§ 23.08.024. Accessory Storage.

Where the principal building or use on a site is some use other than storage, and storage accessory to that use is also located on the site, the accessory storage is subject to the following standards (see also Section 23.08.146, Storage Yards). A land use permit is not required to establish accessory storage except when subsections a. through f. of this section require a permit for a specific type of storage, or the storage involves construction of a new structure or alteration of an existing structure.

a.

Building materials and equipment. Building materials and equipment being used in a construction project on the same or adjacent site may be stored on or adjacent to the construction site as long as a valid building permit is in effect for construction on the premises. Building materials and equipment include stockpiles of construction materials, tools, equipment, and building component assembly operations. When storage is proposed on a lot adjacent to the construction site, the land use permit application for the project is to also describe the storage site. Temporary storage of construction materials on a site not adjacent to the construction is subject to Section 23.08.244 (Temporary Construction Yards).

b.

Commercial vehicles. This subsection applies to the accessory storage and incidental parking of vehicles and/or self-propelled equipment used for shipping, delivery of freight and products or other purposes in support of a business. Storage means parking a vehicle longer than two consecutive nights. The storage of vehicles as a principal use is subject to the standards of Section 23.08.290 (Vehicle Storage).

(1)

Within a residential area, commercial vehicles other than a standard passenger car, pickup truck or van less than 20 feet in length, shall not be stored or parked for any time longer than necessary for a pickup or delivery at the site, except for moving vans which may be parked for a single night at a site in a residential area where the contents of a dwelling are being moved.

(2)

Commercial vehicles are to be stored in the Commercial Retail land use category in an enclosed building, screened parking or loading area, except as provided in items (3) and (4) below.

(3)

Commercial or agricultural vehicles may be stored in the Commercial Service and Industrial categories without regulation other than the standards of Section 23.04.160 (Parking).

(4)

Agricultural vehicles may be stored outdoors in Commercial, Recreational and Residential categories when agricultural activities occur on site, and only within the buildable area of a site with a gross area of five acres or more. (This requirement does not apply to farm vehicle dealerships.) The storage of agricultural vehicles in the Agriculture and Rural Lands categories is unrestricted.

c.

Non-commercial and inoperative vehicles. The storage or keeping of operative non-commercial and inoperative vehicles is subject to the following, in addition to Chapter 8.24 of the County Code (Inoperative Vehicles). Storage means parking a vehicle longer than two consecutive nights. Nothing in this title shall be construed as preventing the abatement of an inoperative vehicle which is found to be a nuisance pursuant to Chapter 8.24.

(1)

Vehicles under commercial repair. The repair of vehicles is allowed only in the Commercial or Industrial categories as provided by the Land Use Element, except for repair of a personal vehicle by the vehicle owner, on a site owned or rented by the vehicle owner. The storage of inoperative vehicles in a Commercial or Industrial category for the purposes of repair, alteration, painting, impoundment or temporary storage by a towing service is subject to Section 23.08.222 (Auto and Vehicle Repair and Services).

(2)

Wrecked and abandoned vehicle dismantling or storage. Any area greater than 300 square feet used for the dismantling of inoperative vehicles, or for the storage of wrecked or abandoned vehicles not being dismantled or repaired, is subject to Section 23.08.097 (Recycling and Scrap).

(3)

Automobiles stored accessory to a residential use. The storage of operative or inoperative vehicles accessory to a residential use for the purposes of maintaining a personal collection, or for personal repair, alteration, restoration or painting for hobby or other personal use is limited to two vehicles when stored outdoors, with a maximum storage area of 300 square feet. Such storage may be located only where it is not visible from the public street. Storage of such vehicles within an approved accessory building (Section 23.08.032c) is not subject to limitation on the number of vehicles.

d.

Fuel and explosives. See Section 23.06.120 (Toxic and Hazardous Materials).

e.

Recreational vehicles and RV equipment. The accessory storage of recreational vehicles (RVs) or dependent trailers, RV equipment (camper shells, etc.) airplanes, boats, or parts of such vehicles is subject to the following standards (the storage of such vehicles as a principal or commercial use is subject to Section 23.08.290 (Vehicle Storage); the storage of Mobilehomes is subject to Section 23.08.163f):

(1)

Number of vehicles allowed. The number of RVs that may be stored accessory to a residential use is as follows:

(i)

Recreation, Residential, Office and Professional, Commercial, and Industrial categories: One self-propelled highway vehicle (e.g. a motorhome or camper) or one trailer or other dependent vehicle may be stored outdoors on a site. There is no limitation on the number of RVs, RV equipment or other vehicles listed in this subsection when stored within a closed building.

(ii)

Rural Lands and Residential Rural Categories: No more than 10 RVs may be stored when such vehicles are the personal property of residents of the site.

(2)

Location of storage. Recreational vehicles are not to be stored in the required front setback area, except for one self-propelled highway vehicle in the driveway. (Vehicles parked on public streets are regulated by Section 15.64.010 (Time Limits) of this Code.)

(3)

Use. Stored vehicles are to be solely for the personal use of the property owner or residents of the site intended for accessory storage. Recreational vehicles are not to be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes when stored on a residential lot, or in any location not approved for such use.

(4)

Residential project group storage. Planned development, mobile home park or multi-family residential projects may include an area set aside for group RV storage for project residents subject to authorization granted as part of the approval of the overall project, or the same type of permit required for the overall project if the storage area is in addition to a previously approved project. Such storage areas shall include no more than one storage space per residential unit in the project and shall comply with the site design standards of Section 23.08.164e. Such storage areas shall not be made available to or used by persons who do not reside in the residential project.

f.

Stockpiled materials, scrap and junk. The storage of miscellaneous materials, articles, equipment, scrap or junk in support of ongoing work and projects or accessory to another use is subject to the following requirements. The storage of scrap and junk as a principal use is subject to the standards of Section 23.08.097 (Recycling and Scrap).

(1)

Area occupied by stored materials. Shall be limited to a maximum area as follows, based upon the size of the parcel where the storage is located, except that where such storage is entirely within a single building, no area limitation shall apply:

AREA OCCUPIED FOR STORED MATERIALS
Parcel Size	Maximum Allowed Areas of Storage
Less than 10,000 sq. ft.	300 sq. ft.
10,000 sq. ft. to one acre	500 sq. ft.
One acre or larger	1,000 sq. ft.

 

Stored materials may occupy an area larger than allowed by this subsection if the method of storage complies instead with the provisions of Section 23.08.146 of this chapter (Storage Yards) and the site is within a land use category where storage yards are allowable.

(2)

Maximum height of materials stored outdoors. Five feet.

(3)

Fencing required. The accessory storage outdoors of scrap, junk or miscellaneous materials pursuant to this section shall be enclosed within a six-foot high solid wood or masonry fence. This requirement may be waived through adjustment (Section 23.01.044) where the Planning Director determines that the proposed storage area is not visible from the public road or any adjoining parcel, and that the size of the storage area is in compliance with subsection f(1) of this section. The outdoor storage of neatly-stacked, cut firewood for on-site domestic use only is not required to be fenced.

(4)

Location of storage. Stored materials shall not be located within required front setback areas; or within required side setback areas within a Residential land use category.

[Amended 1992, Ord. 2591; 1995, Ord. 2715]