[Ord. 74-2, 7/2/1974]
1. 
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meaning herein indicated:
A. 
The singular includes the plural.
B. 
The word "person" includes a corporation or other entity as well as an individual.
C. 
The word "lot" includes the word "plot" or "parcel."
D. 
The term "shall" is always mandatory.
E. 
Words used in the present tense shall include the future.
F. 
The word "used" or "occupied" as applied to any land or building shall be construed to include the words "intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied."
G. 
The word "see" when used in connection with making a reference to another section of this chapter shall mean that the referred to section shall be deemed to be included to and added in the section where the word "see" is used, as though said referred to section were fully set forth thereto, unless the use of the word "see" and the reference made to other sections of the chapter clearly indicate otherwise."
H. 
When a series of definitions is given, the same shall be construed consistently, wherever possible and, if they cannot be construed consistently, shall be construed as being given in the alternative.
[Ord. 74-2, 7/2/1974; as amended by Ord. 75-1, 1/6/1975; by Ord. 82-1, 2/17/1982; by Ord. 82-3, 2/19/1982; by Ord. 82-4, 4/6/1982; by Ord. 82-5, 7/6/1982; by Ord. 83-2, 2/8/1983; by Ord. 1985-1, 9/3/1985; by Ord. 1986-3, 10/7/1986; by Ord. 1994-9, 12/6/1994, § I; and by Ord. 11.2.04, 11/2/2004]
100-YEAR FLOOD
A flood that on the average is likely to occur once every 100 years, i.e., that has one-percent chance of occurring each year, although the flood may occur in any year.
ACCESSORY USE
A use customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal use or building or structure and located on the same lot with such principal use or building, but separate from the principal structure.
ADULT BOOKSTORE
Includes any store, establishment or business or commercial enterprise that engages in the sale of books, commonly denoted "adult books" which shall be regarded as being books that have as their main or central theme any appeal to the prurient interest without any redeeming social value. Any such business or enterprise selling said books, shall be included in the term "adult bookstore."
ADULT THEATER
Includes any theater or other business or commercial activity that shows any film that would commonly be noted as an "adult film" which shall be regarded as being a film that would have as its main or central theme any appeal to the prurient interest without any redeeming social value. Any such business or enterprise shall be included herein in the word "adult theater."
ALLEY
A public thoroughfare which affords only a secondary means of access to abutting property and not intended for general traffic circulation.
ALTERATIONS
As applied to a building or structure, means a change or rearrangement in the structural parts or in the exit facilities, or an enlargement, whether by extending on a side or by increasing in height, or the moving from one location or position to another.
ALTERATIONS, STRUCTURAL
Any change in the support members of a building such as bearing walls, columns, beams, or girders.
APARTMENT HOUSE
A building arranged, intended or designed to be occupied by three or more families living independently of each other.
APARTMENT, CONVERSION
A dwelling altered by converting an existing dwelling into apartments for two or more families without substantially altering the exterior of the building.
APPLICANT
A landowner or developer, as hereinafter defined, who has filed an application for development including his heirs, successors and assigns.
APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
Every application, whether preliminary or final, required to be filed and approved prior to start of construction or development including, but not limited to, an application for a building permit, for the approval of a subdivision plat or plan or for the approval of a development plan.
AREA, BUILDING
The total of areas taken on a horizontal plane at the main grade level of the principal building and all accessory buildings, exclusive of uncovered porches, terraces and steps.
AREA, NET SITE
The total area within the property lines excluding external streets.
AUTO COURT
A building or group of buildings, whether detached or in connected units, used as individual sleeping or dwelling units designed primarily for transient automobile travelers and providing for accessory off-street parking facilities. The term "auto court" includes buildings designated as tourist courts, motor lodges, motels and similar appellations.
BASEMENT
A story partly underground but having at least 1/2 of its height above the average level of the adjoining ground. A basement shall be counted as a story for the purposes of height measurement if the vertical distance between the ceiling and the average level of the adjoining ground is more than five feet or if used for business or dwelling purposes.
BERM
That portion of a street lying on either side of the cartway between the edge thereof and the adjacent road ditch, intended primarily for stopping and parking purposes.
BOARDING HOUSE
Any dwelling in which more than three persons, either individually or as families, are housed or lodged for hire with or without meals. A rooming house and a dormitory shall be deemed a boarding house.
BUILDING
A. 
Any structure having a roof and intended for occupancy, or the shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals or chattel.
B. 
A combination of materials forming a structure and having walls and a roof, including all mobile home and trailers intended for human occupancy or habitation or other storage or protective purposes.
BUILDING LINE
That line established by the required minimum setback from the street right-of-way for buildings and/or structures for the district involved. The building line shall be the point at which the lot width shall be measured.
BUILDING, ACCESSORY
A subordinate building or a portion of the main building on a lot, the use of which is customarily incidental to that of the main or principal building.
BUILDING, DETACHED
A building surrounded by open space on the same lot.
BUILDING, FRONT LINE OF
The line of that face of the building nearest the front line of the lot. This face includes sun parlors, covered porches and covered patios, whether enclosed or unenclosed but does not include steps.
BUILDING, HEIGHT OF
The vertical distance measured from the average elevation of the finished grade at the front of the building to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs, to the deck line of mansard roofs, and to the mean height between eaves and ridge for gable, hip and gambrel roofs.
BUILDING, PRINCIPAL
A building in which is conducted the principal use of the lot on which it is located.[1]
CAMPING AREA
An area for camping limited to the lot owner and a limited number of guests.
[Added by Ord. No. 04.10.2018.01, 4/10/2018]
CAMPING-GROUND
A parcel of land used or intended to be used, let or rented for occupancy by campers or for occupancy by or of trailers, tents or movable or temporary dwellings, rooms or sleeping quarters of any kind.
CARPORT
See "garage, private."
CARTWAY
That portion of a street which is improved, designated, or intended for vehicular use.
CELLAR
A story partly underground and having more than 1/2 of its clear height below the average level of the adjoining ground. A cellar shall not be considered in determining the permissible number of stories.
CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE
An area of unobstructed vision at street intersections. It is defined by lines of sight between points at a given distance from the intersection of the street center lines.
CONCENTRATED AGRICULTURE
Any agriculture use that fits within the definition of COA or CAFO as defined in the Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Act as may be amended from time to time.
CONDITIONAL USE
A use which may be permitted in one or more zoning districts upon the recommendation of the Township Planning Commission to the Board of Township Supervisors who may grant approval pursuant to certain standards and criteria and the provisions of this chapter.
COUNTY
The County of Lycoming, Pennsylvania.
COURT
An unoccupied open space, other than a yard, on the same lot with a building, which is bounded on two or more sides by the walls of such building.
COURT, INNER
A court enclosed on all sides by exterior walls of a building, or by exterior walls and lot lines on which walls are allowable.
COURT, OUTER
A court enclosed on not more than three sides by exterior walls and lot lines on which walls are allowable, with one side or end open to a street, driveway, alley or yard.
COVERAGE
That percentage of the plot or lot area covered by the area of all buildings on the lot.
CUL-DE-SAC
A relatively short dead end street with a turnaround provided.
CURB LEVEL
The officially established grade of the curb in front of the mid-point of the lot.
CUT
An excavation. The difference between a point on the original ground and a designated point of lower elevation on the final grade. Also, the material removed in excavation.
DEVELOPER
Any landowner, agents of such landowner or tenant with the permission of such landowner, who makes or causes to be made a subdivision of land or a land development.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, the placement of mobile homes, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling operations, or the storage of materials and equipment.
DOG KENNEL
The keeping of more than three dogs that are more than six months old.
DORMITORY
See "boarding house."
DUMP
A lot or land or part thereof used primarily for the disposal by abandonment, dumping, burial, burning or any other means and for whatever purpose, of garbage, sewage, trash, refuse, junk, discarded machinery, vehicles or part thereof, or waste material of any kind.
DWELLING
A building designed or used for residential occupancy as the living quarters for one or more families. The terms "dwelling," "one-family dwelling," "multiple dwelling," "two-family dwelling," or "dwelling group" shall not be deemed to include automobile court, rooming house, tourist home, motel, or hotel.
DWELLING UNIT
A building or portion thereof providing complete housekeeping facilities for one family.
DWELLING, GROUP
A group of two or more one-family, two-family or multiple dwellings occupying a lot in one ownership and having any yard in common.
DWELLING, MULTIPLE
A building used or designed as a residence for three or more families living independently of each other and doing their own cooking therein, including apartment houses, apartment hotels, condominium, and group houses.
DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY
A building designed for or occupied exclusively by one family.
DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY DETACHED
A building accommodating but a single-family and having two side yards.
DWELLING, SEASONAL
A dwelling not used year-round or not designed for year-round use.
[Added by Ord. No. 04.10.2018.01, 4/10/2018]
DWELLING, TOWNHOUSE
A dwelling, the walls on two sides of which are in common with the walls of adjoining dwellings and are party or lot line walls. No structure shall contain more than 12 units.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY
A building designed specifically for or occupied exclusively by two families living independently of each other and of one-story or two-story design.
EASEMENT
A right-of-way granted for the limited use of land for public or quasi-public purposes.
ELECTRIC SUBSTATION
An assemblage of equipment for purposes other than generation or utilization, through which electric energy in bulk is passed for the purpose of switching or modifying its characteristics to meet the needs of the general public.
EROSION
The removal of surface materials by the action of natural elements.
EXCAVATION
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar material is dug into, cut quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced, relocated or bulldozed, and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.
EXISTING MOBILE HOME PARK
A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two or more mobile home lots for rent or sale, for which construction of facilities for servicing the lot on which the mobile home is to be affixed (including at a minimum the installation of utilities, either final site grading or the pouring of pads or sites and construction of structures) is completed before the effective date of this chapter amendment.
FAMILY
One or more persons who live together in a common household. May consist of a single person or two or more persons, related by blood, marriage, or adoption. May also include domestic servants and gratuitous guests.
FARM
Any parcel of land containing at least 10 acres which is used in the raising of agriculture products, livestock, poultry and dairy products. It includes necessary farm structures within the prescribed limits and the storage of equipment used. It excludes the raising of fur bearing animals, riding academies, livery or boarding stables and dog kennels.
FILL
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other material is placed, pushed, dumped, pulled, transported or moved to a new location above the natural surface of the ground or on top of the stripped surface and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom. The difference in elevation between a point on the original ground and a designated point of higher elevation on the final grade. The material used to make a fill.
FLOOD
A temporary inundation of normally dry land areas.
FLOOD FRINGE
That portion of the one-hundred-year floodplain outside the floodway, excluding areas shown as approximated one-hundred-year flood zones on Hepburn Township's Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps.
FLOOD-PRONE AREA
Same as "floodplain."
FLOODPLAIN
A. 
A relatively flat or low land area adjoining a river, stream, or watercourse, which is subject to partial or complete inundation;
B. 
An area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source;
C. 
An area subject to mudslides caused by accumulation of water on or underground;
D. 
Same as "general floodplain."
FLOODPROOFING
Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures which reduces or eliminates flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures, and their contents.
FLOODWAY
The designated area of a floodplain as shown on Hepburn Township's Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps required to carry and discharge a flood of a one-hundred-year frequency without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot at any point.
FLOOR AREA OF A BUILDING
The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of a building and its accessory buildings on the same lot, excluding cellar and basement floor areas not devoted to business or dwelling purposes but including the area of roofed porches and roofed terraces. All dimensions shall be measured between exterior faces of walls.
FLOOR AREA RATIO OF A BUILDING
The quotient of the sum of all the floor area of a building divided by its lot area.
FLOOR AREA, HABITABLE
The aggregate of the horizontal areas of all rooms used for habitation, such as living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom, but not including hallways, stairways, cellar, attics, service rooms or utility rooms, bathroom, closets, nor unheated areas such as enclosed porches, nor rooms without at least one window or skylight opening onto an outside yard or court. At least 1/2 of the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of not less than seven feet and the floor area of that part of any room where the ceiling height is less than five feet shall not be considered as part of the habitable floor area. The minimum total window area, measured between stops shall be 10% of the habitable floor area of such room.
FREEBOARD
A factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood level for purposes of floodplain management. "Freeboard" tends to compensate for the many unknown factors that could contribute to flood heights greater than the height calculated for a selected size flood and floodway conditions, such as wave action, bridge openings, and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed.
GARAGE, PRIVATE
An enclosed or partly enclosed space for the storage of one or more motor vehicles, provided that no business, occupation or service is conducted for profit therein nor space therein for more than one car is leased to a nonresident of the premises. For the purposes of this chapter, the term "private garage" shall include the term "carport."
GARAGE, PUBLIC
Any garage not a private garage, and which is used for storage, parking, repair, rental, servicing or supplying of gasoline or oil to motor vehicles.
GENERAL FLOODPLAIN
That portion of the floodplain area for which no special flood profiles exist and which is designated as approximated area on Hepburn Township's Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps.
GOVERNING BODY
The Board of Supervisors of Hepburn Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
GRADE, ESTABLISHED
The elevation of the center line of the streets as officially established by the municipal authorities.
GRADE, FINISHED
The completed surfaces of lawns, walks and roads brought to grades as shown on official plans or designs relating thereto.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
A. 
Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of Interior) or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register.
B. 
Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district.
C. 
Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of Interior.
D. 
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified either:
(1) 
By an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior; or,
(2) 
Directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.
HOME OCCUPATION
A home occupation is a use entirely within a dwelling or accessory building that is clearly incidental and secondary to the principal residential use provided the following are met:
A. 
That no external alterations or structural changes are necessary.
B. 
The occupation does not produce offensive noise, vibrations, heat, dust or other objectionable conditions.
C. 
No outside storage is required.
D. 
No more than 25% of the gross area of a dwelling unit is used for such purpose.
E. 
Not more than one nonoccupant is employed.
F. 
Adequate off-street parking provided.
G. 
Does not alter in any material way the character of the property as essentially a residence.
HOSPITAL
A place for the diagnosis, treatment, or other care of humans and having facilities for inpatient care including such establishments as a sanatorium, sanitarium, and preventorium.
HOTEL
A building containing rooms intended or designed to be used or which are used, rented or hired out to be occupied or which are occupied for sleeping purposes by transient guests and where only a general kitchen and dining room are provided within the building or in an accessory building.
HOUSE TRAILER
See "recreation vehicle."
JUNKYARD
See "scrapyard."
LAND DEVELOPMENT
A. 
The improvement of one or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
(1) 
A group of two or more buildings; or
(2) 
The division or allocation of land between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of, streets, common areas, leaseholds, building groups or other features;
B. 
A division of land into lots for the purpose of conveying such lots singly or in groups to any person, partnership or corporation for the purpose of the erection of buildings by such person, partnership or corporation.
LANDOWNER
The legal or beneficial owner or owners of land including the holder of an option or contract to purchase (whether or not such option or contract is subject to any condition), a lessee having a remaining term of not less than 40 years, or other persons having a proprietary interest in land, shall be deemed to be a landowner for the purposes of this chapter.
LAUNDROMAT
A business premises equipped with individual clothes washing machines for the use of retail customers, exclusive of laundry facilities provided as an accessory use such as in the case of an apartment house.
LINE, STREET
The dividing line between the street right-of-way and the lot.
LODGING HOUSE
A building in which three or more rooms are rented and in which meals are not served.
LOT
Land occupied or to be occupied by a building and its accessory buildings, or by a dwelling group and its accessory buildings, together with such open spaces as are required under the provisions of this chapter, having not less than the minimum area and width required by this chapter for a lot in the district in which such land is situated, and having its principal frontage on a street or on such other means of access as may be determined in accordance with the provisions of law to be adequate as a condition of the issuance of a zoning or building permit for a building on such land.
LOT LINES
The lines bounding a lot as defined herein.
LOT OF RECORD
A parcel of land held in single and separate ownership described by a recorded deed or other legal instrument which may or may not conform to the minimum regulations required herein.
LOT, CORNER
A parcel of land at the junction of, and fronting on, two or more intersecting streets.
LOT, INTERIOR
A lot other than a corner lot.
LOT, THROUGH
An interior lot having frontage on two parallel or approximately parallel streets.
MOBILE HOME
A. 
A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for human occupancy, office or place of assembly contained in one unit, or in two units designed to be joined into one integral unit capable of again being separated for repeated towing, which arrives at a site complete and ready for occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations, and constructed so that it may be used without a permanent foundation.
B. 
In floodplain areas only, "mobile home" shall include any park trailer, travel trailer, recreational vehicle or other similar vehicle which is placed on a site for more than 180 days or for a period of at least 30 consecutive days.
C. 
For purposes of this chapter a mobile home shall not include park trailers, travel trailers, recreational vehicles, or other similar vehicles.
MOBILE HOME LOT
A parcel of land for the placement of a single mobile home and the exclusive use of its occupants.
MOBILE HOME PARK
A parcel of land under a single ownership which has been planned and improved for the placement of mobile homes for nontransient use.
MUNICIPALITY
The Township of Hepburn, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after February 17, 1982, and includes any subsequent improvements thereto.
NO-IMPACT HOME-BASED BUSINESS
A business or commercial activity administrated or conducted as an accessory use which is clearly secondary to the use as a residential dwelling and which involves no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pickup, delivery or removal functions to or from the premises, in excess of those normally associated with residential use. (See § 27-633, Subsection 1.)
NONCONFORMING USE
A structure or land lawfully occupied by a use that does not conform to the regulations of the district in which it is situated.
NURSING OR CONVALESCENT HOME
Any structure containing sleeping rooms where persons are housed or lodged and furnished with meals and nursing care.
OPEN SPACE
A space, not occupied by a structure, open to the sky and on the same lot with the building or structure.
PARKING SPACE
The area required for parking one automobile, which in this chapter is held to be an area of not less than 180 square feet, nine feet wide and 20 feet long, plus space for access and passageways.
PERMANENT PRIVATE STREETS
A street serving a minor subdivision, which is intended to remain permanently as a private street without being accepted, maintained or developed by the Township in any way and which shall not be offered for dedication by the developer nor offered or proposed or requested to become a public street by any person or entity in any matter.
PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
An area of land, controlled by a landowner, to be developed as a single entity for a number of dwelling units, the development plan for which does not correspond in lot size, bulk or type of dwelling, density, lot coverage and required open space to the regulations established in any one residential district created, under the provisions of a municipal zoning ordinance.
PLANNING COMMISSION OR AGENCY
The Hepburn Township Planning Commission.
PLAT
The map or plan of a subdivision or land development, whether preliminary or final.
A. 
Preliminary. A tentative plan indicating the proposed layout of a subdivision prepared by the subdivider for submission to the Planning Commission for its consideration.
B. 
Final. A complete and exact plan of subdivision which is presented to the Planning Commission for approval and thence to the Board of Supervisors for final approval, and when approved, will be submitted by the subdivider to the Recorder of Deeds of Lycoming County for recording in accordance with law.
PREMISES
Any lot, parcel or tract of land and any building constructed thereon.
PRINCIPALLY ABOVE GROUND
At least 51% of the actual cash value of the structure, less land value, is above ground.
PRIVATE ACCESS DRIVE
A driveway consisting of an easement or lot extension serving not more than one lot and having a width of at least 20 feet, but less than 50 feet.
PRIVATE STREETS
All streets, roads or highways that have not been accepted by appropriate Township resolution as a public street or otherwise made a public street by court order or by statute of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This term shall include those streets defined herein as a permanent private street.
PUBLIC GROUNDS
Includes:
A. 
Parks, playgrounds and other public areas.
B. 
Sites for schools, sewage treatment, refuse disposal and other publicly-owned or operated facilities.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice given of not more than 30 days and not less than 14 days in advance of any public hearing required by law. Such notice shall be published once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township of Hepburn, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Such notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing.
QUARRY, SAND PIT, GRAVEL PIT, TOP SOIL STRIPPING
A lot or land or part thereof used for the purpose of extracting stone, sand, gravel or top soil for sale or for processing into a product for sale, and exclusive of the process of grading a lot preparatory to the construction of a building.
RECREATION VEHICLE
Any portable or mobile vehicle used or designed to be used for travel, recreation and/or living purposes; and with its wheels, rollers, or skids in place. A recreation vehicle shall include trailer, airplane or other similar vehicle providing partial and usually temporary living and sleeping quarters and which may or may not include kitchen and bathroom conveniences.
RECREATION VEHICLE PARK
A tract of land where:
A. 
Two or more recreation vehicles are parked.
B. 
Which is used or held out for the purpose of supplying to the public a parking space for two or more recreational vehicles.
RESIDENTIAL HOTEL
A dwelling mostly occupied by permanent guests and not by transients. It may include restaurants, newsstands and other accessory services primarily for serving its occupants and only incidentally the public.
RIDING ACADEMY
Any establishment where horses are kept for riding, driving or stabling for compensation or incidental to the operation of any club, association, ranch or similar establishment.
RUNOFF
The surface water discharge or rate of discharge of a given watershed after a fall of rain or snow that does not enter the soil but runs off the surface of the land.
SANITARIUM, SANATORIUM
A private hospital, whether or not such facility is operated for profit.
SCRAPYARD
A lot, land or structure, or part thereof, used primarily for the collecting, storage or sale of waste paper, rags, scrap metal or discarded material; or for the collecting, dismantling, storage or salvaging of machinery or thereof. Such uses shall be classified as industrial.
SEDIMENTATION
The process by which mineral or organic matter is accumulated or deposited by moving wind, water, or gravity. Once this matter is deposited (or remains suspended in water), it is usually referred to as "sediment."
SERVICE STATION, AUTOMOTIVE
Any area of land, including structures thereon, that is used or designed to be used for the supply of gasoline or oil or other fuel for the propulsion of motor vehicles and which may include facilities used or designed to be used for polishing, greasing, washing, dry cleaning or otherwise cleaning or servicing such motor vehicles. Automotive parts may be sold.
SIGN
Any structure or device for visual communication that is used for the purpose of bringing the subject thereof to the attention of the public. "Sign" shall include, but not be limited to, any identification, description, illustration, structure or device which is visible from any public place and which draws attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, entity, institution, business, profession, commodity or entertainment. "Sign" shall also include, but not be limited to, any solicitation or the presentation and display of any emblem, painting, banner, pennant, placard or other structure or device whether played temporarily or permanently, to advertise, identify or convey information. "Sign" shall not include national, governmental, religious or corporate flags.
A. 
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING DEVICEAny outdoor sign, light, figure, painting, drawing, message, plaque, poster, billboard or other structure or device which is designed, intended or used to advertise or inform or to draw attention to the subject of the same. As used throughout this chapter, the word "sign" shall include an outdoor advertising device, unless the same is specifically excluded.
B. 
ON-PREMISES SIGNA sign which carries only messages strictly incidental to the lawful use of the premises on which the sign is located. Such sign may include, but not be limited to, messages including the business transacted, services rendered, goods sold or produced or activities conducted on the premises; the name of the business, name of the person, firm or corporation occupying the premises.
C. 
OFF-PREMISES SIGN or OFF-SITE SIGNA sign, the subject of which need not necessarily be limited to a message or communication strictly incidental to the lawful use of the premises upon which it is erected, but may refer to subject matter or activities which are not carried out upon nor incidental to the use of the premises upon which the sign is erected.
D. 
SIGN AREAThe area of a sign shall be measured by the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle, or combination thereof which will encompass the entire sign. Sign area shall be inclusive of any border and trim, but shall not include the base or apron, supports, or other structural members.
SKETCH PLAN
A plan submitted at the option of the applicant, usually a freehand drawing of any idea for a proposed subdivision and land development; which may show the layout of streets, lots, and other pertinent features. It is advisable that it be drawn on a general topographic or tax map.
SLOPE
The face of an embankment or cut section; and ground whose surface makes an angle with the plane of the horizon. Slopes are usually expressed in a percentage based upon vertical difference in feet per 100 feet of horizontal distance.
SOIL STABILIZATION
Chemical or structural treatment of a mass of soil to increase or maintain its stability or otherwise to improve its engineering properties.
SPECIAL EXCEPTION
A special use in one or more districts granted by the Zoning Hearing Board pursuant to certain specified conditions and the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27].
SPECIAL PERMIT
A special approval which is required for hospitals, nursing homes, jails, new mobile home parks, substantial improvements to existing mobile home parks, and emergency response facilities when such development is located entirely or partially within a designated one-hundred-year floodplain.
STABLE, PRIVATE
A building in which one or more horses are kept for private use and not for hire, remuneration or sale.
STABLE, PUBLIC
A building in which one or more horses are kept for remuneration, hire or sale.
STORY
That portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it, or if there be no floor above it, then the space between any floor and ceiling next above it.
STORY, HALF
A story under a gable, hop or gambrel roof, the wall plates of which on a least two opposite exterior walls are not more than two feet above the floor of such story.
STREET, GRADE
The officially established grade of the street upon which a lot fronts or in its absence the established grade of other streets upon which the lot abuts, at the mid-point of the frontage of the lot thereon. If there is no officially established grade, the existing grade of the street at such mid-point shall be taken as the street grade.
STREETS
Street includes street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway, parkway, lane, alley, viaduct, and any other ways used or intended to be used by vehicular traffic or pedestrians whether public or private and for the purposes of this chapter shall be classified as follows:
A. 
ARTERIAL STREETSThose which are used primarily for through, fast or heavy traffic.
B. 
COLLECTOR STREETSThose which carry traffic from minor streets to the major system of arterial streets, including principal entrance streets of a residential development and streets for major circulation within such developments.
C. 
MINOR STREETSThose which are used primarily for access to the abutting properties. These may be primarily access to homes in which case they will be minor residential streets.
D. 
MARGINAL ACCESS STREETSMinor streets which are parallel to and adjacent to arterial streets and which provide access to abutting properties and protection from through traffic.
E. 
ALLEYSMinor ways which are used primarily for vehicular service access to the back or the side of properties otherwise abutting on a street.
F. 
REVERSE FRONTAGE STREETA minor street that provides access to lots that would otherwise front on an arterial street. With the introduction of a reverse frontage street, the lots front on the minor street with the rear lot lines along the arterial.
STRUCTURE
Anything constructed or erected, the use of which demands a location on the soil, or attachment to something located in or on the soil. A structure shall also include any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
SUBDIVIDER
Person, copartnership or corporation, who or which owns land in the Township and for which a land subdivision application is filed and processed under the provisions of this chapter.
SUBDIVISION
A. 
The division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court for distribution for heirs or devises, transfer of ownership or building or lot development; provided, however, that the division of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres, not involving any new street or easement of access, shall be exempted;
B. 
Any development of parcel of land or plan thereof, which involves the installation of streets or alleys or both, whether or not proposed for dedication, and any development of land for a shopping center, or for multiple dwellings.
(1) 
MAJOR SUBDIVISIONAny subdivision involving five or more lots, parcels of land or other divisions of land whether or not they involve new streets, additional utilities or other facilities immediate or future.
(2) 
MINOR SUBDIVISIONAny subdivision involving not more than five lots, parcels of land or other divisions of land which abut a street of sufficient width and does not require a new street, the installation of sanitary sewers, storm sewers, water mains, or pipes, or other facilities, except that a subdivision otherwise qualifying as a minor street or streets are required, provided that the plans as submitted to the Planning Commission contain the same street detail as required for major subdivisions unless a degree of lesser detail is accepted by the Planning Commission.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
Damage from any cause sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would equal or exceed 50% or more of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
Any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure either (A) before the improvement or repair is started or (B) if the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. For purposes of this definition "substantial improvement" is considered to occur when the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of the building commences whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure. The term does not include either (1) any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing state or local health sanitary, or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions or (2) any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a state inventory of historic places.
SWALE
A low-lying stretch of land which gathers or carries surface water runoff.
TELEPHONE CENTRAL OFFICE or TELEPHONE EXCHANGE BUILDING
A building and its equipment erected and used for the purpose of facilitating transmission and exchange of telephone messages between subscribers and other business of the telephone company.
THEATER, MOVING PICTURE
A building or part of a building devoted to the showing of moving pictures on a paid admission basis.
THEATER, OUTDOOR DRIVE-IN
An open lot or part thereof, with its appurtenant facilities, devoted primarily to the showing of moving pictures or theatrical productions, on a paid admission basis, to patrons seated in automobiles or on outdoor seats.
TOP SOIL
Surface soils and subsurface soils which presumably are fertile soils and soil material, ordinarily rich in organic matter or humus debris. Top soil is usually found in the uppermost soil layer called the "A Horizon."
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
A map showing the elevations of the ground by contours or elevations.
TOURIST CABINS
A group of buildings, including either separate cabins or a row of cabins which:
A. 
Contain living and sleeping accommodations for transient occupancy.
B. 
Have individual entrances.
TOURIST HOME
A dwelling in which overnight accommodations are provided or offered for transient guests for compensation.
TOWNSHIP
Hepburn Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER
A duly registered professional engineer employed by the Township or engaged as a consultant thereto.
TRAILER
See "recreation vehicle."
USE
The specific purpose for which land or a building is designed, arranged, intended, or for which it is or may be occupied or maintained. The term "permitted use" or its equivalent shall not be deemed to include any nonconforming use.
VARIANCE
A modification of the regulations of the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27] granted by the Zoning Hearing Board on the grounds of practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship, not self-imposed, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
WATERCOURSE
A permanent stream, intermittent stream, river, brook, creek, or a channel or ditch for water whether natural or man-made.
WINDOW
An opening to the outside other than a door which provides all or part of the required natural light, natural ventilation or both to an interior space. The glazed portion of a door in an exterior wall may be construed to be a window.
YARD
An unoccupied space, open to the sky, on the same lot with a building or structure.
YARD, FRONT
A yard extending the full width of the lot and situated between the street right-of-way line and the required setback line projected to the side lines of the lot. The depth of the front yard shall be measured between the required setback line and the street right-of-way line.
YARD, REAR
A yard extending the full width of the lot and situated between the rear line of the lot and situated between the rear line of the lot and the line establishing the required rear yard projected to the side lines of the lot. The depth of the rear yard shall be measured between the rear line of the lot, or the adjacent right-of-way line of the alley or street if there be an alley or street, and the line establishing the rear yard.
YARD, SIDE
A yard situated between the line establishing the required side yard area and adjacent side line of the lot and extending from the front yard to the rear yard. Any required yard not a rear yard or a front yard shall be deemed a side yard.
YARDS, CORNER LOT
Corner lots have two front yards, one side yard and one rear yard.
[1]
Editor’s Note: The former definition of "camp," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed by Ord. No. 04.10.2018.01, 4/10/2018.