Thornton City Zoning Code

To protect residential areas against fire, explosion, noxious fumes, offensive noise, smoke, vibrations, dust, odors, heat, glare and other objectionable factors.

To protect residential areas to the extent possible and appropriate in each area against unduly heavy motor vehicle traffic, especially through-traffic, and to alleviate congestion by promoting off-street parking.

To protect residential areas against undue congestion of public streets and other public facilities by controlling the density of population through regulation of the bulk of buildings.

To protect and promote the public health and comfort by providing for ample light and air to buildings and the windows thereof.

To promote public comfort and welfare by providing for usable open space on the same zoning lot with residential development.

To provide sufficient space in appropriate locations to meet the probable need for future residential expansion and to meet the need for necessary and desirable services in the vicinity of residences, which increase safety and amenity for residents and which do not exert objectionable influences.

To promote the best use and development of residential land in accordance with a comprehensive land use plan, to promote stability of residential development and protect the character and desirable development and to protect the value of land and improvements and so strengthen the economic base of the Village.

Single-family dwellings.

Parks, playgrounds and community buildings owned or occupied by public agencies.

Public libraries.

Public schools, elementary and high, and educational institutions having a curriculum similar to that ordinarily given in public schools.

Churches.

Home occupations as defined in this Title.

Accessory buildings, as defined herein and as regulated by § 11-2-5 of this Title.

Temporary buildings for uses incidental to construction work, which buildings shall be removed upon the completion or abandonment of the construction work.

Church or public building bulletin boards, in accordance with the regulations of Chapter 11-8 of this Title.

Public utility electric distribution center and gas pressure regulating center.

Small residential care homes, provided:

One-Family Detached Dwellings: 35 feet and not over 2 1/2 stories.

Church: 75 feet for towers or steeples, but not more than 45 feet for the main structure.

A single-family, detached dwelling hereafter erected in the R District shall be on a zoning lot having an area of not less than 7,500 square feet, and a width at the established building line of not less than 60 feet, except as provided in § 11-9-5 of this Title. Except, subject to the other provisions of this Title, single-family detached dwellings now existing on the date of this chapter on a lot having a width at the established building line of not less than 50 feet and having an area of not less than 7,500 square feet, may be remodeled, altered, reconstructed or otherwise modified.

No new lot of record in a Single-Family Dwelling District shall be created which is less than 7,500 square feet and has a street frontage of less than 60 feet, except as provided in § 11-9-5, and other provisions of this Title. A single-family dwelling, existing on the date of this chapter, on a lot not meeting this standard, may be remodeled, altered, reconstructed or otherwise modified, provided such changes meet the yard setback requirements of this title. Existing lots on the date of this chapter, not meeting the minimum specified square feet requirement, may not be developed unless duly authorized.

Churches, convents and monasteries hereafter erected or structurally altered shall conform to all regulations regarding buildings or dwellings in this District.

Front Yard.

Side Yard. On each lot upon which a dwelling is constructed, there shall be a side yard on each side equal to not less than 10% of the width of the lot.

Rear Yard. Every lot or parcel of land upon which a building is constructed shall have a rear yard of not less than 30 feet.

Permitted Obstructions. The following shall not be considered as obstructions when located within or over required yards:

Outdoor storage and display. No portion of any required front yard shall be used for the permanent storage of appliances, motor vehicles, trailers, airplanes, boats, parts of any of the foregoing, waste (as defined by § 6-4-1 of this Code), or building materials, except building materials for use on the premises and stored thereon during the time a valid permit is in effect for construction on the premises. Permanent storage, as used in this section, means presence for a period of two or more consecutive days in the required front yard setback.

Every dwelling hereafter erected in the R Single-Family Dwelling District shall have a total ground floor area of not less than the following:

The area included shall be measured from the outside of the exterior walls, including utility rooms, but excluding cellars, basements, open porches, breezeways, garages and other spaces that are not used frequently or during extended periods for living, eating or sleeping purposes, except that enclosed space intended for habitable rooms which are to be completed within a reasonable time may be considered in computing such floor area.