For purposes of this article, the following words and terms are defined
as follows:
BASEMENT
That portion of a building that is partly or completely below
grade. No basement shall extend beyond the footprint of the ground
floor in order to increase its area. (See also "story above grade.")
[Amended 4-23-2019 by L.L. No. 2-2019]
BUILDING HEIGHT
The vertical distance from the average elevation of the finish
grades, taken at the four corners of the building, to the highest
point of the roof. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no
appurtenant structures or mechanical devices, other than chimneys
and flues, shall be permitted to extend above the highest point of
the roof.
CELLAR
For purposes of calculating floor area, the word "cellar"
is synonymous with "basement." No cellar shall extend beyond the footprint
of the ground floor in order to increase its area.
[Amended 4-23-2019 by L.L. No. 2-2019]
DECK
An exterior floor system, without a roof, supported on at
least two opposite sides by an adjoining structure and/or posts, piers
or other independent supports, attached to a building structure.
ELEVATION POINTS
For purposes of calculating height/setback ratio:
(1)
Building line elevation point ("BL") shall be an elevation which
is the average of the finish grade elevations of the two principal
corners of a building wall for which the height/setback ratio is being
calculated.
(2)
Property line elevation point ("PL") shall be an elevation which
is the average of the finish grade elevations of two points on a property
line which are at the closest proximity to the principal corners of
a building wall for which the height/setback ratio is being calculated.
(3)
Vertex elevation point ("L") shall be an elevation located above,
on or below a lot line which is the average of the building line elevation
point and the property line elevation point.
FLOOR
Any horizontal structure intended to support loads.
FLOOR AREA
The sum of the horizontal areas of the floors in each story
of a building or buildings (having a floor or floors) measured from
the exterior of the outside walls of such building or buildings without
exclusion of any areas on the floors being measured whatsoever (i.e.,
including attached garages, closets, bathrooms, stairwells and other
open areas, and all accessory buildings), except that basements shall
be excluded. For half stories (including storage areas over garages
and one-story areas, etc.), horizontal areas that contain no habitable
space, where the vertical distance between the floor joists and the
roof rafters or ridge (not ceiling joists, collar ties or truss cords,
etc.) above is less than seven feet and where the outboard end of
the rafters rests directly on the bottom plate, shall be excluded.
Where more than one roof structure covers this area, the vertical
measurement shall be taken from the higher of the two structures.
Further, for horizontal areas where the first-story floor to second-story
ceiling height is 14 feet or greater, twice the horizontal area shall
be included, and for horizontal areas where the first-story floor
to second-story ceiling height is greater than 10 feet and less than
14 feet, 1 1/2 the horizontal area shall be included. This applies
whether or not a second floor structure exists.
[Amended 7-21-2008 by L.L. No. 3-2008; 6-24-2015 by L.L. No. 1-2015]
FLOOR AREA RATIO
A ratio which produces the proportion of maximum allowable
floor area to total lot area.
GRADE
For purposes of measuring the building height and for calculating the height/setback ratio, grade is the finished grade, as defined in §
271-7, elevation from which the height of a building or structure is measured.
HEIGHT/SETBACK RATIO
One of the criteria used in setting building and construction
limitations on a residential lot. It is a ratio which produces an
inclined plane beginning at a property line rising towards a principal
building or structure, starting at a vertex elevation point. Except
as otherwise provided in this chapter, no appurtenant structures or
mechanical devices, other than minor architectural features not covering
more than 10% of the roof area, such as chimneys, flues, skylights
and dormer windows, shall be permitted to extend above the inclined
plane of the height/setback ratio. A demonstration of a height/setback
ratio measurement is shown below as Figure No. 1.
LOT AREA
The total horizontal area within the property lines and or
lot lines of a plot.
PATIO
Any ground area covered by concrete, brick or other impervious
material, excluding walkways 48 inches or less in width, which is
without a roof structure and not elevated above the surface of the
ground in any matter. Patios do not include driveways in front yards.
PORCH, OPEN
Any open-sided roofed structure, without screens or other
enclosures, attached to the outside of a building.
PORCH, ENCLOSED
Any nonconditioned, roofed structure, enclosed with screens
or other similar enclosures, attached to the outside of a building.
PORTICO
Any open-sided roofed structure, without screens or other
enclosures, attached to the entrance of a building.
PROPERTY LINE
Any lot line dividing a lot of one owner from a lot of different
owner.
STORY ABOVE GRADE
Any story having its finished floor surface entirely above
grade, except that a basement shall be considered as a story above
grade where the finished surface of the floor above the basement is:
more than six feet above grade plane; or more than six feet above
the finished ground level for more than 50% of the total building
perimeter; or more than 12 feet above the finished ground level at
any point.
STREET
Any highway or thoroughfare which affords the principal means
of access to abutting properties, whether designated as a street,
avenue, road, crescent, lane, terrace, way, place or otherwise, and
whether public or private.
STREET LINE
The dividing line between a lot, tract or parcel of land
and a contiguous street. For purposes of this chapter, a street line
and a right-of-way line are the same.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS
Any change in the supporting members of a building, including
but not limited to bearing walls or partitions, columns, beams, headers
or girders or any substantial change in the roof or in the exterior
walls.
STRUCTURE
Any construction or combination of materials or any production
or piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined
together in some definite manner, including but not limited to play
structures (but excluding basketball hoops, basketball nets and basketball
backboards, whether mounted on a building or on poles, so long as
the height of the top of the backboard does not exceed 16 feet and
there is not more than one backboard on the premises), platforms,
pools, tennis courts (including the backstops, surfaced area and net
posts thereof), radio towers, parabolic or hemispheric discs or dishes
or other similar convex or concave antennas (the purpose of which
is to receive television, radio and/or microwave or other similar
signals from satellites or ground stations which transmit satellite
signals, but excluding conventional television and radio aerials),
sheds, fences, walls and display signs.
YARD, REAR
A yard extending the full width of the lot opposite (and
approximately parallel to) the principal front yard between the main
building and the rear lot line, unless said yard would otherwise be
a secondary front yard. A rear yard may abut a street or right-of-way
when the lot has a front and/or a secondary front yard.
YARD, SIDE
All yards between the main building and the lot lines that
are not front yards or rear yards.