Cumming City Zoning Code

   The following provisions, regulations, or exceptions apply equally to all districts except as hereinafter provided.

   1.   Visibility at Intersection. On a corner lot in any district except the OC, Original Cumming District, no fence, wall, hedge, or other planting or structure that will obstruct vision between a height of two feet and ten feet above the centerline grades of the intersecting streets shall be erected, placed, or maintained within the triangular area formed by connecting the right-of-way lines at points which are 25 feet distant from the intersection of the right-of-way lines and measured along the right-of-way lines.

   2.   Accessory Buildings. No accessory building shall be erected in any required front yard. No separate accessory buildings shall be erected within three feet of any side yard property line or five feet of any rear yard property line, or occupy more than 30 percent of the required rear yard, or exceed 16 feet in height.

   3.   More Than One Principal Structure on a Lot. In any district, more than one principal structure housing a permitted principal use may be erected on a single lot provided that the area, yard, and other requirements of this chapter are met for each structure as though it were on an individual lot.

   4.   Height Regulation Exception. The height limitations contained in this chapter do not apply to spires, belfries, cupolas, chimneys, antennas, water tanks, ventilators, elevator housing, or other structures placed above the roof level and not intended for human occupancy.

   5.   Use of Public Right-of-Way. No portion of the public road, street, or alley right-of-way shall be used or occupied by an abutting use of land or structure for storage or display purposes, or to provide any parking or loading space required by this chapter, or for any other purpose that would obstruct the use or maintenance of the public right-of-way.

   6.   Mailboxes and Structures in Public Rights-of-Way. The construction or installation of any structure, except mailboxes, public sidewalks and driveway approaches, by any person other than an employee or agent of the City, County, or State government having jurisdiction shall not be permitted within the public street right-of-way, unless authorized by the City Council. Mailboxes located within the right-of-way of any public street within the City corporate limits shall have support structures that are constructed to readily break or bend without creating significant damage to a vehicle or a danger to its passengers upon impact with the mailbox. Mailboxes with a single four by four-inch or 4 and one-fourth-inch diameter wooden post or a metal post with a size no greater than a two-inch diameter standard-strength steel pipe and buried no more than 24 inches into the ground will be acceptable as a mailbox support within the right-of-way of any public street. A metal post shall not be fitted with an anchor plate, but it may have an anti-twist device that extends no more than 10 inches below the ground surface. The post-to-box attachment details should be of sufficient strength to prevent the box from separating from the post top if the installation is struck by a vehicle. Mailbox supports shall not be set in concrete, and shall not be constructed of brick, concrete, stone, or masonry of any type in the public right-of-way of any public street. Mailboxes within the right-of-way of any public street shall be located on the nonparking side of the roadway. The bottom of the box shall be set at an elevation established by the U.S. Postal Service, usually four feet above the roadway surface. On curbed streets, the roadside face of the mailbox shall be set back from the face of curb a distance of six to eight inches, and support structure 12 inches or more. On residential streets without curbs or all- weather shoulders, the roadside face of the mailbox shall be set back six to eight inches and support structure 12 inches or more behind the edge of pavement or graveled surface. On paved roads with drivable all-weather shoulders, the mailboxes shall be set back six to eight inches and support structure 12 inches or more from the edge of the shoulder. Where a mailbox is located at a driveway entrance, it shall be placed on the far side of the driveway in the direction of the delivery route. Mailboxes shall maintain a minimum setback of 25 feet from the radius of an intersecting street.

   7.   Proposed Use Not Covered In This Chapter. Any proposed use not covered in this chapter as a permitted use or special exception shall be referred to the Commission for a recommendation as to the proper district in which such use should be permitted and the chapter amended as provided in Section 165.45 before a permit is issued for such proposed use.

   8.   Buildings to Have Access. Every building hereafter erected or structurally altered shall be on a lot or parcel having a frontage on a public street or road.

   9.   Mobile Homes or Trailers. Mobile homes occupied as a permanent or temporary place of residence shall be located only in an approved mobile home park or mobile home subdivision unless otherwise provided in this chapter and occupied travel trailers and camping trailers shall be located only in an approved tourist or trailer campground.

   10.   Hedges and Fences. Fences or hedges shall not exceed four feet in height in any required front yard and shall not exceed six feet in height in any required side or rear yard, subject to the further restriction of subsection 1 of this section.

   11.   Loading. All businesses except those in the OC District shall provide adequate off-street loading for all vehicles so that no public thoroughfare will be blocked at any time.

   12.   Minimum Dwelling Dimensions. The first floor of a residential dwelling shall not be less than 24 feet by 32 feet, exclusive of garages.