How much of my lot can I build on?

**Twenty-five percent of your lot.** The Accessory Building Regulations put it firmly: the maximum lot coverage by the total of all structures on a property shall not exceed 25 percent of the total square footage of the lot **under any circumstances**.

Freeman Township's Zoning Ordinance sets the same 25 percent maximum lot coverage by all buildings in the Single Family Residential district.

**"All structures" means all of them.** House, garage, shed, pole barn, boat house — added together. Not 25 percent for the house and another 25 percent for outbuildings.

**Lot coverage** is defined in the Accessory Building Regulations as the part or percent of the lot occupied by buildings or structures, including accessory buildings and structures.

Some arithmetic to make it concrete. On a 10,000 square foot lot, 25 percent gives you 2,500 square feet of total footprint for everything. On a 6,000 square foot lot — not unusual here — you have 1,500 square feet total. A 1,200 square foot house leaves 300 square feet for every other structure combined.

**A second, separate limit on accessory buildings.** An accessory building that does not exceed one story or 14 feet in height may occupy **no more than 25 percent of the required rear yard**. That is a different test from the lot coverage figure, and both have to be satisfied.

If you are close to the limit, work out your total footprint before you design. It is far cheaper than redesigning later.

*Source: Lake of the Pines Accessory Building Regulations (6/8/2025), items 2 and 6; Freeman Township Zoning Ordinance No. 8, Table 1.*