

b. Deciduous trees shall constitute the majority of the trees proposed along the south and west building exposures; nondeciduous street species shall be restricted to areas that do not inhibit solar access.

c. Parking lots with twelve (12) or more parking stalls shall have a tree placed between every four (4) parking stalls within a continuous linear planting strip rather than individual planting wells, unless clearly infeasible. Parking lot trees shall primarily be deciduous species, and shall be designed to provide a tree canopy coverage of fifty percent (50%) over all paved areas within fifteen (15) years of planting. Based upon the design of the parking lot, a reduced number of trees may be approved through the discretionary review process.

d. Parking lots shall have a perimeter planting strip featuring drought-resistant trees and shrubs.

e. Parking lots with twelve (12) or more parking stalls shall have defined pedestrian sidewalks or marked pedestrian facilities within landscaped areas and/or separated from automobile travel lanes. Based upon the design of the parking lot, and the use that it is serving, relief from this requirement may be approved through the discretionary review process.

f. Street trees may be placed on the property proposed for development instead of within the public right-of-way if the location is approved by the City Engineer, based upon safety and maintenance factors.

g. All new developments shall include a landscaping coverage of twenty percent (20%) of the gross area of the parcel unless, based upon the small size of a parcel, it would be unreasonable and illogical. A minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the landscaped area shall be dedicated to live plantings.

h. Landscaping plans shall include an automatic irrigation system and lighting plan.

i. All required landscaping for residential development projects shall be adequately maintained.

j. All healthy existing mature trees on development project sites shall be preserved and incorporated into the proposed landscaping plan, if feasible.

k. The Community Development Director, Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission, or City Council shall have the authority to modify the required elements of a landscaping plan depending upon the size, scale, intensity, and location of the development project.

D.    Ukiah Municipal Airport Comprehensive Land Use Plan (UKIACLUP): As applicable, all development within the R-2 district must adhere to the more restrictive criteria identified by UKIACLUP to ensure compliance with the procedures and criteria applicable to airport land use compatibility planning. (Ord. 1001, §1, adopted 1998; Ord. 1168, §3, adopted 2016; Ord. 1216, §2, adopted 2021; Ord. 1249, §3, adopted 2024)

Whenever a use is not listed in this article as a use permitted by right or a use subject to a use permit in the R-2 zoning district, the Community Development Director shall determine whether the use is appropriate for the zoning district, either as of right or subject to a use permit. In making this determination, the Community Development Director shall find as follows:

A.    That the use would not be incompatible with other existing or allowed uses in the R-2 Zoning District;

B.    That the use would not be detrimental to the continuing residential development of the area in which the use would be located; and

C.    That the use would be in harmony and consistent with the purpose of the R-2 Zoning District.

D.    In the case of determining that a use not articulated as an allowed or permitted use could be established with the securing of a use permit, the Community Development Director shall find that the proposed use is similar in nature and intensity to the uses listed as allowed uses. (Ord. 1001, §1, adopted 1998; Ord. 1249, §3, adopted 2024)

Ord. 793, §2, adopted 1982; rep. by Ord. 1001, §1, adopted 1998.