Section 17.30.050   Front and Corner Yard Setbacks
   A.   Minimum Front Setback
 
R-5
R-4
R-3
R-2
R-1
30 ft.
30 ft.
40 ft.
50 ft.
50 ft.
 
   B.   Minimum Corner Setback
 
R-5
R-4
R-3
R-2
R-1
30 ft.
30 ft.
40 ft.
50 ft.
50 ft.
 
   C.   Exceptions and Limitations
      1.   Average Front Setback.
         a.   Applicability. On any block face in a single family zoning district other than R-1, the front setback of any new building shall be no less than the average of the other front setbacks on the block face, provided that there are at least three principal buildings on the block face and at least 50% of those principal buildings maintain a front setback greater than the minimum established in subsections A and B of this section,
         b.   Formula. The average front setback shall equal the average of the distances from the front lot line to the existing principal building on each zoning lot on the block face at the time the new building is constructed. Vacant lots and lots on which the principal building maintains a front setback of at least 150 feet shall be excluded when calculating the average front setback,
         c.   Minimum Average Front Setback. Except as provided in paragraph 2 of this subsection C, the average front setback shall not be less than the required minimum established in subsection A and B of this section.
         d.   Maximum Average Front Setback. The maximum average front setback shall be no more than 5 feet more than the front setback maintained by an existing principal building on an immediately adjoining lot; provided, that in no case shall the average front setback exceed twice the minimum setback required in subsections A and B of this section.
      2.   Maximum Setbacks on Corner Lots.
         a.   The width of the buildable area, as measured from the minimum required side yard, shall not be reduced to less than 60% of the average lot width.
         b.   The length of the buildable area, as measured from the minimum required rear yard, shall not be reduced to less than 50% of the lot depth.
      3.   Lots with Three Street Frontages. Where a lot has three street frontages and where a side or rear yard line does not exist from which to measure the width or depth of the buildable area, the buildable area shall be situated on the lot so that equal setbacks shall be required from the opposite street lines.
      4.   Setbacks for Certain Institutional Buildings on Corner Lots. The minimum setback for one of the street frontages of a church or temple, including any enlargement or extension thereof, located on a corner lot may be reduced to 20 feet, subject to the following conditions:
         a.   The building must otherwise comply with the provisions of this title.
         b.   No part of any such building that extends in front of the setback line otherwise required by this title shall be less than 100 feet from the point of intersection of the lot line from which the reduced setback is allowed and the lot line that forms the boundary between such lot and the lot next adjoining.
         c.   The area of the portion of any such building that extends in front of the setback line otherwise required by this title shall not be more than 15% of the total area of any such building.
      5.   Accessory Buildings. An accessory building may be placed nearer the street line than the principal building only on a through lot, provided that the setback provision for each street shall be observed.
      6.   Administrative Designation of Front Lot Line for Front Setbacks. If the front street line of a lot extends less than 50 feet along the street line and if the lot is at least 75 feet wide at its widest point, the Zoning Administrator shall designate the front yard for zoning purposes and shall establish the lot line from which the required setback shall be measured to the nearest line of a building so as to conform as closely as practicable to the intent and purposes of this title to require uniform front yards, uniform setbacks and appropriate spacing between buildings.
      7.   Front Yard Setbacks for Lakefront Properties. Development on lots abutting Lake Michigan between the ordinary high water mark of Lake Michigan and the tableland as defined by Section 17.82.020 will also comply with Chapter 17.82, Steep Slope Regulations and Chapter 15.78 Lakefront Construction. For lots abutting Lake Michigan, the required front yard setback is the toe of the bluff or 50 feet from the ordinary high water mark, whichever results in the line farthest from the ordinary high water mark.
(MC-01-2024 § 4, Subparagraph C.7. added, 02/06/2024; MC-3-2009, Amended, 04/28/2009; MC-6-2005, Amended, 09/20/2005; MC-6-2002, Added, 05/21/2002)