(A) Applicability. The following standards shall apply to all new single-family detached dwellings in the city, except for the following:
(1) Single-family detached dwellings that are more than 100 feet from the street and cannot be seen from the street.
(2) All new single-family detached dwellings in existing neighborhoods approved prior to June 30, 2024 must show general compatibility with homes in the neighborhood by using the same or similar design elements, features and construction style. Enough of the following elements must be compatible with homes in the existing neighborhood so that the new dwelling does not stand out as being out of place within the context of its surroundings.
(a) Foundations.
(b) Roof slopes.
(c) Front and side façade materials.
(d) Window and doors.
(e) Front porches (whether they exist or not).
(f) Garage/carport (whether they exist or not, and location and design).
(g) Location and visibility of parking area and access drive.
(h) Size of structure (overall mass compared to other residences in the area as well as amount of the lot taken up by the residence).
(i) Height of structure (no more than one story taller than adjacent structures).
(j) Width and length of residence.
(k) Setbacks and building placement on parcel.
(3) Properties regulated by the Historic Landmarks Commission will follow the Camden Design Guidelines instead of these standards.
(B) The following shall apply to all building plans within new subdivisions submitted on or after June 30, 2024.
(1) Allowed materials. The following exterior materials are allowed on any building façade. Each façade must use the same primary material.
(a) Brick or brick veneer (veneer must be made of brick).
(b) Stone or stone veneer (veneer must be made of stone).
(c) Stucco or synthetic stucco except within two feet of the grade level or within two feet of any exterior door jamb.
(d) Wood.
(e) Cementitious siding (i.e. Hardiplank).
(f) Vinyl siding, provided that panels are at least 0.42 millimeters thick, and are at least 12 feet long except in areas that are shorter than that (such as end of a row).
(2) Prohibited materials. The following materials are prohibited on all façades:
(a) Metal siding.
(b) Exposed smooth-finished concrete block.
(3) Architectural design. New residential construction within the City of Camden shall reflect the historic vernacular of the existing neighborhoods. Contemporary interpretations of traditional and classical architectural styles are encouraged with respect to scale, style and use of materials.
(4) Façade variation required. For all developments involving more than four contiguous lots, any given house must be distinctly different from those of the two lots on either side and the house most directly across the street. "DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT" means that a single-family detached dwelling's elevation differs from the other evaluated house elevations in at least three of the following ways:
(a) The use of different surface materials.
(b) Variations in rooflines, pitches or the use of dormers.
(c) Variation in the location and/or proportions of front porches.
(d) Variation in the location and/or proportion of garages or carports and garage doors.
(5) Homes with brick on all sides are required to meet only two of the criteria in divisions (4)(a) - (d) above.
(6) At least 50% of the new dwellings on all blocks must include a front porch with a minimum depth of five feet and a minimum width of eight feet.
(7) Windows. Any window installed must be designed so the width does not exceed the height.
(8) Front façades.
(a) All single-family detached dwellings must have an offset every 25 feet.
(b) A front porch with a minimum depth of five feet and a minimum width of eight feet may be used as an alternative.
(c) No more than two different types of materials shall be used on the façade, excluding foundation material.
(9) Side façades. The following standards apply except when the house qualifies as an infill dwelling according to § 157.094
(A)(2), or when the side has a side-loaded garage.
(a) Where the side of a dwelling faces another dwelling, the façade must include at least one window of standard size (i.e. 48 inches by 20 inches) or larger every 20 feet of façade length per story with applied trim that is at least 3.5 inches.
(b) Where a side of a dwelling will be visible due to facing a road (as with a corner lot), common space, or a neighborhood amenity space, the façade must include at least one window of standard size (i.e. 48 inches by 20 inches) or larger every 20 feet of façade length per story with applied trim that is at least 3.5 inches, and one of the following:
1. Wrap-around porch that is at least 48 square feet on the side façade; and/or
2. Substantial façade line changes, such as through varying number of stories, dormers, architectural additions, bay windows, roof styles and chimneys.
Examples of the intent of this standard are shown below:
(c) Other methods of achieving architectural variability that meets the intent of this section where unique circumstances exist may be approved by the Planning and Development Director.
(10) Garages and carports.
(a) Garages and carports may be attached or detached. Detached garages or carports shall also comply with requirements in § 157.060.
(b) Design standards for front-loaded garages and carports.
1. Exterior materials, design features and roof form of garages must be consistent with the building they serve. Metal is an allowed material for detached carports, provided that they are screened from view of adjacent roads.
2. Front-loaded attached garages and carport features must be set back at least one-third the depth of the side façade behind the front plane of the primary portion of the structure.
3. House designs with the front entryway recessed between the attached garage and a conditioned room are not allowed, even if the conditioned room is located two feet in front of the plane of the garage. This shall not prevent a breezeway connecting a dwelling and detached garage.
(c) Front-loaded attached garages must not exceed 16 feet in width per garage door unless the garage is set back at least half the distance of the length of the dwelling from the front façade of the structure, or in limited cases, to make an accommodation for wheelchair van access or similar special needs. In no case shall the width of a garage exceed 50% of the width of the front façade.
(d) Front-loaded attached garages must have at least two of the following architectural features on the side: trellis, columns, portico treatment, windows, dormers, overhangs, eaves, or roof line changes, and be consistent with the architecture of the dwelling.
(e) A maximum of two garage doors may front the street and be visible from the street for each dwelling, and a minimum separation of at least one foot must be provided between the doors.
(11) Design standards for side-loaded garages and carports.
(a) The exterior materials, design features and roof form of garages must be consistent with the building they serve. Metal is an allowed material for detached carports if they are screened from view of adjacent roads.
(b) Attached side-loaded garages must have architectural features and windows that complement the features of the living portion of the dwelling on the front façade. The width of the conditioned spaces that face the street must be no more than one-third the width of the front façade.
(c) A maximum of two garage doors may face the street and be visible from the street for each dwelling, and a minimum separation of at least one foot must be provided between the doors.
(d) The design of the garage doors must complement the design of the dwelling. The garage doors must contain at least two of the following architectural features: decorative patterning (other than standard rectangular boxes), windows, a rounded shape, or faux wood appearance, and be consistent with the architecture of the dwelling.
(12) Building foundations. Homes must use one of the following:
(a) A crawl space with a minimum height of 18 inches that is clad with brick, brick veneer, stone, stone veneer, stucco, or other masonry materials on the front and side façades.
(b) A slab foundation, provided that the foundation supporting the floor framing is an average of at least 18 inches above grade on the front and side façades and is clad with brick, brick veneer, stone, stone veneer, stucco, or other masonry materials on the front and side façades.
(c) Alternatively, a basement foundation may be used on the sides and/or rear façades.
(d) Slab on grade foundations provided that an average of 18 inches from the ground level is clad with brick, brick veneer, stone, stone veneer, stucco, or other masonry materials on the front and side façades. This shall not apply to houses with brick, stone or stucco siding.
(e) Foundations shall not be clad in finished or unfinished concrete block.
(13) Eaves. Eaves must extend beyond the plane of façade by at least six inches. Similar treatments such as coping on top of a brick façade or a stucco parapet wall are also allowed.
(14) Entries. All entries must be sheltered with an overhang, portico, or porch.
(15) Roof penetrations. All roof vents, pipes, antennas, satellite dishes, solar installations, and other rood penetrations and equipment (except chimneys) must be configured to the degree practicable to have a minimal visual impact as seen from the street.
(16) Roof materials. 3-tab shingles are not allowed. Architectural shingles and metal roofs are allowed. Metal roofs shall have a matte, non-reflective surface.
(Ord. 15-002, passed 2-24-15; Am. Ord. 2024-014, passed 6-25-24)