Belle Meade City Zoning Code

14-205 Development

Standards

General statement. Irrespective of the zoning district in which located, the area which may be occupied by buildings or structures on any lot shall be restricted as shown in the accompanying chart and as described as follows:
1. Number of dwellings: Not more than one (1) principal dwelling may be erected on any one (1) lot or building site.
2. Dwelling area is limited by footprint and floor area ratio:
  1. The allowable footprint area of a dwelling above the natural grade of the site, plus the area of all attached or detached garages or a pool house, shall not exceed eight percent (8%) of the total lot area in Estates A district and twelve percent (12%) of the total lot area in all other zoning districts.
  2. The allowable floor area ratio on a residential structure shall be defined as function of the gross floor area divided by the total square footage of the lot, such that the maximum floor area ratio for buildings on a lot shall be:
    1. For zoning districts Residential A & B and Estate A & B: 0.20; however, for properties that are 40,000 square feet or less in area it shall be 0.225.
    2. For zoning district Residential C: 0.225.
  3. In no zoning district shall a dwelling have a gross floor area of less than two thousand (2,000) square feet. For lots less than 10 acres, a dwelling shall have no more than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet regardless of calculation in subsection ii) above.
3. Maximum hardscape ratio: The square footage of hardscape, which shall include the maximum swimming pool area, as compared to the lot size shall not exceed eight percent (8%) of the lot area.
4. Maximum swimming pool area ratio: The square footage of the surface area of the water in a swimming pool as compared to the lot size shall not exceed two percent (2%) of lot area.
5. No dwelling shall exceed forty feet (40’) in height as measured at the front building line in the Estates A, Estates B, Residence A, and Residence B districts and thirty feet (30’) in the Residence C district. In the Residence A and Residence B districts, for lots 40,000 SF or less in area, no dwelling shall exceed 35’ in height as measured at the front building line. The maximum height of a dwelling along its sides or rear shall not exceed fifty feet (50’) measured from the finished grade in the Estates A, Estates B, Residence A, and Residence B districts and forty feet (40’) in the Residence C district. No dwelling shall have a height of less than fifteen feet (15’) feet.
6. No accessory residential structure shall exceed eighteen feet (18') in height as measured at the front building line.
7. The following shall be exempt from the height provisions:
  1. Chimneys not extending more than twelve feet (12’) above the point at which the chimney penetrates the roof of the main building.
8. Fences and walls: A fence or wall three feet (3’) or less in height may be constructed at any location on a lot. A fence or wall not more than six feet (6’) in height with posts or columns that extend up to, but not more than, eight inches (8”) above the fence shall be located:
  1. Abutting a rear lot line;
  2. Parallel to the front lot line and extending from a side lot line to the rear corner of the dwelling that is closest to the side property line or a lesser area on the premises;
  3. Abutting a side lot line, no closer to the front lot line than its intersection with a line from it to the rear corner of the dwelling;
  4. The following offsets in the fencing or walls are permitted if, in the opinion of the planning director, it is required to:
    1. Provide a required parking area per Section (j)(v) below;
    2. Protect existing trees on the property line, provided that such offset provides an access through the fence sufficient to assure maintenance of any property between the property line and fence; and/or
    3. Ensure adequate stormwater drainage as designed and installed for the specific property.
  5. The finished side of all fences must face out toward the adjoining property; and
  6. The construction or reconstruction of any fence or wall shall require a building permit.
9. Retaining walls: A fence or wall three feet (3’) or less in height may be constructed at any location on a lot, except that multiple retaining walls must be separated by terraces of at least six feet (6’) in width. Walls and fences with changes of grade shall be measured from the finished grade on the lower side.
10. Parking: Except for vehicles of temporary visitors or guests of residents, and delivery or service vehicles temporarily on the premises, parking or vehicle storage on the dwelling site is restricted as follows:
  1. All automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, motorcycles, or any similar vehicles, whether or not self-propelled, must be parked or stored either in an attached or detached garage, porte cochere, or on a driveway/parking area.
  2. All vehicles other than passenger cars, station wagons, passenger minivans, sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, and passenger vans of eight (8) passenger capacity or less, must be parked or stored in an area not visible from the street at any time.
  3. No more than twenty-two percent (22%) of the yard area between the front building line and the front lot line, shall include driveway/parking area. The total of all driveway/parking areas on any lot shall not exceed twelve percent (12%) of the total lot area.
  4. A minimum twenty-five (25) feet by twenty-five feet (25') turnaround area shall be provided at the attached or detached garage for access. No driveway or connecting driveways shall be constructed so as to provide access to more than one street, except in the case of corner lots. No parking of automobiles, or other vehicles, shall be allowed within twenty feet (20') of the front property line.
  5. Between any driveway and the nearest property line there shall be a minimum of five foot (5') "green space," to be devoted to grass or other vegetation.
11. Change in elevation: There shall be no change in the existing elevation of a lot, by excavation, fill, grading, the use of retaining walls, or combination of thereof except:
  1. A change in elevation of up to two feet (24") shall be permitted for the entire lot.
  2. Within the building envelope up to a total area of six percent (6%) of the entire square footage of the lot, an additional two feet (24") elevation change shall be permitted.
  3. An additional one foot (12") of elevation change shall be permitted on an area up to four percent (4%) of the entire square footage of the lot in the area outside the building envelope but not extending into a buffer zone extending twenty feet (20') from the property sidelines, rear property line, and front property line.
  4. There shall be no restriction whatsoever on grade change within the building footprint.

HISTORY
Repealed & Replaced by Ord. 2024-14 on 9/18/2024

2024-14

Belle Meade City Zoning Code

14-205 Development

Standards

General statement. Irrespective of the zoning district in which located, the area which may be occupied by buildings or structures on any lot shall be restricted as shown in the accompanying chart and as described as follows:
1. Number of dwellings: Not more than one (1) principal dwelling may be erected on any one (1) lot or building site.
2. Dwelling area is limited by footprint and floor area ratio:
  1. The allowable footprint area of a dwelling above the natural grade of the site, plus the area of all attached or detached garages or a pool house, shall not exceed eight percent (8%) of the total lot area in Estates A district and twelve percent (12%) of the total lot area in all other zoning districts.
  2. The allowable floor area ratio on a residential structure shall be defined as function of the gross floor area divided by the total square footage of the lot, such that the maximum floor area ratio for buildings on a lot shall be:
    1. For zoning districts Residential A & B and Estate A & B: 0.20; however, for properties that are 40,000 square feet or less in area it shall be 0.225.
    2. For zoning district Residential C: 0.225.
  3. In no zoning district shall a dwelling have a gross floor area of less than two thousand (2,000) square feet. For lots less than 10 acres, a dwelling shall have no more than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet regardless of calculation in subsection ii) above.
3. Maximum hardscape ratio: The square footage of hardscape, which shall include the maximum swimming pool area, as compared to the lot size shall not exceed eight percent (8%) of the lot area.
4. Maximum swimming pool area ratio: The square footage of the surface area of the water in a swimming pool as compared to the lot size shall not exceed two percent (2%) of lot area.
5. No dwelling shall exceed forty feet (40’) in height as measured at the front building line in the Estates A, Estates B, Residence A, and Residence B districts and thirty feet (30’) in the Residence C district. In the Residence A and Residence B districts, for lots 40,000 SF or less in area, no dwelling shall exceed 35’ in height as measured at the front building line. The maximum height of a dwelling along its sides or rear shall not exceed fifty feet (50’) measured from the finished grade in the Estates A, Estates B, Residence A, and Residence B districts and forty feet (40’) in the Residence C district. No dwelling shall have a height of less than fifteen feet (15’) feet.
6. No accessory residential structure shall exceed eighteen feet (18') in height as measured at the front building line.
7. The following shall be exempt from the height provisions:
  1. Chimneys not extending more than twelve feet (12’) above the point at which the chimney penetrates the roof of the main building.
8. Fences and walls: A fence or wall three feet (3’) or less in height may be constructed at any location on a lot. A fence or wall not more than six feet (6’) in height with posts or columns that extend up to, but not more than, eight inches (8”) above the fence shall be located:
  1. Abutting a rear lot line;
  2. Parallel to the front lot line and extending from a side lot line to the rear corner of the dwelling that is closest to the side property line or a lesser area on the premises;
  3. Abutting a side lot line, no closer to the front lot line than its intersection with a line from it to the rear corner of the dwelling;
  4. The following offsets in the fencing or walls are permitted if, in the opinion of the planning director, it is required to:
    1. Provide a required parking area per Section (j)(v) below;
    2. Protect existing trees on the property line, provided that such offset provides an access through the fence sufficient to assure maintenance of any property between the property line and fence; and/or
    3. Ensure adequate stormwater drainage as designed and installed for the specific property.
  5. The finished side of all fences must face out toward the adjoining property; and
  6. The construction or reconstruction of any fence or wall shall require a building permit.
9. Retaining walls: A fence or wall three feet (3’) or less in height may be constructed at any location on a lot, except that multiple retaining walls must be separated by terraces of at least six feet (6’) in width. Walls and fences with changes of grade shall be measured from the finished grade on the lower side.
10. Parking: Except for vehicles of temporary visitors or guests of residents, and delivery or service vehicles temporarily on the premises, parking or vehicle storage on the dwelling site is restricted as follows:
  1. All automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, motorcycles, or any similar vehicles, whether or not self-propelled, must be parked or stored either in an attached or detached garage, porte cochere, or on a driveway/parking area.
  2. All vehicles other than passenger cars, station wagons, passenger minivans, sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, and passenger vans of eight (8) passenger capacity or less, must be parked or stored in an area not visible from the street at any time.
  3. No more than twenty-two percent (22%) of the yard area between the front building line and the front lot line, shall include driveway/parking area. The total of all driveway/parking areas on any lot shall not exceed twelve percent (12%) of the total lot area.
  4. A minimum twenty-five (25) feet by twenty-five feet (25') turnaround area shall be provided at the attached or detached garage for access. No driveway or connecting driveways shall be constructed so as to provide access to more than one street, except in the case of corner lots. No parking of automobiles, or other vehicles, shall be allowed within twenty feet (20') of the front property line.
  5. Between any driveway and the nearest property line there shall be a minimum of five foot (5') "green space," to be devoted to grass or other vegetation.
11. Change in elevation: There shall be no change in the existing elevation of a lot, by excavation, fill, grading, the use of retaining walls, or combination of thereof except:
  1. A change in elevation of up to two feet (24") shall be permitted for the entire lot.
  2. Within the building envelope up to a total area of six percent (6%) of the entire square footage of the lot, an additional two feet (24") elevation change shall be permitted.
  3. An additional one foot (12") of elevation change shall be permitted on an area up to four percent (4%) of the entire square footage of the lot in the area outside the building envelope but not extending into a buffer zone extending twenty feet (20') from the property sidelines, rear property line, and front property line.
  4. There shall be no restriction whatsoever on grade change within the building footprint.

HISTORY
Repealed & Replaced by Ord. 2024-14 on 9/18/2024

2024-14

Belle Meade City Zoning Code

14-205 Development

Standards

General statement. Irrespective of the zoning district in which located, the area which may be occupied by buildings or structures on any lot shall be restricted as shown in the accompanying chart and as described as follows:
1. Number of dwellings: Not more than one (1) principal dwelling may be erected on any one (1) lot or building site.
2. Dwelling area is limited by footprint and floor area ratio:
  1. The allowable footprint area of a dwelling above the natural grade of the site, plus the area of all attached or detached garages or a pool house, shall not exceed eight percent (8%) of the total lot area in Estates A district and twelve percent (12%) of the total lot area in all other zoning districts.
  2. The allowable floor area ratio on a residential structure shall be defined as function of the gross floor area divided by the total square footage of the lot, such that the maximum floor area ratio for buildings on a lot shall be:
    1. For zoning districts Residential A & B and Estate A & B: 0.20; however, for properties that are 40,000 square feet or less in area it shall be 0.225.
    2. For zoning district Residential C: 0.225.
  3. In no zoning district shall a dwelling have a gross floor area of less than two thousand (2,000) square feet. For lots less than 10 acres, a dwelling shall have no more than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet regardless of calculation in subsection ii) above.
3. Maximum hardscape ratio: The square footage of hardscape, which shall include the maximum swimming pool area, as compared to the lot size shall not exceed eight percent (8%) of the lot area.
4. Maximum swimming pool area ratio: The square footage of the surface area of the water in a swimming pool as compared to the lot size shall not exceed two percent (2%) of lot area.
5. No dwelling shall exceed forty feet (40’) in height as measured at the front building line in the Estates A, Estates B, Residence A, and Residence B districts and thirty feet (30’) in the Residence C district. In the Residence A and Residence B districts, for lots 40,000 SF or less in area, no dwelling shall exceed 35’ in height as measured at the front building line. The maximum height of a dwelling along its sides or rear shall not exceed fifty feet (50’) measured from the finished grade in the Estates A, Estates B, Residence A, and Residence B districts and forty feet (40’) in the Residence C district. No dwelling shall have a height of less than fifteen feet (15’) feet.
6. No accessory residential structure shall exceed eighteen feet (18') in height as measured at the front building line.
7. The following shall be exempt from the height provisions:
  1. Chimneys not extending more than twelve feet (12’) above the point at which the chimney penetrates the roof of the main building.
8. Fences and walls: A fence or wall three feet (3’) or less in height may be constructed at any location on a lot. A fence or wall not more than six feet (6’) in height with posts or columns that extend up to, but not more than, eight inches (8”) above the fence shall be located:
  1. Abutting a rear lot line;
  2. Parallel to the front lot line and extending from a side lot line to the rear corner of the dwelling that is closest to the side property line or a lesser area on the premises;
  3. Abutting a side lot line, no closer to the front lot line than its intersection with a line from it to the rear corner of the dwelling;
  4. The following offsets in the fencing or walls are permitted if, in the opinion of the planning director, it is required to:
    1. Provide a required parking area per Section (j)(v) below;
    2. Protect existing trees on the property line, provided that such offset provides an access through the fence sufficient to assure maintenance of any property between the property line and fence; and/or
    3. Ensure adequate stormwater drainage as designed and installed for the specific property.
  5. The finished side of all fences must face out toward the adjoining property; and
  6. The construction or reconstruction of any fence or wall shall require a building permit.
9. Retaining walls: A fence or wall three feet (3’) or less in height may be constructed at any location on a lot, except that multiple retaining walls must be separated by terraces of at least six feet (6’) in width. Walls and fences with changes of grade shall be measured from the finished grade on the lower side.
10. Parking: Except for vehicles of temporary visitors or guests of residents, and delivery or service vehicles temporarily on the premises, parking or vehicle storage on the dwelling site is restricted as follows:
  1. All automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, motorcycles, or any similar vehicles, whether or not self-propelled, must be parked or stored either in an attached or detached garage, porte cochere, or on a driveway/parking area.
  2. All vehicles other than passenger cars, station wagons, passenger minivans, sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, and passenger vans of eight (8) passenger capacity or less, must be parked or stored in an area not visible from the street at any time.
  3. No more than twenty-two percent (22%) of the yard area between the front building line and the front lot line, shall include driveway/parking area. The total of all driveway/parking areas on any lot shall not exceed twelve percent (12%) of the total lot area.
  4. A minimum twenty-five (25) feet by twenty-five feet (25') turnaround area shall be provided at the attached or detached garage for access. No driveway or connecting driveways shall be constructed so as to provide access to more than one street, except in the case of corner lots. No parking of automobiles, or other vehicles, shall be allowed within twenty feet (20') of the front property line.
  5. Between any driveway and the nearest property line there shall be a minimum of five foot (5') "green space," to be devoted to grass or other vegetation.
11. Change in elevation: There shall be no change in the existing elevation of a lot, by excavation, fill, grading, the use of retaining walls, or combination of thereof except:
  1. A change in elevation of up to two feet (24") shall be permitted for the entire lot.
  2. Within the building envelope up to a total area of six percent (6%) of the entire square footage of the lot, an additional two feet (24") elevation change shall be permitted.
  3. An additional one foot (12") of elevation change shall be permitted on an area up to four percent (4%) of the entire square footage of the lot in the area outside the building envelope but not extending into a buffer zone extending twenty feet (20') from the property sidelines, rear property line, and front property line.
  4. There shall be no restriction whatsoever on grade change within the building footprint.

HISTORY
Repealed & Replaced by Ord. 2024-14 on 9/18/2024