Garages and Accessory Buildings
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Garages and accessory buildings are important for the function of modern living accommodating much larger vehicles than many of the early garage constructions, in addition to more equipment and other items necessary to maintain properties. The guidelines seek to strike a balance between function and historic preservation.
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Exemptions
11.1. Sheds less than 10’-6” or 120 square feet located in the rear yard do not need to be reviewed or comply with the design standards below.
11.2. For guidance on demolition of original garages or carriage houses, see Demolitions.
Location and Access
11.3 A new garage or accessory building should be located to reinforce the historic pattern of the historic district or neighborhood, behind the front line of the main building, unless a different pattern of placement is prevalent.
11.4 Access to the new building should match that of the neighborhood. For example, if most garages are alley access, the new garage should be accessed from the alley.
11.5 Existing curb cuts should not be widened, and driveway widths should be limited to no more than 10 feet per garage stall.
11.6 If garages are located along the alley, the new garage should also be located on the alley. Garage door orientation can be changed from facing the alley to facing a side lot line to accommodate vehicle stacking on-site without taking up more of the rear yard than necessary.
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The accessory building above matches the color and material of the adjacent house, with a slightly steeper pitched roof. The wrapped corners and simple bargeboard are additional features that make the building blend into the site.
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Design
11.7 A new garage or accessory building should be compatible with, and subordinate to, the main building and surrounding context in mass, form, and roof shape.
11.8 When the design of the building is based on the primary structure the design may be simplified.
11.9 The height of the building should be within the range of what is seen in the surrounding context for garage and accessory buildings and should not deviate more than 2-3 feet. In no instance should the new building be taller than the house.
11.10 Materials should be similar in scale, color, and texture to the primary structure, but do not need to replicate the original in-kind. For example, an accessory building for a stone house does not need to be built of stone.
a. Only one building material should be used unless the surrounding context or design of the main building supports additional materials.
11.11 Pre-fabricated metal outbuildings are not allowed.
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The accessory building above matches the color and material of the adjacent house, with a slightly steeper pitched roof. The wrapped corners and simple bargeboard are additional features that make the building blend into the site.
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The image above was submitted with a certificate application for a new garage in a local landmark district. The garage, located on the rear of the lot accessed from an existing driveway, is designed with a matching Palladian window in the attic space, cedar siding, and gable returns seen on the home (left). The illustration shows the proposed taller garage to accommodate attic storage remaining subordinate to and in scale with surrounding homes.
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The garage above is slightly too tall to fit with the historic character of the primary dwelling with one overhead door as tall as the first floor of the home.
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A prefabicated metal shed shown above would not be a suitable accessory building for a historic property if visible from the street.
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