(A) Intent. The intent is to establish regulations for living space in a detached accessory buildings in order to protect the residential character of the neighborhoods in which they are located and to ensure adequate infrastructure is in place or will be provided to service the additional living space. A guesthouse is intended to provide short-term accommodations for visiting guests of the owners of the primary dwelling units that are located in specified zoning districts. Specific regulations regarding the size and location of the guesthouse have been established so as to assist the guesthouse in appearing accessory to the main dwelling unit.
(B) Standard conditions. An accessory guesthouse shall be permitted in A-1 - General Agriculture, A-2 - Residential Agriculture, PF - Park Forest, RR - Rural Residential, and SRD - Suburban Residential Districts upon the issuance of an allowed special use permit and is subject to the following standards.
(1) Only one guesthouse shall be allowed on a lot and/or parcel.
(2) The minimum lot size requirement for the construction of an accessory guesthouse shall be three acres.
(3) The maximum allowed living space of a guesthouse shall not exceed 50% of the living space in the main dwelling unit or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less. Enclosed decks attached to the guesthouse shall be included in the calculation for the overall square footage, but decking and garage space shall not.
(4) The guesthouse shall use the same driveway approach as the primary dwelling.
(5) A single-wide mobile home shall not be allowed as a guesthouse.
(6) The guesthouse shall be the same architectural design and construction as the primary residence.
(7) The rental or lease of a guesthouse or the use of a guesthouse as a permanent residence for a second family on the premises shall be prohibited. The guesthouse shall not be occupied for more than 180 days per calendar year.
(8) All utility services including water, sewer, electricity, and gas for the guesthouse shall be extended from the primary dwelling unit’s services and shall have the same street address as the primary residence. No separate meters for the guesthouse shall be allowed, unless required by the utility service provider, in which case a written notice shall be required.
(9) A guesthouse shall use the same on-site wastewater disposal system as the primary dwelling, except when a separate system is required by a registered professional engineer due to site constraints.
(10) Prior to the issuance of a building permit for a guesthouse, or for use of an existing structure as a guesthouse, the applicant shall record a deed restriction stating the regulations applicable to the guesthouse, including that the guesthouse shall not be separately rented or leased from the main residence.
(Ord. 14-01, passed 6-6-2014, Ch. 10, Art. 15; Ord. 19-01, passed 4-9-2019)