Irvine Municipal Code Ch. 3-5 Accessory Structures

A. Residential uses. Minor accessory structures are permitted on any site containing a residential use. The minor accessory structure shall meet the following requirements:

1. Minor accessory structures are permitted only within the rear yard area.

2. Minor accessory structures shall have a total maximum area of 250 gross square feet.

3. A maximum of 50 percent of a required setback area may be covered by minor accessory structures.

4. Minor accessory structures shall have a maximum height of 12 feet or one story, whichever is less.

5. Minor accessory structures shall comply with all building codes and this zoning ordinance.

6. Site coverage, including all structures on a site, shall not exceed the maximum allowed in Chapter 3-29.

Note accessory dwelling units are a separate land use and subject to Chapter 3-26, Accessory Dwelling Unit Standards.

B. Commercial, industrial, office and institutional uses. Minor accessory structures are permitted on any site with an established commercial, industrial, office or institutional use and shall comply with the following requirements:

1. Be clearly incidental and subordinate to the principal use of the land or building;

2. Be located on the same lot with the principal use;

3. Not be a generator of additional auto trips, parking needs, or adverse environmental impacts;

4. Can occupy a maximum of 10 percent of the area of the principal use. Where more than one accessory use occurs on a site, the total aggregate of all accessory uses must be equal to or less than 10 percent (see also "Principal use" and "Building, principal"); and

5. Be in conformance with all building codes and this Zoning Ordinance.

If a conditional use permit was required for the principal use, a minor accessory structure may require modification of the conditional use permit in accordance with the procedures of Chapter 2-9 and/or Chapter 2-19 (Major/Minor Modification Procedure).

(Code 1976, § V.E-301; Ord. No. 92-3, 4-14-92; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 97-06, § 3, 5-13-97; Ord. No. 13-08, § 2(Exh. A), 1-14-14; Ord. No. 18-05, Exh. A, 4-24-18; Ord. No. 23-13, § 3(Exh. A), 7-11-23)

A. Residential uses. Accessory retail uses are permitted on any site containing attached residential uses (for-sale or rental) exceeding the density of 20 dwelling units per net acre. The accessory retail uses shall meet the following requirements:

1. Local-serving retail equal to a maximum of two percent of the total aggregate square footage of residential unit living space on the project site. Multiple residential project sites may be included in this calculation when projects have been developed with shared components such as internal roadways, driveways, pedestrian connections, recreation amenities, architectural theme, etc.

2. The use shall be located within internal local street systems or front pedestrian-oriented gathering spaces (sidewalk, parks, schools, etc.).

3. The use shall be incorporated into the overall building, design, and architecture of the project site.

4. The use may offer a limited selection of convenience goods and services for the daily needs of the residents. Examples may include, but are not limited to, the following:

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Mini-market, no larger than 5,000 square feet.

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Eating establishments (e.g., café, coffee, sandwich shops) no larger than 3,000 square feet. Eating establishments shall exclude drive thru.

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Retail shops, walk-up bank and/or automated teller machine, drug stores, no larger than 2,000 square feet.

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Personal services (e.g., barber, shoe repair, hair salon, dry cleaners), no larger than 2,000 square feet. Dry cleaners shall exclude operations involving storage of hazardous solvents and chemical use.

5. The use shall comply with all applicable land use regulations, development standards, and codes; however, additional regulatory vehicle trip limitations and parking requirements shall not apply to accessory retail businesses.

B. Office and industrial/R&D uses. Accessory retail uses are permitted on any site containing office and/or industrial/R&D development. The accessory retail uses shall meet the following requirements:

1. Total accessory retail can occupy a maximum of two percent of the total gross square footage of office and/or industrial/R&D uses on the project site. Multiple sites may be included in this calculation when projects have been developed with shared components such as internal roadways, driveways, parking lots and/or structures, architectural theme, etc.

2. Exterior or external evidence of the accessory retail shall be minor, so that the appearance of the site remains defined by the primary use.

3. The use shall be incorporated into the overall building, design, and architecture of the project site.

4. The use may offer a limited selection of convenience goods and services for the daily needs of employees. Examples may include, but are not limited to, the following:

•

Mini-market, no larger than 5,000 square feet.

•

Eating establishments (e.g., café, coffee shop, sandwich shops) no larger than 3,000 square feet. Eating establishments shall exclude excluding drive-thru.

•

Retail shops, walk-up bank and/or automated teller machine, drug stores, no larger than 2,000 square feet.

•

Personal services (e.g., barber, shoe repair, hair salon, dry cleaners), no larger than 2,000 square feet. Dry cleaners exclude operations involving storage of hazardous solvents and chemical use.

5. The use shall comply with all applicable land use regulations, development standards, and codes; however, regulatory vehicle trip limitations and parking requirements shall not apply to accessory retail businesses.

C. Additions of accessory retail for existing buildings: Additions to existing buildings for accessory retail shall be subject to the modification procedures outlined in Chapter 2-19 of the zoning ordinance.

(Ord. No. 09-02, § 3, 3-24-09; Res. No. 15-86, § 3(Exh. A), 8-11-15)