Except as provided in Sections 17.24.020, 17.24.030 and Chapter 17.36, yards shall be provided for buildings as follows:

(Ord. No. 2016-04, § 2, 3-8-2016; prior code Appx. B § 3.1; Ord. No. 2021-03, § 2, 7-13-2021)

These general rules for yards must also be observed:

A.

On lots fronting on two nonintersecting streets, a front yard must be provided on both streets.

B.

On corner lots in the R districts, there must be a front yard on both sides.

C.

On corner lots in the B and I districts that rear upon an R district, a ten (10) foot yard must be provided along the side street side.

D.

Where a block frontage is divided among districts with different front yard requirements, the deepest front yard as required by this title shall apply to the entire frontage.

E.

Where a lot is in the B or I districts and it is next to an R district, the side or rear yard required in the R district must be provided along the boundary line.

F.

In the B and I districts there may be more than one building on a lot, provided that the required yards be maintained around the group of buildings.

G.

Dwelling uses, except hotels and motels, located in the B district must provide the yards required in the R-4 district.

H.

There may be two or more related multifamily, hotel, motel, or institutional buildings on a lot, provided that: (1) the required yards be maintained around the group of buildings; and (2) buildings that are parallel, or that are within forty-five (45) degrees of being parallel, be separated by a horizontal distance of not less than fifteen (15) feet.

I.

Those parts of existing buildings that violate yard regulations may be repaired or remodeled, but not reconstructed or structurally altered, except as provided in Chapter 17.08.

J.

Churches, public buildings, and institutions when located in an R district shall provide front and rear yards of fifty (50) feet and side yards of twenty-five (25) feet.

K.

Required front yards shall be used only for landscaping, walkways and driveways. In the B-2 district, permitted signs may be located in the front yard. No other structures are permitted.

L.

Vision Clearance. On any corner lot on which a front or side yard is required, no wall, fence, sign or other structure or any plant growth shall be permitted or maintained higher than two feet above the curb level beyond projections of the existing building lines.

(Prior code Appx. B § 3.2)

The following exceptions may be made in yard regulations:

A.

On separate tracts (large tracts outside of subdivision), the side yard may be reduced to ten (10) percent of the tract width.

B.

On separate tracts, the rear yard may be reduced to twenty (20) percent of the tract depth.

C.

Where, on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, forty (40) percent or more of a block frontage was occupied by two or more buildings, then the front yard is established in the following manner:

1.

Where the building furthest from the street provides a front yard not more than ten (10) feet deeper than the building closest to the street, then the front yard for the frontage is, and remains an average of the then existing front yards.

2.

Where subsection (C)(1) of this section is not the case and a lot is within one hundred (100) feet of a building on each side, then the front yard is a line drawn from the closest front corners of these two adjacent buildings.

3.

Where neither subsection (C)(1) or (2) of this section is the case and the lot is within one hundred (100) feet of an existing building on one side only, then the front yard is the same as that of the existing adjacent building.

D.

Sills, belt courses, cornices, and ornamental features may project only one foot into the required yard.

E.

Open fire escapes, fireproof outside stairways, and balconies opening upon fire towers, and the ordinary projection of chimneys and flues may project into a rear yard for a distance of not more than three and one-half feet, or into a side yard not more than two feet, when so placed not to obstruct light and ventilation, may be permitted by the building inspector.

F.

A vestibule enclosing not more than forty (40) square feet may extend four feet into the front yard.

G.

Patios or terraces which do not extend above the level of the ground (first) floor may project into a required yard, provided these projections be distant at least two feet from the adjacent side lot line.

H.

No side yards are required where dwellings are erected above commercial structures.

I.

If side yards are provided where not required in B and I districts they must be at least five feet in width.

(Prior code Appx. B § 3.3)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2021-02, § 4, adopted June 22, 2021, repealed § 17.24.040, which pertained to carport exception and derived from Ord. No. 2010-02, § 1, adopted April 13, 2010; and Ord. No. 2009-26, § 1, adopted Nov. 24, 2009.