The purpose of the City of Mount Vernon Zoning Regulations is to:
(a) Promote and uphold the public health, safety, general welfare and morals of the City through the regulation of the use of land and of the type, size and use of structures.
(b) Ensure and encourage the proper use of land to stabilize and preserve property values, to protect against congested and unsafe traffic conditions, to provide safety from hazards such as fire, flood, water and air contamination, and to guarantee adequate light, air, and open space to all residents of the City.
(c) Facilitate development of land uses according to a comprehensive design that ensures the availability of and provision for adequate traffic capacity, water and sewer service, schools, public parklands and other such public facilities.
(d) Preserve unique historical and natural features of structures and land within the City.
Any construction within the City limits requires a Zoning Permit. In a residential neighborhood construction includes additions to the primary dwelling, fences on the property, new garages or storage sheds, swimming pools, greenhouses, etc.
There are limits on how large a garage/storage shed can be constructed in a residential neighborhood. Some examples: detached garages and sheds cannot be larger than 35% of the square foot floor space of the main dwelling/home as determined by the County Auditor report filed on the property. For ease of calculations, basement square footage cannot be included in the home total floor square footage.
Also, the combined square footage of all structures, that is, the house, detached garage and sheds cannot exceed 35% of the square footage of the lot they sit on.
If you are building on a lot in a newer development such as, Longitude area, Woodlake Trails, Laurelwood, Fox Chase and other empty lots within the city, the home only (not counting an attached garage) must have a minimum total living floor space of 1200 square feet.
The home and any attached structures like a garage or deck cannot be placed closer than 10 feet from the side property lines. There is a 30 foot set back requirement for the house to the front yard right-away at the street and to the rear property line.
Remember that the property line at the street could be 10 feet from the edge of the road creating what is commonly known as a “tree lawn”.
Interestingly, a corner city lot is recognized as having two front yards and all set back regulations need to be observed.
Detached garages or accessory structures like storage sheds are better to be placed in the rear of the property and no closer than 5 feet from all common property lines including any utility easements you may have. Maximum height of accessory structures is 18 feet.
The number of accessory structures (detached garages, storage sheds, etc.) cannot exceed one per typical ¼ acre city lot or 4 per acre.
Maximum fence height in residential neighborhoods is six feet. No fence can be placed beyond the front edge of the house except when the fence is not taller than 36”. See the Zoning Office for full building fence construction regulations.
New Development Standards also state that new lots should have a minimum area of 8500 square feet. The minimum width of a lot must be 75 feet. If the minimum 75 feet width is created the depth of the property should be at least 113 feet using the previous area square foot lot requirement. Again, these are minimum standards. Many older lots in the city are smaller and many new lot dimensions are bigger than 75 feet wide. Most new single-family property often can be significantly bigger than the standard requirements.
Each single-family residential lot must also provide on-premise parking for two vehicles, one of which must be enclosed in a garage. The largest dimension of a garage that the zoning office may approve is a maximum size of 35% of the house gross floor space. Anything larger in size will require a variance that would be heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) but remember the Board does not have to approve anything bigger than that approved by the Code Office.
Variances (deviation from the city code requirement) are considered by the Board of Zoning Appeals which has the ability to approve, deny or modify the application request. The Board should not approve anything that is contrary to the public interest. Variances shall not be granted on the grounds of convenience, financial hardship or profit, but only where strict application of the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship.
Neighbors within 300 feet of the requested variance property should be notified by mail from the City when the application for a variance is filed. Any neighbor can express disapproval or concerns of the request. The Board of Zoning Appeals will weigh the opinions and rights of the neighbors when considering a variance decision. As well, any resident anywhere in the city can voice their opinion at all BZA meetings. Board of Zoning Appeals meets every 1st and 3rd Weds of the month at 5:30 in City Hall as needed. Agendas for all city meetings are available at the city website under the “City Council Agendas and Minutes” tab.
Meetings June, July, Aug,? Sept?, 2020 are currently meeting via Zoom.
How to join a BZA Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86085672266
or join by phone by calling 1-312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 860 8567 2266; Password: 899449