A. 
The Township is hereby divided into planned land use or zoning districts. Each district is planned for specified purposes and locations to carry out the goals and objectives of this chapter and the Comprehensive Plan.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Comprehensive Plan is on file in the Township offices.
B. 
Each parcel of land and every building or other structure in the Township, except as otherwise provided by law or by this chapter, shall be subject to the provisions specified for the district in which it is located.
C. 
Every building or other structure may be erected or used and each parcel of land may be used or occupied only for the uses permitted by right and the uses permitted by conditional use and special exception in the zoning district in which the building or lot is located unless otherwise allowed by this chapter. No other use shall be permitted unless the Township's elected officials approve an amendment to this chapter.
A. 
For the purposes of this chapter, the Township is divided into 12 primary zoning districts, as follows:
[Amended 4-19-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-01; 3-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-01]
District Number
District Title
RA
Rural Agriculture District
R80
Open Space Residential District
R40
Rural Suburban Residential District
R20
Suburban Residential District
R12
Semi-Urban Residential District
MH
Mobile Home District
UR
Urban Residential District
VC
Village Center District
GB
General Business Commercial District
LI
Light Industrial District
O&L
Office and Laboratory District
LM
Light Manufacturing
B. 
Because the Township contains special environmentally sensitive areas that are subject to special regulations, the Township also hereby establishes three secondary districts or overlay districts that may fall into portions of the primary districts listed above. These secondary districts are listed as follows:
[Amended 4-6-2006 by Ord. No. 2005-01]
District Number
District Title
FP
Floodplain Areas
CG
Carbonate Geology Areas
WP
Watershed Protection Areas
[Amended 4-19-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-01; 3-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-01; 3-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-02]
A. 
A map entitled "Zoning Map for the Township of Lower Saucon, Northampton County, PA, adopted: April 1, 2023 by Ordinance No. 2023-02, as amended," is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 4 accompanies this chapter and is declared a part of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said map is on file in the Township offices.
B. 
(Reserved)
C. 
Changes of any nature to the Zoning Map shall be made in conformity with the amendment procedures set forth in this chapter.
D. 
Regardless of the existence of purported copies of the Zoning Map which may from time to time be made or published, the Zoning Map shall be located in the Township Building and shall be the final authority on boundaries and districts. The Zoning Officer shall have a certified copy of the map for official use.
[Amended 4-19-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-01]
The following rules shall apply when uncertainty exists about primary district boundaries shown on the Zoning Map:
A. 
Boundaries drawn approximately following the center lines of streams, drainageways, streets, alleys, railroads or other rights-of-way shall be construed to follow such center lines.
B. 
Boundaries approximately following lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines.
C. 
Boundaries drawn approximately following the center lines of streams shall be construed to follow such center lines and, in the event of change in the center line, shall be construed as moving with the actual center line.
D. 
Distances not specifically indicated on the Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map.
E. 
Where physical features existing on the ground vary with those shown on the Zoning Map or in other circumstances not covered by Subsections A through D above, the Zoning Hearing Board shall interpret the district boundaries.
F. 
Appeals of interpretation of boundaries can be made to the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with the appeal procedures of this chapter.
The following rules shall apply for the delineation and interpretation of secondary district boundaries as shown on the Zoning Map or described in this chapter:
A. 
Limits of the district, if not specifically delineated on the map, shall be scaled with the use of the map for a preliminary determination of the boundary.
B. 
No final determination of the boundary shall, however, be made for a property based upon the Zoning Map. The final determination of the boundary limits shall be established during the site plan, subdivision and/or land development review and approval process for a particular property.
C. 
In case of a dispute, the Zoning Officer shall determine the district location.