See this link and also check with the permitting/ zoning/ code department who know for sure, but I believe generally you can build a detached garage to within 3' of the rear and side yard property lines. If you have a corner lot, the side yard set back for the area abutting the street may be slightly increased. Eave overhangs and certain other features are permitted within the 3' space.
I have copied some of the information for you and others to read.
You can build an elevated breezeway to connect a detached garage to a home, creating heated living space, light, safety, etc, without making more non-permeable square footage on the ground.
When you have your surveyor mark, have them mark the building location as well as an offset for the builder so that when they dig, they don't dig out the markers completely--there is still something left to measure from and be accurate.
Whatever you do, get your plans reviewed and approved early to avoid costly delays and make sure you are designing electrically safe, structurally safe, up-to-zoning code buildings.
GOOD LUCK
http://ww.charmeck.org/Planning/Zoni...yChapter12.pdf
Section 12.106. Uses and structures prohibited and allowed in required setbacks and yards.
(1) No principal building or principal structure shall be located within any setback or
yard required by these regulations except as provided in this Section and
elsewhere in these regulations.
(Petition No. 2002-13, § 12.106(2), 4/15/02)
(2) (a) No accessory structures, including architectural features, as cited in five
(5) below, shall be located within any setback or side yard required of
these regulations, or located within three (3) feet of a lot line in the
established rear yard. No accessory structure shall be located within any
established setback in any residential district, except as otherwise
provided. If an accessory structure exceeds a height of 24 feet in the
single-family, multi-family, urban residential and mixed use districts, it
must be located at least 15 feet from the rear and side property lines. In all
zoning districts, except as provided for in Section 12.108, if the accessory
structure exceeds the height of the principal structure, it must meet the
minimum side yard of the principal structure and be located at least 15 feet
from the rear property line. In addition, no accessory structure, excluding
the square footage of an accessory dwelling unit shall exceed the total
square footage of the heated area located on the first floor of the principal
structure.
(Petition No. 2009-079, § 12.106(2)(a), 1/19/10)
PART 1: SUPPLEMENTAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
(Petition No2011-038, § 12.106(2),07/18/11)
Accessory dwelling units shall comply with the yard requirements and size
limits prescribed in Section 12.407. In the RE-1, RE-2, and BP districts, a
security gate or guard station may be located within the required setback.
Piers, docks, and other water-dependent accessory structures may be
located in any required setback or yard on lots, which abut a body of
water. A fence, wall, mailbox, utility pole, light-pole, or patio at grade,
paths, walkways, or berm may be located in any required setback or yard.
Signs may be located in a required setback or yard provided that they are
in accordance with Chapter13 of these regulations. Bus stops shelters may
be located in any setback or yard, which abuts a street in accordance with
Section 12.513
(Petition 2012-067A,§12.106(2a), 07/16/2012)
(Petition No2011-038, § 12.106(2),07/18/11)
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), above ground structures
(other than a back-flow preventer) connected to and associated with
underground electric, natural gas, telecommunications or cable television
distribution lines, pipes, or conduits may be located in the setback subject
to the following:
i. A structure of a dimension that does not exceed four (4) feet in
width, four (4) feet in length, or three (3) feet in height may be
located no closer than two (2) feet to the existing or proposed
right-of-way based on the street classification and no closer than
ten (10) feet to the back of the curb line or edge of pavement.
ii. A structure of a dimension that does not exceed four (4) feet in
width, eight (8) feet in length, or six (6) feet in height may be
located no closer than ten (10) feet to the existing or proposed road
right-of-way based on the street classification.
The dimension restrictions contained in subsections (b)(i) and (ii) shall not
apply to structures located in the setback prior to April 1, 2003.
This subsection shall not apply in the UR-1, UR-2, UR-3, UR-C, MUDD,
UMUD, PED, RE-3, TOD, or TS zoning districts and shall not constitute a
regulation of utilities in the right-of-way.
(Petition No. 2004-128, § 12.106(2), (b), 2/21/05)
(Petition No. 2011-018, § 12.106(2), (b), 05/23/11)
(c) Above-ground structures located in a setback, side yard, or rear yard
pursuant to this section are subject to the sight requirements of Section 14-
16 of the City Code.
(Petition No. 2002-121, § 12.106(2), (a),(b),(i), (ii),(c), 4/21/03)
(d) Heating, ventilation, or air conditioning equipment are considered to be
part of a structure and shall not be located in any setback, sight distance
triangle, or required buffer or screening. Heating, ventilation, or air
conditioning equipment may encroach into the required side yard or rear
yard by no more than 50 percent of the required yard.
Petition No. 2010-078, § 12.106(2), (d), 2/21/11)
(3) Certain portions of the required rear yard on a lot used for a single family
(attached or detached) duplex, triplex, and quadraplex, may be utilized for
attached garages, porches, decks, greenhouses, covered patios and utility room
extensions of the principal structure in accordance with the following restrictions
and as illustrated in Figure 12.106:
(Petition No. 2006-117, § 12.106(3), 10/18/06)
(a) No more than 20% of the area of the required rear yard may be used to
accommodate extensions of the principal structure for attached garages,
porches, decks, greenhouses, covered patios, or utility rooms;
(b) No such extension may encroach into the rear yard more than 25% of the
depth of the required rear yard; and
(c) No such extension may be more than 50% of the width of the dwelling at
the rear building line.
These extensions must observe the same side yard or building separation
as that required for the principal structure. If any portion of the required
rear yard is used to accommodate an extension of the principal structure as
allowed by this Section, no more than 15% of the remaining required rear
yard may be occupied by any detached accessory structure.
(4) No outdoor storage of goods and materials or refuse containers shall be located
within any required setback, or within any required side yard which abuts a street,
except for the temporary placement of refuse containers for curbside pick-up in
residential districts.
5) In respect to a principal structure, architectural features such as cornices, eaves,
steps, gutters, and fire escapes may project up to three feet into any required yard,
unless they would obstruct driveways, which might be used for service and
emergency vehicles. This does not apply to accessory structures.
(Petition 2002-13, § 12.106(5), 4/15/02)
(6) A breezeway is a covered passageway with open sides connecting a single family
principal use and an accessory use. The sides of the breezeway shall be open
except for structural support columns, meet the minimum yard standards for
accessory structures, and be located to the rear or side of the principal structure.
A breezeway connection between a single family home and related accessory
structure is allowed provided the following design standards are met:
(a) The width of the breezeway shall not exceed 6 feet between structural
supports.
(b) The breezeway height shall not exceed 15 feet, measured from average
grade to the highest part of the structure.
(c) Walkways are not permitted on the roof of a breezeway.
(d) The breezeway shall be included in the maximum building coverage
calculations (see Table 9.205(1)(i).
(Petition 2011-059, § 12.106(6), 10/17/11)
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