For the purpose of this ordinance, certain words as used herein
are defined as follows. Definitions not expressly prescribed herein
are to be construed in accordance with customary usage in municipal
planning and engineering practices.
Access:
Means of approaching or nearing. Includes a right of passage
to and from an adjacent street.
Accessory Use or Structure or Building:
An accessory use or structure is one customarily a part thereof,
which is clearly incidental and secondary to a permitted use and which
does not change the character thereof.
Actual Construction:
The placing of construction materials in permanent position
and fastened in a permanent manner; except that where demolition or
removal of an existing building has been substantially begun preparatory
to rebuilding, such demolition or removal shall be deemed to be actual
construction, provided that work shall be diligently carried on until
completion of the building involved.
Agricultural Use:
The use of land for the raising of crops or livestock with
intent to make a profit on the sale thereof; as defined by the Central
Appraisal District of San Saba County.
Alcoholic Beverage:
Any drink, either contained in a sealed container or served
to be consumed on the premises, that contains an alcoholic content
that causes it to be controlled under the authority of the Texas Alcoholic
Beverage Commission.
Alley:
A Minor public right-of-way which is used primarily for vehicular
service access to the back or the side of properties otherwise abutting
on a street.
Apartment:
A room or group of rooms used as a dwelling for one (1) family
unit with cooking facilities therein located in a building where other
family dwelling units are located.
Apartment House:
Any building or portion thereof which is designed, built
and rented, leased or let to be occupied as three (3) or more dwelling
units, or apartments or which is occupied as a home or place of residence
by three (3) or more families, living in independent dwelling units.
Area of the Lot:
The area of the lot shall be the net area of the lot and
shall not include portions of streets and alleys.
Automobile Storage Lot:
An off-street area not open for customers to drive into or
through for the storage of unlicensed motor vehicles.
Barndominium:
A type of steel building, a non-traditional structure, with
a steel or wood frame and sheet metal siding, originally designed
as a storage building or barn structure that has been repurposed by
the addition of a living unit areas to previously open space within
such original building. Such combination structure often acts as a
dual-purpose living and shop or work and storage areas. The interior
dwelling/living unit area must have square footage not less than 1,200
sq. ft. and meet all minimum housing requirements of the International
Residential Code.
Base Site Area:
That portion of the gross site area remaining after (a) the
dedication of public street and utility right-of-way; (b) subtracting
the area within surface easement; and (c) buffer areas from the gross
site area.
Bed and Breakfast:
A dwelling unit that contains no more than eight (8) guestrooms
without individual cooking facilities that is rented for overnight
lodging for compensation and serves at least one meal per day.
Block:
A tract of land bounded by streets, or by a combination of
streets and public parks, cemeteries, railroad rights-of-way, shorelines
of waterways, or boundary lines of municipalities.
Board of Adjustment:
The Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of San Saba as
established by this ordinance.
Buffer Area:
An area of land together with specified planting and/or structures
thereon, which may be required between land uses of different intensities
to eliminate or minimize conflicts between such uses.
Building:
Any structure built for the support, shelter or enclosure
of persons, chattels or removable property of any kind and which is
affixed to the land. This term does not include fences.
Building Area:
The gross area covered by the building or buildings placed
on a lot.
Building Code:
Those regulations as adopted in the San Saba Code of Ordinances.
Building Ends:
Those sides of a building having the least dimension as compared
to the front or rear of a building. As used herein for the building
spacing regulations for multiple-family dwellings, a building end
shall be interpreted as being the most narrow side of a building regardless
of whether it fronts upon a street, faces the rear of the lot, or
is adjacent to the side lot line, or another building.
Building Line:
A line defining an area on the building lot between the street
right-of-way or property line and the building line within which no
building shall be constructed, encroach or project except as specifically
authorized in an adopted ordinance of the City of San Saba.
Building Permit:
An instrument in writing signed by an enforcing officer authorizing
described construction on a particular lot.
Cafe, Restaurant, or Cafeteria:
A commercial eating establishment where snacks or meals are
vended for consumption primarily on the premises. This definition
is intended to exclude establishments with delivery offered to automobiles
away from the main building. This definition does not exclude “take-out”
windows.
Certificate of Occupancy:
A written instrument signed by the enforcing officer authorizing
a described use at a described location, which indicates conformance
with or conditional waiver from the Zoning regulations.
Church:
A building or buildings used for public worship, including
all accessory buildings used for recreation, administration and/or
educational (not kindergarten, primary, secondary, junior high, or
high school), but not including buildings used for residences.
City:
The word “city” shall be the City of San Saba,
Texas, together with all its governing and operating bodies.
City Administrator:
That person holding the office of City Administrator for
the city of San Saba.
City Engineer:
The duly authorized person in charge of engineering for the
City, or his designated representative.
City Secretary:
That person holding the office of City Secretary for the
city of San Saba.
Clinic:
An institution, public or private, or a station for the examination
and treatment of outpatients by an individual or a group of doctors,
dentists or other licensed members of the human health care profession.
Club, Private:
Quarters for a private organization, whose principal purpose
is the preparation and service of food and drink for members and their
guests only. The on-site use of alcoholic beverages may be allowed
when granted a Specific Use Permit.
Collector Street:
A street which carries traffic from local streets to the
system of major streets, including the principal entrance street or
streets to subdivision development and streets designed primarily
to provide traffic circulation within or between one or more subdivisions.
Commercial Amusement:
An enterprise whose main purpose is to provide the general
public with an amusing or entertaining activity, where tickets are
sold or fees collected at the gate of the activity. Commercial amusements
include zoos, carnivals, expositions, miniature golf courses, driving
ranges, arcades, fairs, exhibitions, athletic contests, rodeos, tent
shows, ferris wheels, children’s rides, roller coasters, skating
rinks, ice rinks, traveling shows, bowling alleys, pool parlors and
similar enterprises.
Commission:
The Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of San Saba,
Texas.
Common Driveway:
A driveway on a common property line serving more than one
platted lot.
Common Property:
A parcel or parcels of land, together with improvements thereon,
the use and enjoyment of which are shared by the owners and occupants
of the individual building sites in a planned unit.
Conditional Use:
A use which may be permitted in a district, subject to meeting
certain conditions or procedures set forth in this ordinance.
Condominium:
Two (2) or more dwelling units on a lot with individual ownership
of a unit rather than a specific parcel of real property, together
with common elements. See Article 1301a, Texas Revised Civil Statutes.
Container Home:
means metal containers previously used for transport. Container
homes are not considered Industrialized/Industrial Housing or Modular
Housing. When converted for dwelling/living unit purposes, must meet
all minimum housing requirements of the International Residential
Code, with a minimum square footage of not less than 1,100 sq. ft.
dwelling/living unit. Limit of one dwelling/living unit per lot. May
not be stacked. Must be permanently placed on a slab or tied down
with skirting. Not considered a Tiny Home as defined herein. May not
be used as storage sheds within city limits. May not have signs, logos,
or other markings on the exterior walls.
Contractor’s Services:
Air conditioning, building construction and supply, electrical
supply, landscaping service, lumber yard, plumbing supply, tombstone
and monument work, utility materials yard.
Convalescent Home:
Any structure used or occupied by three (3) or more persons
recovering from illness or receiving geriatric care for compensation.
Corner Lot:
A lot abutting upon two (2) or more streets at their intersection.
Court:
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 place.
Cul-de-sac:
A short, minor street having but one outlet to another street
and terminating on the opposite end by an appropriate vehicular turnaround.
Density:
The number of dwelling units per gross acre of subdivision,
excluding floodplains and any areas that are nonresidential in use.
Depth of Lot:
The mean horizontal distance between the front and rear property
lines.
Developer:
An individual, partnership, corporation, or governmental
entity undertaking the subdivision or improvement of land and other
activities covered by these regulations, including the preparation
of a subdivision plat showing the layout of the land and the public
improvements involved therein. The term “developer” is
intended to include the term “subdivider” even though
personnel in successive stages of a project may vary.
Development:
The construction of one or more new buildings or structures
on one or more building lots, or the use of open land for a new use. “To
Develop” shall mean to create development.
District:
A section of the City of San Saba for which the regulations
governing the area, height, use of land and buildings, and other regulations
as defined by this ordinance are uniform.
Dormitory:
Any structure specifically designed to house student tenants
associated with a university, college or school.
Drive-in Eating Establishment:
Any structure and premises specifically designed for the
preparation and dispensing of food and meals for consumption in a
vehicle parked on the premises with delivery of food to customers
in cars away from the main building.
Duplex:
Two (2) single-family dwelling units joined by one (1) or
more common side walls.
Dwelling:
Any building or portion thereof designed or used exclusively
for residential purposes.
Dwelling - Multifamily:
Any building or portion thereof which is designed, built,
rented, leased or let to be occupied as three (3) or more dwelling
units or apartments or which is occupied as a home or residence for
three (3) or more families.
Dwelling - One-Family:
A detached dwelling having accommodations for and occupied
by not more than one (1) family and not more than two (2) boarders
or lodgers.
Dwelling - Two-Family:
A detached dwelling having separate accommodations for and
occupied by not more than two (2) families or by two (2) families
and not more than four (4) boarders or lodgers. Two (2) boarders or
lodgers per unit.
Dwelling Unit:
A building unit or other unit structure which is designed
exclusively for residential purposes for a family.
Easement:
An interest in land granted to the City or other governmental
entity, to the public generally, and/or to a private utility corporation.
Emergency Vehicle:
Any vehicle meeting the requirements for emergency vehicles
under State law.
Enforcing Officer:
The designated enforcing officer of the City of San Saba
or his designated representative.
Exterior Yard:
A yard abutting and extending along the full length of the
street line of all streets abutting a lot.
Family:
Any number of related persons or not more than six (6) unrelated
persons living in a single housekeeping unit.
Fast Food Service:
An establishment which prepares and sells food on the premises
primarily for consumption elsewhere. This definition does not include
drive-in restaurants as herein defined.
Filling Station:
An establishment where gasoline is sold and dispensed into
motor vehicle tanks. Such establishments may also have accessory facilities
for washing cars, minor maintenance, oil and grease, battery charging,
tire repair and sale of auto accessories. Such establishment shall
not perform body repair, engine or transmission overhaul and shall
not display vehicles for sale except in districts allowing such sales.
No inoperative motor vehicles shall remain outside the business/building
for more than twenty-four (24) hours.
Flood Fringe:
That portion of the floodplain which may be filled and/or
altered so as to permit the construction of improvements provided
such alterations and/or filling is approved by the City of San Saba,
and any State or Federal agency which may have jurisdiction thereof.
Floodplain:
Any and all land area adjoining the channel of a river, stream,
lake, watercourse, marshy area, or other drainage element, which has
been or may be inundated by stormwater runoff. The extent of the floodplain
shall be determined by the crest of a flood having an average frequency
of occurrence of once in one hundred (100) years, as established by
FEMA.
Floodway:
The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent
land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood,
as defined by the Corps of Engineers or FEMA, without cumulatively
increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot.
Floor Area:
The sum total of all floors as calculated from measurements
to outside walls.
Frontage:
All the property on one side of a street between two (2)
intersecting streets (crossing or terminating), measured along the
line of the street, or if the street is dead-ended, then all the property
abutting on one side between an intersecting street and the dead-end
street.
Front Yard:
An exterior yard between an adjacent street and the entrance
of a principal structure on a lot. See Yard, Front.
Garage, Private:
An accessory building or portion of the main used building,
designated for or used for the housing of motor-driven vehicles which
are the property of and for the private use of the occupants of the
lot on which the private garage is located. Not more than one (1)
of the vehicles may be a commercial vehicle and of not more than one
and one-half (1-1/2) tons capacity.
Garage, Repair:
An establishment where motor vehicles receive maintenance,
repair or where auto body repair takes place. Does not include salvaging.
Grade:
The lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of
the ground between the exterior wall of a building and a point five
(5) feet distant from said wall, or the lowest point of elevation
of the finished surface between the exterior wall of a building and
the property line if it is less than five (5) feet distant from said
wall. In case walls are parallel to and within five (5) feet of a
public sidewalk, alley or other public way, the grade shall be the
elevation of the sidewalk, alley or public way.
Gross Density:
The number of dwelling units per acre without deduction for
landscaping or impervious surfaces.
Gross Leasable Area:
The total floor area of a building which is designed for
tenant occupancy and use, including basements and mezzanines, and
measured to centerlines of common partitions and to outside of exterior
walls, excluding mechanical equipment, storage, restrooms, stairwells,
elevator shafts and other common areas.
Gross Receipts:
Receipts from all business conducted on the premises and
shall be deemed to include the sales price received of the goods,
including gasoline, sold on consignment without deduction for any
amount due the consignor.
Halfway House:
A residence operated by a governmental entity, providing
room and board, on a temporary basis, to one or more individuals who
are in transition from an institution, either penal or medical, to
the position where they are not directly supervised.
Height of Building:
The vertical distance from the “grade” to the
highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of
a mansard roof or to the average height of the highest gable of a
pitch or hip roof.
Historic Landmark Overlay District:
Any area which contains buildings, structures or sites which
(a) have a special character or have a special historical or cultural
interest or value, (b) represents one or more periods or styles of
architecture typical of one or more eras in the history of the City,
and (c) cause such area, by reason of such factors, to constitute
a district pursuant to the provision of this Ordinance. The area of
an Historic Landmark Overlay District may include one or more properties.
Home Occupation:
A business, profession, occupation, or trade conducted for
gain or support and located entirely within a residential building,
which use is accessory, incidental, and secondary to the use of the
building for dwelling purposes and does not change the essential residential
character or appearance of such building or neighborhood or significantly
increase the volume of traffic.
Hospital, Sanitarium, Nursing or Convalescent Home:
A building or portion thereof, used or designated for the
housing or treatment of sick, aged, mentally ill, injured, convalescent
or infirm persons; provided that this definition shall not include
rooms in any residential dwelling, hotel or apartment/hotel not ordinarily
intended to be occupied by said persons.
Hotel:
Any building containing six (6) or more guest rooms, intended
or designed to be rented, or hired out to be occupied, for sleeping
purposes by paying guests.
Impervious Surface:
A surface which does not absorb water and consisting of all
building[s], parking areas, driveways, road[s], sidewalks, structures,
and any areas of concrete or asphalt.
Industrialized Building:
means a commercial structure constructed in one or more modules
or using one or more modular components built at a location other
than the commercial site, that is designed to be used as a commercial
building when the module or modular component is erected or installed,
and that includes the structure’s plumbing, heating, air conditioning
and electrical system. The term shall have the meaning given in Sec.
1202.003, Tex. Occupations Code, as amended from time to time, and
does not include a structure that exceeds three stories or 49' in
height.
Industrialized Housing:
means a residential structure that is designed for occupancy
of one or more families, constructed in one or more modules or using
one or more modular components built at a location other than the
permanent site, that is designed to be used as a permanent residential
structure when the module or modular component is erected or installed
on a permanent foundation system, and that includes the structure’s
plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical system. Industrialized
housing does not include:
(1)
Housing constructed of a sectional or panelized system that
does not use a modular component; or
(2)
A ready-built home constructed in a manner in which the entire
living area is contained in a single unit or section at a temporary
location for the purpose of selling and moving the home to another
location.
The term shall have the meaning given in Sec. 1202.002, Tex.
Occupations Code, as amended from time to time, and shall not include
structures referenced in Sec. 1202.002(c) of the Tex. Occupations
Code. Each module must bear a certification decal (label). A description
of these decals is found in IHB Bulletin #97-001 on the Texas Department
of Licensing and Regulation.
Institutional Educational Use:
A college or university; a private or public institution
approved by the appropriate State of Texas educational authority to
teach two (2) or more grade levels such as kindergarten and first
grade, first and second grade, etc.
Interior Yard:
A yard other than an exterior yard extending along the common
boundary of adjoining lots.
Kennel:
Any building, lot or premises on or in which four (4) or
more dogs (at least eight (8) weeks of age) are kept, or any building,
lot, or premises where dogs or cats are housed or accepted for boarding,
for which remuneration is received. This term does not include a veterinary
clinic.
Lakes and Ponds:
Natural or artificial bodies of water which retain water
year-round.
Landmark:
A building or site of immeasurable value in preserving the
cultural heritage, or an outstanding example of design or a site closely
related to an important personage, act or event in history. Such designation
marks the site for preservation and restoration to its historical
character and is intended to discourage modifications which detract
from its historical significance.
Landscaped:
Adorned or improved by contouring land and placing thereon
live plants, flowers, shrubs, trees or grass.
Land Use Plan:
The element of the Comprehensive Plan that designates future
intentions regarding the location and intensities of industrial, commercial,
and residential land uses in relation to open space, community, transportation,
and utility needs. This information is presented in a graphic format.
Legal Height:
The maximum height of a building permitted by any airport
zoning ordinance or other ordinance restricting the height of structures.
Living Unit:
The room or rooms occupied by a family and must include cooking
and sanitary facilities.
Lodging House:
A building where lodging for five (5) or more persons is
provided for compensation.
Lot:
An undivided tract or parcel of land having frontage on a
public street or an approved open space having direct street access,
and which is, or in the future may be, offered for sale, conveyance,
transfer, or improvement, which is designated as a distinct and separate
tract, and which is identified by a tract, or lot number, or symbol
in a duly approved subdivision plat which has been properly filed
and recorded.
Lot Coverage:
The percentage of the total area of a lot occupied by the
base (first story or floor) of a building located on the lot.
Lot Lines:
The lines bounding a lot as defined herein.
Lot of Record:
A lot which is part of a subdivision, the plat of which has
been recorded in the office of the County Clerk of San Saba County
prior to the adoption of this ordinance.
Lot Width:
The width of a lot at the front building line.
Main Building:
The building or buildings on a lot which are occupied by
the primary use.
Maintenance Agreement:
An agreement providing for public utilities, drainage, or
streets or work to insure the correction of any failures of any improvements
required pursuant to City regulations or to maintain same.
Manufacturing, Processing and Fabrication:
Beverage plant, fabrication, metal finishing, foundry, ice
plant, machine shop, planing mill, printing plant, publishing and
bindery plant, masonry products manufacturing, research laboratory,
and all other uses of similar land use intensity and impact on adjacent
property.
Marquee:
A roof-like structure projecting over the entrance to a building.
It may also project over a sidewalk adjacent and parallel to the front
wall of a building.
Mini-Warehouse:
Enclosed space rented to members of the general public for
private use for dead storage of motor vehicles, trailers, boats and
household goods. The rented space shall be used for private use only.
No retail, service, professional, nor any other form of business that
involves the general public and creates traffic by anyone other than
the renter shall be conducted or performed on or from the rented space.
Mobile Home:
A movable or portable dwelling which is eight (8) feet or
more in width and thirty-two (32) feet or more in length, constructed
on a chassis, and which is designed to be towed over Texas roads and
highways under special permit, designed for year-round occupancy,
primarily to be used without a permanent foundation, and designed
to be connected to utilities. It may consist of one or more units
that can be telescoped when transported and expanded later for additional
capacity, or of two or more units, separately transportable, but designed
to be joined together into one integral unit.
The following shall not be included in this definition:
(1)
Travel trailers, pickup coaches, motor homes, camping trailers,
or other recreational vehicles.
(2)
Manufactured modular housing which is designed to be set on
a permanent foundation, and which uses standard sheathing, roofing,
siding, and electrical plumbing, and heating and cooling systems which
comply with the applicable ordinances and codes of the City.
Modular Component:
means a structural part of housing or a building constructed
at a location other than the building site in a manner that prevents
the construction from being adequately inspected for code compliance
at the building site without damage or removal and reconstruction
of a part of the housing or building.
Motel:
An inn or group of cabins or guest rooms intended or designed
to be used, or which are used, rented or hired out to be occupied,
or which are occupied for sleeping purposes by paying guests.
Nonconforming Use:
A building, structure or use of land lawfully occupied at
the time of the effective date of this ordinance, or amendments thereto,
and which does not conform to the use regulations of the district
in which it is situated.
Occupancy:
The use or intended use of the land or building by proprietors
or tenants.
Open Display:
The placement for viewing of goods or products, for sale
or for viewing only, that is not contained or restricted by fencing,
walls, counters, or other barriers; allowing the general public free
access to handle the product or view them without obstruction.
Open Space:
Private property under common ownership designated for recreational
area, private park (for use of property owners within the subdivision),
play lot area, plaza area, building setbacks (other than those normally
required), and ornamental areas open to the general view within the
subdivision. Open space does not include streets, alleys, utility
easements, public parks or required setbacks.
Outside Storage:
The storage of material, outside of the walls of the main
structure, incidental to the use of the property. Said material is
screened from view by a solid, non-transparent screening fence with
a minimum height of six (6) feet; and does not exceed the height of
the screening fence.
Overlay Zone:
A zoning district which characteristically lays over another
zoning district. The base zoning district usually retains the restrictions
provided by the zoning ordinance; but is further restricted by the
regulations provided in the overlay zone.
Parking Space:
An area of not less than one hundred eighty (180) square
feet (measuring approximately nine (9) feet by twenty (20) feet),
unless other provisions are made in this ordinance, not on a public
right-of-way or alley, surfaced with an all-weather surface, enclosed
or unenclosed, together with an all-weather surfaced driveway connecting
the parking space with a street or alley permitting free ingress and
egress. Head-in parking adjacent to a public thoroughfare shall not
be permitted.
Parkway Area:
That portion of the public right-of-way lying primarily between
the edge of the pavement or curb and the private property line.
Pawnshop:
An establishment where articles are traded and exchanged
for money plus a right to redeem such articles within a given amount
of time upon repayment of such money with interest.
Permitted Use:
A use specifically allowed in one or more of the various
districts without the necessity of obtaining a specific use permit.
This does not include conditional uses.
Person:
An individual, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns;
a firm, partnership or corporation, its or their successors or assigns;
or the agent of any of the aforesaid.
Personal Service Shop:
An establishment for the purpose of supplying limited personal
services such as: cleaning and laundry collection station, interior
decorating, watch and jewelry repair, reader, art gallery, library,
museum, studio for professional artwork, photography, dance or fine
arts, including teaching of applied and fine arts, this definition
does not include massage parlors, barbershops, beauty shops or hairdressers.
Planned Development:
A subdivision of land that consists of commercial and/or
residential land uses, public land uses, common open space, park and
recreational area, adequate to serve the needs of the tract when fully
developed and populated, which is to be developed as a single entity,
under unified control.
Planning and Zoning Commission:
The agency appointed by the City Council as an ADVISORY body
to it and which is authorized to recommend changes in zoning and approval
of plats.
Premises:
Land together with any building or structure occupying it.
Preservation:
Is the act or process of applying measures to sustain the
existing form, integrity, and material of a building or structure,
and the existing form and vegetative cover of the site. It may include
initial stabilization work where necessary, as well as ongoing maintenance
of the historic building materials.
Print Shop:
An establishment utilizing offset, letter press, duplicating
equipment, but not rotary presses or line-a-type equipment.
Private Garage:
An accessory building housing vehicles owned and used by
occupants of the main building; if occupied by vehicles of others,
it is a storage space.
Professional Office:
An office occupied by a doctor, lawyer, dentist, engineer,
planner, or any other vocation involving predominately mental or intellectual
skills. Does not include veterinary clinics.
Public:
Shall mean the promotion of a public cause or service, including
utilities having a franchise from the City, but excluding other profit-making
organizations.
Public Right-of-Way:
A strip of land used or intended to be used, wholly or in
part, as a public street, alley, crosswalk, pedestrian path, drainageway
or other public way.
Rear Yard:
An interior yard extending along the full length of the rear
lot line and defined by a line along and parallel to the rear lot
line. See Yard, Rear.
Reconstruction:
Is the act or process of reproducing by new construction
the exact form and detail of a historic building, structure, or object,
or a part thereof, as it appeared at a specific time period.
Recreation Space:
Any open or enclosed area which is available to inhabitants
of an occupancy for recreational activities. This term includes swimming
pools, recreation rooms, ball courts, grass areas, and any other area,
both open to all inhabitants of the occupancy and not required for
another purpose, such as walkways, parking areas, and landscaping.
Rehabilitation:
Is the process of returning a property to a state of utility,
through repair or alteration, which makes possible an efficient contemporary
use while preserving those portions and features of the property which
are significant to its historic, architectural, and cultural values.
Residence:
Same as dwelling; also when used with the word district,
an area of residential regulation.
Restoration:
Is the act or process of accurately recovering the form and
details of a property and its setting as it appeared at a particular
period of time by means of the removal of later work or by the replacement
of missing earlier work.
Room:
A building or portion of a building which is arranged, occupied,
or intended to be occupied as living or sleeping quarters but not
including toilet or cooking facilities.
Rooming House:
A group of rooms provided for compensation either in a converted
single-family home or in a structure specifically designed for such
purpose. No cooking facilities are provided in individual living units.
See Lodging House.
Salvage Yard:
A property that has as its primary use salvage processing
and sale, such as auto wrecking yards and junkyards.
Seat:
One space for an individual to sit equal to 18 inches to
a bench and pew width if other than an individual chair.
Setback Line:
Also known as the Building Line. The line which marks the
setback distance from the property line, and establishes the minimum
required front, side or rear yard space of a building plot.
Shopping Center:
A composite arrangement of shops and stores which provide
a variety of goods and services to the general public, when developed
as an integral unit.
Sign:
Any word, number, figure, device, design or trademark by
which anything is made known, as used to designate an individual,
firm, profession, business, or a commodity and which is visible from
any public street.
Site Capacity:
The number of dwelling units permitted on a given site.
Site Plan:
A map, drawing or chart showing the location of all existing
and planned structures, landscaping, design ingress and egress, parking,
height of structures, and/or any other elements as required by these
regulations, and which a subdivider shall submit for approval in accordance
with these regulations.
Specialty Shop:
An establishment for the purpose of supplying limited specialty
items, such as antiques, art objects and supplies, candy, florist,
gifts, greeting cards, framing, stamps and coins, stationery, tobacco,
etc.
Steep Slopes:
Areas that contain slopes over fifteen (15) percent grade
and are characterized by increased runoff, and erosion.
Storage Sheds:
Prohibited as residential dwelling/living units, including
tiny homes. Storage sheds are allowed only for accessory storage.
Storage sheds must be placed on a slab or be tied down with skirting.
Story:
The height between successive floors of a building or from
the top floor to the roof. The standard height for a story is twelve
(12) feet. Does not include the roof structure, chimneys, and parapets.
Street:
A public right-of-way which provides primary vehicular access
to adjacent land, whether designated as a street, highway, thoroughfare,
parkway, throughway, avenue, lane, boulevard, road, place, drive,
or however otherwise designated.
Street Line:
A dividing line between a lot, tract or parcel of land and
a contiguous street.
Structural Alterations:
Any change in the supporting member of a building such as
a bearing wall, column, beam, or girder.
Structure:
That which is built or constructed, an edifice or building
of any kind, or any piece of work built up or composed of parts joined
together in some definite manner.
Temporary Home Sales Office:
A single-family residential structure used solely for the
display and/or sales of residences within a subdivision.
Theater:
An establishment charging admission to the general public
for the privilege of observing live, televised or motion picture performances.
Thoroughfare Plan:
That portion of the Comprehensive Plan, both text and map,
that provides the description of street classifications and general
location of the placement of the designated thoroughfares.
Tiny Home:
Single-family residential dwelling/living unit with minimum
square footage of not less than 800 sq. ft. Must meet all minimum
housing requirements of the IRC. To be allowed and considered a residential
dwelling/living unit, it must be permanently placed on a slab as well
as comply with the minimum development standards in the zoning district
where they are permitted. Tiny home on wheels is considered a recreational
vehicle and may not be used as a dwelling unit in any district. Only
one tiny home per lot. Tiny Homes shall only be located on Bluffton
and Water Streets within the Boundaries of Annex and Mound Streets.
Townhouse:
A single-family attached dwelling unit on a separately platted
lot which is joined at another dwelling unit on one or more sides
by a party wall or abutting walls and occupied by not more than one
family.
Trailer:
A vehicle equipped for use as a dwelling and designed, or
capable of, being hauled along a highway. Removal of the running gear
will not change the definition.
Trailer Camp or Mobile Home Park:
An area designed, arranged, or used for the parking or storing
of two (2) or more auto trailer or mobile homes which are occupied
or intended for occupancy as living quarters by individuals or families.
See mobile home and modular home.
Use:
The principal purpose for which a property or structure is
employed or utilized.
Used Car Lot:
A lot or portion thereof to be used only for the display
and sale of automobiles that are in condition to be driven on or off
the lot. A used car lot shall not be used for the storage of wrecked
automobiles, or the dismantling of automobiles or the storage of automobile
parts.
Variance:
A legal modification of the district provisions, such as
yard, lot width and yard depth, signs, setback, off-street parking
and loading regulations, height, access and screening, granted due
to the peculiar conditions existing within a single piece of property.
Wholesale Distributor:
Alcoholic beverage distributor; wholesale equipment and furniture,
wholesale groceries, meats, fish and poultry; wholesale produce; wholesale
supply house; wholesale laundry and dry-cleaning plant; and any other
distributor of goods for resale.
Yard:
A required open space, other than a court, unoccupied and
unobstructed by any structure or portion of a structure from the general
ground level of the graded lot upward; provided, however, that fences,
walls, poles, posts, and other customary yard accessories, ornaments,
and furniture are not deemed to be obstructions if height limitations
and requirements limiting obstruction of visibility are observed.
Yard, Front:
An open, unoccupied space on a lot facing a street, extending
across the front of the lot between the side lot or street line with
the minimum horizontal distance between the street line and the main
building line as prescribed for the district in which the building
is located.
Yard, Rear:
An open unoccupied space, except for accessory buildings
as herein permitted, extending across the rear of the lot from one
(1) side lot line to the other side lot line and having a depth between
the main building and the rear lot line as prescribed for the district
in which the building is located.
Yard, Side:
An open unoccupied space or spaces on one (1) or two (2)
sides of a main building and on the same lot with the building situated
between the building and a side line of the lot and extending from
the front yard line to the rear yard line. Any lot line, not the rear
line or front line, shall be deemed a side lot line.
Zoning District Map:
The official certified map upon which the boundaries of the
various zoning districts are drawn and which is an integral part of
the Zoning Ordinance.
Zoning Inspector:
The individual or individuals that have been designated by
the City to conduct inspections in the field of the zoning requirements
of structures and parcels of land.
(Ordinance 1991-13 adopted 11/7/91; Ordinance 2009-09 adopted 5/19/09; Ordinance
2015-13, sec. 2, adopted 9/8/15; Ordinance 2021-04 adopted 6/8/21)