(A) Height standards.
(1) All dwellings must be at least 14 feet in height.
(2) No single-family or 2-family dwelling shall exceed 2½ stories or 40 feet in height.
(B) Building standards. All dwellings shall have a minimum width of 20 feet.
(1) All dwellings shall be placed on a permanent foundation constructed of masonry, concrete, or treated wood with footings supporting the foundation constructed of solid masonry, pea, rock or concrete placed at a minimum depth of 42 inches below the finish grade.
(2) All dwelling and accessory building exterior siding must be of conventional exterior material. Sheet metal siding is not permitted. All dwellings shall have a pitched roof covered with shingle, tile, or approved metal and have eaves of not less than 6 inches. All dwellings must be built in conformance with Minnesota Statutes.
(C) Lot standards.
Location | 1-Family | 2-Family | Accessory | Other |
Lot area | 10,500 | 12,000 plus 2,000 for each dwelling unit over 2 | - | 14,000 |
Lot width min. at front yard setback line | 75 | 85 | - | 85 |
Lot depth | 140 | 140 | - | 140 |
Front yard and corner side yard setback | 25 | 25 | Behind the principal structure | 30 |
Rear yard setback | 35 | 35 | 5; 8 from alley | 35 |
Interior side yard setback | 10 | 10 | 5; 8 from alley | 15 |
(D) Other lot requirements.
(1) Where adjacent structures within the same block have front yard minimum setbacks different from those required, the front yard minimum set back shall be the average of the adjacent structures and the required setback. In no case shall the front yard setback be less than 15 feet or exceed 30 feet.
(2) Not more than 35% of the lot area shall be occupied by impervious surfaces and/or buildings and structures. Multiple contiguous lots under common ownership can be combined for this purpose otherwise the 35% is applied per lot.
(E) Privacy fences and landscaping. Fences, hedges, trees and shrubs in all zoning districts may occupy any part of a required yard except that on corner lots there shall be an intersection sight triangle area formed by the intersection along streets and alleys along the curb line or edge of pavement/gravel, whichever is closer to the property, and a line joining the points 30 feet distant from the intersection.
(1) Residential districts. Fences may be erected to the following height and opacity:
(a) Front yard. Maximum 4 feet and no more than 50% solid; and
(b) Side and rear yard. Maximum 6 feet.
(c) Underground perimeter fencing systems designed to confine pets to an area of a lot will be permitted, provided setback regulations are met.
(d) Fences in these areas require zoning approval and a land use permit.
(2) Commercial and industrial districts.
(a) Fences may be erected to a height of 8 feet.
(b) Fences that are electrically charged or have a security arm with barbed wire will require issuance of a conditional use permit.
(c) Fences in these areas require zoning approval and a building permit.
(3) All zoning districts.
(a) All fences, hedges, trees and shrubs may be placed up to the lot line on the owner’s property. Hedges, trees or shrubs having a ground spread at maturity greater than 2 feet must be planted with a setback adequate to accommodate the anticipated mature ground spread
(b) Hedges, trees and shrubs adjacent to lot lines along front yard areas shall not exceed 4 feet in height.
(c) Fences, hedges, trees and shrubs placed on a rear yard abutting an alley shall be placed at least 8 feet from the alley to allow for property maintenance and snow removal.
(d) All fences shall have an entrance either gated or open of not less than 36 inches in width allowing access and egress.
(e) Fences, hedges, trees and shrubs shall not be placed in easements.
(f) The lot area remaining after providing for off-street parking and loading, sidewalks, driveways, building site, and/or other requirements shall be planted and maintained in grass, sod or other acceptable vegetation or treatment generally used in landscaping.
(F) Private garages, accessory buildings, and structures.
(1) Generally. The standards of this section apply to accessory buildings and structures. accessory buildings and structures are counted in the calculation of lot/building coverage.
(2) Approvals. Zoning approval and building and/or land use permits are required to contrast accessory buildings and structures within city limits.
(3) Timing of construction. No accessory building or structure shall be constructed unless the principal building has already been constructed or is under construction simultaneously with the accessory building or structure.
(4) Front and corner side yard.
(a) No detached garage shall be located nearer the front lot line than the principal structure.
(b) No detached accessory building or structure except fences and driveways shall be located in the front or corner side yard.
(5) Attached accessory buildings or structures. Accessory buildings or structures that are structurally attached to a principal building or are 5 feet or less from the principal building shall be considered to be attached and shall conform to all standards that are applicable to the principal building.
(6) Access. Access to detached garages shall be not less than 12 feet wide and when designed to be entered directly from a side street, the distance between the vehicle entrance door and the lot line or sidewalk shall be 18 feet or more.
(7) Accessory building height. Unless otherwise specified, no accessory building or structure shall exceed the height of the principal building.
(8) Accessory building wall height. Accessory buildings shall not have a wall height in excess of 10 feet measured from the top of the floor to the ridge plate or top of the grade to the highest point for soft-sided structures.
(9) Footprint. In addition to not exceeding the 35% impervious rule, no detached accessory building shall cover an area that is larger than 1,200 square feet.
(10) Hard and soft-sided storage sheds and enclosures.
(a) Storage sheds and enclosures over 150 square feet shall be anchored to a footing or concrete slab with a suitable connection of a breaking strength equal to or exceeding 2,000 pounds and the structure shall be provided a surfaced floor.
(b) Storage sheds and enclosures less than 150 square feet and less than 10 feet in height do not require a foundation but shall be anchored to the ground.
(11) Residential occupancy. Residential occupancy of accessory buildings or structures that are not constructed and approved for residential use is prohibited.
(12) Easements and drainage. Accessory buildings and structures shall not be located in easements and cannot alter or block the flow of storm water drainage.
(G) Supplemental standards.
(1) Cornices, canopies, and eaves may extend into a required lot at a distance not exceed 4 feet.
(2) Fire escapes may not extend into a required front yard. Fire escapes may extend into the rear yard for a distance of 6 feet.
(3) Un-enclosed or roofed decks or porches may extend 15 feet into the rear yard and 6 feet into the front yard.
(4) On double frontage lots, the required front yard shall be provided on both streets.
(5) Exterior storage of all material; excluding lawn furniture, animal shelters, recreational vehicles with current license plates, firewood being used on premise, or construction material in current use not exceeding 6 months, shall be stored within an accessory building, or be fully screened so as not to be visible from adjoining or adjacent property and streets.
(6) Solid waste dumpsters or refuse containers.
(a) Dumpsters in residential areas. In order to protect the health and safety of the general public, all dumpsters located in areas zoned as residential districts under this chapter shall:
1. Have a lid or other covering over the top of the dumpster; and/or
2. Be completely surrounded by a fence or wall not less than 4 feet in height, which shall be so constructed as not to have openings, holes or gaps larger than 4 inches in vertical or horizontal direction, except for doors and gates. The fence shall be of a type not readily climbed by children. A dwelling or accessory building may be used as part of such enclosure or other structure to prevent unauthorized or unsafe access.
(Am. #4, passed - -2004)
(b) Frequency of collection. Garbage in dumpsters within residential districts shall be emptied at least once per week, unless the dumpster is permitted under division (G)(6)(c) below.
(c) Exceptions. In the following circumstances dumpsters shall be permitted to exist without complying with divisions (G)(6)(a) and (G)(6)(b) above:
1. On any lot or parcel for which a valid building permit has been granted, for the duration of that building permit; and/or
2. On any lot or parcel where the owner has been granted an limited dumpster permit for the disposal of garbage. No lot or parcel shall be granted a limited dumpster permit more than twice per year. A limited dumpster permit shall be valid for up to 30 days.
(d) Existing dumpsters. All existing dumpsters within residential districts shall comply with the enclosure requirements in division (G)(6)(a) above within 2 years of adoption. Existing dumpsters shall comply with division (G)(6)(b) upon adoption.
(e) Location. Solid waste dumpsters or refuse containers must be located on private property. Under no circumstances can dumpsters or refuse containers be located on roads, rights-of-way, or alleys.
(Am. #2, passed 4-22-2002)
(Ord. 239, § 403, passed 1-22-2000; Am. Ord. 7, Second Series, passed 9-24-2007; Am. Ord. 2015-01, passed 2-9-2015; Am. Ord. 2015-02, passed 2-23-2015) Penalty, see § 10.99