What the Cape Coral zoning ordinance says about garages, sheds, and accessory structures, district by district. Section numbers link to the official ordinance.
Density standard for reference only (R-1 is single-family, one unit per platted lot): maximum 4.4 units/acre (Table 4.1.3.A). Accessory structures follow the citywide Article 5, Chapter 2 standards; see the citywide accessory_structures rule.
Residential accessory buildings must be in the rear yard, other than the specific structure types listed in Sec. 5.2.1 (arbors, trellises, pergolas, flagpoles, which may be in front, side, or rear yards; fences and sheds, which may be in rear or side yards). No accessory structure, including a fence, may be built on a residential parcel without a primary structure already on it, except lawfully permitted marine improvements and boat canopies (Sec. 5.2.1.E). Table 5.2.1.A sets specific setbacks, height caps, and structure-to-structure separation distances by type, with columns for Front Yard, Side Yard, Rear Yard, Maximum Building Height, and Separation Distance (from the principal structure); "X" means not permitted in that yard and "SAP" means same setback as the principal structure. Sheds and greenhouses: not permitted in front yard, 7.5-foot side setback, 10-foot rear setback, 5-foot separation from the principal structure; Sec. 5.2.13.A separately caps shed/greenhouse floor area at 200 square feet and states a 15-foot maximum height, which conflicts with Table 5.2.1.A's own Maximum Building Height column for the same row (14 feet); this pack found no supersession language resolving the conflict, so confirm the controlling height (14 or 15 feet) with City Planning before design. Detached guest houses (RE district only, Sec. 5.2.11): not permitted in front yard, side and rear setbacks SAP, maximum height 14 feet (Table 5.2.1.A and Sec. 5.2.11.A.3 agree), 5-foot separation from the principal structure. Detached garages (Sec. 5.2.4): not permitted in front yard per the table, but Sec. 5.2.4.C.1's own text states a detached garage "shall meet all of the setback requirements of the principal structure" (i.e., SAP for front, side, and rear alike), which conflicts with Table 5.2.1.A's Rear Yard column for garages (10 feet) and Front Yard column ("X", not permitted) rather than SAP for all three; maximum height 14 feet (Sec. 5.2.4.C.4), with no size/height cap in the RE or A districts (Sec. 5.2.4.C.6); 5-foot separation from the principal structure. All single-family detached, semi-detached, and duplex units must include a garage with minimum 14-by-20-foot unobstructed interior dimensions; carports are prohibited where a garage is required (Sec. 5.2.4.A).
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