1-1.

General provisions.

1-2.

Special provisions.

(1)

A building may be erected to a height of eight stories and 100 feet if set back from all required yard lines a distance of one foot for each two feet of additional height above 45 feet.

(2)

No side yard shall be required except that a side yard of not less than 6 feet in width shall be provided on the side of a lot adjoining residence district.

(3)

No rear yard required except that a rear yard of not less than 15 feet in depth shall be provided upon that portion of a lot abutting upon a residence district.

(4)

No front yard or setback is required except where a lot adjoins a residential district, in which instance the front yard in the residence district shall be provided for a distance of not less than 25 feet from the boundary of said residence district.

(5)

Buildings may exceed ten stories or 125 feet if set back one foot for every two feet of height above 125 feet, but in no case shall the height of a building exceed the total of the street width on which it faces plus the depth of the front yard.

(6)

Whenever a building in an "RI-1" or "HI-2" Industrial District adjoins or abuts a residential district, such building shall not exceed three stories or 45 feet in height unless it is set back one foot from the required side and rear yard lines for each foot of additional height above 45 feet.

(7)

Minimum lot depth as to RE-1, SF-1, SF-2, TF-3, and MF-4 Districts as provided for under section I of this article may be less than 120 feet when the lot is part of a subdivision, which plat of the subdivision has been approved by the city commission of the City of Carthage, Texas, for recording, when because of irregular shape of land, topographical or other unusual conditions causing practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship have permitted platting of lot depth of less than 120 feet.

(8)

Minimum lot width as to RE1, SF1, SF2, TF3 and MF4 Districts as provided for under section 1-1 of this article may be less than 60 feet when the lot is part of a subdivision, which plat of the subdivision has been approved by the city commission of the City of Carthage, Texas, for recording, when because of irregular shape of land, topographical or other unusual conditions causing practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship have permitted platting of lot width of less than 60 feet.

(9)

The minimum setback distance for all zoning districts shall be measured from the back of the curb in the event said street is curbed and guttered; otherwise, the minimum setback distance shall be measured from the property line.

(10)

In all districts a storage building may be located or situated within 20 feet from the rear property line and within five feet of the side property lines within the 20 feet area. Nothing herein shall be interpreted to impose a duty upon the City of Carthage to investigate or enforce deed restrictions concerning storage buildings.

(Ord. No. 1971-3, § 1, 7-12-1971; Ord. No. 1972-5, § 1, 3-27-1972; Ord. No. 1974-14, § 1, 9-9-1974; Ord. No. 1976-18, § 1, 1-24-1977; Ord. No. 1979-5, 2-12-1979; Ord. No. 1984-10, 8-13-1984; Ord. No. 1998-16, § 3, 9-14-1998; Ord. No. 2003-02, 2-24-2003)

2-1.

Height.

A.

The height regulations prescribed herein shall not apply to television and radio towers, church spires, belfries, monuments, tanks, water and fire towers or scenic lofts, cooling towers, ornamental towers and spires, chimneys, elevator bulkheads, smokestacks, conveyors, and flag poles.

B.

Public, semi-public or public service buildings, hospitals, institutions or schools, where permitted, may be erected to a height not exceeding 60 feet and churches and temples may be erected to a height not exceeding 75 feet when the required side and rear yards are each increased by one foot for each foot of additional building height above the height regulations for the district in which the building is located.

C.

The limitation on number of stories shall not apply to buildings used exclusively for storage purposes, provided such buildings do not exceed the height in feet permitted in the district in which they are located.

2-2.

Front yards.

A.

When 40 percent or more of the frontage on one side of the street between two intersecting streets is improved with buildings that have a front yard which is greater or less than the required front yard in the district, no building shall project beyond the average front yard so established; provided, however, that a front yard depth shall not be required to exceed 50 percent in excess of the front yard otherwise required in the district in which the lot is located.

B.

On lots having double frontage the required front yard shall be provided on both streets.

C.

In a residential district no fence, structure, or planting higher than four feet above the established street grades shall be maintained within 20 feet of any street intersection.

D.

An open, uncovered porch or paved terrace may project into a required front yard for a distance of not more than ten feet, but this shall not be interpreted to include or permit fixed canopies.

E.

Filling station pumps and pump islands may be located within a required yard provided they are not less than 15 feet from any property line and not less than 50 feet from the boundary of any residential district.

F.

Off-street parking facilities may be located within the required front yard of any business or industrial district but shall not be nearer than 50 feet to any residential district, and no off-street parking shall be permitted in the required front yard of any residential district.

2-3.

Side yards.

A.

On a corner lot the width of the yard along the side street shall not be less than any required front yard on such street; provided, however, that the building width of a lot of record shall not be reduced to less than 32 feet.

B.

No accessory building shall project beyond a required yard line along any street.

C.

Where dwelling units are erected above commercial establishments no side yard is required except when required for the commercial building on the side of a lot adjoining a residential district.

D.

A porte-cochere or canopy may project into a required side yard provided every part of such porte-cochere or canopy is unenclosed and not less than five feet from any side lot line.

E.

For the purpose of side yard regulations, a two-family dwelling or multiple dwelling shall be considered as one building occupying one lot.

F.

Where a lot of record at the time of the effective date of the ordinance is less than 40 feet in width, the required side yard may be reduced to ten percent of the width of the lot; provided, however, that no side yard shall be less than three feet.

G.

Community buildings, museums, libraries, art galleries and other permitted public buildings shall be located not less than 40 feet from any side lot line when located in an "SF-1" residence district.

H.

Churches shall be located not less than 50 feet from any side lot line when located in an "SF-1" and "SF-2" residence district.

I.

A public or denominational elementary or high school or private school shall be located not less than 150 feet from any side lot line when located in the "SF-1" and "SF-2" residence district.

2-4.

Rear yards.

A.

Where a lot abuts an alley, one-half the alley width may be considered as part of the required rear yard.

B.

An accessory building not exceeding 20 feet in height may occupy not to exceed 45 percent of a required rear yard, and unenclosed parking spaces may occupy not to exceed 90 percent of the area of a required rear yard, but no accessory building shall be closer than ten feet to the main building nor closer than three feet to any rear lot line.

C.

The ordinary projections of sills, belt courses, cornices and ornamental features may extend to a distance not to exceed 18 inches into a required yard.

D.

Open or lattice-enclosed fire escapes, outside stairways and balconies opening upon fire towers, and the ordinary projections of chimneys and flues into a rear yard may be permitted for a distance not to exceed five feet when these are so placed as not to obstruct light and ventilation.

2-5.

Lot area per family. Where a lot of record at the time of the effective date of this ordinance has less area or width than herein required in the district in which it is located, and the owner of such lot does not own any other parcel or tract adjacent thereto, said lot may be used for a one-family dwelling or for any non-dwelling use permitted in the district in which it is located.

(Ord. No. 1981-3, 4-13-1981)