Watertown City Council to Vote on Garage Setback, Clear View Triangle Rules
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council will hold a second reading and vote on Ordinance No. 26-32 during its regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, aiming to resolve conflicts between the city's clear view triangle rules and recent garage setback allowances.
According to a memo from City Manager Alan Stager, recent amendments to Title 21 allowed detached garages to be built with nine-foot setbacks when opening perpendicular to an alley, and four-foot setbacks when opening parallel to an alley. However, the city’s existing 25-foot clear view triangle requirement still applied to all public rights-of-way, including alleys, effectively preventing property owners from utilizing those permitted setbacks.
To address the inconsistency, Ordinance No. 26-32 establishes specific clear view triangle measurements for alley and driveway or garage access intersections:
· Garage opening toward the alley: The clear view triangle will be measured nine feet from the point of intersection.
· Garage opening away from the alley: The clear view triangle will be measured four feet from the point of intersection.
The ordinance includes an exemption stating that the clear view triangle will not prohibit a structure from being located within 25 feet of a property line when the applicable zoning district specifically permits that location.
The amendment also clarifies the general clear view triangle rules for intersections, which remain at 25 feet. The ordinance prohibits visual obstructions between 36 inches and 10 feet within any required clear view triangle.
To maintain consistency across city code, the ordinance update’s clear view triangle references in several other chapters, including:
· Fences: Fences located within a clear view triangle cannot exceed thirty-six inches in height.
· Sign Regulations: Prohibited signs, off-premises billboards, freestanding signs, and temporary signs cannot encroach upon a required clear view triangle.
· Parking and Storage: Outdoor storage, off-street parking, and parking lot screening must comply with clear view triangle requirements.
· Landscaping: Perimeter tree placement must account for clear view triangles.
The Watertown Planning Commission voted 6-0 to recommend approving the amendment on Sept. 10, 2026, after an initial review in August. If the council approves it on Monday, the ordinance will take effect on Oct. 28, 2026.
