Township of Radnor, PA Article I General Provisions

§ 280-1 Purposes and objectives.

[Amended 4-10-1989 by Ord. No. 89-18; 11-14-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-20]

The purpose and objectives of this chapter are to promote, protect and facilitate each of the following: the public health, safety, morals and general welfare, coordinated community development, proper density of population, civil defense, the provision of adequate light and air, police protection, vehicle parking and loading space, transportation, water, sewerage, schools, public grounds and public requirements, as well as to prevent overcrowding of land, blight, danger and congestion in travel and transportation and loss of health, life or property from fire, flood, panic or other dangers, in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan for the Township, which sets forth the community development objectives and is the Comprehensive Plan for the Radnor Township.

§ 280-2 Interpretation.

In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, morals and general welfare. Where the provisions of this chapter impose greater restrictions than those of any other ordinance or regulation, the provisions of this chapter shall be controlling. Where the provisions of any statute, other ordinance or regulation impose greater restrictions than this chapter, the provisions of such statute, ordinance or regulation shall be controlling.

§ 280-3 Title.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Radnor Township Zoning Ordinance."

§ 280-4 Definitions and word usage.

A. Word usage. The singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular. The present tense shall include the future tense.

B. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless otherwise expressly stated. Applicable regulations stated in conjunction with these definitions shall be complied with.

ACCESSORY BUILDING or ACCESSORY STRUCTURE

A building or structure that is not a principal building or structure and is used for purposes that are entirely incidental and subordinate to those of the principal building or structure and located on the same lot. For the purposes of this chapter, structures such as but not limited to tennis courts, swimming pools, bathhouses, carports and garages shall be considered as "accessory structures." Setback measurements for swimming pools shall be from the outside edge of the pool foundation wall, coping or deck, whichever is closest to a property line or adjacent buildings, except that a ground level patio may extend from the coping of a swimming pool to the wall of the swimming pool owner's residence.

[Amended 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21]

ACCESSORY USE

A use of a building, structure or land that is not a principal permitted use but which is entirely incidental and subordinate to the principal permitted use on the same lot.

ALTERATIONS

Any change to any portion of a building or structure for the same or a different use.

BASE FLOOD ELEVATION

The one-hundred-year-flood elevation. Within the approximated floodplain, the base flood elevation shall be established as a point on the boundary of the approximated floodplain which is nearest to the construction site in question.

[Added 9-26-1977 by Ord. No. 77-24]

BASEMENT

Any area of the building having its floor below ground level on all sides.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

BED-AND-BREAKFAST HOME

An owner-occupied single-family house where short-term lodging rooms (guest rooms) with meals are provided for compensation.

[Added 2-27-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-01]

BED-AND-BREAKFAST USE

A portion of an owner-occupied single-family house dedicated solely to the bed-and-breakfast home operation, including, but not limited to, short-term lodging rooms (guest rooms), bathrooms, and common areas.

[Added 2-27-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-01]

BOAT

A vehicle for traveling in or on water, not exceeding 30 feet in body length, eight feet in width or 12 feet in overall height. Height includes the trailer, if the boat is mounted on a trailer.

[Added 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21]

BUFFER PLANTING STRIP

A strip of required yard space adjacent to the boundary of a property or district, not less in width than is designated in this chapter, which is landscaped for the full width and on which is placed a screen of sufficient density not to be seen through and of sufficient height to constitute an effective screen and give maximum protection and immediate visual screening to an abutting property or district. The required screen shall be permanently maintained and shall constitute a planting of dense evergreens or a compact evergreen hedge or, where otherwise specifically designated in this chapter, an appropriate wall, fence, suitable planting or combination thereof.

[Amended 3-25-1985 by Ord. No. 85-07]

BUILDING

Any structure having enclosing walls and roof, permanently located on the land. A vehicle built for living or camping purposes shall not be classified as a "building."

(1) DETACHED A building which has no party wall.

(2) SEMIDETACHED A building having one shared or party wall in common with an adjoining building.

(3) ATTACHED A building in a group of more than two buildings wherein there are two or more party walls in common with the adjoining buildings, provided that there are no more than eight such buildings in a group.

BUILDING AREA

The aggregate of the maximum horizontal cross-sectional areas of all buildings and structures on a lot above the ground level, measured at the greatest outside dimensions, excluding cornices, eaves, gutters, chimneys and steps, provided that they do not project more than two feet from the building.

BUILDING HEIGHT

The vertical distance from the average grade (the average of the grade taken at twenty-foot intervals around the building perimeter) to the top of the highest roof beams of a flat roof or to the mean level of a sloped roof, provided that chimneys and spires shall not be included in measuring the height. Elevator housing, stair towers and equipment penthouses, tanks and air conditioning towers shall not be included in measuring height for multifamily (greater than ten dwelling units), institutional, commercial, office or industrial buildings. Elevator housing, stair towers, railings and other residential structures shall be included in measuring height for single family dwellings, two-family dwellings or multifamily buildings of ten dwelling units or less, unless an accommodation to the height is required under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). The height shall be measured from finished grade, but such measurement shall not be made from a point higher than eight feet above original grade.

[Amended 8-19-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-04]

BUILDING LINE

The line within a lot delineating the minimum front yard setback.

[Amended 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21]

(1) BUILDING LINE (lot contiguous to a public or private street) A line parallel to the street right-of-way at a distance therefrom equal to the depth of the front yard setback required for the district in which the lot is located.

(2) BUILDING LINE (interior lot not contiguous for its full width on a public street or road) A line parallel to the street or road right-of-way at a distance from the property line nearest the street equal to the depth of the front yard required for the district in which the lot is located.

(3) BUILDING LINE (interior lot not contiguous for its full width on a private street) A line parallel to the street right-of-way at a distance from the property line nearest the street equal to the depth of the front yard setback required for the district in which the lot is located.

[Amended 7-17-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-17]

BUILDING PERMIT OFFICER

See "Enforcement Officer."

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

BUILDING, PRINCIPAL

The main building on a lot or any building that is not an accessory building. Each dwelling or apartment house in a residential development and each commercial, industrial or institutional building which houses a separate commercial, industrial or other enterprise or a group of permitted commercial or industrial uses shall be construed to be a principal building for the purpose of this chapter.

CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY

A statement signed by a duly authorized official setting forth that a building, structure or use legally complies with this chapter and that the same may be used for the purpose stated therein.

COMPLETELY DRY SPACE

A space which will remain totally dry during flooding; the structure is designed and constructed to prevent the passage of water and water vapor.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

DEVELOPMENT

Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to the construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair, expansion, or alteration of buildings or other structures; the placement of manufactured homes; streets and other paving; utilities; filling, grading and excavation; mining; dredging; drilling operations; storage of equipment or materials; and the subdivision of land.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

DORMITORY

A building or combination of buildings used for living quarters as an accessory use to a college, university, convent, monastery or other similar permitted uses within a Planned Institutional Zoning District.

[Added 6-26-1989 by Ord. No. 89-27]

DWELLING

(1) SINGLE-FAMILY A building on a lot, designed and occupied exclusively as a residence for one family.

(2) TWO-FAMILY A building on a lot, designed and occupied exclusively as a residence for two families living independently of one another.

(3) MULTIPLE-FAMILY or APARTMENT HOUSE A building on a lot, designed and used exclusively as a residence for three or more families living independently of one another.

(4) TOWNHOUSE A building containing three or more dwelling units with each dwelling unit designed and occupied exclusively as a residence for one family, having independent outside access, and attached to but separated from adjoining dwellings by not more than two party walls.

[Added 10-26-2020 by Ord. No. 2019-15]

DWELLING UNIT

A building or entirely self-contained portion thereof containing complete housekeeping facilities, including not more than one kitchen used exclusively for the residence of one family.

[Amended 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21][1]

ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

The Zoning Permit Officer, Building Permit Officer, or other individual appointed by the municipality to enforce these ordinances within the jurisdiction of the municipality.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

ESSENTIALLY DRY SPACE

A space which will remain dry during flooding, except for the passage of some water vapor or minor seepage; the structure is substantially impermeable to the passage of water.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

FAMILY

One or more persons occupying the same dwelling unit and living and cooking as a single housekeeping unit, said unit consisting only of individuals who are related by blood, marriage or otherwise by law, except that such unit may also consist of foster children and one other individual not related to others in the housekeeping unit. A family as herein defined specifically excludes individuals and groups occupying a boarding- or rooming house, lodging house, club, fraternity, dormitory, hotel or other similar living environment.

[Amended 8-11-1986 by Ord. No. 86-35; 6-26-1989 by Ord. No. 89-27; 5-14-1990 by Ord. No. 90-21]

FENCE or WALL

A structure designed to enclose a lot or a portion of a lot or to separate a lot from an adjoining lot or right-of-way.

[Amended 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21]

FLOODPLAIN CONSERVATION DISTRICT

The low area adjoining and including any water- or drainage course or body of water subject to a one-hundred-year-recurrence-interval flood, as delineated by the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) dated November 18, 2009, and shown on the FEMA floodplain maps, or the most recent revision thereof for the Township of Radnor, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, as prepared by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Emergency Management Agency. In addition, "floodplain conservation district" shall be defined to include all areas, not shown on the map, which, by hydrological profile analysis, are calculated to be inundated during a one-hundred-year frequency flood.

[Amended 9-26-1977 by Ord. No. 77-24; 1-2-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-08; 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

FLOODWAY

The designated area of floodplain required to carry and discharge floodwaters of a given magnitude. For the purposes of this chapter, the floodway shall be capable of accommodating a flood of the one-hundred-year magnitude.

[Added 11-27-1995 by Ord. No. 95-29]

FLOOR AREA

Eighty percent of the sum of the horizontal floor area(s) of a building or group of buildings on a lot, measured from the exterior faces of the building or from the center line of party walls separating two buildings.

[Amended 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21; 7-20-1999 by Ord. No. 99-24]:

GARAGE, PRIVATE

An accessory structure designed, built and used by the owner or tenant of the principal structure on a lot, in which no business, service or industry connected directly or indirectly with motor vehicles is conducted.

GARAGE, PUBLIC

A structure, which is not a private garage, used for the storage or parking of motor vehicles and not intended for the sale of gasoline or other flammable products.

[Amended 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21][2]

HELIPORT

An area to accommodate all phases of operation of rotor-wing aircraft (helicopters), with suitable space to allow development of service facilities as desired.

[Added 10-28-1974 by Ord. No. 1586]

HELISTOP

An area on a roof or on the ground to accommodate touchdown and lift-off of rotor-wing aircraft (helicopters) for the purpose of picking up and discharging passengers or cargo with no service facilities.

[Added 10-28-1974 by Ord. No. 1586]

HISTORIC STRUCTURE

Any structure that is:

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

(1) Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of the Interior) or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register;

(2) 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;

(3) Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or

(4) Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified either:

(a) By an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior; or

(b) Directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.

HOME OCCUPATION

An accessory use serving as a location for a business conducted solely by the resident of the dwelling unit, which is incidental and secondary to the residential use of the dwelling. A home occupation may include a home business or a home office for a resident who may work for another employer, provided that no food or material goods for sale may be located, publicly displayed or sold on the premises.

[Amended 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21; 7-25-1983 by Ord. No. 83-22; 3-25-1985 by Ord. No. 85-07; 10-26-1998 by Ord. No. 98-09]

HOTEL, MOTEL or INN

A building arranged or used for shelter and accommodation for compensation of more than 20 individuals.

HOTEL ROOFTOP DINING

The use of a rooftop area of a hotel by a licensed food establishment (restaurant) contained within the hotel for the consumption of food or beverages.

[Added 11-22-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-08]

IDENTIFIED FLOODPLAIN AREA

The floodplain area specifically identified in this chapter as being inundated by the one-hundred-year flood. Areas included are those identified as the Floodway (FW), Flood-Fringe (FF) and General Floodplain (FA).

[Added 11-27-1995 by Ord. No. 95-29]

IMPERVIOUS SURFACES

Surfaces that do not absorb rainwater. All buildings, parking areas, driveways, interior roads, sidewalks and areas of concrete and nonporous asphalt or other areas of a lot as determined by the Township Engineer. This definition shall not include any portion of a lot located within the street.

[Added 12-12-1977 by Ord. No. 77-33; amended 7-17-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-19]

INTERIOR LOT

A lot containing a narrow projecting segment which is the sole means of access from a street, with said segment having a minimum of 20 feet. Land which is subdivided or developed under this definition shall require that the front yard setback be increased by a factor of 1.4 over the minimum required for that district.

[Added 1-11-1988 by Ord. No. 88-03; amended 7-17-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-17]

INTERIOR LOT DEVELOPMENT

In any property subdivided under the provisions of Chapter 255, Subdivision of Land, of the Code of the Township of Radnor, the area of an interior lot shall not be less than two acres. The area of any portion of the access between the street and the interior lot line that is less than the required width for the zoning district cannot be included in determining the lot area.

[Added 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21; amended 7-17-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-17]

LAND DEVELOPMENT

[Added 10-22-1990 by Ord. No. 90-48]

(1) The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving a group of two or more residential or nonresidential buildings, whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential building on a lot or lots, regardless of the number of occupants or tenure; or the division or allocation of land or space, whether initially or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.

(2) A subdivision of land.

(3) Those activities described in Section 503(1.1) of the Municipalities Planning Code[3] shall not be considered land developments for purposes of this chapter.

LOT

A parcel of land on which a principal building or, where authorized in this chapter, a unified group of buildings and any accessory buildings are or may be placed, together with the required open spaces, such open spaces and the area and dimensions of such lot being not less than the minimum required by this chapter. The use of a lot for more than one principal building or for a unified group of buildings shall be considered as a subdivision, and the plan for any such use shall be subject to approval in accordance with Chapter 255, Subdivision of Land.[4]

LOWEST FLOOR

The lowest floor of the lowest fully enclosed area (including basement). An unfinished, flood-resistant partially enclosed area, used solely for parking of vehicles, building access, and incidental storage, in an area other than a basement area is not considered the lowest floor of a building, provided that such space is not designed and built so that the structure is in violation of the applicable nonelevation design requirements of this chapter.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

MANUFACTURED HOME

A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is built on a permanent chassis, and is designed for use with or without a permanent foundation when attached to the required utilities. The term includes park trailers, travel trailers, recreational and other similar vehicles which are placed on a site for more than 180 consecutive days.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

MANUFACTURED HOME PARK

A parcel of land under single ownership, which has been planned and improved for the placement of two or more manufactured homes for nontransient use.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

MOTOR VEHICLE SERVICE STATION

A lot with principal and accessory buildings used for the sale of gasoline, oil and motor vehicle accessories and the servicing of motor vehicles, including washing of cars and minor repairs, but not for body and fender work or painting.

MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE

The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968 as amended and reenacted by Act 170 of 1988, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., and any subsequent amendments thereto.

[Added 10-22-1990 by Ord. No. 90-48]

NEW CONSTRUCTION

Structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after, June 1, 1977, and includes any subsequent improvements thereto.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

NONCONFORMING BUILDING

A building or parts thereof lawfully existing at the time this chapter or subsequent amendments hereto became effective, which does not conform to the dimensional and setback requirements of the district in which it is located.

NONCONFORMING USE

A use of land or of a building lawfully existing at the time this chapter or subsequent amendments hereto became effective which does not conform to use requirements of the district in which it is located. Any change in nonresidential occupancy will be considered to be a change of nonconforming use under this chapter, specifically § 280-101A.

[Amended 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 97-12]

OUTDOOR DINING

A dining area with seats and tables located outdoors of a licensed food establishment (restaurant) that has indoor seating and which is located entirely outside the exterior walls of a building. These tables shall be used for the consumption of food and beverages.

[Added 4-8-2013 by Ord. No. 2012-09]

PARKING SPACE

An outdoor space or a garage space used for parking motor vehicles, which shall measure not less than nine feet six inches by 20 feet, accessible from a street, alley or driveway and surfaced with a Township-approved durable, dustproof and all-weather surface.

[Amended 5-12-1986 by Ord. No. 86-19]

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice published once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township. Such notice shall state the time and place of any hearing or meeting and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing or meeting. The first publication shall not be more than 30 days and the second publication shall not be less than seven days prior to the date of the hearing or meeting.

[Added 10-22-1990 by Ord. No. 90-48]

PUBLIC-SERVICE CORPORATION BUILDING, GROUNDS OR FACILITY

A building, grounds or facility used for a service furnished by a public-service or public-utility corporation.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLE

A vehicle which is built on a single chassis; not more than 400 square feet, measured at the largest horizontal projections; designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck; and not designed for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use.

[Added 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21; amended 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

REGULATORY FLOOD ELEVATION

The one-hundred-year flood elevation plus a freeboard safety factor of 1 1/2 feet.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

RIPARIAN BUFFER SETBACK

The measured distance from the edge of a pond or from the bank of a perennial or intermittent stream, as required for the zoning district in which the property on which said pond or stream is located.

[Added 12-8-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-22]

ROOMING HOUSE

A building which has a dwelling unit occupied by the owner and which has accommodations for not more than three roomers.

[Added 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21; amended 6-25-1984 by Ord. No. 84-16]

SANITARY LANDFILL

Solid waste disposal site where waste is spread in layers, compacted, and covered with soil or other cover materials each day to minimize pest, aesthetic, disease, air pollution, and water pollution problems.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

SATELLITE EARTH STATION

A dish antenna together with all attachments and parts, whose purpose is to receive communication or other signals from orbiting satellites or other extraterrestrial sources.

[Added 8-8-1988 by Ord. No. 88-23]

SIGN

Any device for visual communication that is used for the purpose of bringing the subject thereof to the attention of the public, but not including any flag, badge or insignia of any government or governmental agency or of any civil, charitable, religious, patriotic, fraternal or similar organization.

SINGLE AND SEPARATE OWNERSHIP OF A LOT

The ownership of a lot by one or more persons, partnerships or corporations, which ownership is separate and distinct from that of any abutting or adjoining lot.

STEEP SLOPE

Land whose slope (surfaces at an angle to the plane of the horizon) is 20% or more (a vertical difference of two feet or more per 10 feet of the horizontal distance).

[Added 12-12-1977 by Ord. No. 77-33; amended 7-17-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-18]

STREET

A strip of land, including the entire right-of-way, intended primarily as a means of vehicular and pedestrian travel, which may also be used to provide space for sewers, public utilities, shade trees and sidewalks.

[Added 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21]

(1) HALF STREET A street of less than the required right-of-way width.

(2) PUBLIC STREET Streets offered or required to be offered for dedication.

(3) PRIVATE STREET Streets, roads or lanes not offered or not required to be offered for dedication.

STRUCTURE

Anything constructed or erected on the ground or attached to the ground including, but not limited to, buildings, sheds, manufactured homes, and other similar items. This term includes any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water whether or not affixed to land.

[Amended 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21; 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

STUDENT

An individual who is enrolled or has made application and been accepted at a university, college or trade school and is taking at least six credit hours and whose primary occupation is as a student, or who is on a semester or summer break from studies at a college, university or trade school. The term "student" shall apply to both undergraduate and graduate students alike.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-10]

STUDENT HOME

A living arrangement for a maximum of two students as defined in this chapter. Student homes shall not include dormitories, fraternities, sororities, or apartment buildings. A "student home" includes a dwelling located off campus from any higher education facility or trade school in which students reside. "Student home" does not include the home of a student that is occupied solely by the student and his or her family members in an existing single-family home. A student home shall include any combination of graduate students, undergraduate students and/or trade school students living in the same dwelling unit.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-10]

SUBDIVISION

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 to heirs or devisees, transfer of ownership or building or lot development; provided, however, that the subdivision by lease of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres, not involving any new streets or easement of access or any residential dwelling, shall be exempted.

[Added 10-22-1990 by Ord. No. 90-48]

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.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT

Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the start of construction of the improvement. This term includes structures which have incurred substantial damage (or repetitive loss when a repetitive loss provision is used), regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

(1) Any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing violations of state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which have been identified by the local code enforcement official and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions; or

(2) Any alteration of an historic structure, provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as an historic structure.

TENANT HOUSE

An accessory building on a lot, used in whole or in part as a residence or sleeping place for one or more tenant farmers or employees of a farm or estate.

TOURIST HOUSE

A dwelling in which nightly or weekly accommodations are provided for transient guests for compensation.

[Amended 9-22-1980 by Ord. No. 80-21][5]

UNIFIED GROUP OF BUILDINGS

A cluster of two or more buildings on a lot containing separate but related main uses, which is designed as a single or common management and maintenance unit, with common open spaces, maintenance, service and other facilities and services. Example of a "unified group of buildings" is a shopping center in a Planned Laboratory-Office, Planned Business or a Planned Institutional District.

[Amended 7-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-13]

WETLANDS

Those areas that are inundated and saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency or duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, including swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas; or as further defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

[Added 10-15-1991 by Ord. No. 91-40; amended 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

YARD

The required open space area around the inner periphery of a lot, in which no principal building or structure shall be located. The area of the lot not required to be open space shall be called the buildable area of the lot.

(1) FRONT YARD The minimum open space extending the full width of the lot from the street line or, in the case of an interior lot, from the property line parallel or most nearly parallel to the street line on which said lot has frontage to any structure, principal, accessory or other, on a lot. This shall be exclusive of cornices, eaves, gutters and chimneys projecting not more than two feet from the building.

[Amended 1-11-1988 by Ord. No. 88-03]

(2) SIDE YARD The minimum open space required between each side lot line and any structure, principal, accessory or other, on a lot, extending from the building line to the minimum rear yard open space required on a lot, exclusive of cornices, eaves, gutters and chimneys projecting not more than two feet from the building.

(3) REAR YARD The minimum open space extending the full width of a lot, required between the rear line of the lot and the principal building on the lot, exclusive of cornices, eaves, gutters and chimneys projecting not more than two feet from the building.

(4) YARD REQUIREMENTS FOR CORNER LOTS In the case of a corner lot having frontages on two streets, there shall be provided two front yards, one along each street line as described under Subsection above, one side yard as described under Subsection (2) and one rear yard as described under Subsection (3). The rear lot line shall be designated as that lot line towards which the rear of the principal building is oriented.

ZONING PERMIT

A document issued by a governing authority permitting land to be used for a specific purpose.

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

ZONING PERMIT OFFICER

See "Enforcement Officer."

[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]

[1] Editor's Note: The definition of "earth station," as added 4-28-1980 by Ord. No. 80-05, which immediately followed this definition, was deleted 9-8-1980 by Ord. No. 80-20. See now the definition of "satellite earth station" in this section.

[2] Editor's Note: The definition of "head end," as added 4-28-1980 by Ord. No. 80-05, which immediately followed this definition, was deleted 9-8-1980 by Ord. No. 80-20.

[3] Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10503(1.1).

[4] Editor's Note: The former definition of "mobile home," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04.

[5] Editor's Note: The definition of "townhouse," as added 11-23-1981 by Ord. No. 81-28, which immediately followed this definition, was deleted 5-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-12.