Packet: Tiffin City Council Work Session (09/15/2026)

CHAPTER 165 ZONING REGULATIONS 24. Words beginning with “X” 25. Words beginning with “Y” A. “Yard” means an open space between a building and the adjoining lot lines unoccupied and unobstructed by any portion of a structure. In measuring a yard to determine the width of a side yard, the depth of a front yard, or the depth of the rear yard, use the minimum horizontal distance between the lot lines and the main building line. (1) “Yard, front” means a front yard extends across the front of a lot and is measured by the minimum horizontal distance between the street or place line and the main building other than uncovered steps. On corner lots, the front yard is parallel to the street upon which the lot has its least dimension, except where owner elects to front his building on a street parallel to the lot line having the greater dimension. (2) “Yard, rear” means a rear yard extends across the rear of a lot and is the required minimum horizontal distance between the rear lot line and the rear of the main building line other than uncovered steps. In all lots, the rear yard is in the rear of the front yard. (3) “Yard, side” means a yard between the main building line and the side line of the lot, and extending from the required front yard to the required rear yard, and being the minimum horizontal distance between a side lot line and the side of the main building line or any projections of uncovered steps. B. “Yard, accessory” means an open space between an accessory building and the adjoining lot lines unoccupied and unobstructed by any portion of a structure. In measuring a yard to determine the width of a side- accessory yard, the depth of a front-accessory yard, or the depth of the rear- accessory yard, use the minimum horizontal distance between the lot lines and the accessory building line. (1) “Yard, front-accessory” means the area extending across the front of a lot and is measured by the minimum horizontal distance between the street or place line and the accessory building other than uncovered steps. On corner lots, the front-accessory yard is parallel to the street upon which the lot has its least dimension, except where the owner elects to front their building on a street parallel to the lot line having the greater dimension. (2) “Yard, rear-accessory” means the yard that extends across the rear of a lot and is the required minimum horizontal distance between the rear lot line and the rear of the accessory building line other than uncovered steps. In all lots with accessory buildings, the rear- accessory yard is in the rear of the front-accessory yard. (3) “Yard, side-accessory” means the yard that is between the accessory building line and the side line of the lot, and extending from the required front-accessory yard to the required rear-accessory yard and being the minimum horizontal distance between a side lot CODE OF ORDINANCES, TIFFIN, IOWA - 1484 -