City of Sunnyvale, CA FRONT, SIDE AND REAR YARDS

In the R-0, R-1, R-2 and R-3 zoning districts, the average front yard depth of each development of two or more adjoining lots shall not be less than twenty feet, provided that:

The variation on depth between front yards of adjoining lots shall not be less than three feet;

The depth of the front yards of not more than two adjoining lots on the same street may be the same;

(3)

The requirement of subsections (1) and (2) above shall not apply to lots on a curvilinear street having a centerline radius of four hundred feet or less, or to cul-de-sac lots; and

(4)

The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to front yards which may be reduced in accordance with subsection (b).

In the R-0, R-1 and R-1.5 zoning districts, for lots at the corner of streets intersecting at an angle of sixty degrees or more, the minimum front yard on the longer street frontage may be reduced to nine feet. This requirement also applies to duplexes and single-family residences in the R-2 zoning district.

(c)

In the O, C-1, C-2 and C-3 zoning districts, for lots at the corner of streets intersecting at an angle of sixty de-grees or more, the minimum front yard on the longer street frontage may be reduced to fifteen feet, except where said front yard is along El Camino Real.

(d)

In the C-1, C-2 and C-3 zoning districts, the required front yard may be reduced provided that each of the follow-ing conditions is satisfied:

No structure or portion thereof extends beyond either of the lines drawn from the points of intersection of the seventy-foot front yard line with the side lot lines and making an angle of twenty degrees with the centerline of the abutting right-of-way; and

The landscaping area in front of the structure or structures is increased by an amount equal to the area occu-pied by that portion of the structure within the front yard otherwise required.

(e)

In any zoning district in which an automobile service station is allowed, the required front yard may be reduced for the purpose of permitting service station pump islands, canopies for such pump islands and support columns for such canopies without a variance for such reduction, provided that each of the following conditions is satisfied:

The use of the property as an automobile service station has been otherwise approved by the planning commission or city council; and

In no event shall the pump island, canopy or support be closer than fifteen feet to any public right-of-way or official plan line.

(f)

Within the boundaries of any public parking district, the minimum front yard shall be fifteen feet as measured from the inside edge of the public sidewalk.

(Prior zoning code § 19.44.070; Ord. 3194-22 § 8; Ord. 2623-99 § 1)

§ 19.34.045 Front yard setback requirements for residential developments in specified zoning districts.

In any two-story residential development in an R-0, R-1 or R-2 zoning district, the front yard setback for the second story shall be not less than twenty-five feet.

(Ord. 2650-00 § 4)

§ 19.34.050 Front setback requirements for multistory residential developments.

In any multistory residential development greater than two stories or thirty feet in height, located in an R-4 or R-5 zoning district, the front setback for each story above two stories shall be the amount of any front yard setback required pursuant to this chapter, plus an amount not less than one-half of the height of the front wall of the additional story. In any building not divided by stories, the front setback for any part of the building in excess of thirty feet in height shall be no less than one-half of the height of the front wall elevation above thirty feet above the ground, plus any front yard set-back required pursuant to this chapter.

(Prior zoning code § 19.44.075; Ord. 2623-99 § 1)

§ 19.34.060 Vision triangles.

"Driveway vision triangle"

Definitions.

"Corner vision triangle"

means a triangular area on corner lots with specific height limitations for structures and vegetation, including fences, buildings and hedges. The triangle is formed by following three steps (see Figure 19.34.060 Vision Triangles for illustration):

(A)

Draw imaginary straight lines that extend the front property lines until they intersect at a single point (Point X);

(B)

Locate two points along each property line that are forty feet from the intersection point (Points A and B); and

(C)

Connect all three points to form a triangle.

means a triangular area next to a driveway, alleyway or multi-use path with specific height limitations for structures and vegetation, including fences, buildings and hedges. The triangle is formed by the following three steps (see Figure 19.34.060 Vision Triangles for illustration):

(A)

Use the point where the inside edge of the sidewalk and the edge of the driveway intersect (Point X);

(B)

Locate two points along the edge of the driveway and sidewalk that are ten feet from the intersection point (Points A and B). If there is no sidewalk, the vision triangle is measured along the property line. If a driveway has been widened without a corresponding widening of the curb approach, the driveway vision triangle is measured from the original driveway edge;

(C)

Connect all three points to form a triangle.

"Extended driveway vision triangle"

means a triangular area measured in a similar manner as a driveway vision triangle but with the following dimensions (see Figure 19.34.060 Vision Triangles for illustration):

(A)

The point along the edge of the sidewalk (Point A) is forty feet from the intersection point (Point X); and

(B)

The point along the edge of the driveway (Point B) is fifteen feet from Point X.

Applicability. Any structure, vegetation or parking space is subject to corner and driveway vision triangle re-quirements unless specifically stated otherwise in this section. New structures, including signs, are subject to extended vision triangle requirements when located on lots with more than one hundred parking spaces.

Downtown Specific Plan District. Properties within the DSP Blocks 1, 1a, 2, 3, 7, 18, 21 and 22 are exempt from vision triangle requirements.

El Camino Real Specific Plan District. Intersections and driveways controlled with a traffic light or four-way stop in the El Camino Real Specific Plan district are exempt from vision triangle requirements.

(3)

Public Parking District. Properties within the public parking district are exempt from vision triangle re-quirements.

(c)

Parking Spaces. Parking areas are prohibited in all vision triangles.

(d)

Structures and Vegetation in Vision Triangles. Structures and vegetation are limited to three and one-half feet in height within any vision triangle. A structure may include buildings, fences, accessory structures, signs or any other physical object. Vegetation may include plants, shrubs and trees. The following structures and vegetation are exempt from vision triangle requirements:

Trees with Circumferences Less than Thirty-Eight Inches. A tree of thirty-eight inches in circumference as measured four and one-half feet from the ground may be located within a vision triangle if the lowest tree branches and foliage are at least ten feet from the ground at maturity.

Building Canopies. A building canopy may project five feet into a vision triangle if the canopy is at least ten feet high as measured from the top of curb closest to the canopy. Ground-mounted support posts are prohibited within any vision triangle.

(3)

Open Fences. "Open fences" as defined in Section 19.48.020 (General fence requirements) may be located in a vision triangle.

(e)

Special Requirements for Safety. The director may require additional setbacks if needed for pedestrian, motorist, or bicyclist safety.

Figure 19.34.060 Vision Triangles

(Prior zoning code § 19.44.040; Ord. 2623-99 § 1; Ord. 2981-12 § 8; Ord. 2992-13 § 7; Ord. 3194-22 § 9)

§ 19.34.070 Front, side and rear yards—Increase in industrial zoning districts—When required.

The minimum front yard of twenty-five feet in industrial zoning districts shall be increased to thirty-five feet on any industrial lot which fronts on a public street with a right-of-way width of eighty-six feet or more.

The front yard, side yard or rear yard, as the case may be, of industrially zoned property adjacent to property in any residential zoning district, with the exception of property adjacent to any R-5 zoning district, shall be increased to one hundred feet measured from the property line of the residentially zoned property. The area within such required spe-cial front yard, side yard or rear yard may be used only for landscaping, parking or open area employee recreation.

(Prior zoning code § 19.44.060; Ord. 2623-99 § 1)

§ 19.34.080 Side yards—Increase—Multi-story.

For new construction or additions to a building in any zoning district where side yards are required, each side yard shall be increased three feet for each additional story above the first story, or for each additional ten feet of height above twenty feet if the structure is not divided by stories.

Except for single-family or duplex buildings, the additional side yard setback required by this section shall be measured at the ground floor level. For single-family or duplex buildings, the setback shall be measured at the floor level of the additional story or stories.

(Prior zoning code §§ 19.44.027, 19.44.030; Ord. 2623-99 § 1; Ord. 2650-00 § 5)

§ 19.34.090 Side yards—R-1.5 zoning district.

Where a zero side yard is permitted, the side wall adjacent to the required twelve-foot side yard may extend to a height of twenty-one feet (exclusive of pitched roof of structure). Section 19.34.080 shall not be applied in this instance.

No dwelling in the R-1.5 zoning district shall be closer than twelve feet from any other dwelling.

(Prior zoning code § 19.44.025; Ord. 2623-99 § 1)

§ 19.34.100 Side yards—Modifications—When allowed.

In an R-4 zoning district, when a single-family dwelling is constructed on a legally created lot, the required side yards applicable to the R-0 zoning district shall apply. When a two-family dwelling structure is constructed on a legally created lot, the required side yards applicable to the R-2 zoning district shall apply.