These residential districts are intended to promote and encourage the establishment and maintenance of a suitable environment for urban residence in areas appropriate by location and character for occupancy by high density, multiple-family dwellings. One of the important purposes of this district is to create adequate standards of residential development in order to prevent overcrowded and unhealthy housing conditions. The intensity of land use should not be so great as to cause congestion of building or traffic or to preclude the amenities of good housing. Densities should be limited to provide adequate light, air, and usable open space for dwellings and functional space for all related facilities.
No new R-4 high density residential district may be created which contains less than four acres. (Zoning ordinance Art. 4, § 4).
The following uses may be permitted on review by the planning commission in accordance with provisions contained in Chapter 18.210 SCC:
(1) 
Any use permitted on review in an R-1, R-2, and R-3 residential district.
(2) 
Retail business may be conducted, in multiple-family buildings only, for the convenience of the occupants of the building; provided, there shall be no entrance to such place of business except from the inside of the building.
(3) 
There shall be no show window, sign, or other advertising matter visible from the outside of multiple-family buildings, except as regulated in Chapter 18.140 SCC. (Zoning ordinance Art. 4, § 4).
No building or structure nor the enlargement of any building or structure shall be hereafter erected unless the following yards, lot area building coverage, and open space requirements are provided and maintained in connection with such building, structure, or enlargement.
(1) 
Front Yard.
(a) 
For single-family, two-family, and multiple-family dwellings not exceeding three stories or 35 feet, the minimum depth of the front yard shall be 25 feet.
(b) 
For multiple-family dwellings having a greater height than three stories or 35 feet, the minimum depth of the front yard shall be 35 feet.
(c) 
For churches and other main and accessory buildings, as regulated in the R-3 district.
(2) 
Side Yard.
(a) 
For single-story dwellings, side yard requirements shall be the same as for the R-3 district.
(b) 
For two-story dwellings there shall be side yards of not less than 12 feet each.
(c) 
For buildings more than two stories in height, one foot additional side yard on each side of the main building shall be added for each additional story above two stories.
(d) 
All other side yard requirements shall be the same as required in the R-3 district.
(3) 
Rear Yard.
(a) 
For main buildings of three stories in height and less, rear yard requirements shall be the same as for the R-3 district.
(b) 
For all main buildings more than three stories in height, there shall be a rear yard of not less than 30 feet.
(4) 
Lot Width. Lot width is the same as for the R-3 district.
(5) 
Intensity of Use.
(a) 
The lot area requirement for single- and two-family dwellings shall be in accordance with the R-3 district.
(b) 
For multiple-family structures of one and two stories, the lot area requirements shall be not less than 6,000 square feet plus an additional 1,500 square feet for each dwelling unit.
For those residential structures exceeding two stories, the lot area requirements shall be as follows:
MULTIPLE-FAMILY
LOT AREA REQUIREMENT
3-5 story
6,000 square feet plus 800 square feet per dwelling unit
6-8 story
6,000 square feet plus 750 square feet per dwelling unit
9-12 story
6,000 square feet plus 700 square feet per dwelling unit
13 story and over
6,000 square feet plus 650 square feet per dwelling unit
For those structures which provide off-street parking within the main building, the lot area requirement may be reduced 200 square feet per such parking space.
(6) 
Maximum Lot Coverage. The maximum lot area which may be covered by main buildings shall be as follows:
MULTIPLE-FAMILY
MAXIMUM NET BUILDING COVERAGE
2 story or less
30%
3-5 story
30%
6-8 story
25%
9-12 story
20%
13 story and over
17%
(Zoning ordinance Art. 4, § 4).
For all multiple-family uses of land, usable open space shall be provided as follows:
MULTIPLE-FAMILY
SQUARE FEET OF USABLE OPEN SPACE PER DWELLING UNIT
2 story or less
400
3-5 story
300
6-8 story
250
9 story and over
200
(Zoning ordinance Art. 4, § 4).