PURPOSE

  1. To ensure that buildings relate to the street by providing a rhythm of door and window openings.
  2. To minimize blank walls along thoroughfares.

APPLICABILITY

  1. Applies to all new primary buildings, accessory buildings, and components, not including civic buildings.

GENERAL

  1. Window and door requirements apply to all building facades, except:
    1. Where installation of windows along side or rear property lines is not feasible due to separation requirements required by the fire code.
    2. Along the portion of a building where shopfront standards apply.
  2. The required window and door percentages apply to the total area of each story of each building facade as measured from the surface of the floor of that story to the surface of the next floor above; or, if there is no floor above, to either the top of the wall plate, or the base of the buildings eaves, whichever is shorter.
  3. Windows and doors must have clear, transparent glass that has a minimum VLT of 50% as indicated by the glass manufacturer.
  4. All windows and doors on a building face must be square or vertical in proportion and must have center or edge alignment that is vertical and horizontal, except as follows:
    1. Stairwell windows may be circular or take the shape of any regular polygon, other than a triangle, and may take the orientation of the roof pitch.
  5. Window and door openings should align vertically within each architectural bay and align horizontally across each story of a building to extent practicable.
  6. Window and door openings must correspond to interior space and may not vertically span more than one story.
  7. The variety of window and door sizes and proportions should be limited.
  8. Windows should be recessed from the exterior wall plane to the greatest extent possible to create a shadow line.
  9. Lifting, swinging, or sliding garage doors are not permitted within the frontage zone, except for:
    1. On commercial building facades, where doors must be comprised of 50% transparent glass, with multiple vertically proportioned windows or window lights combined to create horizontal compositions.
    2. On accessory buildings.
    3. Within the following districts: T2 and SD-Fab.
  10. To the extent possible, window and door patterns and window configurations should be used that break the direct line of sight between neighboring properties and preserve privacy.

NONCONFORMING WINDOWS AND DOORS

  1. Routine repair, maintenance, and replacement of nonconforming windows and doors is permitted.
  2. Nonconforming windows and doors may be altered to eliminate or reduce a nonconformity or to create conforming windows and doors that meet the standards of this Code.
  3. Accessory buildings and components added to nonconforming buildings may use windows and doors that take the form and rhythm of the nonconforming primary building.