2.7.4150 Residential Zoning Districts

2.7.4150 Residential Zoning Districts.

This section was recently amended by Ordinance NS-2487, codified in January 2024.

A. Permitted Uses. The land uses listed in Table 2.7.4150 are permitted in the Residential Districts, subject to the provisions of this chapter. Only land uses that are specifically listed in Table 2.7.3950, land uses that are incidental and subordinate to a permitted use, and land uses that are approved as “similar” to those in Table 2.7.3950 may be permitted.

Table 2.7.4150 – Permitted and Conditional Uses
Land Use	RS	RM	MHO
Residential
Single-Room Occupancy	P	P	P
Single-Unit Dwellings	P	P	N
*Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)	P	P	P
*Townhomes	P	P	P
Duplexes, Triplexes, Quadplexes	P	P	P
Residential Care Home (5 or fewer residents)	P	P	P
Adult Day Care	P	P	P
Family Childcare Home (16 or fewer children)	P	P	P
Multi-Unit Residential (5 or more units)	N	P	P
*Home Business (Class A/Class B)	P	P	P
*Accessory Uses and Structures	P	P	P
*Public and Institutional
Parks	P	P	N
Recreational Facilities	P	P	N
**Schools	P	N	N
Miscellaneous Uses
*Short-Term Rental	P	P	P
*Shelters, see BDC 3.6.600	P	P	P

*Subject to special standards as described in BDC Chapter 3.6, Special Standards and Regulations for Certain Uses.

**Schools are permitted in the RS District, subject to the provisions of BDC 2.6.300, Development Standards.

	Primary Front	Secondary Front	Rear	Side
RS, RM	10 ft.*	8 ft.*	5 ft./*	4 ft., except 8 ft. when side abuts an alley***
MHO	10 ft.*	8 ft.*	5 ft.	4 ft., except 8 ft. when side abuts an alley

Primary Front

Secondary Front

Rear

Side

RS, RM

10 ft.*

8 ft.*

5 ft.**/***

4 ft., except

8 ft. when side abuts an alley***

MHO

10 ft.*

8 ft.*

5 ft.

4 ft., except

8 ft. when side abuts an alley

*Garages and/or carports must maintain a minimum front setback of 20 feet.

**Garages and/or carports that access an alley must have a driveway with a minimum length of 18 feet.

***When multi-unit buildings containing five or more units, single-room occupancies with more than six units or nonresidential uses abut a detached single-unit dwelling or duplex on land designated RS, any side or rear setback abutting the RS land must increase one-half foot for each foot by which the building height exceeds 20 feet. Where a fractional number results, the number may be rounded down to the nearest whole number.

a. Townhomes. Interior side setbacks are zero feet.

b. Architectural Features. The following architectural features are allowed to encroach into the front, side and rear setbacks by no more than two feet provided a minimum setback of three feet is provided from the property line: eaves, chimneys including fireplace enclosures and chimney chases, bay windows up to eight feet in width, window wells, and similar architectural features.

c. Front Setback Encroachments. The following may encroach into the front setback:

i. An unenclosed covered or uncovered porch, patio, deck or stoop with a maximum floor height not exceeding 18 inches may be set back a minimum of six feet from the front property line, as long as it does not encroach into any easement. No portion of the structure may encroach closer than six feet to the front property line including the architectural features in subsection (B)(1)(b) of this section.

ii. As shown in Figure 2.1.300, side entry garages that access a street must have a driveway with a minimum length of 20 feet from the front and side property lines.

iii. Stairs, ramps and landings that are not roofed or enclosed above or below the steps may be in the front setback when they follow the grade.

d. Side and Rear Setback Encroachments. The following may encroach into side and rear setbacks:

i. An uncovered porch, patio, deck or stoop located above finished grade with a maximum floor height not exceeding 18 inches must be set back a minimum of 18 inches from the side and rear property lines, as long as it does not encroach into an easement.

ii. Uncovered patios at finished grade are exempt from setbacks as long as it does not encroach into an easement.

C. Floor area ratio does not apply to any uses.

D. Lot Area and Dimensions. Lot areas and lot dimension standards for residential uses are listed in the following table. For other uses permitted in each zone, the lot area and dimensions are subject to the type of residential structure being occupied. Lot area and dimensions exceptions for affordable housing, see BDC 3.6.200(C).

Lot Areas and Dimensions in Easton by Housing Type and Zone
Residential Use	Zone	Minimum Lot Area	Lot Width/Depth
Single-Unit Detached Dwellings	RS	2,700 sq. ft.	Minimum width: 30 ft. at front property line Minimum lot depth: 50 ft.
	RM	2,500 sq. ft.	Minimum width: 30 ft. at the front property line Minimum lot depth: 50 ft.
	MHO	Not applicable	Not applicable
Single-Room Occupancy	RS	7,000 sq. ft.	Minimum width: 40 ft. at the front property line Minimum lot depth: 50 ft.
	RM	None	Minimum width: 30 ft. at the front property line Minimum lot depth: 50 ft.
	MHO	None
Duplexes, Triplexes, and Quadplexes	RS	Duplex: 2,700 sq. ft. Triplex: 5,000 sq. ft. Quadplex: 7,000 sq. ft.	Duplexes: Minimum width: 30 ft. at front property line Minimum lot depth: 50 ft. Triplexes and Quadplexes: Minimum width: 40 ft. at front property line Minimum lot depth: 50 ft.
	RM	None	Minimum width: 30 ft. at the front property line Minimum lot depth: 50 ft.
	MHO	None
Townhomes	RS	Average minimum lot or parcel size: 1,500 sq. ft. for each unit	Minimum width: 20 ft. at front property line Minimum lot depth: 50 ft.
	RM
	MHO	Average minimum lot or parcel size: 1,500 sq. ft. for each unit
Multi-Unit Dwellings (5+ Units)	RS	Not applicable	Not applicable
	RM	None	Minimum width: 30 ft. at front property line Minimum lot depth: 50 ft.
	MHO	None

Exceptions:

1. Except for townhomes, bulb of a cul-de-sac or knuckle corner minimum width: 30 feet at the front property line.

2. Except for townhomes, corner lots or lots where a side lot line abuts an alley must be at least four feet more in width than the minimum lot width required in the zone.

3. Frontage on a public street, private street, or open space tract is required. Lots fronting open space tracts must take access from a rear alley, and the property line fronting open space must be considered a front property line.

4. Other exceptions permitted in the underlying Residential District are also permitted.

E. Residential Density and Housing Mix. Based on the planned zoning, the Easton Master Plan must ensure capacity for a minimum of 720 housing units, including at least 244 units of townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and/or multi-unit.

F. Maximum Lot Coverage. The following maximum lot coverage standards apply to all development within the Residential Districts as follows:

Residential Lot Coverage
Residential Zone	Lot Coverage
Standard Density Residential (RS) Medium Density Residential (RM)	50% for lots with 2+ story dwelling units 55% for lots with single-story dwelling units and single-story accessory structures 60% for lots with townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, single-room occupancies and multi-unit
Middle Housing Overlay (MHO)	None

1. Buildings within the RS District may be no more than 30 feet in height.

2. Buildings within the RM District or MHO may be no more than 45 feet in height.

H. Architectural Design Standards. Buildings are not subject to the design standards of the underlying zoning district or the standards in BDC Chapter 3.6, Special Standards and Regulations for Certain Uses, except where explicitly referenced.

I. Additional Standards for Townhomes, Duplexes, Triplexes, and Quadplexes. Townhomes, duplex, triplex, and quadplex developments not accessed by an alley must comply with the following standards:

1. Townhomes located on lots that meet the minimum width requirement for detached single-unit homes are not subject to BDC 3.6.200(D), but must comply with the following standards:

a. Driveway approaches must be separated by a minimum of seven feet.

b. Driveway approaches must not exceed 20 feet in width.

2. Driveway approaches for duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes must comply with the following standards:

a. The total width of all driveway approaches must not exceed 32 feet per frontage. For lots or parcels with more than one frontage, see subsection (I)(2)(c) of this section.

b. Driveway approaches may be separated when located on a local street. If approaches are separated, they must be separated by a minimum of seven feet.

c. In addition, lots or parcels with more than one frontage must comply with the following:

i. Lots or parcels must access the street with the lowest classification.

ii. Lots or parcels with frontages only on collectors and/or arterial streets may have one driveway approach. When lots or parcels only have frontages on collector streets or only on arterial streets, the City Engineer will determine which frontage may have one driveway approach based on the following:

(A) Distance from the nearest intersection;

(B) Clear vision areas;

(D) Utility conflicts; and

(E) Pedestrian and bike conflicts in the vicinity.

iii. Lots or parcels with frontages only on local streets must comply with the following:

(A) Duplexes may have two driveway approaches not exceeding 32 feet in total width on one frontage or one maximum 16-foot-wide driveway approach per frontage.

(B) Triplexes may have three driveway approaches not exceeding 32 feet in total width on one frontage or two driveway approaches not exceeding 32 feet in total width on one frontage and one maximum 16-foot-wide driveway approach on one other frontage.

(C) Quadplexes may have four driveway approaches not exceeding 32 feet in total width on one frontage or two driveway approaches not exceeding 32 feet in total width on one frontage and one maximum 16-foot-wide driveway approach on one other frontage.

3. Clear vision standards do not apply between driveway approaches on local streets. All other standards in BDC 3.1.500, Clear Vision Areas, apply.

4. For lots or parcels abutting an alley, access may be required to be taken from the alley in accordance with BDC 3.1.400(F)(3).

1. On-site surface water drainage may be addressed in the following ways. Alternatives may be approved by the City Engineer:

a. Roof drainage originating from residential properties may be conveyed to a public street and/or public storm drain collection and disposal system by subsurface piping, or curb weepholes, as approved by the City Engineer during permit review.

b. Roof and surface drainage originating from residential properties may be conveyed to a private storm drain collection and disposal system located in a private tract or easement. The City may allow for private drainage systems in the public right-of-way if deemed appropriate by the City and maintenance agreements are executed between the homeowners’ association and the City.

c. Roof drainage originating from residential properties may be commingled with drainage originating from public streets, private streets, and/or alleys and conveyed to a non-UIC system located within a private tract to be owned by a homeowners’ association with a maintenance agreement between the homeowners’ association and the City outlining operational and maintenance responsibilities. The City may allow for commingled drainage to be conveyed to a non-UIC system located in the public right-of-way if deemed appropriate by the City and maintenance agreements are executed between the homeowners’ association and the City.

d. Private drainage facilities must be contained within the same or previous subdivision phase, or a stormwater easement must be provided for the stormwater facilities.

e. Stormwater easements must be provided for public drainage facilities located on private property.

f. A homeowners’ association must be responsible for installing and maintaining any required landscaping in private facilities located in a private tract.

g. A stormwater maintenance agreement must be signed with the City prior to final plat of the subdivision phase.

K. BDC 3.5.200, Outdoor Lighting Standards, does not apply. [Ord. NS-2487, 2023; Ord. NS-2443, 2022; Ord. NS-2434, 2022; Ord. NS-2423, 2021; Ord. NS-2415, 2021; Ord. NS-2391, 2020]