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Unless the context requires otherwise, the definitions codified in this chapter shall be used in the interpretation and construction of this title; and words used in the present tense include the future, the singular number shall include the plural, and the plural the singular; the word “building” shall include the word “structure”; and the word “used” shall include “arranged,” “designed,” “constructed,” “altered,” “converted,” “rented,” “leased,” or “intended to be used”; and the word “shall” is mandatory and not meant as general guidance.

Whenever any of the following terms is used, it shall mean the corresponding officer, department, board or commission of Chula Vista, herein referred to as the City: “Assessor,” “City Council” (or “Council”), “City Planning Commission” (or “Commission”), “Director of Public Works,” “Director of Development Services,” “Zoning Administrator,” or “Building Inspector.” In each case, the term shall be deemed to include an employee of any such officer or department of the City who is lawfully authorized to perform any duty or exercise any power as its representative or agent.

Access” means an opening in a fence, wall or structure, or a walkway or driveway, permitting pedestrian or vehicular approach to or within any structure or use.

Accessory use or structure” means a use or structure subordinate to the principal use of a building on the same lot, and serving a purpose customarily incidental to the use of the principal building.

Agent of owner” is any person who can show certified written proof that he is acting for the property owner.

Agriculture” means the use of the land for agricultural purposes, including farming, dairying, pasturage, agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, apiaries, animal husbandry (excluding swine); incidental to other agricultural uses; and the necessary accessory uses for storing produce and qualified employee housing; provided, however, that the operation of any such accessory use shall be secondary to that of primary uses and shall not include stockyards or the commercial feeding of garbage or offal to animals.

Alley” means a public or private way not more than 30 feet wide, which affords only secondary access to abutting property.

Amusement facility” means a place of amusement or entertainment wherein are found games, rides (animal or mechanical), coin-operated or token-operated machines or devices (e.g., video and pinball), shooting galleries, movies or entertainment machines and other games of skill or chance offered to the public. This definition does not include vending, photocopying, laminating and photo machines.

1. Amusement arcade or center” means a facility wherein are found games, coin-operated or token-operated machines or devices (e.g., video and pinball machines) of skill, chance or entertainment offered to the public.

2. Amusement park” means an amusement facility encompassing several acres of land and may include other commercial activities such as restaurants, retail stores and services.

3. Amusement games or machines as accessory uses” means not more than three coin-operated or token-operated machines, rides or devices (e.g., video, pinball, mechanized rides and other electronic games) within any commercial retail or service establishment, and provided they do not constitute more than five percent of the floor area of the establishment.

Auction” means the auctioning and sale of merchandise and equipment to the highest bidder, but excluding auction rooms and livestock auctioning.

Automobile Dismantling. For “automobile dismantling,” see “junkyard.”

Automobile Maintenance and Repair, Minor. Minor automobile maintenance and repair” means general lubrication services, engine tune-up, and replacement of parts and motor service to passenger cars and trucks not exceeding one and one-half tons capacity, but not including other operations named under “automobile repair, major” or similar thereto as determined by the Commission.

Automobile or trailer sales area” means an open area, other than a street or an alley, used for display, sale or rental of new or used motor vehicles or trailers in operable condition and where no repair work is done.

Automobile Repair, Major. Major automobile repair” means general repair, rebuilding, and reconditioning of engines, motor vehicles or trailers; collision service, including body, frame, or fender repair; and overall painting.

Automobile service station” means an establishment engaged in the sale of motor fuel dispensing devices directly into motor vehicles. In addition, other services may be performed such as tube and tire repair, battery charging, storage of merchandise to be sold on the premises as permitted herein, lubricating of automobiles, and automobile washing, not including mechanical wash, and minor repairs.

Basement” means a story whose floor is more than 12 inches below the average level of the adjoining ground, but where no more than one-half of its floor-to-ceiling height is below the average contact level of the adjoining ground, as distinguished from a “cellar” which is a story where more than one-half of its floor-to-ceiling height is below the average level of the adjoining ground. A basement, when usable as a dwelling, shall be counted as a story for purposes of height measurement, and as a half story for purposes of side yard determination.

Beginning of construction” means the demolition, elimination and removal of an existing structure preparatory to new construction, or the incorporation of labor and materials in the foundation of a building or buildings.

Block” means a tract of land bounded by streets, dead-ends of streets, railroad rights-of-way, watercourses, large tracts of land in uses such as parks and golf courses, or a City boundary.

Boardinghouse or lodginghouse” means a dwelling or part thereof (not including rest homes, convalescent homes, bed care, supervision and other special care, such as counseling), where meals and/or lodging are provided (but not separate cooking facilities) for compensation and with not more than five guest rooms and 10 persons total.

Boatel” means any hotel or motor hotel provided with landing facilities to accommodate boats or other vessels.

Building” means any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls, used or intended to be used for the shelter or enclosure of persons, animals or property.

Building, Height of. Height of building” means the vertical distance from the average contact ground level of the building to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or the mean height level between eaves and ridge for gable, hip or gambrel roofs.

Building, High Rise. High rise building” means any structure which is five stories or more in height.

Building Line Map. The front yards of all lots and side yards along the street side of a reversed corner lot are shown upon a map on file in the Planning Department, and made a part of this title, being designated as the “building line map,” and such map and all notations, references and other information shown thereon shall be as much a part of this title as if the matters and information set forth by such map were all fully described herein.

Building, Main. Main building” means a building in which is conducted the principal use of the building site on which it is situated. In any residential zone, any dwelling shall be deemed to be a main building on the building site on which it is located.

Bulkhead” means a structure, including riprap or sheet piling, constructed to separate land and water and establish a permanent shoreline.

Carnival” means a traveling enterprise offering amusements with organized entertainment or exhibits and includes mechanical rides.

Carport” means a private garage, as defined herein, which is designed to be open on one or more sides.

Cellar” means a story where more than one-half of its floor-to-ceiling height is below the average contact ground level of the adjoining ground. A cellar shall be counted as a story, for the purpose of height regulations, only if used for dwelling purposes.

Chula Vista General Plan” means the General Plan for the City, as adopted by the City Council on September 22, 1964, and as amended from time to time.

Commission” means the City Planning Commission of Chula Vista.

Communication equipment building or use” means a building or lot housing electrical and mechanical equipment necessary for the conduct of a public communications business with or without necessary personnel. For the purpose of this title, a communication equipment building or use shall be considered a quasi-public use, where such use is referred to in the zoning regulations.

Community purpose facility” means a land use designation in a planned community intended for nonprofit and certain for-profit land uses as listed in CVMC 19.48.025(C).

Council” means the City Council of Chula Vista.

Court” means a yard on the same lot with a building which is bounded on two or more sides by the exterior walls of buildings on the same lot.

Crop and tree farming” means the raising for commercial purposes of any truck, field or orchard crops or wholesale nurseries or greenhouses, including necessary buildings incidental to such crop and qualified employee housing.

Dance floor” shall mean a defined floor area located within a business establishment designed for the purpose of dancing by patrons of the establishment.

Day nursery” means day nurseries for working mothers; nursery schools for children under the minimum age of admission to public schools; parent-cooperative nursery schools; play groups for preschool children; programs giving afterschool care to school children; and all other types of group day care programs. The term “day nursery” does not include family day care homes; facilities offering 24-hour care; or regular elementary schools which offer educational programs only.

Day spa” means a business which provides a variety of services for the purpose of improving health, beauty and relaxation through personal care treatments. Treatments may include foot and body massage; facials; waxing; body wraps; salt scrubs; manicures; pedicures; aromatherapy; moxibustion; ear candling; and guasha (scraping), or other similar treatments.

Development unit” means that portion, along with the uses contained therein, of a planned community district which is proposed for development at one time and under one planned development permit. Development units may consist of portions of a planned community district or of the entire district.

Distance between residential structures” means the shortest horizontal distance between the vertical walls of two residential structures as herein defined. Location of points of measurement are subject to the exceptions contained in CVMC 19.16.060.

Dock” means a landing pier for boats; a wharf; or a structure supported by pilings or floats in such a manner as to allow free flow of water beneath said structure and in which any buildings constructed thereon are incidental to the use of said structure as a wharf or landing pier.

Driveway” means a private road, the use of which is limited to persons residing, employed or otherwise using or visiting the parcel on which located.

Dwelling” means any building or portion thereof designed or used exclusively as the residence of one or more persons, but not including a hotel/motel, tent, cabin, trailer or mobilehome.

Dwelling, Accessory Dwelling Unit. Accessory dwelling units or junior accessory dwelling units” are independent living facilities of limited size that provide permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same parcel as a single-family dwelling. This includes efficiency units and manufactured homes, in conformance with the requirements for such units as defined in State Government Code Section 65852.2.

Dwelling group” means a group of two or more detached buildings used for dwelling purposes located on a parcel of land in one ownership and having any yard or court in common.

Dwelling, Multiple. Multiple dwelling” means a building or portions thereof designed for or used exclusively for residence purposes by three or more families or housekeeping units, living independently of one another.

Dwelling, Single-Family. Single-family dwelling” means a building designed for or used exclusively for residence purposes by one family or housekeeping unit.

Dwelling, Townhouse. Townhouse dwelling” means an attached or semi-attached building containing a single dwelling unit and located or capable of being located on a separate lot.

Dwelling, Two-Family or Duplex. Two-family or duplex dwelling” means a building designed for or used exclusively for residence purposes by two families or housekeeping units, living independently of one another.

Dwelling unit” means one room, or a suite of two or more rooms, designed for or used by one family for living and sleeping purposes and having only one kitchen or kitchenette.

E-commerce (electronic commerce)” includes commercial activities involving the sale of goods or services for profit, where those sales occur on virtual platforms including but not limited to the internet and applications within smartphones or other similar mobile cellular devices.

Efficiency living unit” means a dwelling unit for occupancy, which has a minimum floor area of 150 square feet and a maximum floor area of 450 square feet and which may also have partial kitchen or bathroom facilities and shall have the same meaning as “Efficiency Unit” as defined in Section 17958.1 of the California Health and Safety Code.

Electrical generating facilities” is a collective term of reference for each of the following individually defined sub-types:

1. Base Load Facility. A “base load facility” means an electrical generating facility that is intended to run constantly at near capacity levels. This sub-type includes generating facilities that transmit electricity over transmission or distribution power lines using the public right-of-way and investor-owned utility transmission corridors right-of-way. Base load facilities serve multiple meters beyond the immediate contiguous parcels on which the facility is located.

2. Peaking Facility. A “peaking facility” means an electrical generating facility that is used to produce extra electricity during peak load times and is permitted to operate not more than 4,000 hours per year. This sub-type includes generating facilities that transmit electricity over transmission or distribution power lines using the public right-of-way and investor-owned utility transmission corridors. Peaking facilities serve multiple meters beyond the immediate contiguous parcels on which the facility is located.

3. Private Facility. A “private facility” means an electrical generating facility that, regardless of fuel or energy source, is operated by a private property owner or lessee, and whose function is the provision of electricity to the permitted use(s) on a single or adjoining parcel(s) on which the facility is located or serves. The associated power load shall generally be up to 25 megawatts, or as determined by applicable state or other codes. A private facility can include district heat and power, and combined heat and power types as defined in the City’s Electrical Generating Facilities (EGF) Policy.

4. Backup and Emergency Facility. A “backup and emergency facility” means an electrical generating facility that is operated only during the interruption of electrical service from the distribution system or transmission grid due to circumstances beyond the operator’s control.

5. Residential-Level Facility. A “residential-level facility” means an electrical generating facility whose function is the provision of electricity to serve an individual private residential dwelling unit(s).

Emergency shelter” means housing with minimal supportive services for homeless persons, with occupancy limited to a six-month term or less by homeless persons. Emergency shelter shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 50801(e) of the California Health and Safety Code.

Essential services” means the erection, construction, alteration or maintenance by public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies of underground or overhead gas, electrical, steam or water transmission or distribution systems, collection, communication, supply or disposal systems, including poles, wires, mains, drains, sewers, pipes, conduits, cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, hydrants, and other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith reasonably necessary for the furnishing of adequate service by such utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies or for the public health or safety or general welfare, but not including any buildings, electric substations, or water storage tanks.

Family day care” means regularly provided care, protection and supervision of 14 or fewer children in the state-licensed provider’s own home, for periods of less than 24 hours per day, while the parents or guardians are away; provided, that the licensee of such family day care home who rents or leases their home shall notify the property owner or landlord in writing that they are operating a family day care home in the rented or leased property.

Family day care home, large” means a family day care home, as defined by this section, which provides family day care to nine to 14 children, inclusive, including children who reside at the home.

Family day care home, small” means a family day care home, as defined by this section, which provides family day care to eight or fewer children, including children who reside at the home.

Filling Station. For “filling station,” see “automobile service station.”

Floor area ratio (residential)” means the numerical value obtained by dividing the total area of all the floors of a building or buildings included within the surrounding walls, by the total area of the premises.

Fulfillment center” is a facility where a building is primarily used to receive, process, and fulfill numerous consumer orders associated with electronic commerce (“e-commerce”) or similar high capacity and high frequency orders and deliveries. The use includes the indoor storage of goods, products, and similar items and is typically characterized by a high intensity and a high frequency of truck traffic and may include multiple shifts of employees.

Full-time foster home” means a family residence in which 24-hour care is provided for not more than six children, including children of the foster family.

Garage, Private. Private garage” means a detached, fully enclosed accessory building or a portion of the principal building used only for the storage of passenger vehicles, boats or trailers by the persons resident or employed upon the premises; provided, that such garage, when in a residential zone or incidental to a residential use, shall not be used for the storage of more than one commercial vehicle of one and one-half tons or greater rated capacity per family residence upon the premises.

Garage, Public. Public garage” means a structure or portion thereof, other than a private garage, used for the storage, sale, care, repair or refinishing of self-propelled vehicles or trailers.

General development plan” means a description of the development proposed within a particular planned community zone consisting at a minimum of a map and written statement setting forth, in general, the regulations governing, and the location and arrangement of, all proposed uses and improvements to be included in the development.

Guest house” means detached living quarters of a permanent type of construction, without kitchen or cooking facilities and intended for use by occasional guests of the occupants of the main building, but not to exceed 90 days for any one guest over a one-year period. A guest house shall not be separately rented, let, or leased, whether compensation is direct or indirect.

Hazardous waste facility” means, as applicable, a hazardous waste facility project, specified hazardous waste facility, specified hazardous waste facility project, or land disposal facility as defined in Section 25199.1 of the California Health and Safety Code, and shall include any structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the land, and all contiguous land, used for the treatment, transfer, storage, resource recovery, disposal, or recycling of hazardous waste.

Home occupation” means a commercial activity conducted in a dwelling, which is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for residential purposes, and in accordance with CVMC 19.14.490.

Hospital” means an institution in which patients are given medical or surgical care and which is licensed by the state to use the title “hospital” without qualifying descriptive word.

Hotel/motel” means a building or group of buildings comprised of six or more guestrooms or suites of rooms, where a majority of such rooms are occupied, intended or designed for occupancy by guests for temporary lodging or sleeping purposes for less than 30 consecutive calendar days, and is held out as such to the public (not including hospitals, residential facilities, qualified employee housing, boarding or lodging houses or single room occupancy residences).

Houseboat” means any vessel used or intended to be used primarily as a dwelling unit, in contrast to a vessel used or intended to be used primarily for carrying persons or goods.

Interested party” means any person who, in person or through a representative, appeared at a public hearing of the City of Chula Vista, or made written comments via U.S. Mail, e-comment or electronic mail (email) to the City, in connection with a decision or action appealed. “Interested party” shall also include the applicant for a permit.

Junkyard” means a place where waste, discarded, or salvaged materials are bought, sold, exchanged, baled, packed, disassembled, handled, stored or abandoned, including auto wrecking yards, house wrecking yards, used lumber yards 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 when conducted entirely within a completely enclosed building, and not including sale of used cars in operable condition, or salvaged materials incidental to manufacturing operations.

Kennel” means a place kept for the purpose of the boarding, breeding, raising, selling or exchanging of dogs.

Kitchen or kitchenette” means any room or part of a room which is designed, built, used or intended to be used for food preparation and dishwashing, but not including a bar, butler’s pantry or similar room adjacent to or connected with a kitchen.

Landscape manual” refers to the landscape manual adopted by the City Council of Chula Vista.

Landscaping” means planting, including trees, shrubs, lawn areas, and ground covers, suitably designed, selected, installed and maintained so as to be permanently attractive. Decorative screens, fences, decorative rock or other paved surfaces are considered as elements of landscape development.

Lot” means a piece or parcel of land occupied or intended to be occupied by a principal building or a group of such buildings and accessory buildings, or utilized for a principal use and uses accessory thereto, together with such open spaces as required by this title, and having frontage on a public or an approved private street.

Lot area” means the computed area contained within the lot lines.

Lot, Corner. Corner lot” means a lot abutting upon two or more streets at their intersection or upon two parts of the same street, such streets or parts of the same street forming an interior angle of less than 135 degrees. The point of intersection of the street right-of-way lines is the “corner.”

Lot coverage” means the percent of the total site area covered by structures other than those excepted in this title.

Lot depth” means the mean horizontal distance between the front and the rear lot lines, or between the front lot line and the intersection of the two side lines if there should be no rear lot line.

Lot, Interior. Interior lot” means a lot other than a corner lot.

Lot Line, Front. Front lot line” means the line separating the lot from the street. In the case of a corner lot, the front lot line is the shorter of any two adjacent street lot lines.

Lot Line, Interior. For “interior lot line,” see “lot line, side.”

Lot Line, Rear. Rear lot line” means a lot line which is opposite and most distant from the front lot line. For the purpose of establishing the rear lot line of a triangular or trapezoidal lot, or of a lot the rear line of which is formed by two or more lines, the following shall apply:

1. For a triangular or gore-shaped lot, a line 10 feet in length within the lot and farthest removed from the front lot line and at right angles to the lot depth line shall be used as the rear lot line; or

2. In the case of a trapezoidal lot, the rear line of which is not parallel to the front lot line, the rear lot line shall be deemed to be a line at right angles to the lot depth line and drawn through a point bisecting the recorded rear lot line; or

3. In the case of a pentagonal lot, the rear boundary of which includes an angle formed by two lines, such angle shall be employed for determining the rear lot line in the same manner as prescribed for a triangular lot.

Lot Line, Side. Side lot line” means any lot line other than a front or rear lot line which intersects a front lot line. A side lot line separating a lot from a street is called a “side street lot line.”

Lot Line, Street or Alley. Street or alley lot line” means a lot line separating the lot from a street or alley.

Lot lines” means the property lines bounding the lot.

Lot of Record. For “lot of record,” see CVMC 19.16.020.

Lot, Through. Through lot” means a lot having frontage on two parallel or approximately parallel streets.

Lot width” means the horizontal distance between the side lot lines, measured at right angles to the depth at a point midway between the front and rear lot lines.

Massage parlor” means a massage establishment as defined in CVMC 5.36.030.

Mobilehome. For “mobilehome,” see “trailers.”

Narcotic or drug paraphernalia shop” or “head shop” means any business establishment or a portion of the premises of any business establishment wherein devices, contrivances, instruments or paraphernalia for smoking, sniffing or injection of marijuana, hashish, cocaine, PCP or any controlled substance is displayed or offered for sale.

Nonconforming structure” means a structure which was lawfully erected prior to July 8, 1969, but which, under the provisions herein, does not conform to the standards of coverage, yards, height of structures, or distances between structures prescribed in the regulations for the district in which the structure is located.

Nonconforming use” means a use of a structure or land which was lawfully established and maintained prior to July 8, 1969, but which, under the provisions herein, does not conform with the use regulations for the district in which it is located.

Nursing home” means any premises with sleeping rooms where persons are lodged and furnished with meals and nursing care, not including persons suffering from contagious disease, mental diseases, alcoholism or drug addiction.

Off-shore” means land below “mean higher high water” as defined by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.

On-shore” means land above “mean higher high water” as defined by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Open Space, Usable. Usable open space” means any portion of a lot which is landscaped and/or developed for recreational and leisure use, and is conveniently located and accessible to all the units. (See CVMC 19.28.090.)

Park” means the land and easements owned or leased by the City of Chula Vista which, by ordinance, resolution, regulation or agreement, is dedicated to or operated by the City for purposes of sports and public recreation. The term shall include the buildings, parking lots, streets and sidewalks within the territorial boundaries establishing the park.

Parking Area, Private. Private parking area” means an open area for the same uses as a private garage.

Parking Area, Public. Public parking area” means an open area, other than a street or other public way, used for the parking of automobiles and available to the public whether for a fee, free, or as an accommodation for clients or customers.

Parking space” means a permanently surfaced area of a size defined by Planning Commission resolution, within a structure or in the open, excluding area necessary for access under the provisions of this title, designed or used for the parking of a motor vehicle. When the long dimension of a parking space adjoins a wall or fence more than six inches in height, the width of such parking space shall be not less than 10 feet.

Performance standards” are the regulations for the control of “dangerous or objectionable elements” as defined in CVMC 19.66.080 through 19.66.150.

Permitted Use. For the purpose of this title, a “permitted use” in any zone shall include any use listed as a “principal permitted use” or “accessory use” and shall further include a “conditional use” as listed for the particular zone, provided a conditional use permit is obtained.

Pet shop” means an establishment involved in selling or exchanging (but excluding boarding, breeding or raising) any birds, dogs or other pets, all of which for the purpose of this chapter are called “pets.”

Pharmacy, Prescription. For “pharmacy, prescription,” see “prescription pharmacy.”

Planned development permit” means a permit issued by the City Planning Commission, authorizing the actual development and construction within a planned community zone.

Poultry farm” means any premises on which the primary use is the breeding, raising or maintaining of poultry for sale of eggs or poultry, or where the primary income from the premises is derived from the aforesaid occupation.

Prescription pharmacy” means an establishment whose primary function is the sale of pharmaceutical drugs and prescriptions as well as medicinal supplies and goods. The incidental sales of toilet goods, toiletries, cosmetics, confections, tobacco and accessories, newspapers and magazines is also permitted.

Public/quasi-public” means used as public or seemingly public. For the purposes of this title, electrical substations, electrical generating facilities as defined in subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) only of the definition “electrical generating facilities” in this section, water or wastewater treatment and storage facilities, education, civic, government offices, or other municipal, public agency or utility facilities, and others as listed in Chapter 19.47 CVMC shall be considered public/quasi-public uses, of a public service type.

Qualified employee housing” means accommodations for employees as defined in Section 17008 of the California Health and Safety Code, as may be amended, which has qualified or where the owner intends to qualify for a permit to operate under the Employee Housing Act (Health and Safety Code Section 17000 et seq.).

Recreation, Commercial. Commercial recreation” means recreation facilities operated as a business and open to the general public for a fee.

Recreation, Private, Noncommercial. Private, noncommercial recreation” means clubs or recreation facilities operated by a nonprofit organization and open only to bona fide members of such nonprofit organization.

Recreation, Public. Public recreation” means publicly owned or operated recreation facilities.

Religious institution” means an institution that people regularly attend to participate in or hold religious services and incidental religious education, but not including private schools as defined in this chapter.

Residence, single room occupancy (SRO)” means a rooming unit or efficiency living unit located in a building containing six or more such dwellings that are offered for occupancy by residential tenants for at least 30 consecutive days. Kitchen and bathroom facilities may be wholly or partially included in each living space or may be fully shared.

Residential density” means the average number of families living on one acre of land in a given area. “Net residential density” is determined by dividing the total number of families in a defined area by the total acreage of all parcels of land within the area that are used for residential and accessory purposes. “Gross residential density” is obtained by dividing all land in a defined area used for residences, streets, local schools, local parks and local shopping facilities into the total number of families in said area.

Residential facility” means any family home, group care facility, or similar facility, licensed by the state of California, for 24-hour nonmedical care of persons in need of personal services, supervision or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual.

Salvage Yard. For “salvage yard,” see “junkyard.”

Satellite dish antenna” is a device or instrument designed or used for the reception of television or other electronic communications signal broadcast or relayed from an earth satellite. It may be a solid, open mesh or bar configured structure, typically eight to 12 feet in diameter, in the shape of a shallow dish or parabola.

School” means any child or day care facility, or an institution of learning for minors, whether public or private, offering instruction in those courses of study required by the California Education Code and maintained pursuant to standards set by the State Board of Education. This definition includes nursery school, kindergarten, elementary school, middle or junior high school, senior high school, or any special institution of education, but it does not include a vocational or professional institution of higher education, including a community or junior college, college, or university.

Self-storage facility” is a structure(s) containing separated storage spaces of varying sizes, leased or rented on an individual basis, and may include recreational vehicles storage.

Senior housing development” means a residential project which may exceed the maximum density permitted for families in the zones in which it is located, and which is established and maintained for the exclusive use of low- or moderate-income senior residents.

Service Station. For “service station,” see “automobile service station.”

Setback. For “setback,” see specific “yard” definitions.

Shoreline” means the boundary between land above and land below the “mean higher high water,” as defined by the latest U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Stable, Private. Private stable” means an accessory stable, corral or paddock used or designed to shelter horses belonging to the occupants of a dwelling, and where no horses are kept for hire or sale.

Stable, Riding. Riding stable” means any stable where horses are kept for hire.

Story” means that portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the floor or ceiling next above it.

Story, First. First story” means the lowest story or the ground story of any building, the floor of which is not more than 12 inches below the average contact ground level at the exterior walls of the building; except, that any basement or cellar used for residential purposes shall be deemed the first story.

Story, Half. Half story” means a partial story under a gable, hip or gambrel roof, the wall plates of which on at least two opposite exterior walls are not more than four feet above the floor of such story; provided, however, that any partial story used for one or more dwelling units shall be deemed a full story.

Story, Mezzanine. Mezzanine story” means a story which covers one-third or less of the area of the story directly underneath it.

Street” means a public right-of-way, more than 30 feet in width, which provides a public means of access to abutting property. The term “street” includes “avenue,” “drive,” “circle,” “road,” “parkway,” “boulevard,” “highway,” “thoroughfare,” or any other similar term. The term shall include the total width of the dedicated right-of-way.

Street, Private. Private street” means a right-of-way or easement in private ownership, not dedicated or maintained as a public street, which affords the principal means of access to two or more sites.

Structural alteration” means any change in the structural members of a building, such as walls, columns, beams or girders.

Structure” means anything constructed, the use of which requires permanent location on the ground, or attachment to something having a permanent location on the ground.

Supportive housing” means housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied by the target population, and that is linked to an on-site or off-site service that assists the supportive housing resident in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status, and maximizing his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community (Section 65582(g) of the State Government Code). “Target population” means persons with low incomes who have one or more disabilities as described in Section 65582(i) of the State Government Code.

Surface mining operations” means all, or part of, the process involved in the mining of minerals on mined lands, as defined in Chapter 19.69 CVMC, by removing overburden and mining directly from the mineral deposits, open-pit mining of minerals naturally exposed, mining by the auger method, dredging and quarrying, or surface work incident to an underground mine. Surface mining operations include, but are not limited to, in-place distillation or retorting or leaching, the production and disposal of mining waste, prospecting and exploratory activities, borrow pitting, streambed skimming, and segregation and stockpiling of mined materials (and recovery of same).

Tideland” means lands between the “mean higher high water” and the “mean lower low water” as defined by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Townhouses” means attached or semi-attached buildings, each containing a single dwelling unit and each located or capable of being located on a separate lot.

Trailer Camp, Trailer Park or Mobilehome Park. Trailer camp, trailer park or mobilehome park” means any lot or part thereof, or any parcel of land, which is used or offered as a location for two or more camp trailers or mobilehomes occupied as a residence.

Trailers.

1. Camping trailer” means a vehicular portable unit mounted on wheels and constructed with collapsible partial side walls which fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold at a campsite to provide temporary living quarters.

2. Motorhome” means a vehicular unit built on or permanently attached to a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis, chassis cab or van, which becomes an integral part of the completed vehicle, primarily designed to provide temporary living quarters.

3. Camper (slide in)” means a portable unit, consisting of a roof, floor and sides designed to be loaded into and unloaded from the bed of a pickup truck, constructed to provide temporary living quarters.

4. Cargo trailer” means a vehicle designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle for the purpose of transporting cargo, including a boat or livestock.

5. Travel trailer” means a vehicular portable unit mounted on wheels of such a size or weight as not to require special highway movement permits when drawn by a motorized vehicle and primarily designed and constructed to provide temporary living quarters.

6. Mobilehome” means a structure transportable in one or more sections, designed and equipped to contain not more than two dwelling units, and shall not include a recreational vehicle, commercial coach or factory-built housing.

7. Commercial coach” means a vehicle, with or without motive power, designed and equipped for human occupancy for industrial, professional or commercial purposes, and shall not include mobilehomes. Such coaches shall bear the State Division of Housing’s insignia of approval as a commercial coach.

Transitional housing” means buildings configured as rental housing developments, but operated under program requirements that require the termination of assistance and recirculating of the assisted unit to another eligible program recipient at a predetermined future point in time that shall be no less than six months from the beginning of the assistance (Section 65582(j) of the State Government Code).

Underwater land” means land below the “mean lower low water” as defined by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Unified control” means the written consent or agreement of all property owners.

Usable Open Space. For “usable open space,” see “open space, usable.”

Warehousing facility” means the use of a building primarily for the storage of goods of any type (e.g., cold storage) by one or two businesses and used for the sale or distribution of those goods to their direct customers (excluding bulk storage of materials which are flammable or explosive or which create hazardous or commonly recognized offensive conditions). Typically, 200,000 square feet or less in size with a land coverage ratio of approximately 45 to 55 percent with dock-high and/or ground level loading doors on one side of the building only.

Warehousing, logistics and distribution facility” is one used for the storage and/or consolidation of manufactured goods (and, to a lesser extent, raw materials, and includes bulk storage of materials which are flammable or explosive or create hazardous or commonly recognized offensive conditions) before their distribution to retail locations or other warehouses. Warehouse/distribution centers are generally greater than 200,000 square feet in size, with a land coverage ratio of approximately 40 to 60 percent; have dock-high loading doors that also could be located on opposing sides of the building (cross dock facility); significant movement and storage of products, materials, or equipment; truck activities frequently outside of the peak hour of the adjacent street system; and freeway access, including:

1. Freight yards/forwarding terminals.

2. Warehousing distribution/high cube distribution centers.

3. Moving agencies.

4. Parcel delivery terminals.

5. Railroad freight stations.

6. Shipping/receiving yards.

7. Truck terminals.

Warehousing sales, retail” means the use of a building or buildings primarily for the internal storage of goods of any type, which includes the selling of such goods both directly to the ultimate consumer and incidental wholesaling. Generally, sales tax is collected from the ultimate consumer.

Warehousing sales, wholesale” means the use of a building or buildings primarily for the internal storage of goods of any type, which includes the selling of such goods to other businesses, including retailers, industrial, commercial, institutional, or professional business users, other wholesalers, or acting as agents or brokers and buying merchandise for, or selling merchandise to, such individuals or companies, and specifically excluding sales of goods directly to the ultimate consumer. Generally, sales tax is not collected from businesses purchasing such goods.

Waterfront land” means any lot above the “mean higher high water” as defined by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey having frontage directly upon the shoreline, as defined herein.

Yard, Front. Front yard” means an open space extending the full width of the lot measured between the building closest to the front lot line, which open space is between a building and the front lot line, unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward except as specified elsewhere in this title.

Yard, Front, Least Depth. Front yard, least depth” means the shortest distance, measured horizontally, between any part of a building, other than parts herein excepted, and the front lot line.

Yard, Front, Least Depth – How Measured. Such depth shall be measured from the front lot line; provided, however, that if the proposed location of the right-of-way line of such street as adopted by the City (“plan line procedure”) differs from that of the existing street, then the required front yard, least depth, shall be measured from the right-of-way line of such street as adopted; or said building shall comply with the official setback lines as adopted by the City.

Yard, Rear. Rear yard” means an open space between a building and the rear lot line, unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward and extending across the full width of the lot, except as specified elsewhere in this title.

Yard, Rear, Least Depth. Rear yard, least depth” means the shortest distance, measured horizontally, between any part of a principal building, other than parts hereinafter excepted, and the rear lot line.

Yard, Side. Side yard” means an open space extending from the front yard to the rear yard between a building and the nearest side lot line, unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except as specified elsewhere in this title. A side yard on the street side of a corner lot shall be known as an “exterior side yard.”

Yard, Side, Least Width. Side yard, least width” means the shortest distance, measured horizontally, between any part of a building, other than parts herein excepted, and the nearest side lot line.

Yard, Side, Least Width – How Measured. Such width shall be measured from the nearest side lot line and, in case the nearest side lot line is a side street lot line, from the right-of-way line of the existing street; provided, however, that if the proposed location of the right-of-way line of such street as adopted by the City differs from that of the existing street, then the required side yard, least width, shall be measured from the right-of-way of such street as adopted; or said building shall comply with any applicable official setback lines.

Zone” 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.

Zoning map” means the zoning map or maps of Chula Vista, together with all amendments subsequently adopted.

Zoning permit” means a document issued by the Building Inspector authorizing buildings, structures or uses consistent with the terms of this title, and for the purpose of carrying out and enforcing its provisions.

Zoning wall or fence” means a wall or fence erected along the property line or zoning boundary to separate any commercial or industrial zones or uses from adjacent residential zones and a fence to separate multiple-family zones from single-family zones. (Ord. 3544 §§ 1, 4, 10, 2023; Ord. 3442 §§ 2(A), 2(B), 2018; Ord. 3423 § 2, 2018; Ord. 3316 §§ 2, 3, 2014; Ord. 3279 § 3, 2013; Ord. 2924 § 3, 2003; Ord. 2921 § 1, 2003; Ord. 2897 § 1, 2003; Ord. 2883 § 5, 2002; Ord. 2830 § 5, 2001; Ord. 2732 § 5, 1998; Ord. 2710 § 3, 1997; Ord. 2633 § 3, 1995; Ord. 2584 § 3, 1994; Ord. 2542 § 1, 1993; Ord. 2452A § 1, 1991; Ord. 2267 §§ 3, 4, 1988; Ord. 2162 § 1, 1986; Ord. 2145 § 1, 1986; Ord. 2144 § 1, 1986; Ord. 2111 § 1, 1985; Ord. 2108 § 1, 1985; Ord. 2075 § 1, 1984; Ord. 2053 § 1, 1983; Ord. 2034 § 1, 1983; Ord. 1954 § 1, 1981; Ord. 1941 § 1, 1981; Ord. 1878 § 1, 1979; Ord. 1855 § 2, 1979; Ord. 1697 § 1, 1976; Ord. 1689 § 1, 1976; Ord. 1518 § 2, 1974; Ord. 1494 § 6, 1973; Ord. 1356 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1212 § 1, 1969; prior code § 33.1401).