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Planning and Development - Zoning

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1. Can I build a two-car garage on my property?

It depends on how much room you have in your yard. But in general, garages are a permitted accessory use. A two-car garage is included in the description of a garage. Yet an oversized garage that you convert to a woodwork shop for your hobby and which is not used for the storage of vehicles, is not a permitted accessory structure. It is also not legal to provide living space in that accessory structure.

2. How far off the property line must I be if I want to build something?

It depends on the zoning district in which your house is located. In the "A" Residential District you must be at least eight (8) feet from the side property line – more if you live on a corner lot. In the "B" Residential District the distance changes to five (5) feet. Again, more if it is a corner lot. For house additions, or for anything else that attaches to the house, the rear building setback line is: “A” district, 20% of the lot depth with a minimum of 25’ but not more than 40’ (unless you want to exceed 40’). For the “B” district, the rear setback is 20% of the lot depth but not less than 20’. If this is for a yard shed or detached garage, the minimum rear setback for the “A” district is 8’ and for the “B” district, 5’.

3. Can I put a yard shed in the back yard and is a permit required?

A small yard shed may be placed in the back yard of a residential lot. However, there must be a house on that property and the shed must be at least the side yard setback distance off all of the property lines. In addition, the size of such a structure is limited to 144 square feet in area and 14' in height.

4. My neighbor is building a sundeck and doesn't have a permit. Can he do that?

Not legally. A building permit is required for any new construction in the City.

5. I live on property that abuts commercial ground. Can you make the business put up a fence?

Although our law requires a fence between commercial and residential property, if the commercial business was there prior to the enactment of the law, we cannot make them erect a fence until there is a change in ownership or occupancy of the property. When the requirement for a fence was added to the zoning chapter, the governing body did not mandate fences be erected by any certain date. Hence, the business may continue to operate under what is known as a "grandfather clause."

6. How can I find out when the Board is considering zoning issues?

Not all zoning issues are required to have a public hearing. The best way to find out what is going on is by looking at a copy of either the Planning and Zoning Commission agenda, or the Board of Aldermen agenda. Prior to being acted upon by the Board, all zoning issues go to the Planning & Zoning Commission for their recommendation. The P&Z meet on the second Wednesday of the month. In the event that there is no business pending, the meeting is cancelled. The Board of Aldermen then votes on the matter after P&Z has forwarded their recommendation on the issue. These meetings are held on the third Monday of the month.

Some zoning issues such as a conditional use permit or rezoning require the Board to have a public hearing on the issue under consideration. Public hearings are advertised in the St Louis Countian (a legal newspaper) at least 15 days in advance of the hearing date, and in the Sunday St Louis Post-Dispatch usually at least 1-1/2 weeks in advance of the hearing date. In addition, public hearing notices are placed on public notice boards around the City (18 in all) including on the property in question. Last, a notification of the hearing is sent to any person who owns or lives in property living within 185' of the site of a zoning change or use permit.