A. 
Purpose of Lot Area Requirements for Non-Residential Development
Minimum lot area requirements are not imposed on non-residential development within Commercial and Industrial Districts (TC, EC, I-1, RC and MC) in order to promote the efficient utilization of these properties for revenue-producing uses. Minimum lot area requirements are imposed for non-residential uses within the Rural and Residential Districts (FFD, RCD, and RD) to ensure that the use of property does not infringe on the rights of neighbors.
B. 
Purpose of Setback Requirements for Non-Residential Development
1. 
The purpose of setbacks for non-residential development is to help maintain an attractive appearance along roadways, to allow room for screening, for light and air, and to serve as filtration areas for stormwater run-off.
a. 
Setbacks from roads are needed to ensure safe distances and good visibility between buildings and traffic.
b. 
Side and rear setbacks are needed to protect adjacent properties if uses are not compatible and to provide room for emergency vehicle access, maintenance, and screening where needed.
TABLE 6-1
MINIMUM LOT AREA & SETBACK REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES & USES[1]
[Amended 3-25-2008; 5-12-2009; 5-22-2013]
Use
District[2]
Minimum Lot Area
Minimum Depth of Front Setback
(in Feet)
Minimum Width of Each Rear[3] & Side Setback
(in Feet)
Non-Residential Buildings & Uses (does not include signs[4], fences or uses that have lot area and/or setbacks specified as conditions in Article 3)
TC, EC, I-1, RC & MC
No minimum lot area
100 feet from arterial roads;
50 feet from collector roads;
35 feet from local roads
50 feet5,6
FFD, RCD, and RD outside 1-mile radius of TCs
3 acres
100 feet from arterial roads;
60 feet from all other roads
50 feet[5],[6]
RD inside 1-mile radius of TCs
1 acre
100 feet from arterial roads;
35 feet from all other roads
35 feet5,6
Parking Lots
All
N/A
35 feet from arterial roads;
20 feet from all other roads
20 feet5,6
Utility Service Boxes
FFD, RCD
N/A
30 feet
5 feet
All Others
N/A
15 feet
5 feet
Bus Shelters
All
N/A
15 feet[7]
Side Setbacks: 2 feet[8]; Rear Setbacks: N/A
Fences
All
N/A
0 feet
0 feet
[1]
Note: Landscaping, buffering and screening may be required in addition to the setbacks specified in this table. See Section 6-5.
[2]
Abbreviations for Districts: Farm and Forest District (FFD); Rural Community District (RCD); Residential (RD); Light Industrial (I-1); Rural Commercial (RC); Marine Commercial (MC); Employment Center (EC); and Town Center (TC).
[3]
In cases where a single parcel, owned by a single entity, is divided into more than one Zoning District, the Zoning District boundary may be used as the rear setback.
[4]
See Section 6-8.03.G for sign setbacks.
[5]
May be reduced by the P.C. Administrator to 0 feet if: (1) the adjoining property is zoned TC, EC, I-1, RC, or MC; and (2) emergency vehicle access and maintenance are properly addressed; and (3) screening (existing or proposed) is determined to be adequate by the P.C. Administrator.
[6]
Setbacks may be reduced to 0 feet for adjacent properties under the same ownership.
[7]
Front setbacks for bus shelters may be reduced to 0' if the Dept. of Public Works & the Dept. of Public Safety certify that the reduction will not adversely affect public safety.
[8]
Side setbacks for bus shelters may be reduced to 0' when written approval is obtained from the adjoining property owner on lots containing a lot stem of 25' or less.
No building or structure shall exceed 40 feet, plus the roof, except as follows:
A. 
A height of 50 feet, plus the roof, shall be permitted in the RD, I-1, EC, and TC Districts (unless otherwise specified by the Town Center Zoning Ordinance) if the property is served by a water supply system which is capable of providing adequate supply for fire protection, is certified by the agency providing fire protection, and is in compliance with Article 38A, Annotated Code of Maryland.
B. 
Fire towers, hose towers, cooling towers, steeples, flag poles, silos, smokestacks, masts, transmission line poles and towers, water tanks, commercial power generating facilities, and monuments are exempt from height restrictions unless used for the purpose of camouflaging or concealing wireless communications facilities such as towers or antennas. Towers, antennas and wind energy systems (i.e., windmills) shall be subject to the requirements of Section 3-3 of this Ordinance.
[Amended 10-13-2010]
C. 
A clock tower or cupola containing no more than 150 square feet may exceed the height regulations by no more than 12 feet.
D. 
Refer to Chapter 95, Public Safety, of the Calvert County Code for regulations regarding noninterference with Emergency Communication's microwave system.
[Added 11-27-2023 by Ord. No. 44-23]