No accessory building shall be constructed or added onto without first obtaining a building permit. Accessory buildings must have an approved floor, concrete, wood, or other similar surface. All accessory buildings shall be built with a minimum four-inch gravel base or manufactured floor kit of a moisture resistant nature and be built to avoid rodent or varmint infestation. All accessory buildings shall be anchored to avoid uplift from wind. Accessory buildings not framed on site over a concrete slab will be required to have at least two attached ground anchors at opposite corners of the building.
(A) Location of accessory buildings.
(1) Residential districts.
(a) No accessory building shall be located closer than ten feet to either of the side lot lines. However, sheds and storage buildings for garden equipment and household items as accessory to dwellings and buildings and structures customarily incidental to the pursuit of agriculture, not exceeding 120 square feet in floor area, and located in the R-1, R-2, or R-3 zoning classifications shall have a minimum setback of five feet from either side lot line;
(b) No accessory building shall be located closer than five feet to the rear lot line;
(c) No accessory building shall be located closer than ten feet to the principal dwelling unit's foundation;
(d) On a reversed corner lot, no accessory building or portion thereof located in a required rear yard shall be closer to the side lot line abutting the street than the required front yard on the adjacent lot to the rear. Further, in the above instance, no such accessory building shall be located within five feet of any part of a rear lot line which coincides with a side lot line or portion thereof of property in a residential district.
(2) Non-residential districts.
(a) No accessory building shall be located closer than five feet to either of the side lot lines;
(b) No accessory building shall be located closer than five feet to the rear lot line;
(c) No accessory building shall be located closer than ten feet to the principal building's foundation;
(d) No accessory building shall be located within five feet of any other accessory building or structure;
(e) No accessory building or buildings shall occupy more than 20% of a required yard, plus 40% of any non-required rear yard area.
(B) Number of accessory buildings allowed per principal building.
(1) Residential districts.
(a) In the Estate Residential zoning district:
1. All principal dwelling units must include a private residential attached garage (see § 157.069 M)(1));
2. There shall be allowed no more than one detached garage per principal detached dwelling unit, in addition to the required private residential attached garage; and
3. There shall be allowed no more than one accessory building per principal detached dwelling unit, in addition to the required private residential attached garage and the one permissible detached garage.
(b) In all one-family residential zoning districts except in the Estate Residential District:
1. There shall be allowed no more than one garage, whether attached or detached, per principal detached dwelling unit; and
2. There shall be allowed no more than one accessory building per principal detached dwelling unit, in addition to the one permissible garage.
(2) In non-residential districts:
(a) There shall be allowed no more than one garage per principal building;
(b) There shall be allowed no more than two accessory buildings, in addition to the one permissible garage.
(C) Time of construction of accessory buildings. No accessory building or structure shall be commenced to be constructed on any lot prior to the start of construction of the principal building to which it is accessory.
(D) Accessory building size limitations.
(1) Accessory buildings except garages. No accessory building or portion thereof, except for a garage, located in any zoning district shall exceed the following size limitations:
(a) In Estate Residential District:
Maximum Height: 15 feet
Maximum floor area: No accessory building shall be more than 120 square feet or two percent (2%) of the total lot square footage whichever is greater. However, in no event shall an accessory shed exceed three hundred fifty (350) square feet regardless of the total lot square footage. For accessory buildings larger than three hundred fifty (350) square feet, see requirements for garages.
(b) In all other residential zoning districts:
Maximum height: 12 feet
Maximum floor area: No accessory building shall be more than 120 square feet or 2% of the total lot square footage whichever is greater. However, in no event shall an accessory shed exceed 350 square feet regardless of the total lot square footage. For accessory buildings larger than 350 square feet, see requirements for garages.
(c) In all non-residential districts:
Maximum height: 12 feet
Maximum floor area: No accessory building shall be more than 120 square feet or 2% of the total lot square footage whichever is greater. However, in no event shall an accessory shed exceed 350 square feet regardless of the total lot square footage. For accessory buildings larger than 350 square feet, see requirements for garages.
(2) Garages.
(a) Detached garage size limitations. No garage or portion thereof which is detached from the principal building in any zoning district shall exceed the following size limitations:
1. In Estate Residential District:
Maximum height: 20 feet
Maximum floor area: 750 square feet
2. In all other zoning districts:
Maximum height: 15 feet
Maximum floor area: 750 square feet
(b) Attached garage size limitations. No garage or portion thereof which is attached to the principal building in any zoning district shall exceed the following size limitations:
1. In residential districts:
a. Garage attached by at least a party wall and at the roof:
Maximum height: There is no maximum height restriction, provided that the attached garage is no higher than the principal building, and that the garage's design is an integral part of the comprehensive architectural design of the principal building.
Maximum floor area: The floor area of the garage may not exceed 50% of the floor area of the principal building.
b. Garage attached only by a fully enclosed breezeway;
Maximum height: 15 feet
Maximum floor area: 750 square feet
2. In non-residential districts:
a. Garage attached by at least a party wall and at the roof:
Maximum height: There is no maximum height restriction, provided that the attached garage is no higher than the principal building, and that the garage's design is an integral part of the comprehensive architectural design of the principal building.
Maximum floor area: There is no maximum floor area restriction, provided the garage is not greater in floor area than the principal building and that the garage's design is an integral part of the comprehensive architectural design of the principal building.
b. Garage attached only by a fully enclosed breezeway:
Maximum height: 15 feet
Maximum floor area: 750 square feet
(E) Additional restrictions in one-family residential zoning districts.
(1) No accessory building or portion thereof which is detached from the principal dwelling unit may be used as either a permanent or a temporary place of residence.
(2) An accessory building or portion thereof which is attached to the principal dwelling unit and which is used as a temporary or permanent place of residence may not be used as a rental property, but, rather, may be used only for permitted accessory uses, including but not limited to housing for non-paying guests or non-paying family members, or as servants' quarters.
(F) Special use permits. In a non-residential district, the height and/or floor area of an accessory building may be enlarged by special use permit, in accordance with the provisions of § 157.189 of this Code.
(Ord. 77-08, passed 6-28-77; Am. Ord. 78-05, passed 6-13-78; Am. Ord. 86-07, passed 2-9-87; Am. Ord. 96-20, passed 10-7-96; Am. Ord. 12-23, passed 11-13-12; Am. Ord. 19-40, passed 10-28-19) Penalty, see § 157.999