A. 
For the purposes of this chapter, the following rules of language shall apply:
The specific shall control the general.
The word "person" includes a firm, association, organization, partnership, and company, as well as an individual.
The word "he" shall mean she and "she" shall mean he.
The words used or occupied include the words intended, designed, or arranged to be used or occupied.
The word lot shall include plot or parcel.
The present tense includes the future tense; the singular number includes the plural; the plural includes the singular.
The word shall is mandatory; the words may and should are permissive.
All public officials, bodies, and agencies referred to in this chapter are those of the City of Colonial Heights, Virginia, unless otherwise specifically indicated herein.
B. 
Where terms in this chapter are undefined, the meaning of the term shall be as ascribed in the most recent edition of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, unless it is the opinion of the Administrator that based upon normal zoning practice, a different meaning shall apply.
C. 
The words and terms listed below shall have the following meanings:
ABUTTING
Contiguous or adjoining; having property or zoning district lines in common, or separated by a right-of-way.
ACCESS
A means of approach, to provide vehicular or pedestrian physical entrance to a property.
ACCESSORY BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
A building or structure detached from a principal building on the same lot and customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal building or use. Where an accessory building or structure is attached to the principal building in a substantial manner, as by a wall or roof, such accessory building shall be considered a part of the principal building.
ACCESSORY USE
A use of land, or a building or structure or portion thereof, customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal use of the land or building or structure and located on the same lot with such principal use.
ACREAGE, GROSS
The total amount of area, including land unsuitable for development.
ACREAGE, NET
The total area of land suitable for development.
ADDITION
Any construction that increases the gross floor area of a building or structure, or results in an expanded footprint of a building or structure on the ground.
ADJACENT AREA
Within an Architectural District, the "adjacent area" to a lot upon which residential construction is proposed shall include the properties within the district containing the next two primary residential structures on each side of the lot in question. "Adjacent area" shall also include any structure on any lot in the district across the street from the lot of proposed construction, any lot lines of which, when extended, would cross any part of any of the lots noted above.
ADMINISTRATOR
The Zoning Administrator of the City of Colonial Heights, or an authorized agent thereof.
ALLEY
A right-of-way that provides secondary vehicle and service access to abutting properties that have frontage on one or more streets.
ALTERATION
Any change or rearrangement in the supporting members of an existing building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams, girders or interior partitions, or any enlargement or reduction of a building or structure, whether horizontally or vertically, or the moving of a building or a structure from one location to another.
AMENDMENT
A modification to this chapter, including the text or associated maps that have been approved by the Colonial Heights City Council.
ANTENNA
A communication device that transmits or receives electromagnetic signals. Antennas may be directional, including panels and microwave dishes, or omni-directional including satellite dishes, whips, dipoles, and parabolic types. An antenna does not include the tower or other supporting structure to which it is attached.
AWNING
A shelter constructed of rigid or non-rigid materials on a supporting framework, either freestanding, or projecting from and supported by an exterior wall of a building.[1]
BASEMENT
That portion of a building that is partly or completely below grade plane. A basement shall be considered a story above grade where the finished surface of the floor above the basement is (i) more than six feet above grade, (ii) more than six feet above grade for more than 50% of the total building perimeter, or (iii) more than 12 feet above the finished ground at any point.
BERM
A landscaped earthen mound, incorporated as part of a site design, and intended to enhance the compatibility of abutting or nearby properties through the mitigation of sound, the screening of views, and/or the visual enhancement of a property's landscaped character.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMP)
A practice, or combination of practices as determined by the appropriate state and/or local agencies to be the most effective, practical means of preventing or reducing the amount of pollution generated by nonpoint sources to a level compatible with the water quality goals of the City of Colonial Heights and/or the Commonwealth of Virginia.
BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW (also known as the "Board")
The Colonial Heights Board of Architectural Review as established in § 286-318 of the Code of the City of Colonial Heights.[2]
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
The City of Colonial Heights Board of Zoning Appeals, also referred to in this chapter as the BZA.
BOAT
A small vessel propelled on water by oars, sails, or an engine.
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
BODY PIERCING
The creation of an opening in an individual's body, other than an individual's ear, to insert jewelry or another decoration.
BOX TRUCK
A commercial type motor vehicle with an enclosed loading space with a rear or side door for loading.
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
BUCKET TRUCK
A commercial type motor vehicle with an aerial work platform at the end of a hydraulic lifting system. Other common names are boom lift, cherry picker, or basket crane.
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
BUFFER AREA
(Chesapeake Bay Overlay District) An area of natural or established vegetation managed to protect other components of a resource protection area and state waters from significant degradation due to land disturbances.
BUFFER YARD
A yard improved with screening and/or landscaping materials required between abutting zoning districts of differing intensities or between adjoining land uses for the purpose of decreasing the adverse impact of differing uses and districts.
BUILDING
Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of any individual, animal, activity, process, equipment, goods or materials of any kind.
BUILDING, COVERAGE
That portion of a lot, which when viewed from directly above, would be covered by any building or structure. For the purposes of this definition, lot shall include contiguous lots of the same ownership within a single zoning district which are to be used, developed or built upon as a unit.
BUILDING, HEIGHT
The vertical distance measured from the average adjoining grade on all sides of a building or structure to the highest point of a flat roof, the deck line of a mansard roof, or in the case of a pitched, gambrel or hip roof, the mean level between the eaves and the highest point of the roof.
BUILDING LINE, FRONT
When viewed from above, the line, parallel to the street right-of-way, that passes through the point of the principal building nearest the street right-of-way.
BUILDING LINE, REAR
When viewed from above, the line, parallel to the rear lot line, that passes through the point of the principal building nearest the rear lot line.
BUILDING LINE, SIDE
When viewed from above, the line, parallel to a side lot line, that passes through the point of the principal building nearest the side lot line.
BUS
A commercial type motor vehicle used to transport a large capacity of passengers, equipment, and/or luggage.
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
CAMPER
A trailer that is pulled with a motorized vehicle that is fit or suitable for recreational camping which generally contains facilities for sleeping and cooking.
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
CAREGIVER
An adult who provides care for a mentally or physically impaired person within the Commonwealth. A caregiver shall be either related by blood, marriage, or adoption to or the legally appointed guardian of the mentally or physically impaired person for whom he is caring.
CERTIFICATE OF ZONING COMPLIANCE
For the purposes of this chapter, official certification that premises conform to all applicable provisions of the City of Colonial Heights Zoning Ordinance and may be lawfully used or occupied.
CHANNEL
A perceptible natural or artificial waterway which periodically or continuously contains moving water confined to a definite bed and banks.
CHESAPEAKE BAY PRESERVATION AREA (CBPA)
Any land designated by the City Council pursuant to Part 111, 9 VAC 10-20-10 et seq. of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Designation and Management Regulations, and § 10.1-2107 of the Code of Virginia.[3] A "Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area" shall consist of a resource protection area and a resource management area.
CITY CHARTER
The Charter of the City of Colonial Heights Virginia.
CLUSTER SUBDIVISION
An alternative means of subdividing land that concentrates building density in specific areas of a site to allow the remaining land to be permanently reserved for the preservation of environmentally-sensitive features and open space.
CODE OF VIRGINIA
The Code of Virginia 1950, as amended
COMMERCIAL DELIVERY
The delivery of goods, products, materials or other items associated with a home occupation by any means or frequency other than that which would normally occur in a residential neighborhood.
COMMISSION
The Planning Commission of the City of Colonial Heights, Virginia.
CONCRETE MIXER TRUCK
A commercial type motor vehicle having a rotating drum on an inclined axis used to discharge concrete.
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
CONDOMINIUM
A building or group of buildings, created pursuant to the Virginia Condominium Act, § 55-79.39 et seq., Code of Virginia, in which units are owned individually, and the structure, common areas and facilities are owned by all the owners on a proportional, undivided basis.
CONSTRUCTION, NEW
Structures for which construction commenced on or after the effective date of this chapter and including any subsequent improvements to such structures.
COUNCIL
The City Council of Colonial Heights, Virginia.
CRAWL SPACE
A space at least 18 inches in height under the first floor of a structure between the grade and the bottom of the floor joists.
DECK
An exterior floor supported on at least two opposing sides by an adjacent structure, and/or posts, piers, or other independent supports.
DEDICATION
The transfer of private property to public ownership upon written acceptance.
DENSITY
The number of dwelling units permitted per unit of land, commonly expressed as dwelling units per acre.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate including but not limited to buildings or other structures, the placement of manufactured homes, streets and other paving, utilities, filling, grading, excavation, mining, dredging, or drilling operations.
[Amended 8-14-2012 by Ord. No. 12-16]
DEVELOPMENT FOOTPRINT
The horizontal perimeter of any cleared, graded, disturbed or otherwise modified areas that when viewed directly from above is inclusive of any existing or proposed buildings or structures, parking and loading areas and any other surfaces that are impermeable or substantially impervious to stormwater or have been disturbed or modified as a result of existing or proposed development of redevelopment of a site.
[Added 8-9-2011 by Ord. No. 11-16]
DISTRICT
A zoning district as described and permitted by § 15.2-2280 et seq. of the Code of Virginia.
DONATION COLLECTION BIN
Any portable outdoor container intended or used for the collection and temporary storage of donated goods, such as but not limited to clothing, shoes, toys, books, and similar household items. The term “donation collection bin” shall not include solid waste or recycling containers or receptacles.
[Added 1-14-2020 by Ord. No. 19-28]
DRIVEWAY
A private roadway providing access for vehicles to a parking space, garage, dwelling, or other structure.
DUMP TRUCK
A commercial type motor vehicle having an open-box bed, which is hinged at the rear and lifts at the front, used to transport loose material and to be unloaded behind the truck.
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
DWELLING UNIT
A room or group of rooms connected together containing cooking, bathroom and sleeping facilities constituting a separate, independent housekeeping unit, physically separated from any other dwelling unit in the same structure.
EASEMENT
A portion of a lot or acreage reserved for present or future use by a person or entity other than the fee simple owner of the lot or acreage. Easements may exist on the ground, or under or above the lot or acreage.
ESTABLISHMENT
Any business, enterprise or other land use permitted by this chapter.
EXTERIOR APPEARANCE
Architectural character, general arrangement of the exterior of a structure, general composition, including the kind, permanent color (excluding paint) and texture of the building material and type and character of all windows, doors, light fixtures, signs and appurtenant elements.
FAMILY
One or more persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption, or under approved foster care, or a group of not more than four persons (including domestic help) living together as a single housekeeping unit.[4]
FLATBED TRUCK
A commercial type motor vehicle having an entirely flat and level platform body.
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
FLOOR AREA, FINISHED
The sum of the horizontal areas of a building which is intended for human habitation and use and which has a floor to ceiling height of 6 1/2 feet or greater. Areas excluded from the finished floor area would include unfinished basements and attics, storage and utility rooms, and garages.
FLOOR AREA, GROSS
The sum of the horizontal areas of the several stories of a building, measured from the exterior faces of exterior walls, or in the case of a common wall separating two buildings, from the center line of such common wall. Gross floor area shall exclude interior parking and loading spaces, and airspace above atriums.
GARAGE, PRIVATE
A building for the private use of the owner or occupant of a principal residential building situated on the same lot as the principal building for the storage of motor vehicles.
GLARE
The effect produced by lighting, with a brightness or intensity sufficient to cause annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance and visibility.
GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITY
Any or all of the services provided by the City to its citizens for the purpose of maintaining the City, and shall include but shall not be limited to such services as constructing, repairing and maintaining roads and sewage facilities, supplying and treating water, providing streetlights, and constructing public buildings.
HIGHLY ERODIBLE SOILS
Soils (excluding vegetation) with an erodibility index (EI) from sheet and riff erosion equal to or greater than eight. The erodibility index for any soil is defined as the product of the formula "RKLST," where "K" is the soil susceptibility to water erosion in the surface layer; "R" is the rainfall and runoff; "LS" is the combined effects of slope length and steepness; and "T" is the soil loss tolerance.
HIGHLY PERMEABLE SOILS
Soils with a given potential to transmit water through the soil profile. "Highly permeable soils" are identified as any soil having a permeability equal to or greater than six inches of water movement per hour in any part of the soil profile to a depth of 72 inches (permeability groups "rapid" and "very rapid") as found in the "National Soils Handbook" of November 1996, in the "Field Office Technical Guide" of the United States Department of Natural Resources Soil Conservation Service.
HISTORIC DISTRICT
Any area delineated by City Council and consisting of public or private property within the City containing one or more historic landmarks as established by the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission or one or more areas, neighborhoods, sites, places, structures, objects, artifacts or buildings in which historic events occurred or reflecting significantly the lives of historic personages or great ideas or ideals of the people or having special public value because of notable architectural or other features relating to the cultural and artistic heritage of the community, state or nation, including but not limited to archaeological, architectural, economic, ethnic, military, natural, political, religious or social factors. Such landmarks, buildings, structures or areas shall have been designated by City Council as being of such historic, architectural or cultural interest and significance as to warrant conservation and preservation.
IMPERVIOUS COVER
A surface composed of any material that significantly impedes or prevents natural infiltration of water into the soil. Impervious surfaces include but are not limited to roofs, buildings, streets, parking areas and any concrete, asphalt or compacted gravel surface.
INFILL
Utilization of vacant land in previously developed areas.
LAND DISTURBING ACTIVITY
Any land change which may result in soil erosion from water or wind and the movement of sediments into state waters or onto lands in the Commonwealth, including, but not limited to, clearing, grading, excavating, transporting and filling of land.
LANDSCAPING
The improvement of the appearance of an area by the planting of trees, grass, shrubs, or other plant materials.
LOADING SPACE, OFF-STREET
Space for bulk pick-ups and deliveries, scaled to delivery vehicles expected to be used and accessible to such vehicles when required off-street parking spaces are filled.
LOT
A parcel of land intended to be separately owned, developed, or otherwise used as a unit, established by plat, subdivision, or as otherwise permitted by law.
LOT, CORNER
A lot abutting on two or more streets at their intersection, or on two parts of the same street forming an interior angle of less than 135°.
LOT COVERAGE
That portion of a lot, which when viewed from directly above, would be covered by any building or structure, parking and loading areas and other surface which is impermeable or substantially impervious to stormwater. Gravel parking areas shall be considered impervious. For the purposes of this definition, lot shall include contiguous lots of the same ownership within a single zoning district which are to be used, developed or built upon as a unit.
LOT, DEPTH
The average horizontal distance between front and rear lot lines.
LOT, DOUBLE FRONTAGE
An interior lot having frontage on two streets.
LOT, FLAG LOT
A panhandle or flag-shaped lot with its widest point (called the "flag") set back from the road at the rear of another lot, and having a thin strip of land (called the "pole") with a minimum width of 28 feet connecting to the road to provide legal access and frontage.
LOT, FRONTAGE
The horizontal distance between the side lot lines measured at the point where the side lot lines intersect the street right-of-way. All sides of a lot which abuts a street shall be considered frontage. On curvilinear streets the arc between the side lot lines shall be considered the lot frontage.
LOT, INTERIOR
A lot, other than a corner lot.
LOT, IRREGULAR
A lot of such a shape or configuration that technically meets the area, frontage and width to depth requirements of this chapter but meets these requirements by incorporating unusual elongations, angles, curvilinear lines unrelated to topography or other natural land features.
LOT OF RECORD
A lot which has been recorded in the office of the Clerk of the appropriate court.
LOT, WIDTH OF
The mean horizontal distance between the side lot lines. The mean shall consist of the straight line horizontal distances of the front and rear lot lines and the distance of a line connecting the midpoints of the side lot lines. Provided however, that for a flag-lot, no part of the pole shall be considered in calculating such distances.
LOWEST FLOOR
The lowest enclosed area, including basement, of any structure. An unfurnished or flood-resistant enclosure usable solely for the parking of vehicles, building access or storage, in an area other than a basement area, is not considered a building's lowest floor, provided that such enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable non-elevation design requirements of this chapter.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which in the traveling mode is eight feet or more in width or 40 feet or more in length, or, when erected or placed on a site, is 400 or more square feet, and which is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical systems contained therein. The term includes any structure that meets all of the requirements of this definition except the size requirements and with respect to which the manufacturer voluntarily files a certification required by the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and complies with the standards established under Title 42 of the United States Code. A manufactured home shall contain one dwelling unit. Some manufactured homes are also referred to as mobile homes.
MIXED-USE BUILDING
A combination of two or more use types within a single structure.
MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED PERSON
A person who is a resident of Virginia and who requires assistance with two or more activities of daily living, as defined in § 63.2-2200 of the Code of Virginia as certified in a writing provided by a physician licensed by the Commonwealth.
MODULAR HOME
A dwelling unit constructed on-site in accordance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and composed of components substantially assembled in a manufacturing plant and transported to the building site for final assembly on a permanent foundation.
MONOPOLE
A single pole structure, usually self supporting, used to support antennas.
NATURAL WATERCOURSE
Any natural stream, river, creek, waterway, gully, or wash in which water flows in a definite direction or course, either continuously or intermittently, and has a definite channel, bed and banks.
NONCONFORMING LOT
A lot, the area, dimensions or location of which was lawful at the time the lot was created, but which fails to conform to the current standards and regulations due to the adoption, revision or amendment of this chapter.
NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE
Any structure the size, dimensions or location of which was lawful when erected or altered, but which fails to conform to the current standards and regulations due to the adoption, revision or amendment of this chapter.
NONCONFORMING USE
A use or activity which was lawful when originally established, but which fails to conform to the current standards and regulations due to the adoption, revision or amendment of this chapter.
NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION
Pollution consisting of constituents such as sediment, nutrients and organic and toxic substances from diffuse sources, such as runoff from agriculture and urban land development and use.
NOT-FOR-PROFIT
An organization or activity which has obtained nontaxable status from the U. S. Internal Revenue Service.
NOXIOUS WEEDS
Weeds that are difficult to control effectively, such as Johnson grass, kudzu and multiflora rose.
OFF-STREET PARKING AREA
Space provided for vehicular parking outside the dedicated street right-of-way.
OPEN SPACE
Any parcel or area of land or water essentially unimproved and set aside, dedicated or reserved for public or private use or enjoyment, or for the use and enjoyment of owners and occupants of land adjoining or neighboring such open space. Open space may be passive or active. Passive open space remains in a completely undeveloped state and lacks formal facilities. Active open space has developed facilities such as recreation centers, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, and similar facilities.
OPEN SPACE, COMMON
Land within or related to a development, not individually owned or dedicated for public use, which is intended for the common use or enjoyment of the residents of the development and may include such complementary structures as are necessary and appropriate. Common open space may include recreation centers, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, and similar facilities.
OPEN SPACE, UNUSABLE
Any area of open space considered as undevelopable acreage based on the presence of one or more of the following:
(1) 
Resource protection areas and resource management areas, which must be preserved to mitigate impacts to the water quality of adjacent streams or water bodies.
(2) 
Wetlands.
(3) 
Steep slopes.
(4) 
Endangered native plant and animal life pursuant to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's 2003 Natural Heritage Plan.
OPEN SPACE, USABLE
Any area of open space that is designated for community recreational uses, to include but not limited to uses such as swimming pools, athletic fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, golf courses, playgrounds, boating docks, walking, bridle and bicycle trails.
OUTDOOR DISPLAY
The display and sale of products primarily outside of a permanent building or structure, including vehicles, garden supplies, plant materials, tires, oil and other vehicle maintenance supplies, food and beverages, fireworks and holiday decorations.
OUTDOOR STORAGE
The keeping, in other than a building, of any goods, materials, or merchandise on the same parcel for more than 24 consecutive hours.
OVERLAY DISTRICT
A district established by this chapter to prescribe special regulations to be applied to a site in combination with the underlying or base district.
PATIO
A level landscaped or surfaced area, constructed of any materials, directly adjacent to a principal building, and without walls or a roof.
PERENNIAL
Occurring or existing on a regular or continual basis.
PERSON
Any corporation, association, partnership, one or more individuals or any unit of government or agency.
PHASE
A component of a PUD that encompasses 20% or more of the PUD.
PLANNED RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION
A development, constructed on a tract of at least five acres, planned and developed as an integral residential neighborhood unit. The subdivision shall consist of five or more lots of five acres or less, each lot designed and intended for the construction of a residential dwelling.
PORCH
Roofed open areas, which may be glazed or screened, usually attached to or part of and with direct access to or from, a building.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
A building or structure in which the primary use of the lot on which the building is located is conducted.
PRINCIPAL USE
The main use of land or structures as distinguished from a secondary or accessory use.
PRIVATE
Unless otherwise specifically indicated, private shall mean anything not owned, operated, provided and/or maintained by a local, state, or federal government.
PRIVATE FARMERS' MARKET
The open air sale of agricultural products such as vegetables, fruits, herbs, grains, mushrooms, flowers, potted or bedding plants, honey, meat, dairy or eggs directly to the public by a group of farmers or producers that occurs on a regular basis (no more than once per week for a minimum of 12 weeks in a calendar year) on privately owned land. Handcrafted products (such as wooden furniture, or textiles) or value added products (such as jam or beeswax candles) or other handmade food products (such as baked goods) may be sold; but sellers of these goods may not comprise the majority of the vendors. Flea markets, yard sales, wayside stands, auctions, and the sale of items from a truck are not "private farmers' markets."
[Added 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 16-24]
PUBLIC
Unless otherwise specifically indicated, public shall mean anything owned, operated, provided and/or maintained by a local, state, or federal government.
PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS
A water or sewer system owned and operated by: (1) a municipality, public service authority or county; or, (2) a private individual or a corporation approved and properly licensed by the State Corporation Commission prior to the adoption date of this chapter; and meeting the requirements of the State Health Department and/or Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.[5]
RECREATIONAL OR UTILITY TRAILER
A small nonmotorized vehicle which is generally pulled by a motorized vehicle and features an open-top or enclosed rear cargo area and is used for the hauling of light loads.
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A large motorized vehicle that often contains a bathroom, kitchen, and beds for use during travel and camping; commonly referred to as an RV.
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
REDEVELOPMENT
The process of developing land that is or has been previously developed.
REPLACEMENT COST
The cost of restoring a damaged building or structure to its original condition. Replacement cost shall include reasonable estimates of the cost of materials and labor and shall be compared with the assessed value as determined by the City of Colonial Heights to determine the percentage of the cost of improvements.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AREA (RMA)
That component of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area that is not classified as the resource protection area.
RESOURCE PROTECTION AREA (RPA)
That component of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area comprised of lands adjacent to water bodies with perennial flow that have an intrinsic water quality value due to the ecological and biological processes they perform or are sensitive to impacts which may result in significant degradation to the quality of state waters.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
A legally established area or strip of land, either public or private, on which an irrevocable right of passage has been recorded.
SCREENING
A method of visually shielding or obscuring one or more abutting or nearby structures or uses from other structures or uses by fencing, walls, berms or by densely planted vegetation. Screening is intended to substantially obscure the visual impacts between adjoining uses.
SETBACK
The minimum distance by which any building or structure must be separated from a street right-of-way or lot line.
SHOPPING CENTER
A group of commercial establishments planned, constructed and managed as a total entity with shared access, customer and employee parking provided on site, provision of goods' delivery separated from customer access, aesthetic considerations and protection from the elements.
SHORELINE
A boundary line between a body of water and the land. This line shall consist of the sloping margin of, or the ground bordering a stream, river, reservoir, lake etc., and serve to define the limits of, and confine the waters to, the natural channel or impoundment during periods of normal flow or volume.
SIGN
Any letters, figures, designs, symbol, trademark, advertisement or illuminating device intended to attract attention to any place, subject, person, firm, corporation, public performance, article, machine or merchandise, that is painted, printed or constructed and displayed in any manner out-of-doors for recognized advertising purposes, and any advertising structure to which such letters, figures, designs, symbol, trademark, advertisement or illuminating device may be attached.
SIGN, ADVERTISING
Any temporary sign, attached to a structure or freestanding, used for a commercial message.
SIGN, ARCADE
Any sign projecting beneath the underside of any structural overhang or passageway.
SIGN, AWNING
Any sign attached to, displayed on, or incorporated within an awning.
SIGN, BANNER
Any temporary sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is mounted to a pole or a building by a permanent frame at one or more edges.
SIGN, BILLBOARD
Any sign outside of the public street, road and highway rights-of-way which (a) is 10 feet or more in height or 32 square feet or more in area, or both; and (b) advertises any business, commodity, service, facility, activity or entertainment sold or offered or conducted elsewhere than upon the same parcel of land where the sign is located.
SIGN, BUILDING
Any sign supported by uprights or braces or any other devices, or painted on or otherwise attached to any building or structure, and not meeting the definition of a freestanding sign.
SIGN, BULLETIN BOARD
Any freestanding sign listing the names, times, use and locations of various services, offices or activities within a building or group of buildings of (a) a public or semiprivate use, (b) a not-for-profit or religious use, or (c) a medical office, clinic or hospital.
SIGN, CANOPY
Any sign attached to, displayed on, or incorporated within a canopy.
SIGN, CONSTRUCTION
Any temporary sign identifying the architect, developer, engineer, financier, contractor or other individual or firm involved with construction, including announcements of the character of the building, enterprise or purpose for which the building is intended.
SIGN, DIRECTIONAL
Any sign whose major purpose is to direct attention to the location of any business, commodity, service, facility or entertainment conducted, sold or offered upon the same lot where the sign is erected.
SIGN, DISPLAY OF MERCHANDISE
The out-of-doors display of merchandise labeled or conspicuously sited denoting items for sale on the premises.
SIGN, ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD
A computer-controlled variable-message electronic sign.
SIGN, FREESTANDING
Any sign supported by uprights or braces placed on or in the ground, or any object on the ground, not attached to any building.
SIGN, GROUND
Any freestanding sign less than eight feet in height.
SIGN, HISTORICAL MARKER
Any historical marker, monument, sign or notice, on public or private property or any public street, road or highway, bearing any legend, inscription or notice which purports to record an historical event, incident or fact directed in the City of Colonial Heights, conforming to the requirements of Title 10.1, Chapter 22, of the Code of Virginia.
SIGN, INCIDENTAL
Any signs secondary to the primary designation or advertising of premises, including but not restricted to directional signs and historical markers.
SIGN, MARQUEE
Any canopy or covered structure, supporting a sign, projecting from or extending beyond a building facade when such canopy or covered structure is supported by the building. This category shall include signs mounted upon a cantilever where there is no other structural purpose for the cantilever.
SIGN, MULTI-TENANT
Any freestanding sign that contains three or more independent businesses or uses.
SIGN, OFF-SITE
A sign which advertises a commodity, product, service, activity or any other person, place or thing, which is not located, found, or sold on the premises upon which such sign is located.
SIGN, PLAQUE
A thin flat plate or tablet intended for ornamentation, used only for building or occupant identification and bearing no advertisement.
SIGN, POLE
Any freestanding sign which is eight feet or more in height.
SIGN, POLITICAL
Any temporary sign relating to the election of a person to public office, to a political party or to a matter to be voted upon at an election called by a duly constituted and recognized public body.
SIGN, PORTABLE
Any temporary sign, including traffic control message sign, which by its construction or nature may be or is intended to be freely moved from one location to another.
SIGN, PROJECTING
Any sign not otherwise defined by this section which is attached to a building or other structure and extends beyond the vertical surface of that portion of the building or structure to which it is attached, or any sign and/or advertising structure which extends more than 15 inches from the face of the wall or structure. "Horizontal projecting sign" means any sign which is greater in width than in height. "Vertical projecting sign" means any sign which is greater in height than in width.
SIGN, REAL ESTATE
Any temporary sign advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises or part of the premises on which the sign is displayed.
SIGN, ROOF
Any sign erected, constructed or maintained wholly or partially upon or over the roofline of any building, with the principal structural support on the roof structure. This term shall include any sign, otherwise classified, which protrudes above the roofline.
SIGN, SANDWICH
Any temporary portable freestanding sign, characterized by an A-frame or other similar shape or design.
SIGN, SHOPPING CENTER
Any freestanding sign used pursuant to § 286-524 of this chapter.
SIGN, SPECIAL EVENT
Any temporary sign used to promote fund-raisers or other similar events that benefit religious, charitable, military, fraternal or community service organizations or that promotes employee safety or similar corporate or organizational promotional activities.
SIGN, TEMPORARY
Any sign, banner or advertising display or sign constructed of light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, paper or other light materials, with or without frames, intended to be displayed for a limited period of time. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, national flags, state or municipal flags, or the official flag of any institution or business, shall not be considered a temporary sign.
SIGN, VEHICLE-MOUNTED
Any temporary sign painted on or attached to a vehicle, which sign relates to the business, activity, use, service or product of the owner of the vehicle or to the sale of the vehicle and which sign is incidental to the primary use of the vehicle.
SIGN, WALL
Any sign which is affixed directly to, painted on or otherwise inscribed on a wall or parapet wall of any building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of such wall and extending therefrom less than 18 inches. A wall sign projecting above the top of the wall to which it is attached shall be considered a roof sign.
SIGN, WIND-DRIVEN
Temporary signs that include banners, balloons, inflatables and strings of pennants or flags that are used for advertising or display.
SIGN, WINDOW
Any permanent sign oriented to the public right-of-way, legible to pedestrians or persons in vehicles, or identifiable from an adjoining property line, and placed either on the outside of a window, on the inside face of a glass window or inside a building and within a distance of the window such that it is intended for viewing from the exterior.
SIGN, YARD SALE
A temporary sign used to display advertising for yard or garage sales.
SILVICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Forest management activities, including but not limited to the harvesting of timber, the construction of roads and trails for forest management purposes, and the preparation of property for reforestation that are conducted in accordance with the silvicultural best management practices developed and enforced by the State Forester pursuant to § 10.1-1105 of the Code of Virginia and are located on property defined as real estate devoted to forest use under § 58.1-3230 of the Code of Virginia.
SLOPE, STEEP
Terrain generally classified as having a 25% vertical rise to the horizontal run.
SPECIAL EXCEPTION
A use with operating and/or physical characteristics different from those uses permitted by right in a given zoning district which may, nonetheless, be compatible with those by-right uses under special conditions and with adequate public review. Special exceptions are allowed only at the discretion and approval of City Council following review and recommendation by the Planning Commission and staff.
SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS
(a) Less than completely and opaquely covered: (1) Human genitals, pubic region, (2) buttock, and (3) female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola; and (b) human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered.
SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES
(a) Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal; (b) acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse, or sodomy; and (c) fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttock, or female breast.
STEALTH DESIGN
Any tower that is designed so that all of its structural components including the associated antenna are camouflaged, disguised or otherwise hidden for the purpose of making the tower and antennae unnoticeable to the casual observer, or otherwise unrecognizable as a tower.
STOOP
A platform, without a roof, located at the entrance of a building with sufficient area to facilitate only the ingress and egress to the building.
STORAGE CONTAINER, PORTABLE OR MOBILE
A portable or moveable, weather-resistant receptacle designed and used for the storage or shipment of household goods, wares, valuables, or merchandise (typically known as PODS, MODS, etc.)
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
STORY
That portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the floor next above it, or if there is not a floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling above it.
STREET
Any vehicular way which: (1) is an existing federal, state or municipal roadway: or, (2) is shown on a plat approved pursuant to law; or, (3) is approved by other official action. The term street shall include road and highway. Unless otherwise indicated, the term street shall refer to both public and private streets.
STREET, CUL-DE-SAC
A street with only one outlet and an appropriate turnaround for a safe and convenient reversal of traffic movement.
STRUCTURE
Anything that is constructed or erected with a fixed location on the ground, or attached to something having a fixed location on the ground, including but not limited to buildings, signs, manufactured homes and swimming pools. Walls and fences shall not be deemed structures except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter.
STUDIO, TATTOO
An establishment where tattooing and/or body piercing is performed as the principal business activity.
SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATION
Expansion or modification of a building or site which would result in a disturbance of land exceeding an area of 2,500 square feet.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its condition before damage would equal or exceed 50% of the market value of the structure before such 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 before the improvement or repair is started, or if the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. This term includes structures which have incurred "substantial damage" regardless of the actual repair work performed. For the purpose 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, however, include either any project for improvement for a structure to comply with existing state or county health, sanitary or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living condition or any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the state landmarks register.
SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATION
Within a PUD, any change that significantly alters and/or impacts the character of an approved master plan.
TANKER TRUCKS
A commercial type motor vehicle having a cylindrical tank lying on chassis and designed to carry liquids or gases.
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The transmitting and receiving of electromagnetic signals through the atmosphere.
TIDAL SHORE or SHORE
Land contiguous to a tidal body of water between the mean low water level and the mean high water level.
TOW TRUCK or WRECKER
A commercial type motor vehicle used to recover and tow disabled vehicles. There are three main types of tow trucks: flatbed, wheel-lift, and hook and chain.
[Added 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 16-29]
TRANSIENT
For purposes of this ordinance, transient shall refer to the limited, temporary and/or short-term occupancy, associated with the hotel/motel/motor lodge or extended stay lodging use types. Transient occupants must have, and be able to demonstrate that they maintain, a principal place of permanent residence elsewhere.
USE
An activity on the land other than development, including but not limited to agriculture, horticulture and silviculture.
VARIANCE
A reasonable deviation from the provisions regulating the size or area of a lot or parcel of land, or the size, area, bulk or location of a building or structure in accordance with, and as further defined in § 15.2-2201 of the Code of Virginia.
WATER-DEPENDENT FACILITY
A development of land that cannot exist outside of the resource protection area and must be located on the shoreline by reason of the intrinsic nature of its operation. These facilities include but are not limited to ports; the intake and outfall structures of power plants; sewers; marinas and other boat docking structures; beaches and other public water-oriented recreation areas; and fisheries or other marine resources facilities.
WETLANDS
All areas defined by the United States Army Corps of Engineers as wetlands.
WETLANDS BOARD
A board of seven members as provided in § 28.2-1303 of the Code of Virginia.
WETLANDS, NONTIDAL
Those wetlands other than tidal wetlands that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act, in 33 CFR 328.3b, dated November 13, 1986.
WETLANDS, NONVEGETATED
All that land lying contiguous to mean low water and which land is between mean low water and mean high water not otherwise included in the term "vegetated wetlands" as defined herein.
WETLANDS, TIDAL
Vegetated and nonvegetated wetlands as defined in § 28.2-1300 of the Code of Virginia.
WETLANDS, VEGETATED
All that land lying between and contiguous to mean low water and an elevation above mean low water equal to the factor 1.5 times the mean tide range at the site of the proposed project in this City, and upon which is growing on the effective date of this chapter or grown thereon and subsequent thereto anyone or more of the following: salt marsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), saltmeadow hay (Spartina patens), saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus), saltwort (Salicornia species), sea lavender (Limonium species), marsh elder (Iva frutescent), groundsel bush (Baccaharis halimifolia), wax myrtle (Myrica species), sea oxeye (Borrichia frutescent), arrow arum (Peltandra virginica), pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), big cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides), rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides), wild rice (Zizania aquatica), bulrush (Scirpus validus), spikerush (Eleocharis species), sea rocket (Cakile edentula), southern wild rice (Zizaniopsis miliacea), cattails (Typha species), three-squares (Scirpus species), buttonbush (Cephalianthus occidentalis), bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), dock (Rumex species), yellow pond lily (Nuphar species), marsh fleabane (Pluchea purpurascens), royal fern (Osmunda regalis), march hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos), beggar's tick (Bidens species), smartweed (Polygonum species), arrowhead (Sagittaria species), sweet flag (Acorus calamus), water hemp (Amaranthus cannabinus), reed grass (Phragmites communis) and switch grass (Panicum virgatum).
YARD
A required open space on a lot, unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, unless otherwise provided by this chapter.
YARD, FRONT
A yard between the front building line and the street right-of-way extending across the full width of the lot.
YARD, REAR
A yard between the rear line of the building and the rear line of the lot extending the full width of the lot.
YARD, SIDE
A yard between the side line of the building and the side line of the lot extending from the front lot line to the rear lot line.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
The Zoning Administrator of the City of Colonial Heights, Virginia, or an authorized agent thereof, also referred to in this chapter as the Administrator.
[1]
Editor's Note: The definitions of "base flood" and "base flood elevation (BFE)," which immediately followed this definition, were repealed 8-14-2012 by Ord. No. 12-16.
[2]
Editor's Note: See § 286-318.10, Board of Architectural Review.
[3]
Editor’s Note: Code of Virginia, § 10.1-2107 was repealed by Acts 2013, cc. 756 and 793. See now Code of Virginia, § 62.1-44.15:72.
[4]
Editor's Note: The definitions of "flood," "flood, one-hundred-year," "flood proofing," "floodplain," "floodway" and "floodway fringe," which immediately followed this definition, were repealed 8-14-2012 by Ord. No. 12-16.
[5]
Editor's Note: The definition of "recreational vehicle," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 8-14-2012 by Ord. No. 12-16.
A. 
The purpose of use types is to establish a classification system for land uses and a consistent set of terms defining uses permitted within various zoning districts in the City. The use types section also facilitates the process of determining the applicable use type of any activity not explicitly defined.
B. 
In the event of any question as to the appropriate use type of any existing or proposed use or activity, the Administrator shall have the authority to determine the appropriate use type. In making such determination, the Administrator shall consider the operational and physical characteristics of the use in question and shall consider the classification contained in the most recent edition of the North American Industry Classification System Manual published by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. In addition, the Administrator shall consider the specific requirements of the use in common with those included as examples of use types. Those examples, when included in use type descriptions, are intended to be illustrative, as opposed to exclusive lists. The Administrator may also determine that a proposed use or activity is sufficiently different from any use type listed below and thus will require an amendment to the text of this ordinance.
C. 
The Administrator shall make such determinations of appropriate use types in writing, which shall include an explanation of the reasons for the determination.
D. 
A determination of the Administrator may be appealed to the Board of Zoning Appeals pursuant to the procedures for administrative appeals outlined in § 286-626 of this chapter.
AGRICULTURE
The use of land for the production of food and fiber, including farming, dairying, pasturage, agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, and animal and poultry husbandry. A garden accessory to a residence shall not be considered agriculture. The keeping of a cow, pig, sheep, goat, chicken or similar animal shall constitute agriculture regardless of the size of the animal and regardless of the purpose for which it is kept.
STABLE, PRIVATE
The boarding, keeping, breeding, pasturing or raising of horses, mules, donkeys, ponies or llamas exclusively for personal use and enjoyment by the owner or occupant of the property or the riding of such animals by the owner or occupant of the property or his non-paying guests.
ACCESSORY APARTMENT
A second dwelling unit within a detached single-family dwelling or within an accessory structure on the same lot as the detached single-family dwelling, which is clearly incidental and subordinate to the main dwelling unit.
DUPLEX
The use of an individual lot for two dwelling units which share at least one common wall, each occupied by one family.
FAMILY DAY CARE HOME
A single-family dwelling in which more than five but less than 13 individuals receive care, protection and guidance during only part of a twenty-four-hour day. Individuals related by blood, legal adoption or marriage to the person who maintains the home, or is providing the care, shall not be counted towards this total. The care of five or less individuals for portions of a day shall be considered a home occupation.
GROUP HOME
A building used as a dwelling unit where not more than eight mentally ill, intellectually disabled, or other developmentally disabled persons, not related by blood or marriage, reside, with one or more resident counselors or other staff persons and for which the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is the licensing authority, pursuant to § 15.2-2291 of the Code of Virginia. Excluded from this definition are drug or alcohol rehabilitation centers, halfway houses and similar uses.
[Amended 3-10-2020 by Ord. No. 20-1]
HOME OCCUPATION
An accessory use of a dwelling unit for gainful employment involving the production, provision, or sale of goods and/or services in accordance with Article IV, Use and Design Standards.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A single or multi-sectional manufactured home as defined in § 286-200 of this chapter.
MANUFACTURED HOME, EMERGENCY
A manufactured home used temporarily for the period of reconstruction or replacement of an uninhabitable dwelling lost or destroyed by fire, flood, or other act of nature, or used temporarily as housing relief to victims of a federally declared disaster in accordance with § 286-404 of this chapter.
MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING
A building or portion thereof which contains three or more dwelling units for permanent occupancy, regardless of the method of ownership. Included in the use type would be garden apartments, low and high rise apartments, apartments for elderly housing and condominiums.
SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING
A site built or modular building designed for or used exclusively as one dwelling unit for permanent occupancy.
ATTACHED — Two single-family dwellings sharing a common wall area, each on its own individual lot.
DETACHED — A single-family dwelling which is surrounded by open space or yards on all sides, is located on its own individual lot, and which is not attached to any other dwelling by any means.
TEMPORARY FAMILY HEALTH CARE STRUCTURE
A transportable residential structure, providing an environment facilitating a caregiver's provision of care for a mentally or physically impaired person.
TOWNHOUSE
A grouping of three or more attached single-family dwellings in a row, each on a separate lot of record, in which each unit has its own front and rear access to the outside, no unit is located over another unit, and each unit is separated from any other unit by one or more common walls.
ASSISTED CARE RESIDENCE
An establishment, regulated by the Commonwealth of Virginia, that provides shelter and services which may include meals, housekeeping, and personal care assistance primarily for the elderly. Residents are able to maintain a semi-independent lifestyle, not requiring the more extensive care of a nursing home.
CEMETERY
Land used or dedicated to the burial of the dead, including columbariums, crematoriums, mausoleums, and necessary sales and maintenance facilities. Funeral services use types shall be included when operated within the boundary of such cemetery.
CLUB
A use providing meeting or social facilities for civic or social clubs, and similar organizations and associations, primarily for use by members and guests. Recreational facilities, unless otherwise specifically cited in this section, may be provided for members and guests as an accessory use. This definition shall not include fraternal or sororal organizations associated with colleges or universities. A club does not include a building in which members reside.
COMMUNITY RECREATION
A recreational facility for use solely by the residents and guests of a particular residential development, planned unit development, or residential neighborhood, including indoor and outdoor facilities. These facilities are usually proposed or planned in association with development and are usually located within or adjacent to such development.
CORRECTION FACILITY
A public or privately operated use providing housing and care for individuals legally incarcerated, designed to isolate those individuals from a surrounding community.
CRISIS CENTER
A facility providing temporary protective sanctuary for victims of crime or abuse including emergency housing during crisis intervention for individuals, such as victims of rape, child abuse, or physical beatings.
CULTURAL SERVICE
A library, museum, or similar public or quasi-public use displaying, preserving and exhibiting objects of community and cultural interest in one or more of the arts or sciences.
EDUCATIONAL FACILITY, COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY
An educational institution authorized by the Commonwealth of Virginia to award associate, baccalaureate or higher degrees.
EDUCATIONAL FACILITY, PRIMARY/SECONDARY
A public, private or parochial school offering instruction at the elementary, junior and/or senior high school levels in the branches of learning and study required to be taught in the public schools of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
GOVERNMENTAL SERVICE
A governmental office providing administrative, clerical or public contact services that deal directly with the citizen. Typical uses include federal, state, City, town and county offices.
GUIDANCE SERVICE
An establishment providing counseling, guidance, recuperative, or similar services for persons requiring rehabilitation assistance or therapy for only part of a twenty-four-hour day. This use type shall not include facilities operated for the treatment of drug addiction or substance abuse.
HALFWAY HOUSE
An establishment providing residential accommodations, rehabilitation, counseling, and supervision to persons suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, to persons reentering society after being released from a correctional facility or other institution, or to persons suffering from similar disorders or circumstances.
LIFE CARE FACILITY
A residential facility primarily for the continuing care of the elderly, providing for transitional housing progressing from independent living in various dwelling units, with or without kitchen facilities, and culminating in nursing home type care where all related uses are located on the same lot. Such facility may include other services integral to the personal and therapeutic care of the residents.
NURSING HOME
An establishment providing bed care and in-patient services for persons requiring regular medical attention but excluding a facility providing surgical or emergency medical services and excluding a facility providing care for alcoholism, drug addiction, mental disease, or communicable disease. Nursing homes have doctors or licensed nurses on duty.
PARK AND RIDE FACILITY
A publicly owned short-term parking facility for commuters.
POST OFFICE
An establishment providing postal services directly available to the consumer operated by the United States Postal Service.
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
A facility owned and operated by a public or quasi-public agency accommodating public assembly for sports, amusement, or entertainment purposes. Typical uses include auditoriums, sports stadiums, convention facilities, fairgrounds, and sales and exhibition facilities.
PUBLIC MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE FACILITY
A public facility supporting maintenance, repair, vehicular or equipment servicing, material storage, and similar activities including street or sewer yards, equipment services centers, and similar uses having characteristics of commercial services or contracting or industrial activities.
PUBLIC PARK AND RECREATIONAL AREA
Publicly owned and operated parks, picnic areas, playgrounds, indoor or outdoor athletic facilities, and open spaces.
RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLY
An establishment located in a permanent building and providing regular organized religious worship and related incidental activities, except primary or secondary schools and day care facilities.
SAFETY SERVICE
A facility for the conduct of safety and emergency services for the primary benefit of the public, whether publicly or privately owned and operated, including police and fire protection services and emergency medical and ambulance services.
UTILITY SERVICE, MAJOR
Services of a regional nature which normally entail the construction of new buildings or structures such as generating plants and sources, electrical switching facilities and stations or substations, water towers and tanks, community wastewater treatment plants, and similar facilities. Included in this use type are also electric, gas, and other utility transmission lines of a regional nature which are not otherwise reviewed and approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
UTILITY SERVICE, MINOR
Services which are necessary to support existing and future development within the immediate vicinity and involve only minor structures. Included in this use type are distribution lines and small facilities that are underground or overhead, such as transformers, relay and booster devices, and well, water and sewer pump stations. Also included are all major utility services that were in existence prior to the adoption of this chapter.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
An establishment that provides financial and banking services to consumers or clients. Walk-in and drive-in services to consumers are generally provided on site. Typical uses include banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, credit unions, lending establishments and freestanding automatic teller machines.
GENERAL OFFICE
An establishment devoted to business, professional, or administrative uses excluding medical offices. Typical uses include real estate, insurance, management, travel, computer software or information systems research and development, or other business offices; organization and association offices; or law, architectural, engineering, accounting or other professional offices. Retail sales do not comprise more than an accessory aspect of the primary activity of a general office.
LABORATORY
An establishment primarily engaged in performing research or testing activities into technological matters. Typical uses include engineering and environmental laboratories, medical, optical, dental and forensic laboratories, x-ray services; and pharmaceutical laboratories only involved in research and development. Excluded from this use type are any laboratories which mass produce one or more products directly for the consumer market.
MEDICAL OFFICE
An establishment which provides physical or mental health diagnoses, minor surgical care and outpatient care on a routine basis, but which does not provide overnight care or serve as a base for an ambulance service. Excluded from this definition shall be facilities operated for the treatment of drug addiction and substance abuse. "Medical office" includes offices operated by:
A. 
Persons licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, podiatry, optometry, dentistry, or acupuncture;
B. 
Persons licensed by the Commonwealth to practice professions in the healing arts similar to those in Subsection A;
C. 
Mental health service providers licensed by the Commonwealth to practice clinical psychology, professional counseling, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, or practical nursing; and
D. 
Providers licensed by the Commonwealth to practice professions similar to those in Subsection C.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE CLINIC
An establishment which provides outpatient services primarily related to the treatment of alcohol, or other drug or substance abuse disorders, which services include the dispensing and administering of controlled substances and pharmaceutical products by professional medical practitioners as licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
ADULT BOOKSTORE
An establishment that devotes more than 15% of the total floor area utilized for the display of books and periodicals to the display and sale of the following: (a) books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, blue ray discs, compact discs, digital video discs, video cassettes, slides, tapes, records, or other forms of visual or audio representations which are characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas"; or (b) instruments, devices, or paraphernalia which are designed for use in connection with "specified sexual activities." An adult bookstore does not include an establishment that sells books or periodicals as an incidental or accessory part of its principal stock-in-trade and does not devote more than 15% of the total floor area of the establishment to the sale of books and periodicals, or photographs, films, motion pictures, blue ray discs, compact discs, digital video discs, video cassettes, slides, tapes, records, or other forms of visual or audio representations.
ADULT DRIVE-IN-THEATER
An open lot or part thereof, with appurtenant facilities, devoted primarily to the presentation of motion pictures, films, theatrical productions, and other forms of visual productions, for any form of consideration, to persons in motor vehicles or on outdoor seats, and presenting material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to "specific sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas" for observation by patrons.
ADULT MINI-MOTION PICTURE THEATER
An establishment, with a capacity of more than five but less than 50 persons, where, for any form of consideration, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or similar photographic reproductions are shown, and in which a substantial portion of the total presentation time is devoted to the showing of material which is distinguished or characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas" for observation by patrons.
ADULT MODEL STUDIO
An establishment open to the public where, for any form of consideration or gratuity, figure models who display "specified anatomical areas" are provided to be observed, sketched, drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly depicted by persons, other than the proprietor, paying such consideration or gratuity. This provision shall not apply to any school of art which is operated by an individual, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or institution which meets the requirements established in the Code of Virginia, for the issuance or conferring of, and is in fact authorized thereunder to issue and confer, a diploma.
ADULT MOTION PICTURE ARCADE
A place to which the public is permitted or invited where coin or slug-operated or electronically, electrically, or mechanically controlled still or motion picture machines, projectors, or other image producing devices are maintained to show images to five or fewer persons per machine at any one time, and where the images so displayed are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on depicting or describing "specified sexual activities" or specified "anatomical areas."
ADULT MOTION PICTURE THEATER
An establishment, with a capacity of 50 or more persons, where, for any form of consideration, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or similar photographic reproductions are shown; and in which a substantial portion of the total presentation time is devoted to the showing of material which is distinguished or characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas" for observation by patrons.
ADULT USE
Any adult bookstore, adult motion picture theater, adult mini-motion picture theater, adult motion picture arcade, adult model studio, or adult drive-in theater, as defined in this chapter.
AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
Service provided specifically for the agricultural community which is not directly associated with a farm operation. Included in this use type would be servicing of agricultural equipment, independent equipment operators, and other related agricultural services.
ANTIQUE SHOP
A place offering primarily antiques for sale. An antique for the purposes of this chapter shall be a work of art, piece of furniture, decorative object, or the like, of or belonging to the past, at least 30 years old.
ASSEMBLY HALL
A building, designed and used primarily for the meeting or assembly of a large group of people for a common purpose. Typical uses include meeting halls, union halls, bingo halls, and catering or banquet facilities.
AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP, NEW
An establishment that uses building, land area or other premises for the display of new and used automobiles, trucks, vans, or motorcycles for sale or rent, including any warranty repair work and other major and minor repair service conducted as an accessory use.
AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP, USED
A lot or establishment where three or more used motor vehicles, including automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles are displayed at one time for sale.
AUTOMOBILE PARTS/SUPPLY, RETAIL
Retail sales of automobile parts and accessories. Typical uses include automobile parts and supply stores which offer new and factory rebuilt parts and accessories, and include establishments which offer minor automobile repair services.
AUTOMOBILE RENTAL/LEASING
Rental of automobiles and light trucks and vans, including incidental parking and servicing of vehicles for rent or lease. Typical uses include auto rental agencies and taxicab dispatch areas.
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SERVICE, MAJOR
Repair of construction equipment, commercial trucks, agricultural implements and similar heavy equipment, including automobiles, where major engine and transmission repairs are conducted. This includes minor automobile repairs in conjunction with major automobile repairs. Typical uses include automobile and truck repair garages, transmission shops, radiator shops, body and fender shops, equipment service centers, machine shops and other similar uses where major repair activities are conducted.
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SERVICE, MINOR
Repair of automobiles, noncommercial trucks, motorcycles, motor homes, recreational vehicles, or boats, including the sale, installation, and servicing of equipment and parts. Typical uses include tire sales and installation, wheel and brake shops, oil and lubrication services and similar repair and service activities where minor repairs and routine maintenance are conducted.
BED AND BREAKFAST
A dwelling, occupied by the owner, in which not more than five bedrooms are provided for overnight guests for compensation, on daily or weekly basis, with or without meals.
BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICE
An establishment or place of business engaged in the sale, rental or repair of office equipment, supplies and materials, or the provision of services used by office, professional and service establishments. Typical uses include office equipment and supply firms, small business machine repair shops, convenience printing and copying establishments, as well as temporary labor services.
BUSINESS/TRADE SCHOOL
An establishment providing education or training in business, commerce, language, or other similar activity or occupational pursuit, and not otherwise defined as an educational facility, either primary and secondary, or college and university.
CAR WASH
An establishment that washes and cleans vehicles. Typical uses include automatic conveyor machines and self-service vehicle washes.
COMMERCIAL INDOOR AMUSEMENT
An establishment which provides multiple coin operated amusement or entertainment devices or machines as other than an incidental use of the premises. Such devices would include pinball machines, video games, and other games of skill or scoring, and would include pool and/or billiard tables, whether or not they are coin operated. Typical uses include game rooms, billiard and pool halls, and video arcades.
COMMERCIAL INDOOR ENTERTAINMENT
An establishment conducting predominantly spectator uses within an enclosed building. Typical uses include motion-picture theaters, and concert or music halls.
COMMERCIAL INDOOR SPORTS AND RECREATION
An establishment conducting predominantly participant uses within an enclosed building. Typical uses include bowling alleys, ice and roller skating rinks, indoor shooting ranges, indoor racquetball, swimming, and/or tennis facilities.
COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT
An establishment conducting predominantly spectator uses in open or partially enclosed or screened facilities. Typical uses include sports arenas, go-cart, lawn mower, motor vehicle or animal racing facilities, tractor pulls, and outdoor amusement parks.
COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR SPORTS AND RECREATION
An establishment conducting predominantly participant uses in open or partially enclosed or screened facilities. Typical uses include driving ranges, miniature golf, swimming pools, tennis courts, outdoor racquetball courts, motorized cart and motorcycle tracks, and motorized model airplane flying facilities.
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE
An establishment primarily engaged in the provision of broadcasting and other information relay services accomplished through the use of electronic and telephonic mechanisms. Excluded from this use type are facilities classified as utility services, major or minor and towers. Typical uses include television studios, telecommunication service centers, telegraph service offices or film and sound recording facilities.
CONSTRUCTION SALES AND SERVICE
An establishment or place of business primarily engaged in retail or wholesale sale, from the premises, of materials used in the construction of buildings or other structures, but specifically excluding automobile or equipment supplies otherwise classified herein. Typical uses include, lumberyards, building material stores and home supply establishments.
CONSUMER REPAIR SERVICE
An establishment primarily engaged in the provision of repair services to individuals and households, rather than businesses, but excluding automotive and equipment repair use types. Typical uses include appliance repair shops, shoe repair, watch or jewelry repair shops, or repair of musical instruments.
CONVENIENCE STORE
An establishment primarily engaged in the provision of frequently or recurrently needed goods for household consumption, such as prepackaged food and beverages, and limited household supplies and hardware. Convenience stores may include fuel pumps or the selling of fuel for motor vehicles. Typical uses include neighborhood markets and country stores.
DANCE HALL
An establishment in which more than 10% of the total floor area is designed or used as a dance floor, or where an admission fee is directly collected or some other form of compensation is obtained for dancing.
DAY CARE CENTER
A facility operated for the purpose of providing care, protection and guidance to 13 or more individuals during only part of a twenty-four hour day. This term includes nursery schools, preschools, day care centers for individuals, and other similar uses but excludes public and private educational facilities or any facility offering care to individuals for a full twenty-four-hour period.
EQUIPMENT SALES AND RENTAL
An establishment primarily engaged in the sale or rental of tools, trucks, tractors, construction equipment, agricultural implements, similar industrial equipment; and the rental of recreational vehicles. Included in this use type is the incidental storage, maintenance, and servicing of such equipment.
EXTENDED STAY LODGING
A building or group of attached or detached buildings containing lodging units available for rental or lease to transients for periods of 30 consecutive days or more. Lodging units generally contain full kitchens and kitchen wares, and on-site guest laundry facilities, periodic maid service, and may offer restaurants, meeting rooms and/or recreation facilities.
FLEA MARKET
A building or lot used for the regular or periodic display of new or used merchandise for sale. Flea markets are typically characterized by one or more vendors who display goods on tables and/or in small booths
FUNERAL SERVICES
Establishments engaged in undertaking services such as preparing the dead for burial, and arranging and managing funerals. Typical uses include mortuaries and crematories.
GARDEN CENTER
Establishments or places of business primarily engaged in retail or wholesale (bulk) sale, from the premises, of trees, shrubs, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, plants and plant materials primarily for agricultural, residential and commercial consumers. Such establishments typically sell products purchased from others, but may sell some material which they grow themselves. Typical uses include nurseries, plant stores and lawn and garden centers.
GASOLINE STATION
Any place of business with fuel pumps and gasoline storage tanks which provides fuels for motor vehicles.
GOLF COURSE
A tract of land for playing golf, improved with tees, greens, fairways, hazards, and which may include clubhouses and shelters. Included would be executive or par three golf courses. Specifically excluded would be independent driving ranges and any miniature golf course.
HOSPITAL
A facility providing medical, psychiatric, or surgical service for sick or injured persons primarily on an in-patient basis and including ancillary facilities for outpatient and emergency treatment diagnostic services, training, research, administration, and services to patients, employees, or visitors.
HOTEL/MOTEL/MOTOR LODGE
A building or group of attached or detached buildings containing lodging units available for rental or lease to transients for periods of less than 30 consecutive days. Such uses generally provide additional services such as daily maid service, restaurants, meeting rooms and/or recreation facilities.
ITINERANT MERCHANT
Any person engaged temporarily in the retail sale, lease, or rental of goods, wares, or merchandise and who for the purpose of conducting such business, displays such goods, wares, or merchandise to the public outside a building on property in which such person holds a legal temporary interest.
KENNEL, COMMERCIAL
The boarding, breeding, raising, grooming or training of dogs, cats, or other household pets of any age not owned by the owner or occupant of the premises, for commercial gain.
LAUNDRY
Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of laundering, cleaning or dyeing services other than those classified as "personal services." Typical uses include bulk laundry and cleaning plants, diaper services, or linen supply services.
MANUFACTURED HOME SALES
An establishment primarily engaged in the display, retail sale, rental, and minor repair of new and used manufactured homes, parts, and equipment.
MINI-WAREHOUSE
A building designed to provide rental storage space in cubicles where each cubicle has a maximum floor area of 400 square feet. Each cubicle shall be enclosed by walls and ceiling and have a separate entrance for the loading and unloading of stored goods. Cubicles may or may not be climate controlled.
MOBILE FOOD UNIT
A food establishment contained in a wheeled vehicle that is readily moveable, including but not limited to trailers, trucks, and vans; and is licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles and has a valid permit from the Environmental Health Division of the Virginia Department of Health. These units are also known as "food trucks".
[Added 11-14-2017 by Ord. No. 17-25; amended 1-8-2019 by Ord. No. 18-26]
MODULAR HOME SALES
A site used for the construction and display of model modular homes, including a sales office and incidental storage associated with the construction of the model homes.
OPERATOR
The proprietor of any dwelling, lodging, or sleeping accommodations offered as a short-term rental, whether in the capacity of owner, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee, or any other possessory capacity.
[Added 12-12-2023 by Ord. No. 23-21]
PAWN SHOP
An establishment engaged in the loaning of money on the security of property pledged to a pawnbroker and the incidental sale of such property.
PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT SERVICES
Establishments primarily engaged in the provision of informational, instructional, personal improvements and similar services. Typical uses include driving schools, health spas or physical fitness studios, reducing salons, dance studios, handicraft and hobby instruction.
PERSONAL SERVICES
Establishments or places of business engaged in the provision of frequently or recurrently needed services of a personal nature. Typical uses include beauty and barber shops; massage clinics; grooming of pets; seamstresses, tailors; florists; and laundry dry cleaning services.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE SALES AND SERVICE
An establishment engaged in the retail sales of recreational vehicles, boats, and jet skis, including service and storage of vehicles parts and related accessories.
RESTAURANT, FAMILY
An establishment engaged in the preparation and sale of food and beverages containing no more than 2,000 gross square feet and characterized primarily by table service to customers in non-disposable containers. Typical uses include cafes, coffee shops and small restaurants.
RESTAURANT, FAST FOOD or DRIVE-IN
An establishment engaged in the preparation and sale of food and beverages for either take-out, delivery, or table service, served in disposable containers at a counter, a drive-up or drive-thru service facility, or at a curb.
RESTAURANT, GENERAL
An establishment engaged in the preparation and sale of food and beverages containing more than 2,000 gross square feet and characterized primarily by table service to customers in non-disposable containers.
RETAIL SALES
An establishment engaged in sale or rental with incidental service, of commonly used goods and merchandise for personal or household use, excluding those classified more specifically by these use type classifications.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL
The provision of a room or space that is suitable or intended for occupancy for dwelling, sleeping, or lodging purposes, for a period of fewer than 30 consecutive days, in exchange for a charge for the occupancy. A dwelling used for short-term rental may be either hosted or non-hosted.
[Added 12-12-2023 by Ord. No. 23-21]
HOSTED — The owner of the short-term rental dwelling lives on the property, either in the same structure as the short-term rental tenant(s) or in another structure on the property.
NON-HOSTED — The owner or agent of the short-term rental dwelling does not live on the property being rented.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL DWELLING
A dwelling that is used for short-term rental.
[Added 12-12-2023 by Ord. No. 23-21]
STUDIO, FINE ARTS
A building, or portion thereof, used as a place of work by a sculptor, artist, photographer or similar artisan.
STUDIO, TATTOO
An establishment where tattooing and or body piercing is performed as the principal business activity
TRAVEL CENTER
An establishment containing a mixture of uses which cater to the traveling public and in particular motor freight operators. A travel center might include such uses as fuel pumps, restaurants, overnight accommodations, retail sales related to the motor freight industry, and similar uses.
VETERINARY HOSPITAL/CLINIC
An establishment rendering surgical and medical treatment of animals. Boarding of animals shall only be conducted indoors, on a short-term basis, and shall only be incidental to such hospital/clinic use, unless also authorized and approved as a commercial kennel.
ASPHALT PLANT
An establishment engaged in manufacturing or mixing of paving materials derived from asphaltic mixtures or tar.
COMPOSTING
Process by which animal wastes and plant discards are combined and manipulated to produce a soil additive/nutrient. Composting does not include the processing of municipal wastes.
CONSTRUCTION YARD
An establishment primarily engaged in construction activities, including outside storage of materials and equipment. Typical uses are building contractor's yards.
CUSTOM MANUFACTURING
Establishments primarily engaged in the on-site production of goods by hand manufacturing, within enclosed structures, involving the use of hand tools, or the use of mechanical equipment commonly associated with residential or commercial uses.
INDUSTRY, HEAVY
An establishment which has the potential to be dangerous or extremely obnoxious. Included are those in which explosives are stored, petroleum is refined, natural and liquid gas and other petroleum derivatives are stored and/or distributed in bulk, radioactive materials are compounded, pesticides and certain acids are manufactured, and hazardous waste is treated or stored as the establishment's principal activity.
INDUSTRY, LIGHT
An establishment engaged in the processing, manufacturing, compounding, assembly, packaging, treatment or fabrication of materials and products, from processed or previously manufactured materials. Light industry is capable of operation in such a manner as to control the external effects of the manufacturing process, such as smoke, noise, soot, dirt, vibration, odor, etc. A machine shop is included in this category. Also included is the manufacturing of apparel, electrical appliances, electronic equipment, camera and photographic equipment, ceramic products, cosmetics and toiletries, business machines, food, paper products (but not the manufacture of paper from pulpwood), musical instruments, medical appliances, tools or hardware, plastic products (but not the processing of raw materials), pharmaceuticals or optical goods, bicycles, and any other product of a similar nature or requiring similar production characteristics.
INDUSTRY, MEDIUM
Enterprises in which goods are generally mass produced from raw materials on a large scale through use of an assembly line or similar process, usually for sale to wholesalers or other industrial or manufacturing uses. Included in this use type are industries involved in processing and/or refining raw materials such as chemicals, rubber, wood or wood pulp, forging, casting, melting, refining, extruding, rolling, drawing, and/or alloying ferrous metals, and the production of large durable goods such as automobiles, manufactured homes, or other motor vehicles.
INTERMODAL FACILITY
A facility where freight in transit is transferred from one mode of transportation (air, rail, truck, water) to another mode of transportation.
LANDFILL, CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS
The use of land for the legal disposal of construction and demolition wastes consisting of lumber, wire, sheet rock, broken brick, shingles, glass, pipes, concrete, and metals and plastic associated with construction and wastes from land clearing operations consisting of stumps, wood, brush, and leaves.
LANDFILL, RUBBLE
The use of land for the legal disposal of only inert waste. Inert waste is physically, chemically and biologically stable from further degradation and considered to be non-reactive, and includes rubble, concrete, broken bricks, and block.
LANDFILL, SANITARY
The use of land for the legal disposal of municipal solid waste derived from households, business and institutional establishments, including garbage, trash, and rubbish, and from industrial establishments, other than hazardous wastes as described by the Virginia Hazardous Waste Regulations.
MEAT PACKING AND RELATED INDUSTRIES
An establishment processing meat products and by-products directly from live animals or offal from dead animals.
RAILROAD FACILITIES
Railroad yards, equipment servicing facilities, and terminal facilities.
RECYCLING CENTER
A receptacle or facility used for the collection and storage of recyclable materials designed and labeled for citizens to voluntarily take source separated materials for recycling.
RESOURCE EXTRACTION
An establishment involving on-site extraction of surface or subsurface mineral products or natural resources. Typical uses are quarries, borrow pits, sand and gravel operations, mining, and soil mining. Specifically excluded from this use type shall be grading and removal of dirt associated with an approved site plan or subdivision, or excavations associated with, and for the improvement of, a bona fide agricultural use.
SAWMILL
An establishment for the storage of harvested timber and/or the sawing of timber into lumber products.
SCRAP AND SALVAGE SERVICE
A place of business primarily engaged in the storage, sale, dismantling or other processing of uses or waste materials which are not intended for reuse in their original forms. Typical uses include paper and metal salvage yards, automotive wrecking yards, junkyards, used tire storage yards, or retail and/or wholesale sales of used automobile parts and supplies.
TRANSFER STATION
Any storage or collection facility which is operated as a relay point for municipal solid waste which ultimately is to be transferred to a landfill.
TRANSPORTATION TERMINAL
A facility for loading, unloading, and interchange of passengers, baggage, and incidental freight or package express between modes of ground transportation, including bus terminals, railroad stations, and public transit facilities.
TRUCK TERMINAL
A facility for the receipt, transfer, short-term storage, and dispatching of goods transported by truck. Included in the use type would be express and other mail and package distribution facilities, including such facilities operated by the U.S. Post Office.
WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION
An establishment specializing in storage, warehousing and dispatching of goods within enclosed structures, or outdoors. Typical uses include wholesale distributors, storage warehouses and, moving/storage firms.
AMATEUR RADIO TOWER
A structure on which an antenna is installed for the purpose of transmitting and receiving amateur radio signals erected and operated by an amateur radio operator licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
AVIATION FACILITY, GENERAL
Landing fields, aircraft parking, service facilities and related facilities for the operation, service, fueling, repair, storage, charter, sales, and rental of aircraft, including activities directly associated with the operation and maintenance of airport facilities and the provision of safety and security.
AVIATION FACILITY, PRIVATE
Any area of land used or intended to be used for the landing or taking-off of aircraft for personal use of the tenant or owner of the site, and not available for public use or commercial operations. Aircraft include helicopters, and all fixed wing planes and gliders, including hang gliders.
PARKING FACILITY, SURFACE/STRUCTURE
A site used for surface parking or a parking structure unrelated to a specific use which provides one or more parking spaces together with driveways, aisles, turning and maneuvering areas, incorporated landscaped areas, and similar features meeting the requirements established by this ordinance. This use type shall not include parking facilities accessory to a permitted principal use.
SHOOTING RANGE, OUTDOOR
A site where land is used for archery and the discharging of firearms for the purposes of target practice, skeet and trap shooting, mock war games, or temporary competitions, such as a turkey shoot. Excluded from this use type shall be general hunting and the unstructured and nonrecurring discharging of firearms on private property with the property owner's permission.
TOWER
Any structure that is designed and constructed primarily for the purpose of supporting one or more antennas. The term includes but is not limited to radio and television transmission towers, microwave towers, common-carrier towers, and cellular telephone and wireless communication towers. Tower types include, but are not limited to monopoles, lattice towers, wooden poles, and guyed towers. Excluded from this definition are amateur radio towers, which are otherwise defined.