§ 11-3-5: ACCESSORY STRUCTURES:

   In all zoning districts, accessory structures shall be subject to the following performance standards.

   A.   Construction:

      1.   Accessory structures are prohibited from being taller than, or greater in footprint than, the principal structure.

      2.   Building permits are required for all permanent accessory structures over two hundred (200) square feet in residential districts and one thousand (1,000) square feet in business and industrial districts.

      3.   Temporary accessory structures including tents that consist of metal or fiberglass poles, metal hoops and PVC, cotton or nylon fabric covering materials are prohibited except as permitted in conjunction with an approved conditional use, permitted camping area, or special event.

      4.   The exterior finishes of accessory structures sized less than two hundred (200) square feet shall be constructed of quality weather resistant materials.

   B.   Accessory Structure Exterior Material Standards:

 

Property Classification	Exterior Finish
Agricultural Districts	For accessory structures over 200 sq. ft.: Wood, metal, split face block, vinyl lap, or cement board materials that are complimentary to the color palette of the principal structure
Residential Districts	For accessory structures over 200 sq. ft.: Wood, split face block, vinyl lap, or cement board materials that are complimentary to the color palette of the principal structure
Business Districts incl. Mixed-Use	Materials, texture, and color palette to compliment the principal structure, accessory structures greater than 1,000 sq. ft. require site plan review
Industrial Districts	Materials, texture, and color palette to compliment the principal structure, accessory structures greater than 1,000 sq. ft. require site plan review

 

   C.   Number and Size. The number and size of accessory structures permitted on any lot shall be determined by the following table. On a residential lot, the principal garage, attached or detached, one (1) accessory structure up to two hundred (200) square feet, and swimming pools shall not count towards the number of accessory structures or total square footage calculations.

Property Classification	Number	Total Size
AG-1	2	2,500 sq. ft.
AG-2	2	2,500 sq. ft.
R-1	2	2,500 sq. ft.
R-2	2	2,000 sq. ft.
R-3	1	1,000 sq. ft.
R-4	1	500 sq. ft. per unit
R-5	1	500 sq. ft. per unit
R-6	1	500 sq. ft. per unit
Business and industrial	Site plan review over 1,000 sq. ft	Site plan review over 1,000 sq. ft

 

   D.   Setbacks. Setbacks for accessory structures shall be determined by the following table.

Property Classification	Side Yard	Rear Yard	Front Yard
AG-1	25 feet	50 feet	Behind principal structure
AG-2	25 feet	50 feet	Behind principal structure
R-1	20 feet	50 feet	Behind principal structure
R-2	20 feet	20 feet	Behind principal structure
R-3	6 feet	10 feet	Behind principal structure
R-4	6 feet	10 feet	Behind principal structure
R-5	6 feet	10 feet	Behind principal structure
R-6	6 feet	10 feet	Behind principal structure
Business	Not permitted in side-yard	Follow building setbacks	Behind principal structure
Industrial adjacent to Residential	Not permitted in side-yard	100 feet	Behind principal structure
Industrial not adjacent to Residential	Follow building setbacks	Follow building setbacks	Behind principal structure

 

   E.   Height. Height of accessory structures shall be determined by the following table.

Property Classification	Maximum
AG-1	20 feet, except as permitted under Minnesota Statutes
AG-2	20 feet, except as permitted under Minnesota Statutes
R-1	20 feet
R-2	20 feet
R-3	18 feet
R-4	18 feet
R-5	18 feet
R-6	18 feet
Business and industrial	20 feet

 

   F.   Miscellaneous Requirements.

      1.   Accessory structures greater than those permitted in subsections C and E of this Section may be approved by conditional use permit if the following standards are met:

         a.   There is adequate setback, screening, or topography changes that buffer the proposed structure from adjacent public roadways or adjacent properties.

         b.   The proposed building height or building square footage does not exceed the ordinance criteria by more than twenty percent (20%) within the metropolitan urban service area (MUSA) and forty percent (40%) outside the MUSA.

         c.   Setback distances are increased five feet (5') for each one foot (1') of height or one hundred (100) square feet of size increase or fraction thereof.

      2.   No accessory structures shall be constructed on any lot prior to the time of construction of the principal structure, unless the building is accessory to the ongoing agricultural land use.

      3.   No tent, trailer, camper, motor home, storage container or accessory building shall at any time be used as a habitable building.

      4.   At-grade structures such as basketball courts, tennis courts, patios, tree houses, and dog kennels shall meet the established accessory structure setbacks for the appropriate districts. These structures are not included in the total allowable accessory structure square footage, as long as the total impervious surface of the lot does not exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the rear area of the lot measured from the rear building line of the house to the rear lot line.

      5.   Swimming pools and surrounding apron/decks shall meet the established accessory structure setbacks for the appropriate districts. These structures are not included in the total allowable accessory structure square footage.

      6.   Temporary family healthcare dwellings are prohibited in all zoning districts.

   G.   Attached Garage Requirements in Residential Districts: The garage floor area attached to the principal structure in any residential district must not exceed one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet.