The height regulations, as prescribed in this
chapter, shall not apply to church spires, residential chimneys, agricultural
buildings, elevator/stair towers not exceeding 12 feet and temporary
amusement structures. Public buildings, hospitals or institutions
and churches, when permitted in a district, may be erected to a height
not exceeding 60 feet.
Accessory buildings which are not a part of
the main building, although they may be connected by an open breezeway,
may be constructed in a rear yard.
A. Detached
garages or carports. If the garage or carport will be larger than
100 square feet or has plumbing or electric, a building permit will
be required. Accessory structures or buildings may not be located
on a lot unless a principal structure exists on the property. When
a principal structure exists on the property, the location of the
detached structure must comply with the required setbacks of five
feet to the rear lot line and three feet to a side lot line. If the
structure is larger than one story, the setbacks will be increased
to 10 feet from the rear lot line and 10 feet from the side lot line.
Detached garages may not be larger than two stories, may not be located
in the required front yard setback, and shall be separated from all
other structures by a minimum of 10 feet. The structure and other
permitted obstructions combined may not occupy more than 30% of a
required side or rear yard (the area between the principal structure
setback line and the property line). Recorded easements, or location
within the Critical Area, may further restrict the location of a garage
or carport.
B. Sheds
and gazebos. If the shed or gazebo will be larger than 80 square feet,
or have plumbing or electric, a building permit will be required.
The location of the structure must comply with the required setbacks
of five feet from the rear property line and three feet to a side
lot line and be separated from all other structures by 10 feet. A
shed or gazebo may not be located in the required front yard setback.
The structure and other permitted obstructions combined may not occupy
more than 30% of a required side or rear yard (the area between the
principal structure setback line and the property line). Recorded
easements, or location within the Critical Area, may further restrict
the location of a shed or gazebo. The maximum allowable height of
a shed or gazebo is one story.
C. Unenclosed
decks. A building permit is required. The location of the structure
must comply with the required setbacks of five feet from the rear
property line and three feet from the side lot line. Recorded easements
may further restrict the location of a deck. (Enclosed decks must
comply with the principal dwelling setback requirements.)
D. Fences.
(1) All fences shall be subject to the following standards:
(a)
Fences may be erected right up to the property line; no setback
required unless located adjacent to a street. An exception to this
is when the fence placement would prevent the use of adjacent property
or prevent the safe use of a driveway. In these cases, the fence is
to be set back a minimum distance of one foot from the driveway or
property line.
(b)
Fences can be no more than three feet tall in the front yard
area. Fences in the front yard area must be of open construction.
A fence of open construction is one in which the ratio of the open
portion to the closed portion is at least 1:1 per foot.
(c)
Fences in the rear yard area and in the side yard area can be
no more than six feet tall. Fences in the rear yard and side yard
areas may be of open or closed construction. A fence of closed construction
is one in which the ratio of the closed portion to the open portion
is more than 1:1 per foot.
E. Retaining walls.
(1) A building permit shall be required for any retaining walls, as defined
in this chapter, over four feet in height. Plans may be required to
be prepared by a professional engineer registered in the State of
Maryland.
(2) Applicability. The requirements of this section shall apply to the construction, installation, extension and replacement of all retaining walls, as defined in this chapter, of more than four feet in height, measured from the final grade at the lower side of the wall to the top of the wall, in all zoning districts, except as exempted in Subsection
E(3), Exemptions below.
(3) Exemptions. Retaining walls that meet the following requirements
shall be exempt from these standards:
(a)
Retaining walls less than four feet in height.
(b)
Retaining walls designed as part of the primary structure.
(c)
Retaining walls shown on an approved large-scale development
plan or preliminary plat.
(d)
Retaining walls designed as part of a public capital improvement
project.
(4) Standards and requirements.
(a)
All retaining walls shall be located on private property and
shall be built with the consent of the property owner. The retaining
wall installer and/or property owner shall be responsible for correctly
locating property boundaries.
(b)
Retaining walls over three feet in height and constructed near street intersections shall not be located in the sight distance triangle, shown in §
155-61 below, in order to provide a reasonable degree of traffic visibility.
(5) Inspection required. The applicant shall contact the appropriate
inspection agency to request a final inspection upon completion of
the retaining wall. If the inspector determines that the retaining
wall is constructed in accordance with the requirements of this chapter
and the approved retaining wall permit, a certificate of compliance
will be issued.
No sign, fence, wall, hedge, planting or other visual obstruction
erected, planted or maintained in a corner lot shall extend more than
three feet above street grade. This shall pertain to that part of
a corner lot included between the intersecting lines of the streets
and 25 feet back from that intersection.