6.101 Yards

  1. Yards to Remain Unobstructed
    Every part of a required yard shall be open from its lowest point to the sky unobstructed, except that:
    1. Ordinary sills, belt courses, cornices, chimneys, bay windows, buttresses and ornamental features may project not more than six inches into a required yard; and
    2. Eaves may project not more than 36 inches into a required yard.
    3. A terrace garage in any residential district may be located in a front or side yard, provided that it is completely recessed into the terrace, and that the height of the terrace is sufficient to cover and conceal the structure from above, and further provided that the doors when open, shall not project beyond the property line, and that the structure shall be set back at least five feet from any property line.
    4. The front yard setback shall be measured from the front property line to the main wall of the structure.  An open porch or patio that has a vertical roof support may not be set closer than fifteen (15) feet from the front property line on a local street and ten (10) feet on a limited local street.
  2. Multifamily/Nonresidential Districts Adjacent to Residential Districts
    1. For corner lots in multifamily and nonresidential districts that abut the front yard of a lot with residential zoning, the exterior minimum side yard requirements shall be the same as the front yard requirements of the adjacent residential lot.
    2. Structures are not permitted to be located in this yard area, nor can such area be used for signage, garbage collection, loading and/or parking of vehicles, any type of storage, or any nonresidential activity.
    3. This required yard area shall not be graveled or hard-surfaced, but shall be maintained as open green space, save and except for necessary driveways.
  3. Zero Lot Line/Cluster (“R1”) and Townhouse/Cluster (“R2”) Districts and Nonresidential Districts Across from Residential Districts
    Property located in “FR” through “K” Districts, with the exemption of the Central Business “H” District, that abuts a public or private street and that is across the street from a residential district shall comply with the following setback requirements:
    1. Zero Lot Line/Cluster (“R1”) and Townhouse/Cluster (“R2”) Districts.  For Zero Lot Line/Cluster (“R1”) and Townhouse/Cluster (“R2”) Districts that abut a public or private street that are across the street from a One-Family Residential or Multifamily residential District, the front, side and rear setback requirements shall be the same as the setback requirements for the residential or multifamily district.
    2. Nonresidential Districts.  Property located in “FR” through the “K” Districts, with the exception of the Central Business “H” District, that abuts a public or private street and that is across the street from a One-Family Residential or Multifamily District, the front, side and rear setback requirements shall be the same as the setback requirements for the residential or multifamily district.
    3. The setback requirement shall apply to the entire front, side or rear yard and shall not be limited to the portion of the property that is directly across the street from a residential district.  The setback requirement shall extend through the entire block face.
  4. Front Yard Setbacks
    The front yard setback in residential districts shall be the greatest of:
    1. The platted building line;
    2. The setback for the applicable zoning district; or
    3. The setback of the nearest building on either side that is the closest to the street, up to a maximum setback of 50 feet, provided that said setback is not the result of a variance granted by the Board of Adjustment.

      Where 60% of the existing block face has been built such that the setbacks of the existing structures are less than the minimum required setback, an infill structure may be constructed consistent with the setback of the nearest building on either side that is closest to the street, regardless of whether said setback is the result of a variance granted by the Board of Adjustment.
  5. Established Front Yard Setback
    1. No building hereafter erected or altered shall project beyond the front yard so established, provided that this regulation shall not be so interpreted as to require a front yard of more than 50 feet.
    2. Provided, further, that where a recorded plat has been filed establishing front yard requirements which are of equal or greater depth than the minimum depth required by this Ordinance, any main building may be built to those established front yard requirements of the street.
    3. Where a front yard of more than 20 feet, measured between the property line and the main wall of the building, is required, then the ordinary projection of sills, belt courses, cornices, chimneys, bay windows, buttresses, ornamental features and eaves, canopies, open canopies, and open porches shall be permitted to extend from the main wall of the building to the required 20-foot front yard line or platted front yard line.
  6. Through Lots
    1. Arterial or wider streets:
      If the rear frontage of a through lot is on an arterial or wider street, the rear yard setback standards for the applicable district shall apply.
    2. Local or Collector streets:
      If the rear frontage of a through lot is located on a local or collector street, the front yard setback standards of the applicable district shall apply; except the following:
      1. Where the block face is equal to or less than 250 feet; or
      2. The facing lot on the opposite street face is the front, side or rear yard of a non-residential use, then the rear yard setback standards for the applicable district shall apply.
  7. Projected Front Yard Setbacks
    1. Corner Lot. Where a corner lot abuts on the side of a lot facing the other intersecting street, there shall be a side yard on the corner lot equal to the front yard required on the lot adjacent to the rear of the corner lot or separated only by an alley.


      Projected Front Yard Setback, Corner Lot
      Picture 6.3 Projected Front Yard Setback, Corner Lot (Popup full image) 

    2. Interior Lot. Where an interior lot abuts another zoning district, there shall be a projected front yard equal to the most restrictive front yard required on any lot in the same block face.


      Projected Front Yard Setback, Interior Lot
      Picture 6.4 Projected Front Yard Setback, Interior Lot (Popup full image) 


  8. Rear Yard Exception Adjacent to Railway
    No rear yard shall be required in the “ER” to “K” Districts inclusive on any lot used for business or industrial purposes, the rear line of which adjoins a railway right-of-way or which has a rear railway track connection.
  9. Yards and Official Line for Future Rights-of-Way
    Where an official line has been established for future widening or opening of a street upon which a lot abuts, then the width of a yard shall be measured from such official line to the nearest line of the building.  No commercial or industrial building shall be located closer than 30 feet to the centerline of the street.