Union City, CA Zoning Ordinance

This chapter establishes an R-5000 zoning district and herein specifies criteria concerning the use of land, height of buildings, area of lots, building sites and yard spaces; and establishes the boundaries of the district.

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006)

The purpose of this chapter is to provide within the R-5000 zoning district an alternative to certain portions of Ordinance 55-64 to further the public health, safety and general welfare, and to provide the economic and social advantages resulting from the planned use and development of this unique area of the City. This chapter encourages the consolidation of small, substandard lots into reasonable building sites, permitting single-family dwellings in low silhouette with maximum open space in compensation for such consolidation.

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006)

The R-5000 zoning district is composed of that area shown as a delineated parcel of land with a letter or other designation on the Amended Plan of Decoto, a map of which was filed on December 1, 1904, in the office of the County Recorder of Alameda County, Book 19 of Maps, at page 43, with the exclusion of those portions of the area presently zoned CN (Neighborhood Commercial), OS (Open Space), CF (Civic Facilities) and CC (Community Commercial).

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006)

"Building site"

means:

The ground area of one lot having not less than 5,000 square feet and having a width of not less than 50 feet;

A parcel of real property other than a lot which was held as a separate ownership of record prior to April 4, 1960, and which has vehicular access to a street, provided the area of the parcel is not less than 3,750 square feet;

A parcel of real property shown as a delineated parcel of land with a letter or other designation on the Amended Plan of Decoto, a map of which was filed on December 1, 1904, in the office of the County Recorder of Alameda County, Book 19 of Maps, at page 43, provided that the parcel has an area of not less than 5,000 square feet with a width not less than 50 feet.

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006)

Application of this chapter within this district shall be limited to residential uses classified as single-family and single-family semidetached dwellings, except for public facilities required by the City in the public interest.

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006)

The following uses are permitted:

A one family dwelling on each building site;

Accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit subject to the provisions listed in Chapter 18.34;

Accessory structures and uses customarily incident thereto including a private garage or private carport to accommodate not more than two motor vehicles;

Off-street automobile parking as an accessory use to any permitted use.

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006; Ord. 836-16 § 4, 2016; Ord. 883-21 § 4, 2021)

Lots for single-family dwelling use will be not less than 5,000 square feet and no less than 50 feet in width. A single-family dwelling may be built on a building site as defined in Section 18.88.040.

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006)

Lot coverage shall not exceed the following maximum: For single-family dwellings, a one story structure will be allowed not more than 60% lot coverage; a two story structure will be allowed not more than 50% lot coverage.

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006)

Any legally existing two family dwelling which is partially or fully destroyed or damaged by fire or other casualty or act of God may be restored to its condition immediately preceding the fire or other casualty or act of God.

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006)

One-family dwellings shall conform to the following:

A minimum front yard setback of 20 feet, with the following exceptions:

The required front yard may be reduced by five feet when all required off-street parking spaces are located on the rear half of the site or are entered parallel to the front property line of the site;

A permanently covered, unenclosed, nonscreened one-story porch may be allowed to encroach into the required front yard provided that there remains at least 10 feet of clear, open space from the nearest projection of the porch, including eaves and steps, to the front property line.

A minimum side yard setback of five feet, but 10 feet where adjacent to any street or alley;

A minimum rear yard setback of 10 feet.

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006; Ord. 712-08 § 2, 2008)

One family dwellings shall be restricted to a maximum height of two stories above the average adjoining grade of the property, or 30 feet, whichever is the lesser.

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006)

Off-street parking shall conform to the following:

All new single-family residences constructed within the R-5000 district shall provide a minimum of two off-street parking spaces, both of which shall be covered and enclosed.

Existing single-family residences located within the R-5000 district shall maintain at all times a minimum of one off-street parking space, which shall be covered and enclosed.

Additions which bring the total living space of the single-family residential dwelling unit over 1,800 square feet (exclusive of garage area and accessory dwelling unit) within the R-5000 district shall be required to provide a minimum of two off-street parking spaces, both of which shall be covered and enclosed. A third covered and enclosed parking space shall be provided either when the habitable areas of the primary residence (excluding accessory dwelling units) exceeds 3,000 square feet in habitable area, or when there are five or more rooms that can be used for sleeping purposes. In neighborhoods where two car garages are predominant, the additional parking space shall be provided as a tandem space to ensure neighborhood consistency.

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006; Ord. 836-16 § 4, 2016; Ord. 849-18 § 4, 2018; Ord. 883-21 § 4, 2021)

Lot splits with accompanying parcel maps are not permitted in this district which results in lots less than 50 feet in width and less than 5,000 square feet in area.

(Ord. 55.274-86 § 2, 1986; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006)

Whenever no specific provision is made for regulation in the R-5000 zoning district, the provisions of Chapter 18.32 regulating residential districts shall apply.

(Ord. 342-90 § 2, 1990; Ord. 440-94 § 2, 1994; Ord. 670-06 § 3, 2006)