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In Evanston, accessory buildings located in a rear or interior side yard must be at least three feet from any property line. The Mesa, Arizona, code states the following: In all Residence districts, a detached accessory building: . May be located in the required side and rear yards, provided it is within the rear one-quarter 0/4) of the lot and does not exceed 10 feet 00') in height. . May be located in the required rear yard, provided it does not exceed fifteen feet 05') in height and is not in the required side yard. . May be located in the required side yard, provided it does not exceed eight feet (8') in height (.n the highest point) and one hundred fifty (50) square fect of roof area and is not located in a side yard required for vehicular access. . Shall not be located in the required front yard or in front of the front line of a dwell ing. . Shall not be located in the required rear yard of a corner lot closer to the street than any dwelling on an adjacent key lot. Height As with setback, limitations on garage height also are intended to ensure that accessory structures are subordinate to the principal structure, and to prevent large structures from imposing toO much on neighboring properties. For garage design, limits on the garage height affect the structure's roof pitch, wall and door height, and inclusion of an attic or second- floor space, Several different approaches are used to regulate the maximum height of an accessory structure with a standard gable roof, including measure to the peak, measure to the midpoint between the peak and the eave (i.e., the average height), or measure to the wall height. Lincoln allows garages up to 15 feet in height, measuring to the average height of the highest gable. However, any accessory structure located within 20 feet of the front lot line cannot exceed eight feet. Minneapolis limits accessory structure height to 12 feet at the midpoint between the peak and the eave or the height of the principal structure, whichever is less. In Mesa, accessory buildings in residential districts cannot exceed the height of the dwelling when located on a lot of less than one acre, and cannot exceed 30 feet in height on a lot of at least one acre. Limiting wall height offers extra protection against bulky accessory structures, particularly where the maximum height is measured to the peak of the structure. In Redondo Beach, California, no accessory structure is permitted to exceed a height of 15 feet at the highest point of the roof. The perimeter walls cannot exceed 10 feet as measured from existing grade to the point of intersection with the top plate. A parapet cannot extend more than three feet above the top plate. Design Review and Historic Districts New garages in historic districts generally require review by the local preservation commission. Obolensky writes about a member of Minneapolis' Heritage Preservation Commission who suggests that when constructing a garage that is accessory to a historic home, one should pay particular attention to the roof pitch and overhang, window styles, exterior materials, and stylistic detailing unique to the house. In Evanston, accessory structures are limited to 14 V2 feet in height for flat or mansard roofs and 171/2 feet for all other roofs, except as provided for in special regulations for city landmarks and structures in designated historic districts, where "garages withou t flat or mansard roofs shall be no taller than three fourths the height of the principal structure, measured to the roof apex, but in no case shall the height exceed 28 feet..." Further, "The roof of the garage shall be compatible in pitch and shape with the roof of the principal structure" for those garages on historic properties or in historic districts. These rules allow for significantly taller buildings accessory to some of the community's grand old homes. Some communities review the design of garages regardless of whether it is accessory to a historic structure. In Torrance, California, detached accessory buildings and additions must be designed to conform to the main structure in quality and appearance. In Santa Monica, California, most structures in the Rl district are exempt from the city's architectur~tl review. However, in a delineated area of the city, several types of development require architectural review, including, "Any structure with garage doors facing the street within the front one-half of the parcel which are not setback from the building fa<;:ade a minimum of five feet." ~ .~ ~ ~. This Minneapolis garage, complete with a functional story, would not meet the city's CUI'I'e1It height limitation. Must Be Accessory to Something It is standard for municipalities to prohibit the construction of accessory structures on property without a principal structure. Allowing such would conflicr with the very notion and definition of accessory use or building. The Minneapolis zoning code states, "No accessory use or structure shall be constructed or established on any lot prior to the time of construction of the principal structure to which it is accessory. This section shall not be construed to govern the sequencing of a construction project in which both the principal and accessory structures are to be built simultaneously." Accommodating Required Off-Street Parking Municipalities typically require either one or two parking spaces per dwelling unit. The May 1991 issue of The Zoning Report says approximately 20 percent of zoning codes (at that time) have a requirement that one or more parking spaces must be located within a garage. Enclosed parking requirements are more common in suburban areas than in cities. Those that do not have an enclosed parking requirement dictate the location of parking spaces on a lot. Most communities also limit the number of vehicles that may be parked outdoors on a residential lot. 4