Dimensional standards
Uses
Prohibited1
Extracted standards
45 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Floodplain
- Post-FIRM structure date
Post-FIRM structures. A structure for which construction or substantial improvement occurred on or after September 1, 1978.
- Pre-FIRM structure date
Pre-FIRM structures. A structure for which construction or substantial improvement occurred before September 1, 1978.
- Repetitive loss structure definition
Repetitive loss structure. A building covered by a contract for flood insurance that has incurred flood-related damages on two (2) occasions in a 10-year period, in which the cost of the repair, on average, equaled or exceeded twenty-five (25) percent of the market value of the structure at the time of each such flood event
- Severe repetitive loss structure definition
Severe repetitive loss structure. A structure that: (a) Is covered under a contract for flood insurance made available under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); and (b) Has incurred flood related damage—(i) For which 4 or more separate claims payments have been made under flood insurance coverage with the amount of each such claim exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), and with the cumulative amount of such claims payments exceeding twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00)
- Substantial damage threshold50 pct
Substantial damage. Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would equal or exceed fifty (50) percent of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
- Substantial improvement threshold50 pct
Substantial improvement. Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty (50) percent of the market value of the structure before the start of construction of the improvement.
- Substantial renovation threshold25 pct
Substantial renovation/rehabilitation. Improvements, not primarily cosmetic in nature, whose cost should equal at least twenty-five (25) percent of the value of the structure after the renovation/rehabilitation is completed.
Other
- Adult store stock threshold15 pct
Store, adult. An establishment that: ... And the combination of such items constitutes more than fifteen (15) percent of its stock in trade or occupies more than fifteen (15) percent of its gross public floor area
- Minimum vehicles for automobile graveyard5 vehicles
Automobile graveyard. Any lot or place which is exposed to the weather upon which more than five (5) motor vehicles of any kind, incapable of being operated, and which it would not be economically practical to make operative, are placed, located or found.
- Maximum bed and breakfastBed and breakfastAn owner-occupied dwelling letting a limited number of guest rooms. guest rooms5 rooms
Bed and breakfast (B and B). A temporary lodging facility, which serves as the property owner's and B and B manager's primary residence and shall be permitted to have up to five (5) guest rooms
- Maximum brewery capacity1,000 barrels
Brewery or distillery. ... Breweries have a capacity greater than one thousand (1,000) barrels a year and distilleries have a capacity greater than five thousand (5,000) gallons a year.
- Caliper measurement heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 in
Caliper. The diameter of a tree (usually nursery stock) measured at a point six (6) inches above the ground or top of root ball for up to and including four (4) inch caliper trees, and at a point twelve (12) inches above the ground or top of root ball for larger sizes.
- Caliper measurement heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. for large trees12 in
Caliper. The diameter of a tree (usually nursery stock) measured at a point six (6) inches above the ground or top of root ball for up to and including four (4) inch caliper trees, and at a point twelve (12) inches above the ground or top of root ball for larger sizes.
- Minimum deck elevation30 in
Deck. A structure, without a roof, directly adjacent to a principal building, which has an average elevation of thirty (30) inches or greater from finished grade.
- Maximum distillery capacity5,000 gallons
Brewery or distillery. ... Breweries have a capacity greater than one thousand (1,000) barrels a year and distilleries have a capacity greater than five thousand (5,000) gallons a year.
- Dump heap minimum area100 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Dump heap (trash pile). Any area of one hundred (100) square feet or more lying within one thousand (1,000) feet of a state highway or town street, a residence, a dairy barn, a food handling establishment where trash, garbage, or other waste or scrap material is dumped or deposited without being covered by a sanitary fill.
- Dump heap minimum distance from features1,000 ft
Dump heap (trash pile). Any area of one hundred (100) square feet or more lying within one thousand (1,000) feet of a state highway or town street, a residence, a dairy barn, a food handling establishment where trash, garbage, or other waste or scrap material is dumped or deposited without being covered by a sanitary fill.
- Electrical transmission line heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. threshold50 ft
Transmission line, electrical. Any electrical line other than those supported by single poles normally used for the distribution of electrical power and/or those in excess of fifty (50) feet in height.
- Maximum children in family home day careDay careSupervised care for children or adults during part of the day.12 children
Family home day care. A single-family dwelling in which more than four (4) but less than thirteen (13) individuals, are received for care, protection and guidance during only part of a twenty-four-hour day.
- Maximum unrelated persons in a family4 persons
Family. ... (2) Four (4) unrelated people;
- Half story definition
Story, half. A space under a sloping roof, which has the line of intersection of roof decking and wall face not more than three (3) feet above the top floor level, and in which space not more than two-thirds (⅔) of the floor area and the ceiling next above it.
- Half story maximum floor area66.67 pct
Story, half. A space under a sloping roof, which has the line of intersection of roof decking and wall face not more than three (3) feet above the top floor level, and in which space not more than two-thirds (⅔) of the floor area and the ceiling next above it.
- Half story maximum wall heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.3 ft
Story, half. A space under a sloping roof, which has the line of intersection of roof decking and wall face not more than three (3) feet above the top floor level
- Liquor store stock threshold10 pct
Store, liquor. Any privately owned store: ... 2. In which liquor makes up more than ten (10) percent of its stock in trade or occupies more than ten (10) percent of its net floor area.
- Major street traffic threshold500 vpd
Street, major. Any existing or future street designated as a major street on the adopted plan of land use and major thoroughfares or heavily traveled thoroughfare or highway that carries a large volume of through traffic or anticipated traffic exceeding five hundred (500) vehicles per day.
- Maximum accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure size in special flood hazard area600 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Accessory structures are not to exceed six hundred (600) square feet in the special flood hazard area.
- Minor street traffic threshold500 vpd
Street, minor. A street that is used or planned primarily as a means of public access to the abutting properties with anticipated traffic of less than five hundred (500) vehicles per day.
- Maximum minor utility antenna length20 ft
Utility service, minor. ... Also included in this use type are wireless communication antennas which are attached to an existing building or structure, including but not limited to utility poles, signs, broadcasting or communication facilities, and water towers, and which are not greater than twenty (20) feet in length.
- Maximum patio elevation30 in
Patio. A level surfaced area directly adjacent to a principal building which has an average elevation of not more than thirty (30) inches from finished grade, and without walls or a roof.
- Minimum public street right-of-way50 ft
Street, public. A street which affords principal means of access to abutting property, and encompassed by a right-of-way dedicated to public use and maintained by the commonwealth as a part of the state primary or secondary road system. The right-of-way shall not be less than fifty (50) feet.
- Maximum recreational vehicle size400 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Recreational vehicle. A vehicle which is: ... 2. Four hundred (400) square feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal projection;
- Maximum short-term rentalShort-term rentalA dwelling let to guests for brief stays — the zoning category behind Airbnb rules. stay45 nights
Short-term rental business. A residential dwelling unit that is used or advertised for rent for transient occupancy in increments of forty-five (45) nights or less.
- Maximum specialty store size2,500 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Specialty store. A small-scale (less than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet per business) retail use
- Temporary structure minimum extension8 in
Structure, temporary. Anything constructed or erected without a permanent foundation or footings and that extends eight (8) inches or more.
- Maximum travel trailer length29 ft
Travel trailer. A mobile unit less than twenty-nine (29) feet in length and less than four thousand five hundred (4,500) pounds in weight
- Maximum travel trailer weight4,500 lbs
Travel trailer. A mobile unit less than twenty-nine (29) feet in length and less than four thousand five hundred (4,500) pounds in weight
Parking
- Compact parking space dimensions
Parking space, compact. A space for parking one (1) passenger automobile that is sixteen (16) feet long and eight (8) feet wide
- Minimum normal parking space length20 ft
Parking space, normal. An area not less than ten (10) feet wide by twenty (20) feet long
- Minimum normal parking space width10 ft
Parking space, normal. An area not less than ten (10) feet wide by twenty (20) feet long
Signage
- Maximum projecting sign projection4 ft
Sign, projecting. A sign attached to a building, approximately perpendicular to the building wall, and projecting up to four (4) feet from the building wall
- Maximum wall sign projection8 in
Sign, wall. Any signs or lettering, projecting not more than eight (8) inches, which are placed against or attached to the front, rear, or side wall of a building
- Maximum minor sign area1 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Sign, minor. A wall or freestanding sign not exceeding one (1) square foot in area, not exceeding four (4) feet in height, and not illuminated.
- Maximum minor sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.4 ft
Sign, minor. A wall or freestanding sign not exceeding one (1) square foot in area, not exceeding four (4) feet in height, and not illuminated.
Sign, roof. Any sign erected, constructed, and maintained wholly upon or over the roof of any building (such signs are not permitted under this chapter).
- Sign area exclusion threshold1 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
A display of less than one (1) square foot in area is excluded from this definition.
From the ordinance
Accessory structures are not to exceed six hundred (600) square feet in the special flood hazard area.