Dimensional standards
Uses
Permitted by right1
Extracted standards
18 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Fencing & walls
- Required masonry wall heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. within front setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.4 ft
A six-foot high masonry wall shall be required on a site boundary when said boundary is adjacent a residential zone. Such wall shall be reduced to four feet in height within a front setback.
- Required masonry wall heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. adjacent to residential zone6 ft
A six-foot high masonry wall shall be required on a site boundary when said boundary is adjacent a residential zone. Such wall shall be reduced to four feet in height within a front setback.
Lighting
- Lighting must project primarily on owner's property
All lighting shall be designed, installed and maintained to project the light primarily on the owner's property. This may require the use of shields, and may limit the location, type and height of light fixtures. Any light falling on adjacent properties shall be minimal and incidental. Lighting shall be focused directly on the owner's property, and shall not be focused on adjacent properties.
Other
- AccessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. roof equipment must be screened
Accessory roof equipment will be permitted only if it is housed within structures which are architecturally compatible with the design of the building and designed to screen their view from any person on the street or an adjacent site and to attenuate noise.
- All uses must be enclosed
All uses shall be conducted within enclosed buildings except those allowed in the approval of a site development plan as provided for in this chapter.
- Onsite and offsite drainage required
On site and offsite drainage shall be provided for and disposed of to the satisfaction of the city engineer.
- Fire access, hydrants, water service required
Fire access, fire hydrants, water service, and other fire protection facilities shall be provided in accordance with current La Mesa fire standards.
- Occupancy limited to safe capacity
Occupancy of any dwelling shall be limited to the maximum number of persons it is safe for the dwelling to accommodate, as determined in the Building Code, Fire Code and public health codes.
- Portable storage containers restricted
Portable storage containers and detached storage structures are only permitted when authorized as part of a permanent structure subject to the appropriate site plan approval and building permits.
- Property maintenance required
All yards and other open spaces around buildings shall be kept free of waste, litter, junk, or storage of any material; provided, where outside storage is a permitted use or is a nonconforming use, such storage shall be done in an orderly manner.
- Quonset huts prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Building types commonly referred to as quonset huts or buildings resembling quonset huts shall not be permitted.
- All setbacksSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. shall be landscaped
All setbacks shall be landscaped.
- Street improvement exception for small projects1,200 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
The foregoing requirement shall not apply to (i) interior alterations of buildings involving one thousand two hundred square feet or less of existing area, (ii) swimming pools and accessories, or (iii) building additions or accessory structures that are one thousand two hundred square feet in area or less, (iv) fences, nonbuilding walls or retaining walls.
- Street improvements required for development
If the building site has frontage on a public street which is substandard with respect to either width or improvements as prescribed in the Street Standards Resolution or General Plan, then land needed for widening of each such substandard street shall be granted to the city and needed street improvements specified in such resolution shall be made to the satisfaction of the city engineer.
- Temporary shade structures restricted
Temporary shade structures for parking or storage of vehicles, equipment, containers, merchandise or activities related to the operation of a business or permitted use are not permitted, except when the portable structure is less than one hundred square feet and used for permitted accessory activities such as outdoor employee eating areas.
- Trash dumpster service frequency1 per week
Trash dumpsters shall be serviced as needed, but not less than once a week.
- Trash enclosure distance from public street20 ft
Enclosures should be located at least twenty feet back from any public street measured from the street curb.
- All public utilityPublic utilitiesInfrastructure serving the wider area — substations, pump stations, towers. services shall be underground
All public utility services shall be underground.
From the ordinance
All lots within the commercial zones shall have: an area of at least five thousand square feet, a minimum width of fifty feet and a minimum depth of one hundred feet. All buildings shall be set back not less than ten feet from any zone boundary which is the side or rear lot line of an adjacent 'R' zoned lot, and ten feet from a street on which an abutting lot classified in a residential zone has frontage.