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Home My WebLink About26-2119 City Code UDC CITY OF MERIDIAN ORDINANCE NO. 26-2119 BY THE CITY COUNCIL: CAVENER, LITTLE ROBERTS, OVERTON, STRADER, TAYLOR,WHITLOCK AN ORDINANCE AMENDING UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTION 11-1-5(B)(1) CONCERNING FENCE MEASUREMENTS; AMENDING UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTION 11-1A-1 CONCERNING DEFINITIONS OF DRIVE-THROUGH ESTABLISHMENTS; AMENDING UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTION 11-2A- 3(E) CONCERNING MAXIMUM HEIGHT LIMIT IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS; AMENDING UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTION 11-2D-3(B) CONCERNING MAXIMUM HEIGHT LIMIT IN TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS; AMENDING UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TABLE 11-2B-2 CONCERNING ALLOWED USES IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS; AMENDING UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TABLE 11-2D-2 CONCERNING ALLOWED USES IN TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS; AMENDING UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTION 11-3A-7(D)(4)(c), CONCERNING DECORATIVE PANELS AND TRELLISES ADJACENT TO FENCES; AMENDING UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TABLE 11-5A-2 CONCERNING DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Unified Development Code is the official zoning ordinance for the City of Meridian and provides an opportunity to better support the Comprehensive Plan and provide a tool that is relevant and contemporary to the needs of the City; and, WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Meridian deems it to be in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of its citizens to incorporate changes to the Unified Development Code. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, IDAHO: Section 1. That Unified Development Code section 11-1-5(B)(1)be amended as follows: B.Measurements. 1. The height of a residential structure shall be measured from the average grade at the front property line to the highest point of the roof or structure. Non-residential and mixed-use structure height shall be measured in accord with the Meridian City Building Code as set forth in title 10, chapter 1 of this Code. Section 2. That the definition of"drive-through establishment" shall be modified in Unified Development Code section 11-1A-1, as follows: Drive-through establishment. The use of a portion of a structure where business is transacted, or is capable of being transacted, directly with customers located in a motor vehicle..-, including FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE-ZOA-2025-0003 PAGE 1 OF 13 associated stacking lanes, speaker and/or orderingarea,rea, pick-up windows, and exit lanes. The bapAc sei:vi M-4/of fiIm The term drive-through establishment shall not include "fuel sales facility,"of"vehicle washing facility," or"vehicle repair, minor" as herein defined. A. Tier 1. A drive-through associated with a financial institution, automated teller machine (ATM), pharmacy, laundry and dry cleaning, restaurant limited to online and mobile ordering only, or other comparable uses, as determined by the Director. B. Tier 2. A drive-through associated with a restaurant limited to a designated order area, one (1) stacking lane, and a pick-up window. C. Tier 3. A drive-through associated with a restaurant providing either two (2) or more designated order areas, two (2) or more stacking lanes, or two (2) or more pick-up windows. Section 3. That Unified Development Code section 11-2A-3(E) be amended as follows: E. Maximum height limit. 1. Residential structures shall not exceed the maximum height of the district as defined in chapter 1 of this title. 4-.2. The maximum height limitations shall not apply to the f II,,w i architectural features of non-residential and mixed-use structures that are not intended for human occupation-, such as steeple,belfry, cupola, and chimney. Such architectural features shall have a maximum height limit of(20) feet as measured from the roofline. -23. For non-residential and mixed-use structures, t-he maximum height limitations shall not apply to the following: spire; amateur radio antenna; bridge tower; fire and hose tower; observation tower; power line tower; smokestack; water tank or tower; ventilator; windmill; wireless communication facility; or other commercial or personal tower and/or antenna structure; or other appurtenances usually required to be placed above the level of the ground and not intended for human occupancy. 34.Notwithstanding other height limitations as set forth in this chapter, the maximum height for education facilities shall be fifty(50) feet. 4.5.No exception shall be allowed to the height limit where the height of any structures will constitute a hazard to the safe landing and takeoff of aircraft in an established airport. Section 4. That Unified Development Code section 11-2D-3(B)be amended as follows: B.Maximum height limit. 1. Residential structures shall not exceed the maximum height of the district as defined in chapter 1 of this title. 4-.2. The maximum height limitations shall not apply to the fellewin architectural features of non-residential and mixed-use structures that are not intended for human occupation..-, such as FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE-ZOA-2025-0003 PAGE 2 OF 13 steeple,belfry, cupola, and chimney. Such architectural features shall have a maximum height limit of twenty(20) feet as measured from the roofline. 20. For non-residential and mixed-use structures, tT-he maximum height limitations shall not apply to the following: spire; amateur radio antenna; bridge tower; fire and hose tower; observation tower; power line tower; smokestack; water tank or tower; ventilator; windmill; wireless communication facility, or other commercial or personal tower and/or antenna structure; or other appurtenances usually required to be placed above the level of the ground and not intended for human occupancy. �4.No exception shall be allowed to the height limit where the height of any structures will constitute a hazard to the safe landing and takeoff of aircraft in an established airport. 45. In the O-T and TN-C districts, the additional height allowed is limited as follows: a. In the area defined as the city core in chapter I of this title, additional building height may deviate up to twenty(20)percent of the minimum or maximum height in the O-T district subject to the alternative compliance procedures set forth in chapter 5, "administration", of this title. Proposed building height exceeding twenty (20) percent of the maximum or minimum height for the district requires approval through a conditional use permit. In no case shall the building height exceed fifty (50)percent of the maximum height allowed in the district. b. Additional building height not to exceed twenty(20)percent of the maximum height allowed for the TN-C district may be approved by the Director through the alternative compliance procedures set forth in chapter 5, "administration", of this title. Additional height shall be allowed when the development provides ten (10) percent of the building square feet in open space, courtyards, patios, or other usable outdoor space available for the employees and/or patrons of the structure, excluding required setbacks and landscape buffers. c. Additional building height exceeding twenty(20)percent of the maximum height allowed for the TN-C district or when additional height is requested without providing the required open space in accord with subsection(B)(4)b of this section requires approval through a conditional use permit. Section 5. That Unified Development Code section 11-213-2, Table 11-2B2 be amended as follows: TABLE 11-213-2 ALLOWED USES IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS Use C-N C-C C-G L-O M-E H-E Animal care facility' P P P C C - Artist studio' P P P - - - FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE-ZOA-2025-0003 PAGE 3 OF 13 Use C-N C-C C-G L-O M-E H-E Arts,entertainment or P P P C - - recreation facility, indoor' Arts,entertainment or C P P - - - recreation facility, outdoor' Arts,entertainment or - C C - - - recreation facility, outdoor stage or music venue Building material, garden C P P - - - equipment and supplies' Cemetery' - - - C - - Church or place of P P P P C C religious worship' Civic, social or fraternal C C C C - - organizations' Conference center - - P - C P Daycare centers A/C A/C A/C P A/C A/C Daycare, family' A A A A - - Daycare, group' P P A P C C Dispatch center for C C P C C - mobile services' Drinking establishment' C C C - - C A4G A4G - - - est blis mefi} Drive-Through A/C A/C A/C - - - Establishment, Tier 1' Drive-Through C C C - - - Establishment, Tier 2' Drive-Through C C C - - - Establishment, Tier 3' Education institution, P P P P P P private' Education institution, P P P P P P public' FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE—ZOA-2025-0003 PAGE 4 OF 13 Use C-N C-C C-G L-O M-E H-E Equipment rental, sales, - C C - -and service' Financial institution' P P P P P A Flex space' - P P - P - Food and beverage P/C P/C P/C - P/C P/C products processing; minor' Food truck court' P P P P P P Food truck' A A A A A A Fuel sales facility' C P P - - C Fuel sales facility, truck - - C - - - stop' Healthcare or social P P P P P P services Home occupation, A A - - - accessory use' Hospital' - C C C C P Hotel and motel' P/C P/C P/C - C P Indoor shooting range - - - - C - Industry, information' P P P C P P Industry, light' - - C C P C Laundromat' P P P C - - Laundry and dry cleaning P P P - - A Live/work residential P P C C -project' Mortuary C P P - - - FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE—ZOA-2025-0003 PAGE 5 OF 13 Use C-N C-C C-G L-O M-E H-E Multifamily - C C - - - development' Nursery or urban farm' C P P C - - Nursing or residential C C C C - - care facility' Parking facility C C P C C P Parks,public and private P P P P P P Personal service P P P P A A Professional service P P P P P P Public, infrastructure' C C C C C C Public or quasi-public P P P P P P use' Public utility, minor P P P P P P Recreational vehicle park - - P - - - Research and - - P - P P development facility Restaurant' P P P C A A Retail sales P P P - A A Retail store P P P - A A Retail store, wine and P P P - - A beer sales and servings I Storage facility, outside' A A A - - - Storage facility, self- - C C - - - service' Vehicle repair, minor' A P P - - - Vehicle sales or rental - C P - - - and service' Vehicle washing facility' C P P - - A Vertically integrated C P P C - - residentialproject' FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE—ZOA-2025-0003 PAGE 6 OF 13 Use C-N C-C C-G L-O M-E H-E Warehouse' - - A - A/C - Wholesale sales - - A - - - Wireless communication P/C P/C P/C P/C P/C P/C facility' Wireless communication A/C A/C A/C A/C A/C A/C facility, amateur radio antenna' Section 6. That Unified Development Code section 11-2D-2, Table 11-2D-2 be amended as follows: TABLE 11-2D-2 ALLOWED USES IN THE TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS Use O-T TN-C TN-R Artist studio' P P - Arts, entertainment or recreation facility, indoors P C - Arts, entertainment or recreation facility, outdoor stage C C - or music venue Arts, entertainment or recreation facility, outdoors' C C - Building material, garden equipment and supplies' C C - Church or place of religious worship' P P C Civic, social or fraternal organizations' P C C Conference center P - - Daycare center' C C C Daycare, family' A A A Daycare, group' P P C Drinking establishment' C C - - - Drive-Through Establishment, Tier 1' C - - Drive-Through Establishment, Tier 2' C - - Drive-Throush Establishment, Tier 3' C - - Dwelling, secondary' A A A FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE—ZOA-2025-0003 PAGE 7 OF 13 Use O-T TN-C TN-R Dwelling, single-family attached P P P Dwelling, single-family detached P C P Dwelling, townhouse P P P Dwelling, two-family duplex P C P Education institution, privatel P C C Education institution,publics P P P/C Financial institutions P P C Food and beverage products processing; minors P/C P/C - Food truck courts P P P Food trucks A A A Healthcare or social services P P - Home occupation, accessory uses A A A Hospitals C - - Hotel and motels P/C C - Industry, informations P/C P/C - Industry, lights C - - Laundromat' P P A Laundry and dry cleaning P P P Live/work residential projects P P P Mortuary C C - Multifamily developments P P P Nursing or residential care facility' C C C Parking facility C C - Parks,public and private P P P Personal service P P C Professional service P P C Public, infrastructures C C C Public or quasi-public uses P P C FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE-ZOA-2025-0003 PAGE 8 OF 13 Use O-T TN-C TN-R Public utility, minor C P P Restaurant' P P - Retail store P P - Retail store, wine and beer sales and servings' P P - Vehicle repair, minor' A - - Vertically integrated residential project' P P P Wireless communication facility' P/C P/C P/C Wireless communication facility, amateur radio antenna' A/C A/C A/C Section 7. That, per the language approved by City Council on August 19, 2025, Unified Development Code section 11-3A-7(13)(4)(c), concerning decorative panels and trellises adjacent to fences, shall be amended, nunc pro tunc, as follows: c. They do not exceed eight feet(8') in height; and Section 8. That Unified Development Code section 11-5A-2, Table 11-5A-2 be amended as follows: TABLE 11-5A-2 DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY AND PROCESS BY APPLICATION Application Recommending Decision Making Process Body Body Accessory use for daycare,family None D N Accessory use,home occupation None D A Accessory use,home occupation including None D N provision of lessons or instruction to a group of 7 or more students Administrative design review None or Design D A Professionals Review Committee Alternative compliance None D A Alternative compliance(concurrent with D PZ PH conditional use permit) FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE—ZOA-2025-0003 PAGE 9 OF 13 Application Recommending Decision Making Process Body Body Annexation and/or rezone PZ CC PH Certificate of occupancy None D A Certificate of zoning compliance None D A City Council review None CC PH Comprehensive Plan amendment PZ CC PH Conditional use D PZ PH Conditional use,Tier 1 Drive-through None or D D or PZ A or PH Conditional use,Tier 2 Drive-through D PZ PH Conditional use,Tier 3 Drive-throuall DPZ CC PH Conditional use(concurrent with PZ CC PH annexation,rezone,preliminary plat, alternative compliance, development agreement modification and/or combination plat) Development agreement modification D CC PH Director modification to an approved None D A conditional use Landscaping plans None D A Planned unit development PZ CC PH Plat,combination PZ CC PH Plat,final D CC PM FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE—ZOA-2025-0003 PAGE 10 OF 13 Application Recommending Decision Making Process Body Body Plat,final,modification D CC PM Plat,preliminary PZ CC PH Plat, short D CC PH Private street None D A Property boundary adjustment None D A Sign None D A Temporary use None D A Time extension, commission or Council D Same decision maker PH as initial approval Time extension, Director None D A Unified Development Code amendment PZ CC PH Vacations: Exempt per Idaho Code § 50-1306A(5) None D A All others D CC PH Variance D CC PH CC=City Council A=Administrative D=Director N=Administrative with public notice PZ=Planning and Zoning Commission PH=Public hearing PM=Public meeting FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE—ZOA-2025-0003 PAGE 11 OF 13 Section 9. That all other provisions of the Unified Development Code remain unchanged. Section10.That this ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and publication. 17th PASSED by the City Council of the City of Meridian, Idaho, this _____ day of March,2026. APPROVEDbytheCouncil President of the City of Meridian, Idaho, this _____ day ofMarch, 2026. 17th APPROVED:ATTEST: __________________________________________________________ By John Overton, Council PresidentChris Johnson, City Clerk F EBRUARY 2026U PDATE U NIFIED D EVELOPMENT C ODE T EXT A MENDMENT O RDINANCE ZOA-2025-0003 P AGE 12 OF 13 CERTIFICATION OF SUMMARY: William L. M.Nary, City Attorney of the city of Meridian, Idaho,hereby certifies that the summary below is true and complete and upon its publication will provide adequate notice to the public. William L.M.Nary SUMMARY OF CITY OF MERIDIAN ORDINANCE NO. 26-2119 An ordinance amending Unified Development Code section 11-1-5(B)(1) concerning fence measurements; amending Unified Development Code section 11-1A-1 concerning definitions of drive-through establishments; amending Unified Development Code section 11-2A-3(e) concerning maximum height limit in residential districts; amending Unified Development Code section 11-2D- 3(b) concerning maximum height limit in traditional neighborhood districts; amending Unified Development Code Table 11-2B-2 concerning allowed uses in commercial districts; amending Unified Development Code Table 11-2D-2 concerning allowed uses in traditional neighborhood districts; amending Unified Development Code section 11-3A-7(D)(4)(c), concerning decorative panels and trellises adjacent to fences; amending Unified Development Code Table 11-5A-2 concerning decision-making authority; and providing an effective date. A full text of this ordinance is available for inspection at City Hall, City of Meridian, 33 East Broadway Avenue,Meridian, Idaho. FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE-ZOA-2025-0003 PAGE 13 OF 13 MEMO INVOICE IDAHO PRESS MER7DfAN PRE55 c/o ISj Payment Processing Center L.ocai ive.�s w zct�Ho1a,n ..,,. �� Emmett PO Box 1570, BOISEWEEKLY® Messenger Pocatello,ID 83204 Ph. (208) 542-6796 Fax: (907)452-5054 BILLING DATE: ACCOUNT NO: LEGAL NOTICE 03/19/26 21410 SUMMARY OF CITY OF MERIDIAN ORDINANCE NO.26-2119 An ordinance amending MERIDIAN, CITY OF Unified Development Code 33 E. BROADWAYAVENUE section 11-1-5(B)(1) concern- MERIDIAN, ID 83642 ing fence measurements; amending Unified Develop- ment Code section 11-1A- 1 concerning definitions of drive-through establishments; amending Unified Develop- ment Code section 11-2A-3(e) AD# DESCRIPTION START STOP TIMES AMOUNT concerning maximum height limit in residential districts; 726919 ORD 26-2119 03/24/26 03/24/26 2 $44.78 amending Unified Develop- ment Code section 11-2D-3(b) concerning maximum height limit in traditional neighbor- hood districts; amending Unified Development Code Table 11-2B-2 concerning al- lowed uses in commercial districts; amending Unified Development Code Table 11- 2D-2 concerning allowed uses in traditional neighborhood districts; amending Unified Development Code section 11-3A-7(D)(4)(c), concerning decorative panels and trellises adjacent to fences; amending Unified Development Code Table 11-5A-2 concerning de- cision-making authority; and providing an effective date. A full text of this ordinance is available for inspection at City Hall, City of Meridian,33 East Broadway Avenue, Meridian, Idaho. Published: March 24th, 2026 726919 Payments: Date Method Card Type Last 4 Digits Check Amount Discount: $0.00 Gross:$44.78 Surcharge: $0.00 Paid Amount:$0.00 Credits: $0.00 Amount Due:$44.78 We Appreciate Your Business! AD#726919