(a) 
Intent. The purpose of this chapter is to provide quality development guidelines for multiple-unit residential development within the City of Yucaipa.
(b) 
Locational requirements. The Multiple Residential Design Standards shall be applied in the City of Yucaipa in all Residential land use districts where the residential designation is preceded by the RM designation, except for RM-24.
(c) 
Review requirements. A Conditional Use Permit and a public hearing shall be required for all proposed multi-family projects of more than 10 units in areas of the City zoned RM. If a "small lot subdivision" is proposed, as defined by Division 12 of the Development Code, a subdivision map shall instead be filed. All common space areas shall be identified as lettered lots.
(Ord. 465 § 8, 2025)
(a) 
Each two bedroom or larger dwelling unit shall be provided with two (2) parking spaces within a fully enclosed garage. Each dwelling unit with a single bedroom shall be provided with two parking spaces within a covered carport or fully enclosed garage, at developer's option. An attempt shall be made to locate the carport/garage adjacent to the unit being served. If not adjacent to the unit being served, the carport/garage shall be located within one hundred fifty (150) feet of the dwelling unit it is designed to serve. For single-family detached condominiums or small lot subdivisions, each two bedroom or larger dwelling unit shall be provided with two (2) parking spaces within a fully enclosed garage; plus two (2) additional open parking spaces for each four bedroom unit, and one (1) additional open parking space for each two or three bedroom unit.
(b) 
One parking space for each two dwelling units shall be provided for guest parking. Such parking shall be distributed throughout the development site.
(c) 
Required parking spaces shall be side by side and tandem parking shall not be counted toward minimum parking requirements.
(d) 
Unless otherwise approved by the Planning Commission and/or City Council, in projects containing more than two units, on-street parking shall not be used to satisfy any of the above parking requirements.
(e) 
If a housing development meets the requirements of Section 83.010715, the parking requirement shall be those specified under Section 83.010730.
(Ord. 253 § 15, 2006; Ord. 465 § 8, 2025)
(a) 
One (1) bedroom units shall be a minimum of seven hundred fifty (750) square feet; two (2) bedroom units shall be a minimum of nine hundred (900) square feet; three (3) or more bedroom units shall be a minimum of one thousand fifty (1,050) square feet.
(b) 
In no case may any building structure exceed two stories.
(c) 
All bedrooms in any unit shall have a minimum of one hundred (100) square feet, including any closet space. Projects with plans showing a bonus room, den or other similar nomenclature shall be treated as if an additional bedroom were being proposed, if said room has direct access to a bathroom and/or contains closet space.
(d) 
A laundry facility, including washer and dryer hook-ups, shall be provided within each residential unit or in an attached garage. Automatic garbage disposal shall be provided in each dwelling unit.
(e) 
Each dwelling unit shall have a minimum of private open space of one hundred fifty (150) square feet, in the form of patio or private yard, with a minimum dimension of ten (10) feet. For units above the ground unit, one or two balconies with a combined area of one hundred (100) square feet shall be provided.
(f) 
At least three items from the following list of amenities shall be provided to each unit:
*only one (1) of these items can be chosen from 5, 6, 7, or 11.
(1) 
Fireplace.
(2) 
Bay or kitchen greenhouse windows.
(3) 
Skylights.
(4) 
Oversized closets.
(5) 
Refrigerator*.
(6) 
Automatic dishwasher*.
(7) 
Washer/dryer units*.
(8) 
Entry courtyard or arbor.
(9) 
Decorative doors.
(10) 
Enclosed garage, where not required.
(11) 
Air conditioner*.
(12) 
Security alarm system.
(13) 
Automatic garage door opener.
(14) 
Other comparable features.
(g) 
Each door providing ingress and egress to any dwelling unit subject to this ordinance shall be equipped with the following devices:
(1) 
A peephole allowing a person inside the unit to see, at a wide angle, persons outside of the unit at the door, without the person inside being seen. The Planning Commission and/or City Council may consider other options to a peephole which provide like security features.
(2) 
A deadbolt lock attached to the construction studding. Attachment to the doorjamb or trim shall not be sufficient to comply with the terms of this ordinance.
(h) 
All multi-level multiple-family residential structures shall be provided with a water closet on the ground floor.
(Ord. 186 § 16, 1998; Ord. 465 § 8, 2025)
(a) 
Multi-family projects containing more than five (5) units shall provide an entry statement, consisting of at least one of the following:
(1) 
Hardscape structure (trellis, decorative garden wall, landscaped berming, decorative gate, etc.)
(2) 
Specimen landscaping (large, distinctive vegetation) or mature trees.
(3) 
Textured or stamped concrete.
(4) 
Monument signage with accompanying landscaping.
(5) 
Or other comparable installations, as approved by the Planning Commission and/or City Council.
(b) 
Trash collection areas shall be provided within two hundred (200) feet of the farthermost unit they are to serve, and shall be situated so as to eliminate noise and visual intrusion on adjacent property as well as to eliminate fire hazard to adjacent structures. Trash enclosures shall be of masonry construction, comply with the City's enclosure design standard, and shall be easily accessible to all residents. The location shall also be accessible to trash collection vehicles as determined and approved by the City's franchised waste hauler.
(c) 
Each project shall provide outdoor open space for recreation and leisure activities within the development site in the following manner:
(1) 
Outdoor open space shall comprise not less than forty (40) percent of the net acreage. Public driveways, parking spaces, or other areas designated for operational functions are not considered open space. Open space may include game courts or room, saunas, tennis courts, putting greens, play lots, outdoor cooking areas, lawn bowling, and front and rear and side yard setbacks, if landscaped and greater than the minimums required. Private patios and/or yards attached to individual units may be computed as required open space. In projects that include a majority of two or more bedroom units, the City requires the development of a portion of the required open space as a children's' play lot.
(2) 
Swimming pools, with related deck areas, wading pools, fish ponds, volleyball courts, tennis courts, barbecue areas, game rooms, or other recreational facilities provided for the common use of all the residents may be constructed within the required outdoor living space; provided, however, that such facilities shall not occupy more than fifty (50) percent of the required outdoor living space.
(3) 
Projects containing more than twenty-five (25) units will require installation of at least one (1) community focal point per project. The community focal point should be designed to function as a central meeting space for use by project residents. These areas shall include shading, seating, and decorative features consistent with the style and design of the units, or may be enclosed within a structure, which features the same architectural detailing, including materials, roof projections and slopes, and lighting of the predominate elevation type, to function as a multi-purpose recreation/meeting room. The focal point should be centrally located and accessible to all individuals. Such facilities may not occupy more than fifty (50) percent of the required outdoor living space.
(d) 
Under all conditions, the open spaces created pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance shall remain open and available for such use during the life of the development.
(Ord. 465 § 8, 2025)
(a) 
Architectural plans will be subject to review by the City Architect, and approval of the Planning Commission and/or City Council. In addition to the Citywide Design Guideline requirements, the following standards will apply:
(1) 
Building massing: Buildings must be interesting and should display an integrity of design and style. Flat, unarticulated building faces are strongly discouraged. Simple, stucco-box structures with standard simple roofs and tack on highlights should be avoided. Building shapes and wall massing should be varied. Wall relief should be provided by introducing variables into the building equation. Rectangular box shapes should be avoided in favor of second floor tiering and increasing the number of major building faces.
(2) 
Unit entry areas: Entry areas should be utilized to articulate building faces and provide a recognizable, perhaps more formal entry way to units. Entry areas should be located on different faces of the building to avoid a “motel-look.” Stairways and entries should be recessed, covered, or treated in such a fashion as to increase the sense of arrival and provide shelter from natural elements.
(3) 
Roof and roof lines: Wood-shake roof materials are prohibited in new multi-family development due to fire hazards. Roof lines should be varied and interesting. Long, continuous expanses of simple roofs should be avoided. Hips and gables should be provided when consistent with other architectural elements. Rooftop equipment should be screened from street view.
(4) 
Scale: Buildings should be in scale for the area in which they are proposed, and should be compatible with surrounding properties. Views of existing residences shall be protected wherever possible.
(5) 
Perimeter walls, fencing or other screening will be required where appropriate. In general, backyards and parking areas should be screened from street view.
(Ord. 465 § 8, 2025)
(a) 
Landscape plans will be subject to review by the City Planning Director and approval by the Planning Commission and/or City Council. In addition to the Citywide Design Guideline requirements, the following standards will apply:
(1) 
Setback areas shall include landscape installations.
(2) 
All parking lots, more than four (4) spaces, shall be provided with pockets for trees or shrubs, unless covered parking is provided. Landscape plans should be designed to provide reasonable shade for the parking lot areas, and the following standards shall apply to parking lots:
(A) 
A minimum five (5) foot wide (inside dimension) planter shall be provided at the end of parking aisles that includes shade trees.
(B) 
A four (4) foot wide (inside dimension) diamond planter island shall be provided after every four (4) parking spaces that includes shade trees.
(C) 
Areas with double parking rows are encouraged to include planter medians between the rows. Opportunities for pedestrian pathways within the median, and/or the use of bio-swales to support water quality design requirements shall be used wherever possible.
(3) 
Buildings should be provided with proper landscape screening. Landscape cutouts and pockets should generally be provided along building walls, at building corners, or other highly visible locations around buildings.
(4) 
All plant and tree material should be verifiably appropriate for use in the Yucaipa area. Consideration should be given to resistance to drought, water requirements, adaptability to wind (if appropriate), longevity, and ease of maintenance. A specific attempt should be made to utilize plant palettes and design plans which serve to promote energy and water conservation.
(5) 
Invasive species (cottonwood or ash for example) should be installed away from hardscape improvements, or provided with root barriers, or avoided.
(6) 
Irrigation systems should generally avoid spray methods in favor of bubbler or drip systems. Lines shall be placed underground.
(7) 
On-site native vegetation should be incorporated into site or landscape plans wherever feasible. Special effort should be made to preserve and incorporate existing trees into design schemes. Mature trees removed from a site shall be replaced two to one with minimum 24 inch box trees, unless prohibited by site dimensions. Where feasible, natural vegetation should be allowed to re-establish itself.
(8) 
Parking lots should be screened from street view wherever possible.
(9) 
Sidewalks are required in conjunction with all new multi-family residential development. Builders/developers should extend landscaping beyond the property to the sidewalk or curb line.
(10) 
Building faces should be softened by tree installation over a reasonable period of time. Trees shall be selected to include varietals that will reach the building's height at maturity.
(11) 
Areas adjacent to other development shall be planted with large shrubs and fast growing evergreen trees.
(Ord. 465 § 8, 2025)
The following separations shall apply to any lot containing two or more dwelling units which are in separate detached structures. The separations shall be between opposite exterior walls. Walls shall be considered opposite if a perpendicular line drawn in a horizontal plane from one structure intersects another structure’s wall. The front side of a unit is the one containing the primary entrance to the dwelling unit.
Building Orientation
Separation
Side-to-Side
10 feet
Rear-to-Rear or Front-to-Side
15 feet
Front-to-Rear
20 feet
Front-to-Front or Interior Court Space
25 feet
Interior Court Space with Parking Access
30 feet
All Others
20 feet