(a) Purpose and intent. To regulate the number, size, location and appearance of all structures accessory to the principal buildings on lots. These regulations apply to attached garages and detached structures, including but not limited to garages, carports, storage buildings, gazebos, growing season extenders, screen houses, playhouses, guard houses, dispatch houses, security houses, gate houses and similar structures.
(b) Number.
Zoning District | Number Allowed |
Single-Family Districts R-1, R-1A, RS-1 | 2 detached structures on any lot. In addition, 1 structure not exceeding 50 square feet in area nor five feet in height is permitted solely for pool equipment and up to two temporary growing season extenders not exceeding 50 square feet in area and not exceeding four feet in height are permitted subject to the setback requirements of § 21.302.07(b)(1). |
All other districts | 1 detached structure per principal building, plus one guard, dispatch, security or gate house per site or development. Additionally, up to two temporary growing season extenders per acre not exceeding 50 square feet in area and not exceeding four feet in height are permitted subject to the setback requirements of § 21.302.07(b)(1). Accessory buildings used to meet minimum parking requirements for multifamily uses are not counted toward the number limit. |
(c) Location.
Zoning District | Minimum Setback in Front and Side Yards Along Streets | Minimum Setback in Rear Yards Along Streets | Minimum Rear Setback Not Along Streets | Minimum Rear Setback Along Alleys | Minimum Side Setback Not Along Streets |
Single-Family Districts R-1, R-1A, RS-1 | Same as principal structures in the zoning district; however, detached structures are not permitted to be located closer to the property line along a street than the principal structure. | Same as principal structures in the zoning district. | 5 feet 10 feet if connected to water or sanitary sewer service | 5 feet | 5 feet 10 feet if connected to water or sanitary sewer service
|
All other districts | Same as principal structures in the zoning district; however, detached structures are not permitted to be located closer to the property line along a public street than the principal structure. | Same as principal structures in the zoning district. | Same as principal structures in the zoning district, except that accessory buildings used to meet minimum parking requirements for multifamily uses may be set back no closer than 10 feet from the rear property line not along streets. | Same as principal structures in the zoning district, except that accessory buildings used to meet minimum parking requirements for multifamily uses may be set back no closer than 10 feet from the rear property line along alleys. | 10 feet |
Guard, dispatch, security or gate houses in all but R-1, R-1A, RS-1 and R-3 Districts | Same as principal structures in the zoning district. | Same as principal structures in the zoning district. | 10 feet | Same as principal structures in the zoning district. | 10 feet
|
(d) Maximum height.
Zoning District | Structure Type | Maximum Height | Special Regulations |
Single-Family Districts R-1, R-1A, RS-1 | Accessory
buildings
, excluding garages | 15 feet measured from the lowest exterior point to the highest point of the roof and in no event may the overall height exceed the height of the dwelling. | |
Garages | See § 21.301.10 for applicable standards and in no event may the overall height exceed the height of the dwelling. | (1) The overall height of any garage door opening, measured from the floor to the trim covering the door header, may not exceed 8 feet. (2) Where the height of a side wall exceeds 10 feet from the floor of the garage to the top of the side wall, the side and rear setbacks of the garage must be increased 1 inch for each inch of side wall height over ten feet. | |
All other districts | Accessory
buildings | 16 feet measured from the lowest exterior point to the highest point of the roof. |
(e) Maximum size.
Zoning District | Parcel Size | Maximum Size | Special Regulations |
Single-Family Districts R-1, R-1A, RS-1 | 15,000 square feet or less | 1,120 sq. ft. for garages and accessory
buildings
combined; however, the combined area may not exceed the ground floor area of the permanent four season living area plus 120 sq. ft. | (1) Not withstanding the maximum size provisions, each single-family dwelling may have a garage structure with a total floor area of up to 600 feet. (2) Exception for tuck under garages. In those instances where all garage space and accessory storage space on a site is attached to and located below floor area used for permanent 4 season living area, there is no limit on the amount of garage floor area. In these instances, the total floor area of all detached accessory buildings is limited to 120 square feet. |
Greater than 15,000 square feet | 1,120 sq. ft. plus an amount of floor area equal to 5% of lot area above 15,000 sq. ft., up to a maximum of 2,000 sq. ft. for garages and accessory
buildings
combined; however, the combined area may not exceed the ground floor area of the permanent 4 season living area plus 120 sq. ft. | ||
Multi-Family Districts R-3, R-4, RM-12, RM-24, RM-50, RM-100 | Any | 25 square feet per dwelling unit, up to a maximum of 600 square feet except for guard, dispatch, security or gate houses, which are limited to a maximum of 250 square feet. | (1) Accessory buildings used to meet minimum parking requirements for multifamily uses have no maximum size |
All other districts | Any | 5% of the ground floor area of the principal building, up to a maximum of 600 square feet except for guard, dispatch, security or gate houses, which are limited to a maximum of 250 square feet. | (1) Accessory buildings used to meet minimum parking requirements for multifamily uses have no maximum size |
(1) Second level storage area within garages and accessory buildings, with six-foot or greater clearance, is counted toward the maximum garage and accessory building floor area.
(f) Construction and finish.
(1) Accessory buildings, including guard, dispatch, security or gate houses, may be constructed of any material accepted by the Minnesota State Building Code, which is appropriate to the application and the location. Accessory buildings must be erected on crushed rock or concrete or be constructed with a treated wood floor.
(2) Exterior materials and finish must match or complement the exterior finish of the principal structure in material, color, and texture. Exterior surfaces of all accessory buildings must be maintained in new or like new condition, free from cracked and peeling paint, rusting and deteriorating materials.
(g) Approvals and permits.
(1) Except in single-family zoning districts, no accessory building may be constructed, erected or installed without approval of final site plans and building plans by the Issuing Authority as set forth in § 21.501.01(c) of the city code.
(2) No accessory building occupying an area greater than 200 square feet may be constructed, erected, or installed without a building permit issued by the Issuing Authority.
(3) All garages must be located to accommodate a code complying driveway (setbacks, impervious surface coverage, etc.) even if a driveway is not proposed at the time of permit.
(h) Other structures.
(1) Tents, canopies and similar temporary structures for the purpose of housing motor or recreational vehicles or storage are prohibited.
(2) Fish houses must be stored in the rear yard of a residential property no closer than five feet from property lines.
(3) Temporary storage units or containers may be stored on any property and must meet the following requirements:
(i) The use of such containers is limited to no more than 30 days per year, per site. For major construction projects or hardship situations, the Environmental Health Division Manager or designee is permitted to grant an extension to the time period.
(ii) Units or containers must be stored on a hard surfaced driveway or parking lot. The temporary units or containers may not block traffic circulation.
(iii) Units or containers must maintain a minimum five-foot setback from abutting properties and may not be stored within the clear view triangle area.
(iv) Semi-truck trailers and cargo containers for temporary storage are limited to commercial or industrial used land and must meet the requirements above.
(4) The storage of temporary buildings or structures, including but not limited to, manufactured homes, accessory buildings, tiny houses, and temporary family health care dwellings is prohibited.