ORD 577 Multiple Codes + Bedroom ConversionsORDINANCE NO. 577
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING
SECTIONS OF TITLES 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 AND 13 OF
THE LA QUINTA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO
STREAMLINE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND
STANDARDS
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of La Quinta, California did, on
the 18th day of December 2018, hold a duly noticed public hearing for review
of a City-initiated request of Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2018-0005 to
amend sections of titles 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 13 of the La Quinta Municipal
Code; and
WHEREAS, previous to said Public Hearing, the Planning Commission
of the City of La Quinta did, on November 27, 2018, adopt Planning
Commission Resolution 2018-016 to recommend to the City Council adoption
of said code amendments; and
WHEREAS, the Design and Development Department published a
public hearing notice for this request in The Desert Sun newspaper on
December 7, 2018, as prescribed by the Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, Titles 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 13 of the Municipal Code contains
the chapters that address permitted uses, development standards,
development review and permitting procedures; and
WHEREAS, the proposed zoning text amendments are necessary to
streamline the development process and standards, and
WHEREAS, the proposed zoning text amendments are necessary to
implement the General Plan 2035 adopted by the City Council at their
regular meeting on February 19, 2013, and
WHEREAS, at said public hearing, upon hearing and considering all
testimony and arguments, if any, of all interested persons wanting to be
heard, the City Council did make the following mandatory findings to justify
adoption of said Zoning Ordinance Amendment:
1. Consistency with General Plan
The code amendment is consistent with the goals, objectives and
policies of the General Plan. The proposed amendments are supported
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 2 of 60
by Policy LU-1.2 for land use decisions to be consistent with General
Plan policies and programs and uphold the rights and needs of
property owners and the public; and Program LU-3.1.a, to review land
use designations for changes in the community and marketplace.
2. Public Welfare
Approval of the code amendment will not create conditions materially
detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare. The
amendment streamlines the development review process and clarifies
language in the municipal code and does not incorporate any changes
that affect the regulation and/or provision of public services, utility
systems, or other foreseeable health, safety and welfare
considerations.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of La Quinta does
ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. The Sections from Titles 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 13 shall be
amended as written in “Exhibit A” attached hereto.
SECTION 2. The proposed zone text amendment has complied with the
requirements of "The Rules to Implement the California Environmental
Quality Act of 1970" (CEQA) as amended (Resolution 83-63). The zone text
amendments are consistent with the previously approved findings of the
General Plan 2035 EIR (Environmental Assessment 2012-622) as the
proposed amendments implement the goals, policies, and programs of the
General Plan.
SECTION 3. That the City Council does hereby approve Zoning
Ordinance Amendment 2018-0005, as set forth in attached “Exhibit A” for
the reasons set forth in this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30)
days after its adoption.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall, within 15 days after passage of this
Ordinance, cause it to be posted in at least three public places designated by
resolution of the City Council, shall certify to the adoption and posting of this
Ordinance, and shall cause this Ordinance and its certification, together with
proof of posting to be entered into the Book of Ordinances of the City of La
Quinta.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 3 of 60
SECTION 6. That the City Council does hereby grant the City Clerk the
ability to make minor amendments to "Exhibit A" to ensure consistency of all
approved text amendments prior to the publication in the La Quinta
Municipal Code.
SECTION 7. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence,
clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is, for any reason, held to be
invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent
jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would
have adopted this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection,
subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the
fact that any one or more section, subsections, subdivisions, sentences,
clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared unconstitutional.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED, at a regular meeting of the La
Quinta City Council held this 15th day of January, 2019, by the following
vote:
AYES: Council Members Fitzpatrick, Pena, Radi, Sanchez, Mayor Evans
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
(CITY SEAL)
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City of La Quinta, California
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 5 of 60
TITLE 3
Chapter 3.25 SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS
3.25.050 Short-term vacation rental permit—required
A. The owner is required to obtain a short-term vacation rental permit and a business license
from the city before the owner or the owner's authorized agent or representative may rent or advertise a
short-term vacation rental unit. No short-term vacation rental use may occur in the city except in
compliance with this chapter.
B. A short-term vacation rental permit and business license shall be required to be renewed
on an annual basis in order to remain valid. Failure to renew a short-term vacation rental permit within
thirty (30) consecutive days of its expiration date will result in the short-term vacation rental permit being
terminated. A new owner of a short-term vacation rental unit that had been issued a short-term vacation
rental permit to a former owner shall apply for a new short-term vacation rental permit if the new owner
wants to continue to use the residential dwelling as a short-term vacation rental unit. When an owner or
an owner’s authorized agent or representative converts non-bedroom spaces and areas in an existing
residential dwelling into additional bedrooms, the owner shall apply for a new short-term vacation rental
permit if the owner wants to continue to use any of the bedrooms in the residential dwelling as a short-
term vacation rental unit.
C. A short-term vacation rental permit and business license shall be valid only for the
number of bedrooms in a residential dwelling equal to the number of bedrooms the city establishes as
eligible for listing as a short-term vacation rental unit and shall not exceed the number of bedrooms
allowable for the number of occupants as set forth in Section 3.25.070. The allowable number of
bedrooms shall meet all applicable requirements under federal, state and city codes, including but not
limited to the provisions of Section 9.50.100 (or successor provision, as may be amended from time to
time) governing “Additional Bedrooms” and all applicable building and construction codes in Title 8 of
this code. A short-term vacation rental permit shall not issue for, or otherwise authorize the use of,
additional bedrooms converted from non-bedroom spaces or areas in an existing residential dwelling
except upon express city approval for the additional bedrooms in compliance with this code, including
Section 9.50.100 (or successor provision, as may be amended from time to time), and upon approval of
an application for a new or renewed short-term vacation rental permit as provided in subsection B.
D. A short-term vacation rental permit and business license shall not be issued or renewed if
the property, or any building, structure, or use or land use on the property is in violation of this code. The
city may conduct an inspection of the property prior to the issuance or renewal of a short-term vacation
rental permit and/or business license. Code compliance inspections may be billed for full cost recovery at
1 hour for initial inspection and in 30-minute increments for each follow-up inspection. For purposes of
this subsection, a code violation exists if, at the time of the submittal of an application for a new or
renewed short-term vacation rental permit or business license, the city has commenced administrative
proceedings by issuing written communication and/or official notice to the owner or owner's responsible
agent or representative of one or more code violations. For purposes of this chapter, "building,"
"structure," and "use or land use" have the same meanings as set forth in Section 9.280.030 (or successor
provisions, as may be amended from time to time) of this code.
E. A short-term vacation rental permit and business license shall not be issued or renewed if
any portion of transient occupancy tax has not been reported and/or remitted to the city for the previous
calendar year by the applicable deadline for the reporting and/or remittance of the transient occupancy
tax.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 6 of 60
F. A short-term vacation rental permit and business license shall not be issued or renewed if
the residential dwelling to be used as a short-term rental unit lacks adequate onsite parking. For purposes
of this subsection, “adequate onsite parking” shall be determined by dividing the total number of
occupants commensurate with the approved number of bedrooms as provided in the table under section
3.25.070 by four, such that the ratio of the total number of occupants to onsite parking spots does not
exceed four to one (4:1). For example, a residential dwelling with five (5) bedrooms may permissibly
host a total number of ten (10) occupants and therefore requires three (3) onsite parking spots. Pursuant to
Section 3.25.070(R), no more than two (2) street parking spots may count towards the number of onsite
parking spots necessary to meet the “adequate onsite parking” requirement.
G. An owner or owner's authorized agent or representative who claims not to be operating a
short-term vacation rental unit or who has obtained a valid short-term vacation rental permit and business
license pursuant to this chapter, may voluntarily opt-out of the requirements of this chapter, prior to the
issuance or expiration of a short-term vacation rental permit and business license that are applicable to the
short-term vacation rental unit, only upon the owner, the owner's authorized agent or representative
and/or the owner's designated local contact person executing, under penalty of perjury, a declaration of
non-use as a short-term vacation rental unit, in a form prescribed by the city (for purposes of this chapter,
a "declaration of non-use"). Upon the receipt and filing by the city of a fully executed declaration of non-
use, the owner or owner's authorized agent representative shall be released from complying with this
chapter as long as the property is not used as a short-term vacation rental unit. Use of the property as a
short-term vacation unit after the city's receipt and filing of a declaration of non-use, is a violation of this
chapter. If, after a declaration of non-use has been received and filed by the city, the owner or owner's
authorized agent or representative wants to use that property as a short-term vacation rental unit, the
owner shall apply for a new short-term vacation rental permit and business license and fully comply with
the requirements of this chapter and the code.
3.25.070 Operational requirements and standard conditions
A. The owner and/or owner's authorized agent or representative shall use reasonably prudent
business practices to ensure that the short-term vacation rental unit is used in a manner that complies with
all applicable laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the use and occupancy of the subject short-term
vacation rental unit.
B. The responsible person(s) shall be an occupant(s) of the short-term vacation rental unit
for which he/she/they signed a rental agreement for such rental, use and occupancy. No non-permanent
improvements to the property, such as tents, trailers, or other mobile units, may be used as short-term
vacation rentals. The total number of occupants, including the responsible person(s), allowed to occupy
any given short-term vacation rental unit may be within the ranges set forth in the table below. The City
Council may by resolution further restrict occupancy levels provided those restrictions are within the
occupancy ranges set forth below.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 7 of 60
Number of Bedrooms Total of Overnight* Occupants Total Daytime** Occupants (Including
Number of Overnight Occupants)
0 – Studio 2 2 - 8
1 2 - 4 2 - 8
2 4 - 6 4 - 8
3 6 - 8 6 - 12
4 8 - 10 8 - 16
5 10 - 12 10 - 18
6 12 - 14 12 - 20
7 14 14 - 20
8 16 16 - 22
9 18 18 - 24
* Overnight (10:01 p.m. – 6:59 a.m.)
** Daytime (7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
C. While a short-term vacation rental unit is rented, the owner, the owner's
authorized agent or representative and/or the owner's designated local contact person shall be
available twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, with the ability to respond to the
location within forty-five (45) minutes to complaints regarding the condition, operation, or
conduct of occupants of the short-term vacation rental unit or their guests.
D. The owner, the owner's authorized agent or representative and/or the owner's
designated local contact person shall use reasonably prudent business practices to ensure that
the occupants and/or guests of the short-term vacation rental unit do not create unreasonable or
unlawful noise or disturbances, engage in disorderly conduct, or violate any applicable law,
rule or regulation pertaining to the use and occupancy of the subject short-term vacation rental
unit.
E. Occupants of the short-term vacation rental shall comply with the standards
and regulations for allowable noise at the property in accordance with Section 9.100.210 (or
successor provision, as may be amended from time to time) of this code. No radio receiver,
musical instrument, phonograph, compact disk player, loudspeaker, karaoke machine, sound
amplifier, or any machine, device or equipment that produces or reproduces any sound shall be
used outside or be audible from the outside of any short-term vacation rental unit between the
hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m. (10:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.) Pacific Standard Time.
F. Prior to occupancy of a short-term vacation rental unit, the owner or the
owner's authorized agent or representative shall:
1. Obtain the contact information of the responsible person;
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 8 of 60
2. Provide a copy of the good neighbor brochure to the responsible person;
and require such responsible person to execute a formal acknowledgement that
he or she is legally responsible for compliance by all occupants of the short-
term vacation rental unit and their guests with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations pertaining to the use and occupancy of the short-term vacation
rental unit. This information shall be maintained by the owner or the owner's
authorized agent or representative for a period of three years and be made
readily available upon request of any officer of the City responsible for the
enforcement of any provision of this code or any other applicable law, rule or
regulation pertaining to the use and occupancy of the short-term vacation rental
unit,
G. The owner, the owner's authorized agent or representative and/or the owner's
designated local contact person shall, upon notification or attempted notification that the
responsible person and/or any occupant and/or guest of the short-term vacation rental unit has
created unreasonable or unlawful noise or disturbances, engaged in disorderly conduct, or
committed violations of any applicable law, rule or regulation pertaining to the use and
occupancy of the subject short-term vacation unit, promptly respond within forty-five (45)
minutes to immediately halt and prevent a recurrence of such conduct by the responsible person
and/or any occupants and/or guests. Failure of the owner, the owner's authorized agent or
representative and/or the owner's designated local contact person to respond to calls or
complaints regarding the condition, operation, or conduct of occupants and/or guests of the
short-term vacation rental within forty-five (45) minutes, shall be subject to all administrative,
legal and equitable remedies available to the city.
H. The owner, the owner's authorized agent or representative and/or the owner's
designated local contact person shall report to the City Manager, or designee, the name,
violation, date, and time of disturbance of each person involved in three or more disorderly
conduct activities, disturbances or other violations of any applicable law, rule or regulation
pertaining to the use and occupancy of the subject short-term vacation rental unit.
I. Trash and refuse shall not be left stored within public view, except in proper
containers for the purpose of collection by the city's authorized waste hauler on scheduled trash
collection days. The owner, the owner's authorized agent or representative shall use reasonably
prudent business practices to ensure compliance with all the provisions of Chapter 6.04 (Solid
Waste Collection and Disposal) (or successor provision, as may be amended from time to time)
of this code.
J. Signs may be posted on the premises to advertise the availability of the short-
term vacation rental unit as provided for in Chapter 9.160 (Signs) (or successor provision, as
may be amended from time to time) of this code.
K. The owner, authorized agent or representative and/or the owner's designated
local contact person shall post a copy of the short-term vacation rental permit and a copy of the
good neighbor brochure in a conspicuous place within the short-term vacation rental unit, and a
copy of the good neighbor brochure shall be provided to each occupant of the subject short-term
vacation rental unit
L. Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the owner and/or the owner's
authorized agent or representative shall comply with all provisions of Chapter 3.24 concerning
transient occupancy taxes, including, but not limited to, submission of a monthly return in
accordance with Section 3.24.080 (or successor provisions, as may be amended from time to
time) of this code, which shall be filed monthly even if the short-term vacation rental unit was
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 9 of 60
not rented during each such month.
M. Guesthouses, detached from the primary residential dwelling on the property, or
the primary residential dwelling on the property, may be rented pursuant to this chapter as long
as the guesthouse and the primary residential dwelling are rented to one party.
N. The owner and/or the owner's authorized agent or representative shall post the
current short-term vacation rental permit number on or in any advertisement that promotes the
availability or existence of a short-term vacation rental unit in. In the instance of audio-only
advertising of the same, the short-term vacation rental permit number shall be read as part of the
advertisement.
O. The owner and/or owner's authorized agent or representative shall operate a
short-term vacation rental unit in compliance with any other permits or licenses that apply to the
property, including but not limited to any permit or license needed to operate a special event
pursuant to Section 9.60.170 (or successor provision, as may be amended from time to time) of
this code. City may limit the number of special event permits issued per year on residential
dwellings pursuant to Section 9.60.170 (or successor provision, as may be amended from time
to time).
P. The City Manager, or designee, shall have the authority to impose additional
conditions on the use of any given short-term vacation rental unit to ensure that any potential
secondary effects unique to the subject short-term vacation rental unit are avoided or adequately
mitigated, including but not limited to a mitigating condition that would require the installation
of a noise monitoring device to keep time-stamped noise level data from the property that will
be made available to the city upon city's reasonable request,
Q. The standard conditions set forth herein may be modified by the City Manager,
or designee, upon request of the owner or the owner's authorized agent or representative based
on site-specific circumstances for the purpose of allowing reasonable accommodation of a
short-term vacation rental. All requests must be in writing and shall identify how the strict
application of the standard conditions creates an unreasonable hardship to a property such that,
if the requirement is not modified, reasonable use of the property for a short-term vacation
rental would not be allowed. Any hardships identified must relate to physical constraints to the
subject site and shall not be self-induced or economic. Any modifications of the standard
conditions shall not further exacerbate an already existing problem.
R. On-site parking shall be allowed on an approved driveway, garage, and/or
carport areas only. Recreational vehicles may be parked in accordance with the provisions set
forth in Section 9.60.130 (or successor provision, as may be amended from time to time) of this
code.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 10 of 60
TITLE 6
6.04.050 Containers.
A. Every owner, occupant or person in possession, charge or control of any premises within
the city shall deposit or cause to be deposited all solid waste generated or accumulated on such
premises, and intended for collection and disposal, in sealed, watertight bins, carts, rolloff boxes
or other containers that are either (1) provided by, or acceptable to, a franchisee; or (2) approved
by the city manager for self-hauling purposes pursuant to this chapter. No owner, occupant or
person in possession, charge or control of any premises shall utilize a bin, cart, rolloff box or
other container not in conformance with the requirements hereof for the collection, accumulation
or storage of solid waste.
B. No bin, cart, rolloff box or other container shall be placed adjacent to or in a street or
public right-of-way for collection service more than twenty-four hours prior to the normal
collection time, and all containers so placed shall be removed from the street or right-of-way
within twelve hours after collection.
C. Container lids shall remain closed at all times that the container is unattended. If the solid
waste contained within a bin, cart, rolloff box or other container exceeds the actual capacity of
the container, then a larger container or multiple containers must be utilized. Any solid waste
that does not reasonably fit within a container (such as furniture or other large bulky items) must
be covered and protected, as by a tarp, netting or other secured material, in order to prevent the
scattering of debris by natural forces such as wind or animals. The owner, tenant, occupant
and/or person or entity in control of a premises shall be responsible for the clean-up of any solid
waste spilled, dumped or scattered as a result of a container overflow.
D. It is unlawful for any person to share, place solid waste in, or to otherwise use the bin,
cart, rolloff box or other container of another person or business. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, the sharing of containers shall be permitted under the following
conditions:
1. The owner, property manager or person in charge or control of a premises upon which a
multifamily dwelling exists may arrange for bins, carts, rolloff boxes or other containers for
shared use by the occupants, tenants or persons in possession of the dwelling units on such
premises.
2. The occupants of a single commercial building or contiguous and adjacent commercial
building may share a bin, cart, rolloff box or other container for solid waste handling services at
a common location, subject to approval of the City Manager, which may be delegated to a
franchisee. Approval by the City Manager shall be based upon (a) the type of solid waste
generated by each commercial premises; and (b) the number of containers and frequency of solid
waste collection needed to protect the public health, welfare and safety.
E. Bins and rolloff boxes shall not be located at single-family dwellings or dwelling units
within the RVL, RL and RC zones except for the following purposes:
1. Home improvement and/or temporary cleanup of a vacant lot or dwelling provided that
all applicable permits and licenses have been obtained. In cases where building permits are not
required for home improvement and/or temporary cleanup, bins or rolloff boxes may be placed at
the dwelling for a period of one week. Bins or rolloff boxes shall not be in the public right of
way; or
2. Holding special events including, but not limited to, sponsored and permitted cleanup
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 11 of 60
campaigns. Placement of such containers for the event shall be limited to forty-eight hours prior
to the event and forty-eight hours following the event.
F. It is unlawful to use any bin, cart, rolloff box or other container furnished by a franchisee
for any purpose other than the collection, accumulation and storage of solid waste; or to convert
or alter such containers for other uses; or to intentionally damage such containers.
G. All carts as well as containers provided by residents for collection by a franchisee shall be
stored out of public view in a side or rear yard or an enclosed garage except on collection day. If
the physical design of the dwelling does not allow for obscuring containers from public view
because of the type of fencing or lack thereof, containers shall be stored in an area adjacent to the
dwelling at the point furthest from the closest street or roadway or in an enclosure adjacent to the
dwelling designed to conform with the exterior design of the dwelling.
H. A trash bin enclosure shall be provided to obscure any bin used for solid waste collection
from public view. Such enclosure shall meet the construction, location and access requirements
established by City’s Planning Department. Upon receipt of notification from city to provide an
enclosure, the owner of any property so notified shall have six months to complete construction
of the enclosure. A six-month extension to complete construction of an enclosure may be granted
by the Planning Director and/or the City Council based on individual need, but in no event shall
completion of construction of a bin enclosure exceed one year from the date of receipt of
notification to provide an enclosure.
I. No commercial premises nor any premises upon which a multifamily dwelling is located
shall be granted a certificate of occupancy unless and until a bin enclosure meeting the
specifications of the planning department has been constructed. (Ord. 450 § 1, 2008)
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 12 of 60
TITLE 8
8.03.020 Underground wiring required.
Article 120 of the 2016 California Electrical Code is added to read as follows:
ARTICLE 120
Underground Wiring Required
120.1 Scope. This article covers the general requirements for restricting the installation of
above-ground electrical and other utility components in new construction, and phasing out
their use in existing installations.
120.2 Definitions. See Article 100. For the purposes of this article, the following additional
definitions apply.
Community Antenna Television System (or CATV). A system of antennas, coaxial
cables, wires, wave guides, or other conductors, equipment, or facilities designed,
constructed, or used for the purpose of providing television or FM radio service by cable or
through its facilities.
Cost of Replacing. Those costs as computed by the Building Official or his or her designee.
In making said computation, said City Official shall use those tables and figures provided in
that publication entitled “Building Standards,” as published by International Code Council,
Whittier, California, and which is current at the time of such computations. Said tables and
figures shall apply to a building which would conform to all City and State Regulations,
including the City’s Building, Plumbing, Wiring, Mechanical, Fire Codes and Zoning
Regulations, which are effective at the time of the computation.
Poles, Wires, and Associated Structures. Poles, towers, supports, wires, crossarms,
braces, transformers, insulators, cutouts, switches, communication circuits, appliances,
attachments, and appurtenances used in whole or in part for supplying, distributing or
transmitting electric energy, radio signals, television signals, telegraphic signals, CATV
services, or any similar associated services to a building or structure and the occupants
thereof, if any. Also referred to collectively in this article as “utility facilities.”
Utility. All persons or entities supplying, transmitting, or distributing electrical energy and
service, radio signals, television signals, telegraphic signals, and providing telephone,
electrical, light, radio, television, telegraphic, and CATV services or any similar associated
services by means of poles, wires, and associated structures.
120.3 Prohibition. Except as provided in Article 120.4, no person shall construct, install, or
place above the surface of the ground any poles, wires, and associated structures, regardless
of the use or proposed use of the structure or building to be served thereby.
120.4 Exceptions. The provisions of this article shall not apply to the following poles,
wires, and associated structures under the circumstances described herein:
(A) Termination Point for Overhead Utility Facilities. Utility facilities constructed,
placed, or installed (referred to herein collectively as “constructed”), or proposed to be
constructed within six feet of the lot line of any real property for which service is being
or intended to be provided by said utility facilities, if the sole purpose of the
construction of utility facilities is to terminate overhead utility facilities. Such utility
facilities may be placed at a distance further than six feet from said lot line to enable a
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 13 of 60
maximum underground run of two hundred feet.
(B) Ground-Mounted Equipment. Ground-mounted transformers, pedestal-mounted
terminal boxes, meter cabinets, concealed ducts, and other appurtenances and
associated equipment, which are part of and necessary for the operation of an
underground electrical, communication, CATV, radio, or telegraphic system.
(C) Temporary Facilities. Utility facilities installed by a utility for temporary
purposes, including, but not limited to, servicing building construction projects for
which valid building permits have been issued by the City, and which uses are being or
proposed to be conducted in compliance with all requirements of this code, the
remainder of the California Building Standards Code, and the La Quinta Municipal
Code.
(D) High Voltage Installations. Utility facilities distributing, supplying, and
transmitting electrical energy at 34,000 volts or greater.
120.5 Initial Obligation. The owner, lessee, tenant, or occupant of a building or structure
or the owner of property proposed to be developed by a building or structure has the initial
obligation to comply with all the requirements of this article, and in performance of said
obligation shall make the necessary arrangements with the appropriate utility for the
installation and construction of utility facilities so that they will be in compliance with the
provisions of this article. This section is not intended to eliminate or limit the obligation of
any person, including a utility, to comply at all times with all provisions of this article, but
expresses the intent of the La Quinta City Council as to who has the primary obligation of
compliance.
120.6 Waiver. If any person believes that the application of any provision of this article is
impractical and will cause practical difficulties and unnecessary hardship to him or her or
the public in general due to certain topographical conditions, street configurations,
permanent constructions, underground obstacle, soil, water, other natural conditions, or
other practical difficulties not listed which would make the underground installation of
utility facilities unreasonable, said person may apply in writing to the Design and
Development Department for a waiver of such provision of this article. Said application
shall be filed with the Design and Development Department and shall determine
completeness of said application no later than thirty (30) days thereafter. If determined
complete, Planning Commission shall hear the Applicant’s evidence in support of the
application, the comments and recommendations of the City’s employees and officials
thereon. It may hear other parties. The Planning Commission may grant a waiver from all or
any provisions of this article after considering a specific application therefor and after
making a finding that the application of the specific provision in question would be
unreasonable, impractical and cause undue hardship to the Applicant or the general public.
If the Planning Commission does grant a waiver, it may impose reasonable conditions on
said grant in the interest of protecting and preserving the public health, safety and general
welfare. The Planning Commission shall make its decision on the application no later than
thirty (30) days after it has concluded its consideration thereof.
120.7 Nonconformance: Continuance and Termination.
(A) Nonconformance. Any legally established utility facility not in conformity with
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Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 14 of 60
the provision of this article as of the effective date of this ordinance shall be considered
nonconforming.
(B) Nonconforming Utility Facilities Not Relocated. Any nonconforming utility
facility may continue to be used and may be renewed, altered, enlarged, or have
additions thereto in its existing location without any provisions of this article being
applicable thereto. However, when any building or structure to which any
nonconforming utility facility provides any service is enlarged or an addition is made
thereto where the cost of replacing said building or structure including its addition or
enlargement exceeds by 50 percent the cost of replacing said building or structure prior
to its enlargement or the addition thereto, all utility facilities that provide service to
such building or structure, as described in the aforesaid clause, shall be caused to
comply with all provisions of this article.
(C) Nonconforming Utility Facilities Relocated. Whenever an existing service is
relocated on nonconforming property, or a new service is established on
nonconforming property, any such relocated or new service shall be caused to comply
with all the provisions of this article.
(Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 551 § 4, 2016; Ord. 517 § 4, 2013; Ord. 483 § 2, 2010)
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 15 of 60
TITLE 9
9.20.030 Special zoning symbols.
A. Purpose. In some cases, the City may determine that alternate development standards
are required for a particular geographic area other than those set forth in applicable sections
of this code with regard to minimum lot size, setbacks, lot frontage and maximum building
height because the normal standards may not be appropriate for one or more of the
following reasons:
1. Unusual topography or other natural features within the area.
2. The need to mitigate development impacts on vulnerable surrounding land uses.
3. The need to ensure adherence to a key general plan goal, objective or policy.
4. Other factors affecting the subject area not generally prevalent in the city.
B. Use of Special Symbols. The City may establish alternate development standards for a
particular geographic area than those set forth for the zoning district covering the area by
means of special zoning symbols. Such alternate development standards shall supersede
those in Chapters 9.50, 9.65, 9.90 and 9.130 and shall be specified by means of one or more
of the following symbols on the official zoning map:
1. Lot Size. A number following the district designation and connected by a hyphen
shall designate the minimum lot size. Where the number is greater than one hundred, it
shall indicate the minimum size in square feet; where the number is less than one
hundred, it shall indicate the minimum size in acres.
Example: RM-500 or RL-2
2. Setbacks. A number following the district designation and enclosed by parentheses
shall designate the minimum setbacks in feet. Within the parentheses, setbacks shall be
separated by a slash (/) and shall be shown in the following order: front/side/rear.
Example: RM (20/5/25)
3. Height, Number of Stories, and Setback. A number shown below and separated by
a line from the district designation shall designate the maximum height of building or
structures in feet, the maximum number of stories, and rear yard setback. Height shall
be given first followed by a slash (/) and number of stories and another slash (/) and
rear yard setback.
Example: RM (28/2/10)
4. Lot Frontage. A number preceding and connected to the district designation by a
hyphen shall designate the minimum lot frontage in feet.
Example: 100-RL
5. Symbols Combined. The preceding symbols may be used in any combination to
show minimum lot size, setbacks, frontage, and maximum height.
Example: 100-RL-2 (20/5/25) ÷ 28/2
C. Location of Zoning Districts Utilizing Special Symbols. Special symbol districts
located within the City of La Quinta shall be clearly identified on the official zoning map
and referenced in Section 9.50.030, Table of development standards. (Ord. 550 § 1, 2016)
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 16 of 60
Section 9.50.100 Additional Bedrooms.
This section provides the following minimum developmental standards applicable to the
addition to an existing single-family dwelling or modification to the floor plan configuration
of an existing single-family dwelling that results in additional bedrooms.
A. Existing single-family dwelling units may not exceed maximum bedrooms as
follows:
SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS
LIVABLE AREA IN SQ. FT. BEDROOMS MAX. NO.
2,000 or less 4
2,001-2,850 5
2,851-3,500 6
Greater than 3,500 8
B. The total area of all bedrooms shall not exceed 35% of the total livable area of the
dwelling. The calculation of bedroom area shall not include closets or bathrooms.
C. When as a result of new construction or modification of a single-family dwelling
the number of bedrooms is proposed to equal or exceed four (4), an additional garage space
of 10 by 20 feet shall be provided if such single-family dwelling has existing garage space
for only two (2) vehicles. Access to the additional garage space shall be from existing
driveways and not result in new street curb cuts. Additional garage space may not be
required if applicant can provide evidence of sufficient off-street parking spaces (e.g.,
driveway space, carport), to the satisfaction of the Design and Development Director or
his/her designee.
D. Bedrooms added as a result of new construction or modification of a single-family
dwelling shall be used only by the occupants of the main residence, their non-paying guests,
or domestic employees. No additional bedrooms may be rented or used as a short term
vacation rental (“STVR”) except upon application and issuance of a STVR permit pursuant
to Chapter 3.25 of this code.
9.60.070 Swimming pools.
A. Applicability. The provisions of this section shall apply to any outdoor swimming pool,
whirlpool, spa (in-ground or above-ground), or open tank or pond containing or normally
capable of containing water to a depth of eighteen (18) inches or more at any point. For
purposes of this section, the term “pool” means all or any of the foregoing facilities.
B. Standards. Pools are permitted as accessory uses in residential districts subject to the
following requirements:
1. Location. Pools shall be located at least three (3) feet (measured from water’s edge)
from any property line. No adjustments to this minimum shall be approved, with the
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Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
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exception of private gated communities where any property line is adjacent to common
open area.
2. Filtering and Heating Equipment. Use of equipment shall comply with the
following requirements:
a. Mechanical pool equipment such as a pump, filter, or heater, may be located
within the front or rear yard areas. The equipment shall be enclosed on at least
three sides by a masonry wall with an open side not visible to the street.
b. Mechanical pool equipment may be in an area between the side property line
and the residence provided a five foot side yard, clear of any permanent
obstructions is maintained between the side yard property line and any
mechanical pool equipment.
c. Where there is no side property line wall, mechanical pool equipment may be
in a side yard of five feet or less only if a recorded easement in perpetuity exists
for the subject property to use the adjacent side yard of the abutting property for
access and a minimum five feet distance between the equipment and adjacent
obstruction (i.e., building wall) is provided.
d. Mechanical pool equipment may be in a side yard of five feet or less if
approved by the Planning Commission if extenuating circumstances exist, there is
a three foot clearance of any permanent obstructions, and a Minor Use Permit is
applied for. Notification shall be provided to adjoining impacted property
owner(s) ten (10) days prior to hearing.
3. Fencing Requirements. All pools shall be fenced in accordance with the provisions
of the City’s building code Chapter 8.06, state law and other applicable laws and
ordinances.
4. Screening shall be provided as required in Section 9.60.140(B)(2). (Ord. 550 § 1,
2016)
9.60.075 Ground mounted mechanical equipment.
Use of equipment shall comply with the following requirements:
A. Ground mounted mechanical equipment such as air conditioner condensing units, water
softeners, etc., may be located within the rear yard areas. For lots of five thousand square
feet or less, said equipment can be in the front yard if there is a wall around the yard, or it is
screened by a masonry wall.
B. Where there is no side yard property line wall, mechanical equipment may be in an area
between the side property line and the residence provided a five-foot side yard, clear of any
permanent obstructions is maintained between the side yard property line and any
mechanical equipment.
C. Mechanical equipment may be in a side yard of five feet or less if: (1) a recorded
easement in perpetuity exists for the subject property to use the adjacent side yard of the
abutting property for access and a minimum five feet distance between the equipment and
adjacent obstruction (i.e., building wall) is provided; or (2) if approved by the Planning
Commission through a Minor Use Permit if findings are made that extenuating
circumstances exist. Notification shall be provided to adjoining impacted property owner(s)
ten (10) days prior to hearing. (Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 550 § 1, 2016)
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 18 of 60
9.60.340 Flagpoles.
Flagpoles shall be allowed in all residential zoning districts subject to the following standards:
A. Height of flagpoles shall not exceed twenty (20) feet.
B. Flagpoles are allowed within the front yard only. The minimum front yard setback for
flagpoles shall be ten (10) feet.
C. Installation of flagpoles shall require a building permit.
9.90.040 Table of development standards.
Table 9-6 and the illustrations in Section 9.90.050 set forth standards for the development of
property within nonresidential districts. Notwithstanding Table 9-6, different standards shall
apply if special zoning symbols, described in Section 9.20.030, are designated on the official
zoning map.
Table 9-6 Nonresidential Development Standards
Development Standard District
CR CP CC CN CT CO MC VC
Minimum—Maximum building
site (acres) n/a n/a n/a 1-20 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Maximum building height (ft.)1,
6, 7 50 35 40 35 40 40 40 45
Maximum number of stories 4 2 3 2 3 3 3 n/a
Maximum floor area ratio
(FAR)2 .35 .50 .30 .25 .25 .30 n/a n/a
Minimum
perimeter
building/
landscape
setbacks (in
ft.)4
From Highway
111 right-of-way1 50/50 50/50 50/50 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
From all image
corridor3 rights-of-
way1 (except Hwy
111) and from all
major and primary
arterials
30/20 30/20 30/20 30/20 30/20 30/20 30/20 n/a
From all other
perimeter street
rights-of-way1
20/10 20/10 20/10 20/10 20/10 20/10 20/10 n/a
From residential
districts and PR,
OS and GC
districts1
50/10 50/10 50/10 30/155 30/155 30/155 30/155 10/0
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 19 of 60
Minimum setback from interior
property lines within
nonresidential districts
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Parking and signs See Chapters 9.150 and 9.160
Fences and walls See Section 9.100.030
Landscaping and screening See Sections 9.100.040 and 9.100.050
Notes:
1 All minimum perimeter setbacks shall be increased one (1) foot for every foot in height that
building is above thirty-five feet. Mixed use projects and projects in the Village Build-Out
Plan Area are exempt from this requirement.
2 FAR means the gross floor area of all buildings divided by the building site area.
3 See General Plan Exhibit II-4.
4 Landscape setback shall consist of landscaped area within the building setback. Number given
is minimum landscaped setback from the street right-of-way. The remaining building setback
may contain parking, driveways and similar facilities. In addition to above landscape
setbacks, interior landscaping shall be required as a percentage of the net project area as
follows: parking areas: minimum five percent; nonparking areas: minimum five percent (also
see Section 9.100.050).
5 For buildings over one (1) story in CN, CT and CO districts, setbacks shall be increased to
40/20.
6 Not including basements. Also, notwithstanding above table, the maximum structure height
equals twenty-two feet for all buildings within one hundred fifty feet of any general plan
image corridor and major or primary arterials.
7 Except in the Village Build-Out Plan Area, where the provisions of Section 9.70.110 shall
apply.
(Ord. 553 § 1, 2017; Ord. 550 §1, 2016)
9.100.120 Sidewalk sales and commercial events.
A. Purpose. This section provides regulations for: (1) the temporary outdoor sale of
merchandise by retail businesses, and (2) special outdoor commercial events within
shopping centers.
B. Definitions. See Chapter 9.280.
C. Temporary Use Permit Required. Sidewalk sales and special events in commercial
centers are permitted subject to issuance of a temporary use permit and compliance with the
following provisions:
1. Up to six sidewalk sales may occur annually. The applicant shall notify the
planning division a minimum of one (1) week prior to each sidewalk sale. Failure to
comply with this provision could lead to revocation of the temporary use permit.
2. The application for a temporary use permit for a sidewalk sale or a special
commercial event shall include a site plan indicating the location of the temporary uses
and demonstrating maintenance of adequate parking, site circulation and emergency
access.
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Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 20 of 60
3. A sidewalk sale or a special commercial event may be conducted over a maximum
of four consecutive days and no more than once per month at any location, not to
exceed six times per year. Each special commercial event shall require the approval of
a temporary use permit. Special commercial events which benefit nonprofit
organizations can be held more than six times per year if conducted on sidewalk areas
and approved by the director regardless of who is sponsoring or participating in the
event.
4. Adequate and legal pedestrian access shall be maintained around merchandise or
displays placed on a sidewalk or walkway.
5. Adequate vehicle access shall be maintained around merchandise, displays or
temporary structures placed in parking areas.
6. A cash bond or other guarantee shall be posted for removal of the temporary use
and cleanup and restoration of the activity site within seven days of the conclusion of
the event.
7. The application shall be reviewed by the fire marshal and the event shall comply
with fire prevention standards and emergency access requirements as approved and
enforced by the fire marshal.
8. Temporary signs may be permitted subject to the provisions of Section 9.160.060
(Permitted temporary signs). (Ord. 550 § 1, 2016). Signs for the event shall be
allowed as follows:
1. Maximum of one (1) temporary banner per street frontage, not to exceed thirty-
two square feet.
2. Maximum one (1) temporary portable sign on- or off-site on private property,
not to exceed fifty-five square feet.
3. Posting period, locations and related details shall be as approved in the
temporary use permit for the event.
4. Other signs and advertising devices, such as pennants, flags, A-frame signs, are
prohibited.
9.110.100 AHO Affordable Housing Overlay District.
A. Purpose and Intent.
1. To permit the development of affordable housing at higher densities within
commercial zones and other specified residential sites while maintaining consistency
with underlying base land use designations.
2. To provide increased and enhanced housing opportunities for low and very low
income residents.
3. To accommodate the city’s regional housing need.
4. To encourage lot consolidation and maximize the housing potential of vacant and
underutilized sites.
5. To provide mixed use nodes that minimize vehicle trips and enhance proximity to
services and mass transit, consistent with implementation measures CI-13 and ND-4 of
the city’s greenhouse gas reduction plan, as well as transportation demand
management principles.
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Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 21 of 60
B. Development Standards. See Table 9-9. In addition:
1. Minimum livable floor area excluding garage shall be six hundred square feet.
2. Minimum project distance buffer from Highway 111 shall be three hundred feet.
3. Minimum common area open space shall be thirty percent.
C. District Boundaries. The boundaries of the AHO overlay district shall include the CC,
CP, CN, CR, and VC districts and other sites identified on the official zoning map. (Ord.
550 § 1, 2016)
9.140.080 AHO Affordable Housing Overlay regulations.
A. Applicability.
1. The AHO overlay district and the provisions of this section apply to all areas of the
city containing the “AHO” overlay designation on the official zoning map. These
include the CC, CP, NC, CR, and VC commercial zones, and other sites, as designated
on the zoning map. These regulations shall apply in addition to the regulations of the
underlying base district. In case of conflict between the base district and the AHO
regulations, the AHO regulations shall control.
B. Definitions. See Chapter 9.280.
C. Permitted Uses. See Section 9.120.020.
1. Any use permitted, either expressly or by conditional use permit, in the underlying
zone;
2. Affordable housing residential units on lots one (1) acre or greater in size,
including those that are stand-alone, next to, and/or above non-residential uses.
D. Development Standards, All Residential Uses. See Section 9.130.010. (Ord. 550 § 1,
2016)
9.150.040 Parking location and accessibility.
A. Location.
1. Residential Uses. Cars may be parked in the front yards of residential properties
provided that the area in which the car is parked or stored is a driveway, pursuant to
the driveway definition in Section 9.280.030. Required parking shall be located on the
same parcel as the residential building which the parking serves, except that such
parking may be located on an adjacent parcel if all of the following conditions are met:
a. The adjacent parcel is and continues to be under the same ownership as that of
the residential building;
b. The parking is on that portion of the parcel where the erection of garages,
carports or shade structures is permitted; and
c. The placement and distribution of required parking spaces are such that for
any dwelling unit, the assigned or reasonably available parking spaces are no
further than one hundred feet by walkway to the entry of that dwelling unit.
2. Nonresidential Uses.
a. Required parking shall be located on the same parcel as the use served, on an
adjacent parcel or on a parcel across an alley. Required parking may also be
located across a street (other than a major or primary arterial) provided a properly
designed crosswalk connects the parking with the use(s) served.
b. Required parking spaces shall be within three hundred feet of the uses served
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Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 22 of 60
by the parking and shall be located in a commercial district.
3. Amended Provisions per Specific Plans. Amended provisions relating to parking
location, configuration, and other matters may be imposed in conjunction with a
specific plan.
B. Accessibility.
1. All required off-street parking spaces shall be designed, located, constructed and
maintained so as to be fully usable and accessible at all times.
2. Required off-street parking facilities and driveways shall not be used for any
purpose which at any time would preclude the use of the area for the temporary storage
of motor vehicles.
3. Unless otherwise provided by an approved discretionary permit, no owner or tenant
shall lease, rent or otherwise make unavailable to intended users any off-street parking
spaces required by this chapter.
4. Required parking spaces shall not be used for the storage of vehicles unless such
storage is calculated into the required parking formula.
5. No required parking spaces shall be used for the display of vehicles for sale unless
part of a permitted vehicle sales use.
6. If an area of parking is for park-and-ride programs, such area shall be in addition to
the required parking area. If no additional area is provided for such purposes, the
owner/operator of the parking lot shall arrange for part of the parking lot, at peak usage
hours, to have encroaching parking removed by means of tickets and/or towing. (Ord.
550 § 1, 2016)
9.150.080 Parking facility design standards.
A. Parking Layout and Circulation.
1. No parking space shall be located within three feet of any property line.
2. With the exception of single-family detached, single-family attached and duplex
residential uses, all parking bays shall be bordered by continuous curbs. Individual
wheel stops shall not be permitted in lieu of such curbs.
3. All driveways shall be designed for positive drainage.
4. Parking bays with ten spaces or more shall connect with other parking bays or
drive aisles or shall provide a turnaround area at the end of the bay.
5. Parking access ways are those driveways that provide ingress or egress from a
street to the parking aisles, and those driveways providing interior circulation between
parking aisles. No parking is permitted on an access way.
6. Joint entry driveways are encouraged and shall be arranged to allow parking lot
maneuvering from one establishment to another without requiring exit to the street.
Adjacent properties shall maintain agreements which permit reciprocal driveway
connections across property lines.
B. Parking Facility Design and Dimensions.
1. Regular Space Dimensions. Regular vehicle spaces shall have the following
minimum dimensions: width, nine feet; length, seventeen feet to curb plus two (2) feet
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Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 23 of 60
overhang; where curbs are not provided, a minimum length of nineteen feet is required.
2. Compact Space Dimensions. Compact parking spaces can make up twenty
percent of required parking spaces. Compact vehicle spaces shall have the following
minimum dimensions: width, eight and one-half feet; length, sixteen feet to curb plus
one and one-half feet overhang; where curbs are not provided, a minimum length of
seventeen and one-half feet is required. Compact vehicle spaces shall be clearly
marked and distributed throughout the parking facility.
3. End Spaces. Parking spaces at the end of a parking aisle against a curb or wall
shall be widened by two (2) additional feet and/or shall have a backing-out pocket
provided.
4. Parallel Spaces. Spaces provided for parallel parking shall be a minimum of nine
feet wide and twenty-four feet in length to permit room for maneuvering. If a wall or
curb in excess of eight inches in height is adjacent to the parallel parking space, the
space shall be ten feet in width. All end spaces confined by a curb shall be thirty feet
long.
5. Support Posts. No support posts or other obstructions shall be placed within one
and one-half feet of any parking stall, except that such obstructions are allowed
adjacent to the stall within the first six feet of the front of the stall, including any
overhang area (see illustration).
6. Parking Aisles. Table 9-13 contains minimum dimensions for parking aisles:
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 24 of 60
Table 9-13 Minimum Parking Aisle Dimensions
Parking Angle (degrees) One-Way Aisle Width (feet) Two-Way Aisle Width (feet)
0—44 14 26
(0° = parallel)
45—54 16 26
55—64 18 26
65—79 22 26
80—90 26 26
7. Space Marking. All parking spaces in a residential or nonresidential parking lot
shall be clearly marked with white or yellow paint or other easily distinguished
material with each space marking consisting of a double four inch wide hairpin stripe,
twelve inches on-center.
8. Residential Garages. Minimum interior dimensions in residential garages (wall-
to-wall) shall be based on providing ten feet in width and twenty feet in depth, per
required vehicle parking space. This applies to design of all required garage parking
spaces, whether in a tandem parking or side-by-side configuration.
C. Fire Lanes. Fire lanes shall be provided as required by the fire department.
D. Pedestrian Circulation.
1. All parking lots shall be designed to provide for the maximum safety and
convenience of pedestrians in their movement to and from the parking area.
2. Where possible, landscaped areas shall also contain paved pedestrian walks for
the safe movement of pedestrians.
3. On major driveways, crosswalks and sidewalks shall be provided.
4. Textured surfaces, signs and speed bumps shall be used to keep vehicular speeds
low.
E. Loading and Other Service Facilities.
1. Off-Street Loading Requirements. Table 9-14 shows the number and size of
loading berths required to satisfy the standards set forth in this subsection. However,
the planning commission may require more or less loading area if it determines such
change to be necessary to satisfy the purpose set forth in subsection (E)(1)(a) of this
section:
Table 9-14 Number of Loading Berths Required by Floor Area
Gross Floor Area (sq. ft.) Minimum Loading Berths Required
1,000—19,999 1
20,000—79,000 2
80,000—127,999 3
128,000—191,999 4
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Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 25 of 60
192,000—255,999 5
256,000—319,999 6
320,000—391,999 7
Each additional 72,000 square feet or fraction
thereof 1 additional berth
a. Each loading berth shall be not less than forty-five feet in length and twelve
feet in width exclusive of aisle or maneuvering space, and shall have an
overhead clearance of not less than fourteen feet.
b. Loading berths may occupy all or any part of any required yard space except
front and exterior side yards and shall not be located closer than fifty feet
from any lot in any residential zone unless enclosed on all sides (except the
entrance) by a wall not less than eight feet in height. In addition, the planning
commission may require screening walls or enclosures for any loading berth
if it determines that such screening is necessary to mitigate the visual impacts
of the facility.
c. Off-street loading facilities shall be located on the same site as the use
served.
d. No area allocated to loading facilities may be used to satisfy the area
requirements for off-street parking, nor shall any portion of any off-street
parking area be used to satisfy the area requirements for loading facilities.
e. No loading berth which is provided for the purpose of complying with the
provisions of this section shall hereafter be eliminated, reduced, or converted
in any manner below the requirements established in this title, unless
equivalent facilities are provided elsewhere, conforming to this chapter.
F. Parking Lot Surfacing.
1. All parking areas shall be designed and built with positive drainage to an
approved drainage conveyance. No ponding shall be permitted.
2. All parking and maneuvering areas shall be paved with paving blocks or asphaltic
or portland concrete over the appropriate asphaltic base. The structural section of the
pavement and base material shall be commensurate with the anticipated loading and
shall be calculated in accordance with the method promulgated by the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
G. Valet Parking.
1. Valet parking shall be reviewed by the planning commission in conjunction with
the site development permit or other entitlement for the use or separately as a minor
use permit per the procedures of Section 9.210.020.
2. When valet parking is provided, a minimum of twenty-five percent of the required
parking area shall be designated and arranged for self-parking to prevent on-street
parking and blocking of fire lanes.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 26 of 60
H. Shopping Cart Storage.
1. Every use which utilizes shopping carts shall provide a shopping cart collection
area or cart racks.
2. Cart racks shall be distributed so that no parking space within the facility is more
than one hundred feet from the nearest cart rack in order to prevent parking spaces
from being lost to the random abandonment of shopping carts.
3. Each cart rack shall include either a steel frame or curbs on the lower side to
contain the shopping carts.
4. If sidewalks adjacent to stores are used for temporary storage of assembled
shopping carts, such sidewalks shall be designed with extra width so that pedestrian
flows are not blocked by shopping carts. The planning commission may also require a
screening wall or landscape screening in front of such a cart storage area.
I. Underground and Decked Parking.
1. The minimum dimensions for underground, decked or covered parking shall be as
required for uncovered surface area parking as specified throughout this section, except
additional minimum dimensions may be required for specific circulation conditions or
structural impediments created by the parking structure.
2. Landscaping shall be incorporated into parking structures to blend them into the
environment. This shall include perimeter grade planting and rooftop landscaping as
deemed appropriate by the planning commission.
3. Parking structures shall be subject to site development permit review in all cases.
4. Multiple-level parking structures shall contain light wells (minimum dimensions:
twenty by twenty), placed at least every two hundred feet. The base elevation of the
light well shall be landscaped.
5. The planning commission may require that upper levels be set back from the level
immediately below in order to minimize the apparent mass of the structure from the
street.
J. Lighting of Parking and Loading Areas.
1. Illumination of parking and loading areas shall conform to the requirements of
this subsection and Section 9.100.150 (Outdoor lighting).
2. Light standard heights shall be as per manufacturer’s recommended photo
metrics, but in no case shall the height exceed the maximum permitted building height
of the zone in which it is situated or eighteen feet (measured from finish grade at the
base of the standard), whichever is greater. Graduated light standard heights within a
site with lower heights in peripheral areas may be required by the planning
commission to provide compatibility with adjoining properties and streets.
3. Average illumination levels at finish grade in parking areas which require lighting
shall be between one and two foot-candles, with a maximum ratio of average light to
minimum light of three to one. Lighting plans shall take into account the placement
and growth of landscape materials.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 27 of 60
K. Screening of Parking Areas.
1. Screening Required. Except for single-family detached, single-family attached
and duplex residential, all parking areas shall be screened by means of walls or other
materials in accordance with this subsection.
2. Height. Screening shall be a minimum of three feet high adjacent to public streets
or nonresidential uses and a minimum of six feet high adjacent to residential uses,
except that screening shall not exceed thirty inches high where required for motorist
sight distances as specified in Section 9.100.030.
3. Screening Walls.
a. Wall Materials. Walls shall consist of concrete, stucco, plaster, stone,
brick, tile or similar type of solid material a minimum of six inches thick. Walls
shall utilize durable materials, finishes, and colors consistent with project
buildings.
b. Wall Articulation. To avoid visual monotony, long straight stretches of
wall or fence shall be avoided. Walls and fences shall be varied by the use of such
design features as offsets (i.e., jogs), pilasters, open panels (e.g., containing
wrought iron), periodic variations in materials, texture or colors, and similar
measures. Screening walls or fences may also include open portions (tubular steel,
wrought iron, etc.) if the city determines that the desired screening of parking
areas and noise attenuation is still achieved.
c. Wall Planting. Shrubs and/or vines shall be planted on one or both sides of
perimeter walls to add visual softening except where determined infeasible or
unnecessary by the city. Where any parking or driveway abuts a wall on property
within a residential or commercial district, a minimum three and a half foot wide
landscaped planter, with a curb, shall separate the parking area or driveway from
the property line, unless a greater setback is required by any other provisions of
this chapter.
4. Other Screening Materials. In addition to walls, if approved by the decision-
making authority, screening may consist of one or a combination of the following
materials:
a. Plant Screens and Berms. Plant materials, when used as a screen, shall
consist of compact evergreen plants or landscaped berms (earthen mounds). Such
planting shall be of a kind or used in such a manner so as to provide screening
with a minimum thickness of two (2) feet within eighteen months after initial
installation. Width of landscape strips and other landscaping standards shall be in
accordance with subsection L of this section.
b. Solid Fences. If permitted in the zoning district, a solid fence shall be
constructed of wood or other materials with a minimum nominal thickness of two
(2) inches and shall form an opaque screen.
c. Open Fences. An open weave or mesh-type fence shall be combined with
plant materials to form an opaque screen.
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Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
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L. Parking Facility Landscaping.
1. Purpose. Landscaping of parking lots is beneficial to the public welfare in that
such landscaping minimizes nuisances such as noise and glare, provides needed shade
in the desert climate, and enhances the visual environment. Therefore, landscaping
shall be incorporated into the design of all off-street parking areas in accordance with
this subsection.
2. Preservation of Existing Trees. Where trees already exist, the parking lot shall be
designed to preserve as many such trees as feasible (in the opinion of the decision-
making authority) in order to make the best use of the existing growth and shade.
3. Screening. Screening of parking areas shall be provided in accordance with
subsection K of this section.
4. Perimeter Landscaping. Whenever any parking area, except that provided for
single-family dwellings, adjoins a street right-of-way, a perimeter planting strip
between the right-of-way and the parking area shall be landscaped and continuously
maintained. The width of the planting strip, measured from the ultimate property line
(i.e., after street dedication), shall be in accordance with Table 9-15.
Table 9-15 Required Perimeter Landscaping
Street or Highway Minimum Width of Planting Strip (feet)
Highway 111 50
Image corridors 20
Other streets and highways 10
5. Interior Landscaping.
a. Within open parking lots (i.e., not including parking structures) containing
four or more parking spaces, landscaping equal to at least five percent of the net
parking area shall be provided within parking areas. Perimeter planting strips shall
not be credited toward this interior landscaping requirement.
b. All open areas between curbs or walls and the property line shall be
permanently landscaped and continuously maintained.
c. Interior landscaping shall be distributed evenly throughout the entire
parking area.
d. All landscaped areas shall be separated from adjacent parking or vehicular
areas by a curb at least six inches higher than the parking or vehicular area to
prevent damage to the landscaped area.
6. Parking Lot Shading. Canopy-type trees shall be placed so as to shade a portion of
the total parking area within fifteen years in accordance with Table 9-16.
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Adopted: January 15, 2019
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Table 9-16 Required Parking Lot Shading
Minimum Required Parking Spaces Minimum Percent of Parking Area to Be
Shaded
0—4 n/a
5 or more 50
a. A shade plan shall be submitted with detailed landscaping plans which
show canopies after fifteen years growth to confirm compliance with the above
percentage requirements.
b. Shade structures, such as trellises, may be credited for up to fifty percent
of the required parking lot shading specified in Table 9-16.
c. Tree locations should not interfere with required lighting of public areas or
parking areas.
7. Landscaped Planters. All planter beds containing trees shall be at least six feet in
width or diameter. All landscape planter beds not containing trees shall be at least three
feet in width or diameter.
8. Curbs Required. All landscaped areas shall be separated from adjacent parking or
vehicular areas by a curb or landscape planter at least six inches higher than the
parking or vehicular area.
9. Irrigation. Effective full-coverage irrigation systems shall be installed and
maintained in all landscaped areas so that landscaping remains in a healthy growing
condition and in compliance with the approved plan. All dead vegetation shall be
removed and replaced with the same size and species plant material. Hose bibs shall be
placed at intervals of not less than two hundred feet. Irrigation water shall be contained
within property lines.
10. Landscaping of Undeveloped Areas. All undeveloped areas within the interior of
any parking area, such as pads for future development, shall be landscaped with
appropriate plant material and maintained in good condition.
11. Landscape Plans. Landscape plans shall be submitted in conjunction with grading
and other development plans for all parking facilities with four or more spaces, except
for single-family detached, single-family attached and duplex residential. Plans shall
include all planting, hardscape, irrigation and other items required by this subsection.
Plant lists shall be included giving the botanical and common names of the plants to be
used and the container size at time of planting.
M. Nonconforming Parking. The continuation of uses with parking which does not
conform to the provisions of this Chapter 9.150 shall be subject to the provisions of
Chapter 9.270 (Nonconformities). (Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 550 § 1, 2016)
9.160.060 Permitted temporary signs.
A. Definition. See Chapter 9.280.
B. Maximum Time Periods. No temporary sign shall be posted for more than forty-five
consecutive days nor shall such temporary sign or sign displaying similar messages
regarding the same event, if any, which is the subject of such temporary sign be reposted
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Adopted: January 15, 2019
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upon the same site, or any site which is visible from the original site, within ninety days
of the removal of the original temporary sign. In addition, all temporary signs shall be
removed within seven days after the occurrence of the event, if any, which is the subject
of the temporary sign.
C. Maximum Sign Area. Except where an approval is obtained under subsection F of this
section, temporary signs placed on public property may not exceed six square feet in
area and temporary signs placed on private property may not exceed twelve square feet
in area. The aggregate area of all temporary signs maintained on any private property
parcel of real property in one ownership may not exceed twenty-four square feet. Area
shall be calculated on the basis of the entire sign area, as defined in Section 9.160.030.
D. Maximum Height. Freestanding temporary signs which are placed on public or private
property shall not exceed six feet in height. Temporary signs which are posted, attached
or affixed to private multiple-floor buildings shall not be placed higher than eight feet or
the finish floor line of the second floor of such buildings, whichever is less, and
temporary signs which are posted, attached or affixed to private single-floor buildings
shall not be higher than the eave line or top of wall of the building. All heights shall be
measured to the highest point of the surface of the sign.
E. Maximum Number. In no case shall the total number of temporary signs for any permit
exceed one hundred.
F. Placement Restrictions. Temporary signs shall not be posted on sidewalk surfaces,
mailboxes, utility boxes, electric light or power or telephone wires, poles or appendages,
hydrants, trees, shrubs, tree stakes or guards, public bridges, fences or walls, fire alarm
or police telegraph systems, drinking fountains, life buoys, life preservers, lifesaving
equipment, street signs and traffic signs or signals. Temporary signs shall not be located
closer than five feet from the edge of the paved area of any public road or street and
shall not be posted within any median located in a public road or street. Temporary signs
shall be placed no less than two hundred feet apart from identical or substantially similar
temporary signs placed within the city limits. Temporary signs shall not be posted in a
manner which obstructs the visibility of traffic or street signs or signals or emergency
equipment.
G. Sign Permit Required. Any person, business, campaign organization, or other entity who
proposes to post one or more temporary signs on public property and/or four or more
temporary signs on private property shall make application to the planning division for
a sign permit. To insure sign removal upon expiration of the permitted posting time, a
deposit as established by city council resolution shall be paid in conjunction with the
issuance of the sign permit. Upon the successful removal of all temporary signs, up to
one hundred percent of the deposit shall be refunded to the applicant. However,
violations of the temporary sign provisions may result in up to fifty percent of said
deposit being retained by the city.
1. Statement of Responsibility Required. Each applicant for a temporary sign permit
shall submit to the planning division a statement of responsibility certifying a
natural person who will be responsible for removing each temporary sign for
which a permit is issued by the date removal is required, and who will reimburse
the city for any costs incurred by the city in removing each such sign which
violates the provisions of this section.
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Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
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2. Standards for Approval.
a. Within ten business days of the planning division’s receipt of a temporary sign
permit application, the director shall approve or disapprove such application. If
the director disapproves an application, the notice of disapproval shall specify the
reasons for disapproval. The director shall approve or disapprove any permit
application for temporary signs based on character, location and design, including
design elements such as materials, letter style, colors, sign type or shape, and the
provisions of this section.
b. The director’s decision with respect to a permit application for a temporary
sign may be appealed to the planning commission.
H. Maintenance and Removal of Temporary Signs.
1. Maintenance. All temporary signs shall be constantly maintained in a state of
security, safety and good repair.
2. Removal from Public Property. If the city determines that a temporary sign located
on public property is unsafe or insecure, is a menace to public safety or has been
constructed, erected, relocated or altered in violation of this section, it may be removed
summarily. If the sign contains identification, the owner shall be notified that the sign
may be recovered within five days of the date of notice.
3. Removal from Private Property. If the city finds that a temporary sign located on
private property is unsafe or insecure, is a menace to public safety or has been
constructed, erected, relocated or altered in violation of this section, the city shall give
written notice to the owner of the temporary sign, or the person who has claimed
responsibility for the temporary sign pursuant to Section 1.01.300 of this code, that the
temporary sign is in violation of this section, shall specify the nature of the violation,
and shall direct the owner of the temporary sign or responsible person to remove or
alter such temporary sign. If the city cannot determine the owner of the sign or person
responsible therefor, the city shall post such notice on or adjacent to each temporary
sign which is in violation. If the owner of the temporary sign or the person responsible
therefor fails to comply with the notice within five days after such notice is given, the
temporary sign shall be deemed abandoned, and the city may cause such temporary
sign to be removed and the cost thereof shall be payable by the owner or person
responsible for the temporary sign to the city. (Ord. 564 § 1, 2017; Ord. 550 § 1, 2016)
I. The placement of temporary signs for existing commercial businesses during the
construction of any department of public works contract over forty-five days in length,
where the ingress and egress points to a commercial establishment, have been
interrupted, and further when the construction/modification of the public street involves
a distance of more than three thousand feet in length, the above regulations pertaining
to temporary signs and the associated processing fees, shall not be enforced for the
duration of the department of public works street contract. However, the placement of
temporary signs must not interfere with site visibility for vehicular movement.
J. Commercial business banners advertising grand openings, sales, and seasonal and/or
temporary events are allowed up to four times per calendar year, with a maximum time
period of 14 consecutive days, and a minimum of 30 consecutive days between each
placement period. The banners shall be located within non-residential zoning districts,
with a maximum of one (1) banner per street frontage and one (1) per parking lot
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Adopted: January 15, 2019
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frontage, and a maximum of two (2) banners per business. A sign permit shall be
required for each placement period. The banner(s) shall consist of light-weight fabric or
similar material attached to the building wall below the eave line. The banner(s) shall
be non-illuminated and its size shall not exceed thirty-two square feet.
K. Garage, Patio, Yard Sale Advertising. Two (2) signs are permitted; one onsite and one
at the nearest intersection. The onsite sign shall be located on the property where the
sale is being conducted. Signs are not permitted in rights-of-way or on any utility
poles, street signs, or traffic control posts.
9.170.070 Application.
All new telecommunication facilities shall require a conditional use permit. Additions, such as
additional antennas or equipment or size increases, to approved existing telecommunication
facilities shall require a minor use permit for director approval. Modifications to approved
existing telecommunication facilities shall be reviewed through a building permit. All
modifications and/or additions shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Upon review of an
application for modification and/or additions to an existing facility, the director may schedule the
proposal for a hearing with the planning commission. In all cases, unless otherwise waived by
the director, an application for approval of a wireless telecommunication facility shall include, at
a minimum:
A. A site plan or plans drawn to scale and identifying the site boundaries; tower(s); guy
wires; existing and proposed facilities; vehicular parking and access; existing vegetation to
be added, retained, removed or replaced; and uses, structures and land use and zoning
designations on the site and abutting parcels.
B. A plan drawn to scale showing proposed landscaping, including species type, size,
spacing and other features.
C. Photo simulations showing the proposed wireless telecommunication facility and
surrounding features. Photo simulations shall include at least three different angles of the
proposed facility at different distances from the location, including before and after
visualizations.
D. RF maps showing all existing wireless telecommunication facilities within a ten-mile
radius of the proposed facility. The RF maps shall show existing coverage without the
proposed site, predicted coverage with the proposed site and existing sites, and the predicted
coverage of only the proposed site. RF maps shall show the predicted coverage for indoor,
in vehicle, and outside service.
E. The applicant shall provide a project information and justification letter. The letter shall
provide the project location, contact information, a project description and project
objectives, alternative site analysis and justification for why the proposed site was chosen
over existing sites. The letter shall include justification for the selected site and a benefits
summary on how the proposed site will improve wireless telecommunication access in the
community.
F. A structural report from a California registered structural engineer. The report shall
provide the following information:
1. Describe the tower and the technical, economic and other reasons for the tower
design;
2. Demonstrate that the tower complies with the applicable structural standards;
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3. Describe the capacity of the tower, including the number and type of antennas that
it can accommodate and the basis for the calculation of capacity;
4. Show that the tower complies with the capacity requested under Section 9.170.060;
and
5. Demonstrate that the proposed sources of NIER are incompliance with FCC
guidelines.
G. The applicant shall request the FAA, FCC, and state aeronautics division to provide a
written statement that the proposed tower complies with applicable regulations administered
by that agency or that the tower is exempt from those regulations. If each applicable agency
does not provide a requested statement after the applicant makes a timely, good-faith effort
to obtain it, the application will be accepted for processing. The applicant shall send any
subsequently received agency statements to the director.
H. Evidence that the tower complies with Section 9.170.060(A) and a letter of intent to
lease excess space on the tower and excess land on the tower site except to the extent
reduced capacity is required under Section 9.170.060.
I. The applicant shall provide a draft copy of the lease agreement between the tower
operator and the property owner to the planning division. Financial information may be
blocked out.
J. A letter of intent, committing the tower owner and his or her successor in interest to:
1. Respond in a timely, comprehensive manner to any request, required under Section
9.170.060, for information from a potential shared-use applicant, the tower owner may
charge a party requesting information under this section to pay a reasonable fee not in
excess of the actual cost of preparing a response.
2. Negotiate in good-faith or shared use by third parties; an owner generally will
negotiate in the order in which requests for information are received, except an owner
generally will negotiate with a party who has received an FCC license or permit before
doing so with other parties.
3. Allow shared use if an applicant agrees in writing to pay charges and to comply
with conditions described in this section. (Ord. 550 § 1, 2016)
9.280.030 Definition of terms.
“Abandoned” means a structure or use, the development or operation of which has been
ceased or suspended.
“Abutting” or “adjacent” means two (2) or more parcels sharing a common boundary at
one or more points.
“Access/egress” means provision for entering a site from a roadway and exiting a site onto
a roadway via motorized vehicle.
“Accessory building or structure” means a building or structure, the use of which is
subordinate and incidental to the main building or use on the same building site. As it
pertains to Section 9.140.060, Equestrian overlay district, “accessory building” means any
building subordinate to a permitted or conditionally permitted equestrian use, including, but
not limited to, hay and tack barns, stables and other structures and uses customarily
appurtenant to the primary permitted use. Also pertaining to Section 9.140.060, Equestrian
overlay district, “accessory structure” means any structure subordinate to a permitted or
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conditionally permitted equestrian use, including, but not limited to, arenas, grandstand
seating, corrals, exercise rings, and other structures associated with the permitted use.
Fences are not considered structures for the purposes of this section.
“Accessory use” means a land use subordinate and incidental to the principal use on the
same building site.
“Actual construction” means the actual placing of construction materials in their
permanent position fastened in a permanent manner except that where a basement is being
excavated, such excavation shall be deemed to be actual construction, or where demolishing
or removal of an existing building or structure has begun, such demolition or removal shall
be deemed to be actual construction, providing in all cases that actual construction work be
diligently carried on until the completion of the entire building or structure involved.
“Administrative office” means a place of business for the rendering of service or general
administration, but not including retail sales.
Adult Business, Adult Entertainment Business or Adult Oriented Business. See
Sexually oriented business, Chapter 5.80 of the municipal code.
Advertising Device or Display. See sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
“Affordable housing cost” bears the same meaning as defined in Section 50052.5 of the
California Health and Safety Code.
“Affordable housing unit” means a dwelling unit within a housing development which
will be rented or sold to and reserved for very low income households, lower income
households, moderate income households (where qualified) and/or senior citizens at an
affordable housing cost for the respective group(s) in accordance with Section 65915 of the
California Government Code and Section 9.60.260 of this code.
“Affordable rent” means that level of rent defined in Section 50053 of the California
Health and Safety Code.
“Agricultural activity, operation, or facility, or appurtenances thereof” includes all
uses allowed under the agricultural overlay district, including, but be limited to, the
cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying, the production, cultivation, growing, and
harvesting of any agricultural commodity, including timber viticulture, apiculture, or
horticulture, the raising of livestock, fur bearing animals, fish, or poultry, and any practices
performed by a farmer or on a farm as incident to or in conjunction with such farming
operations, including preparation for market, delivery to storage or to market, or to carriers
for transportation to market.
“Alley” means a secondary means of access to abutting property located at the rear or side
of the property.
“Alteration” means any physical change in the internal or external composition of a
building or other structure.
Animal Hospital or Animal Clinic. See “Veterinary clinic.”
“Antenna” means a device for transmitting or receiving radio, television, satellite,
microwave or any other transmitted signal.
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Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
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“Apartment” means a dwelling unit within an apartment building designed and used for
occupancy by one (1) family on a rental basis.
“Apartment building” or “apartment project” means a building or group of buildings in
a single ownership with three or more dwelling units per building and with most or all units
occupied on a rental basis.
Area, Project Net. See “Project net area.”
“Arena” means an enclosure physically similar to a corral, designed and constructed so as
to be used for conducting equine-related entertainment and events open to the public,
including, but not limited to, rodeos, polo matches, riding shows and exhibitions, etc.
“Attached structures” means two (2) or more structures which are physically connected
with a wall, roof, deck, floor, bearing or support structures, trellises, architectural features
or any other structure, fixture or device that exceeds thirty inches in height above the
finished grade.
Attached Dwelling or Attached Residential. See “Dwelling, attached.”
“Automobile repair specialty shop” means a retail and service place of business engaged
primarily in light repair and sale of goods and services for motor vehicles, including brake,
muffler and tire shops and their accessory uses. Heavier automobile repair such as major
body and paint work, transmission repair, or engine repair are not included in this
definition.
“Automobile service station” means a retail place of business engaged primarily in the
sale of motor fuels and supplying those incidental goods and services which are required in
the day-to-day operation of motor vehicles.
“Automobile wrecking” or “automobile dismantling” means the storage or taking apart
of damaged or wrecked vehicles or the sale of such vehicles or their parts.
“Awning” means a roof-like cover that is attached to and projects from the wall of a
building for the purpose of decoration and/or providing shielding from the elements.
“Bar and cocktail lounge” means an establishment whose primary activity is the service of
alcohol, beer or wine.
“Basement” means a habitable building level which is partly or completely underground. A
basement shall be counted as a building story if more than five feet of the height of any
portion is above adjoining finish grade.
“Bed and breakfast” means a residential dwelling occupied by a resident, person, or
family, containing individual living quarters occupied for a transient basis for compensation
and in which a breakfast may be provided to guests. The breakfast provided shall not
constitute a restaurant operation and may not be provided to persons other than guests of the
inn.
“Bedroom” means any habitable room that may be used for sleeping purposes other than a
kitchen, bathroom, hallway, dining room or living room.
“Berm” means a mound or embankment of earth.
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Billboard. See sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
“Boardinghouse” means any building or portion thereof with access provided through a
common entrance to guest rooms having no cooking facilities. Guest rooms are rented on a
monthly basis or longer and meals are provided.
“Buildable area” means the portion of a building site remaining after deducting all
required setbacks and meeting any requirements regarding maximum lot coverage or
minimum open area.
“Building” means an enclosed structure having a roof supported by columns or walls.
“Building height” means the height of a building relative to the surrounding ground area.
Measurement of maximum building height is defined in Sections 9.50.050 and 9.90.010.
Building, Main. “Main building” means the building containing the main or principal use
of the premises.
Building, Relocatable. “Relocatable building” means a building which is not placed on a
permanent foundation and is designed to be movable from one location to another without
the need for a special permit such as that required to move a conventional house.
Relocatable buildings include, but are not limited to, mobilehomes, construction trailers,
and modular buildings.
“Building site” means a parcel or contiguous parcels of land established in compliance
with the development standards for the applicable zoning district and the city’s subdivision
code.
“Building site area” means the horizontal area within a building site expressed in square
feet, acres or other area measurement.
Building Site Coverage. See “Lot coverage.”
Building Site, Panhandle or Flag. See “Lot” definitions.
Building Site, Through. “Through building site” means a building site having frontage
on two (2) parallel or approximately parallel streets. See “Through lot.”
Business Park. See “Industrial park.”
“CEQA” means the California Environmental Quality Act.
“Caretaker” means a person who lives on the premises for the purposes of managing,
operating, maintaining or guarding the principal use or uses permitted on the premises.
“Caretaker residence” means a residential unit not exceeding one thousand square feet,
which is not the principal use on the property, to be occupied by a caretaker or watchman
who is responsible for the security of the principal use of the property.
“Carport” means a roofed structure or a portion of a building which is open on two (2) or
more sides for the parking of automobiles belonging to the occupants of the property.
“Cattery” means any building, structure, enclosure or premises within which five or more
cats are kept or maintained primarily for financial profit for the purpose of boarding,
breeding, training, marketing, hire or any other similar purpose.
“Cellar” means a nonhabitable building level which: (1) has more than one-half of its
height below the adjoining finish grade at all points; and (2) has a floor area no more than
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one-half that of the floor immediately above. A cellar is not counted as a building story.
“Certificate of occupancy” or “certificate of use and occupancy” means a permit issued
by the city prior to occupancy of a structure or the establishment of a land use to assure that
the structure or parcel is ready for occupancy or use and that all ordinance requirements and
project conditions of approval are fulfilled.
“Child day care center” or “preschool” means a child day care facility operated by a
person, corporation or association used primarily for the provision of daytime care, training
or education of children at any location other than their normal place of residence. The
maximum number of children accommodated is determined by state licensing provisions
and city use permit conditions.
“Child day care facility” means, consistent with Section 1596.750 of the State Health and
Safety Code, a facility which provides nonmedical care to children under eighteen years of
age in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the
activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual on less than a twenty-four-
hour basis. Child day care facility includes both child day care centers and child day care
homes.
“Child day care home” or “family day care home” means, consistent with Section
1596.78 of the State Health and Safety Code:
1. “Family day care home” means a home that regularly provides care, protection,
and supervision for fourteen or fewer children, in the provider’s own home, for periods
of less than twenty-four hours per day, while the parents or guardians are away, and is
either a large family day care home or a small family day care home.
2. “Large family day care home” means a home that provides family day care for
seven to fourteen children, inclusive, including children under the age of ten years who
reside at the home.
3. “Small family day care home” means a home that provides family day care for
eight or fewer children, including children under the age of ten years who reside at the
home.
“City” means the city of La Quinta.
“City council” means the city council of the city of La Quinta.
“Cleaning plant” or “laundry plant” means a central processing facility for dry cleaning
or laundering of clothing and fabrics collected from and returned to patrons and dry
cleaning and laundry agencies.
Clinic, Medical. “Medical clinic” means an organization of medical doctors providing
physical or mental health service and medical or surgical care of the sick or injured, but not
including inpatient or overnight care.
“Club” means an association of persons for some common purpose, but not including
organizations which provide goods or services and which are customarily carried on as
businesses.
“Code” means this zoning code unless another code, ordinance or law is specified.
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“Commercial” means operated or conducted on a frequent basis for the purpose of
financial gain.
“Commercial filming” means the production of still or moving pictures on public property.
Commercial Center. See “Shopping center.”
“Commercial recreation” means any use or activity where the primary intent is to provide
amusement, pleasure or sport but which is operated for financial gain. It includes
establishments where food and beverages are sold as a secondary or ancillary use, but does
not include restaurants, nightclubs and cocktail lounges.
“Commercial stable” means any facility specifically designed or used for the stabling of
equine animals not owned by the residents of the subject property, for purposes such as on-
site breeding, boarding, training, riding or other recreational use as a commercial service to
the owners of said animals.
“Commercial vehicle” means a vehicle customarily used as part of a business for the
transportation of goods or people.
“Commission” means the planning commission of the city unless another commission is
indicated.
“Common interest development” bears the same meaning as defined in Section 1351 of
the California Civil Code.
“Community apartment project” means a project in which an undivided interest in the
land is coupled with the right of exclusive occupancy of any apartment located thereon.
“Community auction and sales yard” means a facility which periodically holds auctions
of farm equipment, fixtures and other related materials in an enclosed building.
Community Care Facility. See “Residential care facility.”
“Community center” means a non-commercial use established for the benefit and service
of the population of the community in which it is located, including senior centers.
Conditional Use Permit. See “Use permit.”
“Condominium” means, consistent with Section 1351 of the State Civil Code, an
undivided interest in common in a portion of real property coupled with a separate interest
in space in a residential, industrial or commercial building on such real property, such as an
office or store or multifamily dwelling. A condominium may include, in addition, a separate
interest in other portions of such real property.
“Condominium hotel” means a “hotel” or “group hotel” all or part of which constitutes a
condominium project in which one or more of the units are individually owned, but are
intended to be available for “transient” use (as those terms are defined in Section 3.24.020
of the La Quinta Municipal Code), when not being used by the unit owner. See also “First
class condominium hotel.”
“Congregate care facility” means a facility providing care on a monthly basis or longer
and which is the primary residence of the people it serves. It provides services to the
residents such as the following: dining, housekeeping, security, medical, transportation and
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 39 of 60
recreation. Any commercial services provided are for the exclusive use of the occupants of
the facility. Such a facility may be located in more than one (1) building and on contiguous
parcels within the building site.
“Congregate living facility” means a single family residential facility which is licensed by
the state to provide living and treatment facilities on a monthly or longer basis for six or
fewer developmentally disabled persons or six or fewer persons undergoing treatment for
alcohol or drug abuse and which is permitted in single-family residences by operation of
state law. (See also “Residential care facility.”)
“Convalescent home” or “convalescent hospital” means a facility licensed by the State
Department of Health Services which provides bed and ambulatory care for more than six
patients with postoperative convalescent, chronic illness or dietary problems and persons
unable to care for themselves, including persons undergoing psychiatric care and treatment
both as inpatients and outpatients, but not including persons with contagious diseases or
afflictions. A convalescent home may also be known as a nursing home, convalescent
hospital, rest home or home for the aged.
“Conversion project” means an apartment house or multiple or group dwelling which is
existing, under construction or for which building permits have been issued, and which is
proposed for conversion to a residential condominium, community apartment, residential
stock cooperative or planned development.
Corner Lot. See definitions under “Lot.”
“Corral” means an enclosure designed for use as an open holding area for horses for the
purpose of confinement within that area for an indeterminate period of time.
“Cottage food operation” means an enterprise wherein an individual prepares and
packages non-potentially hazardous foods in a primary residential dwelling unit, which
serves as his or her private residence, said foods being for the direct and/or indirect sale to
consumers, and that does not have more than one (1) full-time equivalent employee, and
generates not more than: (1) thirty-five thousand dollars in gross annual sales in 2013; (2)
forty-five thousand dollars in gross annual sales in 2014; (3) fifty thousand dollars in gross
annual sales in 2015 and beyond as identified in California Health and Safety Code Section
113758.
“County” means the county of Riverside unless another county is indicated.
Day Care Center. See “Child day care center.”
“Decision-making authority” or “decision-making body” means a person or group of
persons charged with making decisions on proposals, applications, or other items brought
before the city.
“Density” means the number of dwelling units per gross acre, unless another area
measurement is specified.
“Density bonus” means a density increase over the otherwise maximum allowable
residential density under the applicable zoning ordinance and land use element of the
general plan as of the date of application by the applicant to the city.
“Detached building or structure” means a building or other structure that does not have a
wall or roof in common with any other building or structure.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 40 of 60
“Development” means, on land or in or under water: the placement or erection of any solid
material or structure; discharge or disposal of any dredged material or of any gaseous,
liquid, solid or thermal waste; grading, removing, dredging, mining or extraction of any
materials; change in the density or intensity of use of land, including, but not limited to,
subdivision pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act, and any other division of land, including
lot splits, except where the land division is brought about in connection with the purchase of
such land by a public agency for public recreational use; change in the intensity of use of
water, or of access thereto; construction, reconstruction, demolition or alteration of the size
of any structure, including any facility of any private, public or municipal utility; and the
removal or harvesting of major vegetation other than for agricultural purposes.
“Development standard” means site or construction conditions that apply to a housing
development pursuant to any ordinance, general plan element, specific plan, charter
amendment, or other local condition, law, policy, resolution, or regulation.
“Director” or “planning director” means the city manager or designee.
District. See “Zoning district.”
District, Nonresidential. See “Nonresidential district.”
District, Residential. See “Residential district.”
District, Special Purpose. See “Special purpose district.”
“Downtown Village directional sign panel” means an interchangeable sign panel which
does not require a sign permit, mounted on a monument base structure. The sign panels list
businesses in the Village commercial zoning district.
“Drive-in” or “drive-through” means designed or operated so as to enable persons to
receive a service or purchase or consume goods while remaining within a motor vehicle.
“Driveway” means a vehicular passageway providing access from a public or private street
to a structure or parking area or, in the case of residences, to a garage, carport, or legal
parking space. A driveway is not a street.
“Driveway approach” means a designated area between the curb or traveled way of a
street and the street right-of-way line that provides vehicular access to abutting properties.
When vehicular access to a building site is provided by way of a common driveway, the
driveway approach is the line of intersection where the individual driveway abuts the
common driveway.
“Duplex” means a permanent building containing two (2) dwelling units on a single lot.
“Dwelling” means a building or portion thereof designed and used for residential
occupancy, but not including hotels or motels.
Dwelling, Attached. “Attached dwelling” means a main dwelling unit attached to one or
more other main dwelling units by means of a roof or interior wall.
Dwelling, Main or Primary Residence. “Main dwelling or primary residence” means
the dwelling unit permitted as the principal use of a parcel or building site, either by itself or
with other dwelling units (as in multifamily buildings).
Dwelling, Multifamily. “Multifamily dwelling” means a building containing three or
more dwelling units on a single parcel or building site.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 41 of 60
Dwelling, Patio Home. “Patio home dwelling” means a single-family detached dwelling
shifted to one side of the lot, i.e., placed on the lot so that one side setback is zero or nearly
zero and the other side setback is larger than if both side setbacks were approximately
equal.
Dwelling, Single-Family. “Single-family dwelling” means one main dwelling unit on a
single parcel or building site.
Dwelling, Single-Family Attached. “Single-family attached dwelling” means a main
dwelling unit attached to one other main dwelling unit by means of a roof and/or interior
wall, with each dwelling unit occupying its own lot.
Dwelling, Single-Family Detached. “Single-family detached dwelling” means a main
dwelling unit not attached to any other main dwelling unit.
Dwelling, Townhome. “Townhome dwelling” means a main dwelling unit attached
typically to two (2) or more other main dwelling units by means of a roof and/or interior
wall, with each dwelling unit occupying its own lot.
“Dwelling unit” means one or more rooms, including a bathroom and kitchen, designed
and used for occupancy by one family for living and sleeping purposes.
Dwelling Unit, Second. See “Second unit.”
“Easement” means a recorded right or interest in the land of another which entitles the
holder thereof to some use, privilege or benefit in, on, over or under such land.
“Educational institution” means a private or public elementary or secondary school,
college or university qualified to give general academic instruction equivalent to the
standards prescribed by the state board of education.
“Elevation” means the vertical distance above sea level.
“Emergency shelter” means housing with minimal supportive services for homeless
persons that is limited to occupancy of six months or less by a homeless person. No
individual or household may be denied emergency shelter because of an inability to pay.
“Employee’s quarters” means quarters, which may include full bathroom and/or kitchen
or cooking facilities,, for the housing of domestic employees and located upon the same
building site occupied by their employer.
“Enclosed” means roofed and contained on all sides by walls which are pierced only by
windows, vents or customary entrances and exits.
“Environmental review” means all actions and procedures required of the city and of
applicants by the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA,” State Public Resources
Code Section 21000 et seq.), the CEQA Guidelines (Public Resources Code Section 15000
et seq.) and local environmental procedures.
“Exception” means a city-approved deviation from a development standard based on the
following types of findings by the decision-making authority:
1. General finding such as that notwithstanding the exception, the resulting project
will still be consistent with the goals and/or policies underlying the development
standard; and
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 42 of 60
2. One or more specific findings justifying the particular exception requested.
“Family” means one (1) or more persons occupying one (1) dwelling unit. The word
“family’’ includes the occupants of congregate living and residential care facilities, as
defined herein, serving six or fewer persons which are permitted or licensed by the state.
The word “family” does not include occupants of a fraternity, sorority, boardinghouse,
lodginghouse, club or motel.
Family Day Care Home. See “Child day care home.”
“Farm” means a parcel of land devoted to agricultural uses where the principal use is the
propagation, care and maintenance of viable plant and animal products for commercial
purposes.
“Farmworker housing” means any building or group of buildings where six or more farm
employees are housed.
“First class condominium hotel” means a condominium hotel where both of the following
apply:
1. The condominium hotel has a brand operator or an independent operator that is
experienced in the upscale segment or luxury segment of the hospitality industry as
defined by J.D. Power and Associates; and
2. The condominium hotel satisfies the published requirements that will be sufficient
for a ranking of no fewer than three stars in the most recent annual awards list
published from time to time by AAA Travel Guides or by the Mobil Travel Guide.
Flag. See sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
Flag Lot or Panhandle Lot. See definitions under “Lot.”
“Flood” means a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of land
areas from the overflow of inland and tidal waters, the rapid accumulation of runoff of
surface waters from any source, or mudslides (i.e., mudflows) which are proximately caused
or precipitated by accumulations of water on or under the ground.
“Flood insurance rate map (FIRM)” or “flood boundary and floodway map” mean the
official maps provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which
delineate the areas of special flood hazard, the risk premium zones and the floodways
applicable to the city.
“Floodplain” means the land area adjacent to a watercourse and other land areas
susceptible to being inundated by water.
“Floodproofing” means any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes
or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or
improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents.
“Floodway” means the channel of a river or other watercourse and that part of the
floodplain reasonably required to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing
the water surface elevation more than one (1) foot.
Floor Area, Gross. See “Gross floor area.”
Floor Area, Livable. See “Livable floor area.”
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 43 of 60
“Floor area ratio” means the numerical value obtained by dividing the gross floor area of
all buildings, except parking structures, located on a building site by the building site area.
“Fraternity house” or “sorority house” means a building or portion of a building
occupied by a chapter of a regularly organized college fraternity or sorority officially
recognized by an educational institution.
Freestanding Sign. See sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
Front Lot Line. See definitions under “Lot line.”
“Garage” means a building or portion of a building used primarily for the parking of motor
vehicles.
Gas Station or Service Station. See “Automobile service station.”
“General plan” means the general plan of the city of La Quinta.
“Government code” means the California Government Code.
Grade, Average. “Average grade” means the elevation determined by averaging the
highest and lowest elevations of a parcel, building site or other defined area of land.
Grade, Average Finish. “Average finish grade” means the elevation determined by
averaging the highest and lowest elevations of a parcel, building site or other defined area of
land after final grading.
Grade, Finish. “Finish grade” means the ground elevation at any point after final grading.
“Grading” means the filling, excavation or other movement of earth for any purpose.
“Granny flat” or “granny housing” means a secondary dwelling unit which is: (1)
intended for the sole occupancy of one or two (2) adult persons sixty-two years of age or
over; and (2) located on a building site containing an existing single family detached
dwelling. The floor area of an attached granny flat does not exceed thirty percent of the
existing floor area of the primary single family residence and the floor area of a detached
granny flat does not exceed one thousand two hundred square feet. (See also “Second
unit.”)
“Grazing” means the act of pasturing livestock on growing grass or other growing herbage
or on dead grass or other dead herbage existing in the place where grown as the principal
sustenance of the livestock so grazed.
“Gross acreage” means the land area, expressed in acres, within a parcel or group of
contiguous parcels minus any right-of-way for arterial highways not including collector
streets. Each acre so determined is a gross acre.
Gross Density. See “Density.”
“Gross floor area” means the total square footage of all floors of a building, including the
exterior unfinished wall structure but excluding courtyards and other outdoor areas.
Gross Lot or Parcel Area. See “Lot area, gross.”
“Ground floor area” means all enclosed area within the ground floor of a structure,
including exterior walls and mechanical spaces. Carports, garages, accessory buildings and
parking structures are included in ground floor area but swimming pools and unenclosed
post-supported roofs over patios and walkways are not included.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 44 of 60
Ground Sign. See “Freestanding sign” in sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
“Guest house” means a detached or attached unit which has sleeping and sanitary facilities,
which may include full bathroom and/or kitchen or cooking facilities, and which is used
primarily for sleeping purposes by members of the family occupying the main building,
their nonpaying guests, and domestic employees.
“Guest ranch” means any property of five acres or more operated as a ranch which offers
guest rooms for rent and which has outdoor recreational facilities such as horseback riding,
swimming or hiking.
Habitable Area. See “Livable floor area.”
“Habitable room” means any room usable for living purposes, which includes working,
sleeping, eating, cooking or recreation, or a combination thereof. A room designed and used
only for storage purposes is not a habitable room.
“Hazardous waste” means a waste or combination of wastes which, because of its
quantity, concentration, toxicity, corrosiveness, mutagenicity or flammability, or its
physical, chemical or infectious characteristics, may: (1) cause or significantly contribute to
an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible
illness; or (2) pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the
environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise
managed.
Home for the Aged. See “Convalescent home.”
“Home occupation” means an occupation or activity conducted as an accessory use within
a dwelling unit incidental to the residential use of the property. See Section 9.60.110.
“Hospital” means a facility licensed by the State Department of Health Services providing
clinical, temporary or emergency service of a medical, obstetrical, surgical or mental health
nature to human patients.
“Hotel” means any building or portion thereof with access provided through a common
entrance, lobby or hallway to guest rooms which are rented on a daily or weekly basis.
Identification Sign. See sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
“Industrial park,” “business park” or “office park” means a nonresidential development
wherein the permitted uses are planned, developed, managed and maintained as a unit, with
landscaping, amenities, and common off-street parking provided to serve all uses on the
property.
“Intensity” means the level of development or activity associated with a land use, as
measured by one (1) or more of the following:
1. The amount of parking required for the use per Chapter 9.150.
2. The operational characteristics of the use such as hours of operation, the inclusion
of dancing or live entertainment as part of the use, or similar characteristics.
3. The floor area occupied by the use.
4. The percentage of the building site occupied by the use or by the structure
containing the use.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 45 of 60
Interior Lot Line. See definitions under “Lot line.”
“Kennel” means any building, structure, enclosure or premises within which five or more
dogs are kept or maintained primarily for financial profit for the purpose of boarding,
breeding, training, marketing, hire or any other similar purpose.
“Kitchen” means any room all or part of which is designed and/or used for the cooking or
other preparation of food.
Land Use. See “Use.”
Land Use Intensity. See “Intensity.”
Landfill, Sanitary. “Sanitary landfill” means an area designed and used for the disposal
of solid waste on land by spreading it in layers, compacting it and covering it daily with soil
or other approved cover material.
Laundry Plant. See “Cleaning plant or laundry plant.”
“Livable floor area” means the interior area of a dwelling unit which may be occupied for
living purposes by humans, including basements and attics (if permitted). Livable floor area
does not include a garage or any accessory structure.
“Live entertainment” means any act, play, revue, pantomime, scene, dance or song, or any
combination of the foregoing performed in person by one (1) or more persons whether or
not they are compensated for their performance.
Living Area. See “Livable floor area.”
Lodginghouse. See “Boardinghouse.”
“Lot” means an area of land under one ownership which is identified as a lot or parcel on a
recorded final map, parcel map, record of survey recorded pursuant to an approved division
of land, certificate of compliance, or lot line adjustment. The terms “lot” and “parcel” are
interchangeable for purposes of this code. Types of lots and their definitions are as follows:
1. “Corner lot” means a lot abutting two (2) streets intersecting at an angle of not
more than one hundred thirty-five degrees. If the angle of intersection is more than one
hundred thirty-five degrees, the lot is an “interior lot.”
2. “Flag or panhandle lot” means a lot connected to the street with a narrow access
portion less than forty feet wide and more than twenty feet long and situated so that
another lot is located between the main portion of the flag lot and the street.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 46 of 60
3. “Interior lot” means a lot abutting only one street or abutting two (2) streets
which intersect at an angle greater than one hundred thirty-five degrees.
4. “Key lot” means a lot with a side lot line that abuts the rear lot line of one (1) or
more adjoining lots.
5. “Reverse corner lot” means a corner lot, the rear of which abuts the side of
another lot.
6. “Through lot” means a lot with frontage on two (2) parallel or approximately
parallel streets.
“Lot area” means the horizontal land area within a lot expressed in square feet, acres, or
other area measurement.
“Lot coverage” or “building site coverage” means the cumulative ground floor area of the
structures on a lot expressed as a percentage of the net lot area. For purposes of this
definition, “ground floor area” means all enclosed area within the ground floor of a
structure, including exterior walls and mechanical spaces. Carports, garages, accessory
buildings and parking structures are included in ground floor area but swimming pools and
unenclosed post-supported roofs over patios and walkways are not included.
“Lot frontage” means the length of the front lot line. For corner lots the lot frontage shall
be measured from the interior lot corner to the outside of the corner cut-back.
“Lot line or property line” means any boundary of a lot. The classifications of lot lines
and their definitions are as follows:
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 47 of 60
1. “Front lot line” means the following:
a. On an interior lot, the line separating the lot from the street;
b. On a corner lot, the shorter line abutting a street. (If the lot lines are equal
or approximately equal, the director shall determine the front lot line);
c. On a through lot, the lot line abutting the street providing primary access
to the lot.
2. “Interior lot line” means any lot line not abutting a street.
3. “Rear lot line” means a lot line which does not intersect the front lot line and
which is most distant from and most parallel to the front lot line. In the case of an
irregularly-shaped lot or a lot bounded by only three lot lines, the rear lot line is a ten-
foot long line parallel to and most distant from the front lot line for the purposes of
determining setbacks and other provisions of this code.
4. “Side lot line” means any lot line which is not a front or rear lot line.
“Lower income households” bears the same meaning as defined in Section 50079.5 of the
California Health and Safety Code.
“Lowest floor” means, with regard to flood protection, the lowest floor of the lowest
enclosed area, including a basement or cellar. An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure,
usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a
basement area, is not considered a building’s lowest floor provided that such enclosure is
not built so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable design requirements of
the FP floodplain district, Section 9.140.030.
“Manufactured home” means a residential building transportable in one (1) or more
sections which has been certified under the National Manufactured Housing Construction
and Safety Standards Act of 1974.
“Master commercial development” means a commercial center for which an overall site
development permit was approved and implemented, which may have remaining
unconstructed pads or buildings.
“Master plan of arterial highways” means a component of the circulation element of the
city’s general plan designating adopted and proposed routes for all commuter, secondary,
primary and major highways within the city.
“Master plan of drainage” means an engineering report outlining the drainage facilities
needed for the proper development of the city.
“Maximum allowable residential density” means the density allowed under applicable
zoning ordinances, or if a range of density is permitted, means the maximum allowable
density for the specific zoning range applicable to the subject project.
“Median” means a paved or planted area separating a street or highway into opposite-
direction travel lanes.
Medical Clinic. See “Clinic, medical.”
“Medical marijuana dispensary” means a facility or location which provides, makes
available or distributes medical marijuana to a primary caregiver, a qualified patient, or a
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 48 of 60
person with an identification card, in accordance with California Health and Safety Code
Section 11362.5 et seq.
“Menagerie” means a lot on which more than one (1) wild, non-domestic reptile (not
including turtles or tortoises), bird (not including poultry) or mammal is kept. A tamed or
trained wild animal shall not be considered a domestic animal.
“Ministorage facility” means a building containing various size storage compartments not
exceeding five hundred square feet each, wherein each compartment is offered for rent or
lease to the general public for the private storage of materials excluding materials sold at the
facility or delivered directly to customers.
“Minor adjustments” are deviations in standards which have little or no potential for
adverse impacts on the surrounding community and which are reviewed administratively.
Minor Use Permit. See “Use permit.”
Mobilehome. See “Manufactured home.”
“Mobilehome park” or “mobilehome development” means any area or tract of land used
to accommodate mobilehomes for human habitation, including pads for mobilehomes,
clubhouses, recreation facilities, and other ancillary structures and facilities. The term
includes mobilehome parks and mobilehome subdivisions. See Section 9.60.180.
“Moderate income” or “persons and families of moderate income” means those middle-
income families as defined in Section 50093 of the California Health and Safety Code.
Modular Home. See “Manufactured home.”
Monument Sign. See sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
“Motel” means a building or group of buildings containing guest rooms rented on a weekly
basis or less and with most or all guest rooms gaining access from an exterior walkway.
Multifamily Dwelling or Residence. See “Dwelling, multifamily.”
“Net project area” means all of the land area included within a development project
excepting those areas with before-development slopes of thirty percent or steeper and those
areas designated for public and private road rights-of-way, schools, public parks, and other
uses or easements which preclude the use of the land therein as part of the development
project.
“Net site area” or “net lot area” means the total land area within the boundaries of a
parcel or building site after ultimate street rights-of-way and easements that prohibit the
surface use of the site are deducted.
“Noncommercial coach” means a vehicle, with or without motive power, designed and
equipped for human occupancy for classrooms and other nonresidential and noncommercial
uses.
“Nonconforming lot” means a lot or parcel which was lawful and in conformance with the
applicable zoning ordinances when established but which, due to subsequent ordinance
changes, does not conform to the current development standards applicable to the zoning
district in which it is located. See Chapter 9.270.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 49 of 60
“Nonconforming structure” means a structure which was lawful and in conformance with
the applicable zoning ordinances when constructed but which, due to subsequent ordinance
changes, does not conform to the current development standards applicable to the zoning
district in which it is located. See Chapter 9.270.
“Nonconforming use” means a land use which was lawful and in conformance with the
applicable zoning ordinances when established but which, due to subsequent ordinance
changes, is not currently permitted in the zoning district in which it is located or is
permitted only upon the approval of a use permit and no use permit has been approved. See
Chapter 9.270.
“Nonconformity” means a land use, lot or structure which was lawful when established or
constructed but, due to subsequent ordinance changes, is not in conformance with this
zoning code. The term nonconformity does not include illegal uses, lots, or structures, i.e.,
which were not lawful when established or constructed. See Chapter 9.270.
Nursery, Day Care. See “Child day care facility.”
Nursing Home. See “Convalescent home.”
Office Park. See “Industrial park.”
Official Zoning Map. See “Zoning map.”
“Off-site hazardous waste facility” means any structures, other appurtenances or
improvements on land and all contiguous land serving more than one (1) producer of
hazardous waste, used for the treatment, transfer, storage, resource recovery, disposal or
recycling of hazardous waste, including, but not limited to,:
1. Incineration facilities (i.e., rotary kiln, fluid bed, etc.);
2. Residual repository (i.e., receiving only residuals from hazardous waste treatment
facilities);
3. Stabilization/solidification facilities;
4. Chemical oxidation facilities;
5. Neutralization/precipitation facilities; or
6. Transfer/storage facilities.
“Open space” means any parcel or area of land or water, public or private, which is
reserved for the purpose of preserving natural resources, for the protection of valuable
environmental features, or for providing outdoor recreation or education. Open space does
not include roads, driveways or parking areas not related to recreational uses, any buildings,
building setback areas or the required space between buildings, or surface utility facilities.
Open Space, Usable. “Usable open space” means open space which is predominately
level (i.e., slopes less than five percent) but which may contain some steeper land (i.e., with
slopes up to twenty percent) which has utility for picnicking or passive recreation activities
and which complements surrounding usable open space. Usable open space is a minimum
of fifteen feet in width and three hundred square feet in area and may include structures and
impervious surfaces such as tot lots, swimming pools, basketball courts, tennis courts,
picnic facilities, walkways or bicycle trails.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 50 of 60
Outdoor Advertising Sign. See “Billboard” in sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
“Outdoor light fixtures” means outdoor artificial illuminating devices, outdoor fixtures,
lamps and other devices, permanent or portable, used for illumination or advertisement.
Such devices shall include, but are not limited to, search, spot, or flood lights for:
1. Buildings and structures;
2. Recreational areas;
3. Parking lot lighting;
4. Landscape lighting;
5. Billboards and other signs (advertising or other);
6. Street lighting;
7. General area and yard lighting.
“Outdoor vendors” include hotdog stands, ice cream carts, and other retail uses which
utilize a movable or relocatable stand or cart for walk-up sales. The stand or cart must be of
a size and design suitable for placement on a private sidewalk, plaza, or pedestrianway.
Panhandle Lot or Flag Lot. See definitions under “Lot.”
“Parcel” means an area of land under one ownership which is identified as a lot or parcel
on a recorded final map, parcel map, record of survey recorded pursuant to an approved
division of land, certificate of compliance or lot line adjustment. The terms “lot” and
“parcel” are interchangeable for purposes of this code.
“Parking accessway” means a vehicular passageway that provides access and circulation
from a street access point into and through a parking lot to parking aisles and between
parking areas.
“Parking structure” means a structure which is open or enclosed and is used for the
parking of motor vehicles.
“Parkway” means the area of a public street that lies between the curb and the adjacent
property line or physical boundary, such as a fence or wall, which is used for landscaping
and/or passive open space.
“Pasture” means an enclosed holding area consisting of grass or similar vegetation,
specifically used for purposes of grazing or feeding of animals.
Patio Home. See “Dwelling, patio home.”
“Permitted use” means a land use allowed within a zoning district under this zoning code
and subject to the applicable provisions of this code.
“Person” means any individual, firm, copartnership, joint venture, association, social club,
fraternal organization, company, joint stock association, corporation, estate, trust,
organization, business, receiver, syndicate, public agency, the state of California or its
political subdivisions or instrumentalities, or any other group or combination acting as a
unit.
“Person with a disability” is a person with a physical or mental impairment that limits or
substantially limits one (1) or more major life activities, anyone who is regarded as having
such an impairment, or anyone who has a record of such an impairment.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 51 of 60
“Personal services” are establishments providing nonmedical services as a primary use,
including, but not limited to, barber and beauty shops, spas and tanning salons, clothing
rental, dry cleaning stores, home electronics and small appliance repair, laundromats (self-
service laundries), shoe repair shops, and tailors.
“Planned unit development” means a residential development characterized by
comprehensive planning for the entire project, the clustering of buildings to preserve open
space and natural features, and provision for the maintenance and use of open space and
other facilities held in common by the property owners within the project.
Pole Sign. See sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
Portable Sign. See sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
“Precise plan” or “precise plan of development” means the plan or plans for a project,
development or other entitlement approved by the decision-making authority. A precise
plan may include site, grading, architecture, landscaping plans and may also include a plan
text describing the project design, development phasing, and other characteristics.
“Precise plan of highway alignment” means a plan, supplementary to the master plan of
arterial highways, which establishes the highway centerline and the ultimate right-of-way
lines and may establish building setback lines.
Primary Residence. See “Main dwelling.”
“Primary unit” means a single-family or multifamily residential unit constructed and
intended as the principal unit and building on a lot. The primary unit shall be the largest unit
on the lot.
“Principal use” means the primary or predominant use of any parcel, building site or
structure.
“Project area” means all of the land area included within a development project excepting
those areas designated for public and private road rights-of-way, schools, public parks, and
other uses or easements which preclude the use of the land therein as part of the
development project.
Projecting Sign. See sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
“Property line” means a lot line or parcel boundary.
“Public agency” means the United States, the state, the county or any city within the
county, or any political subdivision or agency thereof.
Rear Lot Line. See definitions under “Lot line.”
“Reasonable accommodation” means the process of providing flexibility in the
application of land use, zoning, and building regulations, practices, and procedures to
eliminate barriers to housing opportunities for persons with disabilities.
“Recreational vehicle” or “RV” means all trailers or any vehicle placed on a trailer such
as a boat, watercraft, or other vehicle, plus any vehicle designed and used for temporary
habitation, including motorhomes, travel trailers, “5th wheels” and camper shells.
“Recycling” means the process by which waste products are reduced to raw materials and
transformed into new products.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 52 of 60
Relocatable Building. See “Building, relocatable.”
“Residential care facility” or “community care facility” means a residential facility
which is licensed by the state to provide living and treatment facilities on a monthly or
longer basis for six or fewer of the following: wards of the juvenile court, elderly persons,
mentally disordered persons, handicapped persons or dependent and neglected children.
Such a facility is permitted in all types of residences by operation of state law.
Residential, Multifamily. See “Dwelling, multifamily.”
Residential, Single-Family. See “Dwelling, single-family.”
“Restaurant” means any use providing for the preparation, retail sale and consumption on
site of food and beverages. Restaurants include, but are not limited to, cafés, coffee shops,
pubs, sandwich shops, ice cream parlors, fast food take-out and drive-through stores, whose
primary activity is food service and places of business with similar uses. If any seating is
provided in conjunction with a store where there is the preparation and retail sale of food
and beverages, that use shall be classified as a restaurant. The term “restaurant” may
include the licensed sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises.
Restaurant, Drive-Through. “Drive-through restaurant” means a restaurant with one
(1) or more automobile lanes which allow for the ordering and dispensing of food and
beverages to patrons who remain in their vehicles.
Rest Home. See “Convalescent home.”
“Retail” means the selling of goods or merchandise directly to the ultimate consumer.
“Reverse vending machine” means a machine which accepts recyclable materials, such as
aluminum cans, newspapers, or other materials, from the public and dispenses money in
return.
“Riding academy” means a facility designed and used primarily for recreational riding,
training and instruction purposes, and allowing both on-site boarding or trailering of horses
to the facility.
“Riding and hiking trail” means a trail or way designed for and used by equestrians,
pedestrians and cyclists using nonmotorized bicycles.
“Right-of-way” means the entire width of property used for streets, highways, flood or
drainage works, overhead or underground utilities, or any related improvements.
Roof Sign. See sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
Roominghouse. See “Boardinghouse.”
“Satellite dish antenna” means an apparatus capable of receiving communications from a
man-made satellite.
“Scenic highway” means any highway designated a scenic and/or historic highway by an
agency of the city, state or federal government.
“Second unit.” In accordance with Government Code Section 65852.2(i)(4), “second unit”
means an attached or a detached residential dwelling unit which provides complete
independent living facilities for one (1) or more persons. It shall include permanent
provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation and shall be located on the
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 53 of 60
same parcel as the single-family dwelling is situated. A second unit also includes the
following:
1. An efficiency unit, as defined in Section 17958.1 of the Health and Safety Code;
2. A manufactured home, as defined in Section 18007 of the Health and Safety
Code.
“Section” means a portion of this zoning code beginning immediately after a six- or seven-
digit number beginning with 9., e.g., 9.10.010 or 9.280.030, and extending to the next such
six- or seven-digit number. (See also “Subsection.”)
“Semi-permanent sign” means a non-illuminated sign which requires a sign permit, such
as advertising the future construction or opening of a facility, model home complex,
commercial, or residential subdivision identification which is intended to be erected or
posted for a minimum of sixty-one days and a maximum of one (1) year. A permit for semi-
permanent signs advertising future facility construction shall not be approved until a
development review application has been submitted.
“Senior citizen” means a person fifty-five years of age or older.
“Senior citizen residence” means a residential care facility which is licensed by the state to
provide living and treatment facilities on a monthly or longer basis for six or fewer senior
citizens.
“Senior group housing” means a residential development which is developed or
substantially renovated for and occupied by seven or more senior citizens.
“Service” means an act or any result of useful labor which does not in itself produce a
tangible commodity.
Service Station. See “Gas station.”
“Setback” means the distance that a building or other structure or a parking lot or other
facility must be located from a lot line, property line or other specified boundary.
Sexually Oriented Business. See Chapter 5.80 of the municipal code.
“Shopping center” or “commercial center” means a commercial area or group of
commercial establishments, planned, developed, managed and maintained as a unit, with
common landscaping, amenities, and off-street parking provided to serve all uses on the
property.
Side Lot Line. See definitions under “Lot line.”
“Sidewalk sale” or “parking lot sale” means the temporary outdoor display and sale of
merchandise which is normally displayed indoors at the location of an individual retail
business not located within a shopping center. (See also “Special commercial event.”)
“Sign” means any medium for visual communication, including, but not limited to, words,
symbols and illustrations together with all parts, materials, frame and background, which
medium is used or intended to be used to attract attention to, identify, or advertise an
establishment, product, service, activity or location, or to provide information. Also, see
sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
Single-Family Dwelling or Residence. See “Dwelling, single-family.”
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 54 of 60
“Single room occupancy (SRO) facility” or “SRO hotel” means a residential facility
which is rented on a weekly or longer basis and which provides living and sleeping facilities
for one or two (2) persons per unit. Each unit contains a toilet and sink. Shower, kitchen,
and laundry facilities may be shared.
Site. See “Building site.”
Site Area, Net. See “Net project or site area.”
Site Coverage. See “Building site coverage.”
Site Development Permit or Development Permit. See Section 9.210.010.
“Slope” or “slope gradient” means the vertical distance between two (2) points on a slope
divided by the horizontal distance between the same two(2) points, with the result expressed
as a percentage; e.g., “the slope has a twenty percent gradient” (usually used to describe
natural as opposed to manufactured, slopes).
“Slope ratio” means the steepness of a slope expressed as a ratio of horizontal distance to
the vertical rise over that horizontal distance; e.g., 2:1 (usually used to describe
manufactured as opposed to natural, slopes).
“Special commercial event” means the temporary outdoor display and sale of merchandise
by two (2) or more tenants within a commercial center, or arts and crafts shows, fairs, or
entertainment events within a commercial center.
“Specific plan” means a plan consisting of text, maps and other documents and exhibits
regulating development within a defined area of the city, consistent with the general plan
and State Government Code Section 65450 et seq.
“Stable” means a building or structure containing multiple stalls for the purposes of
sheltering, feeding, boarding, accommodating or otherwise caring for several horses at one
time.
“Stall” means a division of a stable accommodating one (1) horse into an adequately sized
enclosure for the purpose of confining individual horses within a sheltered environment as
may be necessary for security, safety or other reasons pertinent to the health, welfare and
daily care of each animal.
“Stock cooperative” means a corporation which is formed primarily for the purpose of
holding title to, either in fee simple or for a term of years, improved real property, if all or
substantially all of the shareholders of such corporation receive a right of exclusive
occupancy in a portion of the real property, title to which is held by the corporation, which
right of occupancy is transferable only concurrently with the transfer of the shares of stock
or membership certificate in the corporation held by the person having such right of
occupancy.
“Storage” means a place where goods, materials, and/or personal property is placed for
more than twenty-four hours.
“Story” means that portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the
surface of the floor immediately above it or if there is no floor above, then the space
between the floor and the ceiling above it.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 55 of 60
“Street” means a public or private vehicular right-of-way other than an alley or driveway,
including both local streets and arterial highways.
“Structure” means anything that is erected or constructed having a fixed location on the
ground or attachment to something on the ground and which extends more than thirty inches
above the finish grade. A mobilehome or relocatable building, except when used as a
temporary use with its weight resting at least partially upon its tires, is a structure for the
purposes of this definition.
“Subsection” means a portion of a section of this zoning code designated by a section
number followed immediately by an upper case letter; for example, subsection 9.10.010A.
(See also “Section.”)
“Supportive housing” means housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied by
the target population as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 53260 of the Health and Safety
Code 50675.14(b) and that is linked to on-site or off-site services that assist the supportive
housing resident in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status, and
maximizing his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community. (“Target
population” includes adults with low income having one or more disabilities, including
mental illness, HIV or AIDS, substance abuse, or other chronic health conditions, or
individuals eligible for services provided under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities
Services Act and may, among other populations, include families with children, elderly
persons, young adults aging out of the foster care system, individuals exiting from
institutional settings, veterans, or homeless people.)
“Swimming pool” means an artificial body of water having a depth in excess of eighteen
inches, designed, constructed and used for swimming, dipping or immersion purposes by
humans.
“Tandem parking” means any off-street parking space(s), or arrangement of such spaces,
configured in such a manner such that one (1) or more spaces is not directly accessible to a
street or other approved access without traversing any portion of another space.
“Temporary sign” means any non-illuminated sign which may require a sign permit and
which is intended to be posted for a maximum of forty-five days. Temporary signs include
without limitation: political campaign signs, garage sale signs and seasonal sales signs.
“Temporary use” means a land use established for a specified period of time, which use is
discontinued at the end of such specified time.
“Timeshare facility” means a facility in which a person receives the right in perpetuity, for
life or for a specific period of time, to the recurrent, exclusive use or occupancy of a lot,
parcel, unit, or portion of real property for a period of time which has been or will be
allocated from twelve or more occupancy periods into which the facility has been divided.
A timeshare use may be coupled with an estate in the real property or it may entail a license,
contract, membership, or other right of occupancy not coupled with an estate in the real
property.
Townhome. See “Dwelling, townhome.”
“Transient basis” means for a continuous period of two (2) weeks or less.
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 56 of 60
“Transitional housing” is buildings configured as rental housing developments, but
operated under program requirements that call for the termination of assistance and
recirculation of the assisted unit to another eligible program recipient at some
predetermined future point in time, which shall be no less than six months.
“Transitional shelter” means a shelter for homeless persons or victims of domestic abuse
which provides accommodations for persons on a transient basis, i.e., for a continuous
period of two (2) weeks or less.
Two-Unit Attached Dwelling. See “Dwelling, two-unit attached.”
“Ultimate right-of-way” means the right-of-way shown as ultimate on an adopted precise
plan of highway alignment or the street right-of-way shown within the boundary of a
recorded tract map, a recorded parcel map or a recorded planned community development
plan. The latest adopted or recorded document in such cases shall take precedence. If none
of these exist, the ultimate right-of-way is the right-of-way required by the highway
classification as shown in the general plan.
“Use” or “land use” means the purpose for which a structure or land is occupied, arranged,
designed or intended, or for which either a structure or land is or may be occupied or
maintained.
“Use permit” means a discretionary entitlement under the provisions of this zoning code
which authorizes a specific use or development on a specific property subject to compliance
with all terms and conditions imposed on the entitlement. Uses requiring a conditional use
permit have moderate to significant potential for adverse impacts on surrounding properties,
or residents while uses requiring a minor use permit have low to moderate potential for
adverse impacts on surrounding properties, residents, or businesses. See Section 9.210.020.
Variance. See Section 9.210.030.
“Vehicular accessway” means a private, nonexclusive vehicular easement affording access
to abutting properties.
“Very low income households” bears the same meaning as defined in Section 50105 of the
Health and Safety Code.
“Veterinary clinic” means a place where animals no larger than the largest breed of dogs
are given medical and surgical treatment, primarily on an outpatient basis, and where the
boarding of animals under treatment is incidental to the principal clinic use.
Wall Sign. See “Building-mounted sign” in sign definitions, Section 9.160.130.
“Wing wall” means an architectural feature in excess of six feet in height which is a
continuation of a building wall projecting beyond the exterior walls of a building.
“Yard” means an open space on a parcel of land or building site unobstructed and
unoccupied from the ground upward except for wall projections permitted by this code.
Yards are classified as follows:
1. Front yard means a yard extending across the full width of the lot between the
front lot line or the ultimate street right-of-way line and a setback line within the lot.
The depth of the front yard is equal to the setback established in the development
standards for the applicable zoning district and is measured along a line drawn at a
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Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 57 of 60
ninety-degree angle to whichever of the following results in the greatest setback: the
front lot line or its tangent or the ultimate street right-of-way or its tangent.
2. Rear yard means a yard extending across the full width of the lot between the rear
lot line and a setback line within the lot. The depth of the rear yard is equal to the
setback established in the development standards for the applicable zoning district and
is measured along a line drawn at a ninety-degree angle to whichever of the following
results in the greatest setback: the rear lot line or its tangent or the ultimate street right-
of-way or its tangent.
3. Side yard means a yard extending from the front setback line to the rear setback
line. The depth of the side yard is equal to the setback established in the development
standards for the applicable zoning district and is measured along a line drawn at a
ninety-degree angle to whichever of the following results in the greatest setback: the
side lot line or its tangent or the ultimate street right-of-way or its tangent.
“Zoning code” or “code” means the zoning code of the city, i.e., Title 9 of the city of La
Quinta Municipal Code, including the official zoning map and other maps and graphics
incorporated in the zoning code text or included therein by reference.
“Zoning district” or “district” means an area of the city designated on the official zoning
map and subject to a uniform set of permitted land uses and development standards.
“Zoning map” or “official zoning map” means a map incorporated into this code by
reference which covers the entire land area of the city and is divided into zoning districts for
the purpose of specifying for each such land area the uses permitted, development standards
required, and other applicable provisions of this code. (Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 550 § 1,
2016)
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 58 of 60
TITLE 11
11.08.040 LQMC – NOISE
No person shall willfully make any unreasonably loud noise to the extent that it disturbs the
peace and quiet of any neighborhood or imposes upon the privacy and rights of others. The
standards which may be considered in determining whether a violation of this section exists, may
include, but is not limited to, the following:
A. The level of noise;
B. The nature of the area within which the noise emanates;
C. The density of the inhabitation of the area within which the noise emanates;
D. The time of day or night;
E. The duration of the noise;
F. Whether the noise is recurrent, intermittent or constant; or
G. Whether the noise is produced by a commercial or noncommercial activity. (Ord. 151 §
2, 1989; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)
Ordinance No. 577
Amendment to Title 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13
Adopted: January 15, 2019
Page 59 of 60
TITLE 13
13.32.020 Applicability.
Lot line adjustment may be utilized to reconfigure the size or shape of one (1) lot provided that:
A. All property line segments adjusted are boundary lines of the subject lot (though the
extensions of the adjusted segments may affect several lots);
B. No greater number of lots than originally existed will result from the lot line
adjustment; and
C. The applicant and/or owner of the property has not received approval of a lot line
adjustment affecting any of the lots to be altered, or lots abutting any of the lots to be
altered, for a period of six months immediately preceding the date of the current application,
unless the property is zoned neighborhood commercial, community commercial, regional
commercial, office commercial, commercial park, village commercial or major community
facilities in which case there shall be no time restriction between lot line adjustments. (Ord.
562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 539 § 6, 2016; Ord. 444 § 1, 2007; Ord. 326 § 3, 1998; Ord. 272 § 1,
1995)