This section shall apply to any building, structure or equipment that is subordinate and incidental to the lawful principal use of the building or premises and customarily found in connection with the principal use.

(Code 1992, § 16.50.020.1; Ord. No. 1029-G, § 41, 9-8-2011)

The purpose and intent of this section is to recognize and mitigate the impacts associated with accessory buildings, structures and equipment while allowing reduced setbacks according to specific standards.

(Code 1992, § 16.50.020.3; Ord. No. 1029-G, § 41, 9-8-2011)

Accessory structures and ancillary equipment shall be allowed as provided in the Matrix: Use Permissions and Parking Requirements and shall be subject to the development standards of the zoning district, the general development standards, and this section.

1.

Accessory structures shall not be established on a lot unless a lawful principal use exists.

2.

Establishment of an accessory structure and installation of ancillary equipment shall be subject to the Florida Building Code.

(Code 1992, § 16.50.020.4; Ord. No. 985-G, § 64, 7-15-2010; Ord. No. 1029-G, § 41, 9-8-2011)

At any use in neighborhood districts and at single family dwelling units in any district, one accessory storage structure (a pre-constructed shed), one carport, and one gardening hoop house, cold frame, greenhouse or vertical vegetable structure shall be allowed which are exempt from design requirements as set forth herein. Any other such structures are allowed in the buildable area provided that they comply with the design requirements and setbacks for the zoning district.

1.

General requirements.

a.

Anchoring. The structure shall be properly anchored to resist wind and other forces.

b.

Utility easements. If a structure is secured to the ground by a foundation and not capable of being moved intact, no portion of the structure shall encroach into a utility easement.

c.

Right-of-way and access easements. No structure shall encroach into a right-of-way or private access easement.

d.

Use restrictions. The structure shall only be utilized for storage and shall not be used for operation of mechanical equipment.

2.

Through lots. On a through lot which meets the width, depth and area requirements for a lot in that zoning district, if one front yard is determined to be a rear yard pursuant to the dimensional regulations, and lot characteristics section (currently section 16.60.010) and has a solid, not less than five-foot high, decorative wall or fence, the exempt accessory storage structure shall be setback at least ten feet from that property line.

3.

Design standards for accessory storage and gardening structures.

a.

An accessory storage or gardening structure 100 square feet or less and less than ten feet in height is exempt from the requirement to utilize the architectural style and construction materials of the existing principal structure. See allowable encroachment and setback section.

b.

An accessory storage or gardening structure located within the rear one-third of a property, 200 square feet or less in gross floor area, ten feet or less in overall height to the top of roof peak, and screened by a solid masonry wall or decorative wood or vinyl fence measuring six feet or more in height is exempt from the requirement to utilize the architectural style and construction materials of the existing principal structure.

c.

All other accessory storage structures shall comply with the design and setback requirements of the zoning district.

4.

Code compliance. All accessory structures shall comply with the Florida Building Code and St. Petersburg Fire Code (e.g. building separation and egress), including the requirement to install a backflow preventor when adding irrigation connected to the potable water system.

5.

a.

A carport for a single family residential use is exempt from the requirement to utilize the architectural style and construction materials of the existing principal structure if it is: open on three sides, located within the rear one-third of the property, located behind the principal structure, meets the side yard setbacks for the principal structure (if on the streetside it must be hidden by another structure from view from the street), not greater than 440 square feet in area, not greater than 12 feet in height at the beginning of the roofline, and not greater than 15 feet in height at the peak of the roof.

b.

All other carports shall utilize the architectural style and construction materials of the existing principal structure.

(Code 1992, § 16.50.020.5.1; Ord. No. 893-G, § 9, 9-4-2008; Ord. No. 985-G, § 65, 7-15-2010; Ord. No. 1029-G, § 41, 9-8-2011; Ord. No. 166-H, § 14, 5-21-2015; Ord. No. 287-H, § 21, 7-20-2017; Ord. No. 448-H, § 4, 2-11-2021; Ord. No. 611-H, § 29, 7-10-2025)

A.

For the purposes of this section, "ancillary equipment" means:

1.

Standard equipment such as air conditioning compressors, central heating equipment, swimming pool and spa pumps and filters, lawn irrigation pumps, propane tanks, and similar equipment listed in the setbacks, allowable encroachments section; and

2.

Renewable energy devices and other sustainable development technologies including, but not limited to, solar photovoltaic (pv) panels, solar hot water, solar pool heaters, tankless water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, gray-water systems and rainwater harvesting devices, such as rain barrels and cisterns.

B.

Development standards within traditional and suburban zoning districts. Ancillary equipment in traditional and suburban zoning districts shall comply with the following:

1.

Setbacks shall comply with those listed in the Setbacks, Allowable Encroachments Section.

2.

The base of ground-mounted equipment shall not exceed one foot above ground level. Elevated equipment shall be mounted on a cantilevered platform attached to the side of a structure and not exceed one foot above the minimum design flood elevation required by City Code for flood protection. If the base of ground-mounted equipment exceeds one foot above the ground level or design flood elevation then it shall be located behind the rear façade of the structure or on top of the roof.

3.

Existing equipment that was lawfully installed in a nonconforming location shall be permitted to be replaced with equipment of a reasonably equivalent or lower industry rating or performance standard.

4.

The sides of any new or replacement equipment facing or visible from a street, excluding alleys, shall be screened with material that is compatible with the architectural style of the principal structure, landscaping, or a six-foot-tall decorative fence or wall.

C.

Development standards within all other districts. In all other zoning districts, ancillary equipment shall comply with the following:

1.

Where a nonresidential use abuts another nonresidential use, no setback shall be required.

2.

Where a nonresidential use abuts a residential use or zoning district, ancillary equipment shall be subject to a setback equal to one-half of the setback required for the principal building.

3.

All ancillary equipment shall be shielded from view from the adjacent properties and streets, excluding alleys, by a solid enclosure such as a fence or wall. Fences and walls shall be subject to the height restrictions and design standards of the zoning district.

D.

Development standards within all districts.

1.

Roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (pv) panels and solar devices, including flat-plate, integral and evacuated-tube collectors, and other sustainable development technologies, associated mounting hardware and conduit shall be installed in a location that is the least visible from streets, excluding alleys, where technically feasible.

a.

Roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (pv) panels and solar devices, including flat-plate, integral and evacuated-tube collectors, and other sustainable development technologies, associated mounting hardware and conduit shall be setback from the edge of a flat roof to minimize the visibility from the centerline of the abutting streets, excluding alleys, where technically feasible.

b.

Tilt-mount solar photovoltaic (pv) panels shall be installed horizontally, or parallel to the roofline, to minimize their impact on the character of the host structure and surrounding neighborhood, where technically feasible.

2.

Solar photovoltaic (pv) panels and solar devices, including flat-plate, integral and evacuated-tube collectors, and other sustainable development technologies, associated mounting hardware and conduit, which are permitted along a street-facing façade, shall not block the visibility of character defining elements such as doors, windows and other significant architectural features, where technically feasible.

3.

Reflection angles from solar collection surfaces shall be oriented away from neighboring windows. If glare from reflective surfaces reflects onto neighboring windows or creates a safety concern for vehicles in a street, then the use of a non-reflective surface or the installation of artificial or natural screening may be required to mitigate glare,

(Code 1992, §§ 16.50.020.5.2, 16.50.020.5.3; Ord. No. 985-G, § 66, § 67, 7-15-2010; Ord. No. 1029-G, § 41, 9-8-2011; Ord. No. 611-H, § 29, 7-10-2025)