This chapter establishes the minimum front yard, side yard and rear yard building setbacks for all zones.
(Ord. 2623-99 § 1)
The minimum front yard, side yards, rear yard and distance between buildings of and on each lot in every zoning district shall conform with the distances specified in the table of required yards in this chapter unless increased, de-creased or modified by special provisions. Yard distances, unless otherwise specified, are expressed in terms of lineal feet.
(Prior zoning code § 19.44.010; Ord. 2623-99 § 1)
Yards shall be required as set forth in Table 19.34.030, except that all lots located within the DSP district shall con-form to provisions set forth in Chapter 19.28.
Table 19.34.030
Required Yards
Zoning District
Front Yard Minimum1, 2
Front Yard Average1, 2
Side Yards Total1, 3, 4
Side Yards One Side1, 4
Rear Yard1, 6
R-0
15
20
20% of lot width but not less than 10 ft.8
4 ft.
20
R-1.5
20
20
12
4
20
R-1.7
15
20
12
4
20
R-2
15
20
20% of lot width but not less than 10 ft.8
4
20
R-1
15
20
20% of lot width but not less than 15 ft.8
6
20
R-3
15
20
15
6
20
R-4
20
None
20
9
20
R-5
20
None
20
9
20
R-MH
None
None
None
None
None
O
20
None
15
6
20
P-F
Pursuant to Footnote 6
Pursuant to Footnote 6
Pursuant to Footnote 6
Pursuant to Footnote 6
Pursuant to Footnote 6
C-17
70
None
None
None
None
C-27
70
None
None
None
None
C-37
70
None
None
None
None
C-47
20
None
None
None
None
M-S7
25
None
20
None
None
M-37
25
None
20
None
None
Notes:
1
Refer to Chapter 19.56 for deviations to required setbacks to accommodate installation of solar energy systems.
2
For development or additions on single lots in zoning districts where there is an average requirement, the minimum setback must meet the average figure.
3
Combined total of the two side yards added together.
4
Increased setbacks for multiple stories may also be required by Section 19.34.080.
5
Residential zoning districts allow a one-story encroachment into the rear setback as provided in 19.48.050.
6
The minimum front yard, side yards and rear yard required in this district shall be equal to those required in the most restrictive abutting zoning district. One-half foot shall be added to each yard for each foot that the building exceeds the maximum height allowed in the most restrictive abut-ting district.
7
Increased setbacks for commercial or industrial zoned properties may also be required by Section 19.34.070 or 19.34.110.
8
When calculating setbacks as a percentage of lot width, the resulting setback shall be rounded to the nearest foot (e.g., 12.4 feet = 12 ft. required and 15.7 ft.= 16 ft. required). Lot width is measured at the front setback per Section 19.12.130(18).
(Prior zoning code §§ 19.32.080(e)(2), 19.44.020, 19.44.020 Table; Ord. 2875 § 3; Ord. 2623-99 § 1; Ord. 2649-00 § 6; Ord. 2683-01 § 5; Ord. 2909-09 § 1)
(a) 
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:
(1) 
The variation on depth between front yards of adjoining lots shall not be less than three feet;
(2) 
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).
(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:
(1) 
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
(2) 
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:
(1) 
The use of the property as an automobile service station has been otherwise approved by the planning commission or city council; and
(2) 
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)
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)
(a) 
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.
"Driveway vision 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.
(b) 
Applicability.
(1) 
Any structure, vegetation or parking space is subject to corner and driveway vision triangle requirements unless specifically stated otherwise in this section.
(2) 
New structures, including signs, are subject to extended vision triangle requirements when located on lots with more than 100 parking spaces.
(3) 
The following locations are exempt from vision triangle requirements:
(A) 
Downtown Specific Plan District. Properties within the DSP Blocks 1, 1a, 2, 3, 7, 18, 21 and 22.
(B) 
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.
(C) 
Village Center Master Plan. Intersections and driveways controlled with a traffic light or four-way stop in the Village Center Master Plan area.
(D) 
Public Parking District. Properties within the public parking district.
(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:
(1) 
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.
(2) 
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; Ord. 3242-25, 7/29/2025)
(a) 
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.
(b) 
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)
(a) 
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.
(b) 
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)
(a) 
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.
(b) 
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)
(a) 
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.
(b) 
In any residential zoning district where two buildings are located or planned for one lot or parcel, the required minimum and total side yards for each building may be calculated separately, so long as such separate side yards do not cross one another. If the line of the front face of one building extending for the full width of the lot overlaps the line of the near face of the other building, minimum and total side yard requirements shall apply as if the two buildings were one building. The modifications of side yards permitted by this section shall not apply to accessory structures which are regulated by Chapter 19.40.
(Prior zoning code § 19.44.035; Ord. 2907-09 § 6; Ord. 2623-99 § 1)
In the case of each development in any commercial zoning district which will have a side or rear yard contiguous to property in a residential zoning district, a side yard of fifteen feet and a rear yard of ten feet shall be provided, together with three additional feet at ground level for the second and each additional story above the first story or for each addi-tional ten-foot unit of height above twenty feet, if the structure in such development is not divided by stories.
(Prior zoning code § 19.44.050; Ord. 2623-99 § 1)