Accessory buildings are permitted in certain situations to:

A.

Allow for the more efficient use of yards

B.

Allow for additional storage space

(Ord. 455 § 8, 2010)

A.

Accessory buildings may be added to any single-family detached dwelling or manufactured home in any residential (R) zoning district, subject to the standards of this chapter.

B.

Applications for accessory buildings shall be approved administratively pursuant to Chapter 16.78.

C.

Accessory buildings of two hundred (200) square feet or less shall not be subject to review, but shall be subject to the standards of 16.13.040, except where noted.

D.

Accessory buildings located in the historic residential overlay shall require approval by the Historic Review Board pursuant to Chapters 17.16 and 17.24 prior to administrative approval.

E.

Accessory dwelling units shall be subject to the accessory dwelling unit standards of Chapter 16.54. Where conflict exists between the chapters of this title, the more restrictive standard applies.

F.

All properties located outside the designated historic commercial overlay and the historic residential overlay and adjacent to Highway 99 or Ehlen Road shall be collectively referenced as "gateway properties." The standards of Chapter 16.56 shall apply to all aspects of the site including, but not limited to, structural façade, yard and landscaping, and accessory buildings that are immediately adjacent to and visible from Highway 99 or Ehlen Road.

(Ord. 488, § 2(Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 455 § 8, 2010; Ord. 415 § 7.112.020, 2002)

All applications for accessory buildings shall be made on forms provided by the city and shall be accompanied by:

A.

A site plan drawn to standard engineering scale showing the location of the accessory building, the entrance and exits from the site, and areas to be designated for parking;

B.

A completed building permit application, if applicable. Accessory buildings not subject to building permits requirements are still subject to other requirements of Chapter 16.13.

(Ord. 455 § 2, 2010)

A.

Standards for creating accessory buildings address the following purposes:

1.

Ensure that accessory buildings are compatible with the desired character and livability of Aurora's residential zones; and

2.

Ensure that accessory building units are smaller in size than principal buildings.

B.

Accessory buildings must meet the following standards:

1.

Number. Only one accessory building exceeding two hundred (200) square feet is allowed per lot. Up to two accessory buildings two hundred (200) square feet or less are permitted per lot.

2.

Size. The maximum square footage for an accessory building shall be five hundred (500) square feet in the R-2 zone and seven hundred (700) square feet in the R-1 zone, except the maximum square footage for an accessory building on a lot or parcel greater than fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet shall be one thousand (1,000) square feet. Accessory buildings size may be interpolated between seven hundred fifty (750) square feet and one thousand (1,000) square feet when lot size is between seventy-five hundred (7,500) and fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet.

3.

Height. Maximum height for an accessory building shall be eighteen (18) feet or seventy-five (75) percent of the height of the principal building, whichever is greater. Accessory buildings two hundred (200) square feet or less shall not exceed a height of ten (10) feet as measured from the finished floor level, to the average height of the roof surface.

4.

Design. Accessory buildings greater than two hundred (200) square feet shall utilize at least two of the following design features to provide visual relief along the street frontage:

a.

Dormers;

b.

Recessed entries;

c.

Cupolas;

d.

Bay or bow windows;

e.

Gables;

f.

Covered porch entries;

g.

Pillars or posts;

h.

Eaves (minimum six inches projection); or

i.

Off-sets on building face or roof (minimum sixteen (16) inches).

5.

Setbacks. All setback requirements applicable to the base residential zone shall apply to accessory buildings, except for accessory buildings two hundred (200) square feet or less may be setback five feet from rear or side lot lines.

6.

Separation. A five-foot minimum separation is required between a principal building and each accessory building.

7.

Exterior finish. Accessory buildings greater than two hundred (200) square feet must have exterior finish material that is the same as or a visual match in type, size and placement of, the exterior finish material of the principal dwelling unit. A garage or carport constructed of like materials consistent with the predominant construction of immediately surrounded dwellings and sided, roofed and finished to match the exterior of the dwelling or manufactured structure is required regardless of square footage.

8.

Roof pitch. Accessory buildings greater than two hundred (200) square feet shall have a minimum nominal roof pitch of at least three feet in height for each twelve (12) feet in width, as measured from the ridge line.

9.

Breezeways. Structures connected to the principal building by a breezeway are accessory buildings unless the breezeway is enclosed and contains architectural elements such as windows, doors, trim, and roof lines compatible with the principal building. Breezeways shall be subject to building code requirements.

(Ord. 488, § 2(Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 474 § 1, 2014; Ord. 462 § 1, 2011; Ord. 455 § 8, 2010)