A. 
Word usage. Words used in the present tense include the future: the singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular; the words "building," "structure," "lot," "land" and "premises" shall be construed as though followed by the words "or any portion thereof"; and the word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory. Words not defined herein shall have the meaning given in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, Third Edition. Uses listed in the Table of Use Regulations[1] under the classes "Retail and Service" trades and "Wholesale and Manufacturing" trades shall be further defined by the Standard Industrial Classification Manual published by the United States Bureau of the Census.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Table of Area Regulations is included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms and words shall have the meanings given herein:
ABANDONMENT
The visible or otherwise apparent intention of an owner to discontinue a nonconforming use of a building or premises, or the removal of the characteristic equipment or furnishings used in the performance of the nonconforming use without their replacement by similar equipment or furnishings, or the replacement of the nonconforming use or building by a conforming use or building.
AGRI-TOURISM FARM
An agricultural-based operation or activity that brings visitors to a working farm of a minimum of 15 acres for recreation, entertainment, or educational purposes. Activities may include hay rides; petting zoo; destination mazes; tours; workshop; seminars; picnicking; and children play areas. Activities shall not include camping; hunting; apparatus typically associated with amusement parks; or the operation of motorized go-carts or bikes (exclusive of hay and tractor rides).
[Added 5-4-2010 ATM, Art. 15]
ALTERATION
Any construction, reconstruction or other action resulting in a change in the structural parts or height, number of stories, size, use or location of a building or other structure.
BED-AND-BREAKFAST INN
An owner-occupied dwelling unit that contains no more than four guest rooms where lodging, with or without meals, is provided for compensation.
[Added 10-22-1996 ATM, Art. 22]
BOARD
The Board of Appeals of the Town of Northbridge, Massachusetts.
BUILDING
A combination of any materials, whether portable or fixed, having a roof, to form a structure for the shelter of persons, animals or property. For the purposes of this definition, "roof" shall include an awning or any similar covering, whether or not permanent in nature.
BUILDING, ACCESSORY
A detached subordinate building, the use of which is customarily incidental and subordinate to that of the principal building and which is located on the same lot as that occupied by the principal building, except with regards to buildings accessory to scientific research, development or related production, which do not have to be located on the same parcel as the principal use.
COMMERCIAL RECREATION, EXERCISE AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES
An indoor and/or outdoor facility providing for dance studio, athletic field operations, game courts, physical fitness, exercise equipment, locker rooms, jacuzzi and/or sauna and pro shop. Specifically excluding racetrack operations, nightclubs, pool halls, shooting range, game arcades, paintball, laser tag and similar recreational simulations.
[Added 6-15-2004 ATM, Art. 25]
COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Premises owned and operated by a governmental or other chartered nonprofit organization, but not including fraternal, sports or similar membership organizations.
CONTRACTOR'S YARD
Premises, other than a construction site on which a building permit is in force, used by a building or construction contractor or subcontractor, or any other tradesman or landscaper, principally for storage of equipment and supplies, fabrication of subassemblies, and parking of equipment used by such contractor, subcontractor, other tradesman or landscaper, whether conducted inside or outside of a building.
[Added 5-3-2016 ATM, Art. 27]
DRIVE-IN ESTABLISHMENT
A premises in which persons while in cars are served, view, purchase and/or consume, as appropriate, food, movies, goods, materials or equipment.
DRIVEWAY, LEGAL SERVICE
An open space located on a private lot, which is not more than 24 feet in width, built for access to a private garage or off-street parking space.
DWELLING, MULTIFAMILY
A building containing three or more dwelling units.
DWELLING UNIT
One or more living or sleeping rooms arranged for the use of one or more individuals living as a single housekeeping unit, with cooking, living, sanitary and sleeping facilities.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance by public utilities or governmental agencies of underground or overhead gas, electrical, steam or water transmission or distributing systems or collection, communications, supply or disposal system, including poles, wires, mains, drains, sewers, pipes, conduits, cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, hydrants and other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith, but not including buildings necessary for the furnishing of adequate service by such public utilities or governmental agencies for the public health or safety or general welfare.
FAMILY
One or more persons, including domestic employees, occupying a dwelling unit and living as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit.
FLOOR AREA, NET
The sum of the areas of the several floors of a building, measured from the exterior faces of the walls. It does not include cellars, unenclosed porches or attics not used by human occupancy or any floor space in accessory buildings or in the main building intended and designed for the parking of motor vehicles in order to meet the parking requirements of this chapter, or any such floor space intended and designed for accessory heating and ventilating equipment.
FRONTAGE
The length of the line dividing a lot from the right-of-way of the street on which it abuts. Lot frontage shall be measured continuously along the street right-of-way line between the side lot lines.
[Added 5-1-2001 ATM, Art. 18]
HEIGHT
The vertical distance from the adjacent ground to the top of the structure or highest roof beams of a flat roof or to the mean level of the highest gable or slope of a hip roof.
HISTORIC INN
A structure or group of structures, listed individually or as part of a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, used or designed for overnight lodging, conference, functions and/or meetings and which may also provide a restaurant and accessory retail sales to lodgers and the public.
[Added 6-17-2003 ATM, Art. 20]
HOME OCCUPATION
Accessory use of a residential premises in accordance with the provisions of § 173-13 herein.
[Amended 1-23-1996 STM, Art. 11]
HOTEL/MOTEL
A building intended and designed primarily for transient or overnight occupancy, divided into separate units within the same building, with or without public dining facilities.
[Added 1-23-1996 STM, Art. 11]
INFECTIOUS WASTE
Infectious waste or physically dangerous medical or biological waste as defined by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Regulation 310 CMR 16.00, 310 CMR 19.00 and the Department of Public Health, State Sanitary Code 105 CMR 480.000.
[Added 9-23-2003 ATM, Art. 1]
INFECTIOUS WASTE TRANSFER STATION
A handling facility where Infectious waste is brought, stored, and/or transferred from one vehicle or container for storage and/or transport off-site to another transfer station or processing facility or for ultimate treatment and/or disposal.
[Added 9-23-2003 ATM, Art. 1]
INFECTIOUS WASTE PROCESSING FACILITY
A facility where Infectious Waste is brought, stored, and/or processed in order to render it non-infectious solid waste or otherwise inert.
[Added 9-23-2003 ATM, Art. 1]
LOADING SPACE
An off-street space used for loading or unloading and which is not less than 14 feet in width, 45 feet in length and 14 feet in height and containing not less than 1,300 square feet, including both access and maneuvering area.
LODGING, BOARDING OR ROOMING HOUSE
A building containing more than two rooms for semipermanent residence (longer than one week) not having cooking facilities and not shared as a single housekeeping unit. Accommodations having individual cooking facilities shall be considered as separate dwelling units. The term "lodging, boarding or rooming house" shall not include bed-and-breakfast inns, nursing homes, dormitories, apartments, motels, hotels, congregate housing or the renting of rooms accessory to a dwelling.
[Added 10-22-1996 ATM, Art. 22[2]]
LOT
An area or parcel of land, not including water area, in the same ownership, or any part thereof designated by its owner or owners as a separate lot. For purposes of this chapter, a "lot" may or may not have boundaries identical with those recorded in the Worcester County Registry of Deeds.
LOT, CORNER
A lot at the point of intersection of and abutting on two or more intersecting streets, the angle of intersection of the street lot lines, or in the case of a curved street, extended lot lines, being not more than 135°.
LOT DEPTH
The mean horizontal distance between the front lot line and the rear lot line.
LOT LINE, FRONT
The property line dividing a lot from a street. On a corner lot or through lot, only one street shall be considered as a front line. However, the street frontage on both abutting streets shall comply with the minimum frontage requirement.
[Amended 5-4-1999 ATM, Art. 22]
LOT LINE, REAR
The lot line opposite the front lot line, except that in the case of a corner lot, the owner shall have the option of choosing which of the two lot lines which are not street lines is to be considered the "rear lot line."
LOT LINE, SIDE
Any lot line not a front or rear lot line.
LOT, NONCONFORMING
A lot lawfully existing at the effective date of this chapter or any subsequent amendment thereto, which is not in conformity with all provisions of this chapter.
LOT, THROUGH
An interior lot, the front and rear lot lines of which abut streets; or a corner lot, two opposite lines of which abut streets.
LOT WIDTH
The horizontal distance between the side lot lines as measured at the street line and the required front yard depth, which may or may not coincide with the actual front setback line.
MEMBERSHIP CLUB
A building used to house a nonprofit social, sports or fraternal association or organization and which is used exclusively by members and their guests and usually contains bar facilities.
MOTION-PICTURE ESTABLISHMENT
Structure or use primarily for the showing of motion-picture films, including drive-in movie establishments.
OWNER
The duly authorized agent, attorney, purchaser, devisee, trustee or any person having a vested or equitable interest in the use, structure or lot in question.
PARKING SPACE
An off-street space having an area of not less than 200 square feet, plus access and maneuvering space, whether inside or outside a structure, for exclusive use as a parking stall for one motor vehicle.
PUBLIC UTILITY
A structure or use by a public-service corporation.
RECORDED
Recorded in the Worcester District Registry of Deeds or registered in the Land Court.
SIGN
Any permanent or temporary structure, device, letter, word, model, banner, pennant, insignia, trade flag or representation used as or which is in the nature of an advertisement, announcement or direction or which is designed to attract the eye by intermittent or repeated motion or illumination.
SIGN, BUSINESS
A sign used to direct attention to a service, product sold or other activity performed on the same premises upon which the sign is located.
SIGN, IDENTIFICATION
A sign used simply to identify the name, address and title of an individual family or firm occupying the premises upon which the sign is located.
SIGN, MONUMENT-STYLE
A monument-style sign is a ground sign with low overall height. This type of sign does not have a visible pole and generally has a decorative base and if lighted shall be externally lit. Said signage including its base shall not exceed six feet in height and 20 square feet in area in the Business One (B-1) and Heritage (H) Zoning Districts.
[Added 10-23-2007 ATM, Art. 10]
SIGN, SURFACE AREA OF
(1) 
(1) For a sign either freestanding or attached, the area shall be considered to include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, but not including any supporting framework and bracing which are incidental to the display itself.
(2) 
(2) For a sign painted upon or applied to a building, the area shall be considered to include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs or symbols, together with any backing of a different color from the finish material of the building face.
(3) 
(3) Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached to or painted on a surface, building, wall or windows, the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest quadrangle which encompasses all of the letters and symbols.
SPECIAL PERMIT
A use of a structure or lot or any action upon a premises which may be permitted under this chapter only upon application to and the approval of the Board and in accordance with provisions of § 173-47.
SPECIAL PERMIT GRANTING AUTHORITY
The Board of Appeals or, where designated, the Planning Board or the Board of Selectmen, which shall hear and decide applications for special permits.
[Amended 1-23-1996 STM, Art. 11]
STREET
Either a public way or a way which the Town Clerk certifies is maintained and used as a public way, or a way shown on a plan theretofore approved in accordance with the Subdivision Control Law[3] or a way in existence when the Subdivision Control Law became effective in the Town. A street shall have, in the opinion of the Planning Board, sufficient width, suitable grades and adequate construction so as to provide for year-round access by fire, police and emergency vehicles, as well as for the installation of municipal services to serve such land and the buildings erected or to be erected thereon.
[Amended 1-23-1996 STM, Art. 11]
STRUCTURE
A combination of materials assembled at a fixed location to give support or shelter, such as a building, bridge, trestle, tower, framework, retaining wall, tank, tunnel, tent, stadium, reviewing stand, platform, bin, fence, sign, flagpole or the like.
STRUCTURE, NONCONFORMING
A structure at the time the structure was constructed but which is not in conformity with all the provisions of this chapter.
SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT USE
Any use which is not permitted either by right or by special permit from the Board of Appeals within the district in which the lot is located.
SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER EXTENT
An accessory use which exceeds 40% of the floor area of the existing structure or any principal use which encroaches into any yard or setback area.
TATTOO PARLOR/BODY PIERCING STUDIO
An establishment whose principal business activity, either in terms of operation or as held out to the public, is the practice of one or more of the following:
(1) 
Placing of designs, letters, figures, symbols, or other marks upon or under the skin of any person, using ink or other substances that result in permanent coloration or alteration of the skin by means of use of needles or other instruments designed to contact or puncture the skin.
(2) 
Creation of an opening in the body of a person for the purpose of inserting jewelry or other decoration.
[Added 10-22-2002 ATM, Art. 9]
USABLE OPEN SPACE
Space in a yard or within a setback area on a lot that is unoccupied by buildings, unobstructed to the sky, not devoted to service driveways or off-street loading or parking spaces and available to all occupants of the building on the lot, expressed as a percentage of gross floor area.
USE
The purpose for which a structure or lot is arranged, designed or intended to be used, occupied or maintained.
USE, ACCESSORY
A nonresidential use subordinate to the principal use of a structure or lot, not the principal use, which is located on the same lot as the principal structure and where not more than two regularly employed persons, other than residents living on the premises, are employed and which does not constitute, in effect, a conversion of the premises to one not permitted. An "accessory use" to scientific research, development or related production does not have to be located on the same parcel as the principal use.
USE, NONCONFORMING
A use lawfully existing at the time the use was commenced but which is not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
USE, PRINCIPAL
The main or primary purpose for which a structure or lot is designed, arranged or intended or for which it may be used, occupied or maintained under this chapter. Any other use within the main structure or the use of any other structure or land on the same lot and incidental or supplementary thereto and permitted under this chapter shall be considered an accessory use.
VARIANCE
Such departure from the terms of this chapter as the Board, upon petition or appeal in specific cases, is empowered to authorize under the terms of § 173-48 herein.
YARD
A portion of a lot, other than a court on the same lot as the principal building, unobstructed artificially from the ground to the sky, except as otherwise provided herein.
YARD, FRONT
A space extending for the full width of the lot between the front line of the nearest building wall and the front lot line.
YARD, REAR
A space, unoccupied except by an accessory structure or accessory use as herein permitted, extending for the full width of the lot between the rear line of the building wall and the rear lot line.
YARD, SIDE
An unoccupied space extending for the full length of a building between the nearest building wall and the side lot line.
[2]
Editor's Note: This Art. 22 also repealed the former definition of "lodging unit."
[3]
Editor's Note: See MGL C. 41, § 81-K et seq.