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A. General Standards for Required Yards

1. Required yards shall be unobstructed by structures, or objects constructed or erected in a fixed location on the ground, unless allowed by standards found elsewhere in this Ordinance.

2. Required yards and other open areas provided for one lot or structure shall not be considered as providing yard space for another structure or lot.

3. Required yards shall be calculated from the adjacent property line or street right-of-way. If a new right-of-way width has been established by the adoption of an official transportation planning document, then the yard requirement shall be measured from the proposed right-of-way line.

4. For lots that have multiple property lines that are to the side and rear of a lot, only one lot line, determined by the applicant, shall be considered a rear property line for determining the rear yard, and all others shall be considered side lot lines.

5. For corner lots, there shall be only one rear yard, determined by the applicant, and the other yards shall be side or street yards as applicable.

B. Encroachments into Required Yards

Unless otherwise regulated within this Ordinance, the following encroachment standards shall apply:

Commentary: Easements, other ordinances, or other legally established restrictions may limit encroachments otherwise allowed by this Ordinance.

1. Chimneys, prefabricated chimneys, flues, or smokestacks can extend into yard spaces but shall not occupy more than 30 square feet of the required yard space.

2. Fire escapes can project up to eight feet into any required yard. Fire escapes in the DD District are permitted to extend beyond the property line.

3. Cornices, eaves, ornamental features, awnings, and nonenclosed covered stoops up to 50 square feet can extend up to five feet into any required yard, but shall remain at least two feet from the property line in side and rear yards, except on zero lot line homes.

4. Marquee signs can extend into yard spaces in conformance with standards found in the Sec. 11.6, Signs Requiring Permits.

5. Pedestrian bridges, breezeways, and supports of these structures can extend into required yards for transit access.

6. Security gates and guard stations can be located within any required yard.

7. Decks, uncovered terraces, and at-grade patios can extend up to four feet into any required side yard, or up to eight feet into any required street yard, or within four feet of a rear property line. Nonenclosed covered decks or porches can extend eight feet into required street and rear yards; however, a minimum setback shall be maintained, which shall be the smaller setback of:

a. Five feet from the property line.

b. Required street yard.

8. Surface parking and associated lighting, uncovered steps, and handicapped access ramps can be located within any yard.

9. Except in Design Districts, bay windows, entrances, balconies, and similar features can extend up to three feet into any required yard, but shall remain at least three feet from the property line when encroaching into the required yard.

10. In Design Districts, refer to Secs. 16.2 and 16.3 for balconies and bay windows.

11. Mechanical equipment for residential uses, such as HVAC units and equipment for a solar energy system, can extend into any required side and rear yard but shall remain at least three feet from the property line.

12. Trellises and pergolas can be located within any required yard.

13. Fences and walls pursuant to Sec. 9.9, Fences and Walls, can be located within any required yard.

14. Cabinets, such as “little libraries” or “blessing boxes,” can be located within any required yard.

a. A maximum of one is allowed in any street yard.

b. The maximum size of the cabinet shall be 21 cubic feet.