Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Code topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rocky Ridge council adopts broad municipal code overhaul covering electrical, zoning, trees and home occupations
Summary
The Rocky Ridge Town Council on Feb. 18 adopted wide-ranging municipal code amendments — including adopting NEC references for electrical work, changing zoning setbacks and accessory building rules, revising tree and park authorities, and simplifying home-occupation standards — in a recorded vote.
The Rocky Ridge Town Council voted Feb. 18 to adopt a set of municipal code amendments that revise the town’s electrical and zoning regulations, change tree and parks authority, and simplify home-occupation rules.
The ordinance, adopted after a public hearing and recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Board, passed with four recorded Aye votes; one council member was recorded absent. The changes are intended to modernize outdated or impractical provisions and improve enforceability.
Key provisions include replacing duplicative electrical-code text with a reference to the National Electrical Code and clarifying permit, inspection and enforcement procedures: permits are to be required primarily for concealed wiring, homeowners may do electrical work on their own residences with appropriate permits, commercial electrical work must be performed by licensed contractors, all permitted work must be inspected, and the Building Official’s authority to deny or revoke permits is clarified. Penalties for violations remain Class B offenses, and minor maintenance exemptions were further clarified.
On zoning, the revisions allow multiple public-use buildings on a single lot while maintaining a one-dwelling-unit limit for residential lots and permitting accessory buildings. The previous 50% rear-yard coverage limit was removed by Council consensus; revised accessory building setbacks were adopted (side and rear minimums of 5 feet, 10 feet between a principal and accessory building on the same lot, 20 feet from an adjacent lot’s principal building, and 10 feet from an adjacent vacant lot). The code now requires permits for accessory structures over 200 square feet or containing utilities; smaller structures without utilities remain exempt.
Other changes: minimum access width was reduced from 20 feet to 12 feet; dumpster screening was made discretionary and subject to Planning Commission review; tree- and park-related authority was reassigned from a City Forester position to the Park Superintendent; trees must be planted at least 5 feet from underground public utilities (public utilities only); tree removal on private property may be required only for safety or infrastructure reasons after notice; and vertical clearance requirements were raised from 10 to 14 feet. Home-occupation standards were simplified to preserve residential character while allowing business activity up to 30% of any one floor, removing several numeric restrictions and allowing Planning and Zoning to waive ADA compliance to avoid reclassifying a residence as a commercial structure.
The Planning and Zoning Board presented the redlined revisions and formally recommended adoption. Council members said the edits were intended to simplify language and improve enforceability. The public hearing record and the Council’s vote conclude the local legislative step; implementation details and enforcement practices will be handled through staff procedures and permit processing going forward.
The ordinance was adopted as read; the public hearing was closed. The council did not record a motion maker or seconder in the minutes for the final adoption; the vote record lists Mayor Ronald Allred, Joanna Covington, Chuck Todd and Andrew Aagard as voting Aye, and Byron Allred as absent.
