18.90.030 Setback requirements.
Except as provided in this section, every required setback shall be open and unobstructed.
A. Setback Measurements. All setback measurements shall be made from the property line to the building or nearest projection thereof and shall be unobstructed from the ground upward, except as specifically provided herein.
B. Projections into Required Setbacks and Exceptions to Setback Requirements. Every part of a required setback shall be open and unobstructed from the ground upward, except for the following:
1. Ordinary building projections such as cornices, eaves, belt courses, sills, buttresses, bay windows or other similar architectural features extending not more than 12 inches into any required setback.
2. Apparatus needed for the operation of active and passive solar energy systems, including but not limited to overhangs, movable insulating walls and roofs, detached solar collectors, reflectors and piping.
3. Open uncovered fire escapes projecting not more than four feet into any required setback.
4. Chimneys projecting not more than two feet into any required setback.
5. Open, unenclosed porch or paved terrace or platform, not covered by roof or canopy, projecting not more than eight feet into a required front setback or four feet into a required side or rear setback.
6. An unenclosed, covered front porch may extend into the required front setback area by eight feet, provided it is not closer than 15 feet from the adjacent curb of a local street or closer than 20 feet to the adjacent curb of a collector or arterial street, and provided it:
a. Remains unenclosed by walls or glass;
b. Is no less than five feet deep (front-to-back dimension) to promote usable porches;
c. Has a floor no more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and the porch is overall no more than 16 feet high; and
d. Is consistent with the architectural character of the house.
7. Planting boxes or masonry planters, not exceeding three and one-half feet in height, and window boxes extending not more than 12 inches into any required setback.
8. Landscaping, and fences or walls conforming to the regulations of Chapter 18.105 TMC.
C. Storage Yards.
1. The storage of building materials other than for immediate use in the construction of buildings on the premises, or wood or fuel outside a building other than for use on the premises, is prohibited in residential zones (RLD, RMD, RMH, RHD).
2. The open storage of materials and equipment is permitted in commercial and industrial zones under the following conditions:
a. The stored material or equipment is not visible from property in another adjacent zone; and
b. The stored material or equipment is not visible from a public street.
D. Setback Requirements for Property Abutting Future Street Right-of-Way.
1. A building or structure shall not be erected on a lot which abuts a street having only a portion of its required width dedicated, unless the setbacks provided and maintained in connection with such building or structure have a width and/or depth of that portion of the lot needed to complete the road width plus the width and/or depth of the setbacks required on the lot by this title. This applies to all zones.
2. Where a precise plan adopted pursuant to law includes the plans for the widening of existing streets, the connecting of existing streets, or the establishment of new streets, the placement of buildings and the maintenance of setbacks, where required by this title, shall relate to the future street boundaries as determined by said precise plans. [Ord. 966 § 2 (Exh. B), 2021; Ord. 817 § 8-3J.121, 2006.]