Discuss Proposed Accessory Structure Amendments

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

The purpose of this item is to provide a follow-up to the City Council work session held on May 26, 2026, regarding the City's current accessory structure standards and the definition of building height. During the work session, staff presented the City's existing regulations, identified areas where the current ordinance may create ambiguity or unintended limitations, and requested Council feedback regarding potential amendments. Council's discussion focused primarily on how building height should be measured, the appropriate scale and location of accessory structures, the relationship between accessory structures and principal buildings, and whether additional flexibility should be provided based on lot size and surrounding context. Current Standards The City's accessory structure regulations are contained within Section 90-4.02.01, Accessory Structures, of Chapter 90, Zoning. The regulations establish standards for residential and nonresidential accessory structures, including requirements related to height, size, setbacks, number, materials, lot coverage, and location. For residential properties, the current ordinance allows an accessory structure to be no more than two stories or 28 feet in height and no taller than the principal building, whichever is lower. The ordinance also limits an individual accessory structure to 50% of the floor area of the principal building and establishes a cumulative 60% limitation when multiple accessory structures are located on the property. The current regulations also utilize height-based setbacks. Residential accessory structures 15 feet or less in height are subject to a five-foot rear setback, while structures exceeding 15 feet are subject to a ten-foot rear setback. Interior side-yard requirements similarly increase when an accessory structure exceeds 15 feet in height. The City's current Building Height definition establishes the starting point for measurement as the average of the highest and lowest points of grade within