City of Brenham, TX GENERAL PROVISIONS

Interpretation.

This ordinance shall be construed liberally to effect the purposes hereof. The rules of this section shall be observed except when the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1)

Words used in the present tense shall include the future; the singular number shall include the plural and the plural the singular.

(2)

The word "building" shall include the word "structure."

(3)

The word "shall" is mandatory and not discretionary; the word "lot" includes the word "plot, parcel or tract"; the term "used for" includes the meaning "designed for" or "intended for."

(4)

Words, phrases and terms not defined herein but defined in the building code of the City of Brenham shall be construed as defined in said code.

(5)

Words, phrases and terms not defined herein nor defined in the building code of the City of Brenham shall be given their usual and customary meanings except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.

(6)

The provisions of this ordinance shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public safety, health, convenience, comfort, prosperity or general welfare. It is not intended by this ordinance to interfere with or abrogate or annul any easements, covenants or other agreements between parties; provided, however, that where this ordinance imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings or premises or upon height of building or requires larger open spaces than are imposed or required by other ordinances, rules, regulations or by easements, covenants, or agreements the provision of this ordinance shall govern.

(Sec. 5.02)

[Definitions.]

The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and the enforcement of this ordinance:

Accessory dwelling unit (ADU):

A room or suite of rooms or secondary single-family dwelling unit within an accessory structure that is clearly incidental to a principal use, excluding two-family and multifamily dwellings and is permitted only in conjunction with the main structure. A guest house, mother-in-law quarters or garage apartment are examples of accessory dwelling units.

Accessory structure or use:

A subordinate structure located on the same lot as the main structure or a portion of the main structure, where the use of such structure is incidental and subordinate to the principal use.

All weather surface:

A dust-free surface constructed of concrete, asphalt, brick or other commonly accepted pavement which may be approved by the building official.

Alley:

An alley is a public right-of-way which affords a secondary means of access to abutting property.

Apartment:

See "Dwelling unit."

Apartment house:

See "Dwelling, multifamily apartment."

Architect:

A duly registered and licensed architect.

Area, building:

The area included within the surrounding exterior walls or exterior wall, exclusive of courts.

Area, gross floor:

See "Floor area, gross."

Area, net floor:

See "Floor area, net."

Automobile (car) wash:

A building or portion thereof containing facilities for coin-operated (or other payment options), self-service washing of automobiles. This may include production line methods with chain/belt conveyor, soap, wax, rinsing agents, blower/dryer, steam cleaning device, or other mechanical devices.

Automobile detail shop:

A facility which provides for the cleaning, polishing and waxing of automobiles.

Automobile paint and body shops:

A facility which includes, but may not be limited to, the painting of motor vehicles, body and/or fender repair and related temporary storage of automobiles for insurance purposes. Said facility may include automobile or vehicle storage as an accessory use on an all weather surface area, provided the open storage is in compliance with part II, division 1, section 11.02(5) of this ordinance.

Automobile repair and service garage:

A facility which provides for the major repair and maintenance of vehicles and the repair of motors, repair and/or installation of tail pipes and mufflers, brakes, radiators and electrical systems; provided that such facilities shall not be deemed to include the painting of motor vehicles, nor body and fender repair. Said facility may include automobile or vehicle storage as an accessory use on an all weather surface area, provided the open storage is in compliance with part II, division 1, section 11.02(5) of this ordinance.

Automobile service station:

Any building, structure or land used for sale of automobile fuel or motor oil, at retail direct to the customer, including the supplying of accessories, replacement parts and repair services essential to the normal operation of automobiles, but not including body or fender work, painting or major motor repairs. Said facility may also provide for the sale of food products as an accessory use for the convenience of customers.

Automobile wrecking, junk or salvage yard:

An automobile wrecking, junk or salvage yard is a lot upon which waste or scrap materials are bought, sold, exchanged, stored, packed, disassembled, or handled, including, but not limited to, scrap iron and other metals, paper, rags, rubber tires, and bottles. Such yards by definition include an automobile wrecking lot upon which automobile parts are bought, sold, exchanged, stored, packed, disassembled or handled. Said yards do not include such uses conducted entirely within an enclosed building. Automobile wrecking, junk or salvage yards where permitted shall be designed in accordance with performance standards set forth in part II, division 1 of this ordinance.

Automobile/vehicular sales and rentals:

An all-weather surface area other than a street or a building, used for display, sale or rental of new or used automobiles, trucks, trailers or motorcycles where no repair work is done, except minor reconditioning of said motor vehicles or trailers to be displayed, sold or rented on the premises. Such area shall not include salvaged parts, nor shall it include the storage of either new or used motor vehicles or trailers that are not on display or for sale or rent.

Awning:

See "Marquee, canopy or awning."

Basement or cellar:

A basement or cellar is a space wholly or partly (at least fifty (50) percent) measured from floor to ceiling, below the average level of the ground surrounding the building. A basement or cellar is not counted when measuring the height of a building and a basement or cellar is not a story.

Bed and breakfast house:

A bed and breakfast house is a single-family dwelling with ongoing occupancy by one family, where said family for compensation and by prearrangement, offer a temporary abiding place for the transient public who are lodged with or without meals, and there are no more than five (5) sleeping rooms for hire.

Block:

A block is a tract of land bounded by streets, or by a combination of streets and public parks, cemeteries, railroad rights-of-way, airport boundaries, or corporate boundary lines or if said word is used as a term of measurement, it shall mean the distance along a side of a street or other right-of-way or boundary line, between two intersecting streets; or if the street is of a dead end type, a block shall be considered to be measured between the nearest intersecting street and the end of such dead end street. In cases where platting is incomplete or disconnected, the building official shall determine the outline of the block.

Block face:

A block face is a side of a block facing upon a street, within which lots face the abutting street.

Board:

The word board shall mean the board of adjustment established in Part V, Sec. 3 of this ordinance.

Boardinghouse:

A boardinghouse is a building other than a hotel, motel, or apartment house, where for compensation and by prearrangement for a definite period, meals or where lodging and meals are provided for three (3) or more persons.

Brewery:

A facility where ale, malt liquor and/or beer are manufactured and sold in accordance with a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission brewer's permit and/or manufacturer's license.

Brewpub:

An establishment where malt liquor, ale, and/or beer are manufactured and sold in accordance with a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission brewpub license. The premises of a brewpub may include a drinking and/or eating establishment/area.

Bufferyard:

Land required under the provisions of this ordinance (part II, division 1) to separate different classifications of land uses from each other. A bufferyard is in addition to the required front, side or rear yards where applicable. In new residential subdivisions or commercial business or industrial parks, bufferyards may be provided as common areas to the subdivision.

Build:

The word build means to erect, convert, enlarge, reconstruct, or alter a building or structure.

Buildable width:

The buildable width of a building site is the width of the building site left to be built upon after the required side yards are provided.

Building:

A building is any structure that encloses a space used for sheltering any occupancy. Each portion of a building separated from other portions by a fire wall shall be considered as a separate building.

Building code:

The building code contains regulations governing building design, construction and maintenance and for the purpose of this ordinance, the building code is the most current building code adopted by the City of Brenham.

Building height:

Building height is the number of stories contained in a building and building height is the vertical distance from the grade to the highest finished roof surface in the case of flat roofs, or to a point at the average height of the highest roof having a pitch.

Building line:

A building line is the line, established by law, beyond which the building shall not extend, except as specifically provided by law.

Building lot:

A building lot is a lot of record or any lot held in single ownership described by metes and bounds upon a deed recorded or registered with the county clerk of Washington County that existed prior to the June 19, 1967, the date of adoption of the subdivision ordinance of the City of Brenham.

Building official:

The officer or other designated authority, or their duly authorized representative, charged with the administration and enforcement of the building code of the City of Brenham.

Building, accessory:

See "Accessory building or use."

Building, mixed:

A mixed building is a building used partly for residential use and partly for community facility and/or commercial use. A mixed building is a commercial use.

Building, principal:

A principal building is a building in which the principal use of the lot on which it is located is conducted. All residential uses, except bona fide servants' quarters, are principal uses.

Building, residential:

A residential building is a building which is arranged, designed, used, or intended to be used for residential occupancy by one or more families or lodgers.

Carport:

A carport is a roofed structure open on at least two (2) sides when attached to a dwelling and open on three (3) sides when detached from a dwelling, covered with a roof supported by structural steel or wood columns or masonry piers of minimum size for structural safety. That portion of the roof extending beyond the said support structures is the roof extension.

Cellar:

See "Basement."

City:

The word "city" shall mean the City of Brenham, Texas.

City manager:

The chief administrative officer of the City of Brenham, Texas.

Clinic:

A clinic is the office of one or more medical doctors who may or may not have associated in the practice of their professions.

Cluster housing:

A residential development on a minimum site of two (2) acres in the R-2 District, containing single-family dwelling units on a limited portion of land which may have varying lot sizes and dimensions that when combined with any remaining land areas consolidated into common open space maintains a density equivalent to the minimum required for the applicable category of residential use as specified in the R-2 District.

Commercial cryptocurrency mining:

The commercial process by which cryptocurrency transactions are verified and added to the public ledger, known as the block chain, and also the means through which new units of cryptocurrencies are released, through the use of server farms employing data processing equipment. For purposes of this definition, any equipment which requires a high-density load service, or any server farm, will presumably be a commercial cryptocurrency mining operation.

Commission, planning and zoning:

The words "planning and zoning commission" shall mean the city planning and zoning commission of the City of Brenham, Texas.

Comprehensive plan:

The comprehensive plan shall mean the "Comprehensive Plan of the City of Brenham, Texas," a document and its amendments adopted by resolution by the city council of the City of Brenham, with graphics and text that set forth policies which guide the future development of the city and which consist of various components covering specific geographic areas, functions and services of the city.

Convenience store:

A convenience store is a retail store designed to increase accessibility and reduce the time required for purchase of food products and other items providing for the incidental needs of customers. Convenience stores may include self-service sale of gasoline only as an activity incidental to the sale of food products and other items that are sold in the convenience store.

Council:

The word "council" shall mean the city council of the City of Brenham, Texas.

Court:

A court is an open, unoccupied space, bounded on more than two (2) sides by the walls of a building. An inner court is a court entirely surrounded by the exterior walls of a building. An outer court is a court having one side open to a street, alley, yard, or other permanent open space.

Cryptocurrency:

A digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank.

Day care facility:

A home which cares for six (6) or less children including where applicable children of parents operating the day care facility that are under the age of sixteen with compensation received for the care of children apart from their parents, guardians or custodians for regular periods of time. For the purposes of this ordinance day care is a home occupation and is subject to the limitations of home occupations as set forth in part II, division I. Any child care institution that provides care for more than six (6) children is defined and identified as a "kindergarten or nursery school."

Decibel (db):

The physical unit commonly used to describe noise levels; the unit of level such as the sound pressure level. One decibel is the level of the squared sound pressure that is ten one-hundredths equal 1.259 times the squared reference and sound pressure; also one decibel is the level of sound pressure that is ten one-twentieths equal 1.122 times the reference pressure.

Development or to develop:

A development includes the construction of a new building or any structure on a building lot, the relocation of an existing building on another building lot, or the use of open land for a new use. To "develop" is to create a development.

Distillery:

A facility established to manufacture distilled spirits and rectify, purify, and refine distilled spirits, mix liquor and bottle and package the finished products, and sell said products, in accordance with a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission distiller's and rectifier's permit.

District:

A district is a zoning district which is a part of the city wherein regulations of this ordinance are uniform.

Dwelling:

A dwelling is a building or portion thereof designed and used exclusively for residential occupancy, including one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and multiple-family dwellings, but not including hotels, motels or lodging houses.

Dwelling unit:

A dwelling unit is a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.

Dwelling, attached (townhouse):

An attached dwelling (townhouse) is a single-family dwelling constructed in a series or group of attached units with property lines separating each unit, and it is one of a group of no less than three (3) and no more than eight (8) adjoining single-family dwelling units.

Dwelling, detached:

A detached dwelling is one containing only one (1) single-family dwelling unit per building lot and does not meet the requirements for a party wall or walls pertaining to a single family attached (townhouse) dwelling unit. All single-family detached dwellings shall be a minimum of seven hundred fifty (750) square feet.

Dwelling, multifamily (apartment house):

Any building or portion thereof used as a multiple dwelling for the purpose of providing three or more separate dwelling units which may share means of egress and other essential facilities.

Dwelling, single-family:

A single-family dwelling is a building containing only one dwelling unit and/or occupied by only one family.

Dwelling, two-family:

A two-family dwelling is a building containing two (2) dwelling units and/or occupied by two (2) families.

Family:

Any number of individuals living as a single housekeeping unit, where the individuals constituting the family are related by blood, marriage, adoption, (excluding servants or other caretakers employed on the premises and living on the premises) with all of these terms to be construed liberally to include step-families and family structures created by law through marriage of household members. Foster children shall be considered children in the same sense as natural or adopted children. A family unit shall not include a single housekeeping unit in which more than two of the residents are unrelated as defined previously. The family unit is not designed or intended to include fraternities, sororities or other group living arrangements.

Family or group home:

A community based residential home containing not more than six (6) disabled persons and two (2) supervisory personnel and which otherwise meets the requirements of the Community Homes for Disabled Persons Location Act, article 1011n, Texas Revised Civil Statutes Annotated.

Fence:

Any construction or hedge greater than thirty (30) inches in height and of any material, the purpose of which is to provide protection from intrusion (both physical and visual), to prevent escape, mark a boundary, or provide decoration. A wall shall be considered a fence. Dikes and retaining walls for the purpose of diverting water and retaining soil are not classified as a fence.

Floodplain:

An area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as possibly being flood prone, or below the immediate floodline (100-year floodplain.) The issuance of building permits for construction of any structure within such floodplain is regulated by a specific ordinance governing the safeguards, preventive actions against flooding, types of uses permitted in the flood prone areas, etc.

Floor area, gross:

The area within the inside perimeter of the exterior walls with no deduction for corridors, stairs, closets, thickness of walls, columns or other features, exclusive of areas open and unobstructed to the sky.

Floor area, net:

The area actually occupied not including accessory unoccupied areas such as corridors, stairs, closets, thickness of walls, columns, toilet room, mechanical area or other features.

Food truck park:

A parcel of land where two or more mobile kitchens congregate to offer food or beverages for sale to the public as the principal use of the land.

Food truck site:

A developed property where a mobile kitchen operates as an accessory use to the primary active business located on the same site. Food truck sites shall not be permitted as an accessory use on property developed with a residential use.

Fraternities or sororities:

A social club or an association having meeting facilities for the members. A fraternity or sorority house may have dormitory facilities for its members. Any such fraternity or sorority house shall be deemed a multifamily dwelling, a boardinghouse or group home, depending upon the circumstances in each instance. The office or headquarters of a professional, business or other fraternal organization shall be considered as an office for the purposes of this ordinance.

Garage, apartment:

See "Accessory dwelling unit (ADU)".

Garage, commercial:

A commercial garage is a parking structure or building or portion thereof offering parking spaces to the general public for compensation. (Also see "automobile repair and service garage" for an additional "garage" definition.)

Garage, private:

A private garage is an accessory building to a residential or nonresidential building designed or used for the storage of motor vehicles owned and used by the occupants of the building to which it is accessory.

Grocery store:

A grocery store is a retail establishment primarily established for the purpose of selling meats, fruits, vegetables, bakery products, dairy products and similar items for human consumption for off-premises consumption only.

Health service:

A health service is a charitable or government operated facility offering to the public medical examinations, diagnosis and limited treatment not for profit.

Height, building:

See "Building height."

High-density load service:

Provision of electrical service where the requested load density, in the portion of the premises containing the load consuming equipment exceeds 250 kWh/ft2/year.

Hospital:

A hospital is a legally authorized institution in which there are complete facilities for diagnosis, treatment, surgery, laboratory, X-ray, and the prolonged care of bed patients. Clinics may have some but not all of these facilities.

Hotel:

A hotel is an establishment offering lodging to the transient public for compensation. A hotel is distinguished from a motel in that access to the majority of the guest rooms is through a common entrance and lobby. A hotel is a nonresidential use.

Hotel, apartment:

An apartment hotel is a hotel in which a majority of the dwelling units or guest rooms are occupied by permanent guests. Dwelling units or guest rooms may include kitchen or cooling facilities. An apartment hotel may contain public banquet halls, ballrooms or meeting rooms, restaurants and lounges accessible to the public only through the lobby and having no exterior display. An apartment hotel is a residential use.

Kindergarten and nursery school:

A pre-school or day care center for more than six (6) children of pre-public school age which meets licensing requirements as established by the State of Texas, in which care and constructive endeavors such as object lessons and helpful games are provided and for which compensation is received. These terms do not include custody fixed by a court for children related by blood or marriage within the third degree to the custodial person, day care as a home occupation, or churches and other religious or public institutions caring for children within an institutional building.

Landscaping:

Plant material such as grass, ground covers, shrubs, vines, hedges, trees or palms; and nonliving durable material commonly used in conjunction with plant materials such as rock, pebbles, sand, walls or fences, used to improve the aesthetic appearance of open spaces with the City of Brenham, but excluding impervious surfaces, such as paving.

Loading space:

A loading space is a space within the main building or an all weather surface on the same lot therewith, providing for the standing, loading or unloading of trucks, and having a minimum dimension as provided in city specifications that are maintained by the building official.

Lodginghouse:

A lodginghouse is a residential building or portion thereof containing not more than five (5) guest lodging rooms which accommodate are used by not more than five (5) persons who are not members of the keeper's family. Lodging, but not meals, is provided for compensation.

Lot area:

The lot area is the area of a horizontal plane intercepted by the vertical projections of the front, side, and rear lot lines of a building lot.

Lot area per dwelling unit:

Lot area per dwelling unit is the lot area required for each dwelling unit located on a building lot.

Lot corner:

A corner lot is a building lot situated at the intersection of two (2) streets, the interior angle of such intersection not to exceed one hundred thirty-five (135) degrees.

Lot depth:

Lot depth is the mean horizontal distance between the front lot line and the rear lot line of a building lot measured within the lot boundary. In the event that a building lot has more than four sides and the lot is configured in such a way that there are reasonable questions as to either the "front" or the "rear" lot line, then the planning and zoning commission shall designate the lines that shall be the front and/or rear lot lines for the purpose of this ordinance.

Lot line:

A lot line is a boundary of a building lot.

Lot line, front:

A front lot line is that boundary of a building lot which is the line of an existing or dedicated street. Upon corner lots either street line may be selected as the front lot line providing a front and rear yard are provided adjacent and opposite, respectively to the front lot line.

Lot line, rear:

The rear lot line is that boundary of a building lot which is most distant from and is, or is most nearly, parallel to the front lot line.

Lot line, side:

A side lot line is any boundary of a building lot which is not a front lot line or a rear lot line.

Lot of record:

A lot of record is an area of land designated as a lot on a plat of a subdivision recorded pursuant to statutes of the State of Texas with the county clerk (of the County of Washington, Texas).

Lot types:

The diagram below illustrates terminology used herein with reference to regular, corner, interior, reversed frontage and through lots.

In the diagram, A is a corner lot, defined as a lot located at the intersection of two (2) or more streets. A lot abutting a curved street or streets shall be considered a corner lot if straight lines drawn from the foremost points of the side lot lines to the foremost point of the lot (projected if rounded) meet at an interior angle of less than one hundred thirty-five (135) degrees. (See lots marked A(1) in the diagram.)

B is an interior lot, defined as a lot other than a corner lot, and abutting only one street. (Alleys shall not be considered as streets for purposes of this definition.)

C is a through lot, defined as a lot other than a corner lot, and with frontage on more than one street. Through lots abutting two (2) streets may be referred to as double-frontage lots. (Alleys shall not be considered as streets for purposes of this definition.)

D is a reversed frontage lot, defined as a lot on which the frontage is at right angles or approximately right angles (interior angles less the one hundred thirty-five (135) degrees) to the general pattern in the area. A reversed frontage lot may also be in a corner lot (A-D in the diagram), an interior lot (B-D) or a through lot (C-D).

Lot, interior:

An interior lot is a building lot other than a corner lot.

Lot width:

The lot width is the minimum distance measured in a straight line between the side lot lines of a building lot along a straight line, which shall be on the side of the building line opposite from the front lot line and one which must touch the building line at one point.

Maneuvering space:

The space entirely on private property required for maneuvering vehicles in such a manner as to preclude the backing of any vehicle into any street right-of-way.

Manufactured home:

A structure, constructed on or after June 15, 1976, according to the rules of the United Stated Department of Housing and Urban Development, transportable in one or more sections, which, in the traveling mode, is at least eight (8) body feet in width or at least forty (40) body feet in length, or, when erected on site, is at least three hundred twenty (320) square feet, and which is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems of the home. The term does not include a recreational vehicle as defined by 24 C.F.R. Section 3282.8(g).

Manufactured home park or subdivision:

A parcel of land upon which two (2) or more manufactured homes are placed or located for purposes of occupancy.

Marquee, awning, or canopy:

A marquee, awning or canopy is a rooflike structure of a permanent nature which projects from the wall of a building or overhangs a public way.

Microdistillery or craft distillery:

A small, often boutique-style distillery established to produce and sell beverage grade spirit alcohol in relatively small quantities, produced in single batches in accordance with a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission distiller's and rectifier's permit.

Mobile home:

A structure that was constructed before June 15, 1976, transportable in one or more sections, which, in the traveling mode, is at least eight (8) body feet in width or at least forty (40) body feet in length, or, when erected on site, is at least three hundred twenty (320) square feet, and which is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems of the home. Mobile home structures are prohibited within the corporate limits of the City of Brenham.

Mobile kitchen:

A motorized vehicle or tow-behind trailer equipped with kitchen facilities such as plumbing, hot water supply, mechanical refrigeration, cooking equipment, and dry goods storage used for the preparation and sale or service of food and beverages. Customer service is provided at a counter or window in the vehicle. Mobile kitchens may include, but are not limited to, mobile food trucks and mobile food trailers. Mobile kitchens shall not include individual nonmotorized vending carts or mobile ice cream/frozen dessert vehicles.

Modular home:

A single-family dwelling unit which is constructed, in whole or in part, at a manufacturing facility and is intended for transport solely for the purpose of installation upon a permanent foundation. Modular homes must be certified as meeting both state and locally adopted building code requirements and are permitted to be located in any district in which the structure meets the minimum standards.

Motel or motor hotel:

A motel or motor hotel is an establishment offering to the transient public the use of guest rooms or sleeping accommodations for compensation. Such an establishment consists of a group of attached or detached guest rooms or sleeping accommodations the majority of which have private and direct access from parking areas not through a common entrance and lobby. The establishment furnishes customary hotel services and may contain a restaurant, club, lounge, banquet hall and/or meeting rooms. A motel is a nonresidential use.

Motor freight terminal:

A motor freight terminal is a building or area in which freight brought by motor truck is assembled and/or stored for shipping in interstate and intrastate commerce by motor truck. A motor freight terminal is a truck terminal.

Nonconforming structure (not occupied by a nonconforming use):

Any structure not occupied in whole or in any part by a nonconforming use, which physically existed and which was lawfully erected prior to the enactment of this ordinance or any amendment hereto, which would no longer be a lawful structure after the adoption of this ordinance due solely to its inability to comply with technical requirements of said ordinance or said amendment that regulate yards, lot dimensions, lot coverage, floor area, on-site parking, or any structural condition. The board of adjustment has the authority to grant variances or special exceptions to any and all such technical requirements of the Zoning Ordinances provided in part IV, Variances, Special Exceptions, Nonconforming Uses and Appeals (division 1, division 2, and division 3).

Nonconforming use (legally existing):

Any actual use of land or structures which physically existed or was in operation and which was lawfully commenced prior to the enactment of this ordinance or any amendment hereto, which would no longer be a lawful operation after the adoption of said ordinance or amendment due solely to its inability to comply with the terms and conditions of said ordinance or amendment. Said nonconforming use of property or structure is subject to all applicable provisions of part IV, Variances, Special Exceptions, Nonconforming Uses and Appeals, of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Brenham, and therefore no authorization shall be granted by the board of adjustment to expand the structure or land occupied by a nonconforming use.

Noxious matter:

Noxious matter is a material which is capable of causing injury to living organisms by chemical reaction or is capable of causing detrimental effects upon the physical or economic well-being or comfort of humans.

Occupancy:

The purpose for which a building, or part thereof, is used or intended to be used.

Occupancy, mixed:

A building used for two or more occupancies classified in different occupancy groups.

Open space:

Open space is that part of a building lot, including courts or yards, which:

Open storage:

Open storage is the storage of any equipment, machinery, commodities, raw, semifinished materials, and building materials, not legally permitted as an accessory use to a residential use, which is visible from any point on the building lot line when viewed from ground level to six (6) feet above ground level.

Owner:

Any person, agent, firm or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in the property.

Parking space, off-street:

An off street parking space is an all weather surface area built entirely within the boundaries of a lot of record or building lot in accordance with applicable city standards, and used for vehicular storage and not as a street, and that is enclosed or unenclosed, and is sufficient in size to store one automobile. A parking space shall not occupy any public land.

Permit:

An official document or certificate issued by the appropriate city administrator authorizing performance of a specified activity.

Private or parochial school:

An institution of learning having a curriculum equivalent to public schools, providing care, training, education, custody or supervision for four or more children who are not related by blood, marriage or adoption to the owner or operator of the facility, for all or part of the 24-hour day, whether or not the facility makes a charge for the service offered by it; provided however, that this does not include specialty schools, such as dancing, music, beauty, mechanical trade, swimming or commercial schools.

Public parks:

A public park is any publicly owned park, playground, beach, parkway, or roadway within the jurisdiction and control of the city.

Public way (right-of-way):

Any street, alley or other parcel of land open to the outside air, deeded, dedicated or otherwise permanently appropriated to the public for public use and having a clear and unobstructed width and height of not less than ten (10) feet (3048 mm).

Recreational vehicle or travel trailer:

A vehicular, portable structure build on a chassis designed to be used as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreational and vacation uses, permanently identified as a travel trailer or recreational vehicle by the manufacturer of the trailer and, when factory-equipped for the road, it shall have a body width not exceeding eight (8) feet and a body length not exceeding state maximums.

Rest home or nursing, convalescent or assisted living facility:

These facilities are long-term residential care facilities housed in a structure or collection of structures located on one campus that is used or occupied by persons recovering from illness or suffering from infirmities of old age or chronic illness. Generally, assisted living facilities provide care for persons needing less intense but ongoing care or assistance, which if provided, enable them to maintain a degree of independent living.

Retirement village:

A residential development of two (2) acres or more consisting of dwelling units (single-family and/or multifamily) designed to accommodate the life styles of active senior citizens, and said development may have additional facilities on site for residential assisted living and/or nursing or convalescent care.

Screening device:

A screening device shall consist of a barrier of stone, brick, pierced brick or block, uniformly colored wood, or other permanent material of equal character, density, and acceptable design, at least six (6) feet in height, where the solid area equals at least sixty-five (65) percent of the wall surface, including an entrance gate or gates. Such screening device shall be continuously maintained.

Screening hedge:

A screening hedge shall consist of shrubs at least six (6) feet in height, installed in a sound workmanlike manner according to accepted planting procedures, with the quality and density of plant material sufficient to block vision, noise pollutants or other negative by products associated with the use that is hidden by the screening hedge. Such screening hedge shall be continuously maintained.

Server farm:

Three or more interconnected computers housed together in a single facility whose primary function is to perform cryptocurrency mining or associated data processing.

Shopping center:

A shopping center is a commercial development that provides facilities for a group of commercial establishments and that is managed as a unit.

Sign:

A sign is a name, identification, image, description, display, or illustration which is affixed to, or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure, or piece of land and which directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, facility, service, event, attraction, person, institution or business, which is visible from any street, right-of-way, public sidewalk, alley, park or other public property, institution, or business. A sign is not a display of official court or public office notices nor is it a flag, emblem, or insignia of a nation, political unit, school, or religious group. A sign shall not include a sign located completely within an enclosed building. (See the sign ordinance of the city for definitions of specific types of signs and related requirements.)

Special exceptions:

A type of relief that may be granted by the board of adjustment that applies to nonconforming structures, yards, buffer yards and parking requirements. The granting of said exceptions are subject to the standards and procedures as established in part IV, Variances, Special Exceptions, Nonconforming Uses and Appeals, division 1 and division 3. The board of adjustment may not grant special exceptions to use requirements or procedural requirements related to the granting of a special exception.

Specific use:

A use which may be permitted as an amendment to the zoning ordinance in accordance with part III, Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, provided that said use is specifically listed under the category of specific uses for the zoning district in which it may be located.

Specific use permit:

A permit that is granted by the city council after recommendation from the planning and zoning commission which authorizes the operation of a use at a specific location within a zoning district in which the use has been designated as a specific use prior to the granting of said permit. Said permit is subject to the standards and uniform procedures for amendments to the zoning ordinance as established in part III, Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance.

Story:

A story is that portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above. A basement or cellar or underground parking is not a story.

Story, half (attic story):

A half story (attic story) is any story situated wholly or partly in the roof, so designated, arranged or built as to be used for storage or habitation.

Street:

A street is a public right-of-way or approved place, which affords a primary means of access to abutting property. A driveway or alley which serves only to give secondary vehicular access to a building lot or to an accessory parking or loading facility, or to allow vehicles to take on or discharge passengers at the entrance to a building shall not be considered a street.

Street line:

A street line is a lot line dividing a lot from a street.

Toxic materials:

Toxic materials are those materials which are capable of causing injury to living organisms by chemical means when present in relatively small amounts.

Trailer, house:

See "Recreational vehicle or travel trailer."

Use:

The use of property is the purpose or activity for which the land, or building thereon, is designed, arranged, or intended, or for which it is occupied or maintained, and shall include any manner of such activity with respect to the standards of this ordinance.

Use category:

A general grouping of uses such as single-family residential, multifamily residential, retail, office, light industrial or heavy industrial within which particular uses may be categorized in order to have uniformly applicable area regulations for each group of uses within the zoning district to which they are assigned.

Use, principal:

A principal use is the main use of land or buildings as distinguished from a subordinate or accessory use.

Use, public:

A use that is owned and/or operated by a governmental jurisdiction and is provided for the common good, education, health, safety or welfare of its citizens. A public use is not regulated by the zoning ordinance, but in order to guide intragovernmental and intergovernmental planning and coordination, the zoning districts with attributes best suited to accommodate public uses should be considered.

Variance:

A type of relief that may be granted by the board of adjustment in order to accommodate appropriate development of a particular parcel of land that cannot otherwise be appropriately developed. The granting of such relief is subject to the standards and procedures as established in part IV, Variances, Special Exceptions, Nonconforming Uses and Appeals, division 1. The board may not grant variances to use requirements or procedural requirements related to the granting of a variance.

Veterinary or animal clinic:

A veterinary or animal clinic is a building in which small animals receive medical care from a licensed veterinarian and his assistants and in which no outdoor kennel or exercise runway is located closer than fifty (50) feet to any "R" district or residential use.

Yard:

A yard is an open space on the same platted lot or building lot with a building, unoccupied and unobstructed by any portion of a structure from the ground upward, except as otherwise provided. In measuring a yard for the purpose of determining the width of a side yard, the depth of a rear yard, and the depth of a front yard, the minimum horizontal distance between the building site and the lot line shall be used. A yard extends along a lot line and at right angles to such lot line to a depth or width specified in the yard regulations of the zoning district in which such building is located.

Yard, front:

A front yard is a yard extending along the whole length of the front lot line between the side lot lines, and being the minimum horizontal distance between the street line and the main building or any projections thereof other than steps, planter boxes, unenclosed porches or that portion of a carport that extends beyond the structural columns or piers that support the carport.

Yard, rear:

A rear yard is a yard extending across the rear of a lot between the side lot lines and being the minimum horizontal distance between the rear lot line and the rear of the principal building or any projections thereof other than steps, unenclosed balconies, or unenclosed porches.

Yard, side:

A side yard is a yard extending along the side lot line from the front yard to the rear yard, being the minimum horizontal distance between any building or projections thereof except steps and the side lot line.

Zero-lot line (patio) home:

A structure designed for single-family occupancy built so as to have one side directly abutting the property line.

Zoning administrator:

The zoning administrator is a city administrator appointed by the city manager to that office and is responsible for duties pertaining to the enforcement of the zoning ordinance and other applicable ordinances of the City of Brenham.

Zoning district map:

The zoning district map is the official map or maps incorporated into this ordinance as a part hereof by reference thereto.

(Ordinance adopted 10/3/96, secs. 1, 2; Ordinance O-12-14, sec. 1, adopted 6/21/12; Ordinance O-16-031, sec. 1, adopted 11/17/16; Ordinance O-18-008, sec. 1, adopted 8/16/18; Ordinance O-19-012, secs. 1, 2, adopted 3/7/19; Ordinance O-21-018, sec. 1, adopted 9/2/21; Ordinance O-21-030 adopted 11/4/21; Ordinance O-22-007 adopted 4/20/22)