No new dwelling shall be constructed or erected within the city, except as hereinafter provided and except as provided in applicable provisions of § 150.001(B) and (C) of this chapter.
(A) Lot area requirements.
(1) The minimum lot area in square feet upon which a dwelling can be constructed is as follows:
Type of Dwelling Unit | Minimum Lot Area in Square Feet |
1-family | 3,124 |
2-family | 3,750 |
3-family | 5,000 |
4-family | 6,250 |
5- or more family | 7,500 |
(2) If the lot area in square feet is within 90% of the minimum set forth above, however, construction may be permitted thereon.
(B) Additional minimum lot area. The following additional minimum lot area in square feet per dwelling unit is required in the construction of a multiple-family dwelling of 7,500 square feet or more:
Type of Dwelling Unit | Minimum Lot Area in Square Feet per Dwelling Unit |
Efficiency | 1,000 |
1-bedroom | 1,100 |
2-bedroom | 1,200 |
3-bedroom | 1,600 |
4-bedroom | 2,000 |
(C) Multiple-family dwellings.
(1) Minimum unit square footage for multi-family dwellings shall be as follows:
Dwelling | Square Feet |
Efficiency | 500 |
1-bedroom | 650 |
2-bedroom | 850 |
3-bedroom | 1,050 |
4-bedroom | 1,200 |
(2) No floor area between fire walls shall exceed 3,500 square feet.
(D) Single-family dwellings. The minimum unit square footage in a single-family dwelling shall be 1,100 square feet of livable space.
(E) Floor; lot area ratio. GROSS FLOOR AREA RATIO shall mean the square footage of a dwelling measured from exterior walls. The floor-lot area ratio maximums by stories shall be as follows (basements not used for or as a dwelling unit shall not be counted in floor area ratio):
1-story | 60% |
2-story | 70% |
3-story or more | 80% |
(F) Minimum distances between lot lines and exterior dwelling walls.
(1) Dwellings not more than 50 feet in width may not be erected closer than three feet from side lot lines on interior lots, except for roof eaves which may extend to not more than 18 inches from the lot line. For dwellings more than 50 feet, but less than 100 feet, in width, side yard requirements shall be five feet from interior lot lines.
(2) A dwelling on a corner lot may not extend closer than ten feet from the side lot line abutting a side street.
(3) A dwelling may not be constructed closer to the front lot line than 15 feet, except where another distance is permitted under the provisions of the Zoning Code relating to front yards.
(4) A dwelling may not be constructed nearer to the rear lot line than permitted under the Zoning Code.
(G) Height maximum requirement. No dwelling shall be constructed exceeding 35 feet, nor more than three stories, in height.
(H) Efficiency unit. A dwelling unit consisting of one principal room, exclusive of bathroom, kitchen, hallway, closets or dining alcove, directly off the principal room.
(I) Floor area ratio. The floor area of the building on a residential lot divided by the area of the lot.
(J) Lot. A parcel of land, vacant or with a building, with its usual accessory buildings or use, including open space as required by this chapter. Lot lines are the lines bounding the lot. A corner lot shall be deemed to be a lot fronting on two or more streets and having a width of not more than 50 feet. An interior lot is a lot other than a corner lot.
(K) Occupancy. The use of any building or structure for any one or combination of the following purposes: residential, commercial or industrial.
(L) Fire-resistive materials. Materials used in floor construction for dwellings not to exceed three dwellings shall have a minimum one-hour fire rating in accordance with current standards established by the National Board of Fire Underwriters or its successors.
(M) Materials used in floor construction. For four or more dwellings extending more than one story in height shall have a minimum fire rating of two hours in accordance with current standards established by the National Board of Fire Underwriters or its successors. Wood floor joists shall not be used.
(N) Liveload capacity of floors. Liveload capacity of floors shall not be less than 40 pounds per square foot.
(O) Exterior wall construction. Multi-family exterior wall construction of multi-family dwellings shall be of masonry, and brick veneer construction shall not be used.
(P) Bearing wall thickness. Minimum bearing wall thickness (in inches) shall be as follows:
Foundation (walls 32 ft. or higher) | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
1-story | 10 | 8 | 8 |
2-story | 10 | 8 | 8 |
3-story | 10 | 10 | 8 |
(Q) Foundations. Foundations of buildings over one story in height shall be of concrete only.
(R) Means of egress. All dwellings, except single-family dwellings, shall be provided with sufficient and proper types of exits to ensure safety to the occupants, but not less than two means of egress from each dwelling unit, located as remotely from each other as the plan of the building will permit. The means of egress shall lead directly to a street, setback, yard or court opening to a street by means of an open passage that does not pass through another dwelling unit. Fire escapes shall not be considered means of egress.
(S) Stairways. Every stairway above the first floor shall be within the enclosing walls of the dwelling. One or two sides may be exposed to open air.
(1) Windows in stairways. Only solid glass block windows without openings are permitted in multi-family dwellings.
(2) Stairway requirements. The minimum requirements for stairs in dwellings are as follows.
(a) Headroom. Continuous clear headroom measured vertically from front edge of tread to a line parallel with stair run shall be not less than six feet, six inches.
(b) Width. Front stairs: 42 inches; rear stairs: 36 inches - all being clear of handrail.
(c) Tread. Nine and one-half inches, with nosing ten and one-fourth inches.
(d) Riser. Seven and three-fourths inches maximum and shall be of uniform height in any one story.
(e) Winders. No winders permitted in multi-family dwellings. For single-family dwellings, tread width measured at a point 18 inches from converging end shall equal the tread width on straight stair run, unless tread width at converging end is six inches or more.
(f) Maximum stair run. No stair run shall exceed five feet in height vertically without a stair landing.
(g) Stair landing. Minimum dimensions shall equal width of stairs.
(h) Handrail. A continuous handrail shall be installed on at least one side of each stair run and landing.
(T) Roof covering. Wood shingles as a roof covering on any dwelling are prohibited.
(U) Damaged buildings. No dwelling which has been more than 50% demolished by fire or other causes shall be repaired or remodeled, except to conform with the provisions of this chapter.
(Prior Code, § 150.066) (Ord. 2062, passed 1-22-1968)