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Stephenson County, IL
 
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In the construction of this chapter, the rules and definitions contained in this article shall be observed and applied, except when the context clearly indicates otherwise.
A. 
Words used in the present tense shall include the future; and words used in the singular number shall include the plural number and the plural the singular; where the context requires.
B. 
The word "shall" is mandatory and not discretionary.
C. 
The word "may" is permissive.
D. 
The word "lot" shall include the words "piece," "parcel," and "tract"; and the phrase "used for" shall include the phrases "arranged for," "designed for," intended for," "maintained for" and "occupied for."
E. 
All measured distances shall be to the nearest integral foot; if a fraction is 1/2 foot or less, the integral foot below shall be taken.
F. 
Any words not defined as follows shall be construed in their general accepted meanings as defined in the most recent publication of Webster's Dictionary.
G. 
The words and terms, set forth herein under § 400-6, Definitions, wherever they occur in this chapter, shall be interpreted as herein defined.
[Amended 7-10-1973; 2-14-1978; 11-10-1992 by Ord. No. 92-11-187; 8-10-1993 by Ord. No. 93-08-14; 8-9-1994 by Ord. No. 94-08-201; 8-9-1994 by Ord. No. 94-08-202; 2-10-1998 by Ord. No. 98-02-230; 4-14-1998 by Ord. No. 98-04-231; 7-14-1998 by Ord. No. 98-07-233; 6-8-1999 by Ord. No. 99-02-238; 9-13-2000 by Ord. No. 00-04-249; 8-13-2003 by Res. No. 03-27-275; 6-15-2005 by Ord. No. 05-06-246]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONMENT
An action to give up one's rights or interests in property.
ABUTS or ABUTTING
To have a common property line or district line.
ACCESSORY BUILDING OR USE
A. 
One which:
(1) 
Is subordinate to and serves a principal building or principal use.
(2) 
Is subordinate in area, extent or purpose to the principal building or principal use served.
(3) 
Contributes to the comfort, convenience, or necessity of occupants of the principal building or principal use served.
B. 
An "accessory use" includes but is not limited to the following:
(1) 
A children's playhouse, garden house and private greenhouse.
(2) 
A garage, shed or building for domestic storage.
(3) 
Storage of merchandise normally carried in stock on the same lot with any retail service or business use, unless such storage is excluded by the district regulations.
(4) 
Storage of goods used in or produced by manufacturing activities on the same lot with any retail service or business use, unless such storage is excluded by the district regulations.
(5) 
Incinerators incidental to residential use.
(6) 
A nonpaying guesthouse or rooms for guests within an accessory building, provided such facilities are used for the occasional housing of guests of the occupant of the principal building and not for permanent occupancy by others as housekeeping units.
(7) 
Servant's quarters comprising part of an accessory garage and solely for occupancy by a servant or household employee (and his or her family) of the occupants of the principal dwelling.
(8) 
Swimming pool, private, for use by the occupant and his guests.
(9) 
Off-street motor vehicle parking areas, and loading and unloading facilities.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
(10) 
Signs (other than advertising signs) as permitted and regulated in each district incorporated in this chapter.
(11) 
Carports.
(12) 
Public utilities: telephone, electric, gas, water and sewer lines, their supports and incidental equipment.
ACREAGE
Any tract or parcel of land which has not heretofore been subdivided or platted.
ADJACENT
To lie near or close to in the neighborhood or vicinity of.
ADJOINING
Touching or contiguous, as distinguished from lying near.
ADULT
A person 18 years and older.
ADULT USES
The following types of establishments:
A. 
ADULT ARCADEAn establishment where, for any form of consideration, one or more motion-picture projectors, slide projectors, or similar machines for viewing by five or fewer persons each are used to show films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions that are characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas as those terms are hereinafter defined.
B. 
ADULT BOOKSTOREAn establishment that has as a substantial portion of its stock-in-trade and offers for sale, for any form of consideration, any one or more of the following:
(1) 
Books, magazines, periodicals, or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides, or other visual representations that are characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas; or
(2) 
Instruments, devices, or paraphernalia that are designed for use in connection with specified sexual activities.
C. 
ADULT CABARETA nightclub, bar, restaurant, or similar establishment that regularly features live performances that are characterized by the exposure or display of specified anatomical areas or by specified sexual activities, or films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions in which a substantial portion of the total presentation time is devoted to the showing of material that is characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
D. 
ADULT MOTION-PICTURE THEATERAn establishment where, for any form of consideration, patrons may view films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions, the majority of which are characterized by an emphasis upon the description or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
E. 
ADULT THEATERA theater, concert hall, auditorium, or similar establishment characterized by activities featuring the exposure of specified anatomical areas or by specified sexual activities.
AGRICULTURE
Land, or land and structures, the principal uses of which are the growing of farm crops, truck garden crops, animal and poultry husbandry, apiculture, aquaculture, dairying, floriculture, horticulture, nurseries, tree farms, sod farms, pasturage, viticulture, and wholesale greenhouses, and accessory uses customarily incidental to agricultural activities, including, but not limited to, the farm dwelling, dwellings for tenants and full-time and part-time hired farm workers and dwellings or lodging rooms for seasonal workers.
AIRBNB
An American company which operates an online marketplace and hospitality service for people to lease or rent short-term lodging, including holiday cottages, apartments, home stays, hotel beds, to participate in or facilitate experiences related to tourism.
[Added 8-23-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08-1911]
AIRCRAFT
Any machine or device capable of transporting a person or persons, including, but not limited to, airplanes, helicopters, gliders, hang gliders, ultralights, autogiros, dirigibles, and hot-air balloons, capable of atmospheric flight.
AIRPORT
Any area of land or water which is used or intended for the landing and take-off of aircraft, together with all structures located thereon.
ALLEY
A right-of-way which affords a secondary means of vehicular access to abutting properties.
ALTERATION
A change in size, shape, occupancy or use of a structure.
ANIMAL CREMATORY
A furnace or place for the cremation of domestic pets and/or wild animals, but not to include the remains of domesticated farm animals. Performance standards in § 400-59G(3) of this chapter shall be adhered to and any other local, state or federal regulations pertaining to the maintenance or operation of said crematory.
[Added 3-13-2002 by Ord. No. 02-14-262]
ANIMAL HOSPITAL
A structure or portion thereof designed or used for the care, observation or treatment of domestic animals.
APARTMENT
A room or suite of rooms in a multiple-family structure which is arranged, designed, used or intended to be used as a single housekeeping unit. Complete kitchen facilities, permanently installed, must always be included for each apartment.
ASPHALT PLANT
A plant used for the manufacture of asphalt macadam and other forms of coated road stone, sometimes collectively known as "blacktop" or "asphalt concrete."
[Added 6-20-2019 by Ord. No. 19-06-2060]
AUDITORIUM
A room, hall or building made a part of a church, theater, school, recreation building or other buildings assigned to the gathering of people as an audience to hear lectures, plays or other presentations.
AUTO LAUNDRY, SELF SERVICE
A structure where water and cleaning facilities are provided for customers to wash their own vehicles; passenger cars and trucks of not more than 1 1/2 tons' capacity are permitted.
AUTOMOBILE AND TRAILER SALES AREA
An open area, other than a street, used for the display or sale of new or used automobiles or trailers, and where no repair work is done except for minor incidental repair of automobiles or trailers to be displayed and sold on the premises.
AUTOMOBILE LAUNDRY
A building, or portion thereof, where automobiles are washed with the use of a mechanical conveyor and blower or steam-cleaning device.
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR, MAJOR
Engine rebuilding or major reconditioning of worn or damaged motor vehicles or trailers; collision service, including body, frame or fender straightening or repair and painting of vehicles.
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR, MINOR
Incidental repairs, replacement of parts and motor service to automobiles, but not including any operation specified under "automobile repair, major."
AUTOMOBILE SERVICE STATION
A place where gasoline, stored only in underground tanks, kerosene, lubricating oil or grease for operation of automobiles is offered for sale directly to the public, on the premises, and including minor accessories and servicing of automobiles; but not including major automobile repairs; and including washing of automobiles where no chain conveyor, blower or steam cleaning service device is employed. When the dispensing, sale or offering for sale of motor fuels or oil is incidental to the conduct of a public garage, the premises shall be classified as a public garage. Automobile service stations shall not include sale or storage of automobiles or trailers (new or used).
AUTOMOBILE WRECKING YARD
An area of land where three or more motor vehicles, machinery or equipment not in operable condition or parts thereof are stored in the open.
AWNING
A roof-like mechanism, retractable in operation, which projects from the wall of a building.
BASEMENT
A story partly or wholly underground. Where more than 1/2 of its height is above the established curb level or above the average level of the adjoining ground where the curb level has not been established, a basement shall be counted as a story for purposes of height measurement.
BEDROOM
A separate room or space with a door, a closet and a window, used or intended to be used specifically for sleeping purposes.
[Added 8-23-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08-1911]
BILLBOARD
Any structure or portion thereof upon which are signs or advertisements used as an outdoor display. This definition does not include bulletin boards used to announce church services or to display court or other public office notices or signs offering the sale or lease of the premises on which the sign is located.
BLOCK
A tract of land bounded by streets or, in lieu of a street or streets, by public parks, cemeteries, railroad rights-of-way, bulkhead lines or shorelines of waterways or corporate boundary lines of municipalities.
BOARDINGHOUSE
A residential building or portion thereof, other than a motel, apartment hotel or hotel, containing lodging rooms for accommodation of three or more persons who are not members of the keeper's family and where lodging or meals or both are provided by prearrangement and for definite periods.
BREWERY/DISTILLERY
A facility comprising a building or buildings used for the manufacturing, blending, fermenting, processing and packaging of alcoholic beverages and may include a tasting room, retail space and food service as an accessory use on the site.
[Added 8-19-2021 by Ord. No. 21-08-2239]
BUILDABLE AREA
The space remaining on a zoning lot after the minimum open space requirements of this chapter have been complied with.
BUILDING
Any covered structure built for the support, shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels or movable property of any kind, and which is permanently affixed to the land.
BUILDING, ACCESSORY
See "accessory building or use."
BUILDING COVERAGE
The area on a zoning lot occupied by buildings and structures, including accessory buildings.
BUILDING, DETACHED
A building surrounded by open space on the same zoning lot.
BUILDING, HEIGHT OF
The vertical distance from grade to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof, or to the mean height level between eaves and ridge for gable, hip or gambrel roofs. Chimneys, towers, spires, elevator penthouses, cooling towers and similar projections, other than signs, shall not be included in calculating building height.
BUILDING INSPECTOR
The Zoning Administrator of Stephenson County, Illinois, or his duly authorized representative.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
BUILDING LINE
The line nearest the front of and across a zoning lot, establishing the minimum open space to be provided between the front line of a building or structure and the street right-of-way line.
BUILDING, NONCONFORMING
Any building which does not conform to the regulations of this chapter, prescribing the maximum floor area ratio, required yards, coverage, height and setbacks, minimum required spacing between buildings on a single lot, and minimum required usable space for the district in which such building is located.
BUILDING, PRINCIPAL
A nonaccessory building in which is conducted the principal use of the lot.
BUILDING, TEMPORARY
Any building not designed to be permanently located in the place where it is or where it is intended to be placed or affixed.
BULK
The term used to indicate the size and setbacks of buildings or structures and location of same with respect to one another and including the following:
A. 
Size and height of buildings.
B. 
Location of exterior walls at all levels in relation to lot lines, streets or other buildings.
C. 
Gross floor area of buildings in relation to lot area (floor area ratio).
D. 
All open space allocated to the buildings.
E. 
Amount of lot area per dwelling unit.
F. 
Required parking areas.
BUS LOT
Any lot or land area used for the storage or layover of passenger buses or motor coaches.
CABIN or COTTAGE
A recreational (nonresidential) use consisting of detached dwelling units used for temporary or seasonal occupancy.
CAMP, INSTITUTIONAL
A camp operated by a service club, an educational organization or a religious organization.
[Added 8-19-2021 by Ord. No. 21-08-2240]
CAMP, RECREATIONAL
A tract of land, the principal use of which is to provide outdoor recreational facilities for three or more tents and/or recreational vehicles for persons having a bona fide permanent place of abode.
[Added 8-19-2021 by Ord. No. 21-08-2240]
CELLAR
A portion of the building partly underground, but having more than 1/2 of its clear height below the average grade of the adjoining ground and having no means of egress directly to the exterior of the building. (See "basement.") A cellar shall not be used as a dwelling unit.[1]
CLINIC, MEDICAL OR DENTAL
A building or portion thereof, the principal use of which is for offices of physicians or dentists, or both, for the examination and treatment of persons on an outpatient basis.
CLOSED CUP FLASH POINT
The lowest temperature at which a combustible liquid under prescribed conditions will give off a flammable vapor which will propagate a flame. The Tag closed cup tester shall be authoritative for liquids having a flash point below 175° F. The Pensky-Martens tester shall be authoritative for liquids having a flash point between 175° F. and 300° F.
CLUB OR LODGE, PRIVATE
A nonprofit association of persons who are bona fide members and whose facilities are restricted to members and their guests. Food and alcoholic beverages may be served on its premises, provided they are secondary and incidental to the principal use.
CONDITIONAL USES
See "use, special."
CONFORMING STRUCTURE
A structure which:
A. 
Complies with all the regulations of this chapter or of any amendment thereto governing bulk of the district in which said structure is located; or
B. 
Is designed or intended for a permitted or conditional permitted use as allowed in the district in which it is located.
CONTIGUOUS
In actual contact.
COUNTY
The County of Stephenson, Illinois.
COUNTY BOARD
The County Board of Stephenson County.[2]
COUNTY CLERK
The County Clerk of Stephenson County.
COUNTY ENGINEER
The County Superintendent of Highways or a professional engineer, registered in the State of Illinois, who has been duly appointed as the County Engineer of the County of Stephenson, or who has been hired by the County as its consulting engineer.
COURT
An open, unoccupied space other than a yard on the same lot with a building or group of buildings and which is bounded on three or more sides by such building or buildings.
CREMATORY
A furnace or place for the cremation of human corpses.
DAIRY
Any premises where three or more dairy animals are kept, milked, and maintained; the term "dairy animal" meaning either cows or goats.
DECIBEL
A unit of measurement of the intensity or loudness of sound. Sound level meters employed to measure the intensity of sound are calibrated in decibels. A decibel is technically defined as 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the sound pressure in microbars to a reference pressure of 0.0002 microbar.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to construction of or substantial improvements to buildings or other structures; the placement of mobile homes, mining, dredging, filling, paving, excavating or drilling operations.
DISPLACEMENT (EARTH)
The amplitude or intensity of an earthborne vibration measured in inches. The displacement or amplitude is 1/2 the total earth movement.
DISTRICT
A section or part of the unincorporated portion of the County within which certain uniform regulations and requirements or various combinations thereof apply under the provisions of this chapter.
DRIVE-IN ESTABLISHMENT
An establishment or part thereof in which are provided facilities where serving or consuming commodities or both are intended to occur primarily in patrons' automobiles parked on the premises.
DWELLING
A building or portion thereof designed and/or manufactured and used exclusively for residential purposes, including single-family, two-family, or multiple-family dwellings, but not including mobile homes built prior to June 15, 1976, or other trailers, or lodging rooms in hotels, motels or lodging houses.
DWELLING, ATTACHED
A dwelling joined to two other dwellings by party walls or vertical cavity walls, and aboveground physically unifying horizontal structural elements.
DWELLING, DETACHED
A dwelling which is surrounded on all sides by open space on the same lot.
DWELLING, FARM
A dwelling unit located on a forty-acre tract of land, the principal use of which is the pursuit of agriculture, as defined herein, with the dwelling unit being clearly accessory and subordinate to such agricultural use, subject to the limitation that such dwelling unit is occupied by or intended for occupancy by the owner of such tract or by a person or persons whose principal occupation is the pursuit of agriculture on such land.
DWELLING, MULTIPLE-FAMILY
A building or portion thereof containing three or more dwelling units.
DWELLING, SEMI-DETACHED
A dwelling joined to one other dwelling by a party wall, or vertical cavity wall and aboveground physically unifying horizontal structural elements.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY
A dwelling containing one dwelling unit in a detached building unless otherwise specified.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY DETACHED
A dwelling containing two dwelling units only, one above the other.
DWELLING UNIT
A building or portion of a building providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, eating, cooking, sanitation, and a separate bedroom(s) for sleeping.
[Amended 8-23-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08-1911]
EARTHBORNE VIBRATIONS
A cyclic movement of the earth due to the propagation of mechanical energy.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
A public, parochial, elementary, junior high or high school, charitable or nonprofit junior college, college or university, other than trade or business schools, including instructional and recreational uses with or without living quarters, dining rooms, restaurants, heating plants, and other incidental facilities for students, teachers and employees.
EFFICIENCY UNIT
A dwelling unit consisting of one principal room, exclusive of a bathroom, kitchen, hallway, closets or dining alcove directly off the principal room.
ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION CENTER
A terminal at which electric energy is received from the transmission system and is delivered to the distribution system only.
ELECTRIC SUBSTATION
A terminal at which electric energy is received from the transmission system and is delivered to other elements of the transmission system and, generally, to the local distribution system.
EQUIVALENT CAPACITY
The shade on the Ringelmann Chart that most closely corresponds to the density of smoke other than black or gray.[3]
ESTABLISHMENT, BUSINESS
A structure or lot used in whole or in part as a place of business, the ownership or management of which is separate and distinct from the ownership or management of any other place of business located on the same or other lot.
FAMILY
One person or two or more persons each related to the other by blood, marriage or legal adoption, or a group of not more than four persons not so related, together with his or their domestic servants, maintaining a common household in a dwelling unit. A family may include, in addition thereto, not more than two roomers, boarders, or permanent guests, whether or not gratuitous.
FARM
Real property for commercial agriculture comprising at least 40 contiguous acres, of which at least 25 acres have been utilized for agricultural pursuits for the last three years, all of which is operated by a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation and including all necessary farm buildings, structures and machinery.
FENCE
An enclosure or barrier such as wooden post, wire, iron, etc.; used as a boundary, means of protection, privacy screening or confinement, but not including hedges, shrubs, trees or other natural growth.
[Amended 11-14-2012 by Res. No. 12-11-1918]
FENCE, AGRICULTURE
A fence used in conjunction with an agricultural use as defined by the Illinois Fencing Law.[4]
[Added 11-14-2012 by Res. No. 12-11-1918]
FENCE, OPEN
Shall consist of chain-link fence, split-rail fence, picket fence or other similar fence (with at least fifty-percent open area), as approved by the County.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
FINANCIAL ASSURANCE
Reasonable assurance from a creditworthy party, examples of which include a surety bond, trust instrument, cash escrow, or irrevocable letter of credit.
FLOOD-CREST ELEVATION
The elevation of the highest flood level that has been or may subsequently designated by the County Engineer.
FLOODPLAIN AREA
A. 
That continuous area adjacent to a stream or stream bed or any stormwater retention area and its tributaries the elevation of which is equal to or lower than the flood crest elevation, including land also having an elevation higher than flood crest elevation but less than 10 acres in area and surrounded by land in a floodplain area or an area of such elevation secured by landfill projecting into a floodplain area.
B. 
Any point shall be deemed to be within the floodplain area if it falls below the elevation of a high water mark, as the elevation of the mark is projected in horizontal directions perpendicular to the flow of the stream and thence to intersections at an equal elevation with the land on either side of the stream. Any point between the aforedescribed projections of any two high water marks shall be deemed within the floodplain area if it is at an elevation equal to or lower than similar projections of the interpolated flood crest elevation. The interpolated flood crest elevation is the calculated elevation of the flood crest at the center line of the stream between two known flood crests of the nearest upstream and downstream high water marks and the difference in elevation between the flood crest at this location and at either of the high water mark projections is directly proportional to the difference in stream center line distance between the two high water mark projections.
FLOOR AREA
A. 
For determining floor area ratio:
(1) 
The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors, including also the basement floor of a building, measured from the exterior faces of the exterior walls or from the center lines of walls separating two buildings. The floor area shall also include the horizontal areas on each floor devoted to:
(a) 
Elevator shafts and stairwells;
(b) 
Mechanical equipment, except if located on the roof when either open or enclosed, i.e., bulkheads, water tanks and cooling towers;
(c) 
Habitable attic space;
(d) 
Interior balconies and mezzanines;
(e) 
Enclosed porches; and
(f) 
Accessory uses.
(2) 
The floor area of structures used for bulk storage of materials, i.e., grain elevators and petroleum tanks, shall also be included in the floor area and such floor area shall be determined on the basis of the height of such structures, with one floor for each 10 feet of structure height, and if such structure measures less than 10 feet but not less than five feet over such floor height intervals, it shall be construed to have an additional floor.
(3) 
The horizontal area in each floor of a building devoted to off-street parking and off-street loading facilities and the horizontal area of a cellar floor shall not be included in the floor area.
B. 
For determining off-street parking and off-street loading requirements: "Floor area," when prescribed as the basis of measurement for off-street parking spaces and off-street loading spaces for any use, shall be the sum of the gross horizontal area of the several floors of the building, excluding areas used for accessory off-street parking facilities and the horizontal areas of the basement and cellar floors that are devoted exclusively to uses accessory to the operation of the entire building. All horizontal dimensions shall be taken from the exterior of the walls.
FLOOR AREA RATIO
The numerical value obtained by dividing the floor area within a building or buildings on a lot by the area of such lot. The floor area ratio as designated for each district, when multiplied by the lot area in square feet, shall determine the maximum permissible floor area for the building or buildings on the lot.
FOOTCANDLE
A unit of illumination, equivalent to the illumination at all points which are one foot distant from a uniform point source of one candlepower.
FREE BURNING
The rate of combustion of a material which burns actively and easily and supports combustion.
FREIGHT TERMINAL
A building in which freight brought to said building by motor truck is assembled and sorted for routing in intrastate and interstate shipment by motor truck or railroad freight cars.
FREQUENCY
Signifies the number of oscillations per second in a sound wave and is an index of the pitch of the resulting sound.
FRONTAGE
All the property fronting on one side of a street between the nearest intersecting streets or between a street and a right-of-way, waterway or other similar barrier.
GARAGE, BUS
Any building used or intended to be used for the storage of three or more passenger motor buses or motor coaches used in public transportation, including school buses.
GARAGE, PRIVATE
An accessory building designed and used for the storage of motor vehicles owned and used by the occupants of the building to which it is accessory and in which no occupation or business for profit is carried on. Not more than one of the motor vehicles may be a commercial vehicle of not more than 1 1/2 ton capacity.
GARAGE, PUBLIC
A building or portion thereof, other than a private or storage garage, designed or used for equipping, servicing or repairing motor vehicles. Hiring, selling or storing of motor vehicles may be included.
GARAGE, STORAGE or OFF-STREET PARKING
A building or portion thereof designed or used or land used exclusively for storage of motor vehicles, and in which motor fuels and oils are not sold and motor vehicles are not equipped, repaired, hired or sold.
GRADE
The established grade of the street or sidewalk. Where no such grade has been established, the grade shall be the elevation of the sidewalk at the property line. Where no sidewalks exist, the grade shall be the average elevation of the street adjacent to the property line; except in cases of unusual topographic conditions as determined by the Building Inspector, the grade shall be the average elevation of the finished surface of the ground adjoining the exterior walls of a building or at the base of a structure.
GROSS DENSITY
The ratio between the total number of dwelling units on a lot and total lot area in acres.
GROUND FLOOR AREA
The lot area covered by a principal building, measured at highest ground grade, adjacent to a building from the exterior faces of the exterior walls, but excluding open porches or terraces and garages or carports.
GUEST HOUSE
Living quarters within a detached accessory building located on the same premises with the principal building for use by temporary guests of the occupants of the premises. Such quarters shall have no kitchen facilities nor be rented or otherwise used as a separate dwelling.
GUEST, PERMANENT
A person who occupies or has the right to occupy a lodging house, rooming house, boardinghouse, hotel, apartment hotel, or motel accommodation as his domicile and place of permanent residence.
HABITABLE SPACE
Space in a structure for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces, and similar areas are not considered habitable spaces.
[Added 8-23-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08-1911]
HEMP/INDUSTRIAL
Industrial hemp is from the plant species Cannabis sativa and has been used to produce a variety of industrial and consumer products.
[Added 6-20-2019 by Ord. No. 19-06-2060]
HOME OCCUPATION
Any use or gainful occupation conducted indoors within a dwelling or any conforming accessory building which is a part of that dwelling, and where the operators of the home occupation shall make the dwelling where the home occupation is conducted their legal and primary place of residence, and where the home occupation use is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes and does not change the character of the dwelling.[5]
HOSPITAL or SANITARIUM
An institution devoted primarily to the maintenance and operation of facilities for the diagnosis, treatment or care, for not less than 24 hours in any week, of three or more unrelated individuals suffering from illness, disease, injury, deformity, or other abnormal physical conditions. The term "hospital" as used herein does not apply to institutions operating solely for the treatment of insane persons, drug addicts, liquor addicts, or other types of cases necessitating restraint of patients, and the term "hospital" shall not be used for convalescent, nursing, shelter or boarding homes.
HOTEL, APARTMENT
A building containing dwelling units or individual guest rooms, the majority of which are for permanent guests. Maid and janitor service may be provided, but kitchen facilities are not necessarily included.
HOTEL, MOTEL, INN or AUTO COURT
An establishment containing lodging accommodations designed for use by transients or travelers or temporary guests. Facilities provided may include maid service, laundering of linen used on the premises, telephone and secretarial or desk service, meeting rooms, restaurants, cocktail lounges and other ancillary uses customarily incidental to such use. These terms include such terms as "motor court," "motor hotel," "tourist court" or "transient hotel."[6]
HOUSE TRAILER
See "mobile home."[7]
IMPACT, NOISE
A short-duration sound which is incapable of being accurately measured on a sound level meter.
IMPULSIVE
Discrete vibration pulsation occurring no more often than one per second.
INCOMBUSTIBLE
A material which will not ignite nor actively support combustion during an exposure for five minutes to a temperature of 1,200° F.
INTENSE BURNING
The rate of combustion described by a material that burns with a high degree of activity and is consumed rapidly. Examples: Sawdust, magnesium, (powder, flaked or strips), rocket fuels.
INTERMODAL SHIPPING CONTAINER
An international organization for standardization (ISO) standardized six-sided steel shipping container that is built and designed to transport freight across different modes of transportation including ship to rail to truck without having to load and unload such freight. These containers shall be constructed of corrugated steel and may have external dimensions not to exceed eight feet in width, nine and one-half feet in height and 40 feet in length. To be considered an intermodal shipping container (ISC) for accessory on-site storage, it shall have the convention for safe containers (CSC) safety approval placard affixed at the rear door of the container providing proof that the container has been built, tested, and inspected to ISO standards. These ISC may be utilized as accessory building in accordance with § 400-14 of the Zoning code book. This definition does not include portable moving/storage containers such as PODS® or similar moving/storage containers not designed for transport across all modes of transportation as previously listed.
[Added 5-18-2023 by Ord. No. 23-05-72]
JUNKYARD
An open area of land and any accessory building or structure thereon which is used primarily for buying, selling, exchanging, storing, baling, packing, disassembling, or handling waste or scrap materials, including vehicles, machinery and equipment not in operable conditions or parts thereof, and other metals, paper, rags, rubber tires, and bottles. A junkyard includes an automobile wrecking yard, but does not include an establishment located in the applicable manufacturing district, engaged exclusively in processing of scrap iron or other metals to be sold only to establishments engaged in manufacturing of steel or metal alloys.
KENNEL
Any premises or portion thereof on which more than three dogs, cats, or other household domestic animals are kept or on which more than two such animals are maintained, boarded, bred, or cared for in return for remuneration or are kept for the purpose of sale.
LABORATORY
See "research laboratory."
LABORATORY, COMMERCIAL
A place devoted to experimental study as testing and analyzing. Manufacturing, assembly or packaging of products is not included within this definition.
LAUNDERETTE
A business that provides coin-operated self-service type washing, drying, dry cleaning and ironing facilities, provided that:
A. 
Not more than four persons, including owners, are employed on the premises; and
B. 
No pick-up or delivery service is maintained.
LIVESTOCK OPERATION, CONCENTRATED
A structure or area in which 1,000 or more units of livestock per acre are confined for a limited period of time prior to being shipped to market. One unit shall be equivalent to one head of cattle, two hogs, two sheep or 10 poultry.[8]
LOADING AND UNLOADING SPACE OR BERTH, OFF-STREET
An open, hard-surfaced area of land other than a street or a public way, the principal use of which is for the standing, loading and unloading of motor vehicles, tractors and trailers, to avoid undue interference with public streets and alleys. Such space shall not be less than 10 feet in width, 35 feet in length, and 14 feet in height, exclusive of access aisles and maneuvering space.
LODGING HOUSE
A building originally designed for and used as a single- or two-family dwelling, all or a portion of which contains lodging rooms which accommodate persons who are not members of the keeper's family. Lodging or meals or both are provided for compensation for three or more but not more than 10 persons.
LODGING ROOM
A room or suite of rooms rented as sleeping and living quarters, but without cooking facilities and with or without an individual bathroom. In a suite of rooms, each room which provides sleeping accommodations shall be counted as one lodging room for the purpose of this chapter.
LOT
See "zoning lot."
LOT AREA
The area of a horizontal plane bounded by the front, side and rear lines of a lot.
LOT, CORNER
A lot of which at least two adjacent sides abut for their full length upon streets, provided that the interior angle at the intersection of such two sides is less than 135°.
LOT COVERAGE
The part or percentage of the lot occupied by buildings or structures, including accessory buildings or structures.
LOT DEPTH
The mean horizontal distance between the front lot line and the rear lot line of a lot measured within the lot boundaries.
LOT, INTERIOR
A lot that is not a corner lot.
LOT LINE, FRONT
The boundary of a lot abutting a street. On a corner lot, either lot line may be construed to be the front lot line.
LOT LINE, INTERIOR
A lot line which does not abut a street.
LOT LINE, REAR
An interior lot line which is most distant from and is almost parallel to the front lot line and, in the case of an irregular or triangular shaped lot, a line 10 feet in length within the lot which is parallel to and at maximum distance from the front lot line.
LOT LINES
The property lines bounding a lot.
LOT LINE, SIDE
Any boundary of a lot which is not a front lot line or a rear lot line.
LOT OF RECORD
Any contiguous land under ownership as of May 1, 1971, and any date thereafter, which is designated as a lot or lots on a plat within a subdivision and is recorded or registered, pursuant to statute, with the Recorder of Stephenson County, Illinois.
LOT, REVERSED-CORNER
A corner lot, the street side lot lines of which are substantially a continuation of the front lot line of the first lot to its rear.
LOT, THROUGH
A lot having a pair of opposite lot lines along two more or less parallel streets, and which is not a corner lot. Both street lines shall be deemed front lot lines.
LOT WIDTH
The minimum horizontal distance between the side lot lines of a lot measured at the narrowest width within the buildable area.
MAINTENANCE
The routine upkeep of a structure or equipment, including the replacement or modification of structural components or equipment in order to keep them unimpaired and in operable condition.
MANUFACTURE
The making of anything by any agency or process.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A dwelling designed and built in a factory which is built on a permanent chassis after June 15, 1976, and bears a seal certifying that it was built in compliance with the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974.
MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENT
An establishment, the principal use of which is manufacturing, fabricating, processing, assembly, repairing, storing, cleaning, servicing, or testing of materials, goods or products.
MARQUEE or CANOPY
A rooflike structure of a permanent nature which projects from the wall of a building.
MASSAGE PARLOR
An establishment where, for any form of consideration, massage, alcohol rubs, fomentation, electric or magnetic treatment, or similar treatment or manipulation of the human body is administered, unless such treatment or manipulation is administered by a medical practitioner, chiropractor, acupuncturist, physical therapist, or similar professional person licensed by the state. This definition does not include an athletic club, health club, school, gymnasium, reducing salon, spa, or similar establishment where massage or similar manipulation or the human body is offered as an incidental or accessory service.
MICRON
A unit of length, equal to 1/1,000 part of one millimeter (0.001 millimeter).
MOBILE HOME
A dwelling unit designed and built in a factory prior to June 15, 1976 which is built on a permanent chassis and is designed to be used as a dwelling unit with or without a permanent foundation and which has 320 or more square feet of living area.
MOBILE HOME PARK
A lot, parcel or tract of land developed with facilities for accommodating two or more mobile homes, provided each mobile home contains a kitchen, flush toilet, shower or bath; and such park shall be for use only by nontransient dwellers remaining continuously for more than one month, whether or not a charge is made. It shall not include a sales lot in which automobiles or unoccupied mobile homes or other trailers are parked for the purpose of inspection or sale, except mobile homes located on a site in the mobile home park which are occupied or vacant for not more than 90 days after occupancy may be sold or offered for sale.
MODERATE BURNING
Implies a rate of combustion described by a material which supports combustion and is consumed slowly as it burns. Examples: wood, timber and lots.
MODULAR HOME
A dwelling designed and built in a factory and designed for erection only on a site-built permanent foundation and not designed for subsequent moves and which bears a seal certifying that it was built in compliance with the State of Illinois Manufactured Housing and Mobile Home Safety Act (430 ILCS 115/1 et seq.).[9]
MOTEL
See "hotel."
MOTOR FREIGHT TERMINAL
See "freight terminal."
MOTOR SPORT VEHICLES
Dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, mud trucks and racecars used for recreation on private property in the unincorporated areas of Stephenson County.
[Added 4-21-2022 by Ord. No. 22-04-24]
MOTOR VEHICLE
A passenger vehicle, truck, truck-trailer, trailer, or semi-trailer propelled or drawn by mechanical power.
NAMEPLATE
A sign indicating the name and address of a building or the name, address and telephone number of the manager; or a sign indicating the name, address and/or the practice of a permitted home occupation therein.
NO-ACCESS STRIP
A strip of land within and along a rear lot line of a through lot adjoining a street which is designated on a recorded subdivision plat or property deed as land over which motor vehicular travel shall not be permitted.
NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE
A structure lawfully established which:
A. 
Does not comply with all the regulations of this chapter or of any amendment hereto governing bulk of the district in which it is located; or
B. 
Is designed or intended for a nonconforming use.
NONCONFORMING USE
A structure and the use thereof or the use of land that does not conform with the regulations of this chapter or any amendment thereto governing use in the district in which it is located but conformed with all of the codes, ordinances, and other legal requirements applicable at the time such structure was erected, enlarged or altered, and the use thereof or the use of land was established.
NOXIOUS MATTER OR MATERIAL
A material which is capable of causing injury to living organisms by chemical reaction, or is capable of causing detrimental effects to the physical or economic well being of individuals.
NURSERY SCHOOL
An establishment for the part-time care of five or more children of pre-elementary school age in addition to the members of the family residing therein.
NURSING HOME
A home for aged, chronically ill, care of children, infirm or incurable persons, or a place of rest for those persons suffering bodily disorders in which three or more persons, not members of the family residing on the premises, are received and provided with food, shelter and care, but not including hospitals, clinics or similar institutions devoted primarily to the diagnosis and treatment of disease or injury, maternity cases or mental illness.
OCCUPANCY
The purpose for which a dwelling unit or portion thereof is utilized or occupied.
[Added 8-23-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08-1911]
OCCUPANT
Any individual living or sleeping in a dwelling unit, or having possession of a space within a dwelling unit.
[Added 8-23-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08-1911]
OCTAVE BAND
A prescribed interval of sound frequencies which classifies sound according to its pitch.
OCTAVE BAND FILTER
An electronic frequency analyzer designed according to standards of the American National Standards Institute and used in conjunction with a sound level meter to take measurements of sound pressure level in specific octave bands.
ODOROUS MATTER
A material that produces an olfactory response among human beings.
ODOR THRESHOLD
The lowest concentration of odorous matter in the air that will produce an olfactory response in a human being.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
OFF-STREET PARKING AREA OR LOT
Land which is improved and used or a structure which is designed and used exclusively for the storage of passenger motor vehicles, either for accessory off-street parking spaces or commercial off-street parking spaces when permitted herein by district regulations.
OPEN SALES LOT
Land used or occupied for the purpose of buying, selling or renting merchandise stored or displayed out-of-doors prior to sale. Such merchandise includes automobiles, trucks, motor scooters, motorcycles, boats, or similar commodities.
OPERATOR or OWNER
Any person who owns or has charge, care or control of a dwelling unit which is offered for rent.
[Added 8-23-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08-1911]
OWNER
Any individual, firm or corporation having a possessory interest entitled to exclusive possession in land or several such owners acting jointly.
PARKING SPACE
An area, enclosed in a building or unenclosed, reserved for the parking of one motor vehicle and which is accessible to and from a street or alley.
PARTICULATE MATTER
Material other than water which is suspended in or discharged into the atmosphere in a finely divided form as a liquid or solid at outdoor ambient conditions.
PARTY WALL
A common wall which extends from its footing below grade to the underside of the roof and divides buildings.
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
A criteria established to control smoke and particulate matter, noise, odorous matter, toxic matter, vibration, fire and explosion hazards, glare and radiation hazards generated by or inherent in uses of land or buildings.
PERMANENT OPEN SPACE
A compact and contiguous land area, any segment of which is not less than four acres in area, that is designated on the Comprehensive Plan for educational, religious, recreational, or institutional purposes, or such land which is not so designated but which is recommended for such designation by the Planning Commission and approved by the County Board at or before the time of approval of a subdivision or planned development.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
A tract of land which is planned as a whole for development under single ownership or control and which, by virtue of such unified planning and development, provides greater amenities, convenience or other benefits than would normally be had through the development of diverse smaller tracts under multiple ownership. In the case of a residential planned development, adequate provision shall be made for basic community facilities such as schools, parks, playgrounds, and churches, among others. The minimum area for a planned development shall be:
A. 
For residential, 10 acres;
B. 
For business, five acres;
C. 
For industrial, 20 acres; and
D. 
For governmental, three acres.
PLANNING COMMISSION
The Stephenson County Planning Commission.[10]
PRIMARY STRUCTURE
For each property, the structure that one or more persons occupy the majority of time on that property for either business or personal reasons. "Primary structure" includes structures such as residences, commercial buildings, hospitals, and day-care facilities. "Primary structure" excludes structures such as hunting sheds, storage sheds, pool houses, unattached garages and barns.
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
A qualified individual who is licensed as a professional engineer in a state in the United States.
PUBLIC OPEN SPACE
Any publicly owned open area, including but not limited to the following: parks, playgrounds, forest preserves, waterways, parkways and streets.[11]
RADIATION HAZARDS
The deleterious and harmful effects of all ionizing radiation, which shall include all radiation capable of producing ions in their passage through matter. Such radiation shall include, but are not limited to, electromagnetic radiation such as X-rays, and gamma rays and particulate radiations such as electrons or beta particles, protons, neutrons and alpha particles.
RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY
A strip of land containing railroad tracks and auxiliary facilities for track operations, but not including freight depots or stations, loading platforms, train sheds, warehouses, car or locomotive shops or car yards.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
Any of the following vehicles which are licensed for travel on the highway: travel trailer (a vehicular, portable structure built on a chassis, designed to be used as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreation or vacation, or one permanently identified as a travel trailer by the manufacturer of the trailer); pick-up coach (a structure designed to be mounted on a truck chassis for use as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreation and vacation); motor home (a portable, temporary dwelling to be used for travel, recreation and vacation, constructed as an integral part of a self-propelled vehicle); and camping trailer (a canvas, material or metal folding structure, mounted on wheels, and designed for travel, recreation and vacation use).
[Added 8-19-2021 by Ord. No. 21-08-2240]
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARK
Land used or intended to be used for occupancy by recreational vehicles for transient living purposes, including the use of camping spaces for tents.
[Added 8-19-2021 by Ord. No. 21-08-2240]
REFUSE
All waste products resulting from human habitation, except sewage.
RESEARCH LABORATORY
A building or group of buildings in which are located facilities for scientific research, investigation, testing or experimentation, but not facilities for the manufacture or sale of products, except as incidental to the main purpose of the laboratory.
RESERVOIR PARKING SPACES
Those off-street parking spaces allocated for temporary standing of automobiles awaiting entrance to a particular establishment.
RESIDENTIAL CARE
Maintenance (room and board) and oversight by a licensed agency (general watchfulness and appropriate services to meet the needs of the residents, including, but not limited to, social, recreational and employment opportunities).
[Added 8-12-2013 by Ord. No. 13-08-2007]
RESIDENTIAL-CARE HOME
Any living quarters wherein unrelated individuals are provided residential care by a licensed agency. A residential day-care home does not include a nursing home, hospital, adult day-care center or living quarters which serve persons as an alternative to incarceration for a criminal offense.
[Added 8-12-2013 by Ord. No. 13-08-2007]
RESIDENTIAL-CARE HOME, LARGE
A residential-care home for five or more persons, plus supervisory or oversight personnel from a licensed agency, living together as a single housekeeping unit for the primary purpose of providing shelter.
[Added 8-12-2013 by Ord. No. 13-08-2007]
RESIDENTIAL-CARE HOME, SMALL
A residential-care home for four persons or fewer, plus supervisory or oversight personnel from a licensed agency, living together as a single housekeeping unit for the primary purpose of providing shelter in a family-like atmosphere as part of the residential community.
[Added 8-12-2013 by Ord. No. 13-08-2007]
RINGELMANN CHART
The chart described in the U.S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular 6888, on which are illustrated graduated shades of gray for use in estimating the light-obscuring capacity of smoke-smoke density.
RINGELMANN NUMBER
The number of the area of the Ringelmann Chart that coincides most nearly with the visual density or equivalent capacity of the emission or smoke observed.
ROAD
Street or highway.
ROADWAY
That portion of a street which is used or intended to be used for the travel of motor vehicles.
SETBACK
The minimum horizontal distance between a street line and the nearest wall of a building or side of a structure facing such street line or edge of the area of operation of a principal use when no building or structure is involved.
SETBACK, ESTABLISHED
When 40% or more of the lots fronting on one side of a street within a block are improved, the existing setbacks of such improved lots shall be the established setback for determining the depth of the required front yards for the remainder of the lots along such street frontage, as regulated in this chapter.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL
Any dwelling or condominium, or portions thereof, in which the owner does not reside, that is available for use or is used for accommodations or lodging of guests, paying a fee or other compensation for a period of less than 30 consecutive days.
[Added 8-23-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08-1911]
SIGHT DISTANCE TRIANGLE
The triangle area of a corner lot bounded by the right-of-way and a line connecting the two points on the property lines 45 feet from the intersection of the right-of-way.
[Added 2-9-2011 by Ord. No. 11-02-1788]
400 Sight Triangle.tif
SIGN
See Article XIII, § 400-69 et seq.[12]
[Amended 2-9-2011 by Ord. No. 11-02-1788]
SMOKE
The visible discharge from a chimney, stack, vent, exhaust, or combustion process which is made up of particulate matter.
SMOKE UNIT
The number obtained when the smoke density in the Ringelmann Number is multiplied by the time of emission in minutes. For the purpose of this calculation:
A. 
A Ringelmann density reading shall be made at least once a minute during the period of observation;
B. 
Each reading shall then be multiplied by the time in minutes during which it is observed; and
C. 
The various products shall then be added together to give the total number of smoke units observed during the entire observation period.
SOLAR COLLECTOR
A device, structure or part of a device or structure in which a substantial purpose is used to transform solar energy into thermal, mechanical, chemical or electrical energy.
[Added 3-9-2017 by Ord. No. 17-03-1514]
SOLAR PANEL
A structure containing one or more receptive cells or collector devices, the purpose of which is to use solar radiation to create usable electrical energy.
[Added 3-9-2017 by Ord. No. 17-03-1514]
SOLAR POWER GENERATING PLANT
A utility-scale commercial facility that engages in the production of electric energy from solar technologies, photovoltaic technologies, or other solar-based technology which has a minimum nameplate capacity of 2.0 megawatts of electric power. The minimum total land area for a solar power generating plant shall be 15 acres. The minimum direct land area for a solar power generating plant shall be 10 acres. Request for less than 10 acres of direct land solar project will be determined by the Building and Zoning Officer or his or her designee at the time of the special use application.
[Added 3-9-2017 by Ord. No. 17-03-1514; amended 8-23-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08-1910]
SOUND LEVEL
The intensity of sound of an operation or use as measured in decibels.
SOUND LEVEL METER
An instrument for the measurement of sound pressure levels constructed in accordance with the standards of the American National Standards Institute and calibrated in decibels.
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL
The intensity of sound or noise in decibels.
SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS
Includes any of the following:
A. 
Less than completely and opaquely covered human genitalia, pubic region, buttocks, anus, or female breasts below a point immediately above the top of the areola; or
B. 
Human male genitals in a discernible state of sexual arousal, even if completely and opaquely covered.
SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES
Includes any of the following:
A. 
The fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttocks, anus, or female breasts;
B. 
Sex acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated, including intercourse, oral copulation, or sodomy;
C. 
Masturbation, actual or simulated; or
D. 
Excretory functions, either independently or as part of or in connection with any of the activities set forth in Subsections A through C above.
STABLE, PRIVATE
A structure which is located on a lot on which a dwelling is located, and which is designed, arranged, used or intended to be used for housing horses for the private use of occupants of the dwelling, but in no event for hire.
STABLE, PUBLIC
A building where horses are kept for remuneration, hire or sale.
STACKING REQUIREMENTS
The number of cars that must be accommodated in a reservoir space while awaiting ingress or egress to specified business or service establishments.
STAND, ROADSIDE
A structure for the display and sale of only farm products which are produced on the premises.
STORY
That portion of a building, other than a cellar, included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it or, if there be no floor above it, the space between the floor and the ceiling next above it. The floor of a story may have split levels, provided that there is not more than four feet difference in elevation between the different levels of the floor. A basement shall be counted as a story, except when used for storage, a garage for the use of occupants of a building or other facilities common for the rest of the building. A mezzanine shall be counted as a story if the vertical distance to the floor next below it or if the vertical distance from the floor next below it to the floor next above it is 24 feet or more.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
STORY, HALF
A partial story under a gable, hip or gambrel roof, the wall plates of which on at least two opposite exterior walls are not more than three feet above the floor of such story, except that any partial story used for residence purposes, other than for a janitor or caretaker or his family, or by a family occupying the floor immediately below it, shall be deemed a full story.
STREET
A public or private right-of-way or easement which is designated as a permanent right-of-way or easement for common use as the primary means of vehicular access to properties abutting on it.
STREET FRONTAGE
All of the property fronting on one side of a street between two intersecting streets, or in the case of a dead-end street, all of the property along one side of the street between an intersecting street and the end of such dead-end street.
STREET LINE
The street right-of-way line abutting a property line of a lot.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATION
Any change in the supporting members of a building such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders, or any substantial change in the roof or in the exterior walls, except such repair or replacement as may be required for the safety of the building.
STRUCTURE
Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires more or less permanent location on the ground or attached to something having a permanent location on the ground, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, buildings, advertising signs, backstops for tennis courts and pergolas.
TAVERN or LOUNGE
A building or part thereof where liquors are sold to be consumed on the premises, but not including restaurants where the principal business is serving food.
TENANT
A person who is not the legal owner of record and who is occupying a dwelling unit pursuant to a written or unwritten rental lease, agreement or license.
[Added 8-23-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08-1911]
TOWER, COMPETITIVE COMMUNICATION
Commercial AM/FM radio, television and microwave transmission tower and accessory equipment and buildings.
[Added 10-15-2008 by Ord. No. 08-10-1597]
TOWER, METEOROLOGICAL
A tower which has equipment attached to it which is designed to assess wind and other atmospheric data and accessory equipment and buildings.
[Added 10-15-2008 by Ord. No. 08-10-1597]
TOWER, TELECOMMUNICATIONS
A tower used to hold facilities of a telecommunications carrier such as those of a cellular telephone provider and accessory equipment and buildings.
[Added 10-15-2008 by Ord. No. 08-10-1597]
THEATER, DRIVE-IN
A parcel or tract of land containing facilities for projecting motion pictures on an outdoor movie screen which are viewed from the patron's automobile parked on the premises.
THREE-COMPONENT MEASURING SYSTEM
Instruments which measure simultaneously earthborne vibrations in horizontal and vertical planes.
TOURIST HOME
A building which contains a single dwelling unit and in which meals or lodging or both are provided or offered to transient guests for compensation; does not include a hotel, apartment hotel or motel.
TOURIST PARK
A parcel or tract of land containing facilities for locating three or more travel trailers, mobile homes, camping tents, or other similar temporary sleeping facilities for use only by transients (tourists) remaining fewer than three months, whether or not a charge is made.
TOWING SERVICE
With temporary storage of not more than 30 vehicles for no more than 90 days.
[Added 12-15-2021 by Ord. No. 21-12-2326]
TOXIC MATTER OR MATERIAL
Those materials which are capable of causing injury to living organisms by chemical means.
TRAILER
Any vehicle or portable structure constructed so as to permit occupancy thereof for lodging or dwelling purposes or for the use as an accessory structure in the conduct of a business, trade, or occupation, and which may be used as a conveyance on streets and highways, by its own or other motive power.
TRAILER, CAMPING OR SPORTS
A trailer designed and constructed for temporary dwelling purposes which does not contain certain built-in sanitary facilities; for the purpose of this chapter, camping or sports trailers are not dwellings.
TRAILER OR MOBILE HOME, CAMPS OR PARKS
Any premises occupied or designed to accommodate one or more families living in a house trailer or mobile home.
TRAILER, TRAVEL
A trailer designed and constructed for dwelling purposes which may contain cooking, sanitary and electrical facilities.
USABLE OPEN SPACE
Permanently reserved open space which is provided as required by this chapter for the use of residents of dwellings.
USE
The purpose or activity for which the land or the building thereon is designed, arranged or intended, or for which it is occupied or maintained, and shall include any manner of performance of such activity with respect to the performance standards of this chapter.
USE, ACCESSORY
See "accessory building or use."[13]
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
USE, LAWFUL
The use of any structure or land that conforms with all of the regulations of this chapter or any amendment hereto and which conforms with all of the codes, ordinances, and other legal requirements existing at the time of the enactment of this chapter or any amendment thereto, for the structure or land that is being examined.
USE, PERMITTED
Any use which is or may be lawfully established in a particular district or districts, provided it conforms with all requirements, regulations and, when applicable, performance standards of this chapter for the district in which such use is located.
USE, PRINCIPAL
The dominant use of land or structures as distinguished from a subordinate or accessory use.
USE, SPECIAL
A use as designated in the Illinois Statutes that has unusual operational, physical, or other characteristics that may be different from those of the predominant permitted uses in a district, but which is a use that complements and is otherwise or can be made compatible with the intended overall development within a district. Compliance with special standards not necessarily applicable to other permitted uses or special uses in the district shall be required for a special use, as regulated in this chapter.
VENDING MACHINE
A machine for dispensing merchandise or services designed to be operated by the customer.
VIBRATION
The periodic displacement, measured in inches, of the earth at designated frequency, cycles per second.
WIND ENERGY SYSTEM, SMALL
A wind energy conversion system consisting of a single wind turbine, single tower, and associated control or conversion electronics that generates power for an individual property for the purpose of reducing on-site consumption of utility power.
[Added 10-15-2008 by Ord. No. 08-10-1597]
WPGF (WIND POWER GENERATING FACILITIES)
All necessary devices that together convert wind energy into electricity, including the rotor, nacelle, generator, WPGF tower, electrical components, WPGF foundation, transformer, and electrical cabling from the WPGF tower to the substation(s).
WPGF APPLICANT
The entity or person which or who submits to the County, pursuant to § 300-22B of this chapter, an application for the sighting of any WPGF substation.
WPGF OPERATOR
The entity responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the WPGF, including any third-party subcontractors.
WPGF OWNER
The entity or entities with an equity interest in the WPGF(s), including their respective successors and assigns. "Owner" does not mean the property owner from whom land is leased for locating the WPGF (unless the property owner has an equity interest in the WPGF); or any person holding a security interest in the WPGF(s) solely to secure an extension of credit, or a person foreclosing on such security interest, provided that after foreclosure, such person seeks to sell the WPGF(s) at the earliest practicable date.
WPGF PROJECT
The collection of WPGFs and substations as specified in the siting approval application pursuant to § 400-22B(3).
WPGF SUBSTATION
The apparatus that connects the electrical collection system of the WPGF(s) and increases the voltage for connection with the utility's transmission lines.
WPGF TOWER
The support structure to which the nacelle and rotor are attached.
WPGF TOWER HEIGHT
The distance from the rotor blade at its highest point to the top surface of the WPGF foundation.
YARD
An open space on the same zoning lot with a principal building or group of buildings, which is unoccupied and unobstructed from its lowest level upward, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter, and which extends along a lot line and at right angles thereto to a depth or width specified in the yard regulations for the district in which the zoning lot is located.
YARD, FRONT
A yard which is bounded by the side lot lines, front lot lines, and the front yard line.
YARD, INTERIOR SIDE
A side yard which adjoins another lot or an alley separating such side yard from another lot.
YARD, LINE
A line in a lot that is parallel to the lot line along which the applicable yard extends and which is not nearer to such lot line at any point than the required depth or width of the applicable yard. A structure or other obstruction shall not encroach into the area between the yard line and such adjacent lot line, except for such permitted obstructions in yards as are set forth in this chapter.
YARD, REAR
A yard which is bounded by side lot lines, rear lot lines and the rear lot line.
YARD, SIDE
A yard which is bounded by the rear yard line, front yard line, side yard line and side lot line.
YARD, SIDE - ADJOINING A STREET
A yard which is bounded by the front lot line, side yard adjoining a street line and rear lot line.
YARD, TRANSITIONAL
The required rear yard or side yard between a business or manufacturing district and a residential district.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
The person charged with the responsibility of administering and enforcing the Stephenson County Zoning Ordinance.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
The Board of Zoning Appeals of Stephenson County, Illinois.
ZONING DISTRICTS
The districts into which the unincorporated area of Stephenson County have been divided for zoning regulations and requirements as set forth on the Zoning District Map.
ZONING LOT
A parcel of land which is designated by its owner or developer as a tract to be used, developed or built upon as a unit, under single ownership or control. Therefore, a zoning lot may or may not coincide with a lot of record.
ZONING MAP
The map or maps incorporated into this chapter as part thereof, designating zoning districts.
[1]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV).
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV).
[3]
Editor's Note: The definition of "fallout shelter," which immediately followed this definition, was deleted 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821.
[4]
Editor's Note: See 765 ILCS 130 et seq.
[5]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV).
[6]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV). The definition of "householder," which immediately followed this definition, was deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV).
[7]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV).
[8]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV).
[9]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV).
[10]
Editor's Note: The definitions of "pre-1960 octave bands" and "preferred frequencies," which immediately followed this definition, were repealed 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821.
[11]
Editor's Note: The definition of "pyrophoric dust," which immediately followed this definition, was deleted 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821.
[12]
Editor's Note: The definitions of "sign, advertising (billboard)," "sign, business," "sign, church bulletin board," "sign, flashing," "sign, gross surface area of," "sign, ground," "sign, identification," "sign, projecting," "sign, roof" and "sign, wall," which immediately followed this definition, were repealed 2-9-2011 by Ord. No. 11-02-1788. See now Art. XIII, Sign Regulations.
[13]
Editor's Note: The definition of "used car lot," which immediately followed this definition, was deleted 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821.