Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Village of Carthage, NY
Jefferson County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
In all residential districts (R-1, R-2 and R-3), the following supplemental uses and regulations shall apply:
A. 
A nonconforming lot of record may be constructed upon, provided that the minimum requirements as set forth in Schedules I and II are followed.[1] Any deviation from the above requirements requires a variance. A permit is required for any proposed construction on such a lot, as set forth under this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedules I and II are included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
The following sign regulations shall apply:
(1) 
No sign shall exceed eight square feet in area, except for church signs which may be 24 square feet in area.
(2) 
Two temporary special event signs shall be permitted. These signs shall advertise events, activities or other similar instances that will be terminated on a set date. Yard sales, garage sales and similar on-lot sales shall be considered temporary activities and, as such, signs advertising such events shall fall under the requirements of this section. Such signs shall be removed at the end of the event by the sponsor of the event or the one who placed the sign.
(3) 
Signs may be placed in required yards, provided that such placement does not interfere with traffic safety.
(4) 
No sign shall be placed closer than five feet to a street line or lot line.
(5) 
Mechanically moving and/or flashing signs shall not be permitted, unless required for public safety purposes as identified by a unit of government.
(6) 
Floodlights and other external lighting fixtures used in the illumination of signs shall be permitted if located and/or shielded so as not to produce direct glare at neighboring residences and highway traffic.
(7) 
Any nonconforming sign existing in any residential district at the time of the adoption of this chapter or an amendment thereto shall only be replaced by a sign conforming to the regulations for this district.
(8) 
Any business, enterprise, institution or other advertising entity that ceases operations shall remove its sign(s) within 90 days of such cessation.
(9) 
Only one permanent sign per lot or use may be erected.
C. 
A private garage or other accessory structure that is connected to a dwelling or structure becomes a part of the principal building rather than an accessory building. A detached garage shall not be required to have a setback distance from the principal building. It shall only maintain required setbacks from adjacent lot and street lines. A garage cannot be erected in a required front yard.
D. 
Swimming pools may be located within a required side or rear yard. However, swimming pools shall:
(1) 
Not be located in a front yard.
(2) 
Not be closer than 50 feet to a front lot line, five feet to a side or rear lot line or 20 feet to any dwelling on adjoining lots.
(3) 
Have a barrier that is at least five feet tall around the entire structure at its lowest point. The barrier shall be constructed of such materials so as to prevent unauthorized entrance by children or other individuals.
E. 
Individually sited mobile homes must have a minimum of 980 square feet of interior floor area, excluding any addition, and shall be placed on a concrete pad or on a concrete block foundation and shall be skirted with an all-weather material around the entire carriage base.
F. 
Fences shall meet the following requirements:
(1) 
A building permit is required for the erection of any fence or wall.
(2) 
Application for a permit shall include a plan or sketch showing the proposed location, materials to be used and height.
(3) 
No fence or wall shall be more than six feet in height in rear or side yards or more than 48 inches in front yards.
(4) 
A fence or wall shall be located at least six inches from any adjoining property lines and at least three feet from any sidewalk or street line.
(5) 
No fence or wall shall be located within any public right-of-way.
(6) 
Fences and walls of the following types or materials are prohibited:
(a) 
Barbed wire.
(b) 
Sharp, pointed fences.
(c) 
Canvas or cloth.
(d) 
Electrically charged fences.
(7) 
Chain-link fences are permitted, but must be erected with the closed loops at the top.
(8) 
Multicolored fences and walls are not permitted.
(9) 
Entrances and/or gates shall not open outward so as to restrict or interfere with sidewalks.
(10) 
Shrubbery and hedges utilized for the purpose of a fence/wall, such as to enclose, divide, protect or create a barrier on or to property shall meet all of the requirements of this section, except that a building permit is not required.
In the Business District (B), the following supplemental uses and regulations shall apply:
A. 
A nonconforming lot of record may be constructed upon, provided that the minimum requirements as set forth in Schedules I and II are followed.[1] Any deviation from the above requirements requires a variance. A permit is required for any proposed construction on such a lot, as set forth under this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedules I and II are included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
The following sign regulations shall apply:
(1) 
Signs which are freestanding, not attached to or a part of another structure, shall not exceed 20 feet in height or 24 square feet in area.
(2) 
Signs which are a part of or attached flush to the surface of another structure shall not exceed the height of the structure or project beyond the roofline of the structure and shall not exceed in area one square foot in area for each one linear foot of the surface on which the sign is located.
(3) 
Signs which are attached to another structure and project out from that structure over the sidewalk are not permitted, shall not exceed 15 feet in height or 24 square feet in area and shall be flush not to exceed 12 inches.
(4) 
Mechanically moving and/or flashing signs are not permitted unless required for public safety purposes by a unit of government.
(5) 
Floodlights and other external lighting fixtures used in the illumination of signs shall be permitted if located and/or shielded so as not to produce direct glare at neighboring residences and highway traffic.
(6) 
Signs may be placed in required yards but shall not be located closer than 10 feet to any street or lot line.
(7) 
Any business, enterprise, institution or other advertising entity that ceases operations shall remove its signs within 90 days of such cessation.
(8) 
Any nonconforming sign existing in the B District at the time of the adoption of this chapter, or an amendment thereto, shall only be replaced by a sign conforming to the regulations for this district.
(9) 
Signs located on residential property within the Business District shall conform to the sign regulations of § 146-6 (residential district regulations).
C. 
A private garage or other accessory structure that is connected to a dwelling or structure becomes part of the principal building rather than an accessory building. A detached garage shall not be required to have a setback distance from the principal building. It shall only maintain required setbacks from adjacent lot and street lines. A garage shall not be placed in a required front yard.
D. 
Fences shall meet the following requirements:
(1) 
A building permit is required for the erection of any fence or wall.
(2) 
Application for a permit shall include a plan or sketch showing the proposed location, materials to be used and height.
(3) 
No fence or wall shall be more than five feet in height in rear or side yards or more than 42 inches in front yards.
(4) 
A fence or wall shall be located at least six inches from any adjoining property lines and at least three feet from any sidewalk or street line.
(5) 
No fence or wall shall be located within any public right-of-way.
(6) 
Fences and walls of the following types or materials are prohibited:
(a) 
Barbed wire.
(b) 
Sharp, pointed fences.
(c) 
Canvas or cloth.
(d) 
Electrically charged fences.
(7) 
Chain-link fences are permitted but must be erected with the closed loops at the top.
(8) 
Multicolored fences and walls are not permitted.
(9) 
Entrances and/or gates shall not open outward so as to restrict or interfere with sidewalks.
(10) 
Shrubbery and hedges utilized for the purpose of a fence/wall, such as to enclose, divide, protect or create a barrier on or to property, shall meet all of the requirements of this section, except that a building permit is not required.
(11) 
The finished side of the fence shall face the neighboring properties.
[Added 6-20-2022 by L.L. No. 1-2022]
In the Downtown Historic Business District (DH), the following supplemental uses and regulations shall apply:
A. 
A nonconforming lot of record may be constructed upon, provided that the minimum requirements as set forth in Schedules I and II are followed.[1] Any deviation from this requirement requires a variance. A permit is required for any proposed construction on such a lot, as set forth under this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedules I and II are included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
The following sign regulations shall apply:
(1) 
Facade zoning for historical buildings, as per diagram:
NOTE:
a --
Wall/flat/surface signs permitted.
b --
Wall signs and show windows permitted.
c --
No signs, show windows or awnings permitted.
d --
Awnings permitted.
(2) 
Signs which are freestanding, not attached to or part of another structure, shall not exceed 20 feet in height or 24 square feet in area.
(3) 
Signs which are a part of or attached flush to the surface of another structure shall not exceed the height of the structure or project beyond the roofline of the structure and shall not exceed in area one square foot in area for each one linear foot of the surface on which the sign is located.
(4) 
Signs which are attached to another structure and project out from that structure over the sidewalk are not permitted. Signs which are attached to another structure shall not exceed 15 feet in height or 24 square feet in area and shall be flush not to exceed 12 inches.
(5) 
Mechanically moving and/or flashing signs are not permitted unless required for public safety purposes by a unit of government.
(6) 
Floodlights and other external lighting fixtures used in the illumination of signs shall be permitted if located and/or shielded so as not to produce direct glare at neighboring residences and highway traffic.
(7) 
Signs may be placed in required yards, but shall not be located closer than 10 feet to any street or lot line.
(8) 
Any business, enterprise, institution or other advertising entity that ceases operations shall remove its signs within 90 days of such cessation.
(9) 
All signs existing in the DH District at the time of adoption of this chapter shall only be replaced by a sign conforming to the regulations for this district at the time of such replacement.
(10) 
Signs located on residential property within the DH District shall conform to the sign regulations of § 146-6 (residential district regulations).
In the Industrial District (I), the following supplemental uses and regulations shall apply:
A. 
A nonconforming lot of record may be constructed upon, provided that the minimum requirements as set forth in Schedules I and II are followed.[1] Any deviation from the above requirements requires a variance. A permit is required for any proposed construction on such a lot, as set forth under this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedules I and II are included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
The following sign regulations shall apply:
(1) 
Signs which are freestanding, not attached to or a part of another structure, shall not exceed 30 feet in height or 50 square feet in area.
(2) 
Signs which are a part of or attached flush to a surface of another structure shall not exceed the height of the structure or project beyond the roofline of the structure and shall not exceed in area one square foot for each linear foot of the surface on which the sign is located.
(3) 
Signs which are attached to another structure and project out from that structure shall not exceed 20 feet in height or 32 square feet in area and shall not extend away from the structure more than 15 feet.
(4) 
Mechanically moving and/or flashing signs are not permitted unless required for safety purposes by a unit of government.
(5) 
Floodlights and other external lighting fixtures used in the illumination of signs shall be permitted if located and/or shielded so as not to produce direct glare at neighboring residences and highway traffic.
(6) 
Signs may be placed in required yards but shall not be located closer than 10 feet to any street or lot line.
(7) 
Any business, enterprise, institution or other advertising entity that ceases operation shall remove its signs within 90 days from such cessation.
(8) 
Any nonconforming sign existing in the Industrial District at the time of the adoption of this chapter, or an amendment thereto, shall only be replaced by a sign conforming to the regulations for this district.
(9) 
Signs located on residential property within the Industrial District shall conform to the sign regulations of § 146-6 (residential district regulations).
C. 
A private garage or other accessory structure that is connected to a dwelling or structure becomes part of the principal building rather than an accessory building. A detached garage shall not be required to have a setback distance from the principal building. It shall only maintain required setbacks from adjacent lot and street lines. A garage shall not be placed in a required front yard.
D. 
Materials storage areas, which are not in an enclosed structure, are permitted but shall not be located closer than 50 feet to any lot or street line or 100 feet to any residential lot line.
In all districts, or specific districts as noted, the following uses and regulations apply:
A. 
In the case of a corner lot, both yards fronting on streets shall be considered front yards and must meet the appropriate setbacks.
B. 
In determining the yard requirements of a lot, porches, carports or similar attached structures are considered a part of the principal building.
C. 
Structures, fences, signs or shrubbery over four feet in height above street level are not permitted to be maintained in a triangular area of any corner lots. This area is formed by lines along both streets to points 40 feet distant from the intersection and then a line connecting these points.
D. 
Off-street loading requirements.
(1) 
In all districts, in connection with every building or building group or part thereof and having a gross floor area of 4,000 square feet or more, which is to be occupied by a new manufacturing use similarly requiring the receipt or distribution by vehicles of material or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained, on the same lot with such building, off-street loading berths or unloading berths as follows:
Building Area
(square feet)
Number of Berths
4,000 - 25,000
1
25,001 - 40,000
2
40,001 - 60,000
3
For each additional 50,000
1
(2) 
The loading berth required in each instance shall be not less than 12 feet in width, 25 feet in length and 14 feet in height and may occupy all or any part of any required yard. Such space may also be a part of a required parking area.
E. 
All streets, or roadways that are constructed by private individuals or enterprise, and which serve or are intended to serve the public as a public thoroughfare, shall meet highway and road standards as established by the Village Board. Such standards include grade, horizontal curves, right-of-way, width of surface, type of surface, line of sight, tangents, shoulders, driveways and drainage.
F. 
Off-street parking requirements. Uses in all districts, except the Downtown Historic Business District which shall be exempt from parking regulations, shall meet the following off-street parking requirements. The applicant may count adjacent or nearby parking spaces that are not on-lot (or owned by the applicant) to meet the following requirements. These off-lot spaces, however, must not be already in use during the proposed time of use by the applicant. The owner of such parking spaces must agree to this counting of spaces. All such proposals shall be first approved by the Village of Carthage Planning Board as meeting the intent of these regulations.
Uses
Required Parking Spaces
Churches or synagogues
1 for each 3.5 seats
Community buildings and social halls, places of public and private assembly
1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area, or 1 for 3.5 seats, whichever is greater
Doctor or dentist office
10 for each office
Dwellings and mobile homes
2 for each dwelling unit
Home occupation
Minimum of 3 spaces
Industrial operations
1 for each employee in the maximum working shift
Motels, hotels, resorts, boarding-, rooming houses and tourist homes
1 for each sleeping room or dwelling unit
Offices, general
1 for each employee
Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, recreation facilities
1 for each 50 square feet of patron space
Retail stores, store groups, shops, commercial enterprises and business uses
1 for each 200 square feet of floor space, plus 1 for each employee
Wholesale establishments or warehouses
1 for each employee in the maximum working shift
G. 
If the required off-street parking involves four or more parking spaces, they shall not be located closer than 10 feet to any lot or street line and shall be constructed of all-weather materials.
H. 
Parking spaces to meet the requirements of this section may be located in side and rear yards and in driveways, but may not be located in front yards.
I. 
Maximum height requirements as set forth in Schedule II may be exceeded;[1] however, for each foot of height that a building or other structure exceeds the maximum height established for the district in which it is located, the width of each side yard shall be increased by two feet. Churches are exempt from this regulation.
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule II is included at the end of this chapter.
J. 
The placement or storage of motor vehicles, boats, travel trailers, mobile homes, trailers, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, building materials, firewood, debris, litter, as well as the presence of such other unspecified objects deemed to be unsightly and that tend to detract from the value of the surrounding land and property, in front yards is prohibited unless so authorized by other sections of this chapter or other Village law.
[Amended 6-20-2022 by L.L. No. 1-2022]
K. 
Home occupation uses shall meet the following requirements:
(1) 
Not more than two people outside the immediate family shall be employed at such a use.
(2) 
The use is incidental or accessory to the principal use of the lot.
(3) 
One identification sign is permitted and shall meet the sign requirements for the district in which it is located.
(4) 
Off-street parking space requirements, as identified in this article, shall be adhered to.
(5) 
No unsafe traffic conditions shall be produced by vehicles at the use, sign placement, etc.
(6) 
No objectionable odors, noise or unsightly conditions shall be encountered by neighboring properties.
L. 
Driveways shall be as follows:
(1) 
No closer than six inches to adjoining property lines.
(2) 
Driveways shall not cross over sidewalks.
(3) 
Before being constructed, the Department of Public Works Superintendent shall be contacted to examine curb cuts and skirting proposals.
M. 
Temporary construction trailers. It shall be the policy of the Village to allow temporary construction trailers in the Village whenever approval has been received to put in a project requiring the use of such trailers. It will be required that the use of these trailers be reported to the Village Clerk and that the time length for use be given and that safety, health and sanitary requirements be met.
N. 
Outdoor furnaces are hereby banned within the Village of Carthage and shall not be permitted in any district. Such furnaces existing as of the effective date of this section shall be allowed to continue but may not be replaced.
[Added 6-18-2007 by L.L. No. 4-2007]