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1. Can I build a detached garage behind my house?

Yes, provided there is adequate space for a driveway to reach the garage. For more information on the regulations for detached garages, see the Planning Department's Detached Garages handout.

2. What is the maximum size for a detached garage?

Detached garages are limited to 700 square feet on the ground level (but cannot cover more than 30 percent of the rear yard area, measured from the rear wall of the house to the rear property line). This size typically accommodates up to a three-car garage. A special use permit is required to construct a larger detached garage. For more information, see Article 24.3 of the Zoning Ordinance (PDF).

3. How is the maximum height calculated for a detached garage?

he Zoning Ordinance restricts the height of the garage by limiting the volume of the second story or attic-level space. The one-and-one-half story garage height limit is based on a measurement of the attic floor area of the garage where there is a 4-foot or greater clearance between the attic floor and the bottom of the roof rafters. The floor square footage of this area cannot exceed 60 percent of the ground floor area of the garage. For more information on the regulations for detached garages, see the Detached Garages handout.

4. Can I build a coach house or separate living space above a detached garage?

A coach house or secondary living space above a detached garage is considered a separate dwelling unit and therefore cannot be constructed in a single-family residential district.

5. Can I build a home office in a detached garage?

A Special Use Permit is required to conduct a home occupation in an accessory building. For more information, see Article 24.9 of the Zoning Ordinance (PDF).