Algoma City Zoning Code

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Accessory use or structure means a use or structure on the same lot with and of a nature customarily incidental or subordinate to, the principal use of structure.

Automobile service station means a building or place of business where gasoline, oil and greases, batteries, tires and automobile accessories are supplied and dispensed directly to the motor vehicle trade, at retail and where minor repair service is rendered.

Board means the board of zoning appeals of the city.

Boardinghouse means a building other than a hotel, where lodgings or lodgings and meals are provided for compensation for more than three persons.

Dwelling, one-family, means a building containing one dwelling unit only.

Dwelling, two-family, means a building containing two dwelling units only

Dwelling, multiple-family, means a building containing three or more dwelling units.

Dwelling unit means one or more rooms, including cooking facilities and sanitary facilities in a dwelling structure designed as a unit for occupancy by not more than one family for living and sleeping purposes. The term "dwelling unit" does not include trailers or mobile homes as defined herein.

Mobile home and double wide units means factory-manufactured dwelling build according to mobile home standards.

Modular units means factory-manufactured dwelling subject to uniform dwelling codes.

Travel trailer, motor home or other camping unit means a dwelling used for sleeping, cooking and sanitary purposes.

Essential services means the erection, construction, alteration or maintenance, by public utilities, telephone, or municipal or other governmental agencies, or underground or overhead gas, electrical, steam, water or sewage, transmission or distribution systems, including buildings, poles, wires, mains, drains, sewers, pipes, conduits, cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, hydrants, and other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith, reasonably necessary for the furnishing of adequate service by such public utilities, municipal or other governmental agencies or for public health, safety or general welfare.

Family means one or more persons occupying a single housekeeping unit or using common cooking facilities, provided that, unless all members are related by blood or marriage, no such family shall contain over five persons.

Garage, private, means a building used primarily for private vehicle storage.

Garage, public, means any garage other than a private garage, which is open to the public and used for the storage or repair of motor vehicles.

Gross floor area means the total maximum area of all stories of a building measured to include the outside walls.

Height of buildings means the vertical distance from the mean elevation of the finished grade along the front of the building to the highest point of a flat roof, or the deck line of a mansard roof, or to the mean height level between eaves and ridge for gable, hip, and gambrel roofs, but not including church spires, belfries, cupolas and domes, monuments, water towers, chimneys, smokestacks, flag poles, radio and television towers, masts and aerials, or parapet walls.

Home occupation means an incidental or accessory use of a dwelling unit or accessory building for gainful employment involving the manufacture, provision or sale of goods and/or services.

Hotel or motel means a building designed for occupancy as the temporary residence of individuals who are lodged with or without provisions for cooking.

Lot means a parcel of land. The term "lot" includes the terms "plot" and "parcel."

Lot frontage means the front of a lot shall be construed to be the portion nearest the street. For the purpose of determining the yard requirements on corner lots and through lots, all sides of a lot adjacent to streets shall be considered frontage, and yards shall be provided as defined herein.

Lot measurements.

(1)

Area means the total horizontal area within the lot lines of a lot, excluding the horizontal area of such lot covered by water, or marsh, or beyond the rim of a river bank, watercourse or lake, or between the top and toe of a cliff or embankment of 30 degrees or more from horizontal.

(2)

Depth means the mean horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines.

Lot types.

Corner lot means a lot situated at the intersection of and abutting upon two or more streets, provided that the enclosed angle of intersection of such streets is not more than 135 degrees.

Interior lot means a lot other than a corner lot with only one frontage on a street other than an alley.

Reversed corner lot means a corner lot the rear of which abuts upon the side of another lot whether across an alley or not.

Through lot means a lot other than a corner lot with frontage on more than one street other than an alley.

Marina means an area for the docking and servicing of boats, yachts and small craft which may include as accessory uses a motel, bar, cocktail lounge, restaurant, and facilities for minor repairs to boats.

Persons means and includes a firm, association, organization, partnership, trust, company, or corporation as well as an individual.

Planned development group means a group of three or more principal buildings designed to be maintained and operated as a unit in single ownership or control, and which has certain facilities in common, such as yards and open spaces, recreation areas, garages and parking areas.

Professional office means the office of a member of a recognized profession, including the offices of doctors, or physicians, dentists, optometrists, ministers, architects, professional engineers, lawyers, and such other similar professional occupations.

Sign means a name, identification, description, display, or illustration which is affixed to, or painted, or represented directly or indirectly, upon a building, structure, or piece of land, and which directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, or business, but does not include any display of official court or public office notices nor any official traffic control device, nor does it include the flag, emblem or insignia of a nation, state, county, municipality, school or religious group. The term "sign" does not include a sign located completely within an enclosed building. Each display surface of a sign shall be considered to be a sign.

Sign, surface area, means the entire space within a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of a sign except that such perimeter shall not include any structural or framing elements lying outside the limits of such sign and not forming an integral part of the display.

Story means that portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it, or if there is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling next above it.

Structure means anything constructed or erected with a fixed location on the ground, or attached to something having a fixed location on the ground. Among other things, structures include buildings, mobile homes, walls, fences, signs, billboards and poster panels.

Townhouse means a structure containing a number of dwelling units each separated by vertical interior unpierced walls.

Used or occupied means and includes the terms "intended," "designed" and "arranged to be used or occupied."

Yard means a required open space unoccupied and unobstructed by any structure or portion of a structure from 30 feet above the general ground level of the graded lot upward; provided, however, that fences and walls may be permitted in any yard subject to height limitations as indicated herein.

Yard, front, means a yard extended across the front of a lot.

Yard, side, means a yard extending from the rear line of the required front yard to the front line of the required rear yard.

Yard, rear, means a yard extending across the rear of the lot.

(Prior Code, § 18.01)

Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty as provide in section 1-7.

(Prior Code, § 18.25)

Schedule of Regulations—Residential Districts

(Prior Code, § 18.25; Ord. No. 840, § 1,12-4-2023; Ord. No. 861, § 1, 4-6-2026)

(Prior Code, § 18.25)

The provisions of this chapter shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, convenience, prosperity or general welfare. It is not intended by this chapter to interfere with or abrogate or annual any easements, covenants or other agreements between parties; provided, however, that where this chapter imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings or premises or upon the height of buildings, or requires larger open space than are imposed or required by other ordinances, rules, regulations, or by easements, covenants or agreements, the provisions of this chapter shall govern.

(Prior Code, § 18.12)