550.1460. - Additional development standards for detached accessory dwelling units.
Detached accessory dwelling units shall also comply with the following requirements:
(1) Except as authorized by variance, a detached accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed twenty-one (21) feet in height.
(2) The gross floor area of a detached accessory dwelling unit, including any areas designed or intended to be used for the parking of vehicles and habitable floor area on all levels, shall not exceed one thousand three hundred (1,300) square feet or sixteen (16) percent of the lot area, whichever is greater. In no case shall the gross floor area exceed one thousand six hundred (1,600) square feet or exceed the gross floor area of the principal residential structure, whichever is less.
(3) The combined footprint of a detached accessory dwelling unit, all other detached accessory structures, and any attached uses designed or intended to be used for the parking of vehicles, shall not exceed a total of eight hundred (800) square feet or ten (10) percent of the lot area, whichever is greater. For the purposes of this section, all other structures connected to or abutting the detached accessory dwelling unit shall count toward the maximum combined footprint including, but not limited to, decks, stairs, landings, awnings, canopies, cantilevers, eave overhangs extending more than two (2) feet from the building wall, and roofs covering any other connected structure or adjacent impervious surface.
(4) The minimum interior side yard requirement for a detached accessory dwelling unit shall not be less than three (3) feet except where vehicle access doors face the interior side lot line, in which case no reduction of the required yard is permitted.
(5) The minimum rear yard requirement for a detached accessory dwelling unit may be reduced to three (3) feet, except where vehicle access doors face the rear lot line, in which case no reduction of the required yard is permitted on the side with the vehicle access doors.
(6) A detached accessory dwelling unit on a reverse corner lot shall be no closer to the corner side lot line than a distance equal to two-thirds (⅔) of the depth of the required front yard specified in the yard requirements table of the district of the adjacent property to the rear. Further, a detached accessory dwelling unit shall not be located within five (5) feet of a rear lot line that coincides with the side lot line of a property in an urban neighborhood or residential mixed-use district.
(7) The distance between the detached accessory dwelling unit and the habitable portion of the principal residential structure shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet.
(8) The primary exterior materials of the detached accessory structure shall be durable, including but not limited to masonry, brick, stone, wood, cement-based siding, or glass.
(9) Not less than five (5) percent of the total area of the façade of a detached accessory dwelling unit facing an alley or public street shall be windows.
(10) Exterior stairways shall be allowed, provided that the finish of the railing matches the finish or trim of the detached accessory dwelling unit. Raw or unfinished lumber shall not be permitted on an exterior stairway.
(11) Detached accessory dwelling units established prior to March 6, 2021, and subject to a covenant of owner-occupancy shall remain subject to such covenant. At the request of the property owner and upon an inspection by the building official verifying that the accessory dwelling unit meets the requirements for a dwelling unit under the Minnesota State Building Code, the zoning administrator shall record a release of such covenant.
(Ord. No. 2025-023, § 65, 5-15-2025)
