Chapter 12-27 — ACCESSORY STRUCTURES

The following regulations apply to all accessory structures located in residential zoning districts, except an accessory structure that is an accessory dwelling unit which is subject to Chapter 12-56 of this Title:

• (a) Where an accessory structure is attached to the main building, it shall be made structurally a part of the main building and shall comply in all respects with requirements of this title applicable to the main building, except that accessory structures behind the main building may be connected to the main building by a trellis, a breezeway, or an unconditioned room, when the unconditioned room is less than 400 square feet, provided that the connecting structure meets the setback requirements of the main building and the accessory structure so connected is set back a minimum of three feet from all property lines.

• (b) Detached accessory structures shall be located at least five feet from any dwelling or structure on the same lot, and comply with all setback requirements of the zone within which the structure is located. Single-story accessory structures, however, when located behind the main building, may project into the interior side and rear yards, provided that all structures in the required rear yard do not cover more than 25% of the required rear yard, the accessory structure does not exceed nine feet in height at the property line, and increase progressively to 14 feet in height at a point five feet from the property line; however, the peak at the property line, and a detached accessory structure projecting into a rear yard adjacent to a public alley may be up to 20 feet in height.

• (c) Any garage or carport with front entry on a street shall be set back a minimum of 20 feet from the property line, except garages with roll-up doors may be set back a minimum of 18 feet from the property line adjacent to the street.

• (d) Swimming pools and spas shall be located a minimum of 10 feet behind the front property line and are not required to comply with other sections of this chapter.

• (Ord. 95-11, eff. 12/07/95; Prior Code § 10-89.4; Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 88-6 § 1(F), eff. 6/2/88; Ord. 90-1 § 2, eff. 3/8/90; Ord. 2017-21, eff. 1/18/18)

It is unlawful for any person to construct, maintain, cause or permit the growth, construction or maintenance on his property of any fence, wall, hedge or other plantings forming a barrier serving the same purpose as a fence, or wall, except in conformance with the provisions of this section and other applicable sections of this title pertaining to fences, walls and hedges.

• (a) Height in Front Yards. Fences and walls shall not exceed a height of three feet within any required front yard, except that fences and walls up to a maximum height of six feet are permitted along the interior side lot lines and in the front yard, provided that the walls are set back 10 feet or more from the back of sidewalk or front property line and are no longer than 1/3 of the parcel width, subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03 .

  • (1) Height in Front Yards in Neotraditional Neighborhoods. Fences and walls are prohibited within the public utility easement. Fencing shall not exceed a height of three feet immediately behind the public utility easement, except that fences and walls up to a maximum height of six feet are permitted along the interior side lot lines and in the front yard, provided that the walls are set back five feet or more from the back sidewalk and are no longer than 1/3 of the parcel width, subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03 .

• (b) Height in Side Yards. Fences and walls erected within required side yards shall not exceed a height of six feet, unless otherwise authorized by the Zoning Administrator. Height of fencing is subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03 . In all zone districts except R-1 (Single-family Residential) and RSL-1 (Single-family Small Lot Residential District)

street side yard fences on corner lots shall be set back a minimum of three feet behind the interior edge of the sidewalk.

• (1) Height in Side Yards in Neotraditional Neighborhoods. Fences and walls shall be located outside of the public utility easement and shall not exceed a height of six feet, unless otherwise authorized by the Zoning Administrator. Height of fencing is subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03 .

• (c) Rear Yards. Fences and walls erected within rear yards shall not exceed a height of six feet, unless otherwise authorized by the Zoning Administrator. Height of fencing is subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03 .

• (d) Hedges and Other Plantings. All height restrictions applying to fences or walls shall also apply to hedges or other plantings of natural growth within required front, side and rear yards and forming a barrier serving the same purpose as a fence or wall.

• (e) Trellises and Arbors. Trellises and arbors, not exceeding nine feet in height, may be located in the front yard provided that they do not conflict with the provisions of Section 12-27.03 , that they are at least 10 feet from property lines and driveways, and that they are no wider than 10 feet. The width of the arbor shall be included as part of the 1/3 property frontage limitation provided in Section 12-27.02(a) .

• (f) Prohibited fences in all zoning districts:

It shall be unlawful for any person within the City to place, build or erect a fence, railing, guard or barrier of any kind constructed with barbed wire, razor wire or similar sharp pointed materials in any zoning district, provided, however, this section shall not prohibit the use of such material when:

• (1) located in residential or non-residential districts on sites enclosing a municipal, institutional or government use;

• (2) located on site larger than one acre used for agricultural or livestock purposes;

• (3) approved by the Zoning Administrator or by the Planning Commission through the conditional use permit process on any property based on evidence demonstrating a special need for safety or security purposes, and provided that such barbed wire, razor wire or other sharp pointed material is securely affixed to the top of a soundly constructed lawful fence or structure barrier which is at least six feet in height.

(Prior Code § 10-89.5; Ord. 90-1 § 2, eff. 3/8/90; Ord. 93-32, eff. 01/20/94; Ord. 2005-04, eff. 5/19/05; Ord. 2006-13, eff. 10/2/06; Ord. 2010-05, eff. 8/19/10)

No fence, wall, accessory structure, or landscape material shall be higher than three feet within the following sight distance triangles (see Figure 2 [[1]] in Appendix):

• (a) Driveway/Alley. Within 10 feet of the intersection of the edge of driveway pavement and the property line along the alley.

• (b) Driveway/Sidewalk. Within 10 feet of the intersection of the edge of driveway pavement and the back of the sidewalk.

• (c) Intersecting Streets. Within 30 feet from the intersection of corner property lines adjacent to two intersecting streets.

(Prior Code § 10-89.6; Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 85-1109 § 1 (4), eff. 1/2/86; Ord. 88-6 § 1 (G), eff. 6/2/88; Ord. 98-16, eff. 01/14/99; Ord. 2005-04, eff. 5/19/05)

[1] Editor's Note: Figure 2 is included as an attachment to this Chapter .