Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Village of Spencer, WI
Marathon 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
For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall be used, unless a different definition is specifically provided for a section. Words used in the present tense include the future; the singular number includes the plural number; and the plural number includes the singular number. The word "shall" is mandatory and not permissive.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ABUTTING
Have a common property line or district line.
ACCESSORY BUILDING OR USE
A. 
An "accessory building or use" is one which:
(1) 
Is customary and clearly incidental to the principal building or principal use;
(2) 
Serves exclusively the principal building or principal use;
(3) 
Is subordinate in area, extent or purpose to the principal building or principal use;
(4) 
Contributes to the comfort, convenience or necessity of occupants of the principal building or principal use served; and
(5) 
Is located on the same zoning lot as the principal use served, with exception of such accessory off-street parking facilities as are permitted to locate elsewhere than on the same zoning lot as the building or use served.
B. 
An "accessory building or use" may include, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) 
A children's playhouse, garden house or private greenhouse;
(2) 
A garage, carport, shed or building for storage incidental to a permitted use;
(3) 
Incinerators incidental to a permitted use;
(4) 
Storage of goods used in or produced by permitted manufacturing activities on the same zoning lot with such activities, unless such storage is excluded by the district regulations;
(5) 
The production, processing, cleaning, servicing, testing, repair or storage of merchandise normally incidental to a permitted retail service or business use if conducted by the same ownership as the principal use; or
(6) 
Off-street motor vehicle parking areas and loading facilities.
ACRE, NET
The actual land devoted to the land use, excluding public streets, public lands or unusable lands, and school sites, contained within 43,560 square feet.[1]
ALLEY
A public way not more than 24 feet wide which affords only a secondary means of access to abutting property.[2]
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.
ARTERIAL STREET
A public street or highway used or intended to be used primarily for large volume or heavy through traffic. Arterial streets shall include freeways and expressways as well as arterial streets, highways and parkways.
AUTOMOBILE LAUNDRY
A building or portion thereof containing facilities for washing automobiles using production-line methods with a chain, conveyor, blower, steam-cleaning device or other mechanical devices or any premises with a capacity of washing 20 or more vehicles per eight-hour day.
AWNING
A retractable, rooflike cover, temporary in nature, which projects from the wall of a building.
BASEMENT
That portion of any structure located partly below the average adjoining lot grade which is not designed or used primarily for year-around living accommodations.[3]
BLOCK
A tract of land bounded by streets or by a combination of streets and public parks, cemeteries, railroad right-of-way, bulkhead lines or shorelines of waterways. A block may be located in part beyond the boundary lines of the corporate limits of the Village.
BOARDINGHOUSE
A building other than a hotel or restaurant where meals or lodging are regularly furnished by prearrangement for compensation for three or more persons not members of a family, but not exceeding 12 persons, and not open to transient customers.
BUILDABLE LOT AREA
The portion of a lot remaining after required yards have been provided.
BUILDING
Any 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. When any portion thereof is completely separated from every other portion by masonry or fire wall without any window, which wall extends from the ground to the roof, then such portion shall be deemed to be a separate building.
BUILDING, COMPLETELY ENCLOSED
A building separated on all sides from the adjacent open space or from other buildings or structures by a permanent roof and by exterior walls or party walls, pierced only by windows and normal entrance or exit doors.
BUILDING COVERAGE
The proportion of the lot area, expressed as a percent, that is covered by the maximum horizontal cross section of a building or buildings.
BUILDING, DETACHED
A building surrounded by open space on the same lot.
BUILDING HEIGHT
A vertical distance from the curb level or the approved ground level opposite the center of the front of a building to the highest point of the roof in the case of a flat roof, to the deck line of a mansard roof, and to the mean-height level between eaves and ridges of a gable, hip or gambrel roof.
BUILDING, PRINCIPAL
A building in which the principal use of the lot on which it is located is conducted.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE
A line parallel to the lot line at a distance parallel to it, regulated by the yard requirements set up in this code.
BULK
The term used to indicate the size and setbacks of buildings or structures and the location of such buildings or structures with respect to one another and includes the following:
A. 
Size and height of buildings;
B. 
Location of exterior walls at all levels in relation to lot lines, streets or to other buildings;
C. 
Gross floor area of buildings in relation to lot area (floor area ratio);
D. 
All open spaces allocated to buildings; and
E. 
Amount of lot area provided per dwelling unit or lodging room.
BUSINESS
An occupation, employment or enterprise which occupies time, labor and materials, or wherein merchandise is exhibited or sold, or where services are offered.
CAMPGROUND
Developed campground or camping resort or a primitive campground.
CHANNEL
Those floodlands normally occupied by a stream of water under average annual high-water flow conditions while confined within generally well-established banks.
CLINIC, MEDICAL AND DENTAL
A building in which a group of physicians, dentists or physicians and dentists and allied professional assistants are associated for the purpose of carrying on their professions. The clinic may include an accessory dental or medical laboratory. It shall not include inpatient care or operating rooms for major surgery.
CLUB OR LODGE, PRIVATE
A nonprofit association of persons who are bona fide members paying annual dues which owns, hires or leases a building or portion thereof, the use of such premises being restricted to members and their guests. The affairs and management of such private club or lodge are conducted by a board of directors, executive committee or similar body chosen by the members at their annual meeting. It shall be permissible to serve food and meals on such premises, provided adequate dining room space and kitchen facilities are available. Where properly licensed under existing Village ordinances, the consumption of intoxicating beverages by members of such club or lodge or their guests may be permitted.
COMMUNITY LIVING ARRANGEMENT
The following facilities licensed or operated or permitted under the authority of the Wisconsin State Statutes: child welfare agencies under § 48.60, group homes under § 48.02(7) and community-based residential facilities under § 50.01, but does not include day-care centers, nursing homes, general hospitals, special hospitals, prisons and jails. The establishment of a community living arrangement shall be in conformance with applicable sections of the Wisconsin State Statutes, including §§ 46.03(22), 59.69(15), 62.23(7)(i) and 62.23(7a), and amendments thereto, and also the Wisconsin Administrative Code.[4]
CONDITIONAL USE
A use of land which, while appropriate for inclusion within a given district, possesses a high likelihood of creating problems with regard to nearby parcels of land or the occupants thereof and which are, therefore, permitted only subject to the fulfillment of conditions which effectively insure that no such problems will be created. All conditional uses shall first be approved by the Plan Commission.
CONFORMING BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
Any building or structure which:
A. 
Complies with all the regulations of this chapter or any amendment thereto governing bulk or the zoning district in which such building or structure is located; or
B. 
Is designed or intended for a conforming use.
CONSERVATION STANDARDS
Guidelines and specifications for soil and water conservation practices and management enumerated in the Technical Guide, prepared by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for Marathon County, adopted by the County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors, and containing suitable alternatives for the use and treatment of land based upon its capabilities from which the landowner selects that alternative which best meets his needs in developing his soil and water conservation.
CONTROLLED ACCESS ARTERIAL STREET
The condition in which the right of owners or occupants of abutting land or other persons to access, light, air or view in connection with an arterial street is fully or partially controlled by public authority.
CONVALESCENT HOME and NURSING HOME
A "convalescent home" or a "nursing home" is a home for the aged, infirm, chronically ill or incurable persons in which five or more persons not of the immediate family are received, kept or provided with food and shelter or care for compensation but not including hospital clinics or similar institutions devoted primarily to the diagnosis and treatment of disease or injury, maternity cases or mental illness.
CORNER LOT
On corner lots, the setback shall be measured from the street line on which the lot fronts. The setback from the side street shall be equal to 75% of the setback required on residences fronting on the side street, but the side yard setback shall in no case restrict the buildable width to less than 25 feet. Said corner lots shall consist of a parcel of property abutting on two or more streets at their intersection, providing that the interior angle of such intersection is less than 135°. Corner lots shall meet front yard setback requirements for all street sides.
CURB LEVEL
For any building is the level of the established curb in front of such building measured at the center of such front.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to construction of or additions or substantial improvements to buildings, other structures, or accessory uses, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations or deposition of materials.[5]
DISTRICT, BASIC
A part or parts of the Village for which the regulations of this chapter governing the use and location of land and building are uniform.
DISTRICT, OVERLAY
Overlay districts, also referred to herein as "regulatory areas," provide for the possibility of superimposing certain additional requirements upon a basic zoning district without disturbing the requirements of the basic district. In the instance of conflicting requirements, the more strict of the conflicting requirements shall apply.
DWELLING
A building or part of a building containing one or more dwelling units and also containing other directly associated elements such as hallways, storage areas or common laundry facilities. For purposes of this chapter, this terms does not include "group lodging facilities."
DWELLING, ATTACHED
A dwelling joined to another dwelling at one or more sides by a shared wall or walls.[6]
DWELLING, DETACHED
A "detached dwelling" is one which is entirely surrounded by open space on the same lot.
DWELLING, MULTIPLE-FAMILY
A building, or portion thereof, containing three or more dwelling units.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY
A building containing one dwelling unit only.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY
A building containing two dwelling units only.
DWELLING UNIT
An area within a dwelling that is designed, occupied or intended to be occupied by a family (or by a nonfamily household), as permitted by this chapter, as separate living quarters with private kitchen, sanitary, sleeping and living quarters within the unit.
EATING PLACE
Establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of prepared food and drinks for consumption on the premises. Caterers and institutional food service establishments are included. The term shall not apply to churches, religious, fraternal, youths' or patriotic organizations, service clubs and civic or union organizations which occasionally prepare or serve or sell meals to transients or the general public, nor shall it include any public or private school lunchroom.
EFFICIENCY UNIT
A dwelling unit consisting of one principal room exclusive of bathroom, kitchen, hallway, closets or dining alcove directly off the principal room, providing that such dining alcove shall not exceed 90 square feet in area and shall not be used for sleeping purposes.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Services provided by public and private utilities, necessary for the exercise of the principal use or service of the principal structure. These services include underground, surface or overhead gas, electrical, steam, water, sanitary sewerage, stormwater drainage, and communication systems and accessories thereto, such as poles, towers, wires, mains, drains, vaults, culverts, laterals, sewers, pipes, catch basins, water storage tanks, conduits, cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, pumps, lift stations and hydrants, but not including buildings.
ESTABLISHMENT, BUSINESS
A place of business carrying on operations which are physically separate and distinct from those of any other place of business located on the same zoning lot.
FAMILY
An individual or group of two or more individuals who are related by blood, marriage or adoption, together with not more than four additional persons not so related, living as a single household in a dwelling unit. For purposes of this chapter, "family" includes "nonfamily households."
FAMILY DAY CARE
The provision of day care for children for compensation within a dwelling, whether or not licensed by the state, including educational services so long as the care and services are taking place within a dwelling.
FARMING, GENERAL
Shall include floriculture, forest and game management, orchards, raising of grain, grass, mint and seed crops, raising of fruits, nuts and berries, sod farming and vegetable farming. "General farming" includes the operating of such an area for one or more of the above uses with the necessary accessory uses for treating or storing the produce; provided, however, that the operation of any such accessory uses shall be secondary to that of the normal farming activities.
FARMSTEAD
A single-family residential structure located on a parcel of land, which primary land use is associated with agriculture.
FLOOR AREA (FOR DETERMINING OFF-STREET PARKING AND OFF-STREET LOADING REQUIREMENTS)
"Floor area" when prescribed as a basis of measurement for off-street parking spaces and loading berths for any use shall mean the sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of the building, or buildings, devoted to such use, including accessory storage areas located within selling or working space such as counters, racks or closets, and any basement floor area devoted to retailing activities, to the production or processing of goods, or to business or professional offices. However, "floor area" for the purpose of measurement for off-street parking spaces shall not include:
A. 
Floor area devoted primarily to storage purposes, except as otherwise noted herein.
B. 
Floor area devoted to off-street parking or loading facilities, including aisles, ramps and maneuvering space.
C. 
Basement floor area, other than area devoted to retailing activities or to the production or processing of goods or to business or professional offices.
FOSTER FAMILY HOME
The primary domicile of a foster parent which receives four or fewer foster children and which is licensed under § 48.62 of the Wisconsin Statutes and amendments thereto.
FOUNDATION SIDING
A fire- and weather-resistant, prefinished material surrounding the entire perimeter of a home and completely enclosing a space between the exterior wall of such home and the ground. Foundation siding shall be properly vented, harmonious, and compatible with the house and installed within 60 days from the date of placement on site.[7]
FRONTAGE
All the property abutting on one side of a street between two intersecting streets or all of the property abutting on one side of a street between an intersecting street and the dead end of a street.
GARAGE, PRIVATE
A detached accessory building or portion of the principal building, designed, arranged, used or intended to be used for storage of automobiles of the occupant of the premises.
GARAGE, PUBLIC
Any building or portion thereof, not accessory to a residential building or structure, used for equipping, servicing, repairing, leasing or public parking of motor vehicles.
GROUP FOSTER HOME
Community living arrangements for children as defined by § 48.743, Wis. Stats.[8]
GROUP LODGING FACILITIES
Buildings or parts of buildings designed, occupied or intended to be occupied as living quarters on a basis other than as a dwelling, dwelling unit, hotel or motel.
GROUP LODGING HOUSE
A group lodging facility containing general lodging rooms not having kitchen facilities, offered for rent or comparable compensation on a monthly or longer basis. Meals or access to common meal preparation facilities may be offered as part of the service to occupants.
GUEST, PERMANENT
A person who occupies or has the right to occupy on a monthly or longer basis a hotel or apartment hotel accommodation as his domicile and place of permanent residence.
HOME OCCUPATION
A gainful occupation conducted by members of the immediate family residing on the premises; conducted within their dwelling and/or in an accessory building, provided that no article is sold or offered for sale on the premises except such as is produced for such occupation, that no stock-in-trade is kept or sold, that no mechanical equipment is used other than such as is permissible for purely domestic purposes, that such occupation shall not require internal or external alterations, or involve construction features not customary in a dwelling, that not more than 25% of the floor area of one story of the dwelling is devoted to such home occupation, that no sign other than one unlighted nameplate not more than one foot square is installed and that no more than one person other than a member of the immediate family living on the premises is employed.
HOME PROFESSIONAL OFFICE
A home occupation consisting of the office of a recognized profession.
HOTEL
A facility containing sleeping rooms with private or semiprivate bathroom facilities offering overnight lodging to the public for compensation and catering primarily to the traveling public. A hotel shall offer services such as maid, telephone, desk and vending services. It may offer a restaurant, recreational facilities and meeting facilities.
HOTEL, APARTMENT
A building in which at least 90% of the accommodations are dwelling units which are reserved for or are occupied by permanent guests.
HOUSEHOLD
A family or nonfamily group living in a nontransient manner in a single dwelling unit.
JUNK
Any scrap, waste, reclaimable material or debris, whether or not stored or used in conjunction with dismantling, processing, salvage, storage, baling, disposal or other use or disposition. "Junk" includes, but is not limited to, vehicles, tires, vehicle parts, equipment, paper, rags, metal, glass, building materials, household appliances, brush, wood and lumber.
JUNKYARD
An open area where waste or scrap materials are bought, sold, exchanged, stored, baled, packed, disassembled or handled, including, but not limited to, scrap iron and other metals, paper, rags, rubber tires and bottles. A "junkyard" includes an automobile wrecking or dismantling yard, but does not include uses established entirely within enclosed buildings.
KENNEL, ANIMAL
Any premises, or portion thereof, where dogs, cats and other household pets are maintained, boarded, bred or cared for in return for remuneration, or are kept for the purpose of sale.
LOADING AREA
A completely off-street space or berth on the same lot for the loading or unloading of freight carriers, having adequate ingress and egress to a public street or alley.
LODGING HOUSE
A building where lodging only is provided for compensation for not more than three persons not members of the family.
LODGING ROOM
A room rented as sleeping and living quarters without kitchen facilities and with or without an individual bathroom.
LODGING ROOM (for determining lot area requirements and off-street parking requirements)
For the purpose of determining the lot area requirements, any lodging room designed or intended to be occupied by more than two persons shall be determined as one lodging room for each two persons; provided, however, that in a lodging house or a fraternity and sorority house the number of lodging rooms shall be determined by dividing the total number of persons intended to occupy the lodging rooms by two.
LOT
A parcel of land having frontage on a public street, or other officially approved means of access, occupied or intended to be occupied by a principal structure or use and sufficient in size to meet the lot width, lot frontage, lot area and other open space provisions of this chapter as pertaining to the district wherein located.
LOT AREA
The area of a horizontal plane bounded by the front, side and rear lot lines.[9]
LOT COVERAGE
A. 
Nonresidential: the area of a lot occupied by the principal building or buildings and accessory buildings including any driveways, parking areas, loading areas, storage areas and walkways.
B. 
Residential: the area of a lot occupied by the principal building or buildings and accessory building.
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 situated on a single street which is bounded by adjacent lots along each of its other lines and is not a corner lot.
LOT LINE
A property boundary line of any lot held in single or separate ownership, except that where any portion of the lot extends into the abutting street or alley, the lot line shall be deemed to be the abutting street or alley right-of-way line.
LOT LINE, FRONT
In the case of a lot abutting upon only one street, shall mean the line separating such lot from such street. In the case of any other lot, the owner shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the privilege of electing any street lot line the front lot line, providing that such choice, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, will not be injurious to the existing, or to the desirable future development of the adjacent properties.
LOT LINE, REAR
That lot line which is opposite the most distant from the front lot line. In the case of an irregular, triangular or gore-shaped lot, parallel to and most distant from the front lot line shall be considered to be the rear lot line for the purpose of determining depth of rear yard. In cases where none of these definitions are applicable, the Zoning Administrator shall designate the rear lot line.
LOT LINE, SIDE
Any lot line not a front lot line or a rear lot line.[10]
LOT OF RECORD
A lot which is part of a subdivision or a certified survey map which has been recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds of Marathon County or a parcel of land, the deed to which was recorded in the office of said Register of Deeds prior to the effective date of this chapter. Any lot or parcel of land created through a violation of any other applicable laws or ordinances of the State of Wisconsin and the Village of Spencer shall not, in this instance, be considered a lot of record.
LOT, REVERSED CORNER
A corner lot, the street side lot line of which is substantially a continuation of the front lot line of the first lot to its rear.
LOT, SUBSTANDARD
A parcel of land held in separate ownership having frontage on a public street, or other approved means of access, occupied or intended to be occupied by a principal building or structure, together with accessory buildings and uses, having insufficient size to meet the lot width, lot area, yard, off-street parking areas or other open space provisions of this chapter as pertaining to the district wherein located.
LOT, THROUGH
A lot which has a pair of opposite lot lines along two substantially parallel streets and which is not a corner lot. On a through lot, both street lines shall be deemed front lot lines.
LOT WIDTH
The horizontal distance between the side lot lines of a lot, measured at right angles to the lot depth, said measurement to be made at the rear line of the required front yard.
LOT, ZONING
A "zoning lot or lots" is a single tract of land located within a single block which, at the time of filing for a building permit, 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 or lots may or may not coincide with a lot of record.
MANUFACTURED HOME
Any of the following:
[11]
A. 
A structure that is designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation and that is certified by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development as complying with the standards established under 42 U.S.C. §§ 5401 to 5425.
B. 
A mobile home, unless a mobile home is specifically excluded under the applicable statute.
MINOR STRUCTURES
Any small, movable accessory erection or construction such as birdhouses, tool houses, pet houses, play equipment, arbors and walls and fences under four feet in height.
MOBILE HOME
A vehicle manufactured or assembled before June 15, 1976, designed to be towed as a single unit or in sections upon a highway by a motor vehicle and equipped and used, or intended to be used, primarily for human habitation, with walls of rigid uncollapsible construction, which has an overall length in excess of 45 feet. “Mobile home" includes the mobile home structure, its plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical systems, and all appliances and all other equipment carrying a manufacturer's warranty.[12]
MOBILE HOME LOT
A parcel of land for the placement of a single mobile home and the exclusive use of its occupants.
MOBILE HOME PARK
A parcel of land which has been developed for the placement of mobile homes and is owned by an individual, a firm, trust, partnership, public or private association, or corporation. Individual lots within a mobile home park are rented to individual mobile home users.
MOBILE HOME SUBDIVISION
A land subdivision, as defined by Ch. 236 of the Wisconsin Statutes and any Village land division ordinance, with lots intended for the placement of individual mobile home units. Individual home sites are in separate ownership as opposed to the rental arrangements in mobile home parks.
MODULAR UNIT
A factory-fabricated transportable building unit designed to be used by itself or to be incorporated with similar units at a building site into a modular structure to be used for residential, commercial, educational or industrial purposes.
MOTEL
A facility offering services of a hotel but where the sleeping rooms are physically arranged so that most have access to outside, adjacent parking areas without passing through the lobby.
MOTOR FREIGHT TERMINAL
A building or area in which freight brought by motor truck is assembled and/or stored for routing in intrastate or interstate shipment by motor truck.
NAMEPLATE
A sign indicating the name and address of a building, or the name of an occupant thereof, and the practice of a permitted occupation therein.
NONCONFORMING BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
Any building or structure which:
A. 
Does not comply with all of the regulations of this chapter or of any amendment hereto governing bulk for the zoning district in which such building or structure is located; or
B. 
Is designed or intended for a nonconforming use.
NONCONFORMING USE
Any use of land, buildings or structures which does not comply with all the regulations of this chapter or of any amendment hereto governing use for the zoning district in which such use is located.
NONFAMILY HOUSEHOLDS
A group of individuals not exceeding five in number who do not constitute a "family" as defined herein and who live as a single household in a dwelling unit.
NURSERY SCHOOL
A facility licensed as a day-care center by the State of Wisconsin where a person or persons provide for compensation and/or consideration for service, group care for four or more children under seven years of age, for less than 24 hours a day at a location other than the child's own home or the homes of relatives or guardians.
NURSING HOME
An establishment used as a dwelling place by the aged, infirm, chronically ill or incurably afflicted, in which not less than three persons live or are kept or provided for on the premises for compensation, excluding clinics and hospitals and similar institutions devoted to the diagnosis, treatment or the care of the sick or injured.
OFFICE FOR A PROFESSIONAL PERSON
An "office for a professional person" is one in which services are performed by persons engaged in a profession requiring advanced training in a recognized professional specialty, including the fields of religion, architecture, engineering, law, medicine, personal health services and instruction in the liberal or fine arts.
PARKING LOT
A structure or premises containing five or more parking spaces open to the public.
PARTIES IN INTEREST
Includes all abutting property owners, all property owners within 100 feet, and all property owners of opposite frontages.[13]
PRIMARY EXPOSURE
Open areas adjacent to the front wall (or main entrance) of a dwelling unit.[14]
PROFESSIONAL OFFICE IN A HOME
The office or studio in the residence of a person engaged in a recognized professional specialty, including the fields of religion, architecture, engineering, law, medicine, personal health services and instruction in the liberal or fine arts, provided that such use shall comply with all of the conditions of a home occupation, except that mechanical equipment customarily appurtenant to said profession may be used, provided no external manifestations thereof are apparent at the property line.
PUBLIC AIRPORT
Any airport which complies with the definition of "public-use airport" contained in § 114.002(18m), Wis. Stats., or any airport which serves or offers to serve common carriers engaged in air transport.[15]
PUBLIC WAY
Any sidewalk, street, alley, highway or other public thoroughfare.
RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY
A strip of land containing railroad tracks and customary auxiliary facilities for only track operation. For the purpose of this chapter, a "railroad right-of-way" does not include land used or intended to be used for switching, spur, lead, team or siding tracks, freight depots or stations, loading platforms, train sheds, warehouses, car or locomotive shops, car yards or classification yards.
RESERVOIR PARKING SPACE
Those off-street parking spaces allocated for temporary standing of automobiles awaiting entrance to a particular establishment.
RETAIL
The sale of goods or merchandise in small quantities to the consumer.
ROADSIDE STAND
A temporary structure which is not permanently affixed to the ground and is readily removable in its entirety, which is used solely for the display or sale of farm products produced on the premises upon which such roadside stand is located. No roadside stand shall be more than 300 square feet in ground area, and there shall not be more than one roadside stand on any one premises.
ROW HOUSE
A place of abode not more than two stories in height, arranged to accommodate three or more attached living units, in which each living unit is separated from the adjoining unit by an unpierced vertical occupancy separation of not less than one-hour fire-resistive construction, extending from the basement or lowest floor to the underside of the roof boards. Each living unit shall have separate entrances and exits leading directly to the outside.
SCREENING
A hedge, wall or fence to provide a visual separator and physical barrier not less than four feet nor more than six feet in height, unless otherwise provided for in this chapter.
SECONDARY EXPOSURE
Open areas adjacent to side and rear walls of a dwelling unit.[16]
SETBACK
The minimum horizontal distance between the front lot line and the nearest point of the foundation of that portion of the building to be enclosed. The overhang cornices shall not exceed 24 inches; any overhang of the cornice in excess of 24 inches shall be compensated by increasing the setback by an amount equal to the excess of cornice over 24 inches. Uncovered steps shall not be included in measuring the setback.
SIDE YARD
A yard extending from the street yard to the rear yard of the lot, the width of which shall be the minimum horizontal distance between the side lot line and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure.
SIGNS
Any medium, including its structure, words, letters, figures, numerals, phrases, sentences, emblems, devices, designs, trade names or trademarks by which anything is made known and which are used to advertise or promote an individual, firm, association, corporation, profession, business, commodity or product and which is visible from any public street or highway.
STORM SEWER
Consists of concrete pipe of varying sizes with inlets and manholes for the purpose to drain surface water.
STORY
That portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the next floor above it, or if there is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling next above it. Any portion of a story exceeding 14 feet in height shall be considered as an additional story for each 14 feet or fraction thereof. A basement having 1/2 or more of its height above grade shall be deemed a story for purposes of height regulation.
STORY, HALF
That portion of a building under a gable, hip or mansard roof, the wall plates of which, on at least two opposite exterior walls, are not more than 4 1/2 feet above the finished floor of such story. In the case of one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings and multifamily dwellings less than three stories in height, a half story in a sloping roof shall not be counted as a story for the purposes of this chapter.
STREET
Property other than an alley or private thoroughfare or travel way which is subject to public easement or right-of-way for use as a thoroughfare and serves as a principal means of access to abutting property.
STREET YARD
A yard extending across the full width of the lot, the depth of which shall be the minimum horizontal distance between the existing street or highway right-of-way line and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure. Corner lots shall have two street yards.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS
Any change in the supporting members of a structure, such as foundations, bearing walls, columns, beams or girders.
STRUCTURE
Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires a permanent location on the ground or attached to something having a permanent location on the ground.
TEMPORARY STRUCTURE
A movable structure not designed for human occupancy nor for the protection of goods or chattels and not forming an enclosure, such as billboards.
TRAILER
Any structure which is or may be mounted upon wheels for moving about and is propelled by its own or drawn by other motive power and which is used as a dwelling or as an accessory building or structure in the conduct of a business, trade or occupation or is used for hauling purposes.
USABLE OPEN SPACE
That part of the ground level of a zoning lot, other than in a required front or corner side yard, which is unoccupied by principal or accessory buildings, service driveways, off-street parking spaces and/or loading berths and is unobstructed to the sky. This space of minimum prescribed dimensions shall be available to all occupants of the building and shall be usable for greenery, drying yards, recreational space and other leisure activities normally carried on outdoors. Where, and to the extent prescribed in these regulations, balconies and roof areas are designed and improved for outdoor activities they may also be considered as usable open space. Ground level for this purpose may include open terraces above the average level of the adjoining ground, but not include a permanently roofed-over terrace or porch.[17]
USE
The purpose or activity for which the land or building thereof is designed, arranged or intended, or for which it is occupied or maintained.[18]
USE, PERMITTED
A use which may be lawfully established in a particular district or districts, provided it conforms with all requirements and regulations of such district in which such use is located.
USE, PRINCIPAL
The main use of land or building as distinguished from subordinate or accessory use.
UTILITIES
Public and private facilities, such as water wells, water and sewage pumping stations, water storage tanks, electrical power substations, static transformer stations, telephone and telegraph exchanges, microwave radio relays and gas regulation stations, inclusive of associated transmission facilities, but not including sewage disposal plants, municipal incinerators, warehouses, shops, storage yards and power plants.
VISION CLEARANCE
An unoccupied triangular space at the street corner of a corner lot which is bounded by the street lines and a setback line connecting points specified by measurement from the corner on each street line.
YARD
An open space on the same lot with a structure, unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward except for vegetation. The street and rear yards extend the full width of the lot.
YARD, FRONT
A yard extending across the full width of the lot and lying between the front line of the lot and the nearest line of the building. The side where the address is shall be considered the front yard.
YARD, REAR
A yard extending across the full width of the lot and lying between the rear line of the lot and the nearest line of the principal building.[19]
ZERO LOT LINE
The concept whereby two respective dwelling units within a building shall be on separate and abutting lots and shall meet on the common property line between them, thereby having zero space between said units.
ZONING PERMIT
A permit issued by the Zoning Administrator to certify that the use of lands, structures, air and waters subject to this chapter are or shall be used in accordance with the provisions of said chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The definition of "agent," of the 1993 Code of Ordinances and which immediately followed this definition, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). See now the definition in § 480-44B.
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[3]
Editor's Note: The definition of "bed-and-breakfast establishment," of the 1993 Code of Ordinances and which immediately followed this definition, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). See now the definition in § 480-44B.
[4]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[5]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[6]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[7]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). See also the definitions for mobile homes in § 480-73.
[8]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[9]
Editor's Note: The definition of "lot, corner," of the 1993 Code of Ordinances and which immediately followed this definition, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[10]
Editor's Note: The definitions of "lot lines" and "lot lines and area," of the 1993 Code of Ordinances and which immediately and respectively followed this definition, were repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[11]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[12]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[13]
Editor's Note: The definition of “planned residential development-dwelling," of the 1993 Code of Ordinances and which immediately followed this definition, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[14]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). See also the definitions for mobile homes in § 480-73.
[15]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[16]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[17]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[18]
Editor's Note: The definitions of "use, accessory" and "use, conditional," of the 1993 Code of Ordinances and which immediately and respectively followed this definition, were repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[19]
Editor's Note: The definition of "yard, side," of the 1993 Code of Ordinances and which immediately followed this definition, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).