Except as otherwise specified herein, every lot shall have a front yard, a rear yard, and a side yard on each side, the least depths of which shall not be less than those specified for the respective zone, or as contained in the small lot provisions for each residential zone.
(a) Front Yards.
(1) Required Front Yard for Redevelopment of a Lot. In any residential zone, whenever a principal structure is destroyed or demolished by any means, any subsequent principal structure on that lot shall be located within ten (10) feet of the same setback as the previous structure, except as provided in the small lot provisions established for each residential zone. Where the setback of the original structure cannot be determined, or if the lot is vacant, the setback of the new structure, including any projections, shall be within ten (10) feet of the average front yard of the principal structures on the two (2) lots immediately adjoining on either side of the subject property, provided those structures are located in the same block front and within one hundred (100) feet of each side of the lot. The front yard shall not be required to exceed the average depth of the front yards of existing buildings on the two (2) lots immediately adjoining, but shall be at least ten (10) feet. In no event shall a building be constructed any closer than the least setback established by the averaging above, or as established on a plat of record.
(2) Required Front Yard for Building Additions. In any residential zone, whenever an addition is made to the primary wall plane of an existing principal residential structure, any addition to that structure shall be located within ten (10) feet of the average front yard of the principal structures on either side of the subject property, provided they are located in the same block front and within one hundred (100) feet of each side of the lot. The front yard shall not be required to exceed the average depth of the front yards of existing buildings on the two (2) lots immediately adjoining, but shall be at least ten (10) feet. If the lots on either side of the property in question are vacant, then the setback required for the specific zone shall be used to determine the front yard required for any building addition; but in no event shall a building be constructed any closer than the least setback established by the averaging above, or as established on a plat of record.
(3) Yard on Street Side on Lot Adjoining or Facinga Residential Zone. On a lot in any nonresidential zone sharing the same block front with a lot in any residential zone, the depth of the minimum required front yard shall equal the required front yard depth for that residential zone, or as contained in the small lot provisions for the 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. In residential zones, the small lot provisions will apply. In the event that one (1) of the streets is an alley, the required front yard along the alley shall be the equivalent of fifty percent (50%) of the otherwise required front yard for the zone in which it is located. Alignment of existing structures shall not be used to determine a building line along a rear alley.
(5) Front Yards Not Parallel to the Building. 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 front yard required for that zone, or as contained in the small lot provisions for residential zones. No wall of a building shall encroach more than five (5) feet into the otherwise required front yard depth.
(6) Required Front Yard for Infill and Redevelopment of Lots in Business Zones. On a lot in a business zone and inside the Infill and Redevelopment Area, the required front setback (minimum and maximum) of the building shall be within five (5) feet of the average front yard of the principal structures on the two (2) lots immediately adjoining on either side of the subject property, provided those structures are located in the same block front and within one hundred (100) feet of each side of the lot. This setback shall be considered more restrictive than the underlying zone setback when applicable.
(b) 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 Zoning Ordinance is narrower than fifty (50) feet, and where the owner of record does not own any adjoining property, one and one-half (1½) inches may be deducted from the required least width of any side yard for buildings not exceeding two and one-half (2½) stories in height. In no case may a side yard be narrower than three (3) feet at any point. For any lot within the designated Infill and Redevelopment Area, the special provisions for the Infill and Redevelopment Area contained in Article 8 shall take precedence.
(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 (1) inch for each foot by which the side wall of a building adjacent to a side yard exceeds fifty (50) feet.
(3) Additional Yard Requirements for Certain Multifamily Structures. In addition to other yard requirements, whenever the principal entrance to a multifamily structure, or the entrance to the individual dwelling units therein, faces on and opens directly onto the side yard portion of the building, that side yard width shall not be less than the front yard requirement, or thirty (30) feet, whichever is greater. No parking shall be permitted within the side yard space required under this provision.
(4) Side Street Side Yard. On a corner lot in any zone, the required least width of the side street side yard shall equal either the minimum front yard required for that zone or the existing alignment on the lot immediately adjoining, whichever is less. Notwithstanding the above, no such yard shall be required to exceed thirty (30) feet in a residential, business, or industrial zone.
(5) Side Yard Exceptions for Attached Dwellings. In the case of attached dwelling units, the entire structure shall be considered as a single building with respect to side yard requirements.
(6) Side Yards Not Parallel to the Building. 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. At no point shall the side yard be narrower than one-half (½) the otherwise required side yard; nor shall it be narrower than three (3) feet, in any case.
(7) 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, if the side yard is legally non-conforming, 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 (3) feet to the adjoining lot line. All provisions of Subsection (b)(2) of this section regarding increased side yards for deep buildings shall apply.
(c) 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 wall shall not at any point encroach any more than one (1) foot into the otherwise required rear yard.
(Code 1983, § 15-2; Ord. No. 104-99 , § 1, 4-22-1999; Ord. No. 307-2002 , § 1, 12-5-2002; Ord. No. 133-2004 , § 1, 6-24-2004; Ord. No. 129-2009 , § 26, 7-2-2009; Ord. No. 166-2017 , § 7(15-2), 11-16-2017)