Except where specifically defined herein, all words used in this chapter shall carry their customary meanings. Words in the present tense include the future, words in the singular include the plural and the plural the singular, and the word "shall" is intended to be mandatory.
Any question as to the precise meaning of any word used in this chapter may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals and clarified under its powers of interpretation.
Specifically defined words are as follows:
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A subordinate structure located on the same lot with the main structure, occupied by or devoted to an accessory use. This shall include satellite dish antennas. Where an accessory structure is attached to the main structure in a substantial manner, as by a wall or roof, such accessory structure shall be considered part of the main structure.
ACCESSORY USE
A use incidental and subordinate to the principal use and located on the same lot with such principal use or structure.
AGRICULTURAL COMMERCE
A retail or wholesale operation providing for the packaging or processing of fruits and vegetables and their sale at retail or wholesale, provided that not less than 20% by volume of such fruits and vegetables are grown on the property for which the zoning permit is granted.
[Added 4-16-2020 by L.L. No. 1-2020]
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
Office establishments primarily engaged in supplying landscaping, horticultural services, veterinary and other animal services and farm labor and management services, and the necessary storage of equipment and materials.
AGRICULTURAL USE
Land containing at least two acres which is directly related to the raising of livestock, or the growing of crops for the sale of agricultural produce, including farm structures, storage of agricultural equipment, horticultural and fruit operations, riding and boarding stables, and the like; and as an accessory use the sale of agricultural or forest products raised on the property.
AIRPORT
Any facility for the purpose of engaging aircraft to flight.
ALTERATIONS
As applied to a building or structure, a change or rearrangement in the structural parts, or an enlargement, whether by extending on a side or by increasing in height, or the moving from one location to another.
BOARDINGHOUSE
A building, other than a hotel, where lodging and meals for up to five unrelated persons are provided for compensation. These rooms, individually or collectively, do not constitute separate dwelling units.[1]
BUILDING
A structure having a roof supported by columns or walls and intended for the shelter or enclosure of persons, animals or property.[2]
BUILDING FRONT LINE
Line parallel to the front lot line transecting that point in the building face which is closest to the front lot line. This face includes porches whether enclosed or unenclosed but does not include steps.
BUILDING HEIGHT
Vertical distance measured from the average elevation of the proposed finished grade at the front of the building to the highest point of the roof for flat and mansard roofs, and to the average height between eaves and ridge for other types of roofs.
BUILDING, SMALL
Any building with a ground coverage of 100 square feet or less.
BUSINESS, MANUFACTURING
A commercial activity characterized by the transformation of substances into new products (including the assembly of component parts of manufactured products) such as are normally associated with plants, factories and mills utilizing power-driven machinery and materials-handling equipment.
BUSINESS, RETAIL
A commercial activity characterized by the direct on-premises sale of goods and services to the ultimate consumer, including on-premises manufacturing, processing and servicing and preparation customarily associated therewith and generally involving stock-in-trade such as are normally associated with department stores, food markets and similar establishments, but also including financial institutions, business and professional offices and services, restaurants and bars.
BUSINESS, WHOLESALE
A commercial activity characterized by the sale of merchandise to retail, manufacturing, institutional or other wholesale establishments in bulk, including on-premises storage and distribution facilities.
CAMP
Land on which are located one or more cabins, trailers, shelters, houseboats or other accommodation suitable for seasonal or temporary living purposes, excluding mobile homes.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
A certification by the Zoning Officer that a lot, structure or use of land has been developed in conformity with an approved zoning permit and/or complies with the provisions of this chapter and may be occupied and used for the purposes specified in such zoning permit and/or certificate of compliance.
CLUB
Building or use catering exclusively to club members and their guests for recreational purposes, and not operated primarily for profit. Includes YMCA, YWCA, YMHA, fraternity, sorority, lodge, religious and similar "clubs" which may have dormitory accommodation.
CONTRACTOR'S YARD
Any location used, or intended to be used, for the open storage of building materials and the equipment customarily used in the building contracting business.
COMMUNITY CENTER
Includes public or private meeting hall, or place of assembly, not operated primarily for profit.
COVERAGE
That percentage of the lot area covered by the building area, which shall include porches or carports open at the sides but roofed and all principal and accessory buildings.
DAY-CARE CENTER, CHILD
Any use defined as a child day-care center in § 390, Subdivision (1)(c), of the Social Services Law of the State of New York.
[Added 7-18-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996]
DAY-CARE HOME, FAMILY
Any use defined as a family day-care home in § 390, Subdivision 1(e), of the Social Services Law of the State of New York.
[Added 7-18-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996]
DAY-CARE HOME, GROUP FAMILY
Any use defined as a group family day-care home in § 390, Subdivision 1(d), of the Social Services Law of the State of New York.
[Added 7-18-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996]
DORMITORY
Includes fraternity, sorority, nurses' home and college dormitory.
DWELLING
Building or part thereof used as living quarters. The terms "dwelling," "single-family dwelling," "two-family dwelling" or "multiple-family dwelling" shall not include a motel, hotel, boardinghouse, tourist home, dormitory, mobile home or similar structure.
DWELLING, MULTIPLE-FAMILY
Building used as living quarters by three or more families living independently of each other.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY
Detached building used as living quarters by one family.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY
Building used as living quarters by two families living independently of each other.
DWELLING UNIT
A complete self-contained residential unit, with living, sleeping, cooking and sanitary facilities within the unit, for use by one family.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Erection, construction, alteration, operation or maintenance by municipal agencies or utilities of telephone dial equipment centers, electrical or gas substations, water treatment or storage facilities, pumping stations and similar facilities.
EXCAVATION
A lot or land or part thereof used for the purpose of extracting stone, sand, gravel or soil for sale, as an industrial or commercial operation, but does not include the process of grading a lot preparatory to the construction of a building which has an approved zoning permit.
FAMILY
One or more persons living, sleeping, cooking or eating on the same premises as a single housekeeping unit.
FARM WINERY
Any place or premises located on an agricultural use within any Agriculture Zone (AG) in which wine is manufactured adn sold, and is licensed by the New York State Liquor Authority as a farm or commercial wintery. A farm winery may include a restaurant as an accessory use subject to obtaining a special use permit from the Planning Board.
[Added 6-16-2011 by L.L. No. 2-2011]
FLOOR AREA RATIO
The gross floor area of all buildings on a lot divided by the lot area.
FUNERAL HOME
An establishment with facilities for the preparation of the dead for burial or cremation, for the viewing of the body and for the observances held for a dead person as an incident to burial or cremation.
GARAGES, PRIVATE
An accessory building not operated for gain and used in conjunction with a principal building which provides for the storage of motor vehicles and/or other household items.
GARAGES, PUBLIC
Any garage, other than a private garage, operated for gain, available on a rental basis for the storage of motor vehicles.
GREENHOUSE/NURSERY
Land, structures or buildings used for the cultivation of flowers, plants or shrubs for subsequent sale, including on-premises accessory retail sales of flowers, plants or shrubs and on-premises retail sales of accessory products, tools and equipment.
HOME OCCUPATION
A nonresidential activity conducted within a dwelling or mobile home in accordance with the provisions of § 250-41 of this chapter.
HOSPITAL
Includes sanitarium, clinic, rest home, nursing home, convalescent home, home for the aged, and any other place for the diagnosis and treatment of human ailments.
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING and/or HYDROFRACKING
The process of recovering and/or developing natural gas or oil trapped behind shale, rock, or other natural formations and which is generally accomplished by a well which is drilled into the ground and then horizontally from the well head, after which water, sand, and/or chemicals are injected into the well, breaking or fracturing the shale or other natural structures under the ground and intending to release natural gas or oil from the ground.
[Added 10-20-2016 by L.L. No. 1-2016]
INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCE PARK
A planned, coordinated development of a tract of land with two or more separate industrial/commercial buildings. Such development is planned, designed, constructed and managed on an integrated and coordinated basis with special attention given to on-site vehicular circulation, parking, utility needs, building design and orientation and open space.
JUNKYARD
Land or building used for the collecting, storage or sale of wastepaper, rags, scrap metal or discarded material; or for the collecting, wrecking, dismantling, storage, salvaging and sale of machinery parts or vehicles not in running condition.
LANDFILL
An area of 7,500 square feet or more where loam, rock, stone, gravel, sand, cinders or soil are deposited and compacted.
[Added 7-18-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996][3]
LOADING SPACE
Off-road space used for the temporary location of one licensed motor vehicle, which is at least 12 feet wide and 40 feet long, not including access driveway, and having direct access to a road.
LOT
Land occupied or to be occupied by a building and its accessory buildings, together with such open spaces as are required, having not less than the minimum area, width and depth required for a lot in the district in which such land is situated, and having frontage on a road, or other means of access as may be determined by the Planning Board to be adequate as a condition of the issuance of a permit for a building on such land.
LOT AREA
Total area within the property lines excluding any part thereof lying within the boundaries of a public road or proposed public road.
LOT COVERAGE
That percentage of the lot area covered by the building area, including all principal and accessory structures, porches and carports that are open at the sides.
LOT FRONTAGE
The distance between the boundaries of a lot measured at their points of intersection with the road right-of-way line.
LOT LINE
Property lines bounding a lot.
MOBILE HOME
A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is at least eight feet in width and 32 feet in length, 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. A mobile home shall be construed to remain a mobile home, subject to all regulations applying thereto, whether or not wheels, axles, hitch or other appurtenances of mobility are removed and regardless of the nature of the foundation provided. This term shall not include factory manufactured homes known as "modular homes" bearing an insignia issued by the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council as required in 19 NYCRR 1210. This term shall not include travel trailers or other forms of recreational camping vehicles.[4]
MOBILE HOME PARK
Land on which two or more mobile homes are parked and occupied for living purposes.
MOTEL
A building or group of buildings, whether detached or in connected units, containing transient and/or permanent lodging facilities for the general public and which may contain accessory facilities such as restaurants, meeting rooms, retail business activities and related activities primarily to accommodate the occupants, but open to the general public. The term "motel" includes buildings designated as auto cabins, auto courts, motor lodges, tourist courts and similar terms.
MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP
A building, or portion of a building, arranged, intended or designed to be used commercially for making repairs to motor vehicles.
MOTOR VEHICLE SALES
Establishment for display and sale of new and used motor vehicles, trailers, mobile homes and boats.
NONCONFORMITY
A lot, structure or use of land which does not conform to the regulations for the district in which it is located, where such use conformed to all applicable laws, ordinances and regulations prior to enactment or amendment of this chapter or the Zoning Ordinance replaced by this chapter.
NURSING HOME
An extended- or intermediate-care facility licensed or approved to provide full-time convalescent or chronic care to individuals who, by reason of advanced age, chronic illness or infirmity, are unable to care for themselves.
PARKING LOT
A tract of land used for the temporary parking of motor vehicles when such use is not accessory to any other use.
PARKING SPACE
Off-road space used for the temporary location of one licensed motor vehicle, which is at least nine feet wide and 22 feet long, not including access driveway, and having direct access to a road.
PERSONAL SERVICES
Includes barber, hairdresser, beauty parlor, shoe repair, shoe shine, laundry, laundromat, dry cleaner, photographic studio and businesses providing similar services of a personal nature.
PETROLEUM BULK STORAGE
The aboveground or underground storage of petroleum products such as gasoline, heating oil, heavy residual fuel oils, kerosene or reprocessed waste oil which has a combined storage capacity of 1,100 gallons or more, and is not accessory to a farm operation.
PIPELINE
Any pipe, whether above or below the ground, for the transmission of any fluid or gas, which is over 2,000 feet in length and is not accessory to the operation of a farm or private residence.
PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE
A structure through which the principal use of the lot on which it is located is conducted.
PRINCIPAL USE
The primary or predominant use of any lot.
PROFESSIONAL RESIDENCE-OFFICE
Residence in which the occupant has a professional office which is clearly secondary to the dwelling use for living purposes and does not change the residential character thereof, and where not more than one person outside the family is employed.
PUBLIC AND SEMIPUBLIC FACILITY
Any one or more of the following uses, including grounds and accessory buildings necessary for their use:
A. 
Religious institutions.
B. 
Public parks, playgrounds and recreational areas when authorized or operated by a governmental authority.
C. 
Schools.
D. 
Not-for-profit fire, ambulance and public safety buildings.
E. 
Community centers.
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY USE
Buildings in which the primary or intended occupancy or use is the assembly for amusement, athletic, civic, dining, educational, entertainment, patriotic, political, recreational, religious, social, sports or similar purposes.
RECREATIONAL CAMPING VEHICLE
Any enclosed motor vehicle or trailer used or designed to be used for recreational travel and temporary living and/or sleeping purposes including motor homes, truck campers, camping trailers, campers, travel trailers, pop-up trailers, tent trailers and overnight trailers.
RECREATION, INDOOR
Includes bowling alley, theater, table tennis, pool hall, skating rink, gymnasium, swimming pool, hobby workshop and similar places of indoor commercial recreation.
RECREATION, OUTDOOR
Includes golf driving range, golf pitch and putt course, par three golf course, outdoor amusement park, hunting preserve, golf course, trap, skeet and archery range, skating rink, riding stable, park, lake and beach, tennis court, recreation stadium, publicly owned and operated playground, playfield, park, open space and swimming pool.
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION
Includes church, temple, parish house, convent, seminary and retreat house.
RESTAURANT
An establishment at which food is sold for consumption to patrons seated within an enclosed building or on the premises. However, a snack bar or refreshment stand at a public or quasi-public or community pool, playground or park operated by the agency or group or an approved vendor operating the recreational facilities and for the convenience of the patrons of the facility shall not be deemed to be a restaurant.
RETAIL GASOLINE OUTLET
An establishment that sells gasoline to the public. This includes service stations, convenience stores, car washes or any other facility that sells gasoline.
ROAD
Public road, or road on an approved subdivision plat, for vehicular traffic which affords the principal means of access to abutting properties.
ROAD LINE
The right-of-way line of a road as dedicated by a deed or record. Where the width of the road is not established, the road line shall be considered to be 25 feet from the center line of the road pavement.
ROADSIDE STAND
A stall or booth of a temporary nature for the sale of farm or garden products grown on the premises.
RURAL LIGHT INDUSTRY
Industrial uses which meet the performance standards, bulk controls and other requirements established in this chapter.
[Added 7-18-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996]
SCHOOL
Includes parochial, private, public and nursery school, college, university and accessory uses; and shall exclude commercially operated school of beauty culture, business, dancing, driving, music and similar establishments.
SHOPPING CENTER
A group of stores, shops and similar establishments occupying adjoining structures all of which may be deemed one building if designed as an architectural unit and if it has adequate space in the rear for loading and unloading commodities.[5]
SITE PLAN REVIEW
A process for the Planning Board review of site characteristics of a use prior to the Zoning Officer issuing a zoning permit.
SPECIAL USE PERMIT
A permit for a use which must be approved by the Planning Board granting permission to the Zoning Officer to issue a zoning permit.
STORY
That portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it, or if there is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling next above it, and including those basements used for the principal use.
STRUCTURE
An assembly of materials forming a construction framed of component structural parts for occupancy or use, including buildings.
TRAILER
Includes any vehicle used as sleeping or living quarters mounted on wheels or a camper body usually mounted on a truck; and any vehicle which is customarily towed by a motor vehicle and used for carrying goods, equipment, machinery or boats or as an office.
USE
The purpose or activity for which land or structures are designed, arranged or intended, or for which land or structures are occupied or maintained.
VARIANCE
Any departure from the strict letter of this chapter granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals as it applies to a particular piece of property.
WIND POWER GENERATING FACILITY
Facilities, including windmills, energy storage devices, and related materials, hardware or equipment necessary to the process by which wind is converted into another form of energy such as thermal, electrical, mechanical or chemical, and such energy is stored, protected from unnecessary dissipation and distributed for private and/or commercial purposes. Wind power generating facility shall include related and associated structures used to house or enclose all or part of such facilities.
[Added 3-21-2002 by L.L. No. 2-2002]
YARD
An open space located on the same lot with a structure, unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground up, except for accessory structures, or such projections as are expressly permitted in this chapter.
YARD, FRONT
The space within and extending the full width of the lot from the road line to the part of the principal building which is nearest to such road line. If a lot adjoins two or more roads, it shall be deemed to have a front yard respectively on each.
YARD, REAR
The space within and extending the full width of the lot from the rear lot line to the part of the principal building which is nearest to such lot line.
YARD, SIDE
The space within the lot extending the full distance from the front yard to the rear yard and from the side lot line to the part of the principal building which is nearest to such side lot line.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
A board appointed by the Town Board pursuant to § 267 of the Town Law to hear and decide appeals of this chapter.
ZONING OFFICER
Any person appointed by the Town Board to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
ZONING PERMIT
A permit issued by the Zoning Officer certifying that all plans for the use and development of land comply with the regulations of this chapter and granting permission to commence development activities in conformity with the conditions of the approved permit.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[3]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "light industry," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 7-18-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996.
[4]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[5]
Editor's Note: The former definitions of “sign,” “sign, advertising or billboard” and “sign, business,” which immediately followed this definition, were repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I). See now § 250-54.