This chapter provides the standards for frontages to create pedestrian-oriented environments that are attractive, functional, safe, and accessible to all people. Frontages are the components of a building that provide the transition and interface between the public realm (street and sidewalk) and the private realm, (setback or building at/near the sidewalk).
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)
A. 
Names. The names of the frontage types indicate their particular configuration or function and are not intended to limit uses within the associated building. For example, a porch may be used by nonresidential uses, including, but not limited to, a restaurant or office, as allowed by the zone.
B. 
Location.
1. 
Each building is required to include at least one frontage type to provide access to the ground floor occupiable/usable space along the primary front. Buildings with entries along a secondary front or community open space are required to include at least one frontage type on those façades.
2. 
Each frontage type shall be located in compliance with the Façade Zone per Chapter 25.02 (Zones), Subsection D (Building Placement) of the Zone.
3. 
Frontages can encroach into the primary and secondary front setbacks by a maximum of 10 feet in the Neighborhood Medium (NM), Neighborhood Large (NL), and Mixed-Use Corridor (MUC) Zones and Chapter 25.05 (Frontages), Subsection B (Required Elements) of the Frontage. See Section 30.140.090 (Encroachments into Setbacks and Open Yards) for other allowed encroachments.
C. 
Multiple and Combined Frontages. Buildings may include more than one frontage type in compliance with the allowed types in Chapter 25.02 (Zones), Subsection F (Frontages) of the Zone and may assemble more than one frontage type together, such as a forecourt with a shopfront, in compliance with Table 25.05.030.B (Allowed Combinations of Frontage Types).
D. 
Coverings. An awning or recessed entry may be required or allowed in compliance with the frontage type and standards in Chapter 25.06 (Architectural Design) for the Architectural Style and shall provide a minimum eight-foot vertical clearance above the side walk and a minimum two-foot setback from curb.
E. 
Design. Frontage types shall be designed in compliance with the standards in Chapter 25.06 (Architectural Design) for the Architectural Style.
F. 
Ramps. Ramps connecting a frontage type and right-of-way shall be designed in compliance with the following:
1. 
Located along the side of the building; or
2. 
Parallel to the front façade and not exceed 18 inches in rise; ramp shall include a wall up to 36 inches tall that includes a landscape planter at least two feet wide or a bench. The wall shall be designed using any of the wall materials on the main building.
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)
A. 
Table 25.05.030.A (Allowed Frontage Types) provides a summary of frontage types allowed in each zone.
Table 25.05.030.A: Allowed Frontage Types
Zone
Frontage
Specific Standards
NM
NL
MUC
DE
DC
House-Scale
Porch Projecting
§ 25.05.040
A
A
A1
A1
A1
Porch Recessed
§ 25.05.050
A
A
A1
A1
A1
Dooryard
§ 25.05.060
A
A
A
A2
A2
Stoop
§ 25.05.070
A
A
A
A
A
Block-Scale
Forecourt
§ 25.05.080
—
—
A
A
A3
Maker Shopfront
§ 25.05.090
—
—
A3
A3
A3
Shopfront
§ 25.05.100
—
A3
A3
A3
A3
Terrace
§ 25.05.100
—
A
A
A3
A3
Gateway
§ 25.05.120
—
—
—
A
A
Arcade
§ 25.05.130
—
—
—
A
A
Key
A = Allowed
— = Not Allowed
Notes:
1
Frontage only allowed on House-Scale Buildings.
2
Only on secondary front and at least 60 feet back from the primary front design site line.
3
Only for ground floor nonresidential frontages.
B. 
Table 25.05.030.B (Allowed Combinations of Frontage Types) provides a summary of which frontage types can be combined, consistent with the frontages allowed by zone.
Table 25.05.030.B: Allowed Combinations of Frontage Types
Frontage
Porch Projecting
Porch Recessed
Dooryard
Stoop
Forecourt
Maker Shopfront
Shopfront
Terrace
Gateway
Arcade
Porch Projecting
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Porch Recessed
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
A
—
—
Dooryard
—
—
—
A
—
A
A
—
—
—
Stoop
—
—
A
—
A
—
—
—
—
—
Forecourt
—
—
—
A
—
A
A
A
—
A
Maker Shopfront
—
—
A
—
A
—
—
A
—
—
Shopfront
—
—
A
—
A
—
—
A
A
A
Terrace
—
A
—
—
A
A
A
—
—
—
Gateway
—
—
—
—
—
—
A
—
—
—
Arcade
—
—
—
—
A
—
A
—
—
—
Key
A = Allowed
— = Not Allowed
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)
A. 
Description. A Projecting Porch is a covered structure extending from the front façade of the building and may encroach into the front setback. It is one story and open on three sides.
B. 
Required Elements.
Width, Clear
15' min.1; 100% façade length, max.
A
Depth, Clear
6' min.; 10' max.
B
Height, Clear
8' min.
C
Stories
1 story max.
Finish Level above Sidewalk
12" min.2; 4' max.
D
Pedestrian Access
3' wide min.
E
Distance between Porch Elements and ROW/Design Site Line
5' min.3
F
Notes:
1
Reduce to 6' min. when applied to Cottage Court Building Type (Section 25.04.070).
2
Common entries may be set at grade per local and Federal accessibility standards.
3
Outside porch steps may be located 2' min. from ROW.
C. 
Additional Requirements.
Porch shall be open on three sides and have a roof.
Pedestrian access allowed at the front or end side of porch.
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)
A. 
Description. A Recessed Porch is a covered structure embedded within the front façade. It is one or two stories and has one or two open sides.
The Recessed Porch may be combined with a Terrace (Section 25.05.110).
B. 
Required Elements.
Width, Clear
8' min.1; 50% façade length, max.
A
Depth, Clear
6' min.; 10' max.
B
Height, Clear
8' min.
C
Stories
2 stories max.
Finish Level above Sidewalk
12" min.2; 4' max.
D
Pedestrian Access
3' wide min.
E
Distance between Porch Elements and ROW/Design Site Line
5' min.3
F
Notes:
1
Reduce to 6' min. when applied to Cottage Court Building Type (Section 25.04.070).
2
Common entries may be set at grade per local and Federal accessibility standards.
3
Outside porch steps may be located 2' min. from ROW.
C. 
Additional Requirements.
Porch shall be engaged with the building on a minimum of two sides, open on at least one side, and have a roof.
Pedestrian access allowed at the front or end side of porch.
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)
A. 
Description. A Dooryard is a small private area between the right-of-way and the front façade. It is separated from the right-of-way and adjacent dooryards by a low wall or hedge and may be raised or at grade.
The Dooryard may be combined with a Stoop (Section 25.05.070), Maker Shopfront (Section 25.05.090), or Shopfront (Section 25.05.100).
B. 
Required Elements.
Depth, Clear
Minimum front setback per zone, or 5' min. whichever is greater; 10' max.
A
Length, Clear
15' min.; 100% façade length max.
B
Distance Between Glazing
4' max.
C
Pedestrian Access
3' wide min.
D
Finish Level above Sidewalk
12" max.1
E
Height of Dooryard Fence/Wall
42" max.
F
Vertical Clear Height
8' min.
G
Distance Between Covered Entry and ROW/Design Site Line
2' min.
H
Note:
1
Common entries may be set at grade per local and Federal accessibility standards.
C. 
Additional Requirements.
Each Dooryard shall provide access to only one ground floor entry.
Dooryard shall include a covered entry.
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)
A. 
Description. A Stoop is a small, covered entrance with a stair or ramp from the right-of-way to the unit entrance. It may be recessed or projecting.
The Stoop may be combined with a Dooryard (Section 25.05.060) or Forecourt (Section 25.05.080).
B. 
Required Elements.
Width, Clear
4' min.; 10' max.
A
Projecting Stoop Depth, Clear
3' min.; 8' max.
B
Height, Clear
8' min.
C
Finish Level above Sidewalk
4' max.
D
Recessed Stoop, Depth
5' max.
E
Distance Between Stoop Stair and ROW/Design Site Line
3' min.
F
C. 
Additional Requirements.
Stairs are perpendicular or parallel to the building façade.
Stoop shall include a covered entry.
Gates are not allowed.
All doors shall face the street.
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)
A. 
Description. A Forecourt is embedded in the front façade to create an uncovered and shared space for a main building entrance or serving multiple unit entrances. It is open to the sky except for allowed encroachments and can include a low fence or wall that separates it from the right-of-way. The Forecourt is distinct from a Community Open Space (Plaza) in that it occurs only once per design site and may not overlap with a Plaza.
A Forecourt may be combined with a Stoop (Section 25.05.070), Maker Shopfront (Section 25.05.090), Shopfront (Section 25.05.100), Terrace (Section 25.05.110), or Arcade (Section 25.05.130).
B. 
Required Elements.
Width, Clear
25' min. if 3 stories;
35' min. if 4 stories;
50' max.
A
Depth, Clear
15' min.; 50' max.
B
Finish Level above Sidewalk
12" max.
C
Along the ground floor of the Forecourt, the following are allowed to encroach a total of 1/3 of the Forecourt's width: Stoop, Shopfront, Maker Shopfront, or Arcade.
D
C. 
Additional Requirements.
Forecourts may be utilized to group several entries at a common elevation in compliance with the zones' ground floor finish level standards.
A 42" max. height fence or wall is allowed, using materials consistent with the main building.
The Forecourt is not required to be open to the public.
The Forecourt is included in the length of façade required within or abutting the façade zone.
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)
A. 
Description. The Maker Shopfront is a nonresidential entrance from the right-of-way to the primary front or secondary front façade. It is intended for nonresidential uses to showcase their activity to pedestrians with large, transparent glazed areas. Alternatively, transparency can be accommodated with an overhead or sliding door.
A Maker Shopfront may be combined with a Dooryard (Section 25.05.060), Forecourt (Section 25.05.080), or Terrace (Section 25.05.110).
B. 
Required Elements.
Distance between Glazing or Door
12' max.
A
Ground Floor Glazing between Sidewalk and Finished Ceiling
30% min.
B
Height
Depth of Recessed Entries
No max.
C
Shopfront Base/Bulkhead
48" max.
D
C. 
Additional Requirements.
The type is only allowed in the Contemporary Style Group.
Overhead, folding, or sliding doors or operable windows that roll up and allow the space to open to the street are allowed.
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)
A. 
Description. The Shopfront is a nonresidential entrance from the right-of-way to the primary front or secondary front façade. It is intended for nonresidential uses to show their activity to pedestrians with a high level of transparency through substantial glazing.
A Shopfront may be combined with a Dooryard (Section 25.05.060), Forecourt (Section 25.05.080), Terrace (Section 25.05.110), Gateway (Section 25.05.120), or Arcade (Section 25.05.130).
B. 
Required Elements.
Distance between Glazing
2' max.
A
Ground Floor Glazing between Sidewalk and Finished Ceiling Height
75% min.
B
Depth of Recessed Entries
5' max.
C
Shopfront Base/Bulkhead1
6" min.; 24" max.
D
Note:
1
Not applicable to doors.
C. 
Additional Requirements. Operable doors and windows that do not roll up, but allow the space to open to the street, are allowed in compliance with Chapter 25.06 (Architectural Design).
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)
A. 
Description. A Terrace is an elevated area abutting the right-of-way that provides pedestrian circulation to a main entrance along the primary front or secondary front façade or serving multiple unit entrances. It is accessible from the sidewalk corridor via stairs and ramps.
A Terrace may be combined with a Recessed Porch (Section 25.05.050), Forecourt (Section 25.05.080), Maker Shopfront (Section 25.05.090), or Shopfront (Section 25.05.100).
B. 
Required Elements.
Depth of Terrace
6' min. residential;
10' min. nonresidential;
15' max.
A
Finish Level Above Sidewalk
36" max.
Distance Between Stairs
25' max.
B
C. 
Additional Requirements.
All nonresidential ground floor Shopfronts that front onto the Terrace shall be accessed from the Terrace.
A covered entry is allowed but not required.
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)
A. 
Description. A Gateway links the right-of-way to an uncovered interior courtyard by way of a covered passage. Building entrances may occur in the interior courtyard or along the covered passageway.
A Gateway may be combined with a Shopfront (Section 25.05.100).
B. 
Required Elements.
Portal (into Passageway)
Width, Clear
6' min.; 12' max.
A
Height, Clear
10' min.; 20' max.
B
Finish Level above Sidewalk
24" max.
C
Passageway (into Courtyard)
Depth, Clear
10' min.; 40' max.
D
Height, Clear
10' min.; 20' max.
E
Width, Clear
6' min.
F
Courtyard
As required by Section 25.04.130 (Large Courtyard).
G
C. 
Additional Requirements.
Occupiable space is required between the Courtyard and right-of-way.
H
Lighting is required within the Gateway in compliance with Section 25.03.060 (Lighting).
I
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)
A. 
Description. An arcade is a recessed, one-story pedestrian circulation area provided at grade that is articulated with a colonnade or arches that span the majority of the façade. It provides access to the main entrance along the primary front or secondary front façade.
An arcade may be combined with a forecourt (Section 25.05.080) or shopfront (Section 25.05.100).
B. 
Required Elements.
Depth, Clear
10' min.; 20' max.
A
Ground Floor Height, Clear
12' min.
B
Height
1 story max.
C
Columns & Openings
D
Column Proportions (width to height)
1:4 min.1; 1:8 max.
Column Diameter
1' min.; 2'-6" max.
Opening Proportions (width to height)
1:1.6 min.; 1:2 max.
Spacing Between Columns
10'-0" min.1;
15'-0" max. on center
The distance from the top of the arch to bottom of the next structural floor plate above shall be greater than the width of any supporting column and less than the radius of any arch.
Note:
1
1:5 min. for columns expressed with entasis.
C. 
Additional Requirements.
Occupiable space
E
Arcades shall have a consistent depth across the entire primary front and/or secondary front façade.
Arcades shall occupy at least 50% of façade on lots over 50 feet wide; no minimum for lots 50 feet wide or less.
Lighting is required within the arcade in compliance with Section 25.03.060 (Lighting).
(Ord. 6170, 2/25/2025)