The regulations set forth by this article shall be minimum regulations
and shall apply uniformly to each class of land use or kind of structure,
except as provided herein.
[Amended 10-15-2019 by Ord. No. 278-08-2019]
A. Unless otherwise indicated in Article
IV, Use Regulations, the following requirements shall apply to accessory structures.
B. Attached structures. An accessory structure, attached to the principal
building, is considered a part of the principal building for all regulatory
purposes.
C. Detached structures. A detached structure, standing apart from the principal structure, may be built or placed in a side yard or rear yard, provided that such accessory structure shall be set back at least 10 feet from any lot line. Except as provided in Subsection
C(1) and
(2), no accessory structure [except agricultural roadside stands (see §
195-18D) and school bus shelters] shall be built within any front yard unless authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board.
(1) Detached structures shall be permitted by right in front yards so
long as they are set back from any street line at least 100 feet.
(2) In addition to Subsection
C(1), an accessory structure shall be permitted in the front yard in the AP and RAC Districts if the accessory building will be located:
(a)
At least 200 feet from any dwelling other than one owned by
the owner of the accessory structure; or
(b)
On a principal agricultural lot containing at least 30 acres,
and if the structure will be at least 100 feet from any residential
district boundary and at least 100 feet from the property line of
an existing dwelling not owned by the owner of the accessory building.
D. Fences and walls. The following regulations shall apply to the height
and location of fences and walls.
(1) No fence or wall (except a retaining wall, a wall of a building under the terms of this chapter, or a wall or fence in accordance with Article
IV, Use Regulations, of this chapter) shall be erected to a height of more than four feet in the required minimum front yard area and more than six feet in any other yard area in any district, other than the HC and I Districts. See also Subsection D(1)(e)[4] below.
(2) No fence or wall (except a retaining wall, a wall of a building under the terms of this chapter, or a wall or fence in accordance with Article
III, District Regulations, and Article
IV, Use Regulations, of this chapter) shall be erected to a height of more than nine feet in any yard in the HC and I Districts. See also Subsection D(1)(e)[4] below.
(3) No fencing shall be erected which inhibits the sight distance at
a street intersection or driveway or the clear sight triangle as established
in this chapter.
(4) Fences shall be permitted within all setbacks, subject to the following:
(a)
In side and rear yards, fences must be placed on the applicant's
property, unless there is an agreement between abutting lot owners
to share a fence placed over the property line. Fences shall not be
placed within a street right-of-way.
(b)
In front yards, a fence must be set back at least three feet
from the front lot line as defined in this chapter, but in no event
shall any fence in a front yard interfere with sight lines along the
street, or a clear sight triangle for any intersections, driveways,
or access drives.
(c)
On corner lots, the portion of the lot which would constitute
a side or rear yard as defined in this chapter, but for the location
of the street, will be treated as and considered a side or rear yard
for purposes of placement and height of fences.
(d)
The minimum setback requirements of this Subsection
D(4) shall not apply to fences surrounding or enclosing agricultural uses, regardless of the district, except the sight line provisions of Subsection
D(4)(b) shall apply.
(e)
Additional fence standards.
[1]
Fences shall not be placed within a public street right-of-way.
[2]
No fence shall be placed over or on top of any buried utilities
(including gas, water, or electric lines) or public improvements or
facilities (such as sewer or stormwater lines or facilities) without
the express consent of the Township, or, if appropriate along state
roads, the commonwealth.
[3]
It shall be the responsibility of the person placing any fence
or the owner, if different, to determine the existence or location
of such utilities, improvements or facilities before beginning any
digging for such fences, by first calling Pennsylvania One-Call, or
its successor, and all such other entities as may be necessary to
determine the existence and location of such utilities, improvements
or facilities.
[4]
A fence height of up to 12 feet shall be allowed to enclose
an electric substation, hazardous materials, gas compressor station
or closely similar facilities that represent safety hazards.
[Amended 9-20-2016 by Ord. No. 272-09-2016]
A. The customary accessory keeping of animals is permitted by right
in all districts.
B. No use shall involve the keeping of animals or fowl in such a manner
or of such types of animals that it creates a serious nuisance (including
noise or odor), a health hazard or a public safety hazard. The owner
of the animals shall be responsible for collecting and properly disposing
of all fecal matter from pets, and keeping food in manner that avoids
rodent and insect problems.
C. Horses and similarly sized animals.
(1) In the R-1, R-2, R-3 and VC Districts, boarding of horses not owned
by property owners or property residents shall only be allowed on
a lot of more than 10 acres. See separate standards for commercial
riding schools and horse boarding stables, which are allowed in certain
districts.
(2) In all districts, horses and similar sized animals may be kept for
personal recreation use in accordance with the following requirements:
(a)
The minimum lot size for the keeping of one horse or similarly
sized animal for personal recreation shall be 2.5 acres. A minimum
of one acre shall be accessible to the horse or similar sized animal.
(b)
One additional horse or similar sized animal shall be allowed
for every acre over 2.5 acres.
(3) The owner of the property shall be responsible for taking all reasonable
steps to prevent any manure or other waste materials from the animals
from leaving the owner's property, and shall take all reasonable steps
to minimize the impact of dust, flies, and other negative impacts
on adjoining properties.
(4) All areas accessible to or to be used by the horses or similar sized
animals shall be surrounded by and enclosed within a fence of sufficient
construction and strength to keep the horses within the enclosed area,
and all buildings or structures used, or intended for use, as shelters
for the animals shall be within the enclosed areas, or shall constitute
a portion of the enclosure.
D. Animals that are less than six months in age are not regulated in
number by this section. Animals must be kept on the property that
is owned or leased by the keeper of the animals, unless advance permission
has been granted by the affected landowner.
E. A maximum combined total of six dogs and/or cats shall be permitted
to be kept by residents of each dwelling unit or by occupants of any
nonresidential lot.
(1) Any greater number of dogs and/or cats shall need approval as a "kennel."
(2) No limit shall apply to the number of cats kept for rodent control
on a farm of more than 15 acres.
F. Up to eight fowl may be kept as an accessory use on a residential
lot of more than 6,000 square feet. A maximum of one pig, goat, sheep
or similar animal of up to 150 pounds may be kept as an accessory
residential use on a lot of more than one acre.
G. In no case shall the total weight of all animals on a lot of less
than five acres exceed an average of 1,000 pounds per acre. The Township
may rely upon average weights for various animals in reference sources,
such as is published by the Penn State University Cooperative Extension
Service.
H. Any shelter that is detached from a dwelling or manure storage areas
for animals averaging less than 100 pounds in weight each shall be
kept a minimum of 25 feet from the lot line of an adjacent dwelling.
Any shelter that is detached from a dwelling or manure storage area
for animals averaging more than 100 pounds in weight shall be setback
a minimum of 75 feet from the lot line of an adjacent dwelling.
I. Any keeping of "exotic wildlife" (as defined by the Pennsylvania
Game and Wildlife Code) or any keeping of bears, wolves, wolf-dog
hybrids, or venomous snakes shall need special exception approval
and a state exotic wildlife possession permit (if applicable). The
applicant shall have the burden of proof to show that such animal
will not create nuisances or hazards to others.
All exterior lighting shall be arranged and shielded to prevent
objectionable illumination or glare upon adjoining properties and/or
public right-of-way. The maximum spillover of light onto a residential
lot in a residential, AP, RAC or VC District shall be 0.5 horizontal
footcandles. See additional requirements regarding exterior lighting
in the Township SALDO.
No principal building or accessory building or structure shall be erected, structurally altered or relocated on land which is not adequately drained at all times. In addition, all work must conform to the Township Stormwater Management Ordinance (Chapter
158 of the Code of the Township of North Codorus, Pennsylvania).
No land or building in any district shall be used or occupied
in such a manner so as to create any dangerous or objectionable elements
in such amount as to adversely affect the surrounding area or premises.
All uses of land or building shall initially and continuously comply
with all applicable performance standards established by federal and
state agencies.
See the provisions in the Township Subdivision and Land Development
Ordinance.