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Township of Harrison, PA
Allegheny County
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[Ord. 1944, 11/23/2009]
A map entitled "Harrison Township Zoning Map" is hereby adopted as part of this Chapter.[1] The Zoning Map shall be kept on file available for examination at the office of the Township Secretary in the Township Municipal Building.
[1]
Editor's Note: A copy of the Zoning Map is included at the end of this Chapter.
[Ord. 1944, 11/23/2009]
The Township is divided into the districts stated in this Chapter as shown by the district boundaries on the Zoning Map. These districts are:
C-1
Conservation
R-1
Single-Family Residential
R-2
Two-Family Residential
R-3
Special Residential
S-1
Special
B-1
Business
M-1
Light Manufacturing
M-2
Manufacturing
V
Village
[Ord. 1944, 11/23/2009]
District boundaries shown within the lines of roads, streams, and transportation rights-of-way shall be deemed to follow the center lines. The vacation of roads shall not affect the location of such district boundaries. When the Zoning Officer cannot definitely determine the location of a district boundary by such center lines, by the scale of dimensions stated on the Zoning Map, or by the fact that it clearly coincides with a property line, he shall refuse action, and the Zoning Hearing Board, upon appeal, shall interpret the location of the district boundary with reference to the scale of the Zoning Map and the purposes set forth in all relevant provisions of this Chapter.
[Ord. 1944, 11/23/2009]
The permitted uses for each district are shown on the following Table of Permitted and Conditional Uses (§ 205). Uses given in the following categories shall be according to the common meaning of the term or according to definitions given in Part 6. Any use unnamed in Table 205 of this Chapter but substantially similar to a use listed in Table 205 shall be available in the same district as such listed use by way of a conditional use, provided that all of the requirements of this Part applicable to the listed use are met. Uses not listed in Table 205 or substantially similar to a use listed in Table 205 shall be considered as conditional uses in the M-2 district, except in those cases where such use is determined by the Zoning Officer to constitute an accessory use at the lot in question.
[Ord. 1944, 11/23/2009; as amended by Ord. 1946, 9/27/2010]
The Board of Township Commissioners may authorize conditional uses as specified in the following Table of Permitted and Conditional Uses if the provisions of Part 4 are met.
Permitted Uses
Conditional Uses
C-1 Conservation District
Public parks and playgrounds
Single-family houses (§ 408.43)
Cemeteries
Churches (§ 408.11)
Country clubs
Deep mining of coal, and facilities directly related thereto such as openings, tipples and washing facilities (§ 406)
Agriculture
Major excavations
No-impact home-based business
Communication towers in accordance with the requirements of § 312 and Part 4 of this Chapter
Nurseries and greenhouses
Utility and storage buildings (§ 408.48)
Forestry
Kennel (§ 408.28)
As an accessory use, communication antennas mounted on existing structures
Outdoor recreation (§ 408.34)
Fire station
Satellite dish antenna (§ 408.39)
Public building (§ 408.11)
Public utility building (§ 408.36)
Home occupation (§ 408.26)
Bed and breakfast (§ 408.6)
Personal care facility (§ 408.10), provided that (1) the use is conducted in a building formerly used for school purposes; and (2) the number of residents shall not exceed 65 persons. As long as more than 65% of the former school building is in active use, then this use may be conducted in an additional building whether attached to or separate from the former school building.
[Added by Ord. 1976, 1/22/2015]
Day-care center (§ 408.19), provided that (1) the use is conducted primarily in a building formerly used for school purposes; and (2) the number of residents shall not exceed 65 persons. As long as more than 65% of the former school building is in active use, then this use may be conducted in an additional building whether attached to or separate from the former school building.
[Added by Ord. 1976, 1/22/2015]
Commercial day-care facility — adult (§ 408.14), provided that (1) the use is conducted primarily in a building formerly used for school purposes; and (2) the number of adults being cared for at any one time shall not exceed 50 persons. As long as more than 65% of the former school building is in active use, then this use may be conducted in an additional building whether attached to or separate from the former school building.
[Added by Ord. 1976, 1/22/2015]
Long-term care facility (§ 408.10), provided that (1) the use is conducted primarily in a building formerly used for school purposes; and (2) the number of patients shall not exceed 50 persons. As long as more than 65% of the former school building is in active use, then this use may be conducted in an additional building whether attached to or separate from the former school building.
[Added by Ord. 1976, 1/22/2015]
Senior living community (§ 408.41), provided that (1) the use is conducted primarily in a building formerly used for school purposes; (2) the number of residents shall not exceed 65 persons in an assisted living facility or 65 persons in an independent living facility. As long as more than 65% of the former school building is in active use, then this use may be conducted in an additional building whether attached to or separate from the former school building.
[Added by Ord. 1976, 1/22/2015]
R-1 Single-Family Residential District
Single-family houses
Cemeteries (§ 408.9)
Academic school
Hospitals and clinics (§§ 408.12 and 408.27)
Public parks and playgrounds
Public buildings or structures (§ 408.11)
Churches
Country clubs (§ 408.18)
Forestry
Affiliated boarding facilities (§ 408.1)
No-impact home-based business
Preschool facility (§ 408.19)
Fire station
Heliport/helipad (only as accessory use to a hospital) (§ 408.25)
Home occupation (§ 408.26)
Bed and breakfast (§ 408.6)
Satellite dish antenna (§ 408.39)
R-2 Two-Family Residential District
Single-family houses
Hospitals and clinics (§§ 408.12 and 408.27)
Two-family houses
Public utility buildings or structures (§ 408.36)
Three- or four-family house (§ 408.52)
[Added by Ord. 1953, 9/22/2011]
Academic school
Public buildings (§ 408.11)
Public parks and playgrounds
Affiliated boarding facilities (§ 408.1)
Churches
Preschool facility (§ 408.19)
Forestry
Home occupation (§ 408.26)
No-impact home-based business
Bed-and-breakfast (§ 408.6)
Fire station
Satellite dish antenna (§ 408.39)
Heliport/helipad (only as accessory use to a hospital) (§ 408.25)
R-3 Special Residential District
Single-family houses
Hospitals and clinics (§§ 408.12 and 408.27)
Two-family houses
Public utility buildings or structure (§ 408.36)
Academic schools
Public buildings (§ 408.11)
Public parks and playgrounds
Offices and financial institutions (§ 408.32)
Churches
Child-care facilities (§ 408.10)
Forestry
Day-care center (§ 408.19)
No-impact home-based business
Long-term care facilities (§ 408.10)
Multifamily house
Personal care home (§ 408.10)
Fire station
Domiciliary homes (§ 408.10)
Automobile dealership (§ 408.4)
Affiliated boarding facilities (§ 408.1)
Boardinghouses (§ 408.10)
Funeral homes (§ 408.23)
Halfway house (§ 408.10)
Satellite dish antenna (§ 408.39)
Bed-and-breakfast (§ 408.6)
Heliport/helipad (only as accessory use to a hospital) (§ 408.25)
Mobile home park (§ 308)
Home occupation (§ 408.26)
Preschool facility (§ 408.19)
V Village
Public parks and playgrounds
Utility and storage buildings (§ 408.48)
No-impact home-based business
Home occupation (§ 408.26)
Forestry
Bed-and-breakfast (§ 408.6)
As an accessory use, communication antennas mounted on existing structures
Outdoor recreation (§ 408.34)
Fire station
Public building (§ 408.11)
Single-family house
Public utility building (§ 408.36)
Churches
Hospitals and clinics (§§ 408.12 and 408.27)
Two-family houses
Preschool facility (§ 408.19)
Multifamily houses
Offices and financial institutions (§ 408.32)
Funeral homes
Child-care facilities (§ 408.10)
Satellite dish antenna (§ 408.39)
Commercial school (§ 408.16)
Retail stores (§ 408.38)
Eating and drinking places (§ 408.21)
Service shops (§ 408.38)
Theaters (§ 408.46)
Commercial recreation place (§ 408.15)
Car wash (§ 408.8)
Gasoline stations (§ 408.24)
Mobile business quarters (§ 408.29)
Day-care center (§ 408.19)
Senior living community in accordance with the requirements of §§ 305, 310 and § 408.41
S-1 Special District
Single-family houses
Outdoor recreation (§ 408.34)
Academic school
Group homes (§ 408.10)
Public parks and playgrounds
Motel or hotel (§ 408.30)
Churches
Mobile business quarters (§ 408.29)
Funeral homes
Satellite dish antenna (§ 408.39)
No-impact home-based businesses
Preschool facility (§ 408.19)
Nurseries and greenhouses
Bed-and-Breakfast (§ 408.6)
Forestry
Kennel (§ 408.28)
Commercial schools
Public building (§ 408.11)
Fire station
Public utility building (§ 408.36)
Senior living community (§ 408.41)
School bus depot meeting the criteria stated in § 27-317
[Added by Ord. No. 2009, 9/23/2019]
B-1 Business District
Retail stores
Research and development (§ 408.37)
Eating and drinking places
Wholesale businesses (§ 408.50)
Service shops
Mobile business quarters (§ 408.29)
Tavern or bar
Day-care center (§ 408.19)
Theaters
Communication towers in accordance with the requirements of § 312 and Part 4 of this chapter
Offices
Financial institutions
Senior living community in accordance with the requirements of §§ 305, 310 and § 408.41
Automobile sales
Satellite dish antenna (§ 408.39)
Automobile service and repair
Motels or hotels
Commercial school
Commercial recreation place
Public utility building or structure
Public parking facilities
Public buildings
Animal hospitals
Car wash
Funeral homes
Gasoline stations
Planned shopping center
Fire station
Forestry
As an accessory use, communication antennas mounted on existing structures
Amusement arcade
Automobile dealership
Gasoline station/convenience store
Medical marijuana dispensary, subject to § 316
[Added by Ord. 1992, 2/27/2017[1]]
M-1 Light Manufacturing District
Gasoline station/convenience store
Airport or aircraft landing area (§ 408.2)
Light manufacturing
Heliport/helipad (§ 408.25)
Research and development
Oil and gas wells (§ 408.33)
[Amended by Ord. 1967, 5/22/2014]
Offices
Storage facilities (excluding dangerous, hazardous material) (§ 408.45)
Warehouse
Automobile dealership (§§ 408.4 and 408.4.1)
Wholesale business
Gasoline station/convenience store (§ 408.24)
Supply yards
Communication towers in accordance with the requirements of § 312 and
Truck terminals
Part 4 of this Chapter
Public utility buildings or structure
Satellite dish antenna (§ 408.39)
Public buildings
Natural gas compressor stations and natural gas processing plants, provided that such stations or plants may not be primarily powered by diesel, oil or gasoline-generated power
[Added by Ord. 1951, 9/22/2011]
School bus depot
[Added by Ord. No. 2009, 9/23/2019]
Fire station
Forestry
Industrial parks (§ 407)
As an accessory use, communication antennas mounted on existing structures
Medical marijuana grower/processor
[Added by Ord. 1992, 2/27/2017]
M-2 Manufacturing District
Light manufacturing
Public buildings (§ 408.11)
Manufacturing
Public utility buildings or structure (§ 408.36)
Truck terminals
Airport or aircraft landing area (§ 408.2)
Warehouse
Automobile salvage (§ 408.5)
Supply yards
Heliport/helipad (§ 408.25)
Fire station
Industrial waste and hazardous waste facilities (§ 408.49)
Forestry
Sexually oriented businesses (§ 408.42)
Mills
Oil and gas wells (§ 408.33)
[Amended by Ord. 1967, 5/22/2014]
As an accessory use, communication antennas mounted on existing structures
Prisons (§ 408.35)
Sawmills (§ 408.40)
Sewage treatment facilities (§ 408.49)
Storage facilities (excluding dangerous, hazardous material) (§ 408.45)
Waste disposal, treatment or transfer facilities (§ 408.49)
Communication towers in accordance with the requirements of § 312 and
Part 4 of this Chapter
Satellite dish antenna (§ 408.39)
Slaughterhouse (§ 408.44)
Natural gas compressor stations and natural gas processing plants, provided that such stations or plants may not be primarily powered by diesel, oil or gasoline-generated power
[Added by Ord. 1951, 9/22/2011]
School bus depot
[Added by Ord. No. 2009, 9/23/2019]
Medical marijuana grower/processor
[Added by Ord. 1992, 2/27/2017]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Section IE of this ordinance provided: "The amendments in this Ordinance do not, and are not intended to, exempt any conduct from, or create a legal defense to, otherwise applicable provisions of state or federal law."
[Ord. 1944, 11/23/2009]
1. 
The minimum lot area, minimum width of lot, minimum depth of front yard, and minimum width of each side yard for each district shall be as shown on the following table:
District
Lot Area
(square feet)
Area/Family
(square feet)
Lot Width
(feet)
Front Yard Depth
(feet)
Side Yard Depth
(feet)
Rear Yard
(feet)
C-1
40,000
40,000
150
40
20
20
R-1
8,000
8,000
60
25
10
20
R-2
5,000
2,500
50
20
8
20
R-3
4,000
2,000
40
15
3
20
S-1
10,000
3,000
100
30
20
20
B-1
5,000
3,000
50
50
0
25
M-1
40,000
50
50
M-2
400,000
50
50
50
V
Residential uses shall have the same lot and yard requirements as the R-3 District.
V
Nonresidential uses shall have the same lot and yard requirements as the B-1 District.
A. 
Lots which abut on more than one street shall provide the required front yards along every street.
B. 
All structures, whether attached to the principal structure or not, and whether open or enclosed, including porches, carports, balconies, or platforms above normal grade level, shall not project into any minimum front, side or rear yard.
C. 
Any lot of record existing at the effective date of this Chapter and then held in separate ownership different from the ownership of adjoining lots may be used for the erection of a structure conforming to the use regulations of the district in which it is located, even though its area and width are less that the minimum requirements of this Chapter.
D. 
Nonresidential structures or uses shall not be located or conducted closer to any lot line of any other lot in any R District, or the lot line of a residential use in the V District, than the distance specified in the following schedule:
Minimum Side or Rear Yard Abutting Any Lot in Any R District or Any Lot Containing a Residential Use in the V District
Use
20 feet
Off-street parking spaces and access drives for nonresidential uses
40 feet
Churches, schools and public or semiprivate structures
70 feet
Recreation facilities, entertainment facilities, motels, all business uses, and all industrial uses
2. 
Where another Section of this Chapter imposes a minimum yard or buffer distance greater than that imposed in this Section, the greater distance shall apply.
3. 
Requirements for Certain R-2 District Three- and Four-Family Houses.
[Added by Ord. 1953, 9/22/2011]
A. 
In the R-2 District, within a unified development on a parcel of at least 10 acres, the following yard and lot requirements shall apply for three- or four-family houses in lieu of the minimum lot area, lot width and side yard depth requirements listed in the Table at § 206:
(1) 
Minimum lot area per unit: 2,500 square feet.
(2) 
Minimum lot width per unit: 24 feet.
(3) 
Minimum side yard depth for interior units: zero feet. End units remain subject to the existing eight-foot requirement.
B. 
For the purposes of this section, a "unified development" means that the entire development was reviewed as a whole during the course of a subdivision and/or conditional use approval.
[Ord. 1944, 11/23/2009]
1. 
No structure shall exceed 45 in height above average ground level unless approved by the Zoning Hearing Board; except that no part of the lights or light standards may exceed a height of 60 above ground level for the following specified uses: football, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and rugby, unless approved by the Zoning Hearing Board.
2. 
The Board may authorize a variance to the height regulations in any district if:
A. 
All front, side, and rear yard depths are increased one foot for each additional foot of height; or
B. 
The structure is any of the following and does not constitute a hazard to an established airport: television and radio towers, church spires, belfries, monuments, tanks, water and fire towers, stage towers and scenery lofts, cooling towers, ornamental towers and spires, chimneys, elevator bulkheads, smokestacks, conveyors, and flagpoles.
[Ord. 1944, 11/23/2009]
The gross floor area for any single-family home in any district shall not be less than 800 square feet.
[Ord. 1944, 11/23/2009]
Any nonmobile or nontemporary structure or improvement in any business district must be permanently affixed to the ground.