Draft Accessory Structure Ordinance ammendments
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3.2 Accessory Structures
(1) Required Permits. A building permit is required for all accessory structures except the following: 1)
agricultural buildings as defined herein and 2) non-agricultural accessory structures that are 120 square
feet or smaller. An administrative permit is required for all agricultural buildings and agricultural
accessory structures.
(2) All Accessory Structures. The following standards apply to all accessory structures.
(A) No accessory structure shall be constructed on a lot prior to construction of the principal
structure on the lot.
(B) No detached accessory structure, including storage sheds, shall be located closer to the road
right-of-way in relation to the front lot line than the principal building on a lot unless the
following conditions are met:
1. The parcel is located on a lakeshore. Accessory structures on lakeshore parcels may be
located between the roadway right-of-way and principal building and shall meet setback
requirements; or,
2. The accessory structure is located on a lot of five (5) acres or more and is placed at least
200 feet from the road right-of-way; or
3. The accessory structure is located on a parcel that is less than five (5) acres in size, is
necessary to meet the Exterior Storage requirements of this Chapter, and the physical
conditions on the parcel (including but not limited to steep slopes, locations of wetlands,
location of the principal structure) prevent the location of the storage structure within the
side or rear yard; and
Permit required. The property owner shall submit a plan for the proposed structure and
obtain an administrative permit authorizing the location of the structure in the front yard.
The Zoning Administrator may require screening if needed to protect views from adjacent
properties or public roadways.
4. In situations 1-3 above, all setbacks and impervious cover requirements are met.
(C) Attached Residential Accessory Structures. A residential structure may have up to one
residential accessory structure that shall be exempt from accessory structure number and size
limits specified in 3.2 (3) of this Code under the following conditions:
1. The square footage of the footprint of the structures do not exceed 864 sq. ft. in total
2. The property on which the structure is built is not located within the Village Center.
3. Any attached structure that exceed a foot print of 864 sq. ft and is not within the Village
Center shall be subject to size requirements specified in 3.2 (3) of this Code without
exception.
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4. .The attached accessory structure shall match the primary exterior materials of the
principal structure.
(D) Placement of Residential Accessory Structures on Non-Contiguous Lots. Accessory
structures, including garages may be placed a lot that is not contiguous to the principal lot under
the following conditions:
1. The accessory structure is built in a location that, at its closest point, is within 200 feet of
the principle structure.
2. The accessory structure shall be required to meet the structural limits in Section 3.2 (3) (C).
Lot size requirements may be applied to a total lot areas of the principal lot and the non-
contiguous lot.
3. The structure shall match the primary exterior materials of the principal structure.
4. The accessory structures and any other impervious services including driveways and
sidewalks shall not exceed the total lot coverage that is required for the zoning district for
the non-contagious lot the structure is located on, including shoreland districts.
5. If the structure requires the addition of a driveway, a driveway permit must also be obtained
through the City.
6. Recorded Covenant Required. Prior to issuance of the City’s administrative permit
authorizing an Accessory Dwelling Unit, the owner(s) shall file with Washington County
Recorder’s Office a covenant running from the owner(s) to the City of Scandia
acknowledging the owner’s agreement to restrict the sale of the principal lot and the non-
contiguous lot to be sold together in compliance with the requirements of the Development
Code.
a. Covenant Requirements. The covenant shall run with the land and be binding
upon the property owner, their heirs and assigns, and upon any parties
subsequently acquiring any right, title or interest in the property. The covenant
shall be in a form prescribed by the zoning administrator and shall include the legal
description for the lot. The property owner(s) shall return the original covenant
with the recording stamp to the zoning administrator before the permit for the
non-contiguous accessory structure is issued.
(3) Residential and Agricultural Accessory Structures. The following additional standards apply to all
residential and agricultural accessory structures:
(A) Accessory structures may not include a dwelling unit unless it meets the standards of Section 4.2
Accessory Dwelling Units of this Development Code. Accessory structures or portions of
structures that meet the standards of Section 4.2 may be rented or leased. Other accessory
structures shall not be rented, leased, or sold separately from sale of the primary single-family
dwelling on the lot.
(B) Accessory structure height is limited to the permitted building height in each zoning district.
(C) The permitted total square footage and number of all accessory structures is as follows:
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* If the property has no attached garage, one detached garage up to 24’x 36’ or 864 sq. ft. in size is
permitted in addition to the number of accessory structures listed in Section (C) above. This
exception is intended to permit a garage only, and the square footage of the garage may not be
added to the number or square footage of accessory structures that are permitted on the
property by the table above. The total area of structures including the garage shall meet the lot
coverage requirements. The property owner must demonstrate that there is adequate space
available on the parcel for a primary and secondary septic system that meet Washington County
SSTS ordinance requirements outside the area proposed for the garage.
** One single story shed of 120 square feet or less is permitted in addition to the number of
accessory structures listed in Section (C), above. Ice fishing houses stored on parcels of land during
non-winter months shall be deemed to be the permitted shed.
*** One rural accessory structure to shelter domestic farm animals or to provide storage for
rural/farm uses is permitted on lots between 5.0 and 10.00 acres.
**** The lot size of parcels within Shoreland areas shall include only the area of the lot that is above
the Ordinary High Water Level (OHWL).
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