Granny flat, in-law suite, garage apartment. A rose by any other name is still called a backyard cottage in the new zoning code. Right now, backyard apartments are not allowed in residential zoning districts. But the new code will allow the accessory apartments in all zoning districts.
The new code defines backyard cottages as “a small self-contained dwelling unit located on the same lot as a detached house but is physically separated from the main house. Backyard cottages typically include a living room, sleeping area, kitchen, and bathroom and have a lockable entrance door. A backyard cottage may also be located above the garage.
The cottages would be allowed on any lot of 4,000 square feet or more. For all zoning districts the height would be restricted to 25 feet. The max living space varies from 450 square feet for a 4,000-square-foot lot to 800 square feet for a 40,000-square-foot lot.
The cottages would be allowed in Residential 2 through 10, Residential Mixed Use, Office Mixed Use, Neighborhood Mixed Use and Commercial Mixed Use.
| >40,000 sf | 20,000 to
39,999 sf |
10,000 to
19,999 sf |
6,000 to
9,999 sf |
4,000 to 5,999 sf | |||||
| D. Lot Specifications | |||||||||
| D1 | Area (min) | 40,000 sf | 20,000 sf | 10,000 sf | 6,000 sf | 4,000 sf | |||
| D2 | Depth (min) | 150′ | 150′ | 150′ | 120′ | 100′ | |||
| D3 | Dwellings units per lot (max) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||
| D4 | Additional on-site parking | 1 space | 1 space | 1 space | 1 space | 1 space | |||
| D5 | Living area (max) | 800 sf | 800 sf | 700 sf | 550 sf | 450 sf | |||
| E. Building Setbacks | |||||||||
| E1 | From primary street (min) | Must be located to the rear of the house | |||||||
| E2 | From side street (min) | 20′ | 20′ | 20′ | 20′ | 20′ | |||
| E3 | From side lot line (min) | 10′ | 5′ | 5′ | 5′ | 5′ | |||
| E4 | From rear lot line (min) | 10′ | 5′ | 5′ | 5′ | 5′ | |||
| E5 | From alley (min) | 4′ or 20′ | 4′ or 20′ | 4′ or 20′ | 4′ or 20′ | 4′ or 20′ | |||
| E6 | Building separation (min) | 35′ | 35′ | 20′ | 16′ | 16′ | |||
| F. Height | |||||||||
| F1 | Overall height (max) | 25′ | 25′ | 25′ | 25′ | 25′ | |||
| F2 | Wall plate height (max) | 15′ | 15′ | 15′ | 15′ | 15′ | |||
