Residential Accessory Buildings

1. On residential lots of less than 3 acres, only one accessory building in addition to an attached or detached private garage is permitted.  On residential lots of 3-6 acres or more, two accessory buildings in addition to an attached or detached garage may be permitted.  On residential lots greater than 6 acres 3 accessory buildings may be permitted.

2. The following table shall be used to determine the minimum setbacks and maximum height requirement and also whether accessory buildings shall be approved under the provisions of Chapter 17, Special Use.

Maximum Height to Midpoint of Roof Min. Bldg. Side  Yard Setback Min. Bldg. Rear  Yard Setback Special Use  Permit Required   Up to 14’ Min. – 10’ Min. – 25’ Over 832 sq. ft.   15’- 18’ Min. – 40’ Min. – 40’ Over 832 sq. ft.   19’- 22’ Min. – 60’ Min. – 60’ Over 832 sq. ft.

3. A customary private garage shall consist of any one private garage attached to a principal dwelling unit, or in its place, any one detached private garage.  One such garage is permitted by right on any lot or parcel occupied for residential purposes.

a. The maximum size of a detached private garage is permitted by right shall be 832 square feet of floor area.  Detached private garages exceeding 832 square feet shall only be allowed with a Type I Special Use Permit.

b. The maximum size of a private garage attached to a dwelling unit shall be limited to 832 square feet for the first 1300 square feet of habitable floor area contained in the dwelling.  In addition, for each whole increment of 5 square feet that the floor area of the dwelling unit exceeds 1300 square feet, the floor area of the attached garage may be increased by 1 square foot.

4. Accessory buildings on residential lots shall not directly or indirectly involve any business, trade, occupation or profession.

5. The following standards shall apply to all accessory buildings:

a. The architectural character of accessory buildings in excess of 200 square feet shall be compatible and similar to the principal building.

b. No accessory building shall be constructed on any parcel on which there is no principal building.  If an accessory building and principal building are to be erected concurrently, a building permit for the accessory building will not be issued until such time that construction of the principal building has been at least 50% completed.

c. Accessory buildings other than attached garages shall not be located in the front yard area of any lot unless the accessory building is located more than 200 feet from the road right-of-way.  On lots having water frontage, a customary detached private garage is permitted in the front yard if it is located behind the applicable required front yard setback line for the district.

d. The distance between accessory buildings in excess of 200 square feet and any principal building shall not be less than 10 feet.

6. All residential accessory buildings that require a Type I Special Use Permit shall be approved according to the procedure outlined on the “Special Use Permit Process Sheet”.

7. The following (Fig. 1) is an example of how to measure the height of the building. 

8. The following (Fig. 2) is an example of an acceptable site plan that is required with an application for a Type I Special Use Permit for an accessory building.