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The following definitions shall be used in the interpretation and administration of this title:

(1) Accessory Building. A subordinate building, the use of which is incidental and customary to that of the principal building including a private garage and which is located on the same lot. If any accessory building is attached to the principal building by a common wall or roof, such accessory building shall be considered a part of the principal building.

(2) Accessory Use. A use incidental and subordinate to the principal use which is located on the same lot.

(3) Accessory Living Quarters. Living quarters, including guest houses, which may include kitchen facilities located within an accessory building or the principal building and not otherwise used as a separate dwelling.

(4) Acres or Acreage, Gross. The total area of a parcel of land expressed in square feet or fractions of an acre.

(5) Acres or Acreage, Net. The area of a parcel of land, less the area dedicated to public streets, roads or alleys, expressed in square feet or fractions of an acre. The area devoted to private streets, roads, and alleys shall not be deducted when computing net acreage.

(6) Addition. An extension or increase in floor area or height of a building or structure.

(7) Alley. A public right-of-way, usually at the rear or side of a lot(s), that provides a means of vehicular or pedestrian access to a lot(s).

(8) Alteration. A change or rearrangement of the structural parts of existing facilities or an enlargement by extending the sides or increasing the height or depth or the moving from one location to another.

(9) Amendment. A change in the wording, context, or substance of this Title, including any change in or addition to the Official Zoning Map; or, a change in the wording, context or substance of the Comprehensive Plan, including any change in or addition to the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map.

(10) Animal, Large. Any domestic animal over six (6) months of age having a size equal to or greater than a goat or sheep including the infants of such animals as regulated in PCC 17.35.050, Animals and Fowl.

(11) Animal, Small. Any domestic animal having a size smaller than a goat or sheep over six (6) months of age, not classified as a household pet and as regulated in PCC 17.35.050, Animals and Fowl.

(12) Arterial Street: Major, Secondary, Collector. Street classification, as defined and designated in the Comprehensive Plan and its accompanying arterial street map.

(13) Automobile Repair, Major. General repair, engine rebuilding, rebuilding or reconditioning of motor vehicles or trailers; collision service, including body, frame, or fender straightening or repair; overall painting or paint shop.

(14) Automobile Salvage or Wrecking Yard. Any open area where more than two (2) unlicensed and/or inoperable motor vehicles, or motor vehicle parts, are stored or parked for a period exceeding thirty (30) days.

(15) Balcony. An elevated platform, enclosed by a railing, that projects from the side of a building. The term “balcony” does not include any part of a stairway or walkway used as general access to habitable space within a building.

(16) Basement. Any floor level below the first story in a building.

(17) Bed and Breakfast Establishment. A single-family or duplex dwelling unit occupied by the operator where up to a maximum of three (3) bedrooms are offered for rent for private commercial gain on an overnight basis for not more than fourteen (14) consecutive days to a particular transient and where only breakfast may be served.

(18) Binding Site Plan. A drawing to scale showing a plan for the development of a specific parcel of land, which drawing has been approved by the applicable group with approval authority, and which, at a minimum:

(a) Identifies and shows the location of all streets, roads, improvements, utilities, open spaces, and any other matters specified by this Title or the approval authority;

(b) Contains inscriptions or attachments setting forth the limitations and conditions for the use of the land and the approved plan;

(c) Contains provisions requiring all uses and development to conform to the site plan;

(d) Is filed of record in the Whitman County Auditor’s office; and

(e) Is a covenant running with the land.

(19) Buffer. An area of land or structure intended to insulate or separate a structure or land use from adjacent uses or structures in such a manner as to reduce or mitigate adverse impacts of one on the other.

(20) Buildable Area. That portion of a lot within which a structure may be built, bounded by the required yards.

(21) Building. Any structure having a roof, used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy, and permanently affixed to the ground.

(22) Building Coverage. The portion of the lot area expressed as a percentage that may be occupied by buildings or structures. Building coverage includes eaves, bay windows, and similar structures, as well as decks, balconies, stairs, and landings more than thirty (30) inches in height above grade.

(23) Building Height. The vertical distance above a reference datum measured to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or to the average height of the highest gable of a pitched or hipped roof, with the reference datum selected by either of the following, whichever yields a greater height of building.

(a) The elevation of the highest adjoining sidewalk or ground surface within a five (5) foot horizontal distance of the exterior wall of the building when such sidewalk or ground surface is not more than ten (10) feet above lowest grade.

(b) An elevation ten (10) feet higher than the lowest grade when the sidewalk or ground surface described in Item (a) above is more than ten (10) feet above lowest grade.

The height of a stepped or terraced building is the maximum height of any segment of the building.

(24) Building Line. A line established as the minimum distance a building may be located from any property line as determined by the minimum yard requirements of this Title.

(25) Building Official. The director of public works or his or her authorized representative. The building official is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Construction Code or any codes adopted by reference therein.

(26) Child Day Care Facility. A facility licensed by the State in which an agency or person(s) regularly provides child care for a group of children aged twelve (12) years or less for periods of less than 24 hours per day. There are two separate categories of child day care facilities:

(a) Family Day Care Home. A facility in which child day care is furnished in the provider’s home to twelve (12) or fewer children, including the provider’s own and foster children.

(b) Child Day Care Center. A facility for child day care of thirteen (13) or more children.

(27) Church. A place of assembly, the principal purpose of which is religious worship, and for which the principal building or other structures contain the sanctuary or principal place of worship, and which may include related accessory uses in the principal building or in other separate structures.

(28) City. The city of Pullman, Washington.

(29) Director of Community Development. An employee of the City who administers the Department of Community Development.

(30) Code. The Pullman City Code as most recently amended.

(31) Commercial Parking Area or Garage. A parking area or garage in which vehicles are allowed to park in exchange for a fee or paid permit, including any permit parking facilities operated, for example, by Washington State University.

(32) Commercial Vehicle. Any motor vehicle having a gross vehicular weight of more than 14,000 pounds.

(33) Comprehensive Plan. The official document adopted by the City Council as authorized by Chapter 35A.63 RCW, that sets forth goals, policies, and standards to guide decisions about the future development of the city.

(34) Common Open Space. Open space, including landscaped and recreational areas, in which residents of the development own an undivided interest and which is managed jointly by those owners through a property owners’ association. (See illustration accompanying definition of “Planned Residential Development.”)

(35) Conditional Use. A use which because of special requirements, unusual character, size or shape, infrequent occurrence, possible detrimental effects on surrounding property, or other similar reasons, may be allowed in certain zones only after review by the hearing examiner and the granting of a conditional use permit imposing such performance standards as will make the use compatible with other permitted uses in the same vicinity or zone.

(36) Condominium. An ownership arrangement of single units or apartments in a building containing two (2) or more dwelling units or two (2) or more buildings each containing one (1) or more dwelling units, with common areas and facilities, as regulated by Chapter 64.32 RCW. The term “Condominium” refers to an ownership arrangement, not a land use. The unit may be any permitted dwelling type.

(37) Conforming Building. A building that accommodates uses permitted in the zone district in which it is located and that also conforms to the requirements of this Title in the matter of use, height, yards, area coverage, and density.

(38) Contiguous. Sharing a common boundary.

(39) Convenience Store. A retail store with a net floor area of 2,500 square feet or less that offers easy access for short shopping trips to procure frequently needed items. Convenience stores may include gasoline sales only in districts where gasoline service stations are permitted.

(40) Council. The elected governing body of the city of Pullman.

(41) Crisis Residential Center. A place of temporary refuge for victims of domestic violence, operated by a public or private nonprofit group or organization on a twenty-four (24) hour basis; or a temporary residential facility operated by the State Department of Social and Health Services.

(42) Density, Basic. The average number of dwelling units per net acre that may be developed in a zone district.

(43) Density, PRD Bonus. The basic density plus an increase of up to an additional twenty (20) percent which may be earned by taking advantage of the bonus density allowances as described in PCC 17.107.040(2)(b), PRD Bonus Density.

(44) Director. The city of Pullman director of public works.

(45) Driveway. A vehicular access way leading from a public right-of-way or private road to a garage, carport, or other off-street parking area. “A driveway” is accessed from a public right-of-way or private road by means of a curb cut or, where there is rolled curb or no constructed curb, a connection to a public right-of-way or private road authorized by the Director.

(46) Dwelling, Duplex. A building containing two (2) dwelling units.

(47) Dwelling, Multifamily. A building containing three (3) or more dwelling units including an “apartment house.”

(48) Dwelling, Single-Family. A detached dwelling containing only one (1) dwelling unit, but not a manufactured home.

(49) Dwelling Unit. Any building or portion thereof which contains living facilities including provisions for sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.

(50) Easement. A grant by a property owner to another party to use designated land for a specific purpose.

(51) Educational Service. An educational or related service offered by an organization for children or adults, including a kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, and vocational school. The term “Educational Service” does not include “Child Day Care Facility,” “Nursery School or Preschool” or “University Facility.”

(52) Family. A “family” means a collective group of one or more persons living together as a single housekeeping unit, and sharing and operating a unified and common household.

(53) Reserved.

(54) Floodplain. See Chapter 17.100 PCC, Floodplain Management District, for all definitions relevant to the Floodplain Overlay Zone District.

(55) Floor Area, Net. The floor area of a building, except areas used exclusively for the service of a building such as: mechanical equipment spaces and shafts; elevators; stairways; hallways; escalators and ramps; restrooms; wall thicknesses; loading docks and ramps.

(56) Foster Family Home. A foster family home as defined in RCW 74.15.020(1)(f), licensed in accordance with the laws of the state of Washington.

(57) Fowl. Any domestic bird commonly raised for meat or eggs, including, but not limited to, chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese.

(58) Fraternity. See “Membership Lodging.”

(59) Garage, Private. An accessory building or portion of principal building intended to be used for the storage of vehicles or boats by the occupants of the principal building.

(60) Garage, Commercial. Any garage other than a private garage.

(61) Grade (adjacent ground level). Either (a) the lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground, paving, or sidewalk within the area between the building and the property line if the property line is within five (5) feet of the building; or (b) when the property line is more than five (5) feet from the building, then the lowest point between the building and a line five (5) feet from the building.

(62) Group Care Facility. A group care facility as defined in RCW 74.15.020(1)(g), licensed in accordance with the laws of the state of Washington.

(63) Hearing Examiner. The hearing examiner for the city of Pullman.

(64) Hen. A female chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus).

(65) Home Occupation. See Chapter 17.55 PCC, Home Occupations, for all definitions relevant to home occupations.

(66) Household Pet. Small domestic creatures including dogs, cats, rabbits, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, domestic rats and mice, caged birds, non-venomous reptiles, fish, and amphibians as regulated in PCC 17.35.050, Animals and Fowl.

(67) Infill Development. Original construction of a duplex, multifamily dwellings, townhouses, and/or a membership lodging facility on a lot that, prior to further subdivision for individual townhouses or other dwelling units, contains 10,000 square feet or less of lot area and that abuts one or more other lots occupied by a dwelling(s).

(68) Kennel, Commercial. Any premises or building in which four (4) or more dogs, four (4) or more cats, or five (5) or more dogs and cats over six (6) months of age are kept commercially for board, propagation, or sale.

(69) Limited (L) Zone. A portion of a zone district to which the City Council has added conditions intended to limit or govern the use of a particular parcel(s) of land in the public interest, as specified in PCC 17.115.030, “Limited” Zone.

(70) Lot. A lot of record, occupied or intended to be occupied by a principal use or building and its accessory buildings, together with all required yards and open spaces, except the following special lot types:

(a) A Planned Residential Development (PRD) lot.

(b) A townhouse lot which is a parcel of land on which a townhouse dwelling unit sits together with all required open spaces, and which has been created under a binding site plan.

(c) An open space lot which is a parcel used for provision of open space, as provided for in a legal document filed with the Whitman County Auditor, on which no more than five (5) percent of the parcel is covered by structures and said structures are no more than four (4) feet in height.

(71) Lot Area and Dimensions.

(a) Lot Area. The total area within the lot lines of a lot.

(b) Lot Depth. The length of a line extending from the midpoint of the front lot line to the mid-point of the rear lot line.

(c) Lot Width. The distance between the side lot lines measured at right angles to the lot depth at a point midway between the front and rear lot lines.

(72) Lot Lines.

(a) Lot Line, Front. The property line of a lot bordering on the street. In the case of a corner lot, the front lot line is considered to be the property line to which the main entrance of a structure is oriented. In the case of a through lot, both property lines bordering on a street shall be considered front lot lines.

(b) Lot Line, Rear. The boundary line of a lot which is opposite and most distant from the front lot line. For the purpose of establishing the rear lot line, the following shall apply:

(i) In the case of a lot with a rear boundary formed by a single line that is parallel to the front lot line, such rear boundary is the rear lot line.

(ii) In the case of a lot with a rear boundary formed by two (2) or more lines, the rear lot line shall be a line ten (10) feet in length within the lot and farthest removed from the front lot line and at right angles to the lot depth.

(iii) In the case of a trapezoidal lot with the rear boundary 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 and drawn through a point bisecting the recorded rear lot line.

(iv) In no case shall the application of the above be interpreted as permitting a main building to locate closer than five (5) feet to any property line unless such building portion is below grade with no visible portion above grade.

(c) Lot Line, Side. Any property line not a front or rear lot line.

(73) Lot of Record. A lot as shown on an official recorded plat or subdivision, or any parcel of land described by metes and bounds in a recorded deed, record of survey or other appropriate document filed with the County Auditor.

(74) Lot Types.

(a) Lot, Corner. A lot which is located at the intersection of two (2) or more streets.

(b) Lot, Interior. A lot that has frontage on one (1) street only.

(c) Lot, Through. A lot having frontage on two (2) parallel or nearly parallel streets, also referred to as a “double frontage” lot.

(75) Manufactured Home. See Chapter 17.105 PCC, Manufactured Homes, Recreational Vehicles, and Trailers, for all definitions relevant to the regulation of manufactured homes and manufactured home parks.

(76) Marijuana. “Marijuana” as defined in RCW 69.50.101, as it now exists or may hereafter be amended.

(77) Marijuana-Infused Products. “Marijuana-infused products” as defined in RCW 69.50.101, as it now exists or may hereafter be amended.

(78) Marijuana Processing Facility. An establishment licensed by the State of Washington Liquor Control Board to process marijuana into usable marijuana and marijuana-infused products, package and label usable marijuana and marijuana-infused products for sale in marijuana retail facilities, and sell usable marijuana and marijuana-infused products at wholesale to marijuana retail facilities.

(79) Marijuana Production Facility. An establishment licensed by the State of Washington Liquor Control Board to produce and sell marijuana at wholesale to marijuana processing facilities and other marijuana production facilities.

(80) Marijuana Retail Facility. An establishment licensed by the State of Washington Liquor Control Board for the retail sale of usable marijuana and/or marijuana-infused products.

(81) Maternity Service Agency. A maternity service agency as defined in RCW 74.15.020(1)(h) licensed in accordance with the laws of the state of Washington.

(82) Membership Lodging. A building or portion thereof having only one (1) kitchen and occupied by six (6) or more persons, not related by blood or marriage living together as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit. The term shall include dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and other similar group living quarters, but shall exclude “hotels” and “motels.”

(83) Nonconforming. See Chapter 17.30 PCC, Nonconforming Uses, Buildings or Structures, and Lots, for definitions relevant to this subject.

(84) Nursery School or Preschool. A public or private agency, school, or institution engaged in educational work with preschool children and in which no child is enrolled on a regular basis for four (4) or more hours per day. Enrollment for four (4) or more hours per day shall classify the facility as a “Child Day Care Facility.”

(85) Open Space. The unoccupied portion of a lot or building site that is open to the sky and which may or may not contain landscaping, landscaping structures, or outdoor recreational facilities.

(86) Overlay Zone. A set of zoning requirements described in this Title and imposed in addition to those of the underlying zone district.

(87) Owner. The owner of record as determined by the records of the County Auditor. The owner under a real estate contract is the purchaser.

(88) Permitted Use. An activity permitted by right in a given zone which may occur without special action by the hearing examiner or planning commission, subject to the development regulations of the zone district in which it is located.

(89) Pig, Miniature. Swine that has a maximum weight of one hundred fifty (150) pounds and a maximum height of twenty-two (22) inches at the shoulder.

(90) Planned Residential Development (PRD). A parcel of land which is planned and developed as a unit under single or common ownership or control, and which generally includes clustered buildings, common open spaces, and a mix of building types.

(91) Planning Commission (Commission). The planning commission of the city of Pullman as provided for in Chapter 17.20 PCC, Planning Commission.

(92) Principal Use. The primary or predominant use to which the property, land, or structure is or may be devoted, and to which all other uses on the premises are secondary or accessory.

(93) Prohibited Use. Any use not specifically enumerated as a permitted use, conditional use, or nonconforming use, including but not limited to the enumerated “prohibited uses” within each zone district.

(94) Property Line. Any line bounding the ownership of a parcel of land.

(95) Public Utility. A public or private business or organization performing some public service paid for directly by the recipients of such service and having appropriate approval from the state. Such services shall include, but are not limited to, water supply, electric power and gas supply, transportation for persons and freight, and communications.

(96) Public Utility Facility. Any building, structure, or device which transfers to the public the service or supply provided by a public utility.

(97) Recreational Marijuana. Marijuana as administered under the provisions of Chapter 69.50 RCW and Chapter 314-55 WAC, as they now exist or may hereafter be amended.

(98) Recreational Vehicle. See Chapter 17.105 PCC, Manufactured Homes, Recreational Vehicles, and Trailers, for all definitions relevant to Recreational Vehicles and Recreational Vehicle Parks.

(99) Residential Care Facility. A facility licensed by the State for the care of children under 18 years of age, expectant mothers regardless of age, or persons with developmental disabilities on a twenty-four (24) hour basis. It shall include group care facilities, maternity service agencies, and foster family homes.

(100) Rooming and Boarding House. A building with only one (1) kitchen that is used for the purpose of providing lodging, with or without meals, for compensation, for up to and including five (5) persons other than the family of the owner or operator.

(101) Satellite Dish. A circular or parabolic (dish-shaped) device of solid or mesh construction, designed and erected for the purpose of receiving telecommunication signals.

(102) Screening or Screen. A continuous fence, wall, earth berm, landscaping, or any combination thereof that provides a sight-obscuring and sound-absorbing buffer around the property it encloses. See Chapter 17.45 PCC, Landscaping and Screening, for further clarification.

(103) Sign. See Chapter 17.50 PCC, Sign Regulations, for all definitions relevant to signs.

(104) Story. That portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling. If the finished floor level directly above a basement is more than six (6) feet above grade, as defined herein, for more than fifty (50) percent of the total perimeter or is more than twelve (12) feet above grade at any point, such basement shall be considered as a story.

(105) Story, First. The lowest story in a building which qualifies as a story, as defined herein, except that a floor level in a building having only one (1) floor level shall be classified as a first story; provided, that such floor level is not more than four (4) feet below grade for more than fifty (50) percent of the total perimeter, or more than eight (8) feet below grade at any point, in which case it shall be classified as a basement.

(106) Street. The entire width between the boundary lines of every right-of-way, except alleys, that provides for public use for the purpose of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and the placement of utilities and including the terms “road,” “highway,” “lane,” “place,” “avenue,” and other similar designations.

(107) Street, Flanking. A street other than the one on which a corner lot has its main frontage. Main frontage is determined by the orientation of the main entrance of a structure.

(108) Structure. An edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together.

(109) Temporary Use. A use permitted for a restricted period of time as specified in PCC 17.35.040, Temporary Uses.

(110) Townhouse. A dwelling containing one (1) dwelling unit exclusively occupying a space from the ground to the roof and not lying vertically over or under another dwelling unit or part thereof, having direct access to private open space, and attached to one (1) or more other such dwelling units by common walls which may be located on lot lines.

(111) University Facility. A facility or service operated by or within a university institution involving education, research, administration, public safety, athletics, medical services, places of assembly, university housing, retail and service businesses, parking facilities, public works improvements, and other university support facilities and services.

(112) Usable Marijuana. “Useable marijuana” as defined in RCW 69.50.101, as it now exists or may hereafter be amended.

(113) Use. The nature of the occupancy, the type of activity, or the character and form of improvements to which land is devoted or may be devoted.

(114) Variance. A modification of the terms of this Title that may be granted pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 17.130 PCC, Variances.

(115) Vehicle. Any motorized apparatus capable of being moved upon a public way and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public way, except railroad trains.

(116) Wireless Communication Attached Facility. A wireless communication transmission and/or reception device that is affixed to an existing structure such as an existing building, tower, water tank, or utility pole; an equipment structure; and connecting appurtenances.

(117) Wireless Communication Facility. An unstaffed public utility facility for the transmission and/or reception of radio frequency signals usually composed of an equipment structure; a support structure; transmission and/or reception devices, consisting of linear and/or parabolic antennas; and related equipment. This definition does not include ancillary antennas such as are usual to individual businesses and residences and which conform to height limits and other development standards in the zone district in which such antennas would be located, nor does it include radio and television transmitting stations and towers, accessory TV reception or amateur radio/citizens radio antennas, or their respective support structures.

(118) Wireless Communication Freestanding Facility. A wireless communication transmission and/or reception device(s) that is affixed to a structure erected to support said transmission and/or reception device(s), an equipment structure, and connecting appurtenances. Support structure types include, but are not limited to, metal poles, lattice towers, wood poles, and guyed towers.

(119) Yard. An open space, other than a court, on the same lot with a building, unoccupied and unobstructed by a portion of a structure from the ground upward, except as otherwise provided within this Title.

(120) Yard, Front. A yard extending across the full width of a lot on which a building is located, and between the front lot line and the building line.

(121) Yard, Minimum Required. That minimum yard, either front, side, or rear, the dimensions of which are set by various sections of this Title.

(122) Yard, Rear. A yard extending across the full width of a lot on which a building is located and situated between the rear lot line and the building line.

(123) Yard, Side. A yard extending from the front yard to the rear yard of a lot on which a building is located and situated between the side lot line and the building line; in the case of a corner lot, the side yard on the flanking street shall extend to the rear lot line. (Ord. 23-17 §1, 2023; Ord. 22-10 §1, 2022; Ord. 22-2 §3, 2022; Ord. 21-15 §6, 2021; Ord. 21-9 §1, 2021; Ord. 14-12 §1, 2014; Ord. 14-4 §1, 2014; Ord. 03-33 §1, 2003; Ord. 02-32 §1, 2002; Ord. 01-5 §1, 2001; Ord. 00-8 §1, 2000; Ord. 00-3 §1, 2000; Ord. 99-49 §1, 1999; Ord. 96-19 §1, 1996; Ord. 87-9 §1, 1987).