The Richton Park Village Board has acted to trim by several weeks the bureaucratic process confronting homeowners who want to build decks behind their houses.
A ordinance unanimously passed by the Village Board will allow owners of homes constructed near their property’s rear setback line to add up to 200 square feet of deck behind their homes.
Such decks will require only a permit from the village’s Building Department. Under the previous ordinance, the homeowner needed a zoning variance that could take several weeks to process because it required review by the Planning and Zoning Commission and then approval by the Village Board.
The deck additions must be at least 5 yards from the sidelot lines and 10 feet from the rear lot line.
“This ordinance is being responsive to the homeowners who have large homes on small lots,” said Building Commissioner Joe Commerford.
