How far from the alley does my garage need to be in Royal Oak?
10 feet. A garage entered at right angles to an alley must sit at least 10 feet from the rear lot line (§ 770-22A(10)). That is deeper than the standard 3 feet required for accessory buildings located entirely in the rear yard (§ 770-22A(4)).
The 10-foot rule turns on how the garage is entered. If your garage door faces the alley straight on, plan for the 10 feet. If the garage is entered another way, the 3-foot standard applies, measured from the rear and side lines.
The usual limits still stack on top: no more than two accessory structures per lot (§ 770-22A(1)), 800 square feet or 10% of lot area, whichever is less (§ 770-22A(5)), and 13 to 15 feet of height (§ 770-22A(7)).
If your alley situation is unusual, call the planning division at 248-246-3280.
Sources
Full text: Royal Oak ordinance on eCode360. Applies to districts: 1F, 1FL, 2F.
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