(A) Requirements.
(1) The following restrictions shall apply to yards in all districts.
(a) The minimum yard space required for one structure shall not again be considered as minimum required yard space for another adjoining structure, except that for unsubdivided property in the R-2 and R-3 zoning districts, the required interval of separation between adjacent buildings shall be considered as the minimum required yard space for both buildings.
(b) No lot shall be reduced in area so that the yards or other open spaces become less than the requirements of this chapter.
(c) On corner lots, no obstruction in a yard, including trees and shrubs, shall be higher than 18 inches above the street level if located in that portion of the yard within 25 feet of the corner formed by the intersection of any two street right- of-way lines; provided that, notwithstanding such height restriction, existing vegetation shall be allowed to remain unless it creates a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic as determined by the Director of Community and Economic Development in consultation with the Chief of Police, the Public Services Director and other consultants as deemed necessary and appropriate.
(2) In Single-Family Residence Districts, the maximum number of buildings accessory to any principal single-family residential building or structure shall be two. Such accessory buildings shall not occupy more than 8% of the lot area or 950 square feet, whichever amount is less, unless otherwise permitted by a planned unit development or a variation.
(3) In Business or Multiple-Family Residence Districts, accessory buildings that are permitted obstructions in the rear yard shall not occupy more than 30% of the required rear yard or 800 square feet, whichever is less, unless otherwise permitted by the planned unit development or a variation.
(B) Permitted obstructions. The following shall be permitted obstructions in minimum required yards:
F denotes Minimum Required Front Yard
R denotes Minimum Required Rear Yard
S denotes Minimum Required Side Yard
A denotes All Minimum Required Yards
1. | Sidewalks | F |
2. | Gutters and Eaves1 | A |
3. | Canopies1 | A |
4. | Awnings1 | A |
5. | Ornamental decorations | A |
6. | Signs (See § 156.043) | A |
7. | Fences (See § 156.039) | |
8. | Landscaping walls2 | A |
9. | Retaining walls3 | A |
10. | Satellite dish antennas (See § 156.047) | |
11. | Driveways | A |
12. | Off-street parking (See § 156.100)4 | |
13. | Garages (detached)6 | S, R |
14. | Sheds6 | R |
15. | Swing sets | R |
16. | Tennis courts5 | R |
17. | Barbecue stoves or grills | R |
18. | Non-mechanical laundry drying equipment | |
19. | Food vegetation | S, R |
20. | Children’s playhouses | R |
21. | Light poles7 | A |
22. | Porch Swings8 | A |
23. | Flags9 | F |
24. | Lawn furniture and benches | A |
25. | Ornamental Entry Gates10 | F |
26. | Garbage Containers11 | S, R |
27. | Off-street loading berths12 | R |
28. | Above ground service facilities13 | A |
29. | Portable toilets at residential construction sites14 | |
1 Eaves, gutters, canopies and awnings shall not extend more than four feet into the minimum required front, side or rear yard, except that eaves and gutters of detached garages and sheds may be located within the required side or rear yard, so long as no portion thereof is located less than three feet from the rear lot line or less than three feet from the side lot line.
2 The height of landscape walls shall not exceed 30 inches above the existing grade. The depth of any level of a landscape terrace, as extended toward the structure, shall be no less than 1.5 times the height of the rise in the terrace that is immediately beneath such level of the landscape terrace. The materials used for the construction of landscape walls shall be limited to landscape materials. On corner lots, no landscape wall shall exceed 18 inches above the grade in any portion of the yard situated within 25 feet of the lot corner formed by the curve of any two street lines.
3 The height of retaining walls shall not exceed the top of the foundation unless approved by the City Engineer for structural purposes. Any retaining wall that is more than three feet in height shall be certified by a structural engineer. On corner lots, no retaining wall shall exceed 18 inches above the grade in any portion of the yard situated within 25 feet of the lot corner formed by the curve of any two street lines.
4 For off-street parking, see regulations in each zoning district in addition to § 156.100.
5 Tennis courts shall be located not less than ten feet from the rear lot line.
6 Detached garages and sheds, including any eaves or gutters, shall be located not less than three feet from the rear lot line and not less than three feet from any side lot line. The vertical wall of any detached garage or shed shall be located not less than ten feet from the vertical wall of a principal building or structure.
7 In single-family detached residential zoning districts, light poles shall not be located in any required yard other than the front yard and shall not exceed eight feet in height; provided that light poles may be located in a rear yard inside the fence required in conjunction with a swimming pool, at a height not to exceed four feet. For off-street parking in business zoning districts, or when accessory to attached residential buildings, multiple-family residential buildings or nonresidential uses in all residential zoning districts, light poles may be located in the front, side or rear yards and shall not exceed 16 feet in height.
8 Porch swings shall not extend more than four feet into the minimum required front, side or rear yard.
9 No more than two flags shall be permitted on any zoning lot used for residential purposes in a residential zoning district, at a maximum height not to exceed the maximum building height permitted in the relevant zoning district. No more than five flags shall be permitted for nonresidential uses in any residential zoning district or for any use in a business district, at a maximum height of 35 feet. No ground-mounted flag shall hang more than one- third of the length of the pole on which it is displayed. Flags on zoning lots on which public buildings are located shall be exempt from these restrictions.
10 No more than one ornamental entry gate shall be permitted on each side of an entrance from a street frontage, not exceeding eight feet in height, and such gates shall be set back not less than five feet from the front lot line, street pavement and driveway. Such gates shall be subject to the approval of the City Engineer and shall be certified by a structural engineer.
11 Dumpsters in commercial districts may be located only in the required side and rear yards. Residential garbage cans may be located only in the required side and rear yards and shall comply with the requirements of § 156.101(A)(1)(h).
13 Above ground service facilities shall comply with the requirements of § 156.051.
14 Portable toilets at residential construction sites shall be located away from any sidewalks, and as close to the front wall of the principal structure as practical, and shall be permitted only until a temporary certificate of occupancy is issued.
(Am. Ord. 92-8, passed 8-25-92; Am. Ord. 80-24, passed 12-23-80; Am. Ord. 98-45, passed 2-9-99; Am. Ord. 01-46, passed 1-22-02; Am. Ord. 01-55, passed 3-26-02; Am. Ord. 02-25, passed 8-13-02; Am. Ord. 03-15, passed 8-26-03; Am. Ord. 06-22, passed 11-14-06; Am. Ord. 06-23, passed 11-14-06; Am. Ord. 07-13, passed 10-9-07; Am. Ord. 07-21, passed 11-27-07; Am. Ord. 07-38, passed 2-26-08; Am. Ord. 08-13, passed 8-12-08; Am. Ord. 09-2, passed 5-26-09; Am. Ord. 19-9, passed 3-12-19; Am. Ord. 22-24, passed 8-23-22) Penalty, see § 156.999