Orinda

No person shall cause or permit noise on property owned, leased, occupied or otherwise in the control of that person which exceeds sixty (60) decibels as measured at a listening point on any other property

It is the policy of the City of Orinda, pursuant to the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act... to provide individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodation in regulations and procedures to ensure equal access to housing.

The transferor of any residential real property in the City of Orinda shall deliver to the prospective transferee a disclosure statement required by this chapter as follows: A. In the case of a sale, as soon as possible before transfer of title. B. In the case of transfer by a real property sales contract, as soon as possible before execution of the contract.

Some types of new construction require a building permit: Among the improvements which require a building permit are these: a. Projects that involve an exterior change to the structure. b. New structures, including landscape structures, fences, and storage sheds. c. Modifications that involve 1000 square feet or cost $50,000 or more.

The following types of projects will require prior Planning Department approval before a building permit will be issued: a. A new home. b. An addition to an existing home, unless it is exempt. c. Construction within the setback of a watercourse. d. Exterior changes to a non-residential structure. e. Tree removal. f. Elevated deck. g. Accessory structures.

The size of a house or an addition, its height, and its location, among other things, will be assessed under the discretionary design review standards of Chapter 17.30 of the Code.

A permit is required before removing or destroying certain trees that are protected by the Orinda Municipal Code.

Development located partially or entirely in a ridgeline overlay zone, or partially or entirely within the environmental preservation zone shall be less than five hundred (500) square feet of floor area and less than eighteen (18) feet in height except as provided in subsection B below.

The size of a proposed new home or expansion of an existing home, including an expansion to accommodate an accessory dwelling unit, shall be established as set forth in this section.

Application procedures: form, fees, applicant qualification, processing, reapplication.

A structure that is otherwise compliant with the required minimum yard setback referenced in 17.4.2 is permitted to project into that required minimum yard setback as follows: Cornice, eave, overhang or similar ornamental features may encroach three feet into a front, side or rear yard. Chimney or fireplace may encroach three feet into a front or rear yard and two feet into a side yard with a maximum width of six feet below the second floor line... Unenclosed stairways and landings may encroach four feet into a front, side or rear yard up to a maximum height of seven feet above existing grade... A cantilevered awning, canopy or balcony may encroach two and one-half feet into a front, side or rear yard. A bay window may encroach no more than two feet into the prescribed setback.

All other accessory structures shall conform to the standard minimum setback requirements of the underlying zone... The minimum setback from any property line with street frontage is fifty (50) feet... The minimum separation between an accessory structure and the main structure is five (5) feet.

Chicken coops, rabbit hutches, and similar accessory structures provided for the housing of small animals shall be set back not less than sixty (60) feet from the front property line or any street line, and shall be not less than forty (40) feet from any side or rear property line; barns, stables and other buildings or structures used to shelter large animals shall be set back not less than one hundred (100) feet from the front property line or any street line and shall not be less than fifty (50) feet from any side or rear property line; fenced pasture, paddocks or other enclosed livestock areas shall not be located nearer than seventy-five (75) feet from the front property line or any street and shall not be less than twenty-five (25) feet from any side or rear property line.

A five-foot minimum setback shall be provided from property lines. The allowed height and maximum dimension for landscape structures is based on their location relative to the setbacks for primary structures described in section 17.4.2. Landscape structures located within the section 17.4.2 setbacks shall not exceed ten feet in height and shall have no other dimension greater than twenty (20) feet. Landscape structures located outside the section 17.4.2 setbacks shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height with no other maximum dimension. The total area of a lot covered by landscape structures may not exceed five hundred (500) square feet or twenty (20) percent of the total floor area of the structures on the lot, whichever is greater.

A sports court shall conform to the setback requirements of the underlying zone... Minimum setback from any street frontage is fifty (50) feet. The side yard setback at the side and rear of the lot shall be at least five feet. The sports court shall be at least five feet from the main structure. The maximum fence height of the portion built within the minimum setback of the subject lot shall be twelve (12) feet. The installation of outdoor lighting at a height of seven feet or more requires use permit approval.

The minimum side and rear yard setback, as measured from the water's edge, shall be five (5) feet. The minimum setback from property lines with street frontage shall be the same as those required in Section 17.4.3 for primary structures. The maximum height of any retaining wall and related terracing shall be four feet if placed within the minimum setbacks of the subject zone.

No fence in any location may exceed six feet, except for sports court fences... A fence located within five feet of a property line/right-of-way boundary with street frontage must be constructed completely of an open material... and shall not exceed a height of four feet.

A deck over thirty (30) inches above grade shall conform to applicable setback requirements... Minimum setback from street frontage is twenty (20) feet. Minimum side yard and rear yard setback is five feet. An elevated deck permit under Chapter 17.35 is required for construction of a deck over six feet in height above finished grade at any point which is also greater than two hundred (200) square feet.

A recreational vehicle, boat, trailer, camper shell, large appliance or other large equipment shall not be parked, stored or placed on a residential lot for more than seventy-two (72) hours within a one-month period... No vehicle or equipment may be placed within the minimum side yard setback area unless it maintains a minimum five-foot setback from the property line. The engine of such a vehicle or equipment shall not idle for more than ten (10) minutes a day on the property. Not more than one commercial vehicle, as defined in the State Vehicle Code, not to exceed two-ton capacity, may be parked or stored on any one lot.

A mobile home may be used as a residence in any single-family (one-family) residential zone if it meets all of the following requirements... The mobile home is manufactured and certified under the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 and was built no more than ten years prior to the date of application; The mobile home is installed and structurally fixed to an approved permanent foundation...