HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4a LL Revisions Regarding Accessory Buildings Chapter 270Item 4a
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TOWN OF ITHACA
LOCAL LAW NO. ___ OF THE YEAR 2025
A LOCAL LAW AMENDING TOWN OF ITHACA CODE CHAPTER 270, ZONING,
REGARDING ACCESSORY BUILDINGS IN CONSERVATION ZONES,
LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONES, MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONES,
AND HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONES
Be it enacted by the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 270 (Zoning), Article III (Terminology) of the Town of Ithaca Code,
Section 270-5 (Definitions), is amended by deleting the definition of “Woodshed.”
Section 2. Chapter 270 (Zoning), Article V (Conservation Zones) of the Town of Ithaca
Code, is amended as follows:
A. Add the following sentence to the end of Section 270-16 (Height limitations):
“Height limits for certain nonagricultural accessory buildings in side yards are
governed by § 270-17.F(2)(b).”
B. In Section 270-17 (Yard regulations), Subsection F (Accessory buildings), delete
Subsections F(2) and F(3) and replace them with new Subsections F(2) and F(3)
reading as follows:
“(2) All other accessory buildings (except garages) may not occupy any open
space other than:
(a) A rear yard, or
(b) A side yard, provided that their height in the side yard does not exceed 12
feet, and their cumulative footprint in the side yard does not exceed 400
square feet in area.
(3) The total lot area covered by nonagricultural accessory buildings (including
garages) may not occupy more than 1,000 square feet of the two-hundred-foot
rear yard setback required by Subsection B above.”
C. Delete Subsection H (Woodsheds).
Section 3. Chapter 270 (Zoning), Article VIII (Low Density Residential Zones) of the
Town of Ithaca Code, is amended as follows:
A. In Section 270-59 (Height limitations), add the following sentence just before the
sentence beginning “The foregoing height limitations”:
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“Height limits for certain accessory buildings in side yards are governed by § 270-
60.E(2)(b).”
B. In Section 270-60 (Yard regulations), Subsection E (Accessory buildings), delete
Subsections E(2) and E(3) and replace them with new Subsections E(2) and E(3)
reading as follows:
“(2) All other accessory buildings (except garages) may not occupy any open
space other than:
(a) A rear yard, or
(b) A side yard, provided that their height in the side yard does not exceed 12
feet, and their cumulative footprint in the side yard does not exceed 350
square feet in area.
(3) Accessory buildings (including garages, and buildings occupied by a detached
accessory dwelling unit), in the aggregate, may occupy not more than 15% of
the fifty-foot rear yard setback required by Subsection B above.”
C. Delete Subsection G (Woodsheds).
Section 4. Chapter 270 (Zoning), Article IX (Medium Density Residential Zones) of the
Town of Ithaca Code, is amended as follows:
A. Add the following sentence to the end of Section 270-70 (Height limitations):
“Height limits for certain accessory buildings in side yards are governed by § 270-
71.E(2)(b).”
B. In Section 270-71 (Yard regulations), Subsection E (Accessory buildings), delete
Subsections E(2) and E(3) and replace them with new Subsections E(2) and E(3)
reading as follows:
“(2) All other accessory buildings (except garages) may not occupy any open
space other than:
(a) A rear yard, or
(b) A side yard, provided that their height in the side yard does not exceed 12
feet, and their cumulative footprint in the side yard does not exceed 200
square feet in area.
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(3) Accessory buildings (including garages, and buildings occupied by a detached
accessory dwelling unit), in the aggregate, may occupy not more than 40% of
the thirty-foot rear yard setback required by Subsection B above.”
C. Delete Subsection G (Woodsheds).
Section 5. Chapter 270 (Zoning), Article X (High Density Residential Zones) of the
Town of Ithaca Code, is amended as follows:
A. Add the following sentence to the end of Section 270-81 (Height limitations):
“Height limits for certain accessory buildings in side yards are governed by § 270-
82.E(2)(b).”
B. In Section 270-82 (Yard regulations), Subsection E (Accessory buildings), delete
Subsections E(2) and E(3) and replace them with new Subsections E(2) and E(3)
reading as follows:
“(2) All other accessory buildings (except garages) may not occupy any open
space other than:
(a) A rear yard, or
(b) A side yard, provided that their height in the side yard does not exceed 12
feet, and their cumulative footprint in the side yard does not exceed 150
square feet in area.
(3) Accessory buildings (including garages, and buildings occupied by a detached
accessory dwelling unit), in the aggregate, may occupy not more than 40% of
the thirty-foot rear yard setback required by Subsection B above.”
C. Delete Subsection G (Woodsheds).
Section 6. In the event that any portion of this law is declared invalid by a court of
competent jurisdiction, the validity of the remaining portions shall not be affected by such
declaration of invalidity.
Section 7. This local law shall take effect immediately upon its filing with the New York
State Secretary of State.