Words and phases shall be presumed to be used in their ordinary
context unless such word or phrase is defined or interpreted differently
within this section.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following shall, for
the purposes of this chapter, be interpreted in the following manner:
A.Â
Words used in the present tense imply the future tense.
B.Â
Words used in the singular imply the plural.
C.Â
The word "person" includes a partnership, corporation or other legal
entity as well as an individual.
D.Â
The words "shall," "required" or "must" are to be interpreted as
mandatory; the word "may" as directory and complied with unless waived.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases
have the meanings given herein:
A private minor vehicular right-of-way, other than a street, providing access from a street to a property or parking area within a lot. Access drives shall be required for all commercial, institutional (including but not limited to schools, hospitals, and religious institutions) and industrial uses and all multifamily dwellings. (See § 224-25.)
The accessory use of a dwelling unit for the sole purpose
of receiving phone calls, mail and keeping business records in connection
with any profession or occupation. An address of convenience shall
not be considered a home occupation, requires no permit and does not
involve employees outside of the household residents nor any activity
at the premises other than communication by mail or electronic means.
No goods, merchandise or services of any sort that are to be bought
or sold shall be physically located on the premises of an address
of convenience. An address of convenience may be located in a dwelling
unit in any zone.
An establishment open to the general public or a private
club open to members except persons under the age of 18 years, which
is used and occupied for one or more of the following activities:
ADULT BOOKSTOREAn establishment in which 5% or more of the occupied sales or display area offers for sale, for rent or lease, for loan or for view upon the premises, of pictures, photographs, drawings, prints, images, sculpture, still film, motion-picture film, videotape or similar visual representations distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on sexual conduct or sexually explicit nudity or books, pamphlets, magazines, printed matter or sound recordings containing explicit and detailed descriptions or narrative accounts distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on sexual conduct or which offers sexual devices for sale.
ADULT CABARETAn establishment, club, tavern, restaurant, theater or hall which features live entertainment distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on sexual conduct or sexually explicit nudity.
ADULT MASSAGE PARLORAn establishment whose business is the administration of massage to the anatomy of patrons, regardless of whether or not the same includes sexual conduct.
ADULT THEATERA building, or a room within a building, used for presenting motion-picture film, videotape or similar visual representation of materials distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on sexual conduct or sexually explicit nudity.
The use of land for farming, dairying, pasturage, silviculture,
horticulture, floriculture, viticulture or animal or poultry husbandry,
including the necessary accessory uses for packing, treating or storing
the produce and equipment or housing and feeding the animals; includes
land devoted to and meeting the requirements and qualifications for
payments or other compensation pursuant to a soil conservation program.
As applied to a building or structure, any change or rearrangement
in the total floor area, or an enlargement, such as extending on a
side or by increasing in height.
Any change in the supporting members of a building or structure,
such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders.
A change which includes revisions to the zoning text and/or
the Official Zoning Map.
A building used primarily for the treatment, by a veterinarian,
of small domestic animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits and birds or
fowl. The use may include the boarding of such animals during medical
or surgical treatment.
Any landowner, lessee or his authorized agent who submits
plans, data and/or application to the Zoning Officer or other designated
Borough official for the purpose of obtaining approval thereof.
A self-propelled motor vehicle designed for the conveyance
of persons or property requiring a registration plate by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania for operation upon public highways; including trucks,
motor homes and motorcycles. (See "recreational vehicle.")
A building on a lot that is used for the repair or painting
of bodies, chassis, wheels, fenders, bumpers and/or accessories of
automobiles and other vehicles for conveyance.
The dismantling or wrecking of used automobiles or trailers,
or the storage, sale or dumping of dismantled, partially dismantled,
obsolete or wrecked vehicles or their parts.
A building on a lot designed and/or used primarily for mechanical
and/or body repairs, storage, rental, servicing or supplying of gasoline
or oil to automobiles, trucks, recreational vehicles and similar motor
vehicles.
A building on a lot, designed and used primarily for the
washing and polishing of automobiles and which may provide accessory
services related to washing and polishing.
A building for the display or sale of new or used automobiles,
recreational vehicles or trailers.
An open lot for the outdoor display of new or used automobiles,
recreational vehicles or trailers accessory to an automobile, recreational
vehicle or trailer sales or display building.
That portion of a building partly underground, but having
1/2 or more of its height above the average level of the adjoining
ground. A basement shall be considered as a story in determining compliance
with building height restrictions.
A single-family residence or portion thereof containing not
more than three guest rooms which are used by not more than six guests
where rent is paid in money, goods, labor or otherwise.
Any structure on a lot, having a roof supported by columns
or walls and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of persons,
animals, mechanical devices or property, and including covered porches,
bay windows and chimneys. (See "structure.")
ACCESSORY BUILDINGA building subordinate to and detached from the main building on the same lot and used for purposes customarily incidental to the principal building.
ATTACHED BUILDINGA building which has two or more party walls in common, except in the case of end units of single-family attached dwellings which have one party wall in common.
DETACHED BUILDINGA building which has no party wall.
PRINCIPAL BUILDINGA building in which is conducted the primary use of the lot on which it is located.
SEMIDETACHED BUILDINGA building which has only one party wall in common.
The total area of outside dimensions on a horizontal plane
at ground level of the principal building and all accessory buildings.
The total overall height of a building measured from the
grade level to the highest point of the roof.
Establishments which provide food, shelter, personal assistance,
supervision and/or medical or other health-related services for individuals
not in need of hospitalization, but who, because of age, illness,
disease, injury, convalescence or physical or mental infirmity, need
such care.
ADULT DAY-CARE CENTERAny premises where care is provided to four or more elderly or disabled adults for part of a twenty-four-hour day, excluding care provided by relatives. Such care includes personal assistance, the development of skills for daily living and the provision of social contact.
CHILD DAY-CARE CENTERA facility licensed by the state that provides a wide range of formal day-care services for remuneration to seven or more children, who are supervised by a qualified staff. The child care areas in a day-care center shall not be used as a family residence.
CONVALESCENT OR NURSING HOMEA licensed establishment which provides full-time residential, intermediate or skilled nursing care for three or more individuals who, by reason of chronic illness or infirmity, are unable to care for themselves. No care for the acutely ill or surgical or obstetrical services shall be provided in such a home.
DOMICILIARY CARE HOMEAn existing building or structure designed as a dwelling unit for one family which provides twenty-four-hour supervised protective living arrangements by the family residing therein for not more than three unrelated persons 18 years of age and above who are disabled physically, mentally, emotionally or who are aged persons.
FAMILY DAY-CARE HOMEA facility located in a single-family residence which provides supervised care for remuneration to not more than six children or adults, but not both children and adults, who are not relatives of the caregiver.
GROUP DAY-CARE HOMEA facility, located in a single-family residence, which provides supervised care for remuneration to more than six but fewer than 12 children who are not relatives of the caregiver.
GROUP HOMEA type of group quarters, specifically a dwelling designed for a group of mentally and/or physically disabled persons living and cooking together in a single dwelling unit. A group home may be affiliated with a parent institution which provides for the administration of the residents, who are required to reside on the premises to benefit from the service, through the direction of a professional staff and for supervision of residents by full-time resident staff.
PERSONAL CARE BOARDING HOMEA type of group quarters, specifically a premises in which food, shelter and personal assistance or supervision are provided, on a state or federal licensed basis, for a period exceeding 24 consecutive hours for at least four but not more than 16 persons who are over the age of 18, are not relatives of the operator and who are aged, blind, disabled, infirm or dependent but do not require skilled or intermediate nursing care.
That portion of a building partly underground and having
more than 1/2 of its height below the average level of the adjoining
ground. A cellar shall not be considered in determining the required
number of stories.
The certificate issued by the Zoning Officer which permits
the use of a building in accordance with the approved plans and specifications
and which certifies compliance with the provisions of law for the
use and occupancy of the land and structure in its several parts,
together with any special stipulations or conditions of the building
permit.
A type of ownership arrangement, not a land use, wherein
parts of a building typically are owned separately by persons, and
other parts such as halls, stairs and recreation areas are owned jointly
by such persons. A condominium may be residential, commercial or industrial
in nature.
Offices and shops for tradesmen, such as building, cement,
electrical, masonry, painting and roofing contractors.
The cultivation of land involving the planting, tending and
harvesting of plants. Such land uses may involve tilling by hand or
machine, fertilizing and similar horticultural activities.
A commercial establishment, including a drive-in eating establishment,
primarily offering stand-up counter, vending machine, window or in-car
service and/or offering prepared or standardized food for either on-premises
or off-premises consumption.
An improved surface for vehicular travel which provides access between a street and a lot. For the purposes of this chapter, drives for all residential uses (except multifamily dwellings) and all agricultural uses shall be considered driveways (see § 224-24). All other uses shall be served by an access drive as defined in this section and § 224-25 of this chapter.
A building or structure designed for living quarters for
one or more families, including mobile homes, but shall not include
hotels, rooming houses, convalescent homes or other accommodations
used for transient occupancy.[1]
MULTIFAMILY DWELLINGA building containing three or more dwelling units (such as apartment houses and garden apartments). All dwelling units are located on a single lot and share with other units a common yard area.
SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED DWELLINGA portion of a building containing one dwelling unit and having two party walls in common with other dwelling units (such as row houses or townhouses). Each dwelling unit is located on a single lot. End units which have one party wall in common are included and are subject to the lot area requirements for other single-family attached units but must meet setback requirements on the open side.
SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED DWELLINGA building containing only one dwelling unit and having two side yards.
SINGLE-FAMILY SEMIDETACHED DWELLINGA portion of a building containing one dwelling unit, having one side yard and one party wall in common with another dwelling unit. Each dwelling unit is located on a single lot.
TWO-FAMILY DETACHED DWELLINGA building containing two dwelling units, having two side yards and one partition in common between the two units. Both dwelling units are located on the same lot.
One or more rooms used for living and sleeping purposes and
having a kitchen with fixed cooking facilities arranged for occupancy
by one family.
A limited right of use granted on private land for public
use or private use by another party or parties, or a protective condition,
as in the case of drainage easements for protection and/or preservation
of a specified area.
One or more persons who live in one dwelling unit and maintain
a common household; may consist of a single person or two or more
persons, whether or not related by blood, marriage or adoption; may
also include domestic servants and gratuitous guests, but not occupants
of a club, fraternal lodging or boardinghouse.
Any parcel of land which is used for agricultural purposes,
including necessary farm structures within the prescribed limits,
which may include a single-family dwelling and the storage of equipment
customarily incidental to the principal use. For the purposes of this
chapter, a farm shall not include a kennel.
Any combination of materials creating an enclosure or barrier
to prevent intrusion from outside or straying from within. The height
of all fences and walls or portions thereof shall be measured from
grade level.
A commercial savings and loan or banking establishment that
provides office space for financial assistance and/or protective savings
and investment services.
The sum of the horizontal areas of all rooms used for habitation
such as living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom or bedroom, but
not including hallways, stairways, cellars, attics, service rooms
or utility rooms, closets, nor unheated areas such as enclosed porches.
Earth-sheltered dwellings designed as such shall include the aggregate
of area used for habitation as defined above, whether or not all or
a portion is below ground level.
The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the floors of a
building, excluding cellar, basement and attic floor areas if not
devoted to the principal use. All dimensions shall be measured between
exterior faces of walls.
A use primarily involving horticulture, which includes the
sale of plants grown on the premises and related goods and materials.
Any dwelling or portion thereof which is designed or used
for at least three but not more than eight persons unrelated to each
other or to any family occupying the dwelling unit and having common
eating facilities. Group quarters include but are not limited to lodging
or rooming houses, fraternity and sorority houses and dormitories
and other quarters of an institutional nature. Such quarters must
be associated with a parent religious, educational, charitable or
philanthropic institution.
A room which is intended, arranged or designed to be occupied
or which is occupied by one or more guests but in which no provision
is made for cooking. Residential noncommercial guest rooms shall be
within or attached to the principal residence and shall be a part
of the residential utility (sewer, electric, etc.) service line.
A dwelling used as temporary and transitional housing for,
including institutional supervision of, individuals who: a) have violated
the law and are sent to such dwelling upon release from or in lieu
of being sent to a penal institution; or b) are recovering from and/or
being treated for a mental health illness, disease, or disorder, or
substance abuse and/or addiction, prior to residing independently
within the community.
[Amended 12-11-2023 by Ord. No. 601]
The storage of goods, material, equipment and/or large vehicles
(including but not limited to trucks and buses). Such storage includes
warehousing and wholesale establishments and the exterior storage
of the types of vehicles noted above.
A place for the diagnosis, treatment or other care of humans
and having facilities for inpatient care.
A building in which guest rooms are provided for occupancy,
with or without meals, for compensation, by transient or semipermanent
guests, or both, and in which no provision is made for cooking in
any individual room or suite.
A building used primarily as a meeting place for religious
gatherings and services.
Those paved surfaces that do not absorb precipitation. Areas
including but not limited to parking areas, driveways, roads, sidewalks,
patios and any similar areas of concrete, brick or asphalt shall be
considered impervious surface. In addition, all buildings and structures
shall be considered as impervious surfaces for computations of lot
coverage.
A commercial leisure time activity or amusement contained
within a building, such as a bowling alley, billiard room or video
arcade.
The manufacturing, processing and/or assembly of materials,
including but not limited to such activities as printing and publishing,
electronic components industries, tool and die making, molding plastics,
bottling operations, food processing, furniture making, metal fabrication
and textiles.
A tract of land:
Organized and laid out in accordance with an overall plan for
a community of industries on separate building sites arranged on streets
with utility services; and
Designed to ensure compatibility between the industrial operations
in the park and the surrounding area through such devices as landscaping,
setbacks and use requirements.
A self-contained attached residential dwelling unit resulting
from the conversion of an existing single-family detached dwelling
into two dwelling units and inhabited by persons related by blood,
marriage or adoption to the owners who live in the primary dwelling
unit. The accessory unit shall contain a kitchen and bath facilities,
have direct access to the outdoors or to a hall from which there is
direct access to the outdoors and be physically subordinate to the
primary unit that exists in the dwelling.
[Added 12-11-2023 by Ord.
No. 600]
Any lot, land or structure or part thereof used primarily
for the collection, storage and/or sale of scrap metal or discarded
material or for the collecting, dismantling, storage and salvaging
of machinery, equipment, junked or inoperable motor vehicles and/or
for the sale of parts thereof.
Any building or buildings and/or land used for the sheltering,
boarding, breeding or training of dogs, cats, fowl or other small
domestic animals at least four months of age and kept or bred for
profit, but not to include the keeping of livestock for agricultural
purposes. A kennel operation may include accessory uses such as animal
grooming.
Any of the following activities:
The improvement of one lot or two or more continuous lots, tracts
of parcels of land for any purpose involving:
A group of two or more residential or nonresidential buildings,
whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential
building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants or
tenure; or
The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially
or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective
occupants by means of or for the purpose of streets, common areas,
leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.
A subdivision of land.
The legal or beneficial owner or owners of record of a parcel
of land, including the holder of an option or contract to purchase
(whether or not such option or contract is subject to any condition),
a lessee if he is authorized under lease to exercise the rights of
the landowner or other person having a proprietary interest in land.
A commercial establishment where patrons have direct access
to coin-operated laundry equipment.
A type of personal service business which provides over-the-counter
garment cleaning service for customers.
Any domestic farm animals such as cattle, donkeys, horses,
mules, burros, sheep, hogs or goats kept for agricultural use, commercial
purposes or pleasure.
A designated parcel, tract or area of land established by
a plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be used, developed
or built upon as a unit.
CORNER LOTA lot located at the intersection of and fronting on two streets. The front setback regulations of the zone in which the lot is located shall apply to both street frontages.
DOUBLE FRONTAGE LOTA lot extending between and having frontage on two streets. The front setback requirements of the zone in which the lot is located shall apply to both street frontages.
INTERIOR LOTA lot having frontage on one street, adjoined on the sides and rear by other lots.
REVERSE FRONTAGE LOTA lot extending between and having frontage on a minor street and either an arterial or collector street with vehicular access solely from the minor street. The front setback regulations of the zone in which the lot is located shall apply to both street frontages.
TRIPLE FRONTAGE LOTA lot fronting on three streets. The front setback regulations of the zone in which the lot is located shall apply to each street frontage.
The area contained within the property lines of an individual
parcel of land, excluding any area within a street right-of-way, but
including the area of any easement.
A percentage which when multiplied by the lot area will determine
the permitted area that can be covered with an impervious surface;
e.g., buildings, structures, driveways, parking areas and sidewalks.
The lines bounding a lot as described in the recorded title;
also referred to as "property lines."
The required continuous distance between the side property
lines (or, in the case of corner lots, between a front and side property
line) measured along a single street right-of-way line.
Any building or group of buildings occupied by medical practitioners
and related services for the purpose of providing health services
to persons on an outpatient basis.
A commercial rental facility providing for the enclosed storage
of household items, recreational vehicles and/or equipment and/or
classic or antique automobiles where said items are retained for direct
use by their owner, who shall have direct access thereto without intermediate
handling by the proprietor of the facility. Mini-storage units shall
not be used as offices or shops and shall not house any items or operations
other than dead storage as specified above. No volatile or hazardous
materials shall be stored in such facilities.
A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for permanent
occupancy, contained in one unit or in two or more units designed
to be joined into one integral unit capable of again being separated
for repeated towing, which arrives at a site complete and ready for
occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and safety operations
and constructed so that it may be used without a permanent foundation.
A parcel of land in a mobile home park, improved with the
necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary for
the erection thereon of a single mobile home.
A parcel of land under single ownership which has been planned
and improved for the placement of mobile homes for nontransient use,
consisting of two or more mobile home lots.
An open lot for the outdoor display of new or used mobile
homes.
A group of attached or detached buildings containing sleeping
rooms or living units with accessory facilities designed for temporary
use by automobile tourist or transients, including auto courts, motor
lodges and similar establishments.
A multifamily or two-family dwelling constructed by converting
an existing building into dwelling units for more than one family,
without substantially altering the exterior of the building. Such
conversions shall be subject to review and permitting procedure by
the Borough Planning Commission, Borough Council, Sewage Enforcement
Officer and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
where applicable.
A use, structure, lot or dimension in conflict with the regulations
of this chapter, existing on the effective date of this chapter or
existing at any subsequent amendment of this chapter or created by
variance. Specifically, the following types of nonconformities are
distinguished:
NONCONFORMING LOTA lot the area or dimension of which was lawful prior to the adoption or amendment of this chapter, but which fails to conform to the requirements of the zoning district in which it is located by reasons of such adoption or amendment.
NONCONFORMING STRUCTUREA structure or part of a structure manifestly not designed to comply with the applicable use provisions in this chapter or any amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such structure lawfully existed prior to the enactment of this chapter or amendment or prior to the application of this chapter or amendment to its location by reason of annexation. Such nonconforming structures include but are not limited to nonconforming signs.
NONCONFORMING USEA use, whether of land or of a structure, which does not comply with the applicable use provisions in this chapter or any amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such use was lawfully in existence prior to the enactment of this chapter or amendment or prior to the application of this chapter or amendment to its location by reason of annexation.
An educational, religious or charitable use which qualifies
as "nonprofit" under Section 501-c of the Internal Revenue Service
Code.
A percentage which, when multiplied by the lot area, will
determine the area of the lot upon which buildings, structures and
paving are not permitted.
A use of open land for leisure time activities, such as a
swimming pool, tennis court, golf course or drive-in theater.
Any tract or contiguous tracts of land in the same ownership
and contained in the same deed. Land shall be considered continuous
even though separated by public or private roads.
Any land including buildings and structures upon such land
which is used for active or passive recreation that is of a noncommercial,
i.e., nonprofit, nature. Such uses would include but not be limited
to athletic fields and picnic areas. (Examples of uses not included
are outdoor sports clubs, golf courses and similar facilities which
are not public and involve a commercial rate for use or membership
fees in lieu of such rates.)
A building where passenger vehicles may be stored for short-term,
daily or overnight off-street parking.
An open lot where passenger vehicles may be stored for short-term,
daily or overnight off-street parking.
An off-street space available for the parking of one motor
vehicle and having direct usable access to a street or alley.
That part of a lot's area which is covered by an impervious
surface other than buildings and structures; e.g., driveways, parking
areas and walkways.
Personal service businesses shall include barber and beauty
shops; radio and television repair; repair shops for home appliances,
tools, bicycles, guns, locks, shoes and watches; tailor and dressmaking
shops or any other establishment of similar nature providing personalized
service to customers.
A map, plat or layout showing the subdivision of land or
land development and indicating the location and boundaries of individual
properties.
Not publicly owned, operated or controlled.
An office which generally operates on an appointment basis.
Business offices shall include advertising agencies, opticians' offices,
personnel agencies and travel and ticket agencies. Professional offices
shall include offices of accountants, actuaries, architects, attorneys,
clergy, dentists, designers, engineers, insurance and bonding agents,
manufacturing representatives, physicians, real estate agents, teachers
and miscellaneous consulting services; also included are offices of
a governmental agency, social service organization, District Justice,
notary, public or private utility or political organization or an
office of a bank, savings and loan association, credit or loan company,
collection agency or stock and bond broker.
Owned, operated or controlled by a government agency (federal,
state or local, including a corporation created by law for the performance
of certain specialized governmental functions and the Board of Public
Education).
A municipal sanitary sewer system approved and permitted
by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
A municipal water supply system approved and permitted by
the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Any portable or mobile vehicle used or designed to be used
for travel, recreation and/or temporary living purposes. A recreational
vehicle shall include trailer, house trailer, camper, snowmobile,
all-terrain vehicle, trail bike, golf cart, boat, boat trailer, airplane
or other similar vehicle.
An establishment in which the principal use involves testing
and/or research. Such uses may involve but are not necessarily limited
to metallurgical, chemical, electronic or biological research, testing
and development activities.
Any solar collector or other solar energy device, or any
structural design feature, mounted on a building or on the ground,
the purpose of which is to provide for the collection, storage, and
distribution of solar energy for space heating or cooling, for water
heating, or for electricity utilized for improvements located on the
property on which such solar collector, energy device, or structure
design feature is located. For a solar energy system that is the principal
use of the property, or that collects, stores, and/or converts solar
energy for off-site use, see "solar energy facility."
[Added 12-11-2023 by Ord.
No. 600]
A public eating place primarily offering sit-down counter
or table service and custom-prepared foods for on-premises consumption.
Any shop or store whose primary activities involve the sale
or lease of amusements and games, antiques, art, books, beverages,
carpets and rugs, ceramics and glass, confections, drugs, dry goods,
flowers, food, furniture, gifts, garden supplies, hobbies, hardware,
household appliances, household pets and supplies, leather goods,
musical supplies and equipment, notions, paint, periodicals, photographs
and photographic equipment, radio, television and sound equipment,
sporting and camping goods, stationery, tobacco, toys and wearing
apparel. The wholesale distribution or manufacture of the foregoing
products are not included herein and are permitted only as provided
in other appropriate sections of this chapter. Among the uses not
to be interpreted as retail stores or shops are uses specifically
provided for elsewhere in this chapter, including but not limited
to service stations, vehicular sales and rental, restaurants, taverns,
hotels and motels, business services, funeral homes, contractor's
offices and building material sales.
A legal right of passage across land occupied or intended
to be occupied by a street, crosswalk, railroad, road, electric transmission
line, oil or gas pipeline, water main, sanitary or storm sewer main,
shade trees or for another special use. If the right-of-way involves
maintenance by a public agency, it shall be dedicated to public use
by the maker of the plat on which such right-of-way is established.
The portion of a street improved, designed or ordinarily
used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the sidewalk or shoulder;
also referred to as "travelway" or "cartway."
A residential building or a portion thereof, other than a
hotel containing not more than one dwelling unit, where lodging is
provided with or without meals for compensation.
Any accessory structure capable of receiving radio or television
signals from a transmitter or transmitter relay located in planetary
orbit.
Any place offering instruction in any branch of knowledge
under the supervision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or a lawfully
constituted ecclesiastical governing body, person, partnership or
corporation meeting the requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A school conducted for profit for such special instruction
as business, art, music, trades, handicraft, dancing or the martial
arts.
A vegetative material the purpose of which is to conceal
from the view of property owners in adjoining zones or on adjacent
lots the structures and uses on the premises on which the screen planting
is located.
Any area of land, including structures thereon, that is used
for the sale of gasoline or any other motor vehicle fuel and oil and
other lubricating substances, including any sales of motor vehicle
accessories at retail only, but not including major repairing, body
and fender work, painting, vehicular sales or rental or automatic
car washes.
The required horizontal distance between a structure and
a property or street line.
FRONT SETBACKThe required distance between the street right-of-way line (regardless of whether the same is also a front, side or rear lot line) and the front setback line projected the full width of the lot.
REAR SETBACKThe required distance between the rear lot line, unless such line is also a street line, and the rear setback line projected the full width of the lot.
SIDE SETBACKThe required distance between the side lot line, unless such line is also a street line, and the side setback line projected from the front setback line to the opposite setback line. However, in the case of corner lots, the second side setback shall be the required distance between the rear lot line and the side setback line projected from the side lot line to the opposite front setback line.
A line within a property and parallel to a property or street
line which delimits the required minimum distance that must be provided
between a structure or building and an adjacent street line and/or
property line.
Ultimate sexual acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated,
involving a person or persons or a person or persons and an animal,
including acts of masturbation, sexual intercourse, fellatio, cunnilingus,
analingus or physical contact with a person's nude or partially denuded
genitals, pubic area, perineum, anal region or, if such person is
female, a breast.
An artificial penis, vagina or anus or other device primarily
designed to stimulate or manipulate the human genitals, pubic area,
perineum or anal area, including dildos, penisators, vibrators, vibrillators,
penis rings and erection enlargement or prolonging creams, jellies
or other such chemicals or preparations.
A sexually oriented and explicit showing or exhibition, by
any means or manner, which presents or exposes to the viewer the following
anatomical areas: the human genitals, pubic area, perineum, buttocks
or anal region, with less than a fully opaque covering; the covered
human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state; the postpubertal,
full or partially developed human female breast with less than opaque
covering of a portion thereof below the top of the areola or nipple.
A group of two or more stores planned and designed to function
as a unit for the site on which it is located, with off-street parking
and landscaping provided as an integral part of the unit.
Any surface, fabric, device or structure (including billboards
or poster panel) bearing lettered, pictorial or sculptured matter
designed for visual communication and used for the purpose of bringing
the subject thereof to the attention of public, but not including
lettering or symbols that are an integral part of another structure;
or any flag, badge or other insignia of any government, government
agency or of any civic, charitable, religious, fraternal or similar
organization.
ADVERTISING SIGNA sign for directing attention to a business commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than upon the same lot, such as billboards.
BUSINESS SIGNA sign directing attention to a business or profession conducted on the same lot or, as incidental to a business, to products sold upon the same lot.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNA sign which directs people to a community; an event of public interest; public uses and buildings; uses and buildings of service and charitable organizations; and uses and buildings of commercial nature, provided that no advertising matter other than identifying name or symbol shall be contained on signs of this type.
FREESTANDING SIGNA sign supported by uprights or braces placed upon or in the ground and not attached to a building.
PARALLEL SIGNA sign attached, painted or otherwise mounted parallel to the surface of that portion of the building or structure to which it is affixed.
PORTABLE SIGNA sign of any material, with or without changeable type lettering, illuminated or nonilluminated, mounted or transported on a vehicle, trailer or similar structure, with or without wheels and not permanently attached to the ground, often referred to as a "mobile sign."
PROJECTING SIGNA sign which is attached to a building or other structure and extends beyond the line of a building or structure or beyond the surface of that portion of the building or structure to which it is attached.
SIDEWALK SIGNAny A-frame, inverted V-shaped or similar structure resting on the ground with no permanent attachment and used for display as a temporary business sign.
A commercial enterprise in which the principal use involves
light processing and/or repair, in conjunction with retail sales or
personal service, such as an optician's office and optical laboratory.
Such establishments shall not exceed 2,000 square feet of ground floor
area.
Radiant energy (direct, diffuse, and reflected) received
from the sun.
[Added 12-11-2023 by Ord.
No. 600]
An area of land used for a solar energy system principally
to capture solar energy, convert it to electrical energy or thermal
power and supply electrical or thermal power for off-site use. For
a solar energy system that is used to collect, store, and/or convert
solar energy for use on site as an accessory use, see "residential
and small commercial solar energy systems."
[Added 12-11-2023 by Ord.
No. 600]
Garbage, refuse and other discarded materials, including
but not limited to solid and liquid waste materials resulting from
municipal, industrial, commercial, agricultural and residential activities.
Such wastes shall not include biological excrements or hazardous waste
materials as defined in the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and
Waste Reduction Act, Act 101 of 1988,[2] and 25 PA Code Chapter 273, as amended, supplemented or
revised.
That portion of a building, excluding cellars, included between
the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it,
or if there is no floor above it, then the space between any floor
and the ceiling next above it.
HALF STORYA story under a gable, hip or gambrel roof, the wall plates of which on at least two opposite exterior walls are not more than two feet above the floor.
A public or private way, excluding driveways and access drives,
which affords the principal means of access to abutting properties,
intended to be used by vehicular traffic or pedestrians; includes
street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway, lane, alley and
any other dedicated and accepted public right-of-way or private right-of-way.
The officially established grade of the street upon which
a lot fronts or in its absence, the established grade of other streets
upon which the lot abuts at the midway of the frontage of the lot
thereon. If there is no officially established grade, the existing
grade of the street at such midpoint shall be taken as the street
grade.
A line defining the edge of a street right-of-way and separating
the street from abutting property or lots; commonly known as the "street
right-of-way line."
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location
on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land, but excluding
patios, driveways, walkways and parking areas. For all regulatory
purposes, all buildings are considered structures.
ACCESSORY STRUCTUREA subordinate structure on a lot, the use of which is customarily incidental to that of the principal structure.
PRINCIPAL STRUCTUREA structure which is directly involved in the principal use of the lot on which said structure is located.
Any outdoor pool or open tank, including spas and hot tubs,
containing or normally capable of containing water to a depth at any
point greater than 1Â 1/2 feet. Farm ponds, lakes, livestock watering
tanks and detention basins are not included, provided that swimming
was not the primary purpose for their construction.
An establishment which serves primarily alcoholic beverages
for mostly on-premises consumption and which is licensed by the Pennsylvania
Liquor Control Board. Taverns may also serve food.
An area of land which may comprise the entire area or a subpart
of a parcel. Individual tracts within a parcel of land which are not
separately deeded shall not constitute separate lots for the purpose
of construction, permitting or for the other purposes of this chapter.
Such tracts contained within a parcel shall be considered descriptive
only.
Any garbage, debris, material, equipment and/or apparatus
which has been discarded and is no longer functional.
The specific purpose for which land or a structure is designed,
arranged, intended, occupied or maintained.
[Amended 12-8-2003 by Ord. No. 508]
ACCESSORY USEA use customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal use or building and located on the same lot with this principal use or building.
PRINCIPAL USEThe main or primary use of property, buildings or structures. Except as specifically noted, only one use permitted by right or by special exception shall be permitted as a principal use on an individual lot. For example, one single-family dwelling, one commercial establishment or one industrial firm shall be permitted on an individual lot. Complexes listed as permitted uses, such as an industrial park or shopping center, shall be limited to one such complex per lot.
A small nonrental building designed primarily for storage
of yard and garden equipment and miscellaneous household items incidental
to a dwelling and customarily made of prefabricated materials, purchased,
assembled or erected and used exclusively by the property owner.
The permission, granted by the Zoning Hearing Board, following
a public hearing that has been properly advertised, for a particular
modification to some regulation or provision of the zoning provisions
of this chapter which, if strictly adhered to, would result in an
unnecessary hardship and where the permission granted would not be
contrary to the public interest and would maintain the spirit and
intent of this chapter.
A structure to be used for storage of equipment and/or merchandise.
A business devoted to the sale of commodities in quantity
chiefly to retailers, other merchants or industrial, institutional
and commercial users mainly for resale or business use.
A prescribed open area on a lot, unobstructed from the ground upward, except as modified in Article IV of this chapter.
FRONT YARDAn area bounded by the street right-of-way line(s), front wall of the principal building and side lot line(s).
REAR YARDAn area bounded by the rear lot line (and street right-of-way line in the case of double frontage, reverse frontage or triple frontage lots) and the rear wall of the principal building and side lot lines.
SIDE YARDAn area bounded by a side lot line and the front, rear and/or side walls of the principal building.
[1]
Editor's Note: Drawings of the following dwelling types are included as an attachment to this chapter.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 4000.101 et seq.
