§ 44-82. Basic dimensional standards.

Basic dimensional standards are established to minimize the extent to which a development can impact neighboring properties. Several dimensional measures shall be applied in this section including impervious surface ratios (expressed as the percentage of a development site or lot which may contain impervious surfaces), and area requirements including restrictions of frontage, height, and a variety of setbacks. Basic dimensional standards are established for all general zoning districts and overlay zones. Except where natural resource development standards for certain land uses apply and, where special development standards or planned development standards for certain land uses apply in article VI and article VII respectively, these standards shall apply to both permitted uses and uses by special exception. All setback and frontage requirements shall be measured in feet from or along the applicable road right-of-way or property line, whichever is appropriate.

(1)

Maximum impervious surface ratios (multiply ratio by gross lot area to calculate the maximum lot area that may be covered by impervious surfaces):

District	R-1	R-2	R-3	C-1	C-2	I-1	I-2	T-1
General	n/a	n/a	.70	.70	.80	.80	.80	.80
Lake overlay	n/a	n/a	.60	.50	.50	.50	.50	n/a
Usry overlay	.25	.25	.25	.25	.25	.25	.25	n/a

 

(2)

Minimum road frontage*

District	R-1	R-2	R-3	C-1	C-2	I-1	I-2	T-1
General	150	100	80	125	100	125	100	100
All overlay	150	100	100	150	125	150	—	—

 

*Footage width along a publicly maintained right-of-way.

Note: (flag lots) The planning commission may permit a reduction in minimum frontage to not less than 30 feet for flag lots fronting exclusively on a county road dead-end, or on a cul-de-sac in an interior residential subdivision. Flag lots shall otherwise be prohibited except in those two situations.

Note: Crossover easements prohibited. To conform to the minimum requirements for road frontage referenced above, crossover easements shall be prohibited. (Also see article VII, section 44-139(c))

(3)

Minimum side and rear setback (principal structure in feet):

(Buffers may supersede setbacks see section 44-87 of this article)

District	R-1	R-2	R-3	C-1	C-2	I-1	I-2	T-1
General	30	25	15	30	30	35	40	30
All overlay	35	30	20	35	35	40	—	—

 

Note: A 15-foot fire separation is required between all structures.

(4)

Minimum side and rear setback (accessory structure in feet):

(Buffers may supersede setbacks see section 44-87 of this article)

District	R-1*	R-2*	R-3	C-1	C-2	I-1	I-2	T-1
General	10	10	10	20	20	20	25	20
All overlay	15	15	15	25	25	25	—	—

 

*In these districts a five-foot side and rear setback is allowed for accessory structures under 400 square feet (cottage industries and home occupations excluded).

(5)

Minimum front setback from centerline of road (all structures in feet):

District	R-1	R-2	R-3	C-1	C-2	I-1	I-2	T-1
General	100	100	85	80	80	90	75	80
All overlay	100	100	90	90	90	90	—	—
State hwy.	125	125	125	125	125	125	125	125

 

(6)

Moving permit requirements manufactured homes. Effective upon the date of adoption of this chapter it shall be a violation of this chapter for any person(s), corporation, or entity to move or cause to be moved any manufactured home or industrialized building into or within McDuffie County without first having obtained a manufactured home moving permit from the office of the McDuffie County Planning Commission. Prior to the issuance of a moving permit, the mover shall show evidence of compliance with the provisions of Title 48, Chapter 5, Article 10 of the O.C.G.A. The planning commission office shall upon the payment of the permit fee, as set by the board of commissioners, issue to the permittee a transport decal to be affixed at all times to the manufactured home while it is being transported.

(7)

Height requirements. No structure shall be constructed, reconstructed, or altered in any way that would cause it to exceed 35 feet in height as measured from the lowest ground elevation at the base of the structure to the tallest point of the structure. Exemptions and modifications to these requirements may be authorized by the development code administrator, planning commission, or the board of commissioners, however, exceptions shall only be made where, by reason of exceptional topographic condition or other extraordinary or exceptional conditions of a piece of property, the strict application of this requirement would result in practical difficulties to, or undue hardship on, the owner of the property, provided that relief may be granted without substantially impairing the intent and purpose of this chapter.

Exemptions:

a.

Churches and government buildings shall not be subject to the 35-foot height limit.

b.

The 35-foot height limit shall not apply to barns, silos, grain elevators, windmills, or other farm structures; belfries, cupolas, and domes; public monuments, water towers, antennas and transmission towers (including power line supports), chimneys, smokestacks, flag poles, masts, and aerials.

(Ord. of 3-23-99, Art. V, § 2; Mo. of 5-18-99)