Mason City City Zoning Code

The purpose of the Z3 General Urban District is to provide a range of residential lot sizes to support a mix of residential building types at medium densities with corner offices, corner stores, parks and playgrounds organized in walkable neighborhoods interconnected by landscaped streets and sidewalks.

(Ord. 10-003, 1-19-2010, eff. 7-1-2010)

Permitted forms and functions, which are identified in section 12-8-3, table 2 of this title, are those that are allowed by right within Mason City. New development or redevelopment will require a site plan drawn to scale showing that all zoning standards in chapter 16 of this title have been met. (Ord. 10-003, 1-19-2010, eff. 7-1-2010; amd. 2017 Code)

Conditional forms and functions, which are identified in section 12-8-3, table 2 of this title, are those that must be reviewed and approved by the board for potential impact on neighboring properties. All conditional forms and functions shall conform to the standards set forth in section 12-5-5 of this title. New development or redevelopment shall be reviewed according to chapter 7 of this title to show compliance with all development standards identified herein. (Ord. 10-003, 1-19-2010, eff. 7-1-2010; amd. 2017 Code)

   A.   Location: Accessory buildings shall be located in and not occupy more than thirty percent (30%) of the rear yard.

      1.   Notwithstanding the above, a detached accessory garage may be located in a side yard if all other accessory building setbacks and bulk requirements are met.

      2.   On a corner lot where the rear yard is twenty feet (20') or less in depth, an accessory building may be located in a side yard provided it meets accessory building setbacks.

   B.   Cumulative Area:

      1.   Zoning lots of up to two (2) acres in area:

         a.   Accessory buildings shall not occupy more than thirty percent (30%) of the rear yard but in any case up to six hundred (600) square feet shall be allowed as a minimum. Accessory buildings shall not exceed cumulative area of more than one-thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet measured at the exterior dimensions of the ground floor.

         b.   When located in the side yard of a corner lot per section 12-10-4.A.2 above, accessory buildings shall not occupy more than thirty percent (30%) of the side yard or a cumulative area of one hundred fifty (150) square feet, whichever is larger.

      2.   On zoning lots greater than two (2) acres, a cumulative total area shall not exceed two thousand four hundred (2,400) square feet measured at the exterior dimensions of the ground floor.

      3.   Notwithstanding the above, on lots that contain a minimum of four (4) units within one (1) or more multiple flat buildings, mansion apartment buildings, or mixed-use block buildings, one (1) garage space within a detached garage building with no horizontal dimension per garage space greater than twenty-four feet (24') shall be permitted per dwelling unit.

      4.   On any lot, a maximum of two (2) buildings measuring no more than eighty (80) square feet each, such as garden sheds, playhouses, or storage or maintenance sheds, shall not be considered as part of the overall accessory building square foot calculation.

   C.   Architectural Style And Building Materials: The architectural style and building materials of all accessory buildings within the Z3 District shall be compatible with those of the principal building on the lot; however, an accessory dwelling unit, when allowed, shall not be subject to this requirement.

   D.   Conditional Use Permit: An application for a conditional use permit as set forth in section 12-5-5 of this title may be submitted to request an increase in accessory building size, but in no case shall the total building area occupy more than thirty percent (30%) of the rear yard. (Ord. 11-09, 8-16-2011; amd. 2017 Code; Ord. 26-2, 1-6-2026; Ord. 26-6, 3-3-2026)

Any development, lot of record or structure legally operated prior to July 1, 2010, shall be considered a permitted use and legally conforming within this zoning district. Any redevelopment or addition to a development, lot of record or structure shall be required to conform to the forms and functions and development standards found within this zoning district. Any change in form or function shall conform to permitted and conditional form and function standards as described in this zoning district. (Ord. 10-003, 1-19-2010, eff. 7-1-2010)

   A.   Infill:

      1.   Where mansion apartments and/or multiple-flats are introduced, their massing and overall design shall be compatible with the character of the immediate neighborhood.

      2.   Up to two (2) corner stores within a one-fourth (1/4) mile radius (pedestrian shed) as measured on a scaled, aerial photograph or plat map of neighboring residences may be located in the Z3 District. The corner stores shall be located on corner lots clustered around a single roadway intersection or adjacent to one another on the same block.

      3.   Up to two (2) corner offices within a one-fourth (1/4) mile radius (single pedestrian shed) as measured on a scaled, aerial photograph or plat map of neighboring residences may be located in the Z3 District. The corner offices shall be located on corner lots clustered around a single roadway intersection or adjacent to one another on the same block.

   B.   Residential Driveways: Residential driveways serving front and side loading attached and detached garages accessed from the street shall be no wider than twenty six feet (26') at the property line and located in the first and second tier except when the lot is located on a corner, it may be located in the third tier. Residential driveways serving attached and detached garages accessed from an alley shall be no wider than twenty two feet (22') at the property line. One (1) driveway maximum allowed per zoning lot unless approved by the City Engineer.

   C.   Parking:

      1.   Any deviation from the required parking standards for the Z3 District shall require a variance. In instances where parking is to be determined, the Administrative Officer or the Administrative Review Body shall determine an adequate amount based upon the request by the applicant, information provided by the applicant related to the parking impact of the proposed function, the ITE manual (Institute of Transportation Engineers) standards, or other applicable resources.

      2.   Surface parking to support a permitted use is allowed on an adjacent lot or a separate lot in close proximity to the permitted use, if a conditional use permit is approved by the board.

   D.   Facade: The principal facades of a building in the Z3 District shall face the street and be built parallel to the street or the tangent of a curved street, unless the primary access to the building is from an internal drive or parking lot. If the principal facade of any building in the Z3 District does not face a street, any side of the building facing a street shall be a finished facade with fenestration and architectural details similar in style and quality to the principal facade.

   E.   Accessory Dwelling Units: An accessory dwelling in the Z3 District shall meet the requirement of section 12-16-24.

   F.   Small Box: Small box commercial/retail/service forms and functions in the Z3 District shall be limited to a maximum size of two thousand five hundred (2,500) gross square feet on the ground floor. Parking shall be provided per section 12-8-5, table 4 of this title. Parking lot landscaping shall be provided per section 12-16-5 of this title.

   G.   Restaurant: Restaurant forms and functions in the Z3 District shall be limited to two thousand five hundred (2,500) gross square feet on the ground floor only. A minimum of four (4) and a maximum of ten (10) parking spaces shall be provided. On street parking may account for up to two (2) of the required parking spaces. Parking lot landscaping shall be provided per section 12-16-5 of this title.

   H.   Automotive Gas/Convenience: Automotive gas/convenience forms and functions in the Z3 District shall be limited to two thousand five hundred (2,500) gross square feet, be located on a corner lot, and provide a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of six (6) parking spaces. Parking lot landscaping shall be provided per section 12-16-5 of this title.

   I.   Drive-Through: Drive-through functions in the Z3 District shall meet the following standards:

      1.   Shall be limited to corner lots with an edge yard building disposition;

      2.   The drive-through window shall be located in the second or third tier at the rear or street side of the principal building;

      3.   The location of and access to the drive through window shall be designed to provide adequate stacking of vehicles wholly on the site, so that vehicles are not encroaching into the public right-of-way (including alleys). The required number of stacking spaces shall be determined by the development review committee according to chapter 7 of this title, but in no case shall there be fewer than three (3) on-site stacking spaces (not including the space at the drive-through window). Each stacking space shall be a minimum of sixteen (16) feet long and eight (8) feet wide. The stacking route shall be designed to allow for safe and efficient vehicle circulation and pedestrian access.

      4.   Traffic circulation and impact data shall meet the requirements of the City Engineer; and

      5.   The application shall receive a positive recommendation from the City Engineer. (Ord. 10-003, 1-19-2010, eff. 7-1-2010; amd. 2017 Code; Ord. 22-3, 3-1-2022; Ord.25-12, 11-4-2025; Ord. 26-2, 1-6-2026)

See section 12-8-3, "Zoning Form And Function Table", of this title. (Ord. 14-1, 1-7-2014)

   TABLE 1

   Z3 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

Mix of houses, townhouses, small multiple-flat residential, small retail buildings, corner store and office, home offices, neighborhood parks, playgrounds, miniparks, small surface parking lots and interconnected streets.

   A.   Building Configuration:

 

 

   B.   Building Disposition: (See section 12-8-4, table 3 of this title.)

 

 

   C.   Lot Occupation:

 

 

   D.   Setbacks; Principal Building:

 

   E.   Setbacks; Accessory Building: For an accessory dwelling unit, see section 12-16-24.

 

 

   F.   Parking/Trash Placement: (See also section 12-8-5, "General Parking Provisions", of this title.)

 

(Ord. 12-07, 9-4-2012; amd. 2017 Code; Ord. 20-10, 11-3-2020; Ord. 25-12, 11-4-2025; Ord. 26-2, 1-6-2026; Ord. 26-6, 3-3-2026)