Accessory Buildings

[IPlan]

Hello everyone

I was wondering if/how anyone else controls residential accessory building size? The requirements in our by-law state that residential accessory buildings can not exceed 70 square metres (thats about 750 square feet) in total lot coverage. This was designed to be in place to prevent people from building large buildings in our rural areas and opening businesses etc. However, the last few years we have had so many people request larger buildings for all their toys that we need to revise this section. So does anyone control accessory building size in a similar fashion, for similar reasons? And if so, what are your regulations?

 

[mike gurnee]

"Residential accessory structures shall not be larger (square feet) nor higher than the principal residence in all residential districts."

It may not be the best, but it has helped us.

 

[giff57]

Ours goes like this: "Accessory buildings may not occupy more that 30% of the rear yard" We do not allow them in the front or side yards....of course then we get all sorts of funky breeze-ways attaching garages to the house.

 

[Linden Smith]

I've seen them that read, " 750 square feet or 35% of the total square footage of the principle residence".

 

[Lenze]

Our LUB allows for total maximum site coverage of any lot to be limited to 45% as follows:

Principal Building - shall not cover more than 35% of the lot surface

Accessory Building - shall cover not more than 10% of the lot surface

Also, no accessory building shall exceed 4.5 metres in height.

We, too, are reviewing these restrictions in light of the number of applicants with toys, SUV's and 4x4 pick-ups with canopies that have required variances, especially to height.

Secondly, we are looking to encourage rear-lane garages with studios, home occupations or granny suites above.

I'd encourage a special, discretionary accessory building use that would allow your development authority / MPC to approve applications on a case by case basis, with provisions that the development not unduly interfere with the amenities of the neighbourhood, nor materially interfere with the effect, use or value of neighbouring parcels.

This, of course, is highly subjective, yet it may be mitigated by allowing for referrals to not only adjacent owners but beyond into the neighbourhood.

 

[Bullwinkle]

We currently restrict the cumulative size of all detached accessory structures to no more than 1/2 the footprint of the dwelling plus 576 square feet. We also get all sorts of breezeways to connect the structures.

We are considering a change to allow detached accessory structures larger than 1,500 square as a conditional use permit. The idea is that larger accessory structures may be appropriate in some places but not in others (character of the neighborhood, size of lot, size of the house, etc.)

We also have a growing number of people with lots of toys (RVs, boats, ATVs, snowmobiles....).

 

[Patrick the Planner]

We allow up to 400 sq.ft. with just a building permit. Anything larger needs a review in front of the Planning Board with final approval granted (or denied) by the City Council.


The text below is from our Code:

Accessory buildings exceeding 400 square feet in size shall be subject to compliance with the following conditions:

1. Roof and exterior color and material must be consistent and complimentary with the principal structure.
2. If deemed necessary by the City Council, landscape screening shall be provided to lessen visual impact from adjacent properties.
3. No commercial or home occupation activity shall be conducted within the accessory building. (Code of 1988; Ord. No. 674, 10-24-00; Code of 2001)


Although more paperwork for me, it seems to control the goofy stuff that people buy at home improvement centers. Area realtors like this ordinance becuase they feel it helps stablize property values.

Hope this helps.

 

[BKM]

Our Ordinance limits them to 20% of the "required rear yard area." The required rear yard is measured from the rear property line (a twenty-foot-deep slice). So, if the actual rear yard property line is 35 feet from the back of the house, the property owner doesn't count the area covered in the first 15 feet of his rear yard.

 

[Repo Man]

10 percent lot coverage
15 foot height max.
Coverage of all structures cannot exceed 35% of lot (40% on a corner lot)
They shall not encroach upon the front 1/2 of the lot.

 

[Lee Nellis]

I prefer the "% of lot area" approach. Limiting accessory bldg to dwelling size is probably ok in the city and the 'burbs, but does not work well in truly rural areas. Even on a hobby farm a barn or machine/storage shed can easily be bigger than the house.

 

[donk]

My favourite topic, garages.

Coming from the home of 2 pickup trucks, two 4 wheelers, snow blower, lawn tractor and possibly a skidder in a residential zone here are the highlights of ours.

Max Size in a residential zone on a lot less than 4000 sq. metres (metric acre)= 80.5 sq. metres(866 sq. feet) maximum or 10% of lot area whichever is less. For a residential lot greater than 4000 sq. metres - 90 sq. metres(968sq feet) maximum size.

Max height = 6 metres(20 feet) or as tall as the main building on the lot, whichever is less.

Can not be located in the front yard.

Rear yard setback 2 metres, sideyard setbacks 1.8 metres.

Must be clearly incidental and accessory to the use of the property for resdiential uses.

Accessory buildings in our commercial, industrial and rural zones are regulated for lot coverage, height, setbacks and separation distances between one another.

 

[Gedunker]

We permit up to 1,000 sq. ft. by-right (a five car garage, for all intents and purposes). I feel it is much too large, but that was the PC and City Council's wishes.

Any time the Board grants dimensional standards variances for larger ones (and they have), they require recording commitments in the County recorder's office (indexed to the deed) that there will be no commercial use. Seems to have worked so far.