In the various districts there shall be provided on each lot a side yard along each side lot line, a rear yard, and a front yard, the minimum dimensions of which shall be in accordance with the table at the end of this section and the following regulations. The minimum dimensions of courts and the maximum height of structures shall also be in accordance with the following table and regulations.
(A) Every part of a required yard or court shall, from its lowest level to the sky, be unobstructed, except for the following building projections:
(1) Bays, balconies, dormers, vestibules, including the necessary cornices, eaves, gutters, fire escapes, and open stairways, may project into a required yard, provided none of these projections shall project into a required side yard more than 1/3 the width of the yard. Such projections shall in no case project more than three feet into a required yard, nor shall the sum of the lengths of these projections exceed 1/3 the length of the yard adjacent to the building. No enclosed projection into a required yard permitted under the provisions of this section shall exceed ten feet in length.
(2) Canopies and cornices, including the eaves and gutters, may project over a required yard, provided such projections shall not project over a required side yard more than 1/3 the width of the yard, nor more than three feet in any case.
(3) Chimneys, sills, belt courses, leaders, pilasters, and lintels may project into a required yard, provided none of these projections shall project into a required side yard more than 1-1/2 feet.
(4) Terraces, uncovered porches, platforms, and ornamental features which do not extend more than three feet above the floor level of the ground (first) story may project into a required yard, provided these projections be distant at least two feet from the adjacent side lot line.
(B) Within the limits of a required yard or court, no structure, other than a retaining wall, shall exceed six feet in height.
(C) In Residence Districts, no accessory building on an interior or corner lot, fronting upon one street only, shall be erected in any open space except a rear yard. Accessory buildings shall not exceed one story in height, and may occupy in the aggregate not more than 30% of a required rear yard. Except as hereinafter provided, accessory buildings in Residence Districts shall be at least three feet from adjoining lots located in Residence Districts, and five feet from adjacent street lines. Farm buildings not for animals or fowl may be erected to a height exceeding one story, provided no part of any such building be located within 15 feet of any adjoining lot in the Residence District.
(D) In the Residence District, no accessory building on a corner lot, where the rear yard is adjacent to the side yard of an adjoining lot, shall project more than 25 feet from the interior side lot line of the corner lot. Where the accessory building on such corner lot is distant 40 feet or more, the requirements of this section shall not apply.
(E) In the Residence District, accessory buildings on a through lot may be erected in the yard space adjacent to the street affording secondary access to the lot, provided the buildings comply with the front and side yard requirement of this chapter for a principal building.
(F) In the Residence District where the natural grade of a lot is more than eight feet above the average established grade of the street upon which the lot abuts, private or storage garages may be erected within any yard space, provided the floor level of such garages shall be not more than one foot above the established grade of such street, and at least 50% of the garage shall be below grade. These garages shall be distant at least two feet from adjoining lots located in the Residence District, and five feet from adjacent street lines, except in cases where a retaining wall not less than four feet in height is located on the lot less than five feet from an adjacent street; then the garages may extend to the line of the retaining wall, provided the garage doors are arranged so that at no time shall the same extend beyond any street line.
(G) Accessory buildings, except stables, may be erected as a part of the principal building if all yard and court requirements of this chapter are complied with.
(H) No lot shall be so reduced in area as to make any open space less than the minimum requirements prescribed herein. This shall not be construed to prevent the sale of an individual unit of a multiple dwelling in which all rooms are lighted and ventilated from a street or rear yard.
(I) Where a lot extends through the block from street to street, the required front yards shall be provided along each street. Additional open space equivalent to the area of a required yard may be provided upon the lot in lieu of a required rear yard. Where the depth of the lot is less than 175 feet, no rear yard shall be required.
(J) Where a side wall of a building is not parallel with the side lot line, or where a side yard is irregular, the average side yard width may be considered the required width, provided the side yard shall not be narrower than three feet nor less than 1/2 the required minimum width at any point, and the side yard width along any unbroken section of side wall shall not be less than that required for a wall of equivalent length and story height. Recesses, offsets, or courts having an open end at least six feet wide abutting a required side yard may be assumed to be a portion of the side yard for a depth not exceeding the width of the abutting open side.
(K) Where the length of the side yard adjacent to the side walls of a building is more than 50 feet, measured parallel to the adjoining side lot line, the required minimum widths shall be increased by one inch for each foot that such length exceeds 50 feet.
(1) On lots less than 50 feet wide and of record on the effective date of this chapter, the required side yard may be reduced 1-1/2 inches for each foot the lot is less than 50 feet in width; provided, that in no case shall the width of the side yard be reduced to less than three feet.
(M) In computing the dimension of a rear yard or court adjoining a public alley, 1/2 of the alley may be assumed to be a portion of the yard or court. The portion of a yard opposite the open end of an outer court may be assumed to be a portion of the court.
(N) In the case of an irregular, triangular, or gore-shaped lot, the required minimum depth of a rear yard may be deemed to be the average depth; provided, that no rear yard so averaged shall be less than ten feet or 1/2 the required minimum depth at any point.
(O) On lots less than 120 feet deep and of record on the effective date of this chapter, the depth of a required rear yard may be reduced two inches for every foot the lot is less than 120 feet deep; provided, that in no case shall the depth of the required rear yard be reduced to less than ten feet.
(P) The minimum area of an inner court shall be not less than twice the square of its required minimum dimension.
(Q) Where new buildings are built between developed properties in Residence, Multiple, and Office and Professional Districts the front yard setback shall be the average setback of the existing buildings in the same block, but not less than 25 feet.
('73 Code, § 150.11) (Am. Ord. 06-14, passed 10-3-06)
MINIMUM COURT DIMENSIONS | ||||||
DISTRICT | MAXIMUM HEIGHT | MINIMUM FRONT YARD | MINIMUM SIDE YARD | MINIMUM REAR YARD | INNER COURT | OUTER COURT |
MINIMUM COURT DIMENSIONS | ||||||
DISTRICT | MAXIMUM HEIGHT | MINIMUM FRONT YARD | MINIMUM SIDE YARD | MINIMUM REAR YARD | INNER COURT | OUTER COURT |
RES. & R-1 | 45 ft. | 1st story-25 ft. | 1st story-4 ft. | 1st story-20 ft. | Each story in height-6 ft. min. | Each story in height-5 ft. |
Remainder- 35 ft. | 2nd story-6 ft. | Remainder- 25 ft. | ||||
3rd story-9 ft. | Over 10 ft. high-6 ft. | |||||
4th story-12 ft. | Under 10 ft. high-4 ft. | |||||
Remainder- 15 ft. | ||||||
Multiple | 60 ft. | Same as Office & Professiona l | Same as Office & Professiona l | Same as Office & Professiona l | Same as Office & Professiona l | Same as Office & Professional |
Office & Professiona l | 45 ft. | 1st story-25 ft. | 1st story-4 ft. | 1st story-20 ft. | ||
Remainder- 35 ft. | 2nd story-6 ft. | Remainder- 25 ft. | Each story in heigh-6 ft. min. | Each story in height-5 ft. | ||
3rd story-9 ft. | Over 10 ft. high-6 ft. | |||||
4th story-12 ft. | Under 10 ft. high-4 ft. | |||||
Remainder- 15 ft. | ||||||
BUS. A | 45 ft. | 10 ft. | Not required | 1st story-10 ft. | Each story in height-4 ft. min. | Each story in height-3 ft. |
Remainder- 15 ft. | Over 10 ft. high-6 ft. | Minimum-4 ft. | ||||
Under 10 ft. high-4 ft. | ||||||
BUS. B | 60 ft. | Not required | Not required | Non-res. occupancies | Each story in height-4 ft. min. | Each story in height-3 ft. |
1st story- none | Over 10 ft. high-6 ft. | Minimum-4 ft. | ||||
2nd story- 10 ft. | Under 10 ft. high-4 ft. | |||||
3rd story-15 ft. | ||||||
Above the 3rd story the yard shall increase at the rate of 3 ft. for each story | ||||||
BUS. B-1 | 60 ft. | 10 ft. | Not required | Same as BUS. B | Same as BUS. B | Same as BUS. B |
BUS. B - OZ | Same as BUS. B | Maximum front yard setback of 3 ft. from existing sidewalk | Same as BUS. B | Same as BUS. B | Same as BUS. B | Same as BUS. B |
* Note: If a residence or multiple dwelling is to be built in Bus. A-B or B1 zones - the same restrictions shall prevail as if they were being built in their respective zones.
For additional requirements and exceptions see:
Heights - § 150.12(A)
(Am. Ord. 19-24, passed 9-17-19)