For the purposes of this chapter, certain terms, phrases, and
words shall have the meaning given herein. Words used in the present
tense include the future; the singular includes the plural; the word
"used" shall be construed as though followed by the words "or intended
or designed to be used"; the words "building," "structure," and "land"
or "premises" shall be construed as though followed by the words "or
any portion thereof," and the word "structure" includes the word "building."
The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Having property or district lines in common; e.g., two lots
are abutting if they have property lines in common.
A way of approaching or entering a property.
A building or use which:
Is subordinate to and serves a principal building or principal
use;
Is subordinate in area, extent or purpose to the principal building
or principal used served;
Contributes to comfort, convenience or necessity of occupants
of the principal building or principal use; and
Is located on the same zoning lot as the principal building
or principal use.
Any construction which increases the size of a building such
as a porch, attached garage or carport or a new room or wing.
Any person who can show written proof that he has authority
to act for the property owner.
The space or area between the rear or side lot lines of lots
which has a minor right-of-way width of 20 feet or less which is dedicated
for the public use of vehicles and pedestrians and which affords secondary
access to an abutting lot.
As applied to a building or structure, is a change or rearrangement
in the structural parts of or in the exit facilities, or an enlargement,
whether by extending on a side or by increasing in height, or moving
from one location or position to another.
A change, other than incidental repairs, which would prolong
the life of the supporting members of a building, such as bearing
wall, columns, beams and girders.
Emergency transportation of the sick and injured, invalid
coach service, rental of funeral coaches and limousines and pick up
and removal of the deceased.
A portion of a building partly underground, and having 1/2
or more than 1/2 of its floor-to-ceiling height below the average
grade of adjoining ground.
An establishment originally designed as a residential house
which offers overnight sleeping accommodations and breakfast for transient
guests.
Living quarters which, unlike a dwelling unit, do not contain
complete housekeeping facilities and are typically used for sheltering
and feeding paying occupants who are not members of the proprietor's
family.
The Borough of Greenville.
An enclosed structure built, erected, and framed of component
structural parts, designed for the housing, shelter, enclosure and
protection of person, animals or property of any kind, including manufactured
homes.
A detached, subordinate building, the use of which is customarily
incidental and subordinate to that of the principal building, and
which is located on the same lot as that occupied by the principal
building.
A building where both side walls of all except the end structures
are party walls.
A building where both side walls of all except the end structures
are party walls.
A building in which is conducted the principal use of the
lot on which it is situated.
A statement, based on an inspection and signed by the Zoning
Officer, indicating that a building, structure, and/or land conforms
with the provisions prescribed in this chapter and may lawfully be
occupied or used for a specific use or uses.
Nonprofit organizations that are supported primarily by charity
and whose principal function is the performance of charitable works
or religious activities. Not included in this definition are social
organizations or clubs.
A building of public worship.
Any professional medical building or establishment where
people are examined or treated by doctors or dentists, but are not
hospitalized overnight.
An establishment operated for social, recreational or educational
purposes, and open only to members and their guests, but not the general
public.
A commercial vehicle shall be any vehicle other than a private
passenger vehicle, including trucks, trailers and construction equipment.
A public, semi-public, or nonprofit use that serves the community
and generates substantial pedestrian usage along the sidewalk. These
facilities may include libraries, museums, community rooms, educational
facilities, cultural institutions, post offices, child day-care facilities,
fitness centers, and senior housing.
[Added 6-14-2021 by Ord. No. 1606]
A use permitted in a particular zoning district only upon
showing that such use, in a specified location, will comply with the
expressed standards and criteria contained in this chapter and any
additional safeguards deemed necessary by the governing body.
The construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair, extension,
expansion, alteration or relocation of a building or structure, including
the placement of mobile homes.
Changing the original purpose of a building to a different
use or increase in intensity of use.
Any open space, unobstructed from ground to sky, other than
a yard, that is on the same lot with and bounded on two or more sides
by the walls of a building.
A private legal restriction on the use of land, contained
in the deed to the property or otherwise formally recorded.
That percentage of the lot or site area covered by principal
and accessory structures.
The line establishing the width of a cartway in a right-of-way.
Where curbs do not exist, the edge of pavement shall be the curbline.
The transfer of property from private to public ownership.
See "covenant."
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to buildings or other structures, the subdivision
of land, streets, and other paving, utilities, filling, grading, excavation,
mining, dredging or drilling operations.
A district or a zone shall be any portion of the territory
of the Borough of Greenville within which certain uniform regulations
and requirements or various combinations thereof apply under the provisions
of this chapter.
A building, whether public or private, associated with a
school, college or university designed for, used and arranged with
rooms providing sleeping, studying and living accommodations for students.
An open space located on a private lot built for access to
a private garage, parking, or to any structure located on the lot.
[Amended 11-10-2009 by Ord. No. 1485]
A building arranged and used for residential occupancy containing
a dwelling unit or units, including a one-family, two-family, row
and multiple-family dwelling.
A building or portion thereof providing complete housekeeping
facilities for one family. The term shall not include cellar dwellings,
but shall include all other structures designed for and/or used for
living purposes, including:
A building having three or more dwelling units and designed
to be used or occupied as a residence by three or more families living
independently of each other and each with its own exterior entrance
door or own entrance door from an interior hallway.
A detached building designed for and used exclusively for
occupancy by one family.
A building having two dwelling units, each with its own exterior
entrance door and containing but two families. The dwelling units
may be either semidetached with one family living on either side of
a common party wall, or stacked with one family living over the other.
A right given by the owner of land to another party for specific
limited use of that land.
A construction activity which increases the size of a building
or other structure.
The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance by
public utilities or municipal departments or municipal authorities
of underground or overhead gas, electrical, steam or water transmission
or distribution systems, collection, communication, supply or disposal
systems, including poles, wires, mains, drains, sewers, pipes, conduits,
cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, hydrants
and other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith
reasonably necessary for the furnishing of adequate service by such
public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies for the
public health, safety and general welfare.
A group of individuals related by blood, marriage, adoption
or guardianship living together in a dwelling unit as a single housekeeping
unit under a common housekeeping management plan based on an intentionally
structured relationship providing organization and stability.
A home occupation in which a dwelling's primary resident(s)
provides supervision/care to no more than 11 persons and must comply
with state regulations, the Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
and the rules of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
The total area of all floors of a building as measured to
the outside surfaces of exterior walls and including halls, stairways,
elevator shafts, attached garages, porches and balconies.
The intensity of land uses as expressed by the ratio of floor
area to total square feet of lot area.
The frontage, or front of a lot is the side nearest the street.
For the purposes of determining yard requirements on corner lots and
through lots, all sides of a lot adjacent to streets shall be considered
frontage, and yards shall be provided as indicated under "yards" in
this article and the specific use provisions of this chapter.
A group of eight or less unrelated persons living together
by choice and without time limitation in a dwelling unit as a single
housekeeping unit under a common housekeeping management plan based
on an intentionally structured stable relationship providing organization
and stability.
A detached accessory building or a portion of a principal
building used only for the storage of automobiles by the families
resident upon the premises; and provided that such garage shall not
be used for offering commercial automotive repair or servicing to
the public.
An unusual situation or condition that relates to a particular
property and which denies that property owner full utilization of
his property if the strict application of this chapter is followed.
A hardship exists only when it is not self-created or when it is not
economic in nature. In other words, a true hardship exists only when
the literal interpretation of the requirements of this chapter would
place an individual in an unusual circumstance and, in doing so, would
deny him the right to use his property for any permitted use or create
an unnecessary burden on him. See also § 912, Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968, as amended).[1]
The vertical distance from the foundation wall or other immediate
support of such wall to the top of the wall.
A home occupation in which the following activities are conducted
by the dwelling's primary resident(s): rug weaving, ceramic working,
lapidary work and home baking.
A use carried on entirely within a dwelling that is consistent with the residential district's character and function and meets the provisions outlined in Article X, § 550-35K of this chapter. Furthermore, a home occupation shall not be interpreted as a place of business in which the primary purpose of the dwelling would be for the daily operation of a business characterized by employing outside employees, daily customer traffic, and on-site sign and parking areas.
A portion of a dwelling used by a dwelling's primary resident(s)
for work involving any of the following artistic activities: painting,
photography, composing, writing or sculpting.
A private or public institution where the ill or injured
may receive medical, surgical or psychiatric treatment, nursing, food,
lodging, etc., during illness or injury.
Animals integrated into and which become part of and may
be housed as part of the normal household unit for the purpose of
pleasure and companionship. Traditionally dogs, cats and small birds.
Same as "dwelling unit."
A dwelling converted into quarters or a building constructed
with quarters intended for the care of sick, aged or infirm persons.
Any worn, cast off or discarded articles or material which
is ready for destruction or which has been collected or stored for
sale, resale, salvage or conversion to some other use.
The use of more than 200 square feet of the area of any lot,
outside a building, or the use of any portion of that half of any
lot that joins any street, for the storage, keeping or abandonment
of junk. A junkyard shall include an automotive wrecking yard.
The solid portion of the earth's surface which is capable
of being used or occupied.
Improved land with buildings.
Raw land which has been provided with basic utilities such
as water and sewerage and streets.
Vacant land unsubdivided and unimproved (without utilities
or streets).
Changing, rearranging or adding to the original vegetation
or scenery of a piece of land to produce an aesthetic effect appropriate
for the use to which the land is put. It may include reshaping the
land by moving the earth, as well as preserving the original vegetation
or adding vegetation.
Research and development activities, the compounding, processing,
packaging, storage (as a principal use), assembly and/or treatment
of finished or semifinished products from previously prepared materials,
which activities are conducted wholly within an enclosed building.
These uses include, but are not limited to, machine shops, manufacturing
of appliances, electronics, paper products, medical products, tools
or hardware or pharmaceuticals.
An off-street space or berth on the same lot with a building,
or contiguous to a group of buildings, for the temporary stopping
of commercial vehicles while loading or unloading merchandise or materials,
and which abuts upon a street, alley or other appropriate means of
access to a public right-of-way and which is not less than 10 feet
in width, 45 feet in length and 14 feet in height.
The basic development unit; an area with fixed boundaries,
used or intended to be used by one building and its accessory building(s)
and not divided by any public road or alley.
The computed area contained within the lot lines.
See "coverage."
See "frontage."
The line separating the lot from a street.
The lot line opposite and most distant from the front lot
line.
Any lot line other than a front or rear lot line; a side
lot line separating a lot from a street is called a side street lot
line.
The property lines bounding the lot.
A lot which is part of a recorded subdivision or a parcel
of land which has been recorded or registered in the Office of the
Recorder of Deeds, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.
A lot abutting upon two or more streets at their intersection
or upon two parts of the same street, such streets or parts of the
same street forming an interior angle of less than 135°. The point
of intersection of the street lot lines is the "corner."
An interior lot whose front and rear lot lines abut street,
or a corner lot with two opposite lines abutting a street.
Lot whose sides do not abut a street.
A lot lawfully existing at the effective date of this chapter,
or by subsequent amendment thereto, which does not conform with the
area regulations and other provisions prescribed for the zoning district
in which it is located.
The horizontal distance between the side lot lines as measured
at the building setback line.
Manufactured homes are built as dwelling units with a permanent
chassis to assure the initial and continued transportability of the
home; used for nontransient residential purposes; constructed with
the same, or similar electrical, plumbing and sanitary facilities
as immobile housing; and upon arrival at the site where the manufactured
home is to be situated for occupancy, as a residence, it is complete
and ready for occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking
operations, location on foundation supports, connections to utilities
and the like.
Prefabricated units designed to be assembled or joined together,
upon arrival at the site and requiring extensive finishing operations,
prior to occupancy (excluding location on foundation and connection
to utilities) shall be considered a prefabricated home rather than
a manufactured home.
A parcel or contiguous parcels of land which has been so
designated and improved that it contains two or more manufactured
home lots for the placement thereon of manufactured homes.
A parcel of land in a manufactured home park, improved with
the necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary
for the erections thereon of a single manufactured home.
A person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership,
association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which
holds a permit from the department under this act to grow and process
medical marijuana. The term does not include a health care medical
marijuana organization infer Chapter 19.[2]
[Added 7-9-2018 by Ord.
No. 1579]
A person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership,
association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which
holds a permit from the department under this act to grow and process
medical marijuana. The term does not include a health care medical
marijuana organization infer Chapter 19.[3]
[Added 7-9-2018 by Ord.
No. 1579]
Any group of attached, semiattached or detached buildings
(not including a trailer) located on a single lot containing individual
sleeping or housekeeping units, designed for or used by transients.
A lot maintained by a motor freight company which is the
origin and/or destination point of short and long-distance hauling
and which is used for the purpose of storing, transferring, loading
and unloading of merchandise and truck parking and storage facilities.
An institution licensed to provide nursing care and related
medical services to residents. A nursing home may be for-profit, nonprofit,
hospital-based or operated by government.
A room or group of rooms used for the practice of a profession
or for the conduct of a business, provided that the only merchandise
or services that are sold on the premises are incidental or accessory
to the principal permissible use.
An area of land unoccupied by a building and/or other structure
which is maintained to permit human use, occupancy, recreation and
enjoyment.
The duly authorized agent, attorney, purchaser, devisee,
fiduciary or any person having vested or contingent interest in the
lot, building or structure in question.
An open space on a lot used as an accessory use for the parking
of automotive vehicle.
[Amended 11-10-2009 by Ord. No. 1485]
An off-street, ground-level area for the temporary storage of motor vehicles. A parking lot must be surfaced and improved according to Article IX.
[Amended 11-10-2009 by Ord. No. 1485]
An off-street space having an area of not less than nine
feet by 20 feet and 180 square feet, whether outside or inside a structure,
to be used exclusively as a parking stall for one motor vehicle.
An area surfaced with erosion - Resistant material such as
asphalt, concrete or brick-type pavers, not within the right-of-way
of a street or alley and having an area of not less than 180 square
feet (nine by 20 or 10 by 18), exclusive of driveways, permanently
reserved for the temporary storage of one vehicle and connected by
a paved driveway to a street or alley which provides ingress and egress
for a vehicle without requiring another vehicle to be moved. The area
may not be used for the sale, repair or dismantling or servicing of
any vehicles, equipment, materials or supplies.
[Added 11-10-2009 by Ord. No. 1485]
An area surfaced with erosion-resistant material, such as
gravel or paved surfaces, which provides parking space for automobiles
that may require another automobile to be moved for ingress and egress.
May also include space provided within a garage or car port.
[Added 11-10-2009 by Ord. No. 1485]
A license, issued by the Zoning Officer, which permits the
applicant to proceed with the work specified in the permit application
as approved by the Zoning Officer.
An individual, association, co-partner or corporation.
A building where food, shelter and personal assistance or
supervision are provided for at least one full day for three or more
ambulatory adults who are not relatives of the operator and who may
require assistance or supervision in such matters as dressing, bathing,
diet or medication prescribed for self-administration but do not require
hospitalization or care in a skilled nursing or intermediate care
facility.
A map, plan or chart of a section or subdivision of the Borough
of Greenville indicating the location and boundaries of individual
lots.
A parcel of land consisting of one or more portions thereof
which is described by reference to a recorded plat or by metes and
bounds.
Manufactured or field-constructed equipment designed to contain
water on a permanent or semipermanent basis and used for swimming,
wading, immersion, or therapeutic purposes.
[Added 8-11-2015 by Ord.
No. 1545]
A roofed-over structure projecting from the front, side,
or rear wall of a building. A porch is considered a part of the principal
building and is not permitted to extend into any required yards.
A residence that is the home of the occupants more than 1/2
of the year.
The occupants that live in a dwelling more than 1/2 of the
year.
A office located in a dwelling in which the dwelling's primary
resident(s) conducts business that does not require the assistance
of outside employees nor requires personal daily communication with
associates or customers. Professions that function as a home occupation
in a professional home office shall be limited to the following: accountant,
architect, lawyer, insurance agent, planner, land surveyor, engineer,
telemarketer, and computer programmer.
Parts of buildings such as architectural features which are
exempted, to a specified amount, from the yard requirements of this
chapter.
Includes:
RECREATION, COMMERCIALRecreational facilities operated as a business and open to the general public for a fee.
RECREATION, PRIVATE/NONCOMMERCIALClubs or recreation facilities operated by a nonprofit organization and open only to bona fide members of such organization.
RECREATION, PUBLICRecreation facilities operated as a nonprofit enterprise by the Borough, any other governmental entity or any nonprofit organization which is open to the general public.
Major recreational equipment, as defined for purposes of
these regulations, includes travel trailers, pickup campers or coaches,
motorized dwellings, tent trailers, boats and boat trailers, and the
like, and cases or boxes used for transporting recreational equipment,
whether occupied by such equipment or not.
A vehicular type unit primarily designed as temporary living
quarters for recreational, camping or travel use, which either has
its own motive power or is mounted on or drawn by another vehicle.
The basic entities are: travel trailer, camping trailer, truck camper
and motor home.
A medically related facility providing board and room, recreational
counseling and other rehabilitative services to individuals of either
sex, who by reason of mental or physical disability, addiction to
drugs or alcohol, or family and school adjustment problems require
specialized attention and care in order to achieve personal independence.
Individuals participating in a work release, or similar program from
a state correctional facility, and under supervision of a court, state
or local agency shall not be included within this definition.
A business that primarily deals in the sales of commodities
or goods to the general public.
Any street, highway, or other public roadway which is dedicated
to public use by governmental authority.
A home occupation in which a dwelling's primary resident(s)
is involved in the operation of such services that does not require
the assistance of outside employees nor renders services on a daily
basis to customers.
Those shops that primarily sell frequent or recurrent services
on site; for example, beauty and barber shops, tailors, tanning salons
or dry cleaners.
The required distance which must be maintained between the
road center line and the nearest principal and/or accessory structure.
A plot of land intended or suitable for development.
A plan, to scale, showing uses and structures proposed for
a parcel of land as required by the regulations involved. It includes
lot lines, streets, building sites, reserved open space, buildings,
major landscape features, both natural and man-made, and the locations
of proposed utility lines.
A provision which permits, under specified terms and conditions,
particular uses to locate in a zoning district without detriment to
the routine and orderly development as provided for that zoning district.
The provision is granted by the Zoning Hearing Board.
The SIC is the classification system used by all federal statistical
agencies, most state agencies and many private organizations. Industry
management utilizes the SIC in economic and sales forecasting, sales
analysis, allocation of advertising budgets and so on. It is employed
as a market research tool by individual business in the classification
of their customers and suppliers.
The SIC is an industrial classification of the entire economy.
It divides activities into broad economic divisions (manufacturing,
mining, retail, trade, etc.). Each division is further broken down
into major industry groups (two-digit SIC), then into industry groups
(three-digit SIC) and finally, into industries (four digits). The
numbering system provides flexibility, permitting use of the classification
of various levels of detail according to specific uses and needs.
A detailed description of the SIC, including industry definitions,
is contained in the 1972 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification
Manual, published by the Federal Government's Office of Management
and Budget. Periodic revisions of the system, the latest in 1977,
can alter the product composition of an industry and thus impair comparability
of time series data for that industry. All statistical series in this
edition have been adjusted by the Bureau of Industrial Economics for
consistency with the 1977 revisions.
A part of a building comprised between a floor and a floor
or roof next above, including a basement.
A story with at least two of its opposite side situated in
a sloping roof, the floor area of which does not exceed 2/3 of the
floor area immediately below it.
A combination of materials forming a construction for occupancy
and/or use including, among others, a building, stadium, gospel tent,
circus tent reviewing stand, platform, staging, observation tower,
radio tower, water tank, trestle, open shed, coal bin, shelter, fence,
wall and a sign.
An attached, semidetached or detached structure whose use
is customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal structure
or use, and is located on the same lot as the principal structure
or use.
A legal structure existing at the effective date of adoption
or subsequent amendment of this chapter, which does not completely
conform to the height regulations, area regulations, and other provisions
prescribed for the zoning district in which it is located.
A structure housing the principal use.
The division or redivision of a lot, tract, or parcel of
land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels, or other
divisions of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the
purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, transfer of ownership
or building, or lot development.
A thick hedge, or a solid fence or wall four to six feet
in height.
A person or persons passing through or by a place with only
a brief stay.
See "recreation equipment."
A use customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal
use of a building, structure, and/or land, except parking and/or loading
facilities as herein provided.
A legal use of a building, structure, and/or land existing
at the effective date of adoption or subsequent amendment of this
chapter, which does not completely conform with the use regulations
and other provisions prescribed for the zoning district in which it
is located.
The main or primary purpose for which a building, structure,
and/or land is designed, arranged, or intended; or, for which it may
be used, occupied, or maintained under this chapter. All other structures
or uses on the same lot, and incidental or supplemental thereto and
permitted under this chapter, shall be considered accessory uses.
Relief granted by the Zoning Hearing Board upon appeal in
specific cases, from the terms of this chapter as will not be contrary
to the public interest, where owing to special conditions, a literal
enforcement of the provisions of the zoning regulations will be observed
and substantial justice done. See definition of "hardship."
Any fence, wall, tree, hedge or shrub, or a combination of
them which limits visibility.
An open unoccupied space, other than a court, on the same
lot with a building, unobstructed artificially from the ground to
the sky, except as otherwise provided herein.
A yard across the full width of the lot, extending from any
point of a principal building or structure to the road center line.
A yard across the full width of the lot, extending from any
point of a wall of a principal building or structure to the road center
line.
A yard between the principal building or structure and the
adjacent side lot line of the lot, extending from the front yard to
the rear yard.
The legal and administrative process of dividing the community
into districts or zones and regulating within such districts the use
of land, the height and area of buildings for the purpose of conserving
and promoting the health, safety, morals, convenience and general
welfare of the people of the community. Zoning is the instrument for
giving effect to that part of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan which
is concerned with the private uses of, and the private developments
on, privately owned land as distinguished from that part which is
concerned with public uses and facilities.
A group of individuals, created officially by the adoption
of this chapter and appointed by the governing body, whose purpose
and function is to review applications for variances or exceptions
and to decide whether there is legitimate reason for granting the
applicant the relief which he desires or the exception which he has
requested.
The Zoning District Map or Maps of the Borough of Greenville,
together with all amendments subsequently adopted.
The agent or official designated by the Borough of Greenville
and charged by law with the administration and enforcement of this
chapter.
The Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Greenville together
with all amendments subsequently adopted.
