4.6.1. Yards and other open spaces as required by this ordinance shall be located on the same lot or parcel as the principal building, structure, or use.

4.6.2. No legally required yards, open space, or lot area for any use or structure shall be used to satisfy yard, open space, or lot area requirements for any other structure or use.

4.6.3. No yards allocated to a building, structure, or use existing on the effective date of this ordinance shall be subsequently reduced or further reduced below the yard requirements of this ordinance; except, that a yard adjoining a street may be reduced in depth in the event and to the extent the right-of-way width of such a street adjoining such yard is subsequently increased.

4.6.4. Through lots.

4.6.4.1. [In] a block where all lots are through lots, the front lot line of vacant lots shall be along the street line designated by the zoning administrator, except when a front line has already been established on one or more lots in the same block, that front lot line shall become the front lot line of all remaining vacant lots in the same block and the required front yard shall be parallel to that front lot line.

4.6.4.2. In a block where there are existing interior lots of record with frontage on only one street, vacant through lots in such block shall provide a front yard on both streets.

(See Figure 10.)

4.6.5. On corner lots, there shall be a front yard on each street frontage which shall conform to the front yard requirements of each district for all buildings and uses, including accessory buildings, structures and uses.

4.6.6. Where 50 percent of the frontage is improved with buildings which have maintained a greater or lesser front yard depth than required, no new building or portion thereof shall project beyond a straight line drawn between the point closest to the street line of the residence upon either side of the proposed structure, or, if there are residences upon only [one] side, then beyond the straight line projected from the front of the two nearest residences, but this regulation shall not be interpreted to require a front yard of more than 50 feet, nor to permit a front yard of less depth than that of the nearest building. Where the street is curved, the line shall follow the curve of the street rather than be a straight line. The provisions of this section shall not apply, however, where a building setback line has been established on a recorded plat of subdivision.

4.6.7. Where a lot is used for a permitted use without structures, the required yards shall be provided and maintained as if the use were conducted within a structure.

4.6.8. No obstruction or encroachment shall be erected or maintained in any required yard, except that:

4.6.8.1. The following obstructions are permitted in any required yard:

4.6.8.1.1. Awning[s] attached to the principal building and projecting not more than three feet from the side of the building, and located at least eight feet above the average level of the adjoining ground;

4.6.8.1.2. Arbors, trellises, flag poles, fountains, sculptures, plant boxes and other similar ornamental objects;

4.6.8.1.3. Air conditioning equipment, window units, but not projecting more than 18 inches;

4.6.8.1.4. Architectural entrance structures on a lot not less than one acre in area or at entrance roadways into subdivisions or planned unit developments containing 50 or more lots, but not exceeding three feet above grade and not closer than 15 feet to a lot line;

4.6.8.1.5. Bay windows, projecting not more than three feet, but not within seven feet of a side lot line;

4.6.8.1.6. Chimneys, attached, projecting not more than 24 inches from the principal structure;

4.6.8.1.7. Eaves or gutters projecting 18 inches or less;

4.6.8.1.8. Trees, shrubs and hedges in any yard, except within a "sight distance zone" as defined by Figure 12;

4.6.8.1.9. Flowers and landscaping;

4.6.8.1.10. Unenclosed porches, decks, stoops, and platforms, that do not extend above the level of the first floor of the building, and which do not provide a minimum of four feet of landing area, may extend or project into any required front, side, or rear yard not more than four feet, plus the depth of the required steps;

4.6.8.1.11. Ornamental light standards;

4.6.8.1.12. Signs and nameplates as regulated by the Vernon Hills Sign Ordinance;

4.6.8.1.13. Sills, belt courses, cornices and ornamental features of the principal building, projecting not more than 12 inches; and

4.6.8.1.14. Steps, four feet or less above grade, which are necessary for access to a permitted building or for access to a lot from a street or public way.

4.6.8.2. In any required rear yard, the following additional obstructions are permitted, but not to exceed 40 percent cumulative rear yard ground coverage:

4.6.8.2.1. Central air conditioning units, heat pumps and solar collecting equipment, but not more than four feet from the principal structure, provided the unit is properly screened;

4.6.8.2.2. Balconies, but not projecting more than 12 feet;

4.6.8.2.3. Detached garages provided they are more than ten feet from the principal structure, or not closer than seven feet to the rear or side lot lines;

4.6.8.2.4. Open off-street parking spaces and loading spaces;

4.6.8.2.5. Playground and laundry drying equipment;

4.6.8.2.6. Decks, patios, swimming pools, sheds, storage buildings, playhouses, and other structures customarily incidental to the principal use of the property;

4.6.8.3. Fences are permitted in accordance with the provisions of section 4.8.

(Ord. No. 91-24, §§ I—III, 5-14-91; Ord. No. 2000-30, §§ I—III, 5-2-00; Ord. No. 2012-036, § 1(Exh. A), 6-19-12)