COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Residential Accessory Building Guide
616.791.6858 [email protected] www.walker.city
4243 Remembrance Rd NW Walker MI 49534 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Residential Accessory Building Requirements
STEP 1: SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED CONTACT INFORMATION DOCUMENTS FOR REVIEW City of Walker BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION Community Development Department 4243 Remembrance Rd NW SITE PLAN - Plan should include lot lines, Walker MI 49534 existing and proposed structures, setbacks, 616.791.6858 easements, and dimensions. (Provide two (2) [email protected] full size and one electronic copy) TRUSS DRAWINGS - Required if structure is ADDITIONAL INFORMATION greater than 600 sq. ft. ELECTRICAL PERMIT - Required if installing Post Frame Building Construction Sheet electric in the accessory building. (attached) MECHANICAL PERMIT - Required if Foundation Information Sheet (attached) installing mechanical equipment in the Truss Worksheet (attached) accessory building. Sec. 94-352 Accessory building & PLUMBING PERMIT - Required if installing private garages section of the City plumbing in the accessory building. of Walker Zoning Ordinance KENT COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REVIEW FORM (for properties with well / septic)
STEP 2: INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
ELECTRICAL Final MECHANICAL Final PLUMBING Final BUILDING Footing Final: Note - all trades inspections must be completed prior to the building final.
City of Walker 4243 Remembrance Rd NW Walker MI 49534 www.walker.city RESIDENTIAL GARAGE AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURES 1) ROOF MATERIAL Roof Covering Underlayment Roof deck Trusses Yes Continue to Section 2 No Size of Ridge Truss or rafter ties may be required Size of Rafters Rafter species of lumber Rafter Spacing Ceiling joist
2) WALL MATERIAL Size of studs Top plates Bottom Plates Stud spacing Garage door header Garage door header span Service door Service door header span Window header Window header span Insulation type Interior finish Sheathing Siding
Concrete slab-on-ground floor shall be a minimum of 3 1/2 inches thick
3) FOUNDATION Foundation anchor type Bolt Strap Foundation anchor spacing Foundation size Footing width Footing depth
Attached garages and other attached accessory structures shall have exterior footings and foundation systems that extend 42 inches below actual grade. Detached garages and other structures that exceed 600 square feet shall have exterior footings and foundation systems that extend 42 inches below actual grade.
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Sec. 94-352. - Accessory buildings and private garages.
Accessory buildings, including private garages, may be erected in any zoning district for the purposes permitted in the zoning district in which the accessory building is located, subject to the requirements of the applicable district regulations and the requirements of this section.
(1) General. The following regulations are applicable to all accessory buildings and private garages in any zoning district.
a. Attached or detached. An accessory building may be erected either attached as an integral part of, or detached from, the main building to which it is accessory. If erected as an integral part of the main building to which it is accessory, the accessory building shall comply with all of the requirements of this chapter applicable to the main building. Accessory buildings shall be considered to be an integral part of the main building when connected by a continuous breezeway, portico, covered colonnade or similar permanent architectural device.
b. Compatible construction. In the A, A-2, SA and S districts, all accessory buildings in excess of 200 square feet shall be constructed of materials which are similar to and compatible with the main building to which they are accessory, and shall be of a similar and compatible architectural character.
c. Vacant lots. An accessory building shall not be erected on a vacant lot, or prior to the time of construction of the main building to which it is accessory. Further, an accessory building shall not be occupied or used unless or until the main building to which it is accessory is also being occupied or used, or after such time as the occupation of use of the main building has ceased.
d. Floor area ratios. An accessory building shall not be permitted where its placement on the lot would exceed the maximum usable floor area and accessory building floor area requirements of section 94-166, set forth in the schedule of district regulations.
e. Floor area measurement. For purpose of determining the square footage of the floor area of an accessory building, the measurement shall be the length times the width of the exterior of the building, measured from the outside corners of the building frame.
f. Projections. No roof, cornice, or any other part of an accessory building may project more than 24 inches from the inside of the building frame, unless the entire structure's dimensions fall within the accessory building's allowable square footage.
g. Shape. The length of an accessory building shall not exceed two times its width.
h. Portable accessory buildings. Portable accessory buildings without a permanent foundation and capable of being moved intact shall meet all of the requirements applicable to accessory buildings which are not portable. In addition, portable
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accessory buildings shall be properly anchored in a method approved by the building official.
i. Commercial use. An accessory building which is accessory to a residential dwelling unit shall not be used for the conduct of any business, trade, occupation, profession or industry.
j. Foundation. The foundation shall provide maximum exposed foundation above grade of 16 inches and a minimum exposed foundation above grade of eight inches. A wood foundation is also acceptable provided it meets the standards established for wood foundations contained in the construction code adopted by the city.
(2) Private garages; single-family and two-family residential dwellings. Only one private garage, attached or detached, per dwelling unit is permitted by right on a lot occupied for single family or two-family residential purposes in the A, A-2, SA, S, AA and ARM districts, as provided by this section.
a. Maximum size, detached private garage. The maximum size permitted by right of a detached garage shall not exceed the following:
1. For a single-family residential dwelling: 832 square feet of floor area.
2. For a two-family dwelling: 528 square feet of floor area per dwelling unit.
b. Maximum size, attached private garage. The maximum size permitted by right of a private garage attached to a dwelling unit shall not exceed the following:
1. For a single-family residential dwelling. 832 square feet of floor area for the first 1,300 square feet of habitable floor area contained in the dwelling. In addition, for each whole increment of five square feet that the floor area of the dwelling unit exceeds 1,300 square feet, the floor area of the attached private garage may be increased by one square foot.
2. For a two-family dwelling. 528 square feet of floor area per dwelling unit.
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c. Eaves height. The maximum eaves height of a detached private garage shall be as follow
Side/Rear Yard Setback of Accessory Building Maximum Eaves Height
Both rear yard and side yard setback of not 10 feet less than 5 feet
Both rear yard and side yard setback of not 12 feet less than 10 feet
Both rear yard and side yard setback of not 14 feet less than 15 feet
(3) Additional accessory buildings; single-family and two-family residential dwellings. In addition to the attached or detached private garage permitted under subsection (2), and except as otherwise provided by subsection (3)d., only one additional accessory building shall be permitted by right on a lot occupied for single-family or two-family residential purposes in the A, A-2, SA, S, AA and ARM districts, as provided by this section.
a. Maximum size. In the A, A-2, SA, S, AA, and ARM districts, the maximum size of the accessory building shall be as follows:
Lot Area Maximum Size
Not more than ½ acre 900 square feet or 5% of lot area, whichever is less
More than ½ acre but not more than 1½ acres 1,200 square feet
More than 1½ acres but not more than 3 acres 1,500 square feet
More than 3 acres 1,800 square feet
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b. Setback. In the A, A-2, SA, S, AA, and ARM districts, all accessory buildings shall be located in the rear yard, shall have a side yard setback and a rear yard setback of at least five feet, and if located less than ten feet from the dwelling, shall be made fire resistant in such manner as is required for attached garages.
c. Eaves Height. In the A, A-2, SA, S, AA, and ARM districts, the maximum height of eaves on accessory buildings shall be as follows:
Side/Rear Yard Setback of Accessory Building Maximum Eaves Height
Both rear yard and side yard setback of not 10 feet less than 5 feet
Both rear yard and side yard setback of not 12 feet less than 10 feet
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Both rear yard and side yard setback of not 14 feet less than 15 feet
d. Exceptions. Notwithstanding the limitations of this subsection (3), the following additional accessory buildings shall also be permitted per lot: A pool house, garden house, greenhouse, and/or a children's playhouse, or similar buildings for a use customarily incidental to the use of a lot occupied for purposes of a single-family or two-family residential dwelling, not to exceed 100 square feet in combined total area, and with an eaves height not to exceed ten feet.
(4) Subsections (1), (2) and (3) shall not apply to any building located within the AA zone district on a lot of at least five acres if:
a. The building is permitted as a principal use of the lot for general or specialized farming as provided by section 94-171(b)(1), or as accessory to the principal use of the lot for those farming purposes as provided by section 94-171(c); and
b. The building is used solely in connection with the commercial production of agricultural products in accordance with generally accepted agricultural and management practices (and is not used for any other principal or accessory use permitted in the AA zone district, including, without limitation, any purposes accessory to permitted dwellings or residential uses on the farm).
Farm buildings which meet the requirements under subsections (4)a. and b., above, and are therefore exempt from the requirements of subsections (1), (2) and (3) shall remain subject to all other applicable requirements of this chapter, including, without limitation, any applicable district regulations.
(Ord. No. 88-369, § 1, 1-10-89; Ord. No. 91-392, § 3, 3-12-91; Ord. No. 91-394, § 1, 6-11-91; Ord. No. 94-432, § 1, 4-25-94; Ord. No. 00-467, § 1, 10-23-00; Ord. No. 04-514, § 1, 7-12-04; Ord. No. 16-632 , § 1, 9-26-16)
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