Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Charter Township of Meridian
Ingham County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
[Code 1974, § 83-4.1]
Any front yard in any single-family residential district may be reduced below the minimum required only when the front yards of existing principal structures within 200 feet of a proposed principal building location are less than the minimum required, in which case the Township Board of Appeals shall establish the required minimum front yard.
[Code 1974, § 83-4.2]
For single-family residential lots adjoining an alley, the least width of a required side yard may be measured to the centerline of the alley, provided that no building shall be erected any closer than three feet to the nearest alley right-of-way line.
[Code 1974, § 83-4.3]
When a lot of record in any single-family residential district has a depth of less than 115 feet prior to the effective date of this chapter, the rear yard of such lot may be reduced one-quarter of the distance the lot depth is less than 115 feet; provided, that no rear yard shall be less than 20 feet in depth, except that, if a rear lot line abuts an existing or proposed street, the Township Board of Appeals shall establish the required minimum rear yard.
[Code 1974, § 83-4.4]
(a) 
Uncovered paved terraces, patios, and porches. Uncovered paved terraces, patios, and porches shall not be subject to yard requirements, provided:
(1) 
The paved area is unroofed and without such walls, parapets, or other forms of solid, continuous enclosure when that link to the paved area to the principal building that an enclosed area is formed which appears functionally a part of the principal building.
(2) 
The highest finished elevation of the paved area is not over three feet above the average surrounding finished ground grade.
(3) 
No portion of the paved area is closer than four feet from any lot line. Such paved area may have an open railing or fence not over three feet high and may have noncontinuous windbreak or visual screen fences or walls not over six feet high.
(b) 
Unenclosed porches. Roofed or unroofed porches may project into a required side or rear yard a distance not to exceed eight feet, provided:
[Amended 5-17-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-06]
(1) 
The porch is unenclosed, no higher than one story, and erected on piers.
(2) 
The porch shall not be closer than eight feet at any point to any side or rear lot line.
(c) 
Enclosed porches. Enclosed porches, either one-story, two-story, or an unenclosed porch having solid foundations and capable of being enclosed shall be considered an integral part of the building and shall, therefore, be subject to all yard and area dimensional requirements established for principal buildings.
(d) 
Special structural elements. Special structural elements, such as cornices, sills, beltcourses, chimneys, gutters, eaves, pilasters, and similar structural features may project into any yard area up to a maximum of 2 1/2 feet.
(e) 
Fire escapes, outside stairways, and balconies. Fire escapes, outside stairways, and balconies, if of open construction, may project into the yard up to a maximum of five feet.
[Code 1974, § 83-4.5]
The following shall apply to accessory buildings:
(1) 
In a front yard. No accessory building shall project into any front yard.
(2) 
In a rear yard. No accessory building shall be closer than five feet to any lot line.
(3) 
In a side yard. No accessory building shall be closer than five feet to any lot line.
(4) 
On a corner lot. No accessory building shall be closer to the side street lot line than the side yard setback of the principal building on the lot.
(5) 
Where the rear line of a corner lot coincides with the side line of an adjoining lot in a residential district, an accessory building shall not be closer than eight feet to the common lot line.
(6) 
In no case shall the entrance of a garage be less than 25 feet from a street line.
[Code 1974, § 83-4.6]
No driveway in a single-family residential zone shall be located closer than two feet from the side or rear lot line.