(A) Yards generally. Except as otherwise specified herein, every lot shall have a front yard and a rear yard for the least depths of which shall not be less than those specified for the respective zone and every lot shall have a side yard on each side, which shall not be less than the side yard as specified for the zoning district in which it is located.
(B) Front yards.
(1) Double frontage lots. Double frontage lots shall meet the front yard requirements of the district or districts in which they are located on both of the streets upon which they front.
(2) Exceptions for existing alignment. In any zoning district, except Business or Industrial Zones, where any lot lies between and adjacent to two lots with existing buildings and all of the following conditions exist:
(a) All three of said lots lie within the same block;
(b) The average depth of the front yards of the two adjacent lots is less than the minimum permitted within the zoning district; and
(c) At least one of the existing buildings lies within 100 feet of the side lot line of the subject lot; then the minimum front yard permitted for such lot shall be the average of the front yards of the two adjacent lots, but in no event less than ten feet.
(3) Yard on street side on lot adjoining or facing residential zoning. On a lot in any nonresidential zone sharing the same block front with a lot in any Residential Zone the minimum front yard required shall equal in depth the front yard required for that Residential Zone.
(4) Front yards on through lots. On any lot which runs through a block from street to street, a front yard as otherwise required in the zone shall be provided along each street lot line.
(5) Front yards which may be varied. Where the front wall of a building is not parallel with the front lot line or is broken or otherwise irregular, the average depth of the front yard shall not be less than the otherwise required front yard; provided, however, that such front wall shall at all points be within five feet of the otherwise required front yard depth.
(C) Side yards
(1) Side yards decreased for narrow lot. For each foot by which an existing lot of record at the time of enactment of this chapter is narrower than 50 feet and where the owner of record does not own any adjoining property, one and one-half inches may be deducted from the required least width of any side yard for building, not exceeding two and one-half stories in height; provided, however, that no side yard shall be narrower at any point than three feet in any case.
(2) Side yards increased for deep buildings. In any zone where a side yard is required, the least width of each side yard shall be increased by one inch for each foot by which the side wall of a building adjacent to a side yard exceeds 50 feet in depth.
(3) Side yard exceptions for row dwellings. In the case of attached dwelling units, the entire structure shall be considered as a single building with respect to side yard requirements.
(4) Side yards which may be varied. Where the side wall of a building is not parallel with the side lot line or is broken or otherwise irregular, the average width of the side yard shall not be less than the otherwise required least width; provided, however, that such side yard shall not be narrower at any point than one-half the otherwise required side yard nor narrower than three feet in any case.
(5) Side yard for an addition to an existing building. On any lot in a residential zone, where the principal structure does not meet the minimum required side yard for that zone, and the side yard is legally nonconforming, additions to the principal structure may be made which have the same side yard as the original structure. In no case shall the addition be closer than three feet to the adjoining lot line.
(D) Rear yards. Where the rear wall of a building is not parallel with the rear lot line or is broken or otherwise irregular, the average depth of the rear yard shall not be less than the otherwise required rear yard; provided, however, that such rear yard shall not be less than one-half the otherwise required rear yard at any point, or less than 20 feet in any case.
(E) Projections.
(1) Covered porches, stairways, terraces, or other similar features, the floor level of which is not over three feet above the average finished grade and which do not extend above the level of the first floor of the building, when open and unclosed, may project into a required front, side, or rear yard not more than eight feet, provided that such covered porches, stairways, terraces, or other similar features conform to the provisions of division (D) above.
(2) Outside stairways may extend not more than three feet into any required side yard; nor more than five feet into any required rear yard.
(3) Chimneys, flues, belt courses, leaders, sills, pilasters, lintels, ornamental features, cornices, gutters, and the like, may extend not more than 24 inches into any required yard, provided they are at least three feet from all lot lines.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no projection as listed above shall extend into any required side yard more than one-half the width of such yard, nor within ten feet of the front lot line nor five feet of the rear lot line, nor within three feet of accessory building, provided, however, that such limitations shall not apply to terraces and steps within required yards, or to a loading dock, or tailboard in connection with an industrial siding.
(F) Front yard driveways in residential zones.
(1) On any lot containing a detached single-family dwelling, where no enclosed garage is provided, and where the width of the driveway exceeds 25% of the width of the lot at the established building line, the driveway shall extend beyond the front wall of the residence into the side or rear yard for a distance of at least 20 feet.
(2) No front-facing garage may be located within 25 feet of the public street or road right-of-way.
(3) In any case, the width of a front yard driveway shall not exceed 40% of the width of the lot at the established building line.
(4) No front yard driveway shall have a finished grade slope greater than one foot to eight feet.
(Prior Code, § 9.8) (Ord. 4-92, passed 3-11-1992; Ord. 98-12, passed 11-24-1998; Ord. 2002-2, passed 2-5-2002; Ord. 2002-29, passed 12-18-2002; Ord. 2004-19, passed 8-25-2004)