(A) Lots, measurement of width. The width of a lot shall be measured across the required front setback line, provided, however, that the width between side lot lines where they intersect with the street line shall not be less than 80% of the required minimum lot width except in the case of lots on the turning circles of cul-de-sacs or at similar points of street curvature where the radius of the rights-of-way line (or a circle approximately following the rights-of-way line and intersecting the foremost points of the side lot lines) is less than 90 feet, in which case the 80% requirement shall not apply. However, in no case shall the required minimum lot width be less than 50% on the turning circles of cul-de-sacs. The minimum building line on such lots where the radius is less than 90 feet, will be the point where the required lot width is met. The following diagram showing lot measurement and width indicates the relationships involved.
Lot Measurement and Width
(B) Lot, area. The area of a lot shall be constructed as total area within its boundaries. However, no portion indicated to be located within any street rights-of-way shall be included in lot area calculations.
(C) Lots, types. The following diagram showing lot types illustrates terminology used herein with reference to corner, interior and through lots.
Lot Types
(1) In the above diagram, Lot A is a corner lot, defined as a lot located at the intersection of two or more streets. A lot abutting a curved street or streets shall be considered a corner lot if straight lines drawn from the foremost points of the side lot lines to the foremost point of the lot (projected if rounded) meet at an interior angle of less than 135 degrees. (See lots marked A(l) in diagram.)
(2) In the above diagram, Lot B is an interior lot, defined as a lot other than corner lot and abutting one street. Alleys shall not be considered as streets for purposes of this definition.
(3) In the above diagram, Lot C is a through lot, defined as a lot other than a corner lot, and with frontage on more than one street. Through lots abutting two streets may be referred to as double-frontage lots. Alleys shall not be considered as streets for purposes of this definition.
(D) Lot front.
(1) On interior lots, the front of a lot shall be construed as the portion adjacent to the street.
(2) On corner lots, the narrower side fronting on the street shall be considered to be the front of the lot. If the lot has equal frontage on two or more streets, frontage shall be determined by the Zoning Administrator in accordance with the prevailing building pattern, or the prevailing lotting pattern. If a pattern has not been established frontage shall be determined at the option of the owner.
(3) On through lots, all portions adjacent to streets shall be considered as a front for regulatory purposes. If the Zoning Administrator finds that the pattern of lots or the pattern of required yards, on lots adjacent to the through lot, is such as to justify the elimination of the requirement that more than one front be provided, such additional front shall not be required.
(E) Lot yards; methods for measurement; special requirements. The following rules shall apply with regard to determination of required yards on lots.
(1) Yards adjacent to streets shall be front yards. Required yards adjacent to streets shall be measured as follows.
(a) A straight line shall be drawn between the two points at which lot lines for the portion of the lot line involved intersect the street line. Where property corners are rounded, such points shall be plotted by projecting the lot lines to the point where they would have met without rounding.
(b) Depth or width of required yards adjacent to streets shall be as prescribed in district regulations and measured perpendicular to such straight lines.
(c) The inner line of such required yards shall be parallel to the outer line
(2) Front yards on interior lots. Front yards on interior lots shall be construed as extending between side lot lines across the front of the lot.
(3) Front yards on corner lots. Front yards on corner lots shall be construed as extending across all the front of the lot from each interior side lot line to the opposite street line (parallel to the street lot lines and equal to the distance from the street lot line prescribed in the district regulations for front yards.)
(4) Side yards. Side yards shall be construed as running from the rear line of the required front yard to the front line of the required rear yard, if required or, if no rear yard is required, to the opposite lot line. The width of a required side yard shall be measured perpendicular to the side lot line and the inner line of the required yard shall be parallel to the outer line, at the minimum distance therefrom prescribed in district regulations.
(5) Side yards on through lots with more than one front yard. Side yards on through lots with more than 1 front yard shall be construed as running to the rear lines of the front yards involved, and measurements and requirements shall be as for division (E)(4) above.
(6) Side yards on corner lots. On corner lots, the side yard is the yard along any lot line which intersects with a street lot line. When a corner lot has four sides, the two sides not adjacent to the streets are both side yards and the lot has no rear yard. If the corner lot has more than four sides, the yards along lot lines which do not intersect with a street lot line shall be considered rear yards.
(7) Rear yards. Rear yards shall be construed as extending across the full width of the lot at its rear. The width of a required rear yard shall be measured perpendicular to the rear lot line and the inner line of the required yard shall be parallel to the outer line, at the minimum distance therefrom prescribed in district regulations. On through lots providing two front yards, and on corner lots with four sides, there will be no required rear yard, and yards other than those adjacent to streets shall be construed as side yards. If a corner lot has more than four sides, the yards along lot lines which do not intersect with a street lot line shall be considered rear yards.
(8) Yards abutting railroad tracks. No yard shall be required along the side or rear of a non-residential lot where the side or rear respectively of the lot abuts a track which is or will be used to provide railroad service to the lot.
(F) Special yards.
(1) A special yard, for the purposes of these regulations, shall be construed as a yard other than adjacent to a street, required to perform the same functions as a side or rear yard, but adjacent to a lot line so placed or oriented that neither the term side yard nor the term rear yard, as generally determined defined, or applied with respect to regular lots, fits the circumstances of the case.
(2) In those instances, the special yard shall be considered a rear yard unless the Zoning Administrator determines that side yard requirements of the district shall apply because of the relationship of the portion of the lot on which the yard is to be located to the adjoining lot or lots, with due regard to the orientation of structures and buildable areas thereon.
(G) Diagram; yards. The following diagram indicates nomenclature, and location of yards.
(H) Minimum lot area. Minimum lot area is the minimum square footage required for a lot by this chapter. If a zoning lot includes different zoning districts, the minimum lot area requirements for each district shall be met.
(I) Building spacing. The spacing between principal structures located on the same zoning lot shall be determined by the North Carolina State Building Code. However, in no case shall there be less than 20 feet between principal structures.
(1981 Code, § 218) (Ord. passed 6-28-2004; Am. Ord. passed - - )