Wichita Falls City Zoning Code
4200 SETBACK
§ 4210 Measurement of setback requirements.
A required setback shall be measured parallel to and for the entire length of the lot line on the side of the lot for which the setback is being measured. No building or structure shall be located, erected, or altered so as to have a smaller setback than the minimum setback required by this zoning ordinance. The area between the setback and the lot line on the side of the lot for which the setback is being measured shall be known as the setback area.
§ 4220 Projections and structures allowed in setback areas.
A required setback area shall be kept free of any building or structure higher than two feet, except that buildings, structures or projections shall be allowed as provided below:
A.
Cornices, window sills, flues and chimneys, and eaves may project two feet into the required setback area.
B.
Fences may project into the front, side and rear setback areas on all properties except those with single-family and duplex residential uses. In properties with single-family and duplex residential uses, fences may project into the side and rear setback areas; fences may project into the front setback areas if they meet all of the following criteria:
1.
The fence shall have at least 50 percent of the face area open and free of opaque materials;
2.
The fence shall be no more than four feet tall;
3.
The fence shall not totally enclose all or a part of the front setback area if the front door of the residence opens into the enclosed area, unless a postal service approved mailbox is provided outside the enclosure;
C.
Uncovered steps, porches, or patios which are no more than two feet above the adjacent grade may be placed within the required setback area.
D.
Uncovered in-ground swimming pools may be placed in the rear or side setback areas. Above-ground swimming pools, hot tubs and satellite dish antennas may be placed in the rear or interior side setback areas.
E.
Accessory buildings not exceeding 150 square feet in floor area may be placed within the rear setback area, but no closer than one foot from the rear lot line.
F.
Gasoline pump islands may be placed in the front and exterior side setback area, provided that they are placed no closer than 12 feet from the property line. Canopies attached to the pump islands shall provide at least 14 feet of clearance from the ground to the bottom of the canopy, and may be placed no closer than one foot from the property line.
G.
Signs may be placed within the required setback areas as provided for in section 6700, Sign Regulations.
H.
Awnings may project into the front or exterior side setback area of a lot, or a rear setback area of a through lot, to a maximum distance of six feet; provided no supporting structure for such extension is located on the ground within such setback areas. However, awnings shall not extend more than three feet into such setback areas of single-family and duplex residential uses.
I.
Carports may be permitted within setback areas in the following manner:
Interior side setback area. Carports constructed out of non-combustible materials with drains and gutters may be placed in an interior side setback area provided that the supporting columns are no closer than three feet, and the overhang is no closer than two feet from the side property line.
Front setback and exterior side setback areas. Carports may be placed in the front setback and exterior side setback areas with prior approval by the Director of Community Development so long as the supporting columns are no closer than five feet, and the overhang is no closer than four from the front or exterior side property line.
A carport proposed with support structures within five feet of the front and side exterior property lines may be permitted with approval of a conditional use permit, as provided for in section 7200. Carports or their overhang will not be permitted within the sight-visibility triangle. Carports needing a conditional use permit may require verification of the property line location and proposed setback through action or documentation from a licensed surveyor or engineer.
Carports authorized under this section must meet the following construction standards:
Number of supporting columns: Six, maximum. |
Column height: Eight feet maximum from highest grade. |
Roof height shall not exceed height of primary structure. |
Vertical plane from ground to seven feet in the front and sides of the carport shall be left clear of walls or sheathing. |
J.
Americans with Disability Act (“ADA”) accessibility ramps may be permitted within setback areas in the following manner:
1.
The applicant shall provide the following:
a.
Name and address of the person or entity requesting the ADA ramp.
b.
A description of whether the ramp requested by the applicant is necessary for the person(s) with the disability to use and enjoy the property, or is necessary to make the provision of housing for a person with disabilities feasible.
c.
A site plan submitted to the Planning Department, as provided in section 7100.
2.
The ADA accessibility ramp shall not cause a visibility sight issue.
3.
The ADA accessibility ramp shall not discharge directly onto any public right-of-way.
4.
The Director of Community Development or designee shall issue a written decision on the request within 30 calendar days of the date of the application and may either grant, grant with alterations or conditions, or deny the request for an ADA accessibility ramp in accordance with section J.1.
5.
An applicant may appeal in writing the denial of the Director of Community Development or designee by submitting such appeal within ten calendar days of notice of the denial.
6.
The Board of Adjustment shall have final authority on any such appeal.
(Ordinance 51-2018, sec. 2, adopted 10/2/18; Ordinance 19-2019, sec. 3, adopted 6/4/19)
§ 4230 Rear setback of through lot.
The minimum rear setback on a through lot shall be the same as the exterior side setback on the lot. No accessory buildings shall be allowed within a rear setback area of a through lot.
§ 4240 Front setback for rear access subdivisions.
In single-family, duplex, or zero lot line residential lots, where the only vehicular access is taken from a rear alley or private access easement, which is at least 20 feet wide, the front setback may be reduced to [five] feet, provided:
A.
The lots abut only a residential street and not any larger street sections.
B.
The sidewalk is constructed abutting the curb and has at least [four] feet of unobstructed width.
C.
All utilities located in the front yard or the street right-of-way are placed underground.
D.
No vehicular street access or curb cut is permitted.
E.
The entire block on both sides of the street between intersecting streets is platted at one time with a statement on the plat that front vehicular access and curb cuts are prohibited.