Paris City Zoning Code
§ 13
Accessory Building Regulations.
13-100
DEFINITION AND USE REGULATION
a.
In a residence or an apartment district, an accessory building is a subordinate building, attached to or detached from the main building, without separate bath or kitchen facilities, not used for commercial purposes and not rented or leased.
b.
In other districts, an accessory building is a subordinate building, the use of which is incidental to and used only in conjunction with the main building.
c.
The term “portable storage structure” means shipping containers designed for intermodal transportation, either with or without a permanent affixed chassis, and used for the shipment or storage of goods and merchandise. This includes all varieties of cargo or shipping containers commonly called portable storage units or PODS.
13-101
AREA REGULATIONS FOR ACCESSORY BUILDINGS IN RESIDENTIAL AND APARTMENT DISTRICTS
a.
Front Yard.
Attached accessory buildings shall have a front yard not less than the main building. Detached accessory buildings shall be located in the area defined as the rear yard.
b.
Side Yard.
There shall be a side yard not less than three (3) feet from any side lot line, alley line or easement line, except that adjacent to a side street the side yard shall never be less than fifteen (15) feet.
c.
Rear Yard.
There shall be a rear yard not less than three (3) feet from any lot line, alley line or easement line, except that if no alley exists, the rear yard shall not be less than ten (10) feet as measured from the rear lot line. In residential districts the main building and all accessory buildings shall not cover more than fifty (50) percent of that portion of the lot lying to the rear of a line erected joining the midpoint of one side lot line with the midpoint of the opposite side lot line. Carports, garages, or other detached accessory buildings located within the rear portion of the lot as heretofore described shall not be located closer than fifteen (15) feet to the main building nor nearer than three (3) feet to any side lot line. (See appendix illustration 3)
d.
Portable storage structure.
Portable storage units, intermodal units, and shipping containers are prohibited for permanent accessory use in all residential zoning districts.
13-102
REGULATIONS FOR ACCESSORY RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS
a.
Purpose.
The purpose of this subsection is to allow accessory residential dwelling units (accessory buildings) to be developed within an individual site on properties located within City of Paris single-family zoning district, Agricultural, and Planned Development Districts, to be inhabited only by those persons related by blood or marriage to the current residents who reside in the primary single-family residential dwelling unit on the subject site.
b.
Definition of an Accessory Residential Dwelling Unit.
An accessory dwelling is defined as either a freestanding single-family home or a garage apartment/loft located on an individual residential lot in a City of Paris zoning district and which is separate from the primary residence on said lot.
c.
Accessory Residential Dwelling Unit (accessory dwelling) Regulations.
1.
Location:
Accessory dwellings shall only be located within the following zoning districts: Agricultural District (A), One-Family Dwelling Districts (SF-1, SF-2, and SF-3), and the Planned Development District (PD) within the City of Paris, Texas Zoning Ordinance.
2.
An accessory dwelling may not be located on a lot of less than fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet in area.
3.
An accessory dwelling shall be located a minimum of fifteen (15) feet from the primary dwelling.
4.
Approval:
Accessory dwellings shall be a permitted use in the above districts, subject to the verification and approval of city staff that a proposed accessory dwelling meets the requirements of the regulations set forth herein.
5.
Front, rear, and side yard setbacks, as well as maximum lot coverage, shall be maintained as required for any zoning district wherein said accessory dwelling is permitted.
6.
A site plan drawn to scale shall be submitted to city staff as part of said permitting process and shall include:
a.
Exterior dimensions of said accessory dwelling.
b.
Interior dimensions of all living areas within said accessory dwelling.
c.
Other relevant physical requirements of this ordinance that can be graphically portrayed.
d.
Pedestrian access of said accessory dwelling to the primary residential structure shall be illustrated on the required site plan.
7.
Only one (1) accessory dwelling shall be permitted on any individual zoning lot within any district whereon an accessory dwelling is permitted.
8.
An accessory dwelling must be located on the same lot as the main primary use and must not be across a street or alley from the main use.
9.
An existing primary residential structure must be constructed, or in the process of being constructed, prior to the allowance of development of an accessory dwelling upon said lot.
a.
In the circumstance whereby an applicant wishes to construct both a primary use and an accessory dwelling upon a vacant lot, construction of the primary structure shall be begun prior to or concurrent with said accessory dwelling, before approval for construction of an accessory dwelling is granted.
b.
No accessory dwelling shall be used/inhabited unless the main/primary residential building on the lot is occupied by its residents.
10.
One (1) standard, paved, off-street parking space shall be available for each accessory dwelling.
11.
No more than one (1) covered parking space shall be allowed.
12.
Lavatory and kitchen facilities and services shall be permitted in said accessory dwelling, subject to building codes and city staff approval.
13.
An accessory building shall have a minimum exterior area of five hundred (500) square feet. Maximum exterior area of said accessory dwelling structure shall not exceed thirty-five (35) percent of the size of the primary dwelling, up to a maximum of nine hundred (900) square feet.
14.
Person(s) residing in said accessory dwelling shall be related to the residents in the primary single-family residential structure existing on the subject lot either by blood or marriage.
15.
Occupancy of said accessory dwelling shall meet the requirements of the International Residential Building [Code].
16.
All accessory dwelling structures shall have smoke detection equipment installed. Such equipment shall be approved by the City of Paris Fire Marshal.
17.
Maximum height of accessory dwellings:
The height of all accessory dwellings shall be governed by Section 11: Height Regulations currently existing in the City of Paris Zoning Ordinance.
18.
All accessory dwellings shall be located totally behind the rear building line of the primary/principal single-family residential home.
19.
Air conditioning compressors, cooling towers, and similar accessory structures shall observe all front, side, and rear yard setbacks as specified in each zoning district wherein accessory dwellings are permitted.
20.
No accessory dwelling structure or any part thereof shall be used for commercial, industrial, or any other nonresidential purposes or use.
21.
For aesthetic compatibility purposes, an accessory dwelling shall be constructed of the same exterior materials as the principal/primary residential structure, presuming said materials meet the City of Paris Building Code or other relevant and related codes and ordinances.
22.
All plumbing systems necessary for accessory dwellings shall be extended from the main structure, with no separate taps or meters allowed.
23.
An accessory dwelling shall not have an electric meter that is separate from the primary structure.
d.
There shall be no variances allowed under this section, and the board of adjustment has no authority to grant any variances to the regulations contained herein.
(Ordinance 2019-006, sec. 3, adopted 1/28/19; Ordinance 2019-046, secs. 2, 3, adopted 11/11/19)