Words and phrases shall be presumed to be used in their ordinary context unless such word or phrase is defined or interpreted differently within this article.
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 term "person" includes an individual, incorporator's association, member(s) of a partnership or the officers of a corporation, as well as any similar entity.
E. 
The terms "shall," "must" or "will" are always mandatory.
F. 
The term "may" is permissive.
The following words and phrases shall have the particular meaning assigned by this section of this chapter. Additionally, the words and phrases which are used in this chapter and not defined below shall have the meaning assigned by Chapter 490, Zoning, as amended.
ACCESS DRIVE
An improved cartway designed and constructed to provide for vehicular movement between a public road and a tract of land containing any use other than one to four dwelling units or a farm.
ACCESSORY USE
A use on the same lot with, and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to, the principal use or structure.
ACT
The latest version of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended.[1]
ADULT-RELATED USES
A business or club which engages in one or more of the following areas of sales, services or entertainment:
A. 
ADULT BATH HOUSEAn establishment or business which provides the services of baths of all kinds, including all forms and methods of hydrotherapy during which specified anatomical areas are displayed or specified sexual activity occurs. This section shall not apply to hydrotherapy treatment practiced by, or under the supervision of a medical practitioner A "medical practitioner," for the purpose of this chapter, shall be a medical doctor, physician, chiropractor or similar professional licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
B. 
ADULT BODY PAINTING STUDIOAny establishment or business which provides the service of applying paint or other substance whether transparent or nontransparent to or on the human body when specified anatomical areas are exposed.
C. 
ADULT BOOKSTOREAny establishment which has 20% or more of its stock-in-trade consisting of:
(1) 
Books, films, videotapes, magazines or other periodicals or other forms of audio or visual representation which are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas;
(2) 
Instruments, devices or paraphernalia (excluding prophylactics) which are designed for use in connection with specified sexual activities.
D. 
ADULT CABARETA nightclub, theater, bar or other establishment which features live or media representations of performances by topless or bottomless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, or similar entertainers, where such performances are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
E. 
ADULT MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTAny establishment or business which provides the services of massage and body manipulation, including exercises, heat and light treatments of the body, and all forms and methods of physiotherapy, unless operated by a medical practitioner, chiropractor or professional physical therapist licensed by the commonwealth. This definition does not include an athletic club, health club, school, gymnasium, reducing salon, tanning salon, spa or similar establishment where massage or similar manipulation of the human body is offered as an incidental or accessory service.
F. 
ADULT MINI-MOTION PICTURE THEATERAn enclosed or unenclosed building with a capacity of more than five, but less than 50, persons used for presenting any form of audio or visual material, and in which a substantial portion of the total presentation time measured on an annual basis is devoted to the showing of material which is distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
G. 
ADULT MODEL STUDIOAny place where, for any form of consideration or gratuity, figure models who display specified anatomical areas are provided to be observed, sketched, drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly depicted by persons paying such consideration or gratuity, except that this provision shall not apply to any "figure studio" or "school of art" or similar establishment which meets the requirements established in the Education Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the issuance or conferring of, and is in fact authorized thereunder, to issue and confer a diploma.
H. 
ADULT MOTELA motel or similar establishment offering public accommodations for any consideration, which provides patrons with material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
I. 
ADULT MOTION PICTURE ARCADEAny place to which the public is permitted or invited wherein coin- or slug-operated or electronically or mechanically controlled still or motion-picture machines, projectors, or other image-producing devices are maintained to show images to five or fewer persons per machine at any one time, and where the images so displayed are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
J. 
ADULT MOTION PICTURE THEATERAn enclosed or unenclosed building with a capacity of 50 or more persons used for presenting any form of audio or visual material, and in which a substantial portion of the total presentation time measured on an annual basis is devoted to the showing of material which is distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
K. 
ADULT NEWSRACKAny coin-operated machine or device which dispenses material substantially devoted to the depiction of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
L. 
ADULT OUT-CALL SERVICE ACTIVITYAny establishment or business which provides an out-call service which consists of individuals leaving the premises upon request or by appointment to visit other premises for a period of time for the purpose of providing any service during which time specified anatomical areas are displayed or specified sexual activity occurs.
M. 
ADULT SEXUAL ENCOUNTER CENTERAny business, agency, or person who, for any form of consideration or gratuity, provides a place where two or more persons, not all members of the same family, may congregate, assemble or associate for the purpose of engaging in specified sexual activity or exposing specified anatomical areas, excluding psychosexual workshops, operated by a medical practitioner licensed by the commonwealth, to engage in sexual therapy.
N. 
ADULT THEATERA theater, concert hall, auditorium or other similar establishment, either indoor or outdoor, which regularly features live performances which are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on specified sexual activities or by exposure of specified anatomical areas for observation by patrons.
O. 
(1) 
Any establishment which has 50% or more of its stock-in-trade consisting of videotapes, video discs, or both, which are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis, depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
(2) 
Any other business or establishment which offers its patrons services or entertainment characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
AGRICULTURE
The tilling of the soil, the raising of crops, forestry, horticulture, viniculture and gardening, including the keeping or raising of livestock, such as cattle, cows, swine, horses, sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits, birds, fish, bees, and other similar animals. Agriculture also includes the incidental slaughter for personal consumption of livestock which have been raised on the site. (See also "farm.")
ALLEY
A minor right-of-way, privately or publicly owned, primarily for service access to the rear and/or side of properties.
ALTERATIONS
Any change, rearrangement, enlargement, addition, moving, reconstruction, relocation, removal, or demolition of any building, structure or of the structural parts thereof, or any modification which may change the valuation for tax assessment purposes of the building, structure, or site involved but not including the mere painting or finishing of surfaces when not accompanied by any other activity herein referred to, provided that the original configuration plan and form of the structure are not altered.
AMUSEMENT ARCADE
A commercial establishment which provides as a principal use, amusement devices, games of skill or chance, or both (e.g., pinball machines, video games, squabble, electronic or water firing ranges and other similar devices). This definition does not include the use of two or less such devices as an accessory use.
ATTIC
That part of a building which is immediately below and wholly or partly within the roof framing. Within a dwelling unit, an attic shall not be counted as floor area unless it is constructed as or modified into a habitable room by the inclusion of dormer windows, an average ceiling height of five feet or more, and a permanent stationary interior access stairway to a lower building story.
BASEMENT
Any area of a building having its floor below ground level on all sides.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
The Board of Supervisors of Hellam Township, York County, Pennsylvania.
BUILDING
Any structure having walls and a roof or other covering, designed or used for the shelter or enclosure of any person, animal, property, or any combination thereof. Within the floodplain, the term "building" shall include a combination of materials to form a permanent structure having walls and a roof. Included shall be all manufactured homes and trailers to be used for human habitation, gas and liquid storage tanks.
A. 
DETACHEDA building which has no common wall.
B. 
SEMIDETACHEDA building which has only one common wall in common.
C. 
ATTACHEDA building which has more than one common wall in common.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE
The actual line of that face of the building nearest an adjacent right-of-way or street line. This face includes any structure above grade, except steps and sidewalks.
CARTWAY
The surface of a street, access drive, driveway or alley available for vehicular traffic, including travel lanes and parking lanes, but not including curbs, sidewalks or swales.
CERTIFICATE OF USE AND OCCUPANCY
A statement signed by the Zoning Officer, setting forth that a building, structure or use legally complies with Chapter 490, Zoning, other applicable codes and regulations, the zoning permit and the building permit.
CHANNEL
A natural or artificial watercourse with a definite bed and banks which confine and conduct continuously or periodically flowing water.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The most recently adopted version of the Official Comprehensive Plan, Hellam Township, York County, PA, including any amendments.
CONDOMINIUM
A form of property ownership providing for individual ownership of a specific dwelling unit, or other space, together with an undivided interest in the land or other parts of the structure in common with other owners.
CONSISTENCY
An agreement or correspondence between matters being compared which denotes a reasonable rational, similar, connection or relationship.
COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
A land use and growth management plan prepared by the County Planning Commission and adopted by the County Commissioners which establishes broad goals and criteria for municipalities to use in preparation of their Comprehensive Plan and land use regulation.
DENSITY
The number of dwelling units permitted in relation to the land area actually in use or proposed to be used for residential purposes, exclusive of any public, private, or both, streets.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to the construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair, expansion, or alteration of buildings or other structures; the placement of manufactured homes; streets, and other paving; utilities; filling, grading and excavation; mining, dredging; drilling operations; storage of equipment or materials; and the subdivision of land.
DISTRIBUTION
A process whereby materials, goods, or products are obtained, stored by one person, and then delivered to another.
DOMESTIC PETS
The noncommercial keeping of no more than six adult animals that are locally available for purchase as pets, as an accessory use to a dwelling unit. Domestic pets shall not include livestock, or any animal or bird for which a permit is required under the Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife Code, 34 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq., or the regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
DRIVEWAY
An improved cartway designed and constructed to provide vehicular movement between a public road and a tract of land serving one to four dwelling units or a farm. (See also "joint-use driveway.")
DWELLING
Any building or portion thereof designed and used exclusively for residential occupancy, including those listed below, but not including hospitals, hotels, boarding, rooming and lodging houses, institutional houses, tourists' courts, and the like, offering overnight accommodations for guests or patients. In addition, all dwellings shall be properly connected to approved and permanently designed public or on-lot sewer, public or on-lot water, electrical and other utility systems.
A. 
SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED (SFD)A freestanding building containing one dwelling unit for one family, and having two side yards, one front yard, and one rear yard; in the case of a corner lot, the building will have two front and one side and rear yards. Mobile homes and tiny homes can be considered single-family detached dwellings if, in addition to the requirements listed for all dwellings, they are permanently affixed to a completely enclosed foundation constructed of currently accepted materials that shall be an entire perimeter wall and extend from below the frost line to the first floor of the building. Such foundation shall be constructed to provide sufficient structural integrity to prevent the building from heaving, shifting, or settling unevenly, due to frost action. Travel trailers, as defined herein, shall not be construed as dwellings. Modular homes can be considered single-family detached dwellings so long as they comply with the general requirements of a dwelling. (Figure 1)
B. 
TWO-FAMILY OVER-UNDERA freestanding building containing two dwelling units for two families, arranged in an over-and-under (Figure 2) configuration and having one front and rear yard and two side yards.
C. 
MULTIPLE FAMILYA building containing three or more dwelling units, at least one of which must be located above or below the remaining units. (Figure 4)
D. 
TOWNHOUSEA building containing between three and eight dwelling units arranged in a side-by-side configuration with two or more common party walls. (Figure 5)
E. 
MOBILE HOMEFor the purposes of this chapter, all mobile homes, except those contained within mobile home parks, shall be governed by all regulations applicable to single-family detached dwellings of Chapter 490. Mobile homes located within mobile home parks shall be governed by this chapter, as amended.
F. 
SINGLE-FAMILY SEMIDETACHEDA freestanding building containing two dwelling units for two families, arranged in a side-by-side configuration. Each unit shall be constructed on individual lots and shall have one front yard, one side yard, and one rear yard (no yard along the common lot line).
G. 
TINY HOMEA dwelling unit placed on a property for occupancy as a residential dwelling with a habitable area of not less than 150 square feet and not more than 699 square feet, constructed on a permanent foundation. A tiny home shall be considered a mobile home and shall comply with all requirements of this chapter and Chapter 490 regarding single-family dwellings. All tiny homes must be certified by Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
DWELLING UNIT
A building or portion thereof arranged or designed for occupancy by not more than one family and having separate cooking and sanitary facilities.
FAMILY
One or more persons living together in a single dwelling unit as a traditional family or the functional equivalent of a traditional family. It shall be a rebuttable presumption that more than five persons living together in a single dwelling unit, who are not related by blood, adoption, or marriage, do not constitute the functional equivalent of a traditional family. In determining the functional equivalent of a traditional family, the following criteria shall be present:
A. 
The group shares the entire dwelling unit.
B. 
The group lives and cooks together as a single housekeeping unit.
C. 
The group shares expenses for food, rent, utilities or other household expenses.
D. 
The group is permanent and stable, and not transient or temporary in nature.
E. 
Any other factor reasonably related to whether the group is the functional equivalent of a family.
FARM
A parcel or parcels of land which are used for a principal agricultural use, including one single-family detached dwelling and other necessary farm structures, and the use, repair, maintenance and storage of equipment associated with the principal agricultural use.
FENCE/WALL
An artificially constructed barrier made of any material or combination of materials erected either for the purpose of screening one property from another to assure privacy, protection or confinement of the property or to permanently or temporarily prohibit or inhibit unrestricted travel between properties or portions of properties or between street or public right-of-way and a property. A freestanding masonry wall, when located for one of the preceding purposes, is considered to be a fence. Hedges or other similar types of vegetative cover shall not be deemed to be a fence. The height of all fences and walls or portions thereof shall be measured from grade level.
FILL
Material placed or deposited so as to form an embankment or raise the surface elevation of the land, including but not limited to levees, bulkheads, dikes, jetties, embankments, and causeways.
FORESTRY
The management of forests 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.
FRONTAGE
The continuous linear distance taken along a property's common boundary with an adjoining street right-of-way, other than that of a limited-access highway.
GENERAL CONSISTENCY, GENERALLY CONSISTENT
That which exhibits consistency.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
A. 
Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of Interior) or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register;
B. 
Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
C. 
Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of Interior; or
D. 
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified either:
(1) 
By an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior; or
(2) 
Directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.
HOSPITAL
An institution, licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a hospital, which renders inpatient and outpatient medical care on a twenty-four-hour-per-day basis; and provides primary health services and medical/surgical care to persons suffering from illness, disease, injury, deformity and other abnormal physical or mental conditions. A hospital use can also include attached and detached accessory uses, provided that all accessory uses are contained upon the hospital property.
HOTEL
A facility which provides lodging to boarders for compensation, which contains more than eight rooms with less than 25% of all rooms having direct access to the outside without the necessity of passing through the main lobby of the building, and which may provide meals and other services as a part of the compensation.
IMPERVIOUS COVER
Those surfaces that do not readily absorb precipitation and surface water. The term includes but is not limited to buildings, parking areas, driveways, roads, sidewalks, swimming pools, and any area in concrete, asphalt, packed stone or equivalent surfaces, including those with a coefficient of runoff of 0.7 or higher. Impervious surfaces also include disturbed surfaces with a bulk density of 95% of the value at which plant growth limitation is expected for average plant material.
KENNEL
Any lot on which two or more animals that are older than six months (except relating to a farm) that are kept, boarded, raised, bred, treated, or trained, for a fee, including but not limited to dog or cat kennels.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Any of the following activities:
A. 
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts, or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
(1) 
A group of two or more residential or nonresidential buildings, whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential building on a lot or lots, regardless of the number of occupants or tenure; or
(2) 
The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.
B. 
A subdivision of land.
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 a proprietary interest in land, shall be deemed to be a landowner for the purposes of this chapter.
LOT
Any parcel, plot or tract of land intended as a single unit for purposes of ownership, transfer of ownership, use, rent, improvement or development. A lot herein defined must coincide with a single lot of record. A lot not otherwise specified is defined as having frontage along a public street, or a street that has been dedicated to the Township, or a private street that has been improved to the standards in Chapter 430, Subdivision and Land Development, for a public street.
A. 
LOT, CORNERA lot which has an interior angle of less than 135° at the intersection of two street lines. A lot abutting upon 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°.
B. 
LOT FLAGA lot, other than a townhouse lot, which has less than 50 feet of frontage on a public street; or a street which has been dedicated to the Township, or a private street that has been improved to the standards in Chapter 430, Subdivision and Land Development, for a public street.
C. 
LOT, INTERIORA lot other than a corner lot, the sides of which do not abut a street.
D. 
LOT, THROUGHA lot which fronts on two streets that do not intersect at the boundary of the lot.
LOT AREA
The area contained within the property lines of a single lot, excluding any area within a street right-of-way, but including the area of any easement.
LOT LINE
A line of record which divides one lot from another lot, or from a public or private road or any other public space. Where a lot abuts a public right-of-way, the lot line for regulatory purposes shall be the right-of-way line.
LOT OF RECORD
A lot identified on a subdivision plan or on a deed or other instrument of conveyance recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for York County, Pennsylvania.
LOT WIDTH
The horizontal distance measured between side property lines. On corner lots, lot width shall be measured between the street right-of-way line for the non-address street and the directly opposite property line. Unless otherwise noted, lot width shall be measured at the building setback line.
MANUFACTURE
A function involving either the processing, conversion or production of materials, goods, or products.
MOBILE HOME SPACE
A unit of land for the placing of one mobile home or trailer.
MOBILE HOME STAND
The part of an individual mobile home space which has been reserved for the placement of a mobile home and appurtenant structures and connections.
MOBILE HOME/MANUFACTURED HOME
A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for permanent occupancy, contained in one unit, or two or more units designed to be joined into one integral unit capable of again being separated for repeated towing, which arrives at a site completed and ready for occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations, and constructed so that it may be used without a permanent foundation.
MOBILE HOME/MANUFACTURED HOME LOT
A 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.
MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOME PARK
A parcel or contiguous parcels of land which have been so designated and improved that it contains two or more mobile home lots for the placement thereon of mobile/manufactured homes.
MOTEL
A facility which provides lodging to boarders for compensation, which contains more than eight rooms with at least 25% of all rooms having direct access to the outside without the necessity of passing through the main lobby of the building, and which may provide meals and other services as a part of the compensation.
MUSHROOM HOUSE
A structure and/or use in which mushrooms are cultivated for retail sales, wholesale distribution, or both.
NIGHTCLUB
Any building used for on-site consumption of alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages where live entertainment is offered. For the purposes of this definition, "live entertainment" is meant to include the use of disc jockeys for the purposes of supplying musical entertainment. Nightclubs may also provide for on-site consumption of food. Additionally, nightclubs can offer the retail sale of carry-out beer and wine as an accessory use. This is also meant to include an "under 21" club which features entertainment.
NONCONFORMING LOT
A lot the area or dimension of which was lawful prior to the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance, but which fails to conform to the requirements of the zone in which it is located by reasons of such adoption or amendment. Nonconformities are regulated by Article V of Chapter 490, Zoning.
OBSTRUCTION
Any structure or assembly of materials including fill above or below the surface of land or water, and an activity which might impede, retard, or change flood flows. The planting, cultivation and harvesting of field and orchard crops or the grazing of livestock, including the maintenance of necessary appurtenant agricultural fencing, shall not be considered an "obstruction" under this definition.
OFFICE
A place where the primary use is conducting the affairs of a business, profession, service, or government, including administration, recordkeeping, clerical work, and similar business functions. An office shall not involve manufacturing, fabrication, production, processing, assembling, cleaning, testing, repair, or storage of materials, goods or products; or the sale or delivery of any materials, goods, or products which are physically located on the premises. Office supplies used in the office may be stored as an incidental use.
OPEN SPACE
A space unoccupied by buildings or other impervious surfaces, and open to the percolation of rainwater.
OUTPARCEL SIGN
A sign affixed to a freestanding unit of occupancy contained within a planned center.
PARKING SPACE
An off-street space available for the parking of one motor vehicle and having usable access to a street or alley.
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 law as the subject of rights and duties.
PLANNING COMMISSION
The Planning Commission of Hellam Township.
PREMISES
The property upon which the activity is conducted as determined by physical facts rather than property lines. It is the land occupied by the buildings or other physical uses that are necessary or customarily incident to the activity, including such open spaces as are arranged and designed to be used in connection with such buildings or uses. The following are not considered to be a part of the premises on which the activity is conducted, and any signs located on such land are to be considered off-premises advertising:
A. 
Any land which is not used as an integral part of the principal activity, including land which is separated from the activity by a roadway, highway, or other obstruction, and not used by the activity; and extensive undeveloped highway frontage contiguous to the land actually used by a commercial facility, even though it might be under the same ownership.
B. 
Any land which is used for, or devoted to, a separate purpose unrelated to the advertised activity.
C. 
Any land which is in closer proximity to the highway than to the principal activity, and developed or used only in the area of the sign site or between the sign site and the principal activity and whose purpose is for advertising purposes only. In no event shall a sign site be considered part of the premises on which the advertised activity is conducted if the site is located on a narrow strip of land which is nonbuildable land, or is a common or private roadway, or is held by easement or other lesser interest than the premises where the activity is located.
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, but shall not be interpreted to authorize the unreasonable restriction of forestry, mining or other lawful uses of natural resources.
PROCESSING
A function which involves only the cleaning, sorting, sizing, packaging, or any combination thereof, of products and materials.
PUBLIC
Owned, operated, or controlled, by a government agency (federal, state or local, including a corporation created by law for the performance of certain specialized governmental functions and the Board of Public Education).
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Use or extension thereof which is operated, owned or maintained by a municipality or municipal authority or which is privately owned and approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for the purpose of providing public sewage disposal, treatment, or both; public water supply, storage, treatment, or any combination thereof; or for the purpose of providing the transmission of energy, cable television or telephone service.
PUBLIC WATER
A municipal water supply system, or a comparable common water facility approved and permitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Such systems are capable of serving multiple users.
REPAIR
Replacement of existing worn or damaged materials with equivalent materials for the purpose of routine maintenance and upkeep but not including any alteration.
RETAIL SALES
Those businesses whose primary activities involve the display and sales of goods and products to the general public. This term shall not include adult-related uses as defined herein.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
A corridor of publicly owned or leased land for purposes of maintaining primary vehicular and pedestrian access to abutting properties, including but not limited to roads, streets, highways and sidewalks. Abutting property owners are prohibited from encroaching across the right-of-way line.
SCHOOL, COMMERCIAL
A school that may offer a wide range of educational or instructional activities (excluding vocational-mechanical trade schools as defined below) that may, or may not, be operated as a gainful business by some person or organization other than the public school district.
SCHOOL, PRIVATE
A school that offers elementary, secondary, postsecondary, postgraduate, or any combination thereof, education that may, or may not, be operated as a gainful business.
SCHOOL, PUBLIC
A school licensed by the Department of Education for the purpose of providing elementary, secondary, and adult education, and operated by the Eastern York School District.
SCHOOL, VOCATIONAL-MECHANICAL TRADE
A school that may, or may not, be operated as a gainful business that principally offers training in any of the following occupations:
A. 
Truck driving;
B. 
Engine repairs;
C. 
Building construction and general contracting;
D. 
Woodworking;
E. 
Masonry;
F. 
Plumbing;
G. 
Electrical contracting; and
H. 
Other similar trades, as determined by the Zoning Hearing Board pursuant to Article I and Article VI of Chapter 490, Zoning.
SCREENING
Restriction of objectionable views to intensive use or utility elements of a site by landscape plantings, berms, walls and fences according to Chapter 280, Landscaping. The screening is located at or near the element to be screened.
SETBACK
The required horizontal distance between a setback line and a property or street right-of-way line.
A. 
SETBACK, FRONTThe distance between the street right-of-way line and the building setback line projected the full width of the lot.
B. 
SETBACK, REARThe distance between the rear lot line and the rear setback line projected the full width of the lot.
C. 
SETBACK, SIDEThe distance between the side lot line and the side setback line projected from the front yard to the rear yard.
SETBACK LINE
A line within a property and parallel to a property or street line which delineates the required minimum distance between some particular use of property and that property or street line.
SFD
Single-family detached dwelling.
SHOPPING CENTER
One store or a planned center of stores, or stores and offices containing more than 40,000 square feet of gross leasable floor area, designed for the site on which it is built, functioning as a unit, with shared off-street parking provided on the property as an integral part of the unit.
SIGN
A device for visual communication that is used to bring the subject to the attention of the public. A sign shall not include flags or other insignia of any government or fraternal organization.
A. 
CENTER SIGNA sign or other structure that provides identification at the entrance to a center such as a shopping center, planned commercial center, office complex, or industrial park.
B. 
FLAT WALL SIGNA sign displayed, mounted, or both, upon or generally parallel to the same plane as the face of a wall, such that no portion of the sign extends more than 12 inches from said wall.
C. 
FREESTANDING SIGNA sign erected upon a permanently affixed, independent structure (legs or base).
D. 
HOME OCCUPATION SIGNA sign providing information about a business activity conducted within a dwelling unit on the premises on which the sign is located.
E. 
MOBILE SIGNA sign capable of moving from one premises to another, including those painted on vehicles that are parked and/or stored at a location other than where the activity associated with said vehicle is conducted, unless said vehicle is being used in the normal day-to-day operations of the use of the premises on which the vehicle is parked or stored.
F. 
OUTPARCEL SIGNA sign affixed to a freestanding unit of occupancy contained within a planned center.
G. 
PERMANENT SIGNA sign that is expected to be continuously displayed during the presence of a principal land use.
H. 
PORTABLE SIGNA sign which is intended to easily be moved and not permanently affixed to a structure or the ground.
I. 
TEMPORARY SIGNA sign that is only permitted for specified periods of time, associated with some temporary event or work, conducted on the site.
J. 
UNDER-CANOPY SIGNA sign that identifies one leasable unit within a shopping center and is hung from an overhead canopy of the shopping center, or is provided as a wall projecting sign attached to the front wall of the unit where no canopy is provided.
K. 
WALL PROJECTING SIGNA sign mounted to a building wall such that its principal display area is not parallel to the building wall. It can also be attached to a marquee.
SINGLE AND SEPARATE OWNERSHIP
The ownership of a lot by one or more persons, which ownership is separate and distinct from that of any abutting or adjoining lot.
SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS
Less than completely and opaquely covered human genitals, pubic region, buttocks, anus, female breasts below a point immediately above the top of areolas, human male genitals in a discernible turgid state, or any combination thereof, even if completely and opaquely covered. (See "adult-related uses.")
SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES
For the purposes of this chapter, this term shall include any of the following (see "adult-related uses"):
A. 
Actual or simulated sexual intercourse, oral copulation, anal intercourse, oral-anal copulation, bestiality, direct physical stimulation of unclothed genitals, flagellation or torture in the context of a sexual relationship, or the use of excretory functions in the context of a sexual relationship, and any of the following depicted sexually oriented acts or conduct: anilingus, buggery, coprophagy, coprophilia, cunnilingus, fellatio, necrophilia, pederasty, pedophilia, piquerism, sapphism, zooerasty;
B. 
Clearly depicted human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation, arousal or tumescence;
C. 
Use of human or animal masturbation, sodomy, oral copulation, coitus, ejaculation;
D. 
Fondling or touching of nude human genitals, pubic region, buttocks or female breast;
E. 
Masochism, erotic or sexually oriented torture, beating, or the infliction of pain;
F. 
Erotic or lewd touching, fondling or other contact with an animal by a human being; or
G. 
Human excretion, urination, menstruation, vaginal or anal irrigation.
STORAGE
A function involving the deposition of materials, goods, products, or any combination thereof, for safekeeping.
STORY
That part of a building located between a floor and the floor or roof next above. The first story of a building is the lowest story, having 75% or more of its wall area above grade level. A half-story is a story under a gable, hip or gambrel roof, the wall plate of which on at least two opposite exterior walls is not more than two feet above such story.
STREET
Includes street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway, lane, viaduct and any other dedicated and adopted public right-of-way, or private right-of-way, used or intended to be used by vehicular traffic, pedestrians, or both.
STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE
A line defining the edge of a street right-of-way and separating the street from abutting property or lots. The street line shall be the same as the legal right-of-way line currently in existence.
STRUCTURE
Any assembly of materials constructed or erected with a fixed location on the ground, or attached to something having a fixed location on the ground, any portion of which is above the natural surface grade, excluding mailboxes, swing sets, bird feeders, birdhouses, decorative fountains, sandboxes, pools, impervious and semi-impervious coverage for patios, driveways, parking areas and sidewalks, fences, signs and other similar nonpermanent objects. This term does include any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water whether or not affixed to land. For purposes of the Restricted Development Overlay, the term "structure" shall include anything constructed or erected on the ground or attached to the ground, including but not limited to buildings, sheds, manufactured homes and other similar items.
A. 
STRUCTURE, ACCESSORYA structure on the same lot with, and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to, the principal use or structure.
B. 
STRUCTURE, PRINCIPALA structure associated with a primary use.
C. 
Structures shall not include such things as temporary fences, sandboxes, decorative fountains, swing sets, doghouses, birdhouses, bird feeders, mailboxes, and any other similar nonpermanent improvements.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract, or parcel of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court for distribution to heirs, or devisees, transfer of ownership or building or lot development; provided, however, that the subdivision by lease of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres, not involving any new street or easement of access or any residential dwelling, shall be exempted.
SWIMMING POOL
Any pool, not located within a completely enclosed building, and containing, or normally capable of containing, water to a depth at any point greater than 1 1/2 feet. Farm ponds, ornamental ponds and lakes are not included, provided that swimming was not the primary purpose for their construction.
TESTING
A function involving the examination and assessment of qualities, performances, capabilities, or any combination thereof, of a product, good or material.
TINY HOME
A dwelling unit placed on a property for occupancy as a residential dwelling with a habitable area of not less than 150 square feet and not more than 699 square feet, constructed on a permanent foundation. A tiny home shall be considered a mobile home and shall comply with all requirements of this chapter and Chapter 490 regarding single-family dwellings. All tiny homes must be certified by Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
TOWNSHIP
Hellam Township, York County, Pennsylvania.
TWO-FAMILY CONVERSION
The conversion of an existing single-family detached dwelling unit to contain two separate dwelling units.
USE
The specific purpose for which land or a structure is designed, arranged, intended, occupied or maintained.
A. 
USE, ACCESSORYA use on the same lot with, and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to, the principal use or structure.
B. 
USE, PRINCIPALThe main or primary use of property or structures.
USE AND OCCUPANCY PERMIT
See "certificate of use and occupancy."
VARIANCE
A modification of any provision of this chapter granted by the Zoning Hearing Board subject to § 490-143C of Chapter 490, Zoning.
WATERCOURSE
Any channel or conveyance of surface water having a defined bed and banks, such as a stream, river, brook, or creek, whether natural or artificial, with perennial, intermittent, or seasonal flow. This shall not include any channel or ditch designed and constructed solely to carry stormwater.
WETLAND
Those areas inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, including swamps, marshes, bogs, ponds, lakes, and similar areas. "Wetlands" shall include any area so delineated by the National Wetlands Inventory of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and all lands regulated as wetlands by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) or the United States Army Corps of Engineers (ACE). In the event there is a conflict between the definitions of these agencies, the more restrictive definition that defines the wetlands most expansively shall apply.
WHOLESALE
Any distribution procedure involving persons who, in the normal course of business, do not engage in sales to the general public.
WINDOW
An opening to the outside other than a door which provides all or part of the required natural light, natural ventilation or both to an interior space. The glazed portion of a door in an exterior wall may be construed to be a window in regard to provision of natural light.
YARD
An area between the permitted structures and the property lines.
A. 
YARD, FRONTThe area contained between the street right-of-way line and the principal structure. For flag lots, the front yard shall be that area between the principal structure and that property line which is most parallel to the street that provides access and is not part of the flagpole.
B. 
YARD, REARThe area contained between the principal structure and the property line directly opposite the street of address. For flag lots, the rear yard shall be that area between the principal structure and that lot line which is directly opposite the above-described front yard.
C. 
YARD, SIDEThe area(s) between a principal structure and any side lot line(s). On corner lots, the side yard shall be considered those areas between the principal structure and the property lines directly opposite the nonaddress street(s). For flag lots, the side yards shall be the area between the principal structure and that one outermost lot line which forms the flag and pole, plus the area on the opposite side of the principal structure.
ZONING
The designation of specified districts within the Township, reserving them for certain uses together with limitations on lot size, heights of structures and other stipulated requirements.
ZONING OFFICER
The duly constituted municipal official designated to administer and enforce this chapter in accordance with its literal terms.
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Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.