(A) General. Accessory buildings shall occupy the same lot as the principal use or main building.
(B) Separation from main building. All accessory buildings shall be separated from the main building by no less than ten feet. Attached private garages shall contain the setback requirements for the main building, and that such attached private garages are part of condominium developments. Attached accessory dwelling units shall be considered a component of the principal structure and shall comply with the height and setback requirements for the principal structure.
(C) Private garage. An accessory building used as a private garage shall be permitted to be located in the rear yard or side yard and that the such structure is setback not less than one foot and no more than three feet from the rear lot line, not less than ten feet from the principal building, and not less than a combined six feet on the sides with a minimum of not less than one foot on one side. Private garages shall not encroach into any recorded easements. A private garage shall be constructed with access only from a public alley. A garage shall be permitted to be constructed with access from a public street only if an accessible public alley does not exist or if there is an existing city authorized curb cut and an existing city authorized driveway. (Please reference definition of "garage, private" for more details).
(D) Shipping containers. No active commercial use, no power, no plumbing, no heat, no cooling, where the structure is located shall be allowed as dry storage use only in the Multi-Use District and Industrial District, subject to the following requirements:
(1) Shipping containers shall meet the requirements of this section and all other applicable construction codes.
(2) Shipping containers shall be on a combined lot or same lot with main commercial use building.
(3) Opaque fence or wall installation is required to screen the shipping container within the Multi-Use District. The fence or wall must match the height of the structure and screen the shipping container from street view and must have no gaps, holes, or missing sections.
(4) Shipping containers greater than 80 square feet and up to 600 square feet shall be required to be set on a four-inch concrete slab or other hard surface, as approved by the zoning official and building official, and have rat-walling around.
(5) Shipping containers greater than 600 square feet shall be required to rest on a foundation.
(6) Property owners or tenants applying for a newly placed shipping container are required to apply for a general use permit.
(a) General use permits must be renewed every three years.
(b) General use permits must be submitted by the property owner or submitted by the property tenant with the property owner's approval.
(c) General use permits must be renewed should the property be sold to a new owner or should a new tenant arrive.
(d) Once applicant applies for a general use permit, the shipping container will be inspected by the Building Inspector. Reinspection will follow renewal or new property ownership and/or lease agreement.
(7) Shipping container dimensional requirements:
(a) Lot coverage. Lot coverage of the shipping containers shall be calculated to the total maximum log coverage of the lot.
(b) Setbacks. Minimum shipping container setback: Front: none; Rear: one foot; Sides: six feet or subject to approval for good reason by the Zoning Official and the Building Official. Shipping containers shall be constructed with a setback of ten feet from any residential dwelling.
(d) Stacking of shipping containers is prohibited.
(8) No shipping container shall be located in the front yard.
(E) Sheds. No active commercial use, no power, no plumbing, no heat, no cooling, where the structure is located shall be allowed as dry storage use only in the Residential District, Central Business District, and Multi-Use District, subject to the following requirements:
(1) Sheds shall meet the requirements of this section and all other applicable construction codes.
(2) Sheds in the Residential District and Central Business District shall be on a combined lot or same lot with main residential use building.
(3) Sheds in the Multi-Use District may be on a combined lot or same lot with main commercial use building or subject to be a standalone structure for good reason by the Zoning Official and Building Official. Standalone structures must be adjacent to the commercial property or shared corner. Standalone structures must be used for the registered, primary business and cannot be leased.
(4) Sheds greater than 80 square feet and up to 600 square feet shall be required to be set on a concrete slab and have rat-walling around.
(5) Sheds greater than 600 square feet shall be required to rest on a foundation.
(6) Property owners or tenants applying for newly placed sheds over 80 square feet are required to apply for a general use permit.
(a) General use permits must be renewed every three years.
(b) General use permits must be submitted by the property owner or submitted by the property tenant with the property owner's approval.
(c) General use permits must be renewed should the property be sold to a new owner or should a new tenant arrive.
(d) Once applicant applies for a general use permit, the shed will be inspected by the Building Inspector. Reinspection will follow renewal or new property ownership and/or lease agreement.
(7) Shed dimensional requirements:
(a) Lot coverage. Lot coverage of the shipping containers shall be calculated to the total maximum log coverage of the lot, if applicable.
(b) Setbacks. Minimum shed setback: Front: none; Rear: one foot; Sides: six feet or subject to approval for good reason by the zoning official and the building official. Sheds shall be constructed with a setback of ten feet from any residential dwelling.
(8) No shed shall be located in the front yard.
(F) Solar energy systems. Solar energy systems, designed to service the energy needs of the property where the structure is located shall be allowed as an accessory structure in all districts, subject to the following requirements:
(1) Solar energy systems shall meet the requirements of this section and all other applicable construction codes.
(2) The design of the solar energy system shall conform to applicable industry standards.
(3) Solar energy systems shall be screened per the discretion of the Community and Economic Development Department.
(4) Solar energy systems shall meet height and setback requirements of the zoning district in which they are located.
(5) Solar energy systems shall be securely anchored to the ground or a permanent structure.
(6) A ground-mounted solar energy system shall comply with the accessory structure restrictions contained in the zoning district where it is located.
(7) All exterior electrical and/or plumbing lines must be buried below the surface of the ground in compliance with current code.
(8) Any solar energy system not used for one year or longer shall be deemed to be abandoned and shall be promptly dismantled and removed from the property by the owner of the solar energy system.
(9) Upon request, the plan commission may grant waivers of the setback or height requirements, provided that the waiver will not present any undue hardships on adjoining properties. The Plan Commission shall take into consideration the support or opposition of adjacent property owners in granting waivers of setback or height requirements.
(G) Accessory dwelling units. Accessory dwelling units shall be considered a permitted use on lots of 3,000 square feet or larger in area or in the R, Residential district, subject to the following standards:
(1) The unit shall be connected to public water and wastewater systems.
(2) The unit shall include, at a minimum, a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area separate from the primary residence, and shall meet all provisions of the Building Code and regulations of the City's Housing Code before being issued a certificate of occupancy.
(3) The exterior design of an accessory unit, whether a detached structure or attached to the principal structure, shall be compatible with the existing residence on the lot.
(4) The building form, construction materials, dimensions, and landscaping shall remain consistent with the principal structure and in harmony with the character and scale of the surrounding neighborhood.
(5) The accessory dwelling shall not result in excessive traffic, parking congestion, or noise.
(6) No more than one accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted on a single parcel.
(7) Accessory dwelling units intended to be rented shall comply with applicable City codes for non-owner-occupied units. An accessory dwelling unit shall be owned by the same person who owns the principal dwelling unit and the lot and shall not be sold separately from the principal structure and/or lot.
(8) Accessory dwelling units shall not encroach into any recorded easements.
(9) Attached accessory dwelling unit dimensional requirements:
(a) Attached accessory dwelling units shall be considered a component of the principal structure and shall comply with the dimensional requirements for the principal structure.
(b) Attached accessory dwelling units shall occupy no more than one-third of the total floor area of the principal structure.
(10) Detached accessory dwelling unit location and dimensional requirements:
(a) Location. Detached accessory dwelling units shall be permitted only in the rear yard of a lot.
(b) Setbacks. Detached accessory dwelling units shall be setback not less than one foot and no more than three feet from the rear lot line, and not less than a combined six feet from the side lot lines with a minimum of not less than one foot on one side lot line. Detached accessory dwellings shall be setback a minimum of ten feet from the principal building.
(c) Unit size. Detached accessory dwelling units shall have a minimum building footprint no greater than 600 square feet. The total floor area of all the floors within a detached accessory dwelling unit shall not be area greater than 66% of the total floor area of all the floors within the principal structure on the lot.
(d) Lot coverage. Detached accessory dwelling units shall be included in the calculation for maximum lot coverage for the lot.
(e) Height. A detached accessory dwelling unit shall have no more than two stories. A single story detached accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 14 feet in height. A two-story detached accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 28 feet in height.
(Ord. 497, passed 2-3-2004; Am. Ord. 523, passed 6-13-2006; Am. Ord. 2011-7, passed 12-13-2011; Am. Ord. 2019-02, passed 10-8-2019; Am. Ord. 2020-28, passed 3-3-2020; Am. Res. 2021-46, passed 4-13-2021; Am. Ord. —, passed 12-12-2023; Am. Res. 2026-15, passed 1-27-2026)