CHAPTER 1175
Yard Regulations
1175.01    Minimum yard requirements.
1175.02    Additional requirements.
1175.03    Exceptions.
 
CROSS REFERENCES
Yard defined - see P. & Z. 1121.01(a)(78)
Density regulations - see P. & Z. Ch. 1177 
Fence yard requirements - see P. & Z. 1183.04. 1183.07 
Large-scale residential developments - see P. & Z. 1185.01(d)
 
 
1175.01 MINIMUM YARD REQUIREMENTS.
   The following minimum yards, measured in feet, shall be provided within the districts indicated below:
District
Front Yard
Side Yard
Rear Yard
RU, RC
50
20
50
RS
30
10
30
RD, RA
25
8
25
B-1
25
None
25
B-2
30
None
None
B-3
None
None
None
I
25
None
25
   Whenever a lot abuts upon a public alley, one-half of the alley width may be considered as a portion of the required yard. For the purpose of side yard regulations, a two-family dwelling or multiple dwelling shall be considered as one building occupying one lot.
(Ord. 1973-9. Passed 12-17-73.)
1175.02 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
   The following additional yard requirements shall also be observed:
   (a)    On lots fronting on two nonintersecting streets, a front yard must be provided on both streets.
   (b)    On corner lots there must be a front yard on both streets. On corner lots that are lots of record the buildable width cannot be reduced to less than twenty-eight feet, except that there shall be a yard along the side street side of such a lot of at least five feet.
   (c)    Where a frontage is divided among districts with different front yard requirements, the deepest front yard required shall apply to the entire frontage.
   (d)    In the RA, B and I Districts there may be more than one building on a lot provided that the required yards be maintained around the group of buildings.
   (e)    There may be two or more related multi-family, hotel, motel, or institutional buildings on a lot; provided that the required yards be maintained around the group of buildings, and buildings that are parallel or that are within forty-five degrees of being parallel be separated by a horizontal distance that is at least equal to the height of the highest building.
   (f)    Those parts of existing buildings that violate yard regulations may be repaired and remodeled, but not reconstructed or structurally altered.
   (g)    Required front yards shall be devoted entirely to landscaped area except for guest parking and the necessary paving of driveways and sidewalks to reach parking or loading areas in the side or rear yard.
   (h)    Where an official line has been established for the future widening or opening of a street or major thoroughfare upon which a lot abuts, then the depth of a front or side yard shall be measured from such official line to the nearest line of the building.
   (i)    The minimum width of side yards for schools, libraries, churches, community buildings and other public and semi-public buildings in residential districts shall be twenty-five feet, except where a side yard is adjacent to a commercial or industrial district, in which case, the width of that yard shall be as required in the district in which the building is located.
   (j)    No sign, fence, wall, shrub or other obstruction to vision exceeding three feet in height above the established street grade, shall be erected, planted or maintained within the area of a corner lot that is included between the lines of the intersecting streets and a straight line connecting them at points thirty feet distant from the intersection of the street lines.
      (Ord. 1973-9. Passed 12-7-73.)
1175.03 EXCEPTIONS.
   The following exceptions may be made to the yard requirements:
   (a)    Where, on the effective date of these regulations, forty percent (40%) or more of a frontage was occupied by two or more buildings, then the front yard is established in the following manner.
      (1)    Where the building farthermost from the street provides a front yard not more than ten feet deeper than the building closest to the street, then the front yard for the frontage is and remains an average of the then existing front yards.
      (2)    Where subsection (a) (1) hereof is not the case and a lot is within 100 feet of a building on each side, then the front yard is a line drawn from the closest front corners of these two adjacent buildings.
      (3)    Where neither subsection (a) nor subsection (b) hereof is the case, and the lot is within 100 feet of an existing building on one side only, then the front yard is the same as that of the existing adjacent building.
   (b)    Sills, belt courses, window air-conditioning units, chimneys, cornices, and ornamental features may project into a required yard a distance not to exceed twenty-four inches.
   (c)    Filling station pumps and pump islands may occupy required yards provided, however, that they are not less than fifteen feet from all lot lines.
   (d)    Signs in accordance with Chapter 1189.
   (e)    Open fire escapes, fireproof outside stairways and balconies opening upon fire towers, and the ordinary projections of chimneys and flues into a rear yard for a distance of not more than three and one-half feet when so placed as to not obstruct light and ventilation, may be permitted by the Building and Zoning Inspector.
   (f)   Open, unenclosed porches (not glassed in) may not extend more than ten feet into a front yard.
   (g)    Terraces which do not extend above the level of the ground (first) floor may project into a required yard, provided these projections be distant at least two feet from the adjacent side lot line.
   (h)    No side yards are required where dwellings are erected above commercial structures except such side yard as may be required for a commercial building on the side of a lot adjoining a residential district.
   (i)   Accessory buildings may be located in a rear yard but may not occupy more than thirty percent (30%) of a rear yard.
   (j)    Any accessory building closer than ten feet to a main building shall be considered as part of the main building and shall be provided with the side and rear yards required for the main building.
   (k)   An accessory building more than ten feet from a main building may be erected within two feet of a side or rear lot line, but must be located at least sixty feet from the front street line.
   (l)    Where a garage is entered from an alley, it must be located at least ten feet from the alley line.
   (m)    On corner lots the minimum buildable width of twenty-eight feet for main buildings is reduced to twenty-two feet for accessory buildings.
      (Ord. 1973-9. Passed 12-17-73.)