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Township of Shrewsbury, PA
York County
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[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
1. 
Word Usage. Presume that all words and phrases are used in their ordinary context unless such word or phrase is defined or interpreted differently within this Part.
2. 
Language Interpretation. In this chapter, when not inconsistent with the context:
A. 
Words in the present tense imply also the future tense.
B. 
The singular includes the plural.
C. 
The male gender includes the female gender.
D. 
The word "person" includes a partnership or corporation, trust or association, as well as an individual.
E. 
The term "shall" or "must" is always mandatory, "may" is always permissive.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
ACCESS DRIVE
A private drive, other than a driveway, which provides for vehicular access within land development and/or for all nonresidential and multifamily uses.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023]
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
1. 
A structure associated with an accessory use to a principal use on the same lot; e.g., patio, swimming pool, tennis court, garage, utility shed.
2. 
A structure that is subordinate or customarily incidental to the use of the principal structure and is located on the same lot as the principal structure.
ACCESSORY USE
See "use."
ACTIVE ADULT DEVELOPMENT
A residential development that includes restrictions on the ages of residents and which consists of a unified development under condominium ownership pursuant to the Pennsylvania Uniform Condominium Act, 68 Pa.C.S.A § 3101 et seq., as amended or a similar form of ownership pursuant to the Pennsylvania Uniform Planned Community Act, 68 Pa.C.S.A § 5101 et seq., as amended, of private internal streets, landscaped areas along public streets, and private on-site recreational facilities.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-02, 3/1/2023]
ADULT DAY-CARE CENTER
Any premises where care is provided to elderly or disabled adults for part of a twenty-four-hour day, excluding care provided by relatives. Such care includes personal assistance, the development of skills for daily living, and the provision of social contact.
ADULT-ORIENTED FACILITY
An establishment open to the general public or a private club open to members that is used and occupied for one or more of the following activities:
1. 
ADULT BOOK STOREAn establishment in which 10% or more of the occupied sales or display area offers for sale, for rent or lease, for loan, or for view upon the premises, of pictures, photographs, drawings, prints, images, still film, motion picture film, video tape, or similar visual representations depicting specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas or books, pamphlets, magazines, printed material or sound recordings containing descriptive or narrative accounts of "specified sexual activities" or depicting specified anatomical areas.
2. 
ADULT MOTION PICTURE THEATERAn enclosed building in which 10% or more of the film showings presented therein for observation by patrons of such theater are showings of film distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing, or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
3. 
ADULT CABARETAny facility which features dancers or similar entertainers who perform with less than completely and opaquely covered all of the following areas:
A. 
Human genitals, pubic regions;
B. 
Buttock; and
C. 
Female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola.
AGENT
Any person, other than the landowner of a lot, who, acting under specific authorization of the landowner, submits plans, data and/or applications to the Zoning Officer or other designated Township officials for the purpose of obtaining approval thereof.
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES
Agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, silvicultural, aquacultural and dairy products, livestock and the products thereof, ranch-raised fur-bearing animals and the products thereof, the products of poultry and bee raising, and any and all products raised or produced on farms and intended for human consumption or use, transported or intended to be transported in commerce.
AGRICULTURAL OPERATION
1. 
An enterprise that is actively engaged in the commercial production and preparation for market of crops, livestock and livestock products and in the production, harvesting and preparation for market or use of agricultural, agronomic, horticultural, silvicultural and aquacultural crops and commodities.
2. 
The term includes an enterprise that implements changes in production practices and procedures or types of crops, livestock, livestock products or commodities produced consistent with practices and procedures that are normally engaged by farmers or are consistent with technological development within the agricultural industry.
AGRICULTURAL OPERATION, INTENSIVE
Specialized agricultural operations including, but not limited to, mushroom production, poultry production and dry lot livestock production, which, due to the intensity of production, necessitate development of specialized sanitary facilities and controls. Intensive agricultural operations are regulated by federal and state statutes including but not limited to Pennsylvania's Nutrient Management Act, as amended by Agriculture, Communities and Rural Environment (ACRE), Act 38, July 6, 2005, P.L. 112, 3 Pa.C.S.A. § 311 et seq.
1. 
CONCENTRATED ANIMAL OPERATION (CAO)An animal feeding operation that is required to develop a nutrient management plan in accordance with the Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Act if animal density exceeds two animal equivalent units (AEU) per acre on an annualized basis.
2. 
CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATION (CAFO)An animal feeding operation that is required to obtain NPDES permits in accordance with the Clean Water Act.
AGRICULTURE
The production and preparation for market of crops, livestock and livestock products and the production, harvesting and preparation for market or use of agricultural, agronomic, horticultural, silvicultural and aquacultural crops and commodities. The term includes an enterprise that implements changes in production practices and procedures or types of crops, livestock, livestock products or commodities produced consistent with practices and procedures that are normally engaged in by farmers in southern York County or are consistent with technological development within the agricultural industry in southern York County. The use of land as a place for the location of a dwelling is not an agricultural use. (See the separate definition of "agricultural operation, intensive.")
AIRPORT/HELIPORT
Paved or unpaved runway(s) where fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters take off or land and a terminal is co-located.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023]
ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV)
Any motorized vehicle capable of operating on both on- and off-road surfaces such as dirt, mud, grass, stone and macadam.
ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV) OR OFF-ROAD VEHICLE (ORV) RECREATION AREA OR FACILITY
An area of land with or without trails or other improvements upon which ATVs and/or ORVs are driven for either commercial or noncommercial recreational use by individuals other than the owners of the parcel and their descendants.
ALLEY
A permanent serviceway providing a secondary means of access to a lot or lots.
ALTERATION
As applied to a building or structure, a change or rearrangement in the structural parts or in the exit facilities or an enlargement, whether by extending on a side or increasing in height, or the moving from one location or position to another.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SYSTEM (PRIVATE USE)
Any combination of solar and/or wind collection system designed for private use and biogas collection system in the agricultural district for private agricultural use that exclusively utilizes animal and plant waste generated on the premises. Private use alternative energy system is considered to be "behind the meter" (BTM) system, intended primarily to provide energy to a consumer-owner, and only secondarily for transmission into the public power grid.
[Added by Ord. No. 2022-01, 3/2/2022]
AMENDMENT
A change in use in a district that includes revisions to the zoning text and/or the Official Zoning Map; and the authority for any amendment lies solely with the Township.
ANIMAL EQUIVALENT UNITS (AEU)
One thousand pounds live weight of livestock or poultry animals regardless of the number of individual animals comprising the unit.
APARTMENT
A dwelling unit situated within a larger building.
APARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH COMMERCIAL
An apartment maintained as a discrete function apart from but attached to a commercial establishment that is the primary function of the building. See "mixed-use building."
APARTMENT, CONVERSION
See "conversion apartment."
APPLICANT
A landowner or developer, as hereinafter defined, who has filed an application for development including his heirs, successors and assigns.
AREA
1. 
LOT AREAThe area contained within the property lines of the individual parcels of land shown on a subdivision plan, including any area within a street right-of-way, and including the area of any easement.
2. 
BUILDING AREAThe total of areas taken on a horizontal plane at the main grade level of the principal building and all accessory buildings, exclusive of uncovered porches, terraces and steps.
3. 
HABITABLE FLOOR AREAThe aggregate of the horizontal areas of rooms used for habitation, such as living room, dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms, but not including hallways, stairways, cellars, basements, attics, service rooms or utility rooms, closets, areas intended for the parking of motor vehicles, areas intended for the storage of lawn and garden equipment, areas intended for location of heating or ventilation equipment, or other similar spaces, nor unheated areas such as enclosed porches, nor rooms without at least one window or skylight opening onto an outside yard or court. At least 1/2 of the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of not less than seven feet and the floor area of that part of any room where the ceiling height is less than five feet shall not be considered as part of the habitable floor area. The minimum total window area, measured between stops, shall be 10% of the habitable floor area of such room.
4. 
SITE AREAThe total area of a proposed development, regardless of interior lot lines or proposed lots, streets or easement.
ATV
See "all-terrain vehicle."
AUCTION HOUSE
A building in which a sale of goods or property occurs that involves intending buyers bidding against one another for individual items. Each item is sold to the bidder offering the highest price.
AUTOMOBILE
For purposes of this chapter, an automobile is defined as a self-propelled, free-moving vehicle, designed primarily for conveyance on a street or roadway.
AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIP, SERVICE AND REPAIR
This definition includes:
1. 
A. 
AUTOMOTIVE GARAGEA facility intended for the repair or replacement of automotive structural parts, including paint spraying and body and fender work or car washing facility.
B. 
SERVICE STATIONAny area of land, including structures thereon, that is used for the sale of gasoline or any other motor vehicle fuel, oil and other lubricating substances, including any sales of motor vehicle accessories at retail only, and which may or may not include facilities for lubricating, washing and servicing motor vehicles but not including major repairing, body and fender work, painting, vehicular sales or rental or automatic car washes.
2. 
AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIPA building or a lot designed and used primarily for the display or sale of new and used cars, recreation vehicles and mobile homes. Mechanical repairs and body work may be conducted as an accessory use incidental to the primary use.
3. 
AUTOMOTIVE WASHING FACILITYA building on a lot, designed and used primarily for the washing and polishing of automobiles and which may provide accessory services as set forth herein for automotive garage and/or service station.
BASAL AREA
Sum of cross-sectional area of tree stems or trunks per acre as measured at 4 1/2 feet in height from ground level on trunk or stem.
BASEMENT
A story underground with a floor to clear ceiling height of not less than six feet eight inches.
BED-AND-BREAKFAST
A use accessory to a single-family dwelling offering overnight accommodations for a rental fee.
BEVERAGE DISTRIBUTION/SALE
1. 
DISTRIBUTORAny person licensed by the Board to engage in the purchase from only Pennsylvania manufacturers and from importing distributors and the resale of malt or brewed beverages, except to importing distributors and distributors, in the original sealed containers as prepared for the market by the manufacturer at the place of manufacture, but not for consumption on the premises where sold, and in quantities of not less than a case or original containers containing 128 ounces or more which may be sold separately.
2. 
RETAIL DISPENSERAny person licensed to engage in the retail sale of malt or brewed beverages for consumption on the premises of such licensee, with the privilege of selling malt or brewed beverages in quantities not in excess of 192 fluid ounces in a single sale to one person, to be carried from the premises by the purchaser thereof.
3. 
SALE or SELLIncludes any transfer of liquor, alcohol or malt or brewed beverages for a consideration.
BOARD or ZONING HEARING BOARD
The Zoning Hearing Board of Shrewsbury Township.
BOARDING HOME
See "rooming house."
BREWERY
An operation that may:
1. 
Sell malt or brewed beverages produced and owned by the brewery on the licensed premises under such conditions and regulations as the Board may enforce, to individuals for consumption on the premises and to hotel, restaurant, club and public service liquor licensees.
2. 
Operate a restaurant or brewery pub on the licensed premises under such conditions and regulations as the Board may enforce; provided, however, that sales on Sunday may be made irrespective of the volume of food sales if the licensed premises are at a public venue location. The holder of a brewery license may sell at its brewery pub premises Pennsylvania wines it has purchased from either the holder of a Pennsylvania limited winery license or from the Board; provided, however, that said wines must be consumed at the licensed brewery pub premises.
3. 
Use brewery storage and distribution facilities for the purpose of receiving, storing and distributing malt or brewed beverages manufactured outside this commonwealth if the beverages are distributed in this commonwealth only through specific importing distributors who shall have first been given distributing rights for such products in designated geographical areas through the distribution system required for out-of-state manufacturers under Section 431(b) as well as all other pertinent sections of the act. The manufacturer of the beverages must comply with Section 444.[1]
4. 
Apply for and hold a hotel liquor license, a restaurant liquor license or a malt and brewed beverages retail license to sell for consumption at the restaurant or brewery pub on the licensed brewery premises, liquor, wine and malt or brewed beverages regardless of the place of manufacture, under the same conditions and regulations as any other hotel liquor license, restaurant liquor license or malt and brewed beverages retail license, but must brew at least 250 barrels per year. Each holder of a brewery license who receives a hotel liquor license, a restaurant liquor license or a malt or brewed beverages retail license to operate a brew pub shall not sell directly to any person licensed by the act, except if any malt or brewed beverage is to be distributed in this commonwealth it shall be only through specific importing distributors who shall have first been given distributing rights for such products in designated geographical areas through the distribution system required for out-of-state manufacturers under § 431(b) as well as all other pertinent sections of the act.
BTM (BEHIND-THE-METER)
Any system that is on the customer side of the utility service meter.
[Added by Ord. No. 2022-01, 3/2/2022]
BUFFER and BUFFER AREA
A naturally vegetated or revegetated area established or managed to protect structures, aquatic resources, wetlands, floodplains, and terrestrial environments.
BUILDING
A structure having a roof that is used for the shelter or enclosure of persons, animals or chattels. The word "building" shall include any part thereof.
1. 
BUILDING, ACCESSORYA subordinate building located on the same lot as a principal building and clearly incidental and subordinate to the principal building, including but not limited to, private garages, carports, utility buildings, tool sheds, noncommercial greenhouses, etc. Any portion of a principal building devoted or intended to be devoted to an accessory use is not an accessory building.
2. 
BUILDING, ATTACHEDA building which has two or more party walls in common with adjacent buildings.
3. 
BUILDING, DETACHEDA building surrounded by open space on the same lot.
4. 
BUILDING, PRINCIPALA building in which is conducted or intended to be conducted any principal use of the lot on which it is located.
5. 
BUILDING, SEMIDETACHEDA building which has only one party wall in common with an adjacent building.
BUILDING HEIGHT
A vertical distance measured from the mean elevation of the proposed finished grade to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs, to the deck lines of mansard roofs and to the mean height between eaves and ridge for gable, hip or gambrel roofs.
BUILDING PERMIT
Any permit required by this chapter or the Uniform Construction Code for the construction, alteration, razing or change of use of any structure.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE or BUILDING LINE
A line within and across a lot defining the required minimum area between any structure and any adjacent street line.[2]
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL OFFICE
An office which generally operates on an appointment basis and with relatively low pedestrian or vehicular traffic, including offices of accountants, actuaries, architects, attorneys, clergy, dentists, designers, engineers, insurance and bonding agents, manufacturing representatives, physicians, real estate offices, teachers and miscellaneous consulting services.
BUSINESS SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT
The service and repair of furniture, office equipment, medical supplies and equipment and commercial appliances; the supply and servicing of vending machines; frozen food lockers; the painting, repair and assembly of signs; printing, copy and Photostatting services; arts, crafts, drafting and stationery supplies; food catering; interior decorating; taxidermy; upholstering; or similar uses.
CAMP
Any one or more of the following, other than a hospital, place of detention, school offering general instructions, or a mobile home park.
1. 
Any area of land or water of a design or character used for seasonal, recreational, or similar temporary living purposes that may include only buildings of a temporary nature, such as tents or portable shelters.
2. 
Any land and temporary buildings thereon, used for any assembly of persons for what is commonly known as "day camp" purposes, whether or not conducted for profit and whether occupied by adults or children, either as individuals, families, or groups.
CAMPGROUND
Any park, tourist park, tourist camp, court, site, lot, or parcel of land upon which one or more camp cottages or cabins are located and maintained for the accommodations of transients by the day, week or month, or upon which tents, recreational vehicles or other temporary accommodations may be placed by transient occupants. It shall not include mobile home parks.
CARETAKER OR WATCHMAN DWELLING
A single-family dwelling or apartment placed on property as accessory to a commercial or industrial use.
CARTWAY
The surface of a street or alley available for vehicular traffic or the area between curbs.
CELLAR
A space partly underground and having more than 1/2 of its height (measured from floor to ceiling) below the average finished grade of the adjoining exterior ground surface, or with a floor-to-ceiling height of less than six feet eight inches. A cellar shall not be included in determining the permissible number of stories or square footage, nor shall it be used for dwelling, office or business purposes.
CEMETERY
Land used or intended to be used for the burial of the deceased, including columbaria, mausoleums, memorial gardens and mortuaries when operated in conjunction with the cemetery and located within the boundaries thereof.[3]
CEO
See "Codes Enforcement Officer."
CERTIFICATE OF USE AND OCCUPANCY
The certificate issued by the Zoning Officer which permits the use of a building in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and which certifies compliance with the provisions of law for the use and occupancy of the building in its several parts, together with any special stipulations or conditions of the building permit. Also known as "use certificate."
CHANGE OF USE
An alteration of a building or a change of use theretofore existing within a building or on a lot to a new use that imposes other provisions of the building code or zoning ordinance adopted by Shrewsbury Township.
CHILD DAY-CARE CENTER
A facility that provides formal day-care services for remuneration, outside of a residence, to children who are not relatives of the caregiver.
CLEAR-SIGHT TRIANGLE
An area of unobstructed vision at street intersections. It is defined by lines of sight between points at a given distance from the intersection of the street lines.
CLEARING
Any act to cut or remove vegetation, including trees, saplings, shrubs, seedlings or herbaceous plants, from the land.
CLUB
An organization catering exclusively to members and their guests including premises or buildings used for social, recreational or administrative purposes. Clubs shall include but not be limited to service organizations and labor unions, as well as social and athletic clubs and fraternal organizations.
CLUSTER
A development design technique that concentrates buildings in specific areas on a site to allow the remaining land area to be used for recreation, common open space, and preservation of environmentally sensitive features.
CODES ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The duly appointed Township official designated to administer and enforce Township ordinances, including but not limited to the Shrewsbury Township Zoning Ordinance.
COMMISSION or PLANNING COMMISSION
The Planning Commission of the Township of Shrewsbury.
COMMON AREAS
Any parcel or portion of a parcel within a subdivision or land development which does not constitute a dwelling site or contain within it a dwelling site which has not been offered for dedication to the Township and which is intended to be used by the owners of more than one dwelling unit within a subdivision or land development to provide facilities such as stormwater management, open space, streets, recreational facilities, etc., serving the needs of more than one dwelling unit.
COMMON OPEN SPACE
See "open space, common."
COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY OR TOWER
1. 
COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNAAny device used for the transmission or reception of radio, television, wireless telephone, pager, commercial mobile radio service or any other wireless communications signals, including without limitation omnidirectional or whip antennas and directional or panel antennas, owned or operated by any person or entity licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate such device. This definition shall not include private residence-mounted satellite dishes, television antennas, or amateur radio equipment including without limitation ham or citizen-band radio antennas.
2. 
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT BUILDINGAn unmanned building or cabinet containing communications equipment required for the operation of communications antennas and covering an area on the ground not greater than 250 square feet.
3. 
COMMUNICATIONS TOWERA structure other than a building, such as a monopole, self-supporting or guyed tower designed and used to support communications antennas.
4. 
COMMUNICATIONS TOWER HEIGHTThe vertical distance measured from the ground level to the highest point on a communications tower, including antennas mounted on the tower.
COMMUNITY CENTER
A public, quasipublic or privately maintained institution devoted to a variety of group activities (civic, social, recreational, educational and/or cultural) and maintaining the premises and facilities appropriate to such activities.
COMMUNITY TREATMENT FACILITY
Any one or combination of the following:
1. 
A residential care facility for the treatment of persons who have been committed to such facilities as the result of having committed a crime or having been adjudicated delinquent and are not handicapped as defined by the Fair Housing Amendments Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3601(h). The transient residents of a community treatment facility do not constitute a "family" as defined in this section because residency is transient in nature.
2. 
A residential care facility for the treatment of persons with drug and/or alcohol related problems.
3. 
An out-patient drug and/or alcohol treatment center.
4. 
Methadone treatment facilities.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The complete plan for the protection of sensitive environmental systems, natural resources, man-made features, continuing development and redevelopment of the Township of Shrewsbury as recommended by the Planning Commission and currently adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
CONCRETE AND ASPHALT BATCH AND RECLAIMING PLANT
Any building or buildings within which concrete or asphalt is created and/or reclaimed, or otherwise processed.
CONDOMINIUM
Real estate, portions of which are designated for separate ownership for residential purposes and the remainder of which is designated for common ownership solely by the owners of those portions. Real estate is not a condominium unless the undivided interests in the common elements (portions of a condominium other than the residential units) are vested in the unit owners.
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES
Include erection or placement of structures, clearing, excavating, grading, or other actions which cause disturbance of vegetation, soil, or water.
[Added by Ord. No. 2016-03, 9/7/2016]
CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS MANUAL
The Shrewsbury Township Construction and Materials Specifications manual.
CONTIGUOUS LAND
An area of land which is next to, abutting, or touching and having a common boundary, or portion thereof. For the purposes of this chapter, land in a single ownership or under single control shall be considered contiguous if separated by public roads or other rights-of-way.
CONVENIENCE STORE
A small grocery store selling a limited variety of food and nonfood products, including ready-to-eat and heat-and-serve foods and beverages for on- or off-premises consumption, and typically with extended hours. Many convenience stores also sell automotive fuel at retail pumps and other automotive products, in addition to groceries and other food products.
CONVERSION APARTMENT
A dwelling unit created from usable floor space formerly included as part of a single-family detached dwelling.
CORNER LOT
See "lot, corner."
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
A jail, prison, detention center, penitentiary or other place in which individuals are physically confined, interned or incarcerated by federal, state or local government or by private entities under contract to a federal, state or local government agency.
COUNTY
York County, Pennsylvania.
COURT
An unoccupied open space, other than a yard, on the same lot with a building, which is bounded on two or more sides by the walls of such building.
1. 
INNER COURTA court which does not extend to a street, alley, yard, or outer court.
2. 
OUTER COURTA court which extends to a street, alley, yard or outer court.
COURTYARD
Any open space, unobstructed from the ground to sky, other than a yard as defined herein, that is on the same lot with, and bounded on two or more sides by walls of a building.
CREMATORIUM
A building or furnace where bodies, human or animal, are incinerated.
CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS (CEA)
The following areas shall be considered critical environmental areas:
1. 
Lakes, Ponds, Watercourses, Springs, and Seeps. These are to be identified by field inspection, U.S. Geologic Survey Quad Maps, York County Planning Commission Water Resources Plan and/or other sources acceptable to Shrewsbury Township.
2. 
One-Hundred-Year Floodplains. These are to be identified as areas of alluvial soil as defined and mapped by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service and contained in the 2002, or most recent, USDA Soil Survey of York County, Pennsylvania, and/or most recent Federal Emergency Management Agency maps that encompass Shrewsbury Township and/or a calculated floodplain area, whichever shows the greater floodplain area. In the event the delineation as set forth by the above agencies is unclear, the Township may require the owner to submit an engineering study to determine the correct delineation.
3. 
Wetlands. These are to be identified by current definitions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, PA DEP and/or hydric soils identification as defined and mapped by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service and contained in the 2002, or most recent, USDA Soil Survey of York County, Pennsylvania, whichever shows the greater wetland area.
4. 
Steep Slopes. All slopes 25% or greater as depicted in the most recent USGS maps for York County, or as depicted on an actual topographic survey prepared by a professional land surveyor registered in Pennsylvania.
CROPLAND
Land planted in cultivated agricultural plants such as grain, vegetables, fruit, nursery plants, and/or grass or legumes if utilized for hay or haylage as opposed to pasture.
CULTURAL FACILITY
Uses open to the public and dedicated to the presentation or availability of arts and sciences, and related activities, such as community centers, libraries and museums.
DEBRIS
The remains from any place or thing scattered at random.
DEP
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
DEVELOPER
Any landowner, agent of such landowner, or tenant with the permission of such landowner, who makes or causes to be made a subdivision of land or a land development.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, the placement of mobile homes, streets, and other paving, utilities, filling, grading, excavation, mining, dredging, or drilling operations and the subdivision of land.
DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
Rights allocated to a parcel of land in the Agricultural Zoning District.
DISTRICT
A zoning district, as laid out on the Zoning Map, along with the regulations pertaining thereto.
DOMICILIARY CARE FACILITY
A type of group living arrangement. A building or structure designed for living quarters for one or more families which, in addition to providing living quarters for one or more families, provides twenty-four-hour supervised, protective living arrangements by the families owning the domiciliary care unit and residing therein for not more than three persons 18 years of age and above who are disabled physically, mentally, emotionally or as a result of old age and are unrelated to the family providing the care.
DRIVEWAY
A private vehicular travel way providing access between a dwelling and/or farm and a street.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023]
DUMP
See "landfill."
DWELLING
A building or structure designed for living quarters for one or more families, including mobile homes, but not including rooming houses, convalescent homes, motels, hotels, and tourist homes or other accommodations used for transient occupancy.
1. 
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITAccessory dwelling unit (ADU), accessory residential unit, granny flat, etc. A small, self-contained residential unit on the same lot as an existing single-family home. An ADU may be built within a primary residence (such as in an attic or basement), attached to the primary residence (such as a duplex unit with a separate entrance), or detached from the primary residence (such as above, or the conversion of, a detached garage). An ADU is subordinate in size, location, and function to the primary residential unit, and can only be placed in the following zoning districts: Part 4 - Agricultural District; Part 6 - Rural Residential District; Part 7 - Rural Residential Receiving District; Part 8 - Suburban Residential District; and, Part 9 - Suburban Residential Receiving District.
2. 
ACCESSORY FARM DWELLINGA second preexisting residential structure, existing as of June 3, 2015, located on the same agricultural parcel as, and subordinate and incidental to, the principal single-family dwelling. An accessory farm dwelling in an existing building separate from the existing single-family dwelling shall not be deeded separately from the principal residential dwelling.
3. 
SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED DWELLINGA dwelling unit accommodating a single family and having two side yards and separate water and sewer facilities.
A. 
Mobile/manufactured home.
4. 
A. 
SEMIDETACHED DWELLINGA building containing not more than two dwelling units, arranged side by side.
B. 
ROW DWELLING (TOWNHOUSES)Three or more dwelling units, each unit on a separate lot, accommodating three or more families which are attached side by side through the use of common party walls, located on separate lots, and which shall have side yards adjacent to each end unit.
5. 
MULTIFAMILY DWELLING, APARTMENTSA building containing three or more dwelling units accommodating three or more families living independently of each other (row dwellings or townhouses are separately defined).
DWELLING UNIT
A building, or portion thereof, which provides complete housekeeping facilities for one family.
EASEMENT
A grant of one or more of the property rights by the property owner to, and/or for, the use by the public, a corporation, or other person in equity, which is subordinate to, but not inconsistent with, the owner's general property rights.
1. 
ACCESS EASEMENTAny driveway or other entrance from a public or private road. A field road providing access to agriculturally used fields and not providing access to any residential, commercial or industrial structure is not considered an easement of access.
2. 
CONSERVATION EASEMENTAn easement precluding or limiting future or additional development of a lot or parcel of land.
3. 
DRAINAGE EASEMENTAn easement secured for the preservation of natural drainageways, watercourse corridors and perennial and/or intermittent watercourses, and for related man-made drainage facilities related thereto.
ELECTRIC GENERATION FACILITY (COMMERCIAL)
A facility that produces electricity, owned and operated by an electric utility or independent energy producer to include:
[Amended by Ord. No. 2022-01, 3/2/2022]
1. 
Facilities using fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.
2. 
Hydroelectric facilities.
3. 
Nuclear facilities.
4. 
Alternative energy sources:
A. 
SOLAR COLLECTION SYSTEMA panel, collection of panels, or other solar energy device, the primary purpose of which is to provide for the collection, inversion, storage and distribution of solar energy for electricity generation, space heating, space cooling or water heating.
B. 
WIND COLLECTION SYSTEMOne or more wind turbines or a power plant that uses wind turbines, the primary purpose of which is to provide for the collection, inversion, storage and distribution of wind energy for electricity generation, space heating, space cooling or water heating. The term does not include a single traditional small-scale windmill for use on a farm or single private property.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Operations protecting the health and safety of citizens; i.e., police, ambulance and fire services.
ENCROACHMENT
Any placement or obstruction in a delineated floodway, right-of-way, easement, required yard, setback or adjacent land.
ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITY OR FACILITY
An activity operated as a gainful business, open to the public, for the purpose of public entertainment or recreation, including, but not limited to, bowling alleys, motion picture theaters, arcades, amusement parks and health clubs. The term includes temporary facilities standing alone or in conjunction with another commercial enterprise.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
A detailed report of the impact that a development proposal may have on the environment, including methods and techniques for mitigating any potentially adverse consequences of said development.
EQUIPMENT SERVICE AND SALE
For the purposes of this chapter, the equipment referred to shall consist of ATV and other off-road vehicles and accessories, and recreational, lawn mowers, tractors, and other outdoor equipment.
EROSION
The process by which the land surface is worn away by the action of wind, water, ice or gravity.
EXCAVATION
See "mineral extraction and processing."
EXISTING USE
The use of a lot or structure at the time of the enactment of this chapter.
EXOTIC WILDLIFE
Includes, but is not limited to, reptiles and all bears, coyotes, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars, wolves and any crossbreed of these animals that have similar characteristics in appearance or features. This definition is applicable whether or not the birds, animals or reptiles were bred or reared in captivity or imported.
EXPLOSIVE HAZARD
Includes but is not limited to: all primary explosives such as lead azide, lead styphnate, fulminates and tetracene; all high explosives such as TNT, RDX, HMX, PETN, and picric acid; propellants and components thereof, such as dry nitro-cellulose, black powder, boron hydrides, hydrazine and its derivatives; pyrotechnics and fireworks such as magnesium powder, potassium chlorate and potassium nitrate; blasting explosives such as dynamite and nitro-glycerin; unstable organic compounds such as acetylides, tetraxoles and ozonides; unstable oxidizing agents such as perchloric acid, perchlorates, and hydrogen peroxide in concentration greater than 35%; nuclear fuels, fissionable materials and products, and reactor elements such as Uranium 235 and Plutonium 239; and any flammable solids, liquids, or gases that produce flammable or explosive vapors.
FAMILY
[Amended by Ord. No. 2021-03, 10/6/2021]
1. 
One or more persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption (including persons receiving foster care), and any domestic servants or gratuitous guests thereof, that maintain one common household and live within one dwelling unit; or
2. 
A group of not more than four unrelated persons and any servants or gratuitous guests thereof who live together in a single dwelling unit with single cooking facilities and maintain a common household; or
3. 
Any number of unrelated persons who reside within a group home, as defined in this chapter; or
4. 
A roomer, boarder, or lodger shall not be considered as a member of a family.[4]
FAMILY DAY-CARE HOME
A facility located in a single-family detached dwelling, which provides supervised care, for remuneration, of children or adults who are not relatives of the caregiver.
FARM CO-OP
A commercial enterprise jointly owned by two or more farmers actively engaged in agriculture in South Central Pennsylvania consisting of one or more buildings or structures, either permanent or temporary, designed and used for the purpose of the sale, at least in part, of agricultural commodities, as defined herein, which are located on a parcel of land owned by one of the partners on which some of the agricultural commodities are grown or produced.
FARM EQUIPMENT SALES/SERVICE
The function of storing, repairing and selling the equipment, parts and tools and supplies necessary for agricultural operations.
FARM MARKET
A commercial enterprise consisting of one or more buildings or structures or portions of buildings or structures, either permanent or temporary, designed and used primarily for the purpose of the sale of agricultural commodities.
FARM OCCUPATION
An accessory use to a principal agricultural use in which residents of the property engage in an occupation that is secondary to the active agricultural use.
FARM PROCESSING ESTABLISHMENT
A commercial enterprise consisting of one or more buildings or structures, either permanent or temporary, designed and used primarily for processing agricultural commodities, such as but not limited to dairies, grain mills, slaughterhouses and wineries. Such establishments may be co-located with a farm market.
FARMSTEAD
A group of buildings, including, but not limited to, a single-family dwelling, barn and accessory structures typically found on a farm and which are customarily used for agricultural operations.
FEED AND GRAIN MILL
A building or group of buildings in which cereal grains are processed to make meal or flour and may include grain storage and farm supply sales as accessory uses.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020]
FENCE
An artificially constructed barrier of any material or combination of materials erected to enclose or screen areas of land or land use.
FILL MATERIAL
Soil, earth, sand, rock and other similar natural materials.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
A business that keeps money for individuals or companies, exchanges currencies, makes loans, and offers other financial services, such as banks, savings and loans, credit union, loan store, or cash advance.
FIRE STATION
See "emergency service."
FLOOD
A temporary inundation of normally dry land areas.
FLOODPLAIN (ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR)
The area adjoining a river, stream, or other watercourse that will be covered by water during a one-hundred-year flood, where a one-hundred-year flood is the flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in magnitude in any given year. The one-hundred-year floodplain is calculated using statistics, probability, and hydrologic modeling based on actual historical rainfall data and/or the presence of alluvium and measurements of watercourse channel cross sections. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has developed maps of one-hundred-year floodplains for most watercourses based on these calculations. The Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA, has prepared soil maps delineating areas of alluvial soils.
FOOTCANDLE
A unit of luminance amounting to one lumen per square foot.
FOREST
A biological community dominated by trees and other woody plants.
FORESTRY
The management of forest and timberlands when practiced in accordance with accepted silvicultural principles, through developing, cultivating, harvesting, transporting and selling trees for commercial purposes, which does not involve any land development.
FTM (FRONT-OF-METER)
Any system that is on the utility company side of the utility service meter.
[Added by Ord. No. 2022-01, 3/2/2022]
FULLY SHIELDED
A fully shielded luminaire is a luminaire constructed or shielded in such a manner that all light emitted by the luminaire, either directly from the lamp or indirectly from the luminaire, is projected below the horizontal plane through the lowest light emitting part as determined by photometric test or certified by the manufacturer.
FUNERAL HOME
See "mortuary."
GAMING ESTABLISHMENT
An establishment where the playing of games of chance or mixed chance and skill allowed under the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law as regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board are conducted; a building, room or space devoted to gambling games or wagering on a variety of events and operated as a business; a public building for gambling and entertainment in which a variety of games of chance can be played. A gaming establishment includes, but is not limited to, betting parlor, off-track betting parlor, casino, gambling casino, gambling den, gaming house.
GARAGE, PARKING
A commercial deck, building or structure, or part thereof, used or intended to be used for the parking and/or storage of vehicles.
GARAGE, PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL
A building, structure or part thereof which is accessory to a residential dwelling and which is used for the parking and storage of vehicles owned and operated by the residents thereof, and in which no commercial activities, use, or service, is rendered, provided or conducted, for the benefit of the general public. Private garage sales shall be permitted in private residential garages if all applicable regulations of this chapter are met.
GARDEN CENTER
A retail establishment that sells plants, compost, mulch, fertilizers, stone, gardening equipment, supplies and tools, and landscaping products such as statues, furniture and garden ornaments. Plant products are not grown or propagated on site.
GLARE
The sensation produced by luminance within the visual field that is sufficiently greater than the luminance to which the eyes are adapted to cause annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance and visibility.
GOLF COURSE
An area of land designed for playing the game of golf, including clubhouse and equipment and material storage. Term includes "golf link."
GRADE
The degree of rise or descent of a sloping surface.
GRADING
The changing of the natural topography through cutting or filling by more than one foot in elevation over an area exceeding 1,000 square feet, or in which the natural drainage pattern of a lot is altered.
GREENHOUSE
A glass or transparent plastic structure, often on a metal or wooden frame, in which plants that need heat, light, and protection from the elements are grown. Also known as a hothouse.
GROSS FLOOR AREA
As used in this chapter, gross floor area is the total number of square feet within the inside finished wall surface of the outer building walls of a structure, including all floors of a multi-floor structure; also, gross square feet.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020]
GROUP HOME
A to provide a supportive living arrangement for individuals where special care is needed by the individuals served due to age, emotional, mental, or physical handicap. This definition shall expressly include facilities for the supervised care of developmentally disabled persons, those under treatment for alcohol abuse, drug abuse, or both, unwed parents, and those who have been physically abused. This definition shall expressly include single-family dwellings for the supervised care of persons with disabilities subject to protection under the Pennsylvania and Federal Fair Housing Acts, as amended. Group homes shall be subject to the same limitations and regulation by the Township as single-family dwellings, and are permitted by right in those zones where single-family dwellings are permitted by right.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2021-03, 10/6/2021]
GROUP QUARTERS
Any building or portion thereof that is designed or used for persons unrelated to each other or to any family occupying the dwelling unit and having common eating facilities. Group quarters shall include, but not be limited to, fraternity and sorority houses, dormitories and other group quarters typical of educational, religious or other quasipublic institutions.
HABITABLE FLOOR AREA
See "area."
HARDSHIP, UNNECESSARY
A physical problem preventing compliance with, or allowing a variation from, the regulations of this chapter.
HEAVY EQUIPMENT/HEAVY STORAGE FACILITY
A building or buildings, or fenced area, in which large tools, generally wheeled or tracked are stored and/or staged for use on or off premise. Small tools, household items and personal property are handled under "Storage, Self."
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023]
HELIPAD
Any small landing area used for the landing and taking off of helicopters for the purpose of picking up or discharging passengers or cargo. No fueling, refueling, or service facilities are permitted in conjunction with the use.
HOME OCCUPATION
An occupation for gain or support operated by a resident owner of the property or conducted by members of the owner's immediate family residing on the premises, clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes. Also see "no-impact home-based business."
HOSPITAL
An institution having an organized medical staff which is primarily engaged in providing to in-patients, by or under the supervision of physicians, diagnostic and therapeutic services for the rehabilitation of injured, disabled, pregnant, diseased, sick or mentally ill persons. The term includes facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders within the scope of specific medical specialties, but not facilities caring exclusively for the mentally ill.
HOTEL or MOTEL
A building, other than group quarters, arranged or used for sheltering, sleeping or feeding, for compensation, and in which no provision is made for cooking in any individual room or suite.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023]
HOUSE OF WORSHIP
Any structure or structures used for worship or religious instruction, including social and administrative areas accessory thereto, but not including any commercial activity. This includes all uses normally accessory to such activities.
HUNTING AND FISHING PRESERVE
A protected area of water or land delineated, usually by a fence, and set apart to rear wild animals, including fish and fowl, so that they can be fished or shot for sport in the hunting season; e.g., as a private club or as a commercial operation.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
Those surfaces that do not readily absorb rain. All buildings, structures, parking areas, driveways, roads, sidewalks and any areas in concrete, asphalt, and packed stone shall be considered impervious surfaces within this definition. In addition, other areas determined by the Township Engineer to be impervious within the meaning of this definition will also be classified as impervious.
INFILL AREA
A vacant, undeveloped, lot or parcel of land in the Agricultural Zoning District not to exceed seven acres which may be developed in residential units. (See § 27-1404.)
JUNK
Any discarded material or article including, but not limited to: scrapped, abandoned, junked, or inoperable, motor vehicles, machinery, equipment, metal, paper, glass, furniture, appliances, tires, construction materials, containers and structures. It shall not include, however, refuse or garbage kept in a proper container for purpose of prompt disposal.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023]
JUNK DEALER
Any person, partnership, association, corporation, firm, fictitious name or any other individual or business entity or their agents engaged in the business of selling, buying or dealing in junk, including, but not necessarily being limited to, buying, selling and dealing in junked or scrapped motor vehicles, or parts removed from scrapped motor vehicles.
JUNKYARD
Any establishment, place of business or use of land for storing, keeping, buying, dismantling or selling junk exclusive of garbage. This definition shall include automobile recycling centers and similar uses.
KENNEL
Any structure and/or building used for the sheltering, boarding, breeding or training of four or more dogs, cats, fowl or other small domesticated animals at least six months of age. This definition does not include animals defined herein as "livestock." Any such use shall fully comply with Pennsylvania's Act 225 of 1982, as amended and reenacted.[5]
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Refer to the Shrewsbury Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[6]
LANDFILL
A lot or land or part thereof used primarily for the disposal by abandonment, dumping, burial, burning or any other means and for whatever purposes of garbage, sewage, trash, refuse, junk, discarded machinery, vehicles or parts thereof, or waste material of any kind not normally considered to be salvageable.
LANDFILLING
Any act by which soil, earth, rock, sand or similar material is deposited or placed for the purpose of changing the existing surface area.
LANDOWNER
The legal or beneficial owner or owners of land, including the holder of an option or contract to purchase (whether or not such option or contract is subject to any condition), a lessee, if he is authorized under the lease to exercise the rights of the landowner, or other person having proprietary interest in land.
LANDSCAPING
Shall include, but not be limited to, grass and other plantings such as trees, shrubs and bushes.
LATERAL, WATER OR SEWER
The pipe leading from the main and connected to the home or business. It provides service to a single building and generally located on private property, except for the portion that may be located within a public right-of-way or private easement. The private property owner is typically responsible for the maintenance and operation of the lateral.
[Added by Ord. No. 2018-04, 6/6/2018]
LAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANING ESTABLISHMENT
For the purposes of this chapter, only large-scale commercial/industrial operations apply. Self-service laundries and dry cleaners are included in "personal services facility."
LIVESTOCK
Animals including, but not limited to, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, donkeys, mules, horses and ponies raised primarily for the production of food or fiber, or for recreation or sport.
LODGE, RECREATION OR VACATIONS
An operation providing recreational activities and/or sleeping accommodations, including related services and facilities, to the travelling or vacationing public and in which the proprietor may offer lodging for monetary compensation. It may consist of single units such as cabins and cottages or multiple attached units similar to hotels and motels. A hotel or motel located outside of designated commercial districts whose primary purpose is as a recreation or vacation destination as opposed to transient use.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023]
LODGING HOUSE
See "rooming house."
LOT
A designated parcel, tract or area of land established by a plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be used, developed or built upon as a unit.
1. 
LOT AREASee "area."
2. 
LOT COVERAGEThat portion of a lot covered by impervious surfaces such as, but not limited to, buildings, parking areas, driveways, etc. Lot coverage does not include impervious surfaces within a street right-of-way.
3. 
LOT OF RECORDA lot which has been recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of York County, Pennsylvania.
4. 
DOUBLE-FRONTAGE LOTA lot which extends from one street to another, with frontage on both streets. The front yard is the yard that abuts the street used in the building's address.
5. 
CORNER LOTA lot with two adjacent sides abutting on streets or other public places which has an interior angle of less than 135° at the intersection of the two street lines. A lot abutting on a curved street shall be considered a corner lot if the tangents to the curve at the points of intersection of the side lot lines with the street line intersect at an interior angle of less than 135°.
6. 
IMPROVED LOTAny lot of record and/or any lot within any subdivision properly approved by Shrewsbury Township which either (1) has a principal building constructed thereon or (2) if no principal building has been so constructed, has frontage upon either a public or private street in suitable condition to permit access for purposes of construction or establishment of a principal building.
7. 
INTERIOR LOTA lot other than a corner lot.
8. 
LOT DEPTHThe mean horizontal distance from the street line of a lot to its opposite rear lot line measured in the general direction of the side lot lines.
9. 
LOT WIDTHThe width of a lot measured at the minimum required setback line for the zone in which the lot is located.
10. 
REVERSE-FRONTAGE LOTA lot extending between and having frontage on an arterial or collector street and a local street with vehicular access solely from the latter.
11. 
UNIMPROVED LOTAny lot of record which is not an improved lot.
LOT LINES
A line dividing one lot from another or from a right-of-way.
1. 
REAR LOT LINEAny lot line which is parallel to or within 45° of being parallel to a street line, except for a lot line that is itself a street line and, in the case of a corner lot, the owner shall have the option of choosing which of the two lot lines that are not street lines is to be considered a rear lot line. In the case of a lot of an odd shape, only the one lot line furthest from any street shall be considered a rear lot line. In the case of a triangular lot with no rear lot line, the distance between any point on the building and the corner of the lot farthest from the street line shall be at least twice the normally required rear yard.
2. 
SIDE LOT LINEAny lot line which is not a street line or a rear lot line.
3. 
STREET LINESee "street."
LUMINAIRE
A complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp or lamps together with the parts designed to distribute the light, to position and protect the lamps and to connect the lamps to the power supply.
LUMINANCE
The physical quantity corresponding to the brightness of a surface (e.g., a lamp, luminaire, sky, or reflecting material) in a specified direction. It is the luminous intensity of an area of the surface divided by that area. The unit is candela per square meter.
LUX
A unit of luminance. One lux is one lumen per square meter.
MAIN, WATER OR SEWER
The primary pipe to which a lateral leading from a home or business is connected. It provides service to multiple properties and is typically located within a public right-of-way or private easement. The service provider is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the main.
[Added by Ord. No. 2018-04, 6/6/2018]
MALODOR
An odor that causes annoyance or discomfort to the public and that the Township determines to be objectionable to the public.
MANUFACTURING
The treatment or processing of raw products or the production or assembly of finished products from raw or prepared materials into new forms or qualities.
MANUFACTURING, HEAVY
Manufacturing and industrial processes which may be obnoxious by reason of emission of odor, dust, smoke, gas, noise or similar causes, including but not limited to:
1. 
Wood products.
2. 
Paper products.
3. 
Petroleum and coal products.
4. 
Chemicals.
5. 
Plastics and rubber products.
6. 
Nonmetallic mineral products.
7. 
Primary metals.
8. 
Transportation equipment.
MANUFACTURING, LIGHT
The fabrication, assemblage, and manufacture of the following products which are free from objectionable odors, fumes, dirt, vibrations or noise, including, but not limited to:
1. 
Communications equipment.
2. 
Hydrological, hydrographic, meteorological and geographical equipment.
3. 
Electronic components.
4. 
Surgical/medical instruments.
5. 
Surgical appliances and tubes.
6. 
Optical instruments and lenses.
7. 
Signs and advertising displays.
8. 
Ceramic wall and floor tile.
9. 
Frozen food specialties.
10. 
Frozen food and bakery products.
11. 
Printing, publishing, bookbinding, typesetting and lithography.
12. 
Drafting and architectural design instruments.
13. 
Office furniture and fixtures.
14. 
Beverage bottling.
15. 
Small appliances.
16. 
Jewelry.
17. 
Textile goods and similar items.
18. 
Windows, window frames, complete window assemblies, doors, door frames, complete door assemblies, kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, fireplace mantels and similar building materials, but excluding materials such as blocks, bricks, cement and mortar mixes, construction beams, prefabricated walls and structures, manufactured homes and buildings and other heavy building materials.
19. 
Tool and die making.
MEDICAL LABORATORY OR CLINIC
A facility or institution providing services to physicians to analyze and test physical samples and specimens for the diagnosis and treatment of patients and/or providing outpatient health services such as medical or surgical care of the sick, handicapped or injured, but not including doctors' offices.
MINERAL EXTRACTION AND PROCESSING
The removal or recovery, and/or processing, by any means whatsoever of soil, rock, minerals, mineral substances or organic substances other than vegetation, from water or land on or beneath the surface thereof, or beneath the land surface, whether exposed or submerged. This shall include all activity including quarrying and open pit mining that removes from the surface or beneath the surface of land some materials, mineral, resource, natural resource, or other element of economic value, by means of mechanical excavation necessary to separate the desired material from an undesirable one; or to remove the strata or material that overlies or is above the desired material in its natural condition and position.
MINERALS
Any aggregate or mass of mineral matter, whether or not coherent; the term includes, but is not limited to, limestone and dolomite, sand and gravel, rock and stone, earth, fill, slag, iron ore, zinc ore, vermiculite and clay, anthracite and bituminous coal, coal refuse, peat and crude oil and natural gas.
MIXED-USE BUILDING
A building that contains at least one allowed nonresidential use.
MOBILE (MANUFACTURED) HOME
A transportable single-family dwelling intended for a permanent occupancy, contained in one or more units designed to be joined into one integral unit capable of again being separated for repeated towing, which arrives at a site complete and ready for occupancy, except for minor and incidental assembly operations, and constructed so that it may be used without a permanent foundation. This definition does not include manufactured homes (modular) designed for a permanent foundation.
1. 
MOBILE HOME LOTA parcel of land in a mobile home park, improved with the necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary for the erection thereon of a single mobile home, which is leased by the park owner to the occupants of the mobile home erected on the lot.
2. 
MOBILE HOME PARKA parcel or contiguous parcels of land which has been so designated and improved that it contains two or more mobile home lots for the placement thereon of mobile homes.
3. 
MOBILE HOME STAND OR PADThat part of an individual mobile home lot that has been reserved for the placement of a mobile home and appurtenant structures and connections.
MORTUARY
A room or building devoted to the care, embalming and/or holding of services for the deceased; and related activity including the sale of caskets and other funeral equipment, until buried or cremated.
MOTOR FREIGHT TERMINAL
Buildings and/or delineated areas in which trucks and/or their freight are stored and staged.
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Any building in which the business of the Township is carried out on a regular basis.
MUNICIPAL RECREATIONAL FACILITY
Any building or area delineated for recreation and owned and/or operated by the Township, county or school district, including parks and playgrounds.
MUNICIPAL SEWER FACILITY
A sanitary sewer system owned, operated or controlled by a municipality (borough or Township) or by a municipal authority.
MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM
A water supply system receiving its supply from other than the proposed development site and which is owned, operated or controlled by a municipality (borough or Township) or by a municipal authority.
NO-IMPACT HOME-BASED BUSINESS
A business or commercial activity administered or conducted as an accessory use which is clearly secondary to the use as a residential dwelling and which involves no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pickup, delivery or removal functions to or from the premises, in excess of those normally associated with residential use.
NON-MUNICIPAL PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
A water supply system receiving its supply from other than the proposed development site that is owned, operated and controlled by a private entity and approved and permitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission.
NONCONFORMING LOT
A lot the area or dimension of which was lawful prior to the adoption or amendment of this chapter, but which fails to conform to the requirements of the zoning district in which it is located by reasons of such adoption or amendment.
NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE
A structure or part of a structure manifestly not designed to comply with the applicable use or extent of use provisions in a zoning ordinance or amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such structure lawfully existed prior to the enactment of such ordinance or amendment or prior to the application of such ordinance or amendment to its location by reason of annexation. Such nonconforming structures include, but are not limited to, nonconforming signs, buildings, fences, and similar structures.
NONCONFORMING USE
A use, whether of land or of structure, which does not comply with the applicable use provisions in this chapter or amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such use was lawfully in existence prior to the enactment of this chapter or amendment, or prior to the application of this chapter or amendment to its location by reason of annexation.
NUDITY
The showing of human male or female genital, pubic area or buttocks with less than a fully opaque covering, the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple, the exposure of any device, costume, or covering which gives the appearance or simulates the genitals, pubic hair, perineum anal region, or the exposure of any device worn as a cover over the nipples and/or areola of the female breast, which device simulates and gives the realistic appearance of nipples and/or areola. Excepted from this definition is spontaneous nudity by a child under six years of age and breast-feeding a child.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020]
NUISANCE, PUBLIC
Any activity that negatively impacts the health and/or welfare of citizens.
NURSERY
A horticultural operation engaged in the propagation, breeding, and cultivation and development of all types of plants, including trees (for transplanting), shrubs, flowers, houseplants, and tropical varieties. The retail sale of nursery products will be considered a farm market use.
NURSERY SCHOOL
A facility designed and operated to provide regular instruction and daytime care for two or more children under the age of elementary school students. No portion of a nursery school or a building that is used as a nursery school shall be used as a residence.
NURSING HOME
A Pennsylvania Department of Health-licensed establishment that provides full-time convalescent or chronic care or both for three or more individuals, who are not related by blood or marriage to the operator and who, because of chronic illness or infirmity, are unable to care for themselves. No care for the acutely ill or surgical or obstetrical services shall be provided in such a home; a hospital shall not be construed to be included in this definition. Commonly known as a "convalescent home."
OCCUPANCY PERMIT
See "certificate of use and occupancy."
OCCUPIED BUILDING
Any residence, school, hospital, church, public library or other building used for public gathering that is occupied or in use when the permit application is submitted.
OFF-ROAD VEHICLE (ORV)
Any motorized vehicle designed for off-road use, including but not limited to off-road motorized vehicles such as dirt bike, trail bike or minibike.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020]
OFF-STREET PARKING
Parking for vehicles in designated areas that do not encroach upon a public or private road or its right-of-way.
OFFICE
A place where a business is transacted, or a service is supplied.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020]
ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD
A flood that, on average, is likely to occur once every 100 years (i.e., that has one-percent chance of occurring each year, although the flood may occur in any year).
OPEN SPACE
Any parcel or area of land or water essentially unimproved and set aside, dedicated or reserved for resource protection, public or private use and enjoyment, or for the use and enjoyment of owners and occupants of land adjoining or neighboring such open space. Open space shall not include land occupied by nonrecreational structures, roads, street rights-of-way, parking lots, land reserved for future parking, or any portion of required minimum lot areas as required by this chapter.
OPEN SPACE RATIO
The total amount of proposed or required open space within a site divided by the site area.
OPEN SPACE, COMMON
A parcel or parcels of land or an area of water, or a combination of land and water, within a development site and designed and intended for the use or enjoyment of residents of a development, not including streets, off-street parking areas, and areas set aside for public facilities.
OUTDOOR FURNACE OR HEATING DEVICE
Any equipment, device or apparatus, or any part thereof, which is installed, affixed or situated outdoors for the primary purpose of combustion of fuel to produce heat or energy used as a component of a heating system providing heat for any interior space.
OUTDOOR LIGHTING FIXTURE
An electrically powered illuminating device or other outdoor lighting fixture including all parts used to distribute the light and/or protect the lamp, permanently installed or portable, used for illumination. Such devices shall include, but are not limited to, search, spot, flood and area lighting.
OUTDOOR STORAGE
The keeping of any goods, junk, material, merchandise, or inoperable vehicles in an unroofed area.
PARCEL
All contiguous land in Shrewsbury Township owned by the same landowner on November 10, 1976, and all land owned by the same landowner that is contiguous except for the presence of lots or parcels adverse from the original tract since November 10, 1976, and/or the presence of utility rights-of-way irrespective of whether the right-of-way is owned in fee or is an easement. Additional parcels are not created by the presence or creation of public or private roads, railroads, streams or other natural or man-made structures that cross land in contiguous ownership, or the presence of lots subdivided from the original tract since November 10, 1976.
PARK
A leisure area for public recreation. A publicly or privately-owned area of land, usually with grass, trees, paths, sports fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, and other features for recreation and relaxation.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020]
PARKING FACILITIES
Outdoor areas or specially designed buildings used for the storage of vehicles.
1. 
OFF-STREET PARKING SPACEA portion of a lot area designed for the primary use of the temporary storage of an automobile.
2. 
PARKING LOTA portion of a lot area containing three or more off-street parking spaces and having direct access to a street.
3. 
PARKING STRUCTURE OR GARAGEA building constructed for the specific purpose of vehicular parking.
PARKING LANE
An area immediately adjacent to the travel lane which allows for parallel or angled short-term storage of vehicles within the public right-of-way.
PARTY WALL
A wall on an interior lot line or a wall adapted for joint service between two buildings.
PASTURE
Land in grass and/or legumes primarily used or formerly used primarily for grazing.
PENNDOT
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
PERMITTED PRINCIPAL USE
A use allowed by right in a zoning district subject to the restrictions applicable to that use and zoning district. See also "use."
PERSON
An individual, partnership, public or private association or corporation, firm, trust, estate, municipality, governmental unit, public utility or any other legal entity whatsoever, which is recognized by the law as the subject of rights and duties.
PERSONAL CARE HOME
A building or structure in which food, shelter and personal assistance and/or supervision are provided for a period exceeding 24 hours for four or more adults who are not relatives of the operator, who do not require the services in or of a nursing home but who do require assistance or supervision in matters such as dressing, bathing, diet, financial matters, evacuation of a residence in the event of an emergency or medication prescribed for self-administration. Personal care homes include but are not limited to assisted living facilities and retirement homes and are licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020]
PERSONAL SERVICES FACILITY
Shall include and be limited to barber shops, beauty parlors, self-service laundry and dry cleaning establishments, radio and television repair, repair shops for home appliances and tools, bicycles, guns, locks, shoes and watches, tailor and dressmaking shops and travel and ticket agencies, or any other establishment of similar nature.
PORTABLE STORAGE UNIT
A container, designed for temporary short-term storage, which is not affixed to the land.
PRESERVATION or PROTECTION
When used in connection with natural and historic resources, shall include means to conserve and safeguard these resources from wasteful or destructive use.
PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND
Land used for agricultural purposes that contains soils of the first, second or third class as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource and Conservation Services, York County Soil Survey, as amended.
PRIVATE BURIAL GROUND
An area not greater than 25,000 square feet in size which is part of a larger tract that is used by family or a small segment of a community as a location for burial of human beings or the cremated remains of human beings.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-07, 12/6/2017]
PRIVATE ROAD
A low-volume road or street with an impervious surface that provides vehicular access from a public road but is not owned or maintained by Shrewsbury Township or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
PRODUCE STAND
A nonpermanent structure set up temporarily along a roadside at which a person or persons sell only agricultural commodities produced on parcels of land within Shrewsbury Township, York County.
PRODUCTIVE FARMLAND
For the purpose of this chapter, the definition of "productive farmland" shall be as follows:
1. 
The definition of "farmland" by the USDA, Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) including:
A. 
Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, fiber, forage, oilseed, and other agricultural crops with minimum inputs of fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, and labor, and without intolerable soil erosion, as determined by the Secretary. Prime farmland includes land that possesses the above characteristics but is being used currently to produce livestock and timber. It does not include land already in or committed to urban development or water storage;
B. 
Unique farmland is land other than prime farmland that is used for production of specific high-value food and fiber crops, as determined by the Secretary. It has the special combination of soil quality, location, growing season, and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high quality or high yields of specific crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods. Examples of such crops include citrus, tree nuts, olives, cranberries, fruits, and vegetables; and
C. 
Farmland, other than prime or unique farmland, that is of statewide or local importance for the production of food feed, fiber, forage, or oilseed crops, as determined by the appropriate state or unit of local government agency or agencies.
2. 
All agricultural land within soil capability classes of 1 through 4.
PROHIBITED USE
A use that is not permitted in a zoning district.
PROTECTED PARKING LANE
On-street parking areas which utilize curb extensions (also called bulbouts) to narrow the overall street width and delineate the starting and ending points of the parking lane and may also include mid-block curb.
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL
Any place offering instruction in any branch of knowledge under the supervision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or a lawfully constituted ecclesiastical governing body, person, partnership or corporation meeting the requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Includes trade, technical, professional, music or dance school.
PUBLIC EVENT
Any theatrical, musical or dramatic performance, festival, or carnival, or any other exhibition, show, entertainment, or amusement of a similar nature or kind, that is a temporary and/or transitory proceeding occurring for limited periods, and for which an admission fee is charged or for which money or any other reward of any nature is in any manner demanded, expected or received.
PUBLIC HEARING
A formal meeting held pursuant to public notice by the governing body or planning agency, intended to inform and obtain public comment prior to taking action in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 as amended.[7]
PUBLIC MEETING
A forum held pursuant to notice under 65 Pa.C.S.A. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice published once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. Such notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing. The first publication shall not be more than 30 days and the second publication shall not be less than seven days of the date of the hearing.
PUBLIC NUISANCE
See "nuisance, public."
PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICE
An office of a governmental agency, social service organization, Magisterial District Justice, notary, public or private utility or political organization.
PUBLIC UTILITY BUILDING OR FACILITY
1. 
Any building, structure or facility owned and/or operated by any of the following:
A. 
A municipal authority under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Act.
B. 
A utility under the jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission of Pennsylvania.
C. 
The Township of Shrewsbury.
2. 
This definition covers, but is not limited to:
A. 
SUPPLY UTILITYAny water, electric, gas or oil generating or treatment facility, supply works, substation, transmission line, distribution line or right-of-way.
B. 
ACCESSORY SUPPLY UTILITYAny supply utility or part thereof located on a lot to which commercial service is provided or within a street right-of-way.
C. 
PRINCIPAL SUPPLY UTILITYAny supply utility not an accessory supply utility.
RACETRACK
A track around which animals or vehicles race and the grounds in which the track is sited.
RECEIVING AREA (RECEIVING DISTRICT)
One or more areas or zoning districts in which the development rights of parcels in the sending district may be transferred.
RECEIVING PARCEL
A parcel of land in a receiving district or area that is the subject of a transfer of development rights, where the owner of the parcel is receiving development rights, directly or by intermediate transfers.
RECREATIONAL FACILITY (INDOOR)
A building in which tennis, handball, gymnastics, swimming, riding, skating, hockey, boarding, trap, skeet and other shooting ranges, etc., are enabled for any purpose public or private, gratis or for a fee.
RECREATIONAL FACILITY (OUTDOOR)
An open or semienclosed field or area of natural or man-made surfaces in which recreational and related activities take place. These activities shall include, but are not limited to, ball games, field games, tennis, handball, swimming, riding, skating, skateboarding, and the riding of dirt bikes, off-road vehicles including ATVs or other motorized vehicles, whether public or private, gratis or for a fee. This definition includes golf driving ranges and miniature golf courses.[8]
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
Any portable or mobile vehicle used or designed to be used for travel, recreation and/or living purposes and with its wheels, rollers or skids in place. A recreation vehicle shall include a trailer, house trailer, camper, sleigh, snowmobile, off-road vehicle, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), golf cart, boat, boat trailer, airplane or other similar vehicle which may provide partial and usually temporary living and sleeping quarters and which may or may not include kitchen and bathroom convenience.
REPAIR SHOP
A retail enterprise operated for the purpose of repairing consumer equipment or machinery brought in by their owners. Such shop may sell parts and other articles needed for the function of those consumer goods. This definition does not include vehicle or heavy equipment repair.
RESIDUAL LOT
The portion of the original parcel remaining after the subdivision of a new lot or lots from the original lot. A residual lot may exceed the maximum lot size.
RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITY
A facility or land area that is used for any one or a combination of the following use types:
1. 
INCINERATORA facility designed to reduce the municipal solid waste stream by combustion. This use may or may not include heat exchange equipment for energy recovery.
2. 
MATERIAL SEPARATION AND/OR REFUSE DERIVED FUEL (RDF) FACILITYThe extraction of materials from the municipal waste stream for recycling or for use as refuse derived fuel (RDF).
3. 
RECYCLING FACILITYA business that accumulates material such as paper, glass, aluminum, and/or plastic that is no longer useful for its intended purpose or function, but can be reused to manufacture a new product.
4. 
SOLID WASTE TRANSFER FACILITYA facility or station where municipal solid waste is delivered for the purpose of compacting the material into larger vehicles for transport to a final disposal site or processing facility. A transfer facility may include the separation and collection of material for the purposes of recycling.
RESTAURANT, FAST FOOD OR DRIVE-IN; FOOD STAND
An establishment that principally sells food, frozen desserts and nonalcoholic beverages, primarily in disposable containers, in bags or on trays, to be consumed either on or off the site. The customer primarily orders and receives the food at an inside counter, outdoor walk-up or drive-up window without the assistance of a waiter or waitress. A cafeteria-style restaurant shall be considered a standard or sit-down restaurant.
RESTAURANT, STANDARD OR SIT-DOWN
A restaurant that does not meet the definition of a fast food restaurant or food stand. This includes restaurants where the majority of the food is consumed within the restaurant at tables, and served by a waiter or waitress. A restaurant may include the accessory sale of alcoholic beverages. However, if such sale is the primary portion of the total trade, the requirements of a "tavern" or nightclub as applicable must be met.
RETAIL STORE
As defined herein: convenience store, antique shop, art gallery or store selling apparel, books, confections, drugs, dry goods, flowers, foodstuffs, furniture, gifts, alcoholic beverages, hardware, toys, household appliances, jewelry, cards, novelties, hobby and art supplies, music, luggage, sporting goods, pets, floor covering, fabrics, retail nursery, garden supplies and plants, provided all products produced on the premises are sold on the premises at retail to the public. Also included within this use shall be the sale of soft drinks and beer. The over-the-counter sale of alcoholic beverages in taverns is not included within this use.
RETENTION BASIN
An impoundment in which stormwater is stored and not released during the storm event. Stored water may be released from the basin at some time after the end of the storm. Also known as a wet pond.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
Land set aside for use by streets, crosswalks or utility lines.
1. 
EXISTING RIGHT-OF-WAYThe legal right-of-way as established by the commonwealth, the Township or other legal authority and currently in existence.
2. 
A. 
The right-of-way width required for the expansion of existing streets to accommodate anticipated future traffic loads; or
B. 
A right-of-way established to provide future access to or through undeveloped land.
RIPARIAN BUFFER
Land adjacent to a watercourse and other bodies of water for the purpose of stabilizing banks, filtering sediment and pollutants and for providing wildlife habitat.
[Added by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020]
ROOMER or BOARDER
A person occupying any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking or eating purposes, and paying compensation for lodging and/or board and lodging by pre-arrangement for a week or more at a time to an owner or operator. Any person occupying such room or rooms and paying such compensation without pre-arrangement or for less than one week at a time shall be classified, for purposes of this chapter, not as a roomer or boarder but as a guest or lodger of a commercial lodging establishment (motel, hotel, tourist home).
ROOMING HOUSE
A building arranged or used for lodging, with or without meals, for compensation, for at least three but not more than 15 persons, and in which no provision is made for cooking in any individual room or suite. Includes "boarding house."
RUBBLE
Broken small fragments of nonorganic materials such as concrete, masonry, brick and glass that do not break down.
SAWMILL
An operation in which wood is sawed into planks or boards by fixed or portable machine.
SCHOOL, COMMERCIAL
Trade, technical, or professional school, music or dance school, etc.
SCHOOL, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
See "public and private school."
SCHOOL, SMALL
A public or private primary and/or secondary educational institution primarily for persons between the ages of five and 19 that primarily provides state-required educational programs (does not include a commercial school). A small school shall accommodate no more than 40 students on site at the same time. Small schools may be permitted on leased lots. Each small school must utilize one development right from the parcel upon which it is situated. In order for small school use to be established, a land development plan must first be provided to the Board of Supervisors for review and approval. If no new improvements are proposed to create the small school use (i.e., a change of use from an existing structure to a small school), a land development is not required.
[Added by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020; as amended by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023]
SEDIMENT
Soils or other superficial materials transported or deposited by the action of wind, water, ice or gravity as a product of erosion.
SEEP
An area where groundwater slowly oozes to the surface.
SENDING AREA (SENDING DISTRICT)
The Agricultural District.
SENDING PARCEL
A parcel of land in the Agriculture District from which unused and not already restricted or unusable development rights may be severed and conveyed to another parcel of land in a receiving area.
SETBACK
The required distance between the street or lot line and the setback line.
SETBACK LINE
That line that is the required minimum distance from the street right-of-way line or any other lot line that establishes the area within which the principal structure must be located.
SEWAGE FACILITY
A system of sewage collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal which will prevent the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated sewage or other waste into waters of this commonwealth or otherwise provide for the safe and sanitary treatment and disposal of sewage or other waste. See the Shrewsbury Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance[9] for addition sewer and sewage facility related terms.
SEWER, STORM
A system of conduits that collects and routes stormwater to a surface-water discharge point.
SHOOTING RANGE (OUTDOORS)
Includes trap, skeet, rifle, pistol and other firearms, or archery ranges.
SHOPPING CENTER OR MALL
A group of commercial establishments, planned, developed, owned and managed as a unit related in location, size, and type of shops to the trade area that the unit serves; it provides on-site parking in definite relationship to the types and sizes of stores.
SIGNS
Any name, identification, description, display, illustration or device which is affixed to or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure or land in view of the general public, and which directs attention to a product, place, activity, person, institution or business. Further sign definitions and requirements are found in the Shrewsbury Township Sign Ordinance.[10]
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020]
SLOPE
The degree of deviation of a surface from the horizontal, usually expressed in percent or degrees. See "grade."
SNOW STORAGE
A minimum area reserved for snow storage while plowing. A minimum 100 square feet of snow storage area shall be provided for every 1,000 square feet of plowed area, along with any stormwater management area.
SOIL
All unconsolidated mineral and organic material of whatever origin that overlies bedrock and can be readily excavated.
SOILS, ALLUVIAL/FLOODPLAIN
Areas subject to periodic flooding and listed in the 2002, or most recent, USDA Soil Survey of York County, Pennsylvania, as being "on, or in, the floodplain" or subject to flooding.
SOILS, HYDRIC
Soils that are categorized as poorly drained that can support hydrophilic plants, but may not do so in many cases. For the purpose of this chapter, hydric soils are general wetland indicator soils. See "wetland."
SOLAR FARM
One or more arrays, collectors or photovoltaic modules, or a power plant that uses such arrays, collectors or photovoltaic modules to convert sunlight into electricity.
SPECIAL EVENT
An activity involving the assembly of people for cultural, ceremonial, educational, promotional, or celebratory purposes, which generates revenue. Includes, but is not limited to, receptions, recitals, art exhibits, religious ceremonies, wine/food tasting events, fairs, carnivals, festivals, auctions, concerts, and any other event which is advertised or marketed in any form; whether or not there is an admission fee or the exchange of funds for services, goods, or entertainment. This definition does not include private parties or private functions that do not meet the above stated criteria.
SPECIAL EXCEPTION
A use permitted in a particular zoning district pursuant to the provisions of Articles VI and IX of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as amended and reenacted,[11] along with the standards as set forth in this chapter.
SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS
1. 
Less than completely and opaquely covered: (1) human genitals, pubic region; (2) buttock, and (3) female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola; and
2. 
Human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered.
SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES
1. 
Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal;
2. 
Acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse or sodomy; and
3. 
Fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttock or female breast.
SPECIMEN TREE
A tree that represents outstanding or dominant qualities for a particular species.
SPRING
A small stream of water flowing naturally from the earth; a flow of water from the ground, often a source of a stream, pond, etc.
STABLE
A building in which horses or other large types of livestock are kept. Includes riding school.
STEEP SLOPES
Areas where the average slope exceeds 25%.
STOCKYARD
A large enclosed yard with pens or covered stables where livestock not owned by the owner of the stockyard are kept before being sold, slaughtered, or shipped.
STORAGE, SELF
A building or buildings or fenced area in which small tools, household items, and personal property are stored longer than a month.
1. 
SELF-STORAGE FACILITYA building and/or series of buildings divided into separate storage units for personal property and/or property associated with some business or other organization. These units shall be used solely for dead storage and no processing, manufacturing, sales, research and development testing, service and repair, or other nonstorage activities shall be permitted.
STORMWATER BMP FACILITIES
A vegetative basin designed to drain completely after storing runoff only for a given stormwater event and releasing it at a predetermined rate. Also known as a dry pond.
STORY
That portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it; if there is no floor above it, then the space between any floor and the ceiling immediately above it.
STORY, GROUND
That story with its floor level immediately above the average finished grade level of the adjoining ground at any particular point or side of a dwelling.
STREAM
A watercourse with definite bed and banks which confine and convey continuously or intermittently flowing water. See also "watercourse."
1. 
PERENNIAL STREAMA continuously flowing stream that is present at all seasons of the year.
2. 
INTERMITTENT STREAMA natural stream carrying water during the wet seasons and having at least one critical feature (bed and/or bank).
STREAMBANK
The sides of a channel that hold or carry water.
STREET
Includes street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway, parkway, lane, alley, viaduct and any other ways used or intended to be used by vehicular traffic or pedestrians, whether public or private. Streets are further classified as follows:
1. 
ARTERIAL STREETStreets serving large numbers of high-speed traffic and connecting population and employment centers and which are designated in the Comprehensive Plan.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020]
2. 
COLLECTOR STREETStreets which, in addition to giving access to abutting properties, intercept local streets and provide routes to community facilities and arterial streets and which are so designated in the Comprehensive Plan.
3. 
LOCAL STREETStreets primarily used for access to abutting properties and generally serving internally developed areas.
4. 
STREET GRADESee "grade."
5. 
STREET LINEThe dividing line between the street and the lot; also known as the right-of-way line.
6. 
PRIVATE ROAD OR STREETA street not offered for dedication or whose dedication was not accepted by the Township.
STRUCTURE
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
SUBDIVISION
Refer to the Shrewsbury Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[12]
SUPERVISORS or TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS
The Board of Supervisors of the Township of Shrewsbury.
SWIMMING POOL
An accessory structure of a dwelling, for personal use, constructed of solid materials so designed, either below or above the surface of the ground, as to hold water and to be used for the purpose of bathing or swimming in which the depth of the water stored therein above or below ground level exceeds two feet in depth.
SWIMMING POOL, PRIVATE
A public or private club swimming pool, not for personal use, constructed for wading, bathing, or swimming. Any structure of solid materials so designed, either below or above the surface of the ground, indoors or outdoors, as to hold water in which the depth of the water stored therein above or below ground level exceeds two feet in depth.
TAVERN, BAR, PUB
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board licensed establishment primarily engaged in the retail sale and the on-site consumption of alcoholic beverages by consenting adults. This definition also includes, but is not limited to, establishments referred to as beer gardens, cocktail lounges, saloons and taprooms. Restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages but are primarily engaged in the retail sale of prepared food are not included in this definition.
TEMPORARY RESTROOM/SANITARY FACILITIES
A moveable structure containing a fixture or fixtures for defecation and urination, including a waste pipe and either a flushing apparatus or a chemical process controlling odors, all of which are self-contained within the structure.
TOPSOIL
Surface soil including the organic layer in which plants have most of their roots.
TOURIST HOME
A private residential dwelling that is not occupied by an owner or manager and that is rented, leased, or furnished in its entirety to transient guests on a daily or weekly basis.
[Added by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023]
TRACT
See "lot."
TRAILER
A structure standing on wheels, towed or hauled by another vehicle, and used for human occupancy, carrying of materials, goods, or objects, or as a temporary office.
TRANSFERABLE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (TDR)
DR that are transferred, sold or donated from the parcel(s) to which they were originally assigned.
TRANSPORTATION TERMINAL
A building or complex containing facilities needed by transportation operators and passengers at either end of a travel or shipping route by air, rail, road, or water.
TREE CANOPY
The coverage of the ground by the upper-most leafed limbs of trees.
TURBINE HEIGHT
The distance measured from the surface of the tower foundation to the highest point of the turbine rotor plane.
USE
Any activity carried on or intended to be carried on in a building or other structure or on a lot. See "accessory use."
1. 
ACCESSORY USEA subordinate use as listed in zoning districts under the use regulations for each zoning district, normally located on the same lot with a principal use. If no principal use exists on a lot with a lawful accessory use, then such accessory use shall be considered a principal use.
2. 
PRINCIPAL USEThe primary purpose or purposes for which a lot is occupied as listed in the use regulations for each zoning district. If more than two principal uses occupy a single lot, each such use must be positioned so that the lot on which such uses are located could subsequently be subdivided, separating each use yet meeting all applicable district dimensional requirements.
UTILITY TRAILER
A trailer, except a recreational trailer, which does not have air brakes.
[Added by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020]
VARIANCE
Relief of the regulations of this chapter granted by the Shrewsbury Township Zoning Hearing Board on grounds of a hardship not self-imposed, pursuant to § 27-1912 of this chapter and Articles VI and IX of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as amended and reenacted.[13]
VETERINARY OFFICE or ANIMAL HOSPITAL
A building in which domestic animals, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds or fowl, receive medical or surgical treatment by a veterinarian and in which any housing or boarding of animals is limited to short-term care incidental to the medical or surgical treatment.
VIBRATION
An oscillatory motion of solid bodies of deterministic or random nature described by displacement, velocity or acceleration with respect to a given reference point.
VIBRATION, EXCESSIVE
The presence of a vibration or vibrations of such intensity, duration, frequency or character which annoy, disturb, or cause or tend to cause adverse psychological or physiological effects on persons, or damage or tend to damage personal or real property.
WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION
A building, or portion thereof, or buildings used or intended to be used primarily for the receipt, temporary storage, and redistribution of goods and/or materials that are to be sold retail or wholesale from other premises, or wholesale from the same premises; however, nothing in this definition is meant to exclude purely incidental retail sales in warehouses.
WASTE PROCESSING/DISPOSAL
Municipal or private facility that receives sewage from a source or sources located other than on the facility's site, then processes and disposes of the waste under regulation. Also referred to as off-site sewage.
WATER FACILITY
Any water works, water supply works, water distribution system or part thereof designed, intended or constructed to provide or distribute potable water.
1. 
OFF-LOT WATER DISTRIBUTION FACILITYAny approved system in which potable water is supplied from a central water source to a dwelling or other building located off the lot on which such dwelling or building is located.
2. 
ON-LOT WATER DISTRIBUTION FACILITYAny approved system in which potable water is supplied from an individual well to a dwelling or other building located on the same lot as the well.
WATERCOURSE
Water flowing within a stream channel, ditch, conduit, gully or ravine, which are either naturally or artificially created and contain an intermittent or perennial base flow of groundwater origin.
WETLAND
Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater of a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturate soil conditions, commonly known as hydrophytic vegetation. Wetlands include but are not limited to swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas. The determination of whether an area is a nontidal wetland shall be made in accordance with the publication known as the "Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands," published in 1987 and as may be amended and/or hydric soil identification based on the 2002 USDA Soil Survey of York County.
WILDLIFE PRESERVE/REFUGE
A parcel of land containing at least 10 acres utilized in its entirety for the maintenance of a sanctuary or refuge for wildlife (nondomesticated animals).
WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM (WECS)
A facility consisting of a tower, wind turbine generator with blades, guy wires or other support structures and anchors, access roads, and associated control and conversion equipment to convert wind movement into electricity.[14]
WINDMILL, SINGLE TRADITIONAL SMALL-SCALE
A structure that converts wind power solely for private use (BTM), typically to pump water or grind grain, and does not provide excess generated power to the public power grid (FTM).
[Added by Ord. No. 2022-01, 3/2/2022]
WIND TURBINE
A wind energy conversion system that converts wind energy into electricity through the use of a wind turbine generator, and includes the nacelle, rotor, tower, and pad transformer, if any.
WINERY
A building or property that includes any facilities where any alcohol or liquor is produced by the process by which wine is produced, or premises and plants wherein liquid such as wine is produced; and shall include the manufacture by distillation of alcohol from the byproducts of wine fermentation when the alcohol so derived is used solely to fortify the fermented products, under such regulations as are or may be promulgated by the proper agency of the United States government, and such alcohol, for that purpose only, may be sold or exchanged between wineries holding permits in this commonwealth, without restriction.
WOODLAND
See "forest."
YARD
An open, unoccupied space, unobstructed from the ground up, on the same lot with a structure, extending along the entire length of a lot line or street line and inward to the structure. The size of a yard shall be measured as the shortest distance between the structure and a lot line or street line.
1. 
FRONT YARDA yard between a structure and street line and extending the entire length of the street line. In the case of a corner lot, the yards extending along all streets are front yards. In the case of a lot other than a corner lot that fronts on more than one street, the front yard is that yard abutting the street used in the building's address.
2. 
REAR YARDA yard between a structure and rear lot line and extending the entire length of the rear lot line. If the lot fronts on more than one street, the rear yard is the yard opposite the yard abutting the street used in the building's address.
3. 
SIDE YARDA yard between a structure and side lot line, extending from the front yard to the rear yard. In the case of a lot having no street frontage or a lot of odd shape, any yard that is not a front yard or a rear yard shall be considered a side yard.
ZONING OFFICER
The duly appointed Township official designated to administer and enforce this chapter.
ZONING PERMIT
Written authorization from the Zoning Officer to alter, improve, construct and/or make use of an area of land as regulated by this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 47 P.S. § 4-431(b) and 47 P.S. § 4-444, respectively.
[2]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "burial plot or ground," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020.
[3]
Editor's Note: The definition of "cemetery, residential," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 12/6/2017 by Ord. No. 2017-07.
[4]
Editor's Note: The definition of "family burial ground," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 12/6/2017 by Ord. No. 2017-07.
[5]
Editor's Note: See 3 P.S. § 459-101 et seq.
[6]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 22, Subdivision and Land Development.
[7]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
[8]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "recreational lodge," which immediately followed, was repealed by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023.
[9]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 22, Subdivision and Land Development.
[10]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 19, Signs.
[11]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
[12]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 22, Subdivision and Land Development.
[13]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
[14]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "wind farm," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed by Ord. No. 2022-01, 3/2/2022.