Ogden staff previews overhaul of development code; ADU, signage and business-chain rules on table

City planning staff on July 15 previewed a near-complete rewrite of Ogden's development code that would standardize residential lot rules, relax some accessory dwelling unit (ADU) limits, tighten special-use controls and change signage and billboard rules.

Planning staff said the draft is intended to make the code more consistent and user-friendly and to finish specialty and development standards before moving to land-division chapters. "We're trying to make it easier for people to use their yards," Planning staff member Brandon said while summarizing design and rear-yard coverage changes.

The draft would unify lot-coverage and height limits across residential zones and would exempt open patios and covers from rear-yard building-coverage calculations. Detached ADUs would be allowed up to 1,000 square feet (up from 800) or up to 50% of the primary dwelling's floor area. Staff said a homeowner may not have more than one ADU on a lot and that the homeowner must live in either the primary dwelling or the ADU.

The rewrite also addresses retail, formula-based (chain)…