Vernal City Zoning Code

The R-4 Residential Zone is established to accommodate high-density residential development within the City. This zone is intended to provide opportunities for a range of housing types, including multi-family dwellings, apartments, townhomes, and other attached residential forms. The R-4 zone is designed to support increased residential density in appropriate locations while ensuring that development remains functional, efficient, and compatible through the application of site design, parking, landscaping, and access standards. In addition to residential development, the R-4 zone may accommodate certain institutional, civic, and limited non-residential uses, such as schools, churches, offices, and similar uses, where such uses are compatible with surrounding residential development and do not adversely impact the residential character of the area. In order to accomplish the objectives and purposes of this chapter, development within the R-4 Residential Zone shall be subject to the regulations set forth herein.

Density calculations shall apply to all residential development types within the R-4 zone, including townhome developments.

The Residential R4 zone shall be limited to twenty-five (25) Units Per Acre

Uses are as set out in this section:

(Ord. 2017-11, Amended, 08/16/2017; Ord. 2017-01, Amended, 01/18/2017; Ord. 2012-04, Add, 05/02/2012)

In the R-4 residential zone, minimum area requirements are as follows:

Residential density in the R4 Residential Zone shall be regulated by maximum units per acre as established in Section 16.44.030 (Density Per Acre). Lot size configuration and layout shall be governed by setback, landscaping, parking, and site design standards.

(PZSC § 03-22-004)(Ord. 2015-06, Amended, 04/15/2015; Ord. 2015-03, Amended, 02/20/2015)

1. Width requirements shall be measured at a distance of thirty (30) feet back from the front lot line.
2. The minimum width of any parcel for a one (1) family or other main building shall be sixty-five (65) feet, plus five (5) additional feet for each additional dwelling unit up to eighty (80) feet.
3. Dwelling utilizing zero side yard: forty-five (45) feet. Such dwelling must be in a structure having two (2) or more dwelling units, with each dwelling being located entirely and solely on one (1) individual lot.

(PZSC § 03-22-005)
(Ord. 2015-06, Amended, 04/15/2015; Ord. 2015-03, Amended, 02/20/2015; Ord. 2009-12, Amended, 07/15/2009)

1. Front Setback: All buildings and structures shall be set back at least fifteen (15) feet from the front lot line.
2. Townhome developments shall comply with the following:
   1. Townhome developments with vehicular access provided from a rear alley or private drive may utilize the minimum fifteen (15) foot front setback.
   2. Townhome developments with vehicular access provided from the front of the lot shall provide a minimum front setback sufficient to accommodate required driveway parking spaces.
   3. Where driveway parking is utilized to satisfy required parking, the driveway shall have a minimum depth of twenty (20) feet.
3. Side Setback:
   1. Except for dwellings utilizing zero side yards, all dwellings and other main buildings shall be set back from the side property line a distance of at least five (5) feet.
   2. The minimum side setback for accessory buildings shall be the same as for main buildings except that no side setback shall be required for accessory buildings located twelve (12) feet or more in back of the dwelling.
   3. On corner lots, the side setback from the street along the exterior lot line for any dwelling, accessory building or other main building shall not be less than fifteen (15) feet, unless:
      1. The exterior lot line is directly adjacent to an unimproved, undeveloped section of public right-of-way. If this is the case, the side setback for accessory buildings shall be ten (10) feet.
4. Rear Setback:
   1. For interior lots, all dwellings and other main buildings shall be set back from the rear property line a distance of at least ten (10) feet. Accessory buildings shall be set back at least one (1) foot from the rear property line.
   2. For exterior lots, all dwellings and other main buildings shall be set back from the rear property line a distance of at least ten (10) feet. Accessory buildings on corner lots shall be set back from the rear property line a distance of not less than five (5) feet.

(PZSC § 03-22-006)
(Ord. 2015-03, Amended, 02/20/2015)

The maximum height requirement in the R-4 Residential Zone is as follows:

1. Single-family dwellings, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes shall not exceed three (3) stories or forty-five (45) feet in height.
2. Multi-family residential structures shall not exceed four (4) stories or sixty (60) feet in height.
3. All accessory buildings shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height.

Chimneys, flagpoles, television antennas, church towers, and similar structures not used for human occupancy are excluded in determining height.

(PZSC § 03-22-007)
(Ord. No. 96-07, Amended, 03/20/96)

1. Same as required in the R-3 residential zone except that off-street parking and landscape plans shall also be required for office buildings, clinics, mortuaries and similar structures (see Sections 16.42.080 through 16.42.100).
2. Studio or efficiency dwelling units shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total dwelling units within a development located in the R-4 Residential Zone.
3. The percentage calculation shall apply to the development as a whole, including phased developments, and shall not be calculated on a per-building basis.
4. Multifamily developments containing more than twenty (20) dwelling units shall provide usable common open space or recreation amenities designed for resident use. 
5. Multifamily residential buildings exceeding one hundred twenty (120) feet in length shall incorporate architectural offsets, façade variation, or building articulation at intervals not exceeding forty (40) feet.
   
   (PZSC § 03-22-008 (1))
   

Landscaping shall be in conformance with Chapter 16.27 herein and and shall provide for and meet the needs of the tenants.

(PZSC § 03-22-008 (2))
(Ord. No. 94-22, Amended, 11/2/94; Ord. No. 96-27, Amended, 11/20/96)