Guidelines for Accessory Buildings on Residential ... - City of Portage

Requirements <strong>for</strong> AllResidential <strong>Accessory</strong> <strong>Buildings</strong>The dwelling is generally the main or principalbuilding on residentially zoned property. Anyother improvement on the property, eitherattached or detached to the dwelling, is anaccessory building or structure.1. A permit is required to build an accessorybuilding.2. A dwelling must generally exist on the zoninglot in order to build an accessory building orstructure.3. All setback measurements are taken fromthe property lines. A property survey maybe necessary or even required prior toconstruction to ensure property line locationand accurate measurement of the setbacks.4. All buildings (main and accessory) may covera maximum of 25 percent of the area of thezoning lot.5. The total area of accessory buildings,(attached and detached) may not exceed theground floor living area of the dwelling unlessthe property is unplatted, over two acres andPlanning Commission approval is obtained.6. A 10-foot separation must exist between allmain buildings and detached buildings andstructures such as pools.Additional Standards <strong>for</strong>DETACHED <strong>Accessory</strong> <strong>Buildings</strong>1. Detached accessorybuilding setbackscannot be less thanthree-feet from sideand rear propertylines if locatedcompletely in therear yard.2. Detached accessory buildings and structureslocated in the side or front yards must meetthe minimum setbacks established on theproperty.3. Detached accessory buildings may notexceed 14-feet in height, measured from theaverage grade to the roof midpoint.4. A detached accessory building may coverup to 20 percent of the required rear yard.The required rear yard is determined bymultiplying the required dwelling setbackof 40 feet by the width of the property. A100-foot wide lot would permit the followingmaximum detached accessory building size:(100 ft. x 40 ft.) x .20 = 800 square feet.Property not meeting the minimum lot area orwidth requirements <strong>for</strong> the zoning district mayinclude the entire rear yard area between thedwelling and rear property line in determiningdetached accessory building maximum size.Additional Standards <strong>for</strong>ATTACHED <strong>Accessory</strong> <strong>Buildings</strong>1. Setbacks are the same as those established<strong>for</strong> the dwelling. See One-Family ResidentialZoning Regulations brochure <strong>for</strong> setbackin<strong>for</strong>mation.2. Building height can not exceed 25 feet <strong>for</strong> lotsless than 80 feet in width. Building heights ofup to 40 feet may be permitted on lots 80 feetwide or greater. Building height is measuredfrom average grade to the midpoint of thepeak and eaves <strong>for</strong> a sloped roof.Additional Standards <strong>for</strong><strong>Accessory</strong> StructuresPools and decks also require building permitsand have separate requirements which may beobtained from the Department of CommunityDevelopment. For more in<strong>for</strong>mation, contact:Department of Community Development7900 South Westnedge AvenuePortage, MI 49002(269) 329-4477www.portagemi.gov