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(1) General Exceptions. The following projections shall be permitted within the required yard area:

(a) Cornices, eaves, fireplaces, canopies, mechanical (heating and cooling equipment – not located in a residential zone), or other similar architectural features may extend a maximum of one foot into a required yard. In residential zones, mechanical (heating and cooling equipment) is exempt from the yard requirements but shall meet Building Code standards.

(b) Open uncovered accessory structures such as fire escapes, porches, balconies, or outside stairways may extend a maximum of one foot into the required side and rear yard and a maximum of five feet into a required front yard. Porches, decks or stoops which are open and uncovered and not exceeding 18 inches in height may be located within 18 inches of any lot line.

(c) Within the commercial districts awnings shall be allowed to extend a maximum of six feet into the required front yard.

(d) Established Neighborhoods: On a parcel where the abutting lots, adjoining the same street, contain legally constructed buildings whose setbacks are equal to or less than that required by the underlying zone, the front yard setback may be reduced to a distance equal to the average setback of the abutting parcels.

(e) An approving authority may approve an encroachment into the required setbacks, as set forth in Article V, by up to 20 percent, for setbacks of 10 feet or greater. This provision does not apply to front, side, street side, or rear yard setbacks that contain a public utility easement. The reduced setback shall not allow the encroachment of a structure within a recorded easement. Reductions shall not be permitted when the parcel is within the wildfire risk area, when a structure is placed on slopes greater than 15 percent, or when the Hillside Ordinance applies. The requested reduction shall be compliant with applicable building, fire and life-safety codes. These reductions shall be available at the option of the applicant for land use review or building permit review.

(2) Exceptions for Zero Lot-Line Dwellings. A “zero lot-line” detached single-family dwelling on an individual lot may deviate from the required side yard building setback by being located on one side property line. Such a dwelling shall be permitted only when conforming with the following requirements:

(a) The adjoining lot abutting the zero side yard setback shall be, at the time of initial construction, under the same ownership; or the zero lot-line dwelling shall be within a land division specifically developed for zero lot-line dwellings, thereby ensuring that the zero setback will not adversely impact adjoining property owners.

(b) Windows in a zero lot-line dwelling shall not be located in any building wall situated on a lot- line.

(c) A maintenance easement at least four feet in width shall be recorded on the adjoining lot abutting the zero side yard setback.

(d) The side yard building setback from the lot-line located opposite of the zero lot-line shall be 10 feet. Zero lot-line dwellings shall conform with all other site development standards specified herein.

Figure 10.707-1. Zero Lot-Line Dwellings: Examples and Counter-example

[Added Sec. 1, Ord. No. 8207, Oct. 3, 1996; Amd. Sec. 10, Ord. No. 2012-137, Sep. 6, 2012; Amd. Sec. 2, Ord. No. 2016-61, May 19, 2016; Amd. Sec. 6, Ord. No. 2021-07, Jan. 21, 2021; Amd. Sec. 22, Ord. No. 2022-60, Jun. 16, 2022.]