For the purpose of this title, certain words and terms used are defined as set forth in this chapter; provided, that where a word and a term in Chapter 20.06 PMC conflicts with a word or term in this chapter, the word or term in Chapter 20.06 PMC shall prevail.
All words used in the present tense include the future tense; all words in the plural number include the singular number, and all words in the singular number include the plural number.
Unless the natural construction of the wording indicates otherwise: The word "lot" includes the word "plot"; the word "building" includes the word "structure"; and the word "shall" is mandatory and not discretionary. The word "used" includes designed, intended or arranged to be used. Unless otherwise specified, all distances shall be measured horizontally. The word "city" means the city of Pacific, in King County, state of Washington; the term "city council" means the city council of Pacific; the term "building inspector" means the building inspector of the city.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 1361 § 11, 1998; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Abutting"
means land having a common property line or district line or separated only by a private street, alley or easement.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Access"
means the place, means or way by which pedestrians or vehicles shall have safe, adequate and usable ingress and egress to a property, use or parking space.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Accessory use"
means a use incidental and subordinate to the principal use and located on the same lot or in the same building as the principal use.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Accessway"
means an unobstructed way of specified width containing a drive or roadway which provides vehicular access within a mobile home park and connects to a public street.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Adult family home"
means a residential home in which a person or persons provide personal care, special care, room and board to more than one but not more than six adults who are not related by blood or marriage to the person or persons providing the services. (RCW 70.128.010(1).)
(Ord. 1952 § 1, 2017; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Alley" or "lane"
means a passageway open to public travel, not more than 30 feet wide, which affords generally a secondary means of vehicular access to abutting lots and is not intended for general traffic circulation.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Alteration"
means a change or rearrangement of the structural parts of existing facilities, or an enlargement by extending the sides or increasing the height or depth, or the moving from one location to another. In buildings for business, commercial, industrial or similar uses, the installation or rearrangement of partitions affecting more than one-third of a single floor area shall be considered an alteration.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Approved manufactured home"
means a manufactured home (see definition) which:
A. 
Is comprised of at least two fully enclosed parallel sections, each of not less than 12 feet wide by 36 feet long;
B. 
Was originally constructed with and now has a composition or wood shake or shingle, or similar roof of not less than 3:12 pitch;
C. 
Has exterior siding similar in appearance to siding materials commonly used on conventional site-built International Residential Code single-family residences;
D. 
Has perimeter skirting of masonry materials;
E. 
Was originally constructed to meet the energy conservation standards issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on October 25, 1993; and
F. 
Is no more than 10 years old at the date of permit application.
(Ord. 1221 § 1, 1995; Ord. 1611 § 2, 2005; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Minor automobile repair"
means the incidental body or fender work, or other minor repairs, painting, and upholstering, replacement of parts and motor service to passenger cars and trucks not exceeding one and one-half-ton capacity, but not including any operation named under PMC § 20.04.060 or any similar operation.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Automobile service station or filling station"
means a retail place of business engaged in supplying goods and services essential to the normal operation of automobiles, such as: dispensing of automobile fuel and motor oil, vehicle washing and lubricating services, and the sale and servicing of tires, batteries, replacement items and other automotive accessories. This definition shall not be deemed to include such other things as body or fender work, painting or major automobile repairs, rental of mobile homes or equipment, sales of nursery products, or coupon redemption for or sales of merchandise not accessory to a motor vehicle.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Automobile wrecking"
means the dismantling or disassembling of used motor vehicles or mobile homes, or the storage, sale or dumping of dismantled, obsolete, or wrecked vehicles or their parts.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Basement"
means that portion of a building between floor and ceiling, which is partly below and partly above grade, but so located that the vertical distance from grade to floor below is less than vertical distance from grade to ceiling. A basement, when designed for or occupied by business or manufacturing, shall be considered a story. (See Figure 2 on file with the city clerk.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Building"
means any structure having a roof, but excluding all forms of vehicles even though immobilized. When a use is required to be within a building, or where special authority granted pursuant to this title requires that a use shall be within an entirely enclosed building, then the term "building" means one so designed and constructed that all exterior walls of the structure shall be solid from the ground to the roofline, and shall contain no openings except for windows and doors which are designed so that they may be closed.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
A. 
In the neighborhood center, "building height" means the vertical distance from the finished grade measured five feet from the building, to the midpoint of the vertical dimension of the roof measured from the lowest portion of the roof to the peak of the roof or highest point of the parapet wall.
B. 
In all other areas of the city, "building height" means the vertical distance from the established grade to the highest point on the roof or parapet wall.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 1521 § 1, 2002; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Principal building"
means a building in which is conducted the principal use of the building site on which it is situated. In any residential district any dwelling shall be deemed to be a principal building on the building site on which the same is located.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
A "cargo container"
is a standardized, reusable vessel, designed without an axle or wheels, which was:
A. 
Originally, specifically, or formerly designed for or used in the packing, shipping, movement or transportation of freight, articles, goods or commodities; and/or
B. 
Designed for or capable of being mounted or moved on a rail car; and/or
C. 
Designed for or capable of being mounted on a chassis for movement by truck trailer or loaded on a ship.
(Ord. 1524 § 1, 2002; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Carport"
means a stationary structure to house or protect motor vehicles owned or operated by the occupants of the principal building and which has at least 40 percent of the total area of its sides open to weather.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Cellar"
means that portion of a building between floor and ceiling which is wholly or partly below grade and so located that the vertical distance from grade to the floor below is equal to or greater than the vertical distance from grade to ceiling. (See Figure 2 on file in the city clerk's office.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Clinic"
means a building designated and used for the medical, dental or surgical diagnosis or treatment of patients under the care of doctors and/or nurses.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Club"
means an incorporated or unincorporated association of persons organized for a social, fraternal, athletic, educational, literary or charitable purpose. Property occupied by a club shall be deemed to be semiprivate in character and shall be subject to the regulations governing public buildings and places, excluding groups organized primarily to render a service which is normally considered a business.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
A "conditional or special use"
is a use permitted in one or more zones as defined by this title but which, because of characteristics peculiar to such use, or because of size, technological processes or equipment, or because of the exact location with reference to surroundings, streets, and existing improvements or demands upon public facilities, requires a special degree of control to make such uses consistent with and compatible to other existing or permissible uses in the same zone or zones. A conditional use is a form of special exception.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Construction yard"
means an area on or immediately adjacent to a major construction or demolition site used on a temporary basis for the parking and storage of equipment used in the project, and the storage and preparation of materials and other items used in the project. Such yard may include construction offices and such shops as are necessary for work on the immediate project.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
The terms "corporation yard" and "service yard" mean buildings and premises, including offices, used by any person or by the city for the storage, maintenance, repair and processing of equipment, materials and other items involved in construction or maintenance of physical facilities having permanently fixed locations or in the operation of fleets of rolling stock.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Cottage housing"
means residential units on a lot with a common open space that either: (A) is owned in common; or (B) has units owned as condominium units with property owned in common and a minimum of 20 percent of the lot size as open space.
(Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Court"
means an open, unoccupied space, other than a yard, on the same lot with a building or buildings and which is bounded on two or more sides by such buildings or building including the open space in a house or apartment, providing access to the units thereof.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
A. 
"Development site" means either:
1. 
A lot of record existing on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title;
2. 
A tract of land either unsubdivided or consisting of two or more contiguous lots of record, located within a single block which on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title was in single ownership; or
3. 
A tract of land, located within a single block, which at the time of filing for a building permit (or, if no building permit is required, at the time of filing for a certificate of occupancy), is designated by its owner or developer as a tract, all of which is to be used, developed, or built upon as a unit under single ownership.
B. 
A development site, therefore, may or may not coincide with a lot as shown on the official tax maps of the city of Pacific or on any recorded subdivision plat or deed.
C. 
For the purpose of this definition, ownership of a development site is deemed to include a lease of not less than 50 years duration, with an option to renew such lease so as to provide a total lease of not less than 75-year duration.
D. 
A development site may be subdivided into two or more development sites, provided that all resulting development sites and all buildings thereon shall comply with all the applicable provisions of the ordinance codified in this title. If such development site, however, is occupied by a nonconforming structure, such development site may be subdivided, provided such subdivision does not create a new noncompliance or increase the degree of noncompliance of such structure.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"District"
means a portion of the territory of the city within which certain uniform regulations and requirements, or various combinations thereof, apply under the provisions of this title.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Drive-in enterprise"
means a business activity or other use of land consisting of sales or service activity predominantly rendered to patrons who normally receive the products or utilize the services at least in part while in automobiles upon the premises. This definition includes, inter alia, automobile service stations, automobile car washes and drive-in restaurants.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Dwelling"
means a building or portion thereof which is occupied in whole or in part as a home, residence, or sleeping place, either permanently or temporarily by one or more families, but excluding hotels, motels and tourist courts.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Dwelling group"
means a group of two or more dwellings, either detached or attached, located on a parcel of land in one ownership and having any yard or court in common.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Multiple dwelling"
means a building designed and used for occupancy by three or more families, all living independently of each other, and having separate housekeeping facilities for each family.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Single-family dwelling"
means a detached building designed or used exclusively for the occupancy of one family and having housekeeping facilities for only one family. "Single-family dwelling" includes modular homes and approved manufactured homes (see definition). "Single-family dwelling" excludes mobile homes and manufactured homes other than approved manufactured homes.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 1221 § 2, 1995; Ord. 1611 § 6, 2005; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Dwelling unit"
means one or more habitable rooms which are occupied or which are intended or designed to be occupied by one or more persons with housekeeping facilities for living, sleeping, cooking and eating. For the purposes of differentiating between a single-family dwelling and those dwellings designed for the occupancy of two or more families, housekeeping facilities designed to be occupied by one family shall not include a building or portion thereof containing:
A. 
More than one kitchen; or
B. 
More than one complete laundry facility in separate rooms; or
C. 
Separate private living facilities, including but not limited to separate main entrances.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2014 § 3, 2020; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Electrical distribution substation"
means an assembly of equipment designed to receive energy from a high voltage distribution supply system, to convert it to a form suitable for local distribution and to distribute the energy to feeders through switching equipment designed to protect the service from the effects of faults.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Emergency housing"
means temporary indoor accommodations for individuals or families who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless that are intended to address the basic health, food, clothing, and personal hygiene needs of individuals or families. Emergency housing may or may not require occupants to enter into a lease or an occupancy agreement.
(Ord. 2053 § 11, 2022; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Emergency shelter"
means a facility that provides a temporary shelter for individuals or families who are currently homeless. Emergency shelter may not require occupants to enter into a lease or an occupancy agreement. Emergency shelter facilities may include day and warming centers that do not provide overnight accommodations.
(Ord. 2053 § 12, 2022; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Essential use"
means that use for the preservation or promotion of which the use district was created, and to which all other permitted uses are subordinate.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Extremely low-income household"
means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is at or below 30 percent of the median household income adjusted for household size, for the county where the household is located, as reported by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Flea market"
means an occasional sales activity held either outside of or within a building, structure, or open area where groups of individual sellers offer goods, new and used, for sale to the public, but not to include private garage sales. See also PMC § 20.04.637, Swap meet.
(Ord. 1780 § 2, 2010; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Private parking garage"
means a publicly or privately owned structure having one or more tiers used for the parking of automobiles for the tenants, employees or owners of the property for which the parking spaces contained in or on said garage are required by this title, and not open for use by the general public.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Public parking garage"
means a publicly or privately owned structure having one or more tiers used for the parking of automobiles and open for use by the general public, either free or for remuneration. Public parking garages may include parking spaces for customers, patrons, or clients which are required by this title, provided the parking spaces are clearly identified as free parking space(s) for the building or use required to provide the spaces.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Repair garage"
means a building used for the storage, parking, care or repair of motor vehicles, or where such vehicles are kept for remuneration, hire or sale.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Garage/yard sale"
means the offering of new or used personal property consisting generally of household goods, furniture, clothing or craft goods for sale at a residence or a commercial location not licensed for such sales pursuant to the standards of Chapter 9.54 PMC and PMC § 20.68.195.
(Ord. 1778 § 3, 2010; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Grade"
means the average of the finished ground level at the center of all walls of a building. In case walls are parallel to and within five feet of a sidewalk, alley or other public way, the aboveground level shall be measured at the elevation of the sidewalk, alley or public way. (See Figure 3 on file with the city clerk.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Gross floor area"
means the sum of the gross horizontal areas of the floors of a building or buildings measured from the exterior faces of exterior walls and from the centerline of division walls. Floor area shall include: basement space, elevator shafts and stairwells at each floor, mechanical equipment rooms or attic spaces with headroom of seven feet six inches or more, penthouse floors, interior balconies and mezzanines, and enclosed porches. Floor area shall not include: accessory water tanks and cooling towers, mechanical equipment or attic spaces with headroom of less than seven feet six inches, exterior steps or stairs, terraces, breezeways and open spaces.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Guesthouse"
means a detached structure, being an accessory to a one-family dwelling with not more than two bedrooms, having no kitchen facilities, and which shall be used and/or designed for use primarily by guest and/or servants for sleeping quarters only.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Rest home," "convalescent home," and "home for the aged"
mean any home operated similarly to a boardinghouse but not restricted to any number of guests or guest rooms, and in which nursing, dietary and other personal services are furnished to convalescents, invalids and aged persons, but in which homes are kept no persons suffering from an acute mental sickness or from a contagious or communicable disease, and in which homes are performed no surgery or other primary treatments such as are customarily provided in hospitals, and in which no persons are kept or served who normally would be admitted to a mental hospital.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Retirement home"
means a place of residence for several families or individuals in apartment-like quarters, whether rented, cooperative, or condominium, which may feature services to retired persons such as limited nursing facilities, minimum maintenance living accommodations, and recreation programs and facilities.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Hospital"
means an establishment which provides accommodations, facilities and services over a continuous period of 24 hours or more for observation, diagnosis and care of two or more individuals, not related by blood or marriage to the operator, who are suffering from illness, injury, deformity or abnormality, or from any condition requiring obstetrical, medical or surgical services.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Small animal hospital"
means a building or premises for the medical or surgical treatment of animals or pets, including dog, cat and veterinary hospitals, including the boarding of hospitalized animals, but excluding the boarding of animals not subjected to medical or surgical treatment.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Household metals"
means items that are customarily used in a residential dwelling, comprised of any quantity of ferrous or nonferrous metal; and not included in the definition of industrial metals. Examples of household metals include, but are not limited to, kitchen pots and pans, cooking and serving tools, barbeque equipment, window screens, gardening tools, and aluminum foil.
(Ord. 1828 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Household pet"
means animals or fowl customarily permitted in the house and kept for company or pleasure, including dogs, cats, canaries and similar pets.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Industrial metals"
means pipes, wires, coils, condensers, guard rails, appliances, and similar industrial or construction materials which are comprised of any quantity of ferrous or nonferrous metal.
(Ord. 1828 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Kitchen"
means any room used or intended or designed to be used for cooking and/or preparation of food, and that contains the following:
A. 
Cooking appliances including, but not limited to: ovens, convection ovens, stoves, stove tops, built-in grills or similar permanent appliances (a freestanding burner, warming oven, toaster oven, microwave or other countertop appliance is not considered a range or oven) or rough-in facilities including, but not limited to, 240 volt electrical outlets or any gas lines that would accommodate the above.
B. 
A sink less than 18 inches in depth with a waste line drain one and one-half inches or greater in diameter.
C. 
A refrigerator exceeding eight cubic feet in capacity or space opening with an electrical outlet that may reasonably be used for a refrigerator exceeding eight cubic feet in capacity (except an upright refrigerator or freezer that fits under a counter, such as the type often found in offices, is not sufficient for a kitchen in a dwelling).
An approved kitchen may have more than one sink, stove, oven or refrigerator in the same room.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2014 § 4, 2020; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Loading space"
means an off-street space or berth on the same lot with a principal building or contiguous to a group of buildings for the temporary parking of commercial vehicles while loading or unloading, and which shall abut a street, alley or other appropriate means of ingress and egress.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Lot"
means a parcel of land of at least sufficient size to meet minimum zoning requirements for use, coverage and area, and to provide such yards and other open spaces as are herein required; such lot shall have frontage on a public street, and may consist of:
A. 
A single lot of record;
B. 
A portion of a lot of record;
C. 
A combination of complete lots of record, or complete lots of record and portions of lots of record;
D. 
A parcel of land described by metes and bounds; provided that in case of division or combination there shall have been approval given to the division or combination by the commission under the conditions set forth in PMC Title 19.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Corner lot"
means either a lot or development site, bounded entirely by streets, or a lot which adjoins the point of intersection of two or more streets and in which the interior angle formed by the extensions of the street lines in the direction which they take at their intersections with lot lines other than street lines forms an angle of 135 degrees or less. In the event that any street line is a curve at its point of intersection with a lot line other than a street line, the tangent to the curve at that point shall be considered the direction of the street line. (See Figure 6 on file with the city clerk.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Lot coverage"
means that portion of a lot which, when viewed directly from above, would be covered by a building, or any part of a building, except any area covered by a structure where 50 percent or more of the perimeter of such structure is open from grade. (See Figure 4 on file with the city clerk.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Lot depth"
is the distance between the midpoints of straight lines connecting the foremost points of the side lot lines in front and the rearmost points of the side lot lines in the rear. (See Figure 5 on file with the city clerk.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Lot frontage"
means that portion of a lot nearest the street. For the purpose of determining yard requirements, all sides of a lot adjacent to a street shall be considered frontage and yards shall be provided as indicated in PMC § 20.04.685 through § 20.04.705.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Interior lot"
means a lot or development site other than a corner lot with frontage only on one street. (See Figure 6 on file with the city clerk.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Flag lot"
means a lot that accesses the street via a "flag staff" (or panhandle or pipestem) which is part of the lot.
(Ord. 1489 § 2, 2001; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Front lot line"
means a property line contiguous with the street line. For corner lots, the front lot line shall be the narrowest street frontage or as shown on the official plat of the property. (See Figure 5 on file with the city clerk.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Rear lot line"
means a lot line which is opposite and most distant from the front lot line. For a triangular or gore-shaped lot, the "rear lot line" means a line 10 feet in length within the lot which is parallel to the front lot line, or parallel to the chord of a curved front lot line, and a maximum distance from the front lot line. (See Figure 5 on file with the city clerk.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Lot of record"
means a lot shown as a part of a recorded subdivision, or any parcel of land described by metes and bounds in a recorded deed, record of survey or other appropriate document recorded in the office of the county auditor; except that no lot or parcel of land created without complying with the provisions of the land subdivision requirements of the state of Washington and PMC Title 19 is entitled to the waiver of this title.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Through lot"
means a lot or development site other than a corner lot with frontage on more than one street. Through lots with frontage on two streets may be referred to as "double-frontage" lots. (See Figure 6 on file with the city clerk.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Lot width"
means the distance between the side lot lines in that portion of the lot where a building can be built given the minimum setback requirements. The lot width shall meet the minimum lot width of 35 feet between the front and rear yard setbacks.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 1489 § 2, 2001; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Low-income household"
means a single person, family or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is less than 80 percent of the median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the household resides.
(Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Manufactured home"
means a single-family dwelling built after June 15, 1976, according to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act. A manufactured home does not include a mobile home, modular home, commercial coach, recreational vehicle or a motor home. See PMC § 20.04.051 for "approved manufactured home."
(Formerly 20.04.456; Ord. 999 § 1, 1986; Ord. 1221 § 6, 1995; Ord. 1611 § 4, 2005; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Mean depth"
means the depth of such lot measured approximately perpendicular to the fronting street and midway between the sidelines of such lot.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Mobile home"
means a factory-built dwelling built prior to June 15, 1976, to construction standards other than the HUD code, and acceptable under applicable state codes in effect at the time of construction or introduction of the home into the state.
(Ord. 1221 § 5, 1995; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Mobile home park"
means any privately owned place where two or more mobile or manufactured homes used for human occupancy are parked within 500 feet of one another on a lot, tract or parcel of land under the same ownership.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 1611 § 4, 2005; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Modular home"
means a factory-assembled structure, constructed to the Uniform Building Code, which is designed to be used as a dwelling when connected to the required utilities, does not contain its own running gear, and must be mounted on a permanent foundation. Modular home does not include a mobile home or manufactured home.
(Ord. 999 § 1, 1986; Ord. 1221 § 7, 1995; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
A "motel"
is a building or buildings, detached or in connected units, or designed as a single structure, the units of which are used as individual sleeping or dwelling units, having their own private toilet facilities and may or may not have their own kitchen facilities, and are designed primarily for the accommodation of transient automobile travelers. Accommodations for mobile homes are not included. This term includes tourist court, motor lodge, auto court, cabin court, motor inn and similar names.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Motor hotel"
means a specialized hotel designed and operated to provide hotel services and accommodations to the motoring public and where the sleeping accommodations normally do not exceed one week's duration.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Nonconforming building use"
means the use of a building which was a lawful use at the time the ordinance codified in this title became effective but which use, because of the passage of the ordinance codified in this title, does not conform to the regulations of the district in which the use exists.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Nonconforming land use"
means the use of land which was a lawful use at the time the ordinance codified in this title became effective but which use, because of the passage of the ordinance codified in this title, does not conform to the regulations of the district in which the use exists.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Nonconforming use"
means a use which lawfully occupied a building or land at the time the ordinance codified in this title became effective and which does not conform with the use regulations of the district in which it is located.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Outdoor advertising display"
means any card, cloth, paper, metal, painted, wooden, plaster, stone or other sign of any kind or character whatsoever placed for outdoor advertising purposes on the ground or on any tree, wall, bush, rock, post, fence, building, structure or thing whatsoever. The term "placed" as used in this section shall include erecting, constructing, posting, painting, printing, tacking, nailing, gluing, sticking, carving or otherwise fastening, affixing or making visible in any manner whatsoever.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Outdoor living area"
means an outdoor or semi-outdoor area designed to provide a more pleasant and healthful environment for the occupants of a dwelling unit and the neighborhood in which such dwelling unit is located. It includes natural ground areas, paved or rooftop areas, balconies, porches, patios, terraces, verandas, or similar areas developed for active or passive recreational activities. For the purpose of measuring "outdoor living area" the following shall apply:
A. 
Outdoor living area is required at a ratio of 10 percent of the gross floor area of each dwelling unit. It may be provided as private or semiprivate space or a combination thereof.
1. 
Private space, open or roofed, which is accessible to the occupant of one dwelling unit only must meet the following qualifications:
a. 
Minimum dimension shall be four and one-half feet, minimum area shall be 35 square feet.
b. 
Minimum height shall be seven feet.
c. 
At least 65 percent of the longest dimension shall be open and unobstructed.
2. 
Semiprivate space, open or roofed, which is accessible to all occupants of the building, and which may be provided on rooftops of buildings or on parking structures, at grade or in any other way is subject to the following qualifications:
a. 
Minimum dimension shall be 10 feet, minimum area shall be 100 square feet.
b. 
Minimum height shall be seven feet.
c. 
At least 65 percent of the longest dimension shall be open and unobstructed.
B. 
That portion of exterior balconies which serves as required exits for the building shall not be considered as "outdoor living area."
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Outdoor sales"
means an open area used for the display, sale, or rental of goods and/or materials that are actively marketed and readily available for general public consumption. This does not include storage areas of materials that are sold elsewhere on the premises; salvage yards as defined by PMC § 20.04.560; and motor vehicle and building material wrecking yards as defined by PMC § 20.04.680.
(Ord. 1524 § 2, 2002; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Outdoor storage"
means the keeping of materials, supplies, equipment, machinery, and vehicles which are not currently licensed or able to operate on public streets or highways, in an open, uncovered yard or unenclosed building. This definition includes salvage yards as defined by PMC § 20.04.560, motor vehicle and building material wrecking yards as defined by PMC § 20.04.680, but excludes outdoor sales as defined by PMC § 20.04.496.
(Ord. 1524 § 3, 2002; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Private parking area"
means privately or publicly owned property, other than streets and alleys, on which parking spaces are defined, designated or otherwise identified for use by the tenants, employees or owners of the property for which the parking area is required by this title and not open for use by the general public.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Public parking area"
means privately or publicly owned property, other than streets or alleys, on which parking spaces are defined, designated or otherwise identified for use by the general public, either free or for remuneration. Public parking areas may include parking lots which may be required by this title for retail customers, patrons and clients.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Impervious surface"
means a hard surfaced area which either prevents or retards the entry of water into the soil mantle as under natural conditions prior to development, and/or a hard surfaced area which causes water to run off the surface in greater quantities or at an increased rate of flow from the flow present under natural conditions prior to development. Common impervious surfaces include, but are not limited to, rooftops, walkways, patios, driveways, parking lots or storage areas, concrete or asphalt paving, gravel roads, packed earthen materials, and oiled macadam or other surfaces which similarly impede the natural infiltration of surface and stormwater runoff. Open, uncovered retention/detention facilities shall not be considered as impervious for the purpose of this title.
(Ord. 1302 § 2, 1996; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Permanent supportive housing"
is one or more subsidized, leased dwelling units with no limit on length of stay that prioritizes people who need comprehensive support services to retain tenancy and utilizes admissions practices designed to use lower barriers to entry than would be typical for other subsidized or unsubsidized rental housing, especially related to rental history, criminal history, and personal behaviors. Permanent supportive housing is paired with on-site or off-site voluntary services designed to support a person living with a complex and disabling behavioral health or physical health condition who was experiencing homelessness or was at imminent risk of homelessness prior to moving into housing to retain their housing and be a successful tenant in a housing arrangement, improve the resident's health status, and connect the resident of the housing with community-based health care, treatment, or employment services. Permanent supportive housing is subject to all of the rights and responsibilities defined in the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, Chapter 59.18 RCW.
(Ord. 2053 § 13, 2022; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Permitted use"
means any use authorized or permitted alone or in conjunction with another use in a specified district and subject to the limitations of the regulations of such use district.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Powder coating"
is a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder mainly used for coating of metals, such as household appliances, aluminum extrusions, drum hardware, automobile, bicycle, and other premanufactured metal parts. Powder coating is distinguished from a conventional liquid paint in that powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form. The coating is typically applied electrostatically and is then cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a "skin." The powder may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer. Sandblasting operations may be a preparatory component of the powder coating.
(Ord. 1995 § 3, 2018; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Primary use"
means the principal or predominant use to which the property is or may be devoted, and to which all other uses on the premises are accessory.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Principal building"
means it is the primary building on the property, allowed as either a permitted or conditional use by the zoning district and is not defined as an accessory building.
(Ord. 1952 § 1, 2017; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Professional offices"
are offices maintained and used as a place of business conducted by persons engaged in the healing arts for human beings, such as doctors and dentists (but wherein no overnight care for patients is given), and by engineers, attorneys, architects, accountants and other persons providing services utilizing training in and knowledge of the mental discipline as distinguished from training in occupations requiring skill or manual dexterity or the handling of commodities.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Public utility"
means a public service corporation performing some public service and subject to special governmental regulations, or a governmental agency performing similar services, the services by either of which are paid for directly by the recipients thereof. Such services shall include, but are not limited to, water supply, electric power, gas, and transportation for persons and freight.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Riding academy"
means any establishment where horses are kept for riding, driving or stabling for compensation or as an accessory use in the operation of a club, association, ranch or similar establishment.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Roadside stand"
means a temporary structure designed or used for the display or sale of agricultural products produced on the premises upon which such a stand is located.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Wholesale sales"
means the sale of goods for resale, or the sale of goods produced or processed from raw or primary materials on the premises, or the sale of construction materials which require bulk delivery of the product.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Transitional housing"
means one or more dwelling units that provide housing and supportive services to homeless individuals or families for up to two years and that has as its purpose facilitating the movement of homeless individuals and families into independent living.
(Ord. 2053 § 14, 2022; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Salvage yard"
means a place where waste, discarded or salvaged materials are brought, sold, exchanged, baled, packed, disassembled, or handled or stored, including auto wrecking yards, house wrecking yards, used lumberyards and places or yards for storage of salvaged house wrecking and structural steel materials and equipment; but not including such places where such uses are conducted entirely within a completely enclosed building, and not including pawnshops and establishments for the sale, purchase, or storage of used furniture and household equipment, used cars in operable condition or salvaged materials incidental to manufacturing operations.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Sandblasting services"
(abrasive blasting) is the operation of forcibly propelling a stream of abrasive material against a surface under high pressure to smooth a rough surface, roughen a smooth surface, shape a surface or remove surface contaminants. A pressurized fluid, typically compressed air, or a centrifugal wheel is used to propel the blasting material.
(Ord. 1995 § 4, 2018; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Commercial school"
means a building where instruction is given to pupils in arts, crafts or trades, and operated as a commercial enterprise as distinguished from schools endowed and/or supported by taxation.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Secondary use,"
including incidental or accessory, means a minor or second use for which a lot, structure or building is designed or employed in conjunction with but subordinate to its primary use.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Secure community transition facility"
is a residential facility for persons civilly committed and conditionally released to a less restrictive alternative under Chapter 71.09 RCW. A secure community transition facility has supervision and security, and either provides or ensures the provision of sex offender treatment services. Secure community transition facilities include but are not limited to the facilities established pursuant to RCW 71.09.250 and any community-based facilities established under Chapter 71.09 RCW and operated by or under contract with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
(Ord. 1530 § 1, 2002; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Semiprivate facility"
means any facility which a class or a group of the public is permitted to attend or use subject to the regulations of a club or other organization owning or regulating such facility.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Senior housing"
means a residential housing facility that (A) provides a housing arrangement chosen voluntarily by the resident, the resident's guardian or conservator, or another responsible person; (B) has only residents who are at least 61 years of age or who have needs for care generally compatible with persons who are at least 61 years of age; and (C) provides varying levels of care and supervision, as agreed to at the time of admission or as determined necessary at subsequent times of reappraisal.
(Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Service building"
means a building housing communal toilet, laundry, and other sanitary facilities necessary for the health and convenience of mobile home park occupants.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
Setback" means the distances that buildings or uses must be removed from their lot lines. Setbacks shall be measured, where applicable, from proposed or actual public or private street right-of-way lines. No bay window, porch, or similar building appurtenance shall intrude into the required setback. Roof overhangs to a maximum of two feet may intrude into the required setback.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 1489 § 3, 2001; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Sign"
means any device for visual communication that is used for the purpose of bringing the subject thereof to the attention of the public.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Supportive housing facilities"
is a collective term for the following housing types: emergency housing, emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing located in a building or other permanent shelter. "Supportive housing facilities" does not include emergency shelters and emergency housing facilities that are needed to respond temporarily to a natural disaster or other similarly acute emergency that has caused unexpected homelessness within the city. "Supportive housing facilities" further does not include any use that is classified as an "adult family home" in accordance with PMC § 20.04.037.
(Ord. 2053 § 15, 2022; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Stacked flat"
means dwelling units in a residential building of no more than three stories on a residential zoned lot in which each floor may be separately rented or owned.
(Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Story"
means that portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor above, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building included between the surface (upper) of the topmost floor and the ceiling above. (See basement defined in PMC § 20.04.080 and cellar defined in PMC § 20.04.140.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Half story"
means any basement or cellar, except as provided in this title, which has less than six feet of its height above grade.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Street"
means an officially approved public thoroughfare or right-of-way dedicated, deeded or condemned which has been officially approved by the planning commission and accepted by the city council for use as such, other than an alley, which affords the principal means of access to abutting property, including avenue, place, way, drive, lane, boulevard, highway, road and other thoroughfare, except as excluded in this title. The word "street" includes all arterial highways, freeways, traffic collector streets, and local streets.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Structure"
means a combination of materials constructed and erected permanently on the ground or attached to something having a permanent location on the ground. Not included are residential fences less than six feet in width, retaining walls, rockeries and similar improvements of a minor character less than three feet in height.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Swap meet"
means any outdoor place, location, or activity where new or used goods or secondhand personal property is offered for sale or exchange to the general public by a multitude of individual licensed vendors, usually in compartmentalized spaces; and where a fee may be charged to prospective buyers for admission, or a fee may be charged for the privilege of offering or displaying such merchandise. "Swap meet" is interchangeable with and applicable to: flea markets, auctions, open air markets, farmers markets, or other similarly named or labeled activities; but the term does not include the usual supermarket or department store retail operations.
(Ord. 1780 § 2, 2010; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Temporary"
means not having or requiring permanent attachment to the ground, or involving structures which have no required permanent attachment to the ground.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Tourist home"
means a private residence having not more than three rooms for hire to transients for only sleeping accommodations and whose trade is seasonal in character.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Use"
means the purpose for which land or buildings or structures now serve or for which it is occupied, maintained, arranged, designed or intended.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Vacation trailer"
means a vehicle or structure equipped with wheels for highway use that is intended for limited human occupancy, is not being used for residential purposes, and is being used for vacation and recreational purposes.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Variance"
is the means by which an adjustment is made in the application of the specific regulations of this title to a particular piece of property, which property because of special circumstances applicable to it is deprived of privileges commonly enjoyed by other properties in the same zone or vicinity and which adjustment remedies disparity in privileges. A variance is a form of special exception.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Wet bar"
means any area of any room used or intended or designed to be used for cooking and/or preparation of food that does not meet the definition of a kitchen, containing a single sink with a waste drain line no greater than one and one-half inches in diameter and a refrigerator no greater than eight cubic feet in size with cabinets and/or countertop area not exceeding six lineal feet. A wet bar shall not include a refrigerator in excess of eight cubic feet in size or a kitchen sink greater than two square feet in size or a gas or electric range, stove top and/or oven (but may include a microwave oven).
(Ord. 2014 § 5, 2020; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Yard"
means a required space on the same lot with a building, unoccupied and unobstructed from a point 30 inches above grade upward, except as otherwise provided herein. In any required yard through which automobile access is taken between a public or private parking area and a street, no fence, wall, hedge or other vegetation shall be permitted which materially impedes vision from a public sidewalk to automobiles backing from the parking area(s) across the public sidewalk.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Front yard"
means a yard extending between lot lines which intersect a street line, the depth of which is the minimum horizontal distance between the street line and a line parallel thereto on the lot. (See Figure 7 on file with the city clerk.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Rear yard"
means a yard extending across the rear of the lot between inner side yard lines. In the case of through lots and reversed frontage corner lots, there will be no rear yard. In the case of corner lots with normal frontage, the rear yard shall extend from the inner side yard line of the side yard adjacent to the interior lot to the rear line of the half-depth front yard. Depth of required rear yards shall be measured at right angles to a straight line joining the rearmost points of the side lot lines. The forward rear yard line of a required rear yard shall be parallel to the straight line so established. (See Figure 7 on file with the city clerk.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Service yard"
means an open area, usually paved, with access to a street or alley, to allow vehicular access to a building or use for purposes of loading or unloading equipment, freight, livestock or people.
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
"Side yard"
means a yard extending from the rear line of the required front yard to the rear lot line. In the case of through lots, side yards shall extend from the rear lines of the front yards required. In the case of corner lots with normal frontage, there will be only one side yard, adjacent to the interior lot. In the case of corner lots with reversed frontage, the yards remaining after the full and half-depth front yards have been established shall be considered to be side yards. Width of required side yards shall be measured at right angles to a straight line joining the ends of front and rear lot lines on the same side of the lot. The inner side yard line of a required side yard shall be parallel to the straight line so established. (See Figure 7 on file with the city clerk.)
(Ord. 485 § 13.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)