24-51 - Permitted Obstructions

LAST AMENDED
12/5/2024


In all #Residence Districts#, the obstructions set forth in Section 23-411 (General permitted obstructions), as well as the
following obstructions, shall be permitted and may thus penetrate a maximum height limit or #sky exposure plane# set forth in
Sections 24-52 (Maximum Height of Walls and Required Setbacks), 24-53 (Alternate Front Setbacks) or 24-591 (Limited
Height Districts):

(a)    Balconies, unenclosed, subject to the provisions of Section 24-164;

(b)    Elevator or stair bulkheads (including shafts; and vestibules), roof water tanks, #energy infrastructure equipment#, and
       #accessory# mechanical equipment (including enclosures), other than solar or wind energy systems (whether #accessory#
       or as part of #energy infrastructure equipment#), provided that:

       (1)    such obstructions shall be located not less than 10 feet from the #street wall# of a #building#, except that such
              obstructions need not be set back more than 25 feet from a #narrow# #street line# or more than 20 feet from a
              #wide# #street line#. However, such restrictions on location shall not apply to elevator or stair bulkheads
              (including shafts or vestibules), provided the #aggregate width of street walls# of such bulkheads within 10 feet of
              a #street wall#, facing each #street# frontage, does not exceed 30 percent of the #street wall# width of the
              #building# facing such frontage;

       (2)    the aggregate area of such obstructions, including any screening, does not exceed 50 percent of the #lot coverage#
              of the #building# and the height of such obstructions shall not exceed 15 feet above the maximum permitted
              height, except where otherwise permitted by paragraph (3) of this Section;

       (3)    the aggregate area of such obstructions, including any screening, does not exceed 30 percent of the #lot coverage#
              of the #building# and the height of such obstructions shall not exceed:

               (i)   where the maximum permitted height of a #building# is 120 feet or lower, a height of 35 feet above the
                     maximum permitted height;

              (ii)   where the maximum permitted height of a #building# is greater than 120 feet, a height of 55 feet above the
                     maximum permitted height; and

       (4)    all equipment shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 26-60 (SPECIAL SCREENING AND
              ENCLOSURE PROVISIONS);
(c)    House of worship towers, ornamental, having no #floor area# in portion of tower penetrating such height limit or #sky
       exposure plane#;

(d)    #Qualifying rooftop greenhouses#, up to 25 feet in height, provided that such obstruction shall be located not less than
       six feet from the #street wall# of the #building#;

(e)    Spires or belfries;

(f)    Wind energy systems, #accessory# or as part of #energy infrastructure equipment#, on portions of #buildings# with a
       height of 100 feet or greater, provided:

       (1)     the highest point of the wind turbine assembly does not exceed 55 feet;

       (2)     no portion of the wind turbine assembly is closer than 10 feet to any #lot line#; and

       (3)     the diameter of the swept area of the rotor does not exceed 15 feet.