Purpose. The purpose of this section is to regulate the number, size, location and appearance of all accessory buildings attached and detached from principal buildings on lots within the city. These regulations shall apply to all detached structures, including but not limited to garages, storage buildings, gazebos, screen houses, and similar structures.
(A) General provisions.
(1) Accessory buildings are not an automatic right, but an additional privilege that may not work on all lots given the location of other structures, topography, or any other conditions.
(2) An accessory building shall be considered attached if it is connected to the principal building by a covered passageway, i.e. garage, patio.
(3) Outside wall dimensions will be used to determine maximum building area, except where a roof projects greater than two feet from the sidewall, then the roof area will be used to determine maximum building area.
(4) Detached accessory buildings and other structures shall have not less than a 4:12 roof pitch.
(5) In all districts, except A-1, any door opening over eight feet in height shall either be turned perpendicular to the front lot line so as not to face any public street, or if facing a public street, the garage door (i) shall be designed to appear as if it is an eight-foot high garage door as determined by the Zoning Administrator, and (ii) shall be constructed of materials that are identical to the exterior materials used on the front of the house.
(6) Accessory buildings and structures shall be constructed within the buildable area of the lot as defined in § 155.009, except as provided in divisions (D)(2)(c), (E)(3) and (F)(3) of this section.
(7) Accessory buildings shall be prohibited in designated drainage and utility easements.
(B) Accessory building area and sidewall height. Except for agricultural buildings in the A-1 Zoning District, accessory buildings and structures, individually and combined, either attached or detached to the principal structure, shall be subject to the following maximums:
(1) Table.
Lot Size (Acre)a | Maximum Building Area (attached and detached structures combined) (sq. ft.)b |
Maximum Sidewall Height for Detached Accessory Structure (ft.) |
Lot Size (Acre)a | Maximum Building Area (attached and detached structures combined) (sq. ft.)b |
Maximum Sidewall Height for Detached Accessory Structure (ft.) |
Less than 1 | 1,200 | 10 |
1.00 - 1.99 | 1,600 | 12 |
2.00 - 2.99 | 2,000 | 14 |
3.00 - 3.99 | 2,400 | 14 |
4.00 - 4.99 | 2,800 | 14 |
5.00 - 5.99 | 3,200 | 14 |
6.00 - 6.99 | 3,600 | 14 |
7.00 - 7.99 | 4,000 | 14 |
8.00 - 8.99 | 4,400 | 14 |
9.00 - 9.99 | 4,800 | 14 |
10.00 or greater | 5,200 + 400 additional per acre over | 14 |
The following criteria shall be used to determine the maximum square footage for accessory structures: a Lot size is the area of the horizontal plane within the lot lines. For purposes of determining accessory space the lot area shall exclude all property within the ordinary high water level or boundary of all wetlands, streams, lakes, rivers, storm water ponds. b On parcels 1 acre or greater in size located in the A-1, RR, and R-2 zoning districts, 780 square feet of the attached garage shall not be counted towards the maximum accessory building square footage. c Lean-tos, open wall structures, gazebos, and play houses are to be included in the calculation of total square footage. | ||
(2) Multiple level accessory buildings. All multiple level accessory buildings and structures, whether attached to or detached from the principal structure, shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) For purposes of this section, the square footage of multiple level accessory buildings shall be calculated by adding the area of each floor where at least 50% or more of the exterior wall surface area is exposed above the finished grade for any level. Floors with less than 50% of the exterior wall surfaces exposed above the finished grade may be excluded from the square footage calculation.
(b) When the exposed area of any lower level exterior wall that is excluded from the square footage calculation in division (2)(a) exceeds 30 feet in length architectural elements must be added to elevations visible to public right-of-way or adjacent properties as approved by the Zoning Administrator.
(c) Multiple level accessory buildings and structures are prohibited in the front yard of a lot.
(d) The natural topography and existing grade of the ground surface, existing prior to manmade alterations, must be utilized when constructing a multiple level accessory building as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
(e) The lower level of any multiple level accessory building shall be located directly beneath the footprint of the building located above grade.
(C) Setbacks for accessory structures.
(1) Attached. All accessory structures or buildings physically attached to the principal structure or building by means of a common foundation and which is constructed of the same building materials as the principal structure shall meet the setback standards identified in their respective zoning district.
(2) Detached. All detached accessory structures shall meet the minimum setbacks listed in the table below.
Size of Accessory Structure
(Setbacks for each accessory structure shall be applied on an individual basis, not cumulatively.) | Structure Setbacks by Zoning District (a)
| |||
RR, R-1 through R-4 | A-1(b) | |||
Side | Rear | Side | Rear | |
Size of Accessory Structure
(Setbacks for each accessory structure shall be applied on an individual basis, not cumulatively.) | Structure Setbacks by Zoning District (a)
| |||
RR, R-1 through R-4 | A-1(b) | |||
Side | Rear | Side | Rear | |
Up to 120 square feet | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
121 to 240 square feet | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
241 to 360 square feet | 10 | 15 | 10 | 15 |
361 to 1,200 square feet | 10 | 30 | 20 | 30 |
1,300 square feet or less | 11 | 31 | 21 | 31 |
1,400 | 12 | 32 | 22 | 32 |
1,500 | 13 | 33 | 23 | 33 |
1,600 | 14 | 34 | 24 | 34 |
Greater than 1,600 | Continue to add one foot for each additional 100 square feet of area. | |||
(a) Accessory buildings shall not be located within designated drainage and utility easements. | ||||
(D) A-1 Zoning District.
(1) Agricultural buildings. For properties that qualify as agricultural under the criteria and definitions set forth in M.S. § 273.13 (Classification of Property), and are ten acres or larger, all farming and agricultural related buildings and structures shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) Number. Accessory buildings are not limited in number.
(b) Area. Agricultural buildings are limited to 2,000 square feet per contiguous acre of the property under common ownership.
(c) Location (setbacks). All detached accessory structures and buildings shall conform to setbacks as listed in the “Accessory Building Setback Table” in division (C)(2) and as found in § 155.119 General Agricultural.
(d) Height. There is no maximum sidewall height.
(e) On lots at least ten acres in size, there shall be no limit on the height of door openings for garages or other accessory structures.
(2) Accessory buildings and structures that are not exclusively used for farming or agricultural-related uses shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) Number. Accessory buildings are not limited in number.
(b) Area. The total square footage of all non-agricultural related accessory buildings shall not exceed the maximum building area of accessory buildings and structures, individually and combined, either attached or detached to the principal structure as determined in the “Table for Accessory Building Area and Sidewall Height” in division (B)(1).
(c) Location (setbacks).
1. All non-agricultural related accessory structures and buildings shall conform to setbacks as listed in the “Accessory Building Setback Table” in division (B)(1).
2. Accessory building and structures are prohibited in the front yard of a lot unless the accessory building meets the following conditions:
a. The accessory building must be architecturally designed and match the existing principal structure in terms of color.
b. Accessory building doors must be perpendicular to the road (or to the existing principal structure).
c. The maximum sidewall height of the accessory structure shall not exceed 12 feet.
d. The maximum garage door height of the accessory structure shall not exceed 11 feet.
e. Accessory structures must be setback no less than 75 feet, or half the distance from the principal structure to a public right-of-way or road easement, whichever is greater.
f. The principal structure and the accessory structure must share a common driveway.
(d) Design and materials. All accessory structures of any size shall be constructed of durable, finished materials and shall be compatible in color to the principal structure. All accessory structures over 120 square feet in area shall be compatible with the principal structure in terms of design, roof style, roof pitch, overhang, eaves, color, and exterior finish materials. COMPATIBLE shall mean that the exterior appearance of the accessory structure (i) is similar to the principle structure in its aesthetics, building material and architecture, and (ii) does not cause dissimilar types of structures with adjacent properties, as determined by the Zoning Administrator. An exception to this requirement is that vertical siding, including steel, is permitted under the following conditions:
1. Wainscoting is required on all four sides of the structure, at least 42 inches from ground level. Wainscoting may be in the form of a different color paint or material such as brick or stone;
2. The accessory structure shall have a minimum one-foot gable overhang;
3. The accessory structure shall have a minimum two-foot eave overhang except on gambrel roofs as approved by the Zoning Administrator; and
4. All fascia and soffits shall be finished.
(E) Residential Zoning Districts (RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4). The following standards shall apply to all garages and accessory structures for single-family homes and duplexes in all zoning districts, and are in addition to the standards as described in the appropriate section. The intent of these standards is to reduce the impact of multiple vehicles and of large accessory structures on the residential character of the city.
(1) Number. A residential lot, other than a river riparian lot, may have no more than two accessory structures.
(2) Area. All detached accessory buildings and structures shall conform to the square footage permitted in division (B)(1).
(3) Location (setbacks).
(a) All detached accessory structures and buildings shall conform to setbacks as listed in the “Accessory Building Setback Table” in division (C)(2).
(b) Accessory buildings and structures are prohibited in the front yard of a lot. An exception to this allows accessory buildings and structures in the front yard of a corner lot in the RR, R-1 and R-2 zoning districts subject to the following requirements:
1. The subject parcel must be at least 1.01 acres in area, less wetlands, lakes and rivers.
2. The accessory structure in no case may come closer to the front property line than the principal structure.
3. The accessory structure must be designed to architecturally match the existing principal structure including roof pitch, windows, trim, shingles, color and side materials.
4. The maximum sidewall height of the accessory structure shall not exceed 12 feet.
5. The maximum garage door height of the accessory structure shall not exceed ten feet.
6. The square footage of the accessory building shall not exceed 720 square feet.
7. The accessory structure must have a 12 inch minimum and 30 inch maximum roof overhang and roof eaves.
8. The accessory structure may not be located more than 20 feet from the principal structure and the location of the accessory structure may not traverse a line from the public road to the nearest corner on either side of the principal structure in a manner that would place the accessory structure between the road and principal structure.
9. The principal structure and the accessory structure must share a common driveway. The driveway to the accessory structure may not traverse in front of the principal structure and must have the required hard surface within six months of final inspection of the accessory structure.
(4) Design and materials. All accessory structures of any size shall be constructed of durable, finished materials and shall be compatible in color to the principal structure. All accessory structures over 120 square feet in area shall be compatible with the principal structure in terms of design, roof style, roof pitch, overhang, eaves, color, and exterior finish materials. COMPATIBLE shall mean that the exterior appearance of the accessory structure (i) is similar to the principle structure in its aesthetics, building material and architecture, and (ii) does not cause dissimilar types of structures with adjacent properties, as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
(Ord. 110, passed 11-15-97; Am. Ord. 115, passed 3-24-98; Am. Ord. 116, passed 10-27-98; Am. Ord. 0205, passed 9-24-02; Am. Ord. 0307, passed 2-11-03; Am. Ord. 0313, passed 11-14-03; Am. Ord. 0405, passed 5-11-04; Am. Ord. 0503, passed 9-27-05; Am. Ord. 0605, passed 7-25-06; Am. Ord. 0803, passed 4-22-08; Am. Ord. 0807, passed 10-14-08; Am. Ord. 1106, passed 8-9-11; Am. Ord. 1401, passed 1-28-14; Am. Ord. 1605, passed 8-9-16; Am. Ord. 1704, passed 10-24-17; Am. Ord. 1804, passed 8-14-18; Am. Ord. 1901, passed 1-8-19; Am. Ord. 1905, passed 12-10-19; Am. Ord. 2103, passed 12-14-21) Penalty, see § 155.999