TITLE 9
ZONING
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL ZONING PROVISIONS
SECTION:
9-1-1: Title And Purpose
9-1-2: Interpretation
9-1-3: Definitions
9-1-4: Site And Structure Regulations
9-1-5: Floor Area Ratios
9-1-6: Accessory Buildings And Structures
9-1-7: Zoning Lots And Minimum Lot Size
9-1-1: TITLE AND PURPOSE:
   A.   Title: This title, including the zoning map made a part hereof, shall be known and may be cited and referred to as the GOLF ZONING ORDINANCE.
   B.   Purpose: This title is adopted for the following purposes:
To promote the public health, safety, morals, comfort and general welfare of the citizens of the Village of Golf;
To conserve the values of property throughout the Village of Golf and to protect the character and stability of its zoning districts;
To promote orderly and beneficial development in accordance with the optimum development of the Chicago metropolitan region and in furtherance of the Comprehensive Plan for the development of the Village of Golf;
To provide adequate light, air, privacy and convenience of access to property;
To lessen or avoid congestion in the public streets and highways in the Village of Golf and surrounding areas;
To regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence and other uses, and to regulate and restrict the intensity of such uses;
To divide the Village of Golf into districts of such number, shape, area, and of such different classes, according to the use of land and buildings and the intensity of such use, as may be deemed best suited to carry out the purposes of this title;
To prohibit locations and uses of buildings or structures and uses of land that are incompatible with the type of development planned for specified zoning districts in the Village of Golf;
To prevent additions to and alterations or remodeling of existing buildings or structures in such a way as to avoid the restrictions and limitations lawfully imposed hereunder;
To protect against fire, explosion, noxious fumes and other dangers; and
To fix reasonable standards to which buildings and structures shall conform. (Ord. 03-05, 9-8-2003)
9-1-2: INTERPRETATION:
   A.   Minimum Requirements: In interpreting and applying the provisions of this title, they shall be held as the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public safety, health, convenience, comfort, morals, prosperity and general welfare.
   B.   Effect On Other Laws And Agreements: It is not intended by this title to interfere with, abrogate or annul any ordinance or rules, regulations or permits previously adopted or issued, and not in conflict with any of the provisions of this title or which shall be adopted or issued pursuant to law relating to the use of buildings or premises, nor is it intended by this title to interfere with or abrogate or annul any easements, covenants or other agreements between the parties; provided, however, that where this title imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings or premises or upon the height of buildings or requires larger open spaces than are imposed or required by such ordinances, rules, regulations or permits, or by easements, covenants or agreements, the provisions of this title shall control. (Ord., 4-22-1943; amd. Ord. 03-05, 9-8-2003)
9-1-3: DEFINITIONS:
For the purpose of this title, certain terms and words are hereby defined as provided in this section.
Words used in the present tense include the future, words in the singular number include the plural number, and words in the plural number include the singular number. The word "shall" is mandatory and not discretionary, and the word "may" is permissive.
ACCESSORY BUILDING OR STRUCTURE: A detached subordinate building or structure, the use of which is incidental to and located on the same zoning lot as that of a principal building.
AVERAGE SETBACK: Except as herein otherwise provided, the average setback for any interior lot or through lot shall be determined by taking the average of the setbacks of the buildings on the lots on both sides of, contiguous to and having frontage on the same street as the interior lot or through lot. For a corner lot, when there is more than one lot in the same block having frontage on the same street as the corner lot, then the average setback shall be the average of the setbacks of the buildings on the two (2) lots in such block nearest to the corner lot. For a corner lot, when there is only one lot in the same block having frontage on the same street as the corner lot, then such corner lot shall have no average setback determined for such street; however, a corner lot in such circumstances may be subject to an average setback from the other street which it shares with more than one lot. For purposes of measuring distances from street walls: a) the street wall on any lot shall be measured from the nearest point of the principal building to the street line; b) if a lot is improved with any principal building that is less than forty feet (40') from the street line, then the distance of forty feet (40') shall be used; c) if a lot shall become vacant and would otherwise be used to calculate average setback for another lot, then the average setback calculation shall be made using the minimum street setback dimension applicable to the vacant lot as determined in accordance with this title; and d) when used herein, having "frontage" on a lot means only that the building or street wall is facing a street, and not that the street in question is the front line of the lot, and thus the distances from buildings on contiguous lots may be measured to the street line even though such contiguous lots take their address from a different street than does the lot for which the average setback is being calculated.
BUILDING: A structure that is substantially enclosed by exterior walls, has a roof supported by uprights or walls, is separated from every other building by at least a party wall, is permanently affixed to the ground, and is intended for the shelter, protection, housing or enclosure of any persons, animals, equipment, goods or materials of any kind.
BUILDING AREA: The maximum horizontal projected area of a building and its accessory buildings, excluding open steps, terraces, cornices and roof overhang projecting not more than eighteen inches (18").
CORNER LOT: A lot situated at the junction of and abutting on two (2) or more intersecting streets.
DEPTH OF LOT: The mean horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines.
DEPTH OF REAR YARD: The mean horizontal distance between the rear line of the building and the rear lot line.
FAMILY: Any number of closely related individuals and their servants living and cooking together on the premises as a single housekeeping unit.
FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR) 1 : The floor area/square footage of all buildings and structures on a lot divided by the area/square footage of the lot on which they are located.
FRONT YARD: A yard or unoccupied space on the same lot with any building or structure extending along the entire length of the front lot line back to a line drawn parallel with said front lot line at a distance equal to the depth of the permissible building setback or the actual building line of any existing building. On corner lots, all yards which abut a street shall be deemed front yards.
GARAGE: A portion of the principal building or a detached accessory building that is intended for and used to store the private vehicles of the family residents upon the premises and in which no business service, or industry connected directly or indirectly with automotive vehicles is carried on.
HEIGHT OF BUILDING: The vertical distance measured from the midpoint of the street closest to the front entrance of the building to the midpoint of the roof; to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs; to the deck line for mansard roofs; and to the mean height level (between eaves and ridge) for gable, hip or gambrel roofs.
INTERIOR LOT: A lot other than a corner lot.
LOT: Land occupied or to be occupied by one building and accessory buildings and uses and including the open spaces required under these regulations. A lot may be land so recorded on the records of Cook County, Illinois, or may be a part of or a combination of lots so recorded.
LOT LINES: The lines bounding a "lot", as defined herein.
LOT, OF RECORD: A lot which is part of a subdivision, the plat of which has been recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Cook County, Illinois, or a lot described by metes and bounds, the description of which has been separately established by the recording of a deed in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds and which meets all the requirements for the proposed use.
LOT, ZONING: A single tract of land located within a single block which is designated by the Village on the adopted zoning map, or which at the time of filing an application for a building use permit is designated by its owner or developer as a tract to be used, developed or built upon as a unit, under single ownership or control, and which meets all the requirements for the proposed use.
NONCONFORMING USE: A building or premises lawfully occupied for a use that does not conform with the regulations of the district in which it is situated.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING: A building in which is conducted the primary or dominant use of the lot on which it is located.
REAR YARD: An open space (unoccupied except for accessory buildings) on the same lot with a building between the rear line of a building and the rear line of the lot for the full width of the lot except as modified by side yard restrictions. On a corner lot which abuts two (2) streets, the rear yard shall be opposite and parallel to the shorter front lot line. On a corner lot which abuts three (3) streets, the remaining yard shall be a rear yard if it abuts a rear yard, and it shall be a side yard if it abuts a side yard.
SETBACK: The minimum horizontal distance between the street wall or walls of the building and the street line. The street line is the edge of pavement of the street or the back of curb, when curb and gutter are present.
SIDE YARD: An open unoccupied space on the same lot with a building between the main wall of the building and the side line of the lot and extending from the front lot line to the rear yard. Bay windows may be included in said side yard.
STREET WALL: The main wall nearest to and facing on a street, including sun parlors, but not including bay windows nor ground story open porches nor piazzas that are not closed in.
STRUCTURE: An improvement upon land, other than the land itself, the use of which requires more or less permanent location on the ground or attachment to something having a permanent location on the ground, including, but not limited to, buildings, accessory buildings, sheds, swimming pools, spas, gazebos, fences, freestanding signs, patios, decks, parking areas and playhouses.
THROUGH LOT: A lot having frontage on two (2) streets which run generally parallel or, in any event, do not intersect in a manner so that the junction thereof bounds the lot. (Ord., 4-22-1943; amd. 1989 Code; Ord. 00-01, 6-12-2000; 2003 Code; Ord. 03-05, 9-8-2003; Ord. 2009-22, 12-14-2009; Ord. 2011-02, 5-9-2011; Ord. 2017-06, 9-11-2017; Ord. 2018-03, 1-8-2018)

 

Notes

1
1. See section 9-1-5 of this chapter.
9-1-4: SITE AND STRUCTURE REGULATIONS:
   A.   General Restrictions: Except for land classified as PCC Property District and except as hereinafter provided:
      1.   Use: No building shall be erected or altered, nor shall any building or premises be used for any purpose other than permitted in the district in which such building or premises is located.
      2.   Height: The following height restrictions are applicable within the Village:
         a.   No principal building in the A Residence District shall be erected or altered to exceed thirty feet (30') in height, nor exceed two and one-half (21/2) stories.
         b.   No principal building in the B Residence District shall be erected or altered to exceed twenty eight feet (28') in height, nor exceed two and one-half (21/2) stories.
         c.   The maximum height of the finished first floor above grade, as measured at the midpoint of the established grade at the front of a principal building, shall be three feet (3').
      3.   Area Regulations: No building shall be erected, nor shall any existing building be altered, enlarged or rebuilt, nor shall any open spaces surrounding any building be encroached upon or reduced in any manner except in conformity with the area regulations hereby established for the district in which such building is located.
      4.   No Double Counting Of Yards: No yard, court or other open space provided about any principal building for the purpose of complying with the provisions of these regulations shall again be used as a yard, court or other open space for another principal building.
      5.   No Corner View Obstruction: On any corner lot, no accessory building or structure, fence, hedge or other obstruction shall be placed in the required setback area or side yard adjoining the side street so as to interfere with the clear vision from one street to the street across the corner.
   B.   Street Setback Restrictions: Notwithstanding other provisions of this title relating to minimum building and structure setbacks, the required minimum setback from a street for any building, principal or accessory, on a lot shall be forty feet (40') or the average setback determined for such lot, whichever is greater, except as follows:
      1.   Exception To Average Setback: Notwithstanding an average setback of greater than forty feet (40'), a new principal building may occupy any portion of the footprint of the former principal building, if any, existing on the lot before such new construction, as disclosed by a sealed plat of survey, as long as the new building observes a minimum setback of forty feet (40') from the street within the area of such footprint. Additions to a building, principal or accessory, shall observe the required minimum street setback applicable to the lot at the time of the addition.
      2.   Other Building Lines: If a lot is subject to any platted building line or other recorded agreement or covenant establishing a setback, then the required minimum street setback shall be the platted building line or other recorded setback, provided that the required minimum street setback shall not be less than forty feet (40').
      3.   Petitions: Where owners of all properties in the block petition in writing for the establishment of a building line within that block, which building line differs from that which would otherwise be established by the provisions of this section, the Zoning Board of Appeals may, after due notice and hearings, recommend to the Village Board the adoption of the building line proposed by the petitioners.
      4.   Street Setback Exceptions: The required minimum street setbacks required in this subsection B are reduced when expressly so authorized in section 9-1-6 of this chapter. (Ord. 2018-03, 1-8-2018)
9-1-5: FLOOR AREA RATIOS:
   A.   Floor Area Ratio Calculations: The following shall be included in the calculation of floor area for the purposes of determining floor area ratio in residential zoning districts:
      1.   All gross square footage of each floor above grade. A maximum of sixty four (64) total square feet shall be excluded from this computation for balconies or similar projections that are four feet (4') deep or less.
      2.   Roofed porches, including areas with open roof trellises.
      3.   Open porches, across all or part of the elevation of a house facing a street, that are greater than eight feet (8') deep.
      4.   Garages, sheds and gazebos, whether permanently fixed to the ground or freestanding.
      5.   That gross square footage of a basement with a ceiling in excess of three feet six inches (3'6") above grade.
      6.   Those portions of house attics, finished or unfinished, that have a clearance equal to or greater than seven feet (7') in height, even if the space is interrupted with crossties or has a truss design.
      7.   Open wood decks if the floor is more than three feet six inches (3'6") above grade.
      8.   Sun or other decks with rails higher than three feet six inches (3'6") on any floor of the house.
      9.   Open courtyards surrounded eighty five percent (85%) or more by perimeter walls.
      10.   The square footage of interior stairwells for each floor on which they are located.
      11.   Those portions of cathedral ceilings that are fourteen feet (14') or more in height shall be counted as two (2) stories.
   B.   Floor Area Ratio Guidelines; Review And Approval:
      1.   A completed floor area ratio worksheet is required for each lot on which a new building or structure is proposed or on which modifications are proposed to an existing building or structure (i.e., additions) that would increase the floor area from that which presently exists.
      2.   Copies of plats of survey, building plans and other drawings as necessary to demonstrate the basis of computations must accompany the completed floor area ratio worksheet. Additional support documentation shall be submitted as required by the Village to complete the review.
      3.   Worksheets prepared in conjunction with the construction of a new residential home or addition, etc., must be certified by an engineer or architect. Worksheets for other applications do not require certification.
      4.   All completed worksheets and support documentation must be submitted to the Village with a building permit application.
      5.   Upon receiving a completed worksheet with all necessary support documentation, the Building Commissioner, or appointed designee, shall, within two (2) weeks, determine whether the proposed improvements comply with the applicable floor area ratio requirement. (Ord. 00-01, 6-12-2000; amd. Ord. 03-05, 9-8-2003)
9-1-6: ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES:
An accessory building or structure that is secondary and incidental to a permitted or approved special use within the A or B Zoning District may, in accord with this chapter, be allowed to occupy the same lot as the principal building. To qualify as an allowable accessory building or structure, it must be maintained under the same ownership and on the same zoning lot as the principal building. All accessory buildings and structures shall conform to the applicable requirements of this title and to all other Village regulations, including, but not limited to, the Building Code, Electrical Code and the Fire Prevention Code.
   A.   Accessory buildings or structures shall not in the aggregate occupy more than thirty percent (30%) of any required yard. An accessory building which is used for a detached garage or pool house shall not exceed one thousand one hundred twenty five (1,125) square feet. Any other accessory building or structure shall not exceed six hundred (600) square feet or, if applicable, the maximum area authorized in table A of this section.
   B.   Accessory buildings and structures shall observe the minimum setback from a street applicable to the principal building, except when a reduced setback is authorized in table A of this section.
   C.   Accessory buildings and structures shall maintain a distance of at least three feet (3') to the side lot line and five feet (5') to the rear lot line, unless an existing easement requires a greater distance, and subject to the observance of the required minimum street setback.
   D.   No accessory building or structure (other than a detached garage or pool house) shall exceed fifteen feet (15') in height, except when a lesser height is authorized in table A of this section. A detached garage or pool house shall not exceed twenty feet (20') in height.
   E.   Accessory buildings and structures shall not be located on or within a drainage, access, utility or other easement created by a duly recorded document.
   F.   No accessory building or structure shall be approved, established or constructed until fifty percent (50%) or more of the principal use or structure has been completed. In addition, no accessory building shall be used unless the principal building on the lot is occupied.
   G.   No accessory building shall be used as a dwelling unit.
   H.   Permitted accessory buildings and structures and the development standards for each are indicated in table A of this section. These standards shall apply to all accessory buildings and structures, including those in existence at the time of adoption of this table. Existing accessory buildings and structures that do not comply with these standards shall be deemed nonconforming, and subject to the provisions of chapter 6, "Nonconforming Uses", of this title.
   I.   No outdoor storage shall be permitted in any district.
   J.   Every part of a required yard shall be open from its lowest point to the sky unobstructed, except for the projections of sills, belt courses, cornices, bay windows, eaves, chimneys and ornamental features not to exceed eighteen inches (18") and except for the obstructions permitted in yards as set forth in table A of this subsection (where P = permitted and NP = not permitted):
   TABLE A
   PERMITTED ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
Allowable Accessory Buildings/Structures
Development Standards
Yards
Front
Side
Rear
Allowable Accessory Buildings/Structures
Development Standards
Yards
Front
Side
Rear
Air conditioning/heat pump equipment
Year-round landscaping screening required
NP
3'
5'
Antennas
 
NP
3'
5'
Arbor or trellis
 
NP
3'
5'
Barbecue grill
 
NP
3'
5'
Basketball hoop 1
 
See note 1
3'
5'
Deck
36" or less above grade
NP
3'
5'
Dog run
 
NP
0'
0'
Doghouse
 
NP
3'
5'
Driveways and off-street parking
 
0'
5'
5'
Fences
 
See note 2
0'3
0'3
Firewood
 
NP
3'
5'
Flagpole
 
1/2 required setback
3'
5'
Garage, detached
 
NP
5'
5'
Garbage receptacle
 
NP
3'
5'
Garden shed
 
NP
3'
5'
Generator
Year-round landscape screening required
NP
3'
5'
Greenhouse/gazebo/
conservatory
 
NP
3'
5'
Hot tub
 
NP
3'
5'
Light standards (ornamental)
Not to exceed 2 in number, and 6' in height, if placed at sidewalk or driveway entrance to the lot
P
P
P
Mailbox
 
NP
NP
NP
Patio/terrace at grade
 
0'
0'
0'
Play equipment
 
NP
3'
5'
Playhouse/treehouse
Up to 150 sq. ft. in area, but not allowed in front and side yards abutting a street
NP
3'
5'
Porch (unenclosed)
Same as principal building setbacks
 
 
 
Recreational vehicle
 
NP
NP
NP
Shed
 
NP
3'
5'
Sports court (tennis)
 
NP
3'
5'
Step and ramps
Steps/ramps to a disabled individual's residence may, upon application, be classified as an "accessible required structure" by the Zoning Board of Appeals upon verifying the existence of the disability, in order to provide an accessible ramp or lift at the front or rear entrance(s) to the disabled individual's residence. A ramp or lift may be provided only while a disabled individual resides in the residence and shall be effectively screened from adjoining residences, if possible
Swimming pool house
 
NP
3'
5'
 
Notes:
   1.    Front yard permitted, but no closer than 1/2 the distance between the house and front lot line.
   2.    Fences are not allowed in front yards: a) except for certain lots abutting Golf Road, the METRA right-of-way or Diederich Park and b) historic fences are permitted in front yards of lots lying south of Briar Road and having frontage on Overlook Drive, per the Village fence ordinance.
   3.    Fences allowed to be 6 feet in height, upon approval of a height modification request, may require a 1 foot setback from the property line.
(Ord. 2018-03, 1-8-2018)
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