City of Altoona, PA District Provisions

Residential uses.

Single-household detached dwellings.

Group homes for a class of people protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, or their amendments. (Such classes include the elderly, the homeless, recovering drug addicts, persons with AIDS, the mentally challenged, and the mentally ill).

Halfway houses for a class of people protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, or their amendments.

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the above use.

Nonresidential uses.

Cemeteries.

Forestry activities.

Governmental facilities.

Houses of worship.

Minor-impact home-based businesses.

Parks, playgrounds, and open space.

Public utility transmission and distribution lines, substations, water pumping stations, and reservoirs.

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the permitted nonresidential uses in this section.

Special exceptions. The following uses may be permitted by the Zoning Hearing Board if it finds the conditions listed for the use are met:

[Amended 2-13-2019 by Ord. No. 5741; 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748]

Bus shelters.

Shall not impair sight distances at intersections or otherwise pose a hazard to moving traffic.

Shall not contain advertising of any kind except identification of the bus company and a posting of relevant schedule and service information.

Shall be perpetually maintained and kept clean and sanitary. This guarantee can be made through an agreement or other binding legal instrument.

Shall not be placed on private property without the owner's consent.

Shall be completely removed and the site restored to its original condition if the location no longer warrants a shelter. This guarantee can be made through an agreement or other binding legal instrument.

Shall not interfere with adjacent property owners' use and enjoyment of property.

Educational services.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

Proposed traffic will not severely change the residential nature of the neighborhood, and all public and private roads (existing and proposed) serving the site shall be of adequate design and width to handle such traffic.

There shall be no exterior loudspeaker systems or other audible signals which can be heard at the property line.

Signs shall be limited to one freestanding identification sign per street on which the facility has frontage and access and one wall sign. Traffic signs shall be permitted as necessary through the land development process.

Public libraries and museums.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

There shall be no exterior loudspeaker systems or other audible signals which can be heard at the property line.

The facilities shall not hold public gathering functions unless specifically permitted by the Zoning Hearing Board. If such function is granted, it shall be conditional on the applicant's ability to comply with the provisions of Part 7.

Major-impact home-based businesses.

Shall not alter the residential appearance of the building or any accessory buildings.

The business shall be owned and operated by the person (or a member of his or her immediate family) owning and occupying the premises on which the business is to be conducted.

Not more than one nonfamily member is on the premises at any given time who assists or engages in the business.

Any use of space outside of the principal structure shall be screened from the street and abutting properties. If the business does not trigger the requirements of Chapter 640, the Zoning Hearing Board shall apply the standards contained in Chapter 640 to the business.

Traffic shall not be noticeably increased above that normally associated with a single-household dwelling.

Bed-and-breakfast facilities.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

Off-street parking shall be provided at a ratio of one parking space per available room. This shall be in addition to the required parking for a single-family dwelling. The Zoning Hearing Board may approve off-site parking to accommodate this requirement as part of the approval of the special exception for the bed-and-breakfast.

Lodging shall not be rented for more than one month for any given person in any six-month period.

The property owner must use the building as his or her principal residence and manage the bed-and-breakfast.

The area reserved for the owner's residence and the bed-and-breakfast areas shall be connected internally, and each shall share a common main entrance.

As part of any approval, the Zoning Hearing Board may require an applicant for a bed-and-breakfast to sign an affidavit certifying that the applicant agrees to these provisions and agrees to uphold them for as long as the bed-and-breakfast is in operation.

Accessory structures on adjacent lots in common ownership.

The size, scale and type of structure is normally associated with a single-family home in the affected neighborhood.

No public street runs between the principal structure and the proposed accessory structure. An alley shall not be considered a street for this finding.

The structure is designed so that it cannot be converted into a second dwelling unit or other principal use unless it is to be directly attached and fully integrated into the principal structure for use by a member of the immediate family of the occupant of the principal structure.

The involved parcels of land are legally tied together such that they cannot be individually conveyed into separate ownership until the accessory structure(s) approved under this subsection have been fully removed.

Student home. Student homes are permitted in all zoning districts that allow residential uses, pursuant to district provisions applicable for one (single) family and twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house dwelling use. However, student homes are permitted only when all of the following standards are met:

The maximum number of occupants permitted in a student home shall be determined, as it is for all dwellings, by Chapter Four, Section 404 ("Occupancy Limitations") of the applicable version of the International Property Maintenance Code. A Building Inspector from the City's Inspections Department will determine this number at his or her initial inspection.

No student home shall be located on a lot any portion of which is closer than 300 feet to another lot used for a student home.

No more than one dwelling unit in a twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house dwelling may be used as a student home.

No more than one building on a lot may be used as a student home.

A minimum of two paved parking spaces shall be provided per dwelling unit in driveways or off-street parking areas, plus one space for every student over four students. All off-street parking must be provided on the same parcel as the student home.

No student home shall be occupied or used as such until a zoning permit and residential rental unit license have been issued. Plans showing the lot layout, parking area, landscaping, interior rooms, and floor area dimensions are required.

Commercial uses. New office, retail, restaurant uses, and these uses mixed with residences may be established in existing former commercial, public school and industrial buildings and government facilities within this district so long as the Zoning Hearing Board does the following. Note that this special exception is to be used to allow the reuse and preservation of existing buildings and not new construction. Former buildings that have already been converted to residences are not eligible for this special exception.

Finds a demonstrated history of the building being used for commercial, retail, office, public school, governmental, or industrial purposes.

Finds exterior features of the building demonstrating that it was designed for commercial, retail, office, public school, governmental, or industrial purposes. The essential architectural character of the building is to be preserved.

Finds that converting the building into a conforming permitted use or activity would be cost-prohibitive.

Finds that the proposed use of the building is similar to the use for which the building was designed and used, or will have less of an impact than that use — especially on traffic and parking.

Finds that the required public notice was given.

Finds that enough parking exists on site and on the adjacent streets and avenues so that the activity proposed for the building will not compete with the surrounding neighborhood's parking needs. In counting the number of parking spaces available for the building, the on-street spaces adjacent to its lot shall be counted. Estimates of parking needs shall not exceed those set forth in Chapter 640.

Sets reasonable limits on the hours of operation, number of employees, noise levels, and odors of the proposed business.

Requires that the building not be expanded more than 20% of its existing height or footprint unless this is otherwise required by building codes. Note that all existing lot coverage and setback requirements shall apply.

Finds that the traffic and deliveries generated by the proposed business will not significantly change the residential nature of the neighborhood, and all public and private roads (existing and proposed) serving the site shall be of adequate design and width to handle such traffic.

Requires that no exterior loudspeaker systems or other audible signals which can be heard at the property line will be used.

Finds that signage will be limited to either the building's existing signage or one wall sign per each street frontage not exceeding 10 square feet. Traffic signs shall be permitted as necessary through the land development process, and off-premises outdoor advertising shall be prohibited on such buildings.

Hears staff recommendations on the above requirements.

As part of any approval, the Zoning Hearing Board may attach any reasonable conditions and safeguards, in addition to the requirements of this chapter, that it deems necessary to protect the surrounding neighborhood from the impacts of the building being reused.

As part of any approval, the Zoning Hearing Board may require the applicant to sign an affidavit certifying that the applicant agrees to these provisions and agrees to uphold them and any other conditions imposed by the Board for as long as the business is in operation.

Conditional uses: none.

Prohibited uses. Any use not complying with the specifications of this article is prohibited, including off-site parking.

Height. The height of a building shall not be greater than 35 feet. The height of a dwelling shall be not less than one story.

Area. The lot area per dwelling unit shall not be less than 6,000 square feet.

Coverage. The coverage shall be no more than 50%.

Width. The lot width at the building line shall not be less than 50 feet.

Frontage. All lots shall have a minimum of 50 feet frontage on a street that meets PennDOT and/or current subdivision and land development standards.

Setbacks.

Each lot shall have setbacks of not less than the depth or width indicated below:

Location	Setback Characteristic	Lot Characteristics	Minimum Setback (feet)
Front	Depth	—	20 or the average front setback distance on the property's block, whichever is less
Rear	Depth	—	30
Side	Width	Interior lot	10
Side	Width	Corner lot nonstreet	10
Side	Width	Corner lot abutting a street	20

Additions to an existing building may be built in line with that building in side yards so long as:

The addition does not encroach any further into the side yard than the existing building already does; and

The addition does not encroach on any front or rear setback requirements.

Accessory structures.

An accessory structure and/or swimming pool shall not be erected nor shall its dimensions be increased in front of the main structure.

An accessory structure, patio and/or swimming pool may be erected within the rear yard or side yard, provided that the height, area, width and coverage requirements contained in this section and the following are met:

An accessory structure shall be erected according to the following setbacks:

	Setback From	Minimum Setback
	Rear of principal structure	10 feet
	Side lot line with lot width 25 feet or less	18 inches
	Side lot line with lot width greater than 25 feet	3 feet
	Rear lot line	7 feet

Permitted setback encroachments.

Cornices, eaves, gutters, bay windows, or chimneys may encroach into the required setback of a lot not more than 24 inches. However, no cornices, eaves, gutters, bay windows, or chimneys may be closer than 3 1/2 feet from any side lot line.

A covered carport or covered patio or porch open on three sides may be erected within one of the side yards or rear yard when attached to a main structure existing at the effective date of this chapter, provided the covered carport or covered patio or porch open on three sides shall be not less than one foot from the side or rear lot line and shall never be enclosed.

A wheelchair ramp or lift may be installed within setbacks if it is approved by the Zoning Hearing Board as a special exception using the following conditions: the structure has no other available means of ADA access, the incursion into the setback is as small as possible, and the owner agrees to remove the ramp or lift when it is no longer needed and the City requests the removal. As always, the Zoning Hearing Board may attach additional conditions.

[Added 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

Off-street parking. Parking for the uses in the Suburban Residential Zone shall be as follows:

Residential uses not subject to land development review under Chapter 640 shall be provided with a minimum of one and a maximum of three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Minor-impact home-based businesses shall neither increase nor decrease the number of spaces required for the property.

Uses governed by a land development review under Chapter 640 shall meet the parking requirements established as a result of the requisite review.

All other uses shall be provided with a minimum of one off-street parking space and a maximum of four off-street parking spaces.

Signs. Signs, when provided, shall conform to those regulations contained in Article VI of this chapter, Signs.

Floodplains. All permitted uses located within a floodplain as identified on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps must comply with the provisions and requirements of Chapter 362.

Buffer yards and screening. Where a nonresidential use is established either abutting or adjoining a residential use, a buffer yard not less than five feet in width shall be provided along the lot lines of the nonresidential use. In addition, the buffer yard shall be in compliance with any decision rendered by the Zoning Hearing Board under a variance or special exception or the Planning Commission under a land development review.

Fences and walls.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in any residential district within the setbacks, provided that:

Any wall or fence forward of the front yard setback shall not exceed four feet in height. Commercial businesses or institutions may build security fences up to 10 feet in height forward of the front setback line if the fences are at least 50% open and do not block visibility at intersections.

Any fence in the rear yard or side yard shall be permitted a maximum height of seven feet. Such fences may extend upward a maximum height of 10 feet if the fence is at least 50% open.

This provision shall not apply to retaining walls or vegetated screening.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in front yards, provided that the provisions of § 800-39, Obstruction to vision, and Subsection R(1)(a) of this section are met.

Barbed wire, razor wire and aboveground electric fences shall not be permitted.[1]

Former Subsection R(4), regarding a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748.

§ 800-48 R-SH Single-Household Residential Zone.

Purpose. The purpose of this zone is to provide areas within the City for the development of medium, low density, primarily residential single-household detached homes, and to protect those areas presently developed in this manner.

Permitted uses.

Residential uses.

Single-household detached dwellings.

Halfway houses for a class of people protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, or their amendments.

Row house/townhouse dwellings on lots of at least 1/2 acre.

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the above use.

Nonresidential uses.

Cemeteries.

Forestry activities.

Governmental facilities.

Houses of worship.

Minor-impact home-based businesses.

Parks, playgrounds, and open space.

Public utility transmission and distribution lines, substations, water pumping stations, and reservoirs.

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the permitted nonresidential uses in this section.

Special exceptions. The following uses may be permitted by the Zoning Hearing Board if it finds the conditions listed for the use are met. The Zoning Hearing Board may work in conjunction with the Planning Commission and its responsibilities under Chapter 640 in granting approval.

Bus shelters.

Shall not impair sight distances at intersections or otherwise pose a hazard to moving traffic.

Shall not contain advertising of any kind except identification of the bus company and a posting of relevant schedule and service information.

Shall be perpetually maintained and kept clean and sanitary. This guarantee can be made through an agreement or other binding legal instrument.

Shall not be placed on private property without the owner's consent.

Shall not interfere with adjacent property owners' use and enjoyment of property.

Educational services.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

There shall be no exterior loudspeaker systems or other audible signals which can be heard at the property line.

Public libraries and museums.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

There shall be no exterior loudspeaker systems or other audible signals which can be heard at the property line.

Major-impact home-based businesses.

Shall not alter the residential appearance of the building or any accessory buildings.

The business shall be owned and operated by the person (or a member of his or her immediate family) owning and occupying the premises on which the business is to be conducted.

Not more than one nonfamily member is on the premises at any given time who assists or engages in the business.

Traffic shall not be noticeably increased above that normally associated with a single-household dwelling.

Bed-and-breakfast facilities.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

Lodging shall not be rented for more than one month for any given person in any six-month period.

The property owner must use the building as his or her principal residence and manage the bed-and-breakfast.

The area reserved for the owner's residence and the bed-and-breakfast areas shall be connected internally, and each shall share a common main entrance.

Accessory structures on adjacent lots in common ownership.

The size, scale and type of structure is normally associated with a single-family home in the affected neighborhood.

No public street runs between the principal structure and the proposed accessory structure. An alley shall not be considered a street for this finding.

Student home. Student homes are permitted in all zoning districts that allow residential uses, pursuant to district provisions applicable for one (single) family and twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house family dwelling use. However, student homes are permitted only when all of the following standards are met:

The maximum number of occupants permitted in a student home shall be determined, as it is for all dwellings, by Chapter Four, Section 404 ("Occupancy Limitations") of the applicable version of the International Property Maintenance Code. A Building Inspector from the City's Inspections. Department will determine this number at his or her initial inspection.

No student home shall be located on a lot any portion of which is closer than 250 feet to another lot used for a student home.

No more than one dwelling unit in a twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house dwelling may be used as a student home.

No more than one building on a lot may be used as a student home.

Commercial uses. New office, retail, restaurant uses, and these uses mixed with residences may be established in existing former commercial public school and industrial buildings and government facilities within this district so long as the Zoning Hearing Board does the following. Note that this special exception is to be used to allow the reuse and preservation of existing buildings and not new construction. Former buildings that have already been converted to residences are not eligible for this special exception.

[Amended 2-13-2019 by Ord. No. 5741]

Finds a demonstrated history of the building being used for commercial, retail, office, public school, governmental, or industrial purposes.

Finds that converting the building into a conforming permitted use or activity would be cost-prohibitive.

Finds that the proposed use of the building is similar to the use for which the building was designed and used, or will have less of an impact than that use, especially on traffic and parking.

Finds that the required public notice was given.

Sets reasonable limits on the hours of operation, number of employees, noise levels, and odors of the proposed business.

Requires that no exterior loudspeaker systems or other audible signals which can be heard at the property line will be used.

Hears staff recommendations on the above requirements.

Off-site parking.

No space exists on the principal lot for adequate parking.

The center of the lot is within 400 feet of the principal use.

Space is sufficient to allow full compliance with the land development standards set forth in Chapter 640.

The lot will not allow the principal use to exceed the maximum parking allowances set forth in the land development standards.

The installation of parking at this location will not have a deleterious effect on the overall neighborhood in terms of residential stability and economic development.

The installation of the parking facility will not necessitate the demolition of a viable and structurally sound building.

Conditional uses: none.

Prohibited uses. Any use not complying with the specifications of this article is prohibited.

Height. The height of a structure shall be not greater than 35 feet. The height of a dwelling unit shall be not less than one story.

Area. The lot area per dwelling unit shall not be less than 3,000 square feet.

Coverage. The coverage shall be no more than 50%.

Width. The lot width at the building line shall not be less than 25 feet.

Frontage. All lots shall have a minimum of 25 feet frontage on a street that meets PennDOT and/or current subdivision and land development standards.

Setbacks.

Each lot shall have setbacks of not less than the depth or width indicated below:

Location	Setback Characteristic	Lot Characteristics	Minimum Setback (feet)
Front	Depth	—	15 or the average front setback distance on the property's block, whichever is less
Rear	Depth	—	30
Side	Width	Interior lot	2
Side	Width	Corner lot nonstreet	2
Side	Width	Corner lot abutting a street	15

Additions to an existing building may be built in line with that building in side yards so long as:

The addition does not encroach any further into the side yard than the existing building already does; and

The addition does not encroach on any front or rear setback requirements.

Accessory structures.

An accessory structure and/or swimming pool shall not be erected nor shall its dimensions be increased in front of the main structure.

An accessory structure shall be erected according to the following setbacks:

	Setback From	Minimum Setback
	Rear of principal structure	10 feet
	Side lot line with lot width 25 feet or less	18 inches
	Side lot line with lot width 26 feet or greater	3 feet
	Rear lot line	7 feet

Permitted setback encroachments.

A covered carport or covered patio or porch open on three sides may be erected within one of the side yards or rear yard when attached to a main structure existing at the effective date of this chapter, provided the covered carport or covered patio or porch open on three sides shall be not less than 3 1/2 feet from the side or rear lot line and shall never be enclosed.

[Added 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

Off-street parking. Parking for the uses in the Single-Household Residential Zone shall be as follows:

Residential uses not subject to land development review under Chapter 640 shall be provided with a minimum of one and a maximum of three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Minor-impact home-based businesses shall neither increase nor decrease the number of spaces required for the property.

Uses governed by a land development review under Part 7 shall meet the parking requirements established as a result of the requisite review.

All other uses shall be provided with a minimum of one off-street parking space and a maximum of four off-street parking spaces.

Signs. Signs, when provided, shall conform to those regulations contained in Article VI of this chapter, Signs.

Floodplains. All permitted uses located within a floodplain as identified on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps must comply with the provisions and requirements of Chapter 362.

Fences and walls.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in any residential district within the setbacks, provided that:

Any fence in the rear yard or side yard shall be permitted a maximum height of seven feet. Such fences may extend upward a maximum height of 10 feet if the fence is at least 50% open.

This provision shall not apply to retaining walls or vegetated screening.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in front yards, provided that the provisions of § 800-39 Obstruction to vision, and Subsection R(1)(a) of this section are met.

Barbed wire, razor wire and aboveground electric fences shall not be permitted.[1]

Former Subsection R(4), regarding a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748.

§ 800-49 R-L Limited Residential Zone.

Permitted uses.

Residential uses.

Single-household detached dwellings.

Halfway houses for a class of people protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, or their amendments.

Row house/townhouse dwellings on lots of at least 1/2 acre.

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the above use.

Nonresidential uses.

Cemeteries.

Forestry activities.

Governmental facilities.

Houses of worship.

Minor-impact home-based businesses.

Parks, playgrounds, and open space.

Public utility transmission and distribution lines, substations, water pumping stations, and reservoirs.

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the permitted nonresidential uses in this section.

Bus shelters.

Shall not impair sight distances at intersections or otherwise pose a hazard to moving traffic.

Shall not contain advertising of any kind except identification of the bus company and a posting of relevant schedule and service information.

Shall be perpetually maintained and kept clean and sanitary. This guarantee can be made through an agreement or other binding legal instrument.

Shall not be placed on private property without the owner's consent.

Shall not interfere with adjacent property owners' use and enjoyment of property.

Educational services.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

There shall be no exterior loudspeaker systems or other audible signals which can be heard at the property line.

Public libraries and museums.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

There shall be no exterior loudspeaker systems or other audible signals which can be heard at the property line.

Major-impact home-based businesses.

Shall not alter the residential appearance of the building or any accessory buildings.

The business shall be owned and operated by the person (or a member of his or her immediate family) owning and occupying the premises on which the business is to be conducted.

Not more than one nonfamily member is on the premises at any given time who assists or engages in the business.

Traffic shall not be noticeably increased above that normally associated with a single-household dwelling.

Bed-and-breakfast facilities.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

Lodging shall not be rented for more than one month for any given person in any six-month period.

The property owner must use the building as his or her principal residence and manage the bed-and-breakfast.

The area reserved for the owner's residence and the bed-and-breakfast areas shall be connected internally, and each shall share a common main entrance.

Accessory structures on adjacent lots in common ownership.

The size, scale and type of structure is normally associated with a single-family home in the affected neighborhood.

No public street runs between the principal structure and the proposed accessory structure. An alley shall not be considered a street for this finding.

Student home. Student homes are permitted in all zoning districts that allow residential uses, pursuant to district provisions applicable for one (single) family and twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house family dwelling use. However, student homes are permitted only when all of the following standards are met:

No student home shall be located on a lot any portion of which is closer than 200 feet to another lot used for a student home.

No more than one dwelling unit in a twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house dwelling may be used as a student home.

No more than one building on a lot may be used as a student home.

[Amended 2-13-2019 by Ord. No. 5741]

Finds a demonstrated history of the building being used for commercial, retail, office, public school, governmental, or industrial purposes.

Finds exterior features of the building demonstrating that it was designed for commercial, retail, office, or industrial purposes. The essential architectural character of the building is to be preserved.

Finds that the proposed use of the building is similar to the use for which the building was designed and used or will have less of an impact than that use, especially on traffic and parking.

Finds that public notice was provided as required by law.

Finds that the applicant notified neighboring properties of the request before the Zoning Hearing Board.

Sets reasonable limits on the hours of operation, number of employees, noise levels, and odors of the proposed business.

Requires that no exterior loudspeaker systems or other audible signals which can be heard at the property line will be used.

Finds that signage will be limited to either the building's existing signage or one wall sign per each street frontage not exceeding 10 square feet. Traffic signs shall be permitted as necessary through the land development process, and new off-premises outdoor advertising shall be prohibited on such buildings.

Hears staff recommendations on the above requirements.

Off-site parking.

No space exists on the principal lot for adequate parking.

The center of the lot is within 400 feet of the principal use.

Space is sufficient to allow full compliance with the land development standards set forth in Chapter 640.

The lot will not allow the principal use to exceed the maximum parking allowances set forth in the land development standards.

The installation of parking at this location will not have a deleterious effect on the overall neighborhood in terms of residential stability and economic development.

The installation of the parking facility will not necessitate the demolition of a viable and structurally sound building.

Conditional uses: none.

Prohibited uses. Any use not complying with the specifications of this article is prohibited.

Height. The height of a structure shall not be greater than 35 feet and shall not be less than one story.

Area. The lot area per dwelling unit shall not be less than 2,725 square feet. The lot area per multifamily dwelling unit shall not be less than 2,160 square feet.

Coverage. The building coverage shall be no more than 50% of the lot's total area.

Width. The lot width at the building line shall not be less than 30 feet.

Frontage. The lot shall have a minimum frontage at the street right-of-way of 30 feet.

Setbacks. Each lot shall have setbacks of not less than the depth or width indicated below:

Location	Setback Characteristic	Lot Characteristics	Minimum Setback (feet)
Front	Depth	—	20 or the average front setback distance on the property's block, whichever is less
Rear	Depth	—	25
Side	Width	Interior lot	3
Side	Width	Corner lot nonstreet	3
Side	Width	Corner lot abutting a street	15

Low-rise apartments and townhouses: must meet the above front and rear setback requirements and meet the following side setback requirements:

No individual side yard setback will be required except for end-of-row dwellings. In such case, the side yards' setback shall be of a width not less than 20 feet total, with one side yard of at least eight feet in width. On a corner lot, the side yard abutting the street shall not be less than 20 feet in width, and the other side shall be not less than eight feet.

Additions to an existing building may be built in line with that building in side yards, so long as:

The addition does not encroach any further into the side yard than the existing building already does; and

The addition does not encroach on any front or rear setback requirements.

Accessory structures.

An accessory structure and/or swimming pool shall not be erected nor shall its dimensions be increased in front of the main structure.

An accessory structure shall be erected according to the following setbacks:

	Setback From	Minimum Setback (feet)
	Rear of principal structure	10
	Side lot line with lot width 25 feet or less	1 1/2
	Side lot line with lot width 26 feet or greater	3
	Rear lot line	7

Permitted setback encroachments.

[Added 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

Off-street parking. Parking for the uses in the Limited Residential Zone shall be as follows:

Residential uses not subject to land development review under Chapter 640 shall be provided with a minimum of one and a maximum of three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Minor-impact home-based businesses shall neither increase nor decrease the number of spaces required for the property.

Uses governed by a land development review under Chapter 640 shall meet the parking requirements established as a result of the requisite review.

All other uses shall be provided with a minimum of one off-street parking space and a maximum of four off-street parking spaces.

Signs. Signs, when provided, shall conform to those regulations contained in Article VI of this chapter, Signs.

Floodplains. All permitted uses located within a floodplain as identified on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps must comply with the provisions and requirements of Chapter 362.

Fences and walls.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in any residential district within the setbacks, provided that:

Any fence in the rear yard or side yard shall be permitted a maximum height of seven feet. Such fences may extend upward to a maximum height of 10 feet if the fence is at least 50% open.

This provision shall not apply to retaining walls or vegetated screening.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in front yards, provided that the provisions of § 800-39, Obstruction to vision, and Subsection R(1)(a) of this section are met.

Barbed wire, razor wire and aboveground electric fences shall not be permitted.[1]

Former Subsection R(4), regarding a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748.

§ 800-50 R-MH Multiple-Household Residential Zone.

Purpose. It is the purpose of this zone to provide areas for medium-density residential use, relatively small lot sizes, duplexes, townhomes, and attached as well as detached dwellings, while protecting the characteristics of these areas.

[Amended 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

Permitted uses.

Residential uses.

Single-household detached dwellings.

Two-household duplex, two-household double dwellings, or row houses/townhomes.

Halfway houses for a class of people protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, or their amendments.

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the permitted residential uses in this section.

Nonresidential uses.

Cemeteries.

Emergency shelters.

Forestry activities.

Governmental facilities.

Houses of worship.

Minor-impact home-based businesses.

Parks, playgrounds, and open space.

Public utility transmission and distribution lines, substations, water pumping stations, and reservoirs.

Shelters for victims of domestic abuse.

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the permitted nonresidential uses in this section.

Bus shelters.

Shall not impair sight distances at intersections or otherwise pose a hazard to moving traffic.

Shall not contain advertising of any kind except identification of the bus company and a posting of relevant schedule and service information.

Shall be perpetually maintained and kept clean and sanitary. This guarantee can be made through an agreement or other binding legal instrument.

Shall not be placed on private property without the owner's consent.

Shall not interfere with adjacent property owners' use and enjoyment of property.

Educational services.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

There shall be no exterior loudspeaker systems or other audible signals which can be heard at the property line.

Public libraries and museums.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

There shall be no exterior loudspeaker systems or other audible signals which can be heard at the property line.

Major-impact home-based businesses.

Shall not alter the residential appearance of the building or any accessory buildings.

The business shall be owned and operated by the person (or a member of his or her immediate family) owning and occupying the premises on which the business is to be conducted.

Not more than one nonfamily member is on the premises at any given time who assists or engages in the business.

Traffic shall not be noticeably increased above that normally associated with a single-household dwelling.

Bed-and-breakfast facilities.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

Lodging shall not be rented for more than one month for any given person in any six-month period.

The property owner must use the building as his or her principal residence and manage the bed-and-breakfast.

The area reserved for the owner's residence and the bed-and-breakfast areas shall be connected internally, and each shall share a common main entrance.

Accessory structures on adjacent lots in common ownership.

The size, scale and type of structure is normally associated with a single-family home in the affected neighborhood.

No public street runs between the principal structure and the proposed accessory structure. An alley shall not be considered a street for this finding.

Conversion apartments. Any single-family dwelling existing at the effective date of this chapter may be converted into a multifamily dwelling, providing that:

It does not exceed density standards.

The lot area per dwelling unit shall conform to the regulations for the zone in which it is located.

Fire escapes, where required, shall be in the rear of the structure and shall not be located on any wall facing a street.

Parking shall be provided in accordance with the provision of Subsection N of this section.

Student homes. Student homes are permitted in all zoning districts that allow residential uses, pursuant to district provisions applicable for one (single) family and twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house family dwelling use. However, student homes are permitted only when all of the following standards are met:

No student home shall be located on a lot any portion of which is closer than 200 feet to another lot used for a student home.

No more than one dwelling unit in a twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house dwelling may be used as a student home.

No more than one building on a lot may be used as a student home.

[Amended 2-13-2019 by Ord. No. 5741]

Finds a demonstrated history of the building being used for commercial, retail, office, public school, governmental, or industrial purposes.

Finds that converting the building into a conforming permitted use or activity would be cost-prohibitive.

Finds that the proposed use of the building is similar to the use for which the building was designed and used, or will have less of an impact than that use, especially on traffic and parking.

Finds that the required public notice was given.

Sets reasonable limits on the hours of operation, number of employees, noise levels, and odors of the proposed business.

Requires that no exterior loudspeaker systems or other audible signals which can be heard at the property line will be used.

Finds that signage will be limited to either the building's existing signage or one wall sign per each street frontage not exceeding 10 square feet. Traffic signs shall be permitted as necessary through the land development process, and new off-premises outdoor advertising shall be prohibited on such buildings.

Hears staff recommendations on the above requirements.

Off-site parking.

No space exists on the principal lot for adequate parking.

The center of the lot is within 400 feet of the principal use.

Space is sufficient to allow full compliance with the land development standards set forth in Chapter 640.

The lot will not allow the principal use to exceed the maximum parking allowances set forth in the land development standards.

The installation of parking at this location will not have a deleterious effect on the overall neighborhood in terms of residential stability and economic development.

The installation of the parking facility will not necessitate the demolition of a viable and structurally sound building.

Group homes for people not in a protected class.

[Added 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

The owner of the property agrees to the arrangement.

The facility may be single-room occupancy if all other codes governing such arrangements can be met.

The owner of the property shall agree to make himself readily available to neighbors and City representatives to discuss and correct any problems arising from this use of the property.

The rental does not impair the normal peace of the neighborhood.

The exterior of the property appears as a single- or two-family house.

There shall be no signs advertising the property other than a sign informing the public when a room may be available for rent.

All required licenses and certificates, including the certificate of occupancy, must be obtained before this special exception may be granted. In addition, the group home shall provide off-street parking as detailed by § 640-63 of this Code. Finally, it shall demonstrate adequate security measures to the Zoning Hearing Board.

Halfway houses for people not in a protected class.

[Added 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

The owner of the property agrees to the arrangement.

The facility may be single-room occupancy if all other codes governing such arrangements can be met.

The owner of the property shall agree to make himself readily available to neighbors and City representatives to discuss and correct any problems arising from this use of the property.

The rental does not impair the normal peace of the neighborhood.

The exterior of the property appears as a single- or two-family house.

There shall be no signs advertising the property other than a sign informing the public when a room may be available for rent.

Conditional uses. None.

[Amended 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

Prohibited uses. Any use not complying with the specifications of this article is prohibited.

Height. The height of a structure shall not be greater than 35 feet and shall not be less than one story.

Area. No lot shall be less than 2,725 square feet in area. The lot area per multifamily dwelling unit shall not be less than 2,160 square feet per unit.

Coverage. Building coverage shall be no more than 60% of the involved lot.

Width. Excepting row houses/townhomes, the lot width at the building line shall not be less than 25 feet.

Frontage. Excepting row houses/townhomes, the lot shall have a minimum of 25 feet frontage at the street right-of-way.

Setbacks. Each lot shall have setbacks of not less than the depth or width indicated below:

Location	Setback Characteristic	Lot Characteristics	Minimum Setback (feet)
Front	Depth	—	15 or the average front setback distance on the property's block, whichever is less
Rear	Depth	—	25
Side	Width	Interior lot	2
Side	Width	Corner lot nonstreet	2
Side	Width	Corner lot abutting a street	15

Low-rise apartments and townhouses must meet the above front and rear setback requirements and meet the following side setback requirements:

Additions to an existing building may be built in line with that building in side yards, so long as:

The addition does not encroach any further into the side yard than the existing building already does; and

The addition does not encroach on any front or rear setback requirements.

Accessory structures.

An accessory structure and/or swimming pool shall not be erected nor shall its dimensions be increased in front of the main structure.

An accessory structure shall be erected according to the following setbacks:

	Setback From	Minimum Setback (feet)
	Rear of principal structure	10
	Side lot line with lot width 25 feet or less	1 1/2
	Side lot line with lot width 26 feet or greater	3
	Rear lot line	7

Permitted setback encroachments.

[Added 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

Off-street parking. Parking for the uses in the Multiple-Household Residential Zone shall be as follows:

Residential uses not subject to land development review under Chapter 640 shall be provided with a minimum of one and a maximum of three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Minor-impact home-based businesses shall neither increase nor decrease the number of spaces required for the property.

Uses governed by a land development review under Chapter 640 shall meet the parking requirements established as a result of the requisite review.

All other uses shall be provided with a minimum of one off-street parking space and a maximum of four off-street parking spaces.

Signs. Signs, when provided, shall conform to those regulations contained in Article VI of this chapter, Signs.

Floodplains. All permitted uses located within a floodplain as identified on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps must comply with the provisions and requirements of Chapter 362.

Fences and walls.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in any residential district within the setbacks, provided that:

Any fence in the rear yard or side yard shall be permitted a maximum height of seven feet. Such fences may extend upward a maximum height of 10 feet if the fence is at least 50% open.

This provision shall not apply to retaining walls or vegetated screening.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in front yards, provided that the provisions of § 800-39, Obstruction to vision, and Subsection R(1)(a) of this section are met.

Barbed wire, razor wire and aboveground electric fences shall not be permitted.[1]

Former Subsection R(4), regarding a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748.

§ 800-51 R-U Urban Residential Zone.

Purpose. It is the purpose of this zone to provide areas of high-density residential use appropriate for the development of high-rise residential structures and dense lots with controls necessary for ensuring compatible development with other uses permitted in this zone.

Permitted uses.

Residential uses.

Apartment structure or group of structures on a single lot.

Multi-household dwelling units.

Single-household detached dwellings.

Townhouses.

Two-household or duplex dwellings, twin duplex, semidetached, or twin dwellings.

Halfway houses for a class of people protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, or their amendments.

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the permitted residential uses in this section.

Nonresidential uses.

(Reserved)[1]

Former Subsection B(2)(a), regarding boardinghouses and lodging houses, was repealed 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748.

Cemeteries.

Lower-floor commercial, provided such stores, shops, and offices are entirely contained and operated within the main walls of a structure containing at least 25,000 square feet of residential floor area above the grade level of the lot upon which it is located; and provided, further, that there shall be no entrances to such uses from the exterior of the structure.

Emergency shelters.

Forestry activities.

Funeral homes.

Governmental facilities.

Houses of worship.

Minor-impact home-based businesses.

Parks, playgrounds, and open space.

Public libraries and museums.

Public utility transmission and distribution lines, substations, water pumping stations, and reservoirs.

Educational services.

Shelters for victims of domestic abuse.

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the permitted nonresidential uses in this section.

Bus shelters.

Shall not impair sight distances at intersections or otherwise pose a hazard to moving traffic.

Shall not contain advertising of any kind except identification of the bus company and a posting of relevant schedule and service information.

Shall be perpetually maintained and kept clean and sanitary. This guarantee can be made through an agreement or other binding legal instrument.

Shall not be placed on private property without the owner's consent.

Shall not interfere with adjacent property owners' use and enjoyment of property.

Major-impact home-based businesses.

Shall not alter the residential appearance of the building or any accessory buildings.

The business shall be owned and operated by the person (or a member of his or her immediate family) owning and occupying the premises on which the business is to be conducted.

Not more than one nonfamily member is on the premises at any given time who assists or engages in the business.

Traffic shall not be noticeably increased above that normally associated with a single-household dwelling.

Accessory structures on adjacent lots in common ownership.

The size, scale and type of structure is normally associated with a single-family home in the affected neighborhood.

No public street runs between the principal structure and the proposed accessory structure. An alley shall not be considered a street for this finding.

Health services.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

Space is available on the property to accommodate the required number of off-street parking spaces required by Chapter 640 for health services. This shall be determined by allowing 350 square feet of area for each space in addition to the area consumed by the building. (The Board need not consider layout, actual number of spaces to be provided, or any other factor considered under Chapter 640, as this will be done by the Planning Commission. This calculation will simply allow enough space on the lot for the Planning Commission to do its job.)

Hours of operation shall not detract from the neighborhood.

Proposed traffic shall not severely change the residential nature of the neighborhood.

The use shall not produce any glare, noise, sound, fumes, odors, or other noxious elements that can be readily detected at the property line.

Bed-and-breakfast facilities.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

Lodging shall not be rented for more than one month for any given person in any six-month period.

The property owner must use the building as his or her principal residence and manage the bed-and-breakfast.

The area reserved for the owner's residence and the bed-and-breakfast areas shall be connected internally, and each shall share a common main entrance.

Institutionalized housing.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

The water and sewer system is able to provide the necessary service to the facility without impacting other utility customers.

The maximum number of residential units on the site shall be determined using such factors as the ability of the applicant to meet the standards set forth by zoning and land development, utility capacity, unit affordability for central Pennsylvania residents, and overall impact on the neighborhood.

No private unit shall be smaller than 300 square feet nor larger than 800 square feet.

Conversion apartments. Any single-family dwelling existing at the effective date of this chapter may be converted into a multifamily dwelling, providing that:

It does not exceed density standards.

The lot area per dwelling unit shall conform to the regulations for the zone in which it is located.

Fire escapes, where required, shall be in the rear of the structure and shall not be located on any wall facing a street.

Parking shall be provided in accordance with the provision of Subsection N of this section.

Off-site parking.

No space exists on the principal lot for adequate parking.

The center of the lot is within 400 feet of the principal use.

Space is sufficient to allow full compliance with the land development standards set forth in Chapter 640.

The lot will not allow the principal use to exceed the maximum parking allowances set forth in the land development standards.

The installation of parking at this location will not have a deleterious effect on the overall neighborhood in terms of residential stability and economic development.

The installation of the parking facility will not necessitate the demolition of a viable and structurally sound building.

Student homes. Student homes are permitted in all zoning districts that allow residential uses, pursuant to district provisions applicable for one- (single) family and twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house family dwelling use. However, student homes are permitted only when all of the following standards are met:

No student home shall be located on a lot any portion of which is closer than 200 feet to another lot used for a student home.

No more than one dwelling unit in a twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house dwelling may be used as a student home.

No more than one building on a lot may be used as a student home.

(10)

Group homes for people not in a protected class.

[Added 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

The owner of the property agrees to the arrangement.

The facility may be single-room occupancy if all other codes governing such arrangements can be met.

The owner of the property shall agree to make himself readily available to neighbors and City representatives to discuss and correct any problems arising from this use of the property.

The rental does not impair the normal peace of the neighborhood.

The exterior of the property appears as a single- or two-family house.

There shall be no signs advertising the property other than a sign informing the public when a room may be available for rent.

Halfway houses for people not in a protected class.

[Added 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

The owner of the property agrees to the arrangement.

The facility may be single-room occupancy if all other codes governing such arrangements can be met.

The owner of the property shall agree to make himself readily available to neighbors and City representatives to discuss and correct any problems arising from this use of the property.

The rental does not impair the normal peace of the neighborhood.

The exterior of the property appears as a single- or two-family house.

There shall be no signs advertising the property other than a sign informing the public when a room may be available for rent.

Emergency shelters.

[Added 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

The owner of the property agrees to the arrangement.

The facility may be single-room occupancy if all other codes governing such arrangements can be met.

The owner of the property shall agree to make himself readily available to neighbors and City representatives to discuss and correct any problems arising from this use of the property.

The rental does not impair the normal peace of the neighborhood.

The exterior of the property appears as a single- or two-family house.

Rooming house or boardinghouse.

[Added 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748]

Off-street paved parking spaces must be provided on the same lot as the rooming house or boardinghouse. One space, as described at § 640-63C(3)(a),[2] must be provided for every two beds or each room, whichever is greater.

Editor's Note: See Ch. 640, Subdivision of Land and Land Developments.

The maximum number of occupants permitted in a rooming house or boardinghouse shall be determined, as it is for all dwellings, by Chapter Four, Section 404, Occupancy Limitations, of the applicable version of the International Property Maintenance Code. However, this number shall not exceed the number of bedrooms with closets in the involved structure.

A rooming house or boardinghouse cannot be established on a lot smaller than 6,000 square feet.

An effective and acceptable plan for internal and external security and oversight must be provided to the Zoning Hearing Board for consideration and approval at the hearing.

For each rooming house or boardinghouse, a responsible party or property manager within 50 miles of Altoona must be identified before the Zoning Hearing Board.

The City Fire Department must inspect and approve each rooming house or boardinghouse according to their requirements before the hearing, and annually thereafter.

For each rooming house or boardinghouse, updated lists of tenant names, as well as the responsible party or property manager, must be provided to the Zoning Officer. Any change in residents or management must be so reported within 24 hours of the change. The property owner bears the onus for reporting this information as required.

All interior and exterior repairs to smoke/carbon dioxide detectors or other life/safety violations required by any City code must be made within 10 days of notice. All other required repairs must be made within 45 days of notice.

Conditional uses. None.

[Amended 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

Prohibited uses. Any use not complying with the specifications of this article is prohibited.

Height. The height of a structure shall not be greater than 150 feet and shall not be less than one story.

Area. No lot in this district shall have less than 2,725 square feet of area.

Coverage. Building coverage shall be no more than 70% of the involved parcel's area.

Width. The lot width at the building line shall not be less than 25 feet.

Frontage. The lot shall have a minimum of 25 feet frontage at the street right-of-way.

Setbacks. Each lot shall have setbacks of not less than the depth or width indicated below:

Location	Setback Characteristic	Lot Characteristics	Minimum Setback
Front	Depth	—	3 feet
Rear	Depth	—	15 feet
Side	Width	Interior lot	3 feet
Side	Width	Corner lot nonstreet	3 feet
Side	Width	Corner lot abutting a street	3 feet

Low-rise apartments and townhouses must meet the above front and rear setback requirements and meet the following side setback requirements:

For buildings of more than two stories, the width of every interior side yard shall increase by one foot for each additional story.

Additions to an existing building may be built in line with that building in side yards, so long as:

The addition does not encroach any further into the side yard than the existing building already does; and

The addition does not encroach on any front or rear setback requirements.

Accessory structures.

An accessory structure and/or swimming pool shall not be erected nor shall its dimensions be increased in front of the main structure.

An accessory structure shall be erected according to the following setbacks:

	Setback From	Minimum Setback (feet)
	Rear of principal structure	10
	Side lot line with lot width 25 feet or less	1 1/2
	Side lot line with lot width 26 feet or greater	3
	Rear lot line	7

Permitted setback encroachments.

[Added 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

Off-street parking. Parking for the uses in the Urban Residential Zone shall be as follows:

Residential uses not subject to land development review under Chapter 640 shall be provided with a minimum of one and a maximum of three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Minor-impact home-based businesses shall neither increase nor decrease the number of spaces required for the property.

Uses governed by a land development review under Chapter 640 shall meet the parking requirements established as a result of the requisite review.

All other uses shall be provided with a minimum of one off-street parking space and a maximum of four off-street parking spaces.

Signs. Signs, when provided, shall conform to those regulations contained in Article VI of this chapter, Signs.

Floodplains. All permitted uses located within a floodplain as identified on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps must comply with the provisions and requirements of Chapter 362.

Fences and walls.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in any residential district within the setbacks, provided that:

Any fence in the rear yard or side yard shall be permitted a maximum height of seven feet. Such fences may extend upward a maximum height of 10 feet if the fence is at least 50% open.

This provision shall not apply to retaining walls or vegetated screening.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in front yards, provided that the provisions of § 800-39, Obstruction to vision, and Subsection R(1)(a) of this section are met.

Barbed wire, razor wire and aboveground electric fences shall not be permitted.[3]

Former Subsection R(4), regarding a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748.

§ 800-52 M-RC Residential-Commercial Mixed Use Zone.

Purpose. It is the purpose of this zone to provide the intrusion of nonresidential uses in residential areas which are undergoing transition. These areas are predominantly residential but, due to environmental and physical features, are no longer prime residential areas. The permitted nonresidential uses are of a nature and controlled in such a way as to minimize their impacts on the existing residential use.

Permitted uses.

Residential uses.

Low-rise apartment structure or group of structures on a single lot.

Multi-household dwelling units.

Single-household detached dwellings.

Townhouses with not more than six units in a row.

Two-household or duplex dwellings, twin duplex, semidetached, or twin dwellings.

Halfway houses for a class of people protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, or their amendments.

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the permitted residential uses in this section.

Nonresidential uses.

(Reserved)[1]

Former Subsection B(2)(a), regarding boardinghouses and lodging houses, was repealed 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748.

Bus shelters.

Cemeteries.

Child day-care centers not exceeding 5,000 square feet in gross floor area.

Emergency shelters.

Forestry activities.

Funeral homes.

Governmental facilities.

Houses of worship.

Home-based businesses (both types).

Parks, playgrounds, and open space.

Professional and business offices not exceeding a five-thousand-square-foot building footprint.

Public libraries and museums.

Public utility transmission and distribution lines, substations, water pumping stations, and reservoirs.

Retail sales and services not exceeding a five-thousand-square-foot building footprint.

(p)

Educational services.

(q)

Professional service uses not exceeding a five-thousand-square-foot building footprint.

(r)

Shelters for victims of domestic abuse.

(s)

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the permitted nonresidential uses in this section.

Special exceptions.

Conversion apartments. Any single-family dwelling existing at the effective date of this chapter may be converted into a multifamily dwelling, providing that:

It does not exceed density standards.

The lot area per dwelling unit shall conform to the regulations for the zone in which it is located.

Fire escapes, where required, shall be in the rear of the building and shall not be located on any wall facing a street.

Parking shall be provided in accordance with the provision of Subsection O of this section.

Bed-and-breakfast facilities.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, etc.).

Lodging shall not be rented for more than one month for any given person in any six-month period.

The property owner must use the building as his or her principal residence and manage the bed-and-breakfast.

The area reserved for the owner's residence and the bed-and-breakfast areas shall be connected internally, and each shall share a common main entrance.

Accessory structures on adjacent lots in common ownership.

The size, scale and type of structure is normally associated with a single-family home in the affected neighborhood.

No public street runs between the principal structure and the proposed accessory structure. An alley shall not be considered a street for this finding.

Off-site parking.

No space exists on the principal lot for adequate parking.

The center of the lot is within 400 feet of the principal use.

Space is sufficient to allow full compliance with the land development standards set forth in Chapter 640.

The lot will not allow the principal use to exceed the maximum parking allowances set forth in the land development standards.

The installation of parking at this location will not have a deleterious effect on the overall neighborhood in terms of residential stability and economic development.

The installation of the parking facility will not necessitate the demolition of a viable and structurally sound building.

The maximum number of occupants permitted in a student home shall be determined, as it is for all dwellings, by Chapter Four. Section 404 ("Occupancy Limitations") of the applicable version of the International Property Maintenance Code. A Building Inspector from the City's Inspections Department will determine this number at his or her initial inspection.

No more than one dwelling unit in a twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house dwelling may be used as a student home.

No more than one building on a lot may be used as a student home.

An operation to clean and/or detail passenger vehicles (not vehicles primarily designed to haul goods/freight or buses) is permitted only when the following conditions are met as determined by the Zoning Hearing Board:

The entire operation is fully enclosed in a solid walled structure, including any storage; and

The entire operation does not exceed 5,000 square feet of gross floor area, including any storage; and

The operation emits no noise, dust, smoke, vibration, or odors detectable to reasonable human senses at the property line (excluding standard heating and cooling equipment, but including all washers or dryers used in the operation); and

The operation contains one paved off-street parking space per employee in addition to any other parking requirements stipulated by § 640-63 of the Code of the City of Altoona.

The architectural appearance of buildings in which the operation is located is of a scale and style that complements, is respectful of, and preserves the character of the surrounding neighborhood. The operation will not generate more traffic than the public street being accessed can accommodate, and alleys shall not be used to access the operation unless there is no alternative. The Zoning Hearing Board may require the operation to conduct a traffic study to verify the traffic information required; and

Hours of operation shall be set by the Zoning Hearing Board, but no activities or deliveries may occur at night, after dusk or before dawn.

Rooming house or boardinghouse.

[Added 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 640, Subdivision of Land and Land Developments.

A rooming house or boardinghouse cannot be established on a lot smaller than 6,000 square feet.

An effective and acceptable plan for internal and external security and oversight must be provided to the Zoning Hearing Board for consideration and approval at the hearing.

For each rooming house or boardinghouse, a responsible party or property manager within 50 miles of Altoona must be identified before the Zoning Hearing Board.

The City Fire Department must inspect and approve each rooming house or boardinghouse according to their requirements before the hearing, and annually thereafter.

Conditional uses: none.

Prohibited uses. Any use not complying with the specifications of this article is prohibited.

Height. The height of a structure shall not be greater than 50 feet and not less than one story.

Area. The lot area shall not be less than 3,000 square feet.

Coverage. The coverage shall be not more than 60%.

Intensity.

Each building footprint shall not exceed 5,000 square feet.

The perceived scale of the proposal shall not detract from the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

The appearance of the building shall be residential in character (i.e., gabled rooflines, wood siding or brick, an articulated footprint, varied facade, multistory, etc.).

Width. The lot width at the building line shall not be less than 25 feet.

Frontage. The lot shall have a minimum of 25 feet frontage at the street right-of-way.

Setbacks.

Each lot shall have setbacks of not less than the depth or width indicated below:

Location	Setback Characteristic	Lot Characteristic	Minimum Setback (feet)
Front	Depth	—	10 or the average front setback distance on the property's block, whichever is less
Rear	Depth	—	15
Side	Width	Interior lot	2
Side	Width	Corner lot nonstreet	2
Side	Width	Corner lot abutting a street	10

Additions to an existing building may be built in line with that building in side yards, so long as:

The addition does not encroach any further into the side yard than the existing building already does; and

The addition does not encroach on any front or rear setback requirements.

Accessory structures.

An accessory structure and/or swimming pool shall not be erected nor shall its dimensions be increased within any front yard.

An accessory structure shall be erected according to the following setbacks:

	Setback From	Minimum Setback (feet)
	Rear of principal structure	10
	Side lot line with lot width 25 feet or less	1 1/2
	Side lot line with lot width 26 feet or greater	3
	Rear lot line	7

Permitted setback encroachments.

[Added 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

Off-street parking. Parking for the uses in the Mixed Use Residential-Commercial Zone shall be as follows:

Residential uses not subject to land development review under Chapter 640 shall be provided with a minimum of one and a maximum of three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Minor-impact home-based businesses shall neither increase nor decrease the number of spaces required for the property.

Uses governed by a land development review under Chapter 640 shall meet the parking requirements established as a result of the requisite review.

All other uses shall be provided with a minimum of one off-street parking space and a maximum of four off-street parking spaces.

Signs. Signs, when provided, shall conform to those regulations contained in Article VI of this chapter, Signs.

Floodplains. All permitted uses located within a floodplain as identified on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps must comply with the provisions and requirements of Chapter 362.

Fences and walls.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in any mixed use district within the setbacks, provided that:

Any fence in the rear yard or side yard shall be permitted a maximum height of seven feet. Such fence may extend upward to a maximum height of 10 feet if the fence is at least 50% open.

This provision shall not apply to retaining walls or vegetated screening.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in front yards, provided that the provisions of § 800-39, Obstruction to vision, and Subsection S(1)(a) of this section are met.

Barbed wire, razor wire and aboveground electric fences shall not be permitted.[3]

Former Subsection S(4), regarding a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748.

§ 800-53 C-NB Neighborhood Business Commercial Zone.

Purpose. It is the purpose of this zone to provide areas adjacent to residential zones in which uses are permitted as are normally required for the convenient shopping and business of the residents of the area only.

Permitted uses.

Residential uses.

Low-rise apartment structure or group of structures on a single lot.

Multi-household dwelling units.

Single-household detached dwellings.

Townhouses.

Two-household or duplex dwellings, twin duplex, semidetached, or twin dwellings.

Halfway houses for a class of people protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, or their amendments.

Accessory buildings and uses on the same lot which are customarily incidental to the permitted residential uses in this section.

Nonresidential uses.

Overnight lodging.

[Amended 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748]

Bus shelters.

Cemeteries.

Child day-care centers.

Emergency shelters.

Funeral homes.

Forestry activities.

Governmental facilities.

Health services.

Houses of worship.

Home-based businesses (both types).

Eateries not exceeding 10,000 square feet in gross floor area.

Parks, playgrounds, and open space.

Professional and business offices not exceeding a ten-thousand-square-foot building footprint.

Cultural facilities.

(p)

Public utility transmission and distribution lines, substations, water pumping stations, and reservoirs.

(q)

Retail sales and services not exceeding an eight-thousand-square-foot building footprint.

(r)

Educational services.

(s)

Service uses not exceeding an eight-thousand-square-foot building footprint.

(t)

Shelters for victims of domestic abuse.

(u)

Accessory uses on the same lot and customarily incidental to the permitted uses, including:

Space for the overnight and/or weekend parking of commercial vehicles.

Other customary accessory uses and structures, including dwelling units, which are clearly incidental to the principal structure and use.

Special exceptions.

Conversion apartments. Any single-family dwelling existing at the effective date of this chapter may be converted into a multifamily dwelling, providing that:

It does not exceed density standards.

The lot area per dwelling unit shall conform to the regulations for the zone in which it is located.

Fire escapes, where required, shall be in the rear of the building and shall not be located on any wall facing a street.

Parking shall be provided in accordance with the provision of Subsection N.

Off-site parking.

No space exists on the principal lot for adequate parking.

The center of the lot is within 400 feet of the principal use.

Space is sufficient to allow full compliance with the land development standards set forth in Chapter 640.

The lot will not allow the principal use to exceed the maximum parking allowances set forth in the land development standards.

The installation of parking at this location will not have a deleterious effect on the overall neighborhood in terms of residential stability and economic development.

The installation of the parking facility will not necessitate the demolition of a viable and structurally sound building.

No more than one dwelling unit in a twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house dwelling may be used as a student home.

No more than one building on a lot may be used as a student home.

Rooming house or boardinghouse.

[Added 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748]

Off-street paved parking spaces must be provided on the same lot as the rooming house or boardinghouse. One space, as described at § 640-63C(3)(a),[1] must be provided for every two beds or each room, whichever is greater.

Editor's Note: See Ch. 640, Subdivision of Land and Land Developments.

A rooming house or boardinghouse cannot be established on a lot smaller than 6,000 square feet.

An effective and acceptable plan for internal and external security and oversight must be provided to the Zoning Hearing Board for consideration and approval at the hearing.

For each rooming house or boardinghouse, a responsible party or property manager within 50 miles of Altoona must be identified before the Zoning Hearing Board.

The City Fire Department must inspect and approve each rooming house or boardinghouse according to their requirements before the hearing, and annually thereafter.

Conditional uses: none.

Prohibited uses. Any use not complying with the specifications of this article is prohibited.

Height. The height of a structure shall not be greater than 50 feet and not less than one story.

Area. The lot area per structure shall not be less than 3,000 square feet.

Coverage. The coverage shall be not more than 75%.

Width. The lot width at the building line shall not be less than 25 feet.

Frontage. The lot shall have a minimum of 25 feet on a street that meets PennDOT and/or current subdivision and land development standards.

Setbacks.

Each lot shall have setbacks of not less than the depth or width indicated below:

Location	Setback Characteristic	Lot Characteristics	Setback (feet)
Front	Depth	—	10 feet minimum, or the average front setback distance on the property's block, whichever is less; 30 feet maximum
Rear	Depth	—	10 feet minimum
Side	Width	Interior lot and corner lot nonstreet	2 feet minimum each side of a principal structure, provided that, when a written agreement is provided by adjoining property owners, no side yard shall be required where two or more commercial uses abut side to side. However, in no case shall common walls be permitted between properties of separate ownership. In case of a series of abutting structures, abutting and paralleling a public right-of-way, an open unobstructed passage of at least 20 feet in width shall be provided at grade level at intervals of not more than 100 feet.
Side	Width	Corner lot abutting a street	10 feet

Additions to an existing building may be built in line with that building in side yards, so long as:

The addition does not encroach any further into the side yard than the existing building already does; and

The addition does not encroach on any front or rear setback requirements.

Accessory structures.

An accessory structure and/or swimming pool shall not be erected nor shall its dimensions be increased in front of the main structure.

An accessory structure, patio and/or swimming pool may be erected according to the following setbacks, provided that the height, area, width and coverage requirements contained in this section and the following are met:

	Setback From	Minimum Setback (feet)
	Rear of principal structure	10
	Side lot line with lot width 25 feet or less	1 1/2
	Side lot line with lot width 26 feet or greater	3
	Rear lot line	7

Permitted setback encroachments.

Cornices, eaves, gutters, bay windows, drive-through windows or chimneys may encroach into the required setback of a lot not more than 24 inches. However, no cornices, eaves, gutters, bay windows, or chimneys may be closer than 3 1/2 feet from any side lot line.

[Added 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

Off-street parking. Parking for the uses in the Neighborhood Business Zone shall be as follows:

Residential uses not subject to land development review under Chapter 640 shall be provided with a minimum of one and a maximum of three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Minor-impact home-based businesses shall neither increase nor decrease the number of spaces required for the property.

Uses governed by a land development review under Chapter 640 shall meet the parking requirements established as a result of the requisite review.

All other uses shall be provided with a minimum of one off-street parking space and a maximum of four off-street parking spaces.

Signs. Signs, when provided, shall conform to those regulations contained in Article VI of this chapter, Signs.

Floodplains. All permitted uses located within a floodplain as identified on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps must comply with the provisions and requirements of Chapter 362.

Fences and walls.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in any commercial or residential district within the setbacks, provided that

Any fence in the rear yard or side yard shall be permitted a maximum height of seven feet. Such fences may extend upward to a maximum height of 10 feet if the fence is at least 50% open.

This provision shall not apply to retaining walls or vegetated screening.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in front yards, provided that the provisions of § 800-39, Obstruction to vision, and Subsection R(1)(a) of this section are met.

Barbed wire, razor wire and aboveground electric fences shall not be permitted.[2]

Former Subsection R(4), regarding a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748.

§ 800-54 C-HB Highway Business Commercial Zone.

Purpose. It is the purpose of this zone to provide areas along Business Route 220 appropriate to and reserved for the development of a business zone servicing principally the needs of highway users or transients and not necessarily the residents of the City.

Permitted uses.

Accessory uses.

Automotive sales and services.

Bus shelters.

Cemeteries.

Educational services.

Eateries.

Forestry activities.

Governmental facilities.

Health services.

Houses of worship.

Overnight lodging.

Parks, playgrounds, and open space.

Professional and business offices.

(14)

Professional and personal services.

(15)

Retail sales and services.

(16)

Wholesale sales and services.

(17)

Apartment structure or group of structures.

(18)

Multi-household dwelling units.

(19)

Single-household detached dwellings.

(20)

Townhouses.

Special exceptions: none.

Conditional uses: none.

Prohibited uses. Any use not complying with the specifications of this article is prohibited, including off-site parking.

Height. The height of a structure shall not be greater than 50 feet and not less than one story.

Area. The lot area per structure shall not be less than 6,000 square feet.

Coverage. The coverage shall be not more than 65%.

Width. The lot width at the building line shall not be less than 50 feet on an interior lot and 75 feet on a corner lot.

Frontage. The lot shall have a minimum of 50 feet on an interior lot and a minimum of 75 feet on a street that meets PennDOT and/or current subdivision and land development standards.

Setbacks.

Each lot shall have setbacks of not less than the depth or width indicated below:

Location	Setback Characteristic	Lot Characteristics	Minimum Setback (feet)
Front	Depth	—	15
Rear	Depth	—	10
Side	Width	Interior lot	10
Side	Width	Corner lot nonstreet	10
Side	Width	Corner lot abutting a street	15

Additions to an existing building may be built in line with that building in side yards, so long as:

The addition does not encroach any further into the side yard than the existing building already does; and

The addition does not encroach on any front or rear setback requirements.

Accessory structures.

An accessory structure shall not be erected nor shall its dimensions be increased within any front yard.

	Setback From	Minimum Setback (feet)
	Rear of principal structure	10
	Side lot line with lot width 25 feet or less	1 1/2
	Side lot line with lot width 26 feet or greater	3
	Rear lot line	7

Permitted setback encroachments.

A covered carport or covered patio or porch open on three sides may be erected within one of the side yards or rear yard when attached to a main structure existing at the effective date of this chapter, provided the covered carport or covered patio or porch open on three sides shall be not less than 3 1/2 feet from the side or rear lot line and shall never be enclosed.

Off-street parking. Parking for the uses in the Highway Business Zone shall be as follows:

Residential uses not subject to land development review under Chapter 640 shall be provided with a minimum of one and a maximum of three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Minor-impact home-based businesses shall neither increase nor decrease the number of spaces required for the property.

Uses governed by a land development review under Chapter 640 shall meet the parking requirements established as a result of the requisite review.

All other uses shall be provided with a minimum of four off-street parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor space, or a prorated portion thereof.

Signs. Signs, when provided, shall conform to those regulations contained in Article VI of this chapter, Signs.

Floodplains. All permitted uses located within a floodplain as identified on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps must comply with the provisions and requirements of Chapter 362.

Fences and walls.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in any commercial district within the setbacks, provided that:

Any fence in the rear yard or side yard shall be permitted a maximum height of seven feet. Such fences may extend upward to a maximum height of 10 feet if the fence is at least 50% open.

This provision shall not apply to retaining walls or vegetated screening.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in front yards, provided that the provisions of § 800-39, Obstruction to vision, and Subsection R(1)(a) of this section are met.

Barbed wire shall not be permitted, except at a height exceeding seven feet from grade level. Razor wire and aboveground electric fences shall not be permitted.[1]

Former Subsection R(4), regarding a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748.

§ 800-55 C-CB Central Business Commercial Zone.

Purpose. It is the purpose of this zone to define and provide controls for the major pedestrian-oriented shopping and business areas of the City.

Permitted uses.

Residential uses.

Upper-floor residential dwellings.

Apartment structure or group of structures.

Multi-household dwelling units.

Single-household detached dwellings.

Townhouses.

Corporate housing. All such corporate housing shall be subject to and comply with Chapter 570 of the Altoona City Code. In conjunction with any license application and/or renewal, the City Code Official shall have the authority to require the production of the written, verified acknowledgments of employment/contract and tenancy from the business entity by whom each tenant is employed or contracted.

[Added 8-8-2022 by Ord. No. 5790]

Nonresidential uses.

Automotive sales and services.

Bus shelters.

Cemeteries.

Cultural facilities.

Educational services.

Eateries.

Forestry activities.

Governmental facilities.

Health services.

Houses of worship.

Overnight lodging.

Parks, playgrounds, and open space.

Professional and other services.

Public utility transmission and distribution lines, substations, water pumping stations, and reservoirs.

Retail sales and services.

(p)

Wholesale sales and services.

(q)

Accessory uses on the same lot and customarily incidental to the permitted uses, including:

Space for the overnight and/or weekend parking of commercial vehicles.

Other customary accessory uses and structures, including dwelling units, which are clearly incidental to the principal structure and use.

Special exceptions.

Off-site parking. Special exceptions to establish off-site parking shall be granted by the Zoning Hearing Board only after making the following findings:

No space exists on the principal lot for adequate parking.

The center of the lot is within 400 feet of the principal use.

Space is sufficient to allow full compliance with the land development standards set forth in Chapter 640.

The lot will not allow the principal use to exceed the maximum parking allowances set forth in the land development standards.

The installation of parking at this location will not have a deleterious effect on the overall neighborhood in terms of residential stability and economic development.

The installation of the parking facility will not necessitate the demolition of a viable and structurally sound building.

Student home. Student homes are permitted in all zoning districts that allow residential uses, pursuant to district provisions applicable for one (single) family and twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house family dwelling use. However, student homes are permitted only when all of the following standards are met:

No more than one dwelling unit in a twin, semidetached, duplex and/or row house dwelling may be used as a student home.

No more than one building on a lot may be used as a student home.

Dormitory. Dormitories may be established in the Central Business Zoning District, subject to the Zoning Hearing Board finding the following conditions to be true:

[Added 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748]

Off-street paved parking spaces must be provided. One space, as described at § 640-63C(3)(a),[1] must be provided for every two beds. This may be provided off site through a lease presented to the Board.

Editor's Note: See Ch. 640, Subdivision of Land and Land Developments.

The maximum number of occupants permitted in a dormitory shall be determined, as it is for all dwellings, by Chapter Four, Section 404, Occupancy Limitations, of the applicable version of the International Property Maintenance Code.

A dormitory cannot be established on a lot smaller than 6,000 square feet.

An effective and acceptable operation and management plan must be provided to the Zoning Hearing Board for consideration and approval at the hearing. This plan must state the policies for internal and external security and oversight, noise control, and the hours of operation of any nonresidential activities on premises.

The proposed dormitory will not create detrimental impacts on surrounding properties given this plan.

For each dormitory, a responsible party or property manager within 50 miles of Altoona must be identified before the Zoning Hearing Board.

The City Fire Department must inspect and approve each dormitory according to their requirements before the hearing, and annually thereafter.

For each dormitory, updated lists of tenant names, as well as the responsible party or property manager, must be provided to the Zoning Officer. Any change in residents or management must be so reported within 24 hours of the change The property owner bears the onus for reporting this information as required.

Conditional uses: none.

Prohibited uses. Any use not complying with the specifications of this article is prohibited.

Height. A building or structure or any enlargement thereof may be erected and maintained to a height at the street line of no more than 150 feet. All buildings or structures shall have a minimum height of 35 feet.

Area. The lot area per structure shall not be less than 2,500 square feet.

Coverage. Lot coverage shall be a minimum of 50%.

Width. The lot width at the building line shall not be less than 25 feet.

Frontage. The lot shall have a minimum of 25 feet of frontage on a public street.

Setbacks. Each lot shall have setbacks of not less than the depth or width indicated below:

Location	Setback Characteristic	Lot Characteristics	Setback (feet)
Front	Depth	—	0 minimum;
			10 maximum
Rear	Depth	—	0 minimum
Side	Width	—	0 minimum;
			10 maximum where adequate leasable parking exists within one block;
			where adequate leasable parking does not exist within one block, buildings may ignore the maximum setback requirement on one side only

Accessory structures.

An accessory structure shall not be erected nor shall its dimensions be increased to the front of the main structure.

	Setback From	Minimum Setback (feet)
	Rear of principal structure	10
	Side lot line	0
	Rear lot line	0

Off-street parking. Parking for the uses in the Central Business Commercial Zone shall be as follows:

Residential uses not subject to land development review under Chapter 640 shall be provided with a minimum of one and a maximum of three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Minor-impact home-based businesses shall neither increase nor decrease the number of spaces required for the property.

Uses governed by a land development review under Chapter 640 shall meet the parking requirements established as a result of the requisite review.

All other uses shall be provided with a minimum of four off-street parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor space, or a prorated portion thereof.

Signs. Signs, when provided, shall conform to those regulations contained in Article VI of this chapter, Signs.

Floodplains. All permitted uses located within a floodplain as identified on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps must comply with the provisions and requirements of Chapter 362.

Fences and walls.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in any commercial district within the setbacks, provided that:

Any fence in the rear yard or side yard shall be permitted a maximum height of seven feet. Such fences may extend upward to a maximum height of 10 feet if the fence is at least 50% open.

This provision shall not apply to retaining walls or vegetated screening.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in front yards, provided that the provisions of § 800-39, Obstruction to vision, and Subsection P(1)(a) of this section are met.

Barbed wire, electric fences and razor wire shall not be permitted except at a height exceeding seven feet from grade level.[2]

Former Subsection P(4), regarding a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748.

§ 800-56 I-L Light Industrial Zone.

Purpose. It is the purpose of this zone to establish industrial areas which are or may become integral with established or potential residential neighborhoods and/or public parks or other conservation areas and to require stringent performance standards and other regulations designed to protect residential valuations, to effect a desirable transition between industrial and other uses, and to promote a high order of industrial development.

Permitted uses.

Accessory uses on the same lot and customarily incidental to the permitted uses, including:

Space for the overnight and/or weekend parking of commercial vehicles.

Storage of raw materials, equipment, and finished products, unless Subsection C(3) applies to the type of storage facilities proposed.

Other customary accessory uses and structures which are clearly incidental to the principal structure and use.

Agricultural operations and forestry activities.

Automotive assembly and services.

Bus shelters.

Cemeteries and houses of worship.

Communications services.

Cultural and governmental facilities.

Eateries and overnight lodging.

Educational services.

(10)

Health services, medical laboratories and diagnostic facilities.

Manufacturing.

Parks, playgrounds, and open space.

Professional and business offices.

(14)

Professional services.

(15)

Public utility transmission and distribution lines, substations, water pumping stations, and reservoirs.

(16)

Research and development laboratories.

(17)

Retail sales and retail services.

(18)

Storage facilities.

(19)

Transportation services.

(20)

Wholesale sales and wholesale services.

(21)

Woodworking and xylography.

(22)

Kennels.

(23)

Apartment structure or group of structures.

(24)

Multi-household dwelling units.

(25)

Single-household detached dwellings.

(26)

Townhouses.

Special exceptions.

Off-site parking.

No space exists on the principal lot for adequate parking.

The center of the lot is within 400 feet of the principal use.

Space is sufficient to allow full compliance with the land development standards set forth in Chapter 640.

The lot will not allow the principal use to exceed the maximum parking allowances set forth in the land development standards.

The installation of parking at this location will not have a deleterious effect on the overall neighborhood in terms of residential stability and economic development.

The installation of the parking facility will not necessitate the demolition of a viable and structurally sound building.

Sexually oriented business, with these three sets of findings:

That the applicant(s):

Is an individual person or are all individual persons in a group, partnership, corporation, or other business association having at least a ten-percent interest, whether direct or indirect.

Is 18 years old or older and has an interest in the property.

Certifies that no one on the premises shall be under the age of 18 years.

[4]

Has never been convicted of any offense involving sexual misconduct, including without limitation prostitution, rape, obscenity, statutory rape, possession of child pornography, or corruption of minors.

[5]

Agrees that the Zoning Officer and the City of Altoona Police Department may inspect the premises for compliance with this chapter and the Board's permit upon request whenever the business is open.

That the business:

Is not located within 1,000 feet of a house of worship, a school (public or private preschool, child day-care, elementary, or secondary facility), a public library, a public park, or a child-oriented business. Such measurement shall be taken from the structure in which the sexually oriented business is to be located to the property line of the other use. Uses outside the corporate limits of the City of Altoona shall also be considered. The subsequent location of one of these uses within 1,000 feet of an existing sexually oriented business shall not serve to void the permit(s) granted to the sexually oriented business.

Is not operated, established, substantially enlarged, or transferred in ownership or control within 1,000 feet of another sexually oriented business. Such measurement shall be taken from the structure in which the sexually oriented business is to be located to the structure of the sexually oriented business. Uses outside the corporate limits of the City of Altoona shall also be considered.

Is not operated, established, or maintained in the same building or structure, or portion thereof, as another sexually oriented business, nor shall the floor area be enlarged in such case.

[4]

Did not exist prior to August 27, 1997. Such a business shall not be permitted to be increased, enlarged, extended, or altered unless such increase, enlargement, extension or alteration places the entire use in full compliance with this section.

[5]

Is so designed so that activities within the business cannot be seen, heard, or smelled outside the structure, or portion thereof, in which the business is located. This shall include, without limitation, devices, objects, toys, tools, entertainment, and signs advertising the business that are distinguished or characterized by their association with sexually oriented activity.

[6]

Agrees that merchandise displays, signs, or any other exhibit depicting adult entertainment activities or sexually oriented businesses placed within the interior of buildings or premises shall be arranged and screened to prevent public viewing from outside such buildings or premises.

That the City:

Is granted the right to inspect the business for compliance on demand at any time the business is open.

Has the ability to shut down the business for noncompliance with this chapter or the Board's decision. Such a shutdown can take the form of either a suspension or a revocation of the permit(s) or license(s) necessary to legally operate the business until the time when the noncompliance is corrected to the satisfaction of the Board.

Permanent containerized storage.

The containers shall be permanently and securely affixed to the ground or building in accordance with the Building Code.

The containers shall not interfere with the existence or use of the parking, loading, buffering, and screening elements of the lot.

The containers shall be maintained in sanitary condition to the basic standards for structures as determined by the City of Altoona Code Enforcement Department.

The containers shall not be used for advertising; no signs shall be affixed to any part of the exterior of the containers.

The containers shall not be visible from any street (alleys excepted) or any nonindustrial zoning district.

Uses similar to permitted uses.

The use is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and is not contrary to the stated purpose of the zone (see § 800-56A above).

The specific use is not permitted in any other nonresidential district. This finding may be waived if the Board finds that the proposed use is complementary to an existing use on the same property or an immediately adjacent parcel.

The use is primarily industrial, not commercial, in nature.

Conditional uses: none.

Prohibited uses. Any use not complying with the specifications of this article is prohibited.

Supplemental zoning permit requirements. In order that the Zoning Officer may have a reasonable basis upon which to approve a proposed industrial operation or an expansion of an existing industrial operation for conformity to the requirements of this chapter, the following data shall be submitted with an application for a permit, in addition to the requirements aforementioned for a zoning permit in § 800-15:

Plot plan drawn to a scale of one inch equals 40 feet, including:

Loading and unloading areas.

Description of buffers where required.

Provisions of parking where required.

Location and specifications of any proposed signs.

Architectural plan to a scale of 1/8 inch equals one foot.

Description of operation.

Engineering and architectural plans for all utilities to a scale of 1/8 inch equals one foot.

Plans for prevention or control of noise, vibration, glare, fire hazard, air pollution, water pollution, and traffic.

Number of shifts and maximum employment per shift.

Stormwater management plan and provisions allowing floodplain construction, if necessary.

Additional pertinent data as may be required by the Zoning Officer.

Evidence of approval of any state agency concerned.

Height. The height of a structure shall be not greater than 100 feet. The height of a structure shall be not less than one story.

Area. The lot area shall be not less than 6,000 square feet.

Coverage. The coverage shall be no more than 65%.

Width. The lot width at the building line shall not be less than 75 feet.

Frontage. The lot shall have a minimum frontage of 75 feet.

Setbacks.

Each lot shall have setbacks of not less than the depth or width indicated below:

Location	Setback Characteristic	Lot Characteristics	Setback (feet)
Front	Depth	—	15 minimum
Rear	Depth	—	15 minimum
Side	Width	Interior lot and corner lot nonstreet	10 minimum each side of a principal structure, provided that, when a written agreement is provided by adjoining property owners, no side setbacks shall be required where two or more manufacturing uses abut side by side. However, in no case shall common walls be permitted between properties of separate ownership.
Side	Width	Corner lot abutting a street	15 minimum

Buffer yards shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Subsection R.

Accessory structures.

An accessory structure shall not be erected nor shall its dimensions be increased in the front of the structure.

	Setback From	Minimum Setback (feet)
	Rear of principal structure	10
	Side lot line with lot width 25 feet or less	1 1/2
	Side lot line with lot width 26 feet or greater	3
	Rear lot line	7

Permitted setback encroachments.

A covered carport or covered patio or porch open on three sides may be erected within one of the side yards or rear yard when attached to a main structure existing at the effective date of this chapter, provided the covered carport or covered patio or porch open on three sides shall be not less than 3 1/2 feet from the side or rear lot line and shall never be enclosed.

Off-street parking. Parking for the uses in the Light Industrial Zone shall be as follows:

Residential uses not subject to land development review under Chapter 640 shall be provided with a minimum of one and a maximum of three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Minor-impact home-based businesses shall neither increase nor decrease the number of spaces required for the property.

Uses governed by a land development review under Chapter 640 shall meet the parking requirements established as a result of the requisite review.

All other uses shall be provided with a minimum of four off-street parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor space, or a prorated portion thereof.

Signs. Signs, when provided, shall conform to those regulations contained in Article VI of this chapter, Signs.

Floodplains. All permitted uses located within a floodplain as identified on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps must comply with the provisions and requirements of Chapter 362.

Fences and walls.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in any light industrial district within the setbacks, provided that.

Any fence in the rear yard or side yard shall be permitted a maximum height of seven feet. Such fences may be extended upward to a maximum height of 10 feet if the fence is at least 50% open.

This provision shall not apply to retaining walls or vegetated screening.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in front yards, provided that the provisions of § 800-39, Obstruction to vision, and Subsection S(1)(a) of this section are met.

Barbed wire, razor wire and electric fences shall not be permitted except at a height exceeding seven feet from grade level.[1]

Former Subsection S(4), regarding a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-14-2019 by Ord. No. 5748.

§ 800-57 I-G General Industrial Zone.

Purpose. It is the purpose of this zone to provide an area suitable for the use of industry and related uses with controls necessary for ensuring sound industrial development.

Permitted uses.

[Amended 7-12-2017 by Ord. No. 5706]

Accessory uses on the same lot and customarily incidental to the permitted uses, including:

Space for the overnight and/or weekend parking of commercial vehicles.

Storage of raw materials, equipment, and finished products, unless Subsection C(3) of this section applies to the storage facilities proposed.

Other customary accessory uses and structures which are clearly incidental to the principal structure and use.

Agricultural operations and forestry activities.

Automotive assembly and services.

Bus shelters.

Business offices.

Cemeteries and houses of worship.

Communications services.

Eateries.

Extraction and mining of raw materials.

(10)

Governmental facilities and public utilities.

Health services, medical laboratories and diagnostic facilities.

Manufacturing.

Parks, playgrounds, and open space.

(14)

Retail sales.

(15)

Research and development laboratories.

(16)

Storage facilities.

(17)

Transportation services.

(18)

"Value-added" manufacturing, compounding, processing, or treatment.

(19)

Warehousing.

(20)

Wholesale sales and services.

(21)

Woodworking and xylography.

(22)

Apartment structure or group of structures.

(23)

Multi-household dwelling units.

(24)

Single-household detached dwellings.

(25)

Townhouses.

Special exceptions.

Waste processing facilities.

The facility meets all state and federal requirements that are applicable to the facility.

Light, glare, noise, odors, and fumes shall not emanate beyond the limits of the zoning district.

Debris and clutter shall be kept in check, including any which may inadvertently clutter nearby properties and the streets of the City.

All stormwater shall be treated and shall meet NPDES water quality standards before it leaves the site.

The facility shall be screened and buffered utilizing the most stringent standard listed in the land development requirements, regardless of the adjacent use. Such screening and buffering shall be in place around the entire perimeter of the site.

Off-site parking.

No space exists on the principal lot for adequate parking.

The center of the lot is within 400 feet of the principal use.

Space is sufficient to allow full compliance with the land development standards set forth in Chapter 640.

The lot will not allow the principal use to exceed the maximum parking allowances set forth in the land development standards.

The installation of parking at this location will not have a deleterious effect on the overall neighborhood in terms of residential stability and economic development.

The installation of the parking facility will not necessitate the demolition of a viable and structurally sound building.

Permanent containerized storage.

The containers shall be permanently and securely affixed to the ground or building in accordance with the Building Code.

The containers shall not interfere with the existence or use of the parking, loading, buffering, and screening elements of the lot.

The containers shall be maintained in sanitary condition to the basic standards for structures as determined by the City of Altoona Code Enforcement Department.

The containers shall not be used for advertising; no signs shall be affixed to any part of the exterior of the containers.

The containers shall not be visible from any street (alleys excepted) or any nonindustrial zoning district.

Wind turbines or wind energy conversion systems. The standards for this special exception are given at § 800-46 of this chapter.

Conditional uses.

Any use proposed which is not otherwise permitted anywhere in this chapter

The use is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.

The specific use is not permitted in any other district. This finding may be waived if Council finds that the proposed use is complementary to an existing use on the same property or an immediately adjacent parcel.

Plot plan drawn to a scale of one inch equals 40 feet, including:

Loading and unloading areas.

Description of buffers, where required.

Provisions of parking, where required.

Location and specifications of any proposed signs.

Architectural plan to a scale of 1/8 inch equals one foot.

Description of operation.

Engineering and architectural plans for all utilities at a scale of 1/8 inch equals one foot.

Plans for prevention or control of noise, vibration, glare, fire hazard, air pollution, water pollution, and traffic.

Number of shifts and maximum employment per shift.

Stormwater management plan and provisions allowing floodplain construction, if necessary.

Additional pertinent data as may be required by the Zoning Officer.

Evidence of approval of any state agency concerned.

Prohibited uses. Any use not complying with the specifications of this article is prohibited.

Height. The height of a structure shall be not greater than 150 feet. The height of a structure shall not be less than one story.

Area. The lot area shall not be less than 6,000 square feet.

Coverage. The coverage shall be not more than 75%.

Width. The lot width at the building line shall not be less than 75 feet.

Frontage. The lot shall have a minimum frontage of 75 feet.

Setbacks. Each lot shall have setbacks of not less than the depth or width indicated below:

Location	Setback Characteristic	Lot Characteristics	Minimum Setback (feet)
Rear	Depth	—	10
Front	Depth	—	15
Side	Width	Interior lot	10
Side	Width	Corner lot nonstreet	10
Side	Width	Corner lot abutting a street	15

Accessory structures.

An accessory structure shall not be erected nor shall its dimensions be increased in the front of the structure.

	Setback From	Minimum Setback (feet)
	Rear of principal structure	10
	Side lot line with lot width 25 feet or less	1 1/2
	Side lot line with lot width 26 feet of greater	3
	Rear lot line	7

Permitted setback encroachments.

A covered carport or covered patio or porch open on three sides may be erected within one of the side yards or rear yard when attached to a main structure existing at the effective date of this chapter, provided the covered carport or covered patio or porch open on three sides shall be not less than 3 1/2 feet from the side or rear lot line and shall never be enclosed.

Off-street parking. Parking for the uses in the General Industrial Zone shall be as follows:

Residential uses not subject to land development review under Chapter 640 shall be provided with a minimum of one and a maximum of three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Minor-impact home-based businesses shall neither increase nor decrease the number of spaces required for the property.

Uses governed by a land development review under Chapter 640 shall meet the parking requirements established as a result of the requisite review.

All other uses shall be provided with a minimum of four off-street parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor space, or a prorated portion thereof.

Signs. Signs, when provided, shall conform to those regulations contained in Article VI of this chapter, Signs.

Floodplains. All permitted uses located within a floodplain as identified on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps must comply with the provisions and requirements of Chapter 362.

Fences and walls.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in any General Industrial District within the setbacks, provided that:

Any fence in the rear yard and side yard shall be permitted a maximum height of seven feet. Such fences may be extended upward to a maximum height of 10 feet if the fence is 50% open.

This provision shall not apply to retaining walls or vegetative screening.

Fences and walls may be erected, altered, and maintained in front yards, provided that the provisions of § 800-39, Obstruction to vision, and Subsection S(1)(a) of this section are met.

Barbed wire, razor wire and electric fences shall not be permitted except at a height exceeding seven feet from grade level.[1]