(A) Accessory buildings. Any use may be established as an accessory use to any permitted principal use in any zoning district provided that the accessory use:
(1) Is customarily incident to, maintained and operated as part of the principal use;
(2) Does not impair the use or enjoyment of nearby property (nor create hazard) in greater degree than the associated principal use;
(3) Does not create levels of noise, odor, lighting, vibration, dust, pollution or traffic hindrance in greater degree than the associated principal use;
(4) Complies with the size, location and appearance standards below; and
(5) Is not used in residential districts for commercial purposes, specifically as rental or lease property.
(B) Size of accessory buildings. Accessory structures shall meet the following criteria to accommodate the variety of lot sizes, building design and community aesthetics.
(1) Accessory buildings on residential lots whose area is less than 8,000 square feet shall not occupy more than 676 square feet or be larger than 50% of the floor area of the principal building on the zoning lot, whichever is less.
(2) Accessory buildings on residential lots whose area is greater than 8,000 square feet but less than 10,000 square feet shall not occupy more than 832 square feet or be larger than 50% of the floor area of the principal building on the zoning lot, whichever is less.
(3) Accessory buildings on residential lots whose area is greater than 10,000 square feet shall not occupy more than 1,000 square feet or be larger than 50% of the floor area of the principal building on the zoning lot, whichever is less.
(4) Accessory buildings which serve mobile or modular homes shall not exceed 50% of the floor area of the principal structure.
(5) Carports which are attached to, or share a roof with, an accessory building will not be counted in the square footage of the accessory building, but must remain open on three sides and extend no further than 20 feet from the side of the building. All carports are subject to set back requirements as specified in division (D) below.
(C) Accessory building height. Accessory buildings which serve single story principal structures are limited to 15 feet in height, and those accessory buildings serving structures which are two stories or greater are limited to 27 feet in height.
(D) Location of accessory buildings. Shall not be closer than five feet to a side or rear lot line, except in the case of a corner lot, the more restrictive of these two rules applies:
(1) Accessory building shall not be closer to the side street than the side building line of the principal building; or
(2) Accessory building shall not be closer to the side street than the front building line of the adjacent principal building which faces the side street.
(E) Accessory building appearance.
(1) Shall be constructed of similar materials as the principal building, or finished in a similar fashion, so as to present a complimentary appearance;
(2) Shall not detract from the principal building, nor disturb the quality of the neighborhood appearance, by displaying unpainted, bright metal or garish contrasting surfaces; and
(3) Pre-manufactured accessory or storage buildings displaying an unfinished bright metal exterior are prohibited. Shipping containers or truck bodies are prohibited from any use except in LI Districts, except as approved for temporary use.
(F) Accessory uses. Are illustrated in Appendix C. Uses not specifically identified in Appendix C, are subject to the approval of the Zoning Administrator.
(G) Portable storage systems. Portable storage systems are mobile mini-storage units that are allowed in residential districts using the specific criteria as enumerated within this chapter. Unit sizes cannot exceed 20 feet in length. The use of a unit is limited to one per structure for a maximum of 30 days, and a permit is required. The Zoning Administrator may allow a one-time extension to the approved time limitation not to exceed 30 days and may also order the immediate removal of the portable storage unit. A unit may not block access or egress to a principal structure and must meet side and rear setback requirements for the residential district in which it is located and shall not be placed in a right-of-way, buffer area, or easement At no time shall the portable storage unit be allowed to store solid waste, construction debris, demolition debris, recyclable materials, business inventory, commercial goods, and/or goods for property other than that of the property of where the unit is located or for any other illegal use/purpose or storage of hazardous material. The business that provides the portable storage unit shall have a current business license to operate within the city.
(H) Construction dumpsters. Construction dumpsters must be permitted in conjunction with an approved building permit. The dumpster may remain on site for 30 days, and, at the discretion of the Zoning Administrator, the permit, with additional fees, may be extended for another 30-day period. Upon expiration of a permit, the dumpster shall be promptly removed from the property. Once the dumpster has been removed from the property for at least an additional 30 days, the Zoning Administrator may approve a new permit if the project requires it.
(I) Non-construction dumpsters. Non-construction dumpsters may remain on site for 15 days, and, at the discretion of the Zoning Administrator, the permit, with additional fees, may be extended for another 15-day period. Upon expiration of a permit, the dumpster shall be promptly removed from the property. Once the dumpster has been removed from the property for at least an additional 15 days, the Zoning Administrator may approve a new permit if the project requires it.
(1985 Code, Art. VI, § 604) (Ord. 91-02, passed 1-8-1991; Ord. 95-02, passed 3-14-1995; Ord. 95-002, passed 3-14-1995; Ord. 04-008, passed 7-20-2004; Ord. 13-006, passed 9-10-2013; Ord. 17-013, passed 5-9-2017; Am. Ord. 17-022, passed 11-14-2017)