Algona City Zoning Code

22.82 Design

Guidelines

22.82.010 Single-family dwellings and middle housing.

A. All single-family dwellings, and middle housing where defined in Chapter 22.08 AMC and where allowed by Chapter 22.33 AMC, Land Use Table, shall meet the following standards unless otherwise regulated within this code:

a. Each house shall contain either: a porch of at least sixty square feet, with a minimum depth of six feet; or a pronounced entryway. Pronounced entryways shall include rounded doors, articulated entrances, columns, and other similar features.

b. Each unit shall have a designated pedestrian connection from the front door to the sidewalk.

a. Roof shall be pitched at a ratio of at least five to twelve.

b. Roofs shall have dormers, or gables, or similar variations in roof planes in order to break up the roof mass.

c. Roof pitches shall complement the building style.

d. Roof materials shall provide variety in the use of materials and color including tile, compositional, metal, shake or shingle.

3. Corner Lots. Structures on corner lots shall take advantage of the dual frontage and make an architectural statement. This may be accomplished by providing the following:

a. Wrap-around porches;

b. Bay windows, porches, turrets or trellises;

c. Varied exterior materials that are consistent with one another, roof features, or articulation.

a. Garages may be attached or detached and accessed from a side drive.

b. Garages located in the front facade or “front loaded” shall conform to the following:

i. Upper level dormers shall be used to de-emphasize the garage.

ii. The porch shall protrude at least five feet beyond the garage facade or if no porch is included the garage shall be set back five feet from the main structure.

iii. Garage openings and trims shall include sufficient detail work to de-emphasize the garage. (Ord. 1255-25 § 11, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

22.82.020 Commercial street frontage.

A. This section shall apply to all new commercial development and substantial remodels of existing commercial structures.

B. Building Facade Articulation. Commercial developments shall provide building facade articulation with the use of windows, entries, balconies and/or bays on facades. The following standards shall apply to the articulation:

1. Windows shall be frequent and coordinate with the articulation of any bays or balconies;

2. Display windows must line facades facing public streets and sidewalks, with no more than ten feet of blank nonwindow wall space in every twenty-five feet of storefront;

3. All window frames shall provide a reveal with the exterior finish (i.e., not flush);

4. Reflective glass curtain walls are prohibited;

5. Facades shall not consist of an undifferentiated blank wall when facing a public street or pedestrian connection.

C. Entries. To ensure that commercial development is easily visible and accessible to pedestrian and vehicular traffic, the following guidelines for entries shall apply:

1. Primary entries shall be located adjacent to a public street and must be visible from that street;

2. Entries shall be sheltered with an overhang or portico with a depth of at least four feet. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

22.82.030 Courtyard apartments.

Courtyard apartment housing developments shall comply with the following requirements:

A. Courtyard. The development shall contain a courtyard or usable landscaped open space area for the shared use and enjoyment of the residents of the dwellings. All residential units shall have direct access to the courtyard.

B. Site Design. Dwelling units shall be located on at least two sides or more of the courtyard. Open space shall be provided as follows:

1. A minimum of four hundred fifty square feet of private, contiguous, usable and open space shall be provided adjacent to each dwelling unit. No dimension of this open space area shall be less than ten feet in any direction.

2. A minimum of fifteen hundred square feet or two hundred square feet per unit, whichever is more, shall be provided in common open space (i.e., available for the use of all residents of the development). This open space shall be contained in a contiguous area with no dimension less than twenty feet. A substantial portion of such open space shall be sufficiently level (e.g., less than five percent slope) and well drained to enable active use, as determined by the city.

3. Parking and maneuvering areas for automobiles do not count toward open space areas.

C. Number of Units. The development shall include no more than six dwelling units. The units may be attached to or detached from each other. (Ord. 1255-25 § 11, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

22.82.040 Flood protection – Finished floor elevation requirements.

All new construction, including manufactured home or homes moved pursuant to Chapter 15.16 AMC, within the city limits of Algona shall have a finished floor level of at least seventy-one feet above sea level or one foot above the level of any abutting street, whichever is higher. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

22.82.050 Multiple unit residential development.

A. Applicability. The specified standards of this section shall apply to all multifamily dwellings, new custodial care facilities, and new group residences that have more than four units, any of which have proposed densities of at least ten units per acre. Expansions of existing developments that result in densities of at least ten units per acre shall also be subject to compliance with this section.

1. Multifamily dwellings, custodial care facilities, and all group residences shall have parking areas placed to the rear or side of buildings or within the interior of the lot except when waived by the hearing examiner due to physical site limitations.

2. Vehicular access shall be provided via one entry/exit off of a public street.

C. Building Facade Modulation. Multifamily dwellings, custodial care facilities and all group residences shall provide building facade modulation on facades exceeding sixty feet in length. The following standards shall apply:

1. The maximum wall length without modulation shall be thirty feet;

2. The minimum modulation depth shall be three feet; and

3. The minimum modulation width shall be eight feet.

D. Roofline Variation. Multifamily dwellings shall provide roofline variation on rooflines exceeding sixty feet in length according to the following standards:

1. The maximum roof length without variation shall be thirty feet;

2. The minimum horizontal or vertical offset shall be three feet;

3. The minimum variation length shall be eight feet; and

4. Roofline variation shall be achieved using one or more of the following methods:

a. Vertical offset in ridge line;

b. Horizontal offset in ridge line;

c. Variations of roof pitch;

d. Gables; or

e. Any other technique approved by the hearing examiner that achieves the intent of this section. (Ord. 1255-25 § 11, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

Algona City Zoning Code

22.82 Design

Guidelines

22.82.010 Single-family dwellings and middle housing.

b. Each unit shall have a designated pedestrian connection from the front door to the sidewalk.

a. Roof shall be pitched at a ratio of at least five to twelve.

b. Roofs shall have dormers, or gables, or similar variations in roof planes in order to break up the roof mass.

c. Roof pitches shall complement the building style.

d. Roof materials shall provide variety in the use of materials and color including tile, compositional, metal, shake or shingle.

3. Corner Lots. Structures on corner lots shall take advantage of the dual frontage and make an architectural statement. This may be accomplished by providing the following:

a. Wrap-around porches;

b. Bay windows, porches, turrets or trellises;

c. Varied exterior materials that are consistent with one another, roof features, or articulation.

a. Garages may be attached or detached and accessed from a side drive.

b. Garages located in the front facade or “front loaded” shall conform to the following:

i. Upper level dormers shall be used to de-emphasize the garage.

ii. The porch shall protrude at least five feet beyond the garage facade or if no porch is included the garage shall be set back five feet from the main structure.

iii. Garage openings and trims shall include sufficient detail work to de-emphasize the garage. (Ord. 1255-25 § 11, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

22.82.020 Commercial street frontage.

A. This section shall apply to all new commercial development and substantial remodels of existing commercial structures.

1. Windows shall be frequent and coordinate with the articulation of any bays or balconies;

2. Display windows must line facades facing public streets and sidewalks, with no more than ten feet of blank nonwindow wall space in every twenty-five feet of storefront;

3. All window frames shall provide a reveal with the exterior finish (i.e., not flush);

4. Reflective glass curtain walls are prohibited;

5. Facades shall not consist of an undifferentiated blank wall when facing a public street or pedestrian connection.

C. Entries. To ensure that commercial development is easily visible and accessible to pedestrian and vehicular traffic, the following guidelines for entries shall apply:

1. Primary entries shall be located adjacent to a public street and must be visible from that street;

2. Entries shall be sheltered with an overhang or portico with a depth of at least four feet. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

22.82.030 Courtyard apartments.

Courtyard apartment housing developments shall comply with the following requirements:

B. Site Design. Dwelling units shall be located on at least two sides or more of the courtyard. Open space shall be provided as follows:

3. Parking and maneuvering areas for automobiles do not count toward open space areas.

C. Number of Units. The development shall include no more than six dwelling units. The units may be attached to or detached from each other. (Ord. 1255-25 § 11, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

22.82.040 Flood protection – Finished floor elevation requirements.

22.82.050 Multiple unit residential development.

2. Vehicular access shall be provided via one entry/exit off of a public street.

1. The maximum wall length without modulation shall be thirty feet;

2. The minimum modulation depth shall be three feet; and

3. The minimum modulation width shall be eight feet.

D. Roofline Variation. Multifamily dwellings shall provide roofline variation on rooflines exceeding sixty feet in length according to the following standards:

1. The maximum roof length without variation shall be thirty feet;

2. The minimum horizontal or vertical offset shall be three feet;

3. The minimum variation length shall be eight feet; and

4. Roofline variation shall be achieved using one or more of the following methods:

a. Vertical offset in ridge line;

b. Horizontal offset in ridge line;

c. Variations of roof pitch;

d. Gables; or

e. Any other technique approved by the hearing examiner that achieves the intent of this section. (Ord. 1255-25 § 11, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

Algona City Zoning Code

22.82 Design

Guidelines

22.82.010 Single-family dwellings and middle housing.

b. Each unit shall have a designated pedestrian connection from the front door to the sidewalk.

a. Roof shall be pitched at a ratio of at least five to twelve.

b. Roofs shall have dormers, or gables, or similar variations in roof planes in order to break up the roof mass.

c. Roof pitches shall complement the building style.

d. Roof materials shall provide variety in the use of materials and color including tile, compositional, metal, shake or shingle.

3. Corner Lots. Structures on corner lots shall take advantage of the dual frontage and make an architectural statement. This may be accomplished by providing the following:

a. Wrap-around porches;

b. Bay windows, porches, turrets or trellises;

c. Varied exterior materials that are consistent with one another, roof features, or articulation.

a. Garages may be attached or detached and accessed from a side drive.

b. Garages located in the front facade or “front loaded” shall conform to the following:

i. Upper level dormers shall be used to de-emphasize the garage.

ii. The porch shall protrude at least five feet beyond the garage facade or if no porch is included the garage shall be set back five feet from the main structure.

iii. Garage openings and trims shall include sufficient detail work to de-emphasize the garage. (Ord. 1255-25 § 11, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

22.82.020 Commercial street frontage.

A. This section shall apply to all new commercial development and substantial remodels of existing commercial structures.

1. Windows shall be frequent and coordinate with the articulation of any bays or balconies;

2. Display windows must line facades facing public streets and sidewalks, with no more than ten feet of blank nonwindow wall space in every twenty-five feet of storefront;

3. All window frames shall provide a reveal with the exterior finish (i.e., not flush);

4. Reflective glass curtain walls are prohibited;

5. Facades shall not consist of an undifferentiated blank wall when facing a public street or pedestrian connection.

C. Entries. To ensure that commercial development is easily visible and accessible to pedestrian and vehicular traffic, the following guidelines for entries shall apply:

1. Primary entries shall be located adjacent to a public street and must be visible from that street;

2. Entries shall be sheltered with an overhang or portico with a depth of at least four feet. (Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

22.82.030 Courtyard apartments.

Courtyard apartment housing developments shall comply with the following requirements:

B. Site Design. Dwelling units shall be located on at least two sides or more of the courtyard. Open space shall be provided as follows:

3. Parking and maneuvering areas for automobiles do not count toward open space areas.

C. Number of Units. The development shall include no more than six dwelling units. The units may be attached to or detached from each other. (Ord. 1255-25 § 11, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).

22.82.040 Flood protection – Finished floor elevation requirements.

22.82.050 Multiple unit residential development.

2. Vehicular access shall be provided via one entry/exit off of a public street.

1. The maximum wall length without modulation shall be thirty feet;

2. The minimum modulation depth shall be three feet; and

3. The minimum modulation width shall be eight feet.

D. Roofline Variation. Multifamily dwellings shall provide roofline variation on rooflines exceeding sixty feet in length according to the following standards:

1. The maximum roof length without variation shall be thirty feet;

2. The minimum horizontal or vertical offset shall be three feet;

3. The minimum variation length shall be eight feet; and

4. Roofline variation shall be achieved using one or more of the following methods:

a. Vertical offset in ridge line;

b. Horizontal offset in ridge line;

c. Variations of roof pitch;

d. Gables; or

e. Any other technique approved by the hearing examiner that achieves the intent of this section. (Ord. 1255-25 § 11, 2025; Ord. 1190-21 § 2, 2021).