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Cranston City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 17

60 ACCESSORY USES

§ 17.60.010 Accessory uses.

A. 
Permitted Residential Accessory Uses. Accessory uses, including private garages and private marinas in a residential district are permitted which:
1. 
Are clearly incidental and subordinate to and customarily associated with the principal residential use;
2. 
Are operated and maintained under the same ownership and on the same lot as the principal use;
3. 
Do not include residential occupancy, except as an accessory dwelling unit conforming with Section 17.24.010;
4. 
Specifically include but are not limited to the sale at retail of farm, garden or nursery products raised on the premises;
5. 
Home occupations and professional home office or studio in accordance with Section 17.24.010.
B. 
Location of Residential Accessory Building. A building accessory to a dwelling, including an attached or detached garage or carport, shall not be located in any required front or corner side yard, shall not be located within 10 feet of any rear lot line in A-80, A-20 and A-12 zoning districts and shall not be located within five feet of any rear lot line in A-8, A-6, B-1 and B-2 zoning districts. Accessory buildings may be located within a required side yard as follows:
1. 
In residential district A-80 to within 15 feet of a side lot line;
2. 
In residential district A-20 to within 10 feet of a side lot line;
3. 
In residential district A-12 to within eight feet of a side lot line;
4. 
In residential district A-8 to within five feet of a side lot line;
5. 
In residential district A-6 to within five feet of a side lot line;
6. 
In residential district B-1 to within five feet of a side lot line;
7. 
In residential district B-2 to within five feet of a side lot line.
C. 
Private Garages and Parking Spaces in Residential Districts. Any private garage or parking space in a residential district when used for boat or vehicle storage shall be occupied only by boats or vehicles owned and operated by the residents of the dwelling on the same lot except that one private garage may be occupied by the boat or vehicle of a nonresident owner.
Vehicles other than passenger vehicles and school buses having a capacity of more than one ton or having three or more axles, shall be prohibited from being stored or garaged in residential districts.
D. 
Swimming Pools. A private swimming pool is declared to be an accessory use in a residential district and shall conform to the appropriate side, front and rear yard requirements of the particular residential district in which it is located; provided, however, that any filter and pump shall be located not less than 15 feet from the side yard line.
E. 
Open Space District Accessory Uses. Any single-family dwelling unit located on an undivided tract of land used for any purpose permitted within an S-1 district shall be considered an accessory use to the permitted use. It shall comply with intensity regulations provided for single-family dwellings in the A-80 district, as provided in Section 17.20.030 and the building accessory to such residential use shall comply with this section.
F. 
Marinas. Marinas shall be considered as an accessory use. When no other use is associated with a marina, the principal use shall be considered to be a sales room for the display of vehicles, trailers, boats and machinery.
G. 
Temporary Uses Permitted. A temporary building or yard for construction materials or equipment and a temporary office for the sale or rental of real property, if in connection with an incidental and necessary to a real estate development, shall be permitted in any district; provided, that any building permit issued for any such use shall be valid for not more than six months and may not be extended more than three consecutive times.
H. 
Sheds. Sheds shall be considered accessory uses. Sheds may be free-standing or attached to another structure, containing no utilities except electricity. Sheds shall be one level, the maximum area being 192 square feet, with no dimension greater than 16 feet.
Accessory Buildings and Structures Setbacks
Zoning District
Maximum Lot Coverage
(%)*
Minimum Side Yard Setback
(ft.)
Minimum Rear Yard Setback
(ft.)
S-1, A-80
10%
15
10
A-20
20%
10
10
A-12
30%
8
10
A-8
30%
5
5
A-6
30%
5
5
B-1
35%
5
5
B-2
35%
5
5
B-2 (multi-family)
50%
5
5
*
Maximum lot coverage includes primary and accessory buildings. Uncovered structures such as pools and decks are not included.
Septic System Minimum Setbacks
General Building Sewer, Grease Tank, Distribution Box, Pump Tank, Septic Tank, Septic Tank Effluent Pipe
(ft.)
Leach-field
(ft.)
Swimming Pools
In-Ground:
10
25
Above Ground:
10
10
(Prior code § 30-18(m); Ord. 2026-2, 1/20/2026)