Vernon Township City Zoning Code
§ 330-171
Accessory buildings and structures.
Except as may be otherwise provided in this article, buildings and structures which are accessory to a principal use or building are permitted in all zones and as provided herein. Any such accessory building or structure must be customarily incident and subordinate to the principal use of the land or building, located on the same lot containing the principal use and building(s), and comply with the requirements of Schedule C, the contents of which are incorporated herein.[1] To the extent that the particular standards of this section depart from those contained in Schedule C, the standards of this section shall prevail and control.
A.
Accessory buildings in residential districts.
(1)
No accessory building shall exceed a height of 15 feet except for accessory buildings used in connection with farming operations, which shall not exceed a height of 35 feet.
(2)
No accessory building shall be located closer than 10 feet to any other building.
(3)
No accessory building shall be located closer to a right-of-way line than the principal building except on corner lots, through lots and except on a farm; and except a gazebo not disproportionate to the size of the lot or the principal building and provided a front yard setback equal to the prescribed side yard setback for the corresponding zone is maintained. On corner lots and through lots, accessory buildings other than a gazebo as aforesaid shall not be located closer to a street than the minimum front yard requirements for the district.
[Amended 1-28-2002 by Ord. No. 02-04]
(4)
Unless otherwise provided in Schedule C, an accessory building located in a side yard shall not lie closer to a side lot line than the minimum side yard setback requirement for a principal building. A farm building or an accessory building used on a farm shall not lie closer to a side lot line than the height of the building or the minimum side yard setback for a principal building in the zone, whichever is greater.
(5)
Unless otherwise provided in Schedule C, an accessory building located in a rear yard shall not be located closer than five feet to a side or rear lot line. A farm building or an accessory building used on a farm shall not be closer to a property line than the height of the building or the minimum side yard setback requirement for a principal building in the zone, whichever is greater.
(6)
No accessory building shall occupy more than 25% of the rear yard area.
(7)
There shall not be more than two accessory buildings on a lot, except on a farm and excepting a gazebo not disproportionate to the size of the lot or the principal building and provided a front yard setback equal to the prescribed side yard setback for the corresponding zone is maintained.
(8)
Excepting stone walls, trellises, arbors, planters and similar structures commonly associated with landscaping and gardens, and excepting a driveway and up to two accessory buildings as regulated in Subsection A(7) of this section, there shall be not more than two accessory structures on any lot except on a farm.
(9)
No accessory building in any district shall have a footprint which is greater than 60% of the footprint of the principal building, except on a farm. The total of the footprint of all accessory structures in a residential district shall not exceed 1,000 square feet or 60% of the footprint of the principal structure, whichever is less, except on a farm. No accessory building in a residential district shall be allowed to be otherwise disproportionate in height, size or area to the building and use to which it is accessory.
[Amended 1-28-2002 by Ord. No. 02-04]
B.
Accessory buildings in nonresidential districts. Accessory buildings in nonresidential districts shall meet all the requirements applicable to principal buildings, unless otherwise provided in Schedule C.
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule C, Setback Requirements for Accessory Structures, is included at the end of this chapter.