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Williston City Zoning Code

SECTION 10

R-1A: Rural Residential District.

[Ord. No. 613, Ord. No. No 645, Ord. No. 672, Ord. No. 716, Ord. No. 807, Ord. No. 809 Ord. No. 811, Ord. No. 850, Ord. No. 959, Ord. No. 1007, Ord. No. 1011, Ord. No. 1028, Ord. No. 1062; amended 11-22-2022 by Ord. No. 1138]
A. 
Intent. This district is intended to include areas where community sewer and water are not planned in the near future, but where other public services may be available and topography and soil conditions allow development at a low population density that can rely on on-site water supply and waste disposal systems without creating public health hazards. This district is intended primarily for areas devoted to large-lot suburban residential use, adjacent to existing or planned urban development. The regulations and restrictions in this district are intended to protect the residential character of these areas and conserve their environmental resources.
B. 
Minimum dimensional requirements. The minimum area for this district shall be five acres.
C. 
Permitted uses and structures. The following shall be permitted:
1. 
Single-family dwellings, mobile homes, and/or manufactured homes.
2. 
Farm animals, located within the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction, but outside City limits, are allowed provided there is a minimum lot area of one acre, and no more than one animal unit per one-half acre of land.
3. 
Parks and playgrounds.
4. 
Structure and uses required for operation of a public utility or performance of a governmental function, except for those permitted only as special permitted uses.
D. 
Permitted accessory uses and structures. Uses that are customarily accessory and clearly incidental to permitted uses and structures shall be permitted, including:
1. 
Home occupations, provided all requirements in Section 31 are met.
2. 
Solar energy systems.
E. 
Special permitted uses. The following shall be considered for special permitted uses:
1. 
Community centers, schools, churches, and cemeteries.
2. 
Nursing homes, hospitals, and medical complexes.
3. 
Quasi-institutional homes.
4. 
Group child care homes and child care centers.
5. 
Watchman's dwelling as an accessory use for a permitted principal use or structure.
6. 
Governmental maintenance and service shops.
7. 
Private clubs and country clubs.
8. 
Art galleries and museums depending on proximity to a particular historical site.
9. 
Electrical substation and gas regulator stations, provided:
a. 
For each electric substation where transformers are exposed, there should be an enclosing fence at least six feet high.
b. 
The height requirements may be exceeded, provided that for each additional one foot height an additional one foot of front, rear, and side yard shall be required.
10. 
Water reservoirs, water storage tanks, water pumping stations, and sewer lift stations provided:
a. 
For each instance the Planning and Zoning Commission shall be provided with plot plans showing the proposed installation and its relationship to any nearby property.
b. 
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall prescribe conditions as to setbacks, etc. for each installation.
11. 
Bed and breakfast inn.
12. 
Animal units, such as a horse, mule, jackass, goat or other animal kept as a family pet, may be kept within the City limits provided there is a minimum of three acres for the first two animal units; and with one additional animal unit allowed for each acre over three.
13. 
Non-commercial recreational facilities such as golf courses, swimming pools, tennis courts, game rooms, libraries, and the like.
F. 
Temporary uses. The following uses shall be considered as temporary uses, provided the provisions set forth in Section 25.O are met:
1. 
Contractor's office and construction equipment sheds.
2. 
Real estate sales office.
3. 
Temporary shelter.
G. 
Minimum lot requirements.
1. 
Minimum lot area: 21,780 square feet (one-half acre).
2. 
Minimum lot width: 80 feet.
H. 
Minimum yard requirements.
1. 
Front yard: 30 feet.
2. 
Side yard. The minimum requirements for a side yard shall be eight feet. The required side yard on the street side of a corner lot shall be one-half the required front yard on such street for the principal building and all accessory buildings, provided as follows:
a. 
No adjacent dwellings front on the same street, in which case the entire front yard must be provided.
b. 
A garage being entered from the street, whether it be attached or detached, must maintain a twenty-foot setback to prevent obstruction of public right-of-way.
3. 
Rear yard: 30 feet. Accessory buildings may be built in a required rear yard, but such accessory buildings shall not be nearer than three feet to any side or rear lot line, except when a garage is entered from an alley at right angles, it shall not be located closer than 20 feet from the rear lot line. The required rear setback for an attached garage with vehicular entry from an alley shall be 30 feet. For attached garages with vehicular entry from other than the alley, all yard requirements shall be the same for the principal building. An attached garage is considered a part of the principal building for the purpose of determining setbacks.
I. 
Maximum lot coverage by buildings. Not more than 20% of the lot shall be covered by the principal building and all accessory buildings. Any solar collection device or related apparatus not included as floor area of a building by definition, shall not be included in computing lot coverage.
J. 
Minimum floor area. The minimum floor area of any dwelling, excluding attached garage, shall be 800 square feet.
K. 
Maximum height of buildings. The maximum height of any building shall be 35 feet.
L. 
(Reserved)
M. 
Off-street parking requirements. See Section 25.H. Two spaces per dwelling. Required off-street parking shall be provided in such a manner that vehicles do not encroach on a public right-of-way.
N. 
Other requirements.
1. 
See Section 25.R Landscaping.
2. 
See Section 25.S Buffer Yards.