Sec. 24-2. - Definitions.
Dimensional standards
Extracted standards
155 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Other
- Accessory apartmentAccessory dwelling unit (ADU)A second, smaller home on a lot that already has one — a garage flat, basement flat or backyard cottage. attached definition
A separate, complete housekeeping unit that is substantially contained within the structure of, and clearly secondary to, a single-family dwelling.
- Accessory apartmentAccessory dwelling unit (ADU)A second, smaller home on a lot that already has one — a garage flat, basement flat or backyard cottage. detached definition
A separate, complete housekeeping unit that is incidental to and located on the same lot occupied by a single-family dwelling.
- AccessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. apartmentsMultifamily dwellingA building of four or more dwelling units. Where zoning is most restrictive. not considered dwelling unitsDwelling unitOne independent home: its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance.
For purposes of this chapter, attached and detached accessory apartments shall not be considered dwelling units.
- AccessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. building definition
A subordinate building or structure customarily incidental to and located upon the same lot occupied by the main use or building.
- Attached accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structures considered part of main building
Garages or other accessory structures such as carports, porches, decks and stoops attached to the main building shall be considered part of the main building.
- AccessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structures prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance. from housekeeping use except detached accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. apartmentsMultifamily dwellingA building of four or more dwelling units. Where zoning is most restrictive.
With the exception of detached accessory apartments, as may be approved by a special use permit, no such accessory building or structure shall be used for housekeeping purposes.
- AccessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structures within 10 feet of main structure considered part of main structure for yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. determination
Accessory buildings and structures located ten feet or less from a main structure shall be considered part of the main structure for the purpose of determining side and rear yards.
A subordinate use customarily incidental to and located upon the same lot occupied by the main use or building.
- Minimum adults for adult day care centerDay careSupervised care for children or adults during part of the day. definition4 adults
provides supplementary care and protection during only a part of the day to four or more aged, infirmed or disabled adults
- Affordable housing AMI range
households earning between 30 percent and 80 percent of the area median income
- Affordable housing income threshold30 pct
Housing available at a sales price or rental amount that does not exceed 30 percent of the total monthly income of households earning between 30 percent and 80 percent of the area median income
- AgriculturalAgricultureRaising crops or livestock, generally including the structures that serve them. operation definition
Any operation devoted to the bona fide production of crops, or animals, or fowl including the production of fruits or vegetables of all kinds; meat, dairy, and poultry products; nuts, tobacco, nursery, and floral products; and the production and harvest of products from silviculture activity.
- AgricultureAgricultureRaising crops or livestock, generally including the structures that serve them. general definition
The tilling of the soil, the raising of crops, orchards, horticulture, forestry and gardening, including the keeping of animals and fowl but not intensive agriculture as herein defined or the commercial slaughtering or processing of animals or poultry.
- AgricultureAgricultureRaising crops or livestock, generally including the structures that serve them. intensive definition
Those intensive agricultural operations commonly known as confinement operations where large numbers of animals or poultry are confined to a relatively small space such as hog, veal and poultry pens or houses, feedlots for livestock and dairy farming operations.
- Agritourism definition
Any activity carried out on a farm or ranch that allows members of the general public, for recreational, entertainment, or educational purposes, to view or enjoy rural activities, including farming, wineries, ranching, historical, cultural, harvest-your-own activities, or natural activities and attractions.
- Alteration definition
Any change or rearrangement in the supporting members of an existing building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams, girders or interior partitions, as well as any change in doors or windows or any enlargement to or diminution of a building or structure, whether horizontally or vertically, or the moving of a building or structure from one location to another.
- Antenna definition
A device of which the surface is used to capture an incoming and/or to transmit an outgoing radio-frequency signal.
A building or structure arranged or designed to be occupied by three or more families living in separate dwelling units but sharing the entrance to the building.
- Aquaculture definition
The growing, farming and husbandry of freshwater and marine organisms under controlled conditions, including, but not limited to, hatcheries, fish farms, the propagation of ornamental fish and plants and pearl culture.
- Minimum adults for assisted living facility definition4 adults
assistance (scheduled and unscheduled) for the maintenance or care of four or more adults
- Assisted living facility does not count toward residential density
an assisted living facility is an institutional use and therefore it does not count toward residential density calculation
- Attic definition
That part of a building which is immediately below and wholly or partly within the roof framing.
- Base flood definition
The flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (formerly 100-year flood).
- Base flood elevation definition
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated one percent annual chance (100-year) water surface elevation.
- Base station definition
A structure or equipment at a fixed location that enables Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-licensed or authorized wireless communications between user equipment and a communications network.
- Basement definition
A story having part but not more than one-half of its height below grade.
- Basement counted as story for heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. regulations if used for business or dwelling
A basement shall be counted as a story for the purpose of height regulations if it is used for business purposes or for dwelling purposes by other than a janitor employed on the premises.
- Building definition
Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of any individual, animal, process, equipment, goods or materials of any kind or nature.
- Building heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. measurement
The vertical distance measured from the level of the curb or the established curb grade opposite the middle of the front of the structure to the highest point of the roof if a flat roof, to the deck line of a mansard roof, or to the mean height level between the eaves and ridge of a gable, hip or gambrel roof.
- Building heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. measurement for buildings set back from street
For buildings set back from the street line, the height shall be measured from the average elevation of the ground surface along the front of the building.
- Maximum projection of architectural features into yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. for building line definition3 ft
architectural features such as canopies, cornices, belt courses, pilasters, sills and eaves which project no more than three feet into the yard
- Exclusions from campground definition
does not include a summer camp, migrant labor camp or park for mobile homes as defined in section 32.1-203 of the Code of Virginia, or a construction camp, storage area for unoccupied camping units, or property upon which the individual owner may choose to camp
- Minimum area for campground definition4 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
Any area, place, parcel or tract of land of four acres or more on which three or more campsites are occupied
- Minimum campsites for campground definition3 campsites
on which three or more campsites are occupied
- Exclusions from camping unit definition
A mobile home or manufactured home shall not be considered a camping unit.
- Maximum occupancy of camping unit in campground90 days
a unit not occupied by the same persons in the campground for more than 90 days in any 120-day period
- Cellar definition
A story having more than one-half of its height below grade and which may not be occupied for dwelling purposes.
- Certificate of occupancy definition
A document issued by the James City County building official after completion of the final inspection and when the building or structure is in compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) and any pertinent laws and ordinances.
- Minimum children for child day care centerDay careSupervised care for children or adults during part of the day. definition6 children
An establishment offering group care to six or more children
- Co-location definition
The mounting, installation, maintenance, modification, operation, or replacement of communications facilities on, under, within, or adjacent to a base station, building, existing structure, utility pole, or support structure for the purpose of transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency signals or other wireless data for communications purposes.
- Exclusions from combat tactical training facility definition
This definition shall not apply to hunting preserves or clubs, indoor or outdoor firing and shooting ranges, racetracks for animals or vehicles, indoor or outdoor sports facilities, schools, and facilities operated by local regional, state, or federal government agencies.
- Exclusions from communications facility definition
Communications facilities shall not include facilities used for transmitting or receiving signals by governmental agencies or amateur radio or citizens band radio.
- Community character corridor definition
A road shown and identified on the Land Use Plan Map in the Comprehensive Plan as a community character corridor.
- Concealment element definition
Any condition of approval, including any applicable requirements of article II, special regulations, division 6, communications facilities, antennas, towers and support structures, in effect at the time of approval, established and imposed on a communications facility as a concealment technique designed to render the facility minimally visible to the casual observer or otherwise not having the appearance of an antenna or a tower
- Continuing care retirement community definition
An age-restricted development that is planned, designed and operated to provide a full range of accommodations for senior citizens, including independent living, assisted living and a skilled nursing component.
- Maximum floor area for convenience store definition4,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
A single store, the ground floor area which consists of 4,000 square feet or less of retail floor area
- Dairy definition
A commercial establishment for the manufacture, processing, distribution and sale of dairy products.
- Data center definition
An establishment or facility used for the storage, management, processing, and transmission of digital data, which may include the housing of computer and/or network equipment systems, servers, appliances, and other associated equipment or components related to digital data operation.
- Exclusions from data center definition
This definition does not include server rooms or information technology infrastructure that is accessory to the principal use of the site. Further, this definition does not include an establishment or facility used to mine cryptocurrency.
- Detectable warnings definition
A standardized surface feature built in or applied to walking surfaces or other elements to warn visually impaired people of hazards on a circulation path.
- Exclusions from developable area
resource protection area as defined in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance, areas subject to flooding under the one percent annual chance (100-year) storm event (FEMA zones A, AE, AO, V, and VE), and areas of 1,000 square feet or greater containing steep slopes
- Development definition
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, the placement of manufactured homes, streets and other paving, utilities, filling, grading, excavation, mining, dredging, drilling operations, storage of equipment or materials.
- Development plans definition
Any site plan, subdivision plat, or subdivision construction plan.
- HeightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. for diameter breast heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. measurement4.5 ft
The diameter of a tree trunk measured four and five-tenths feet from the ground.
- Directionally shielded lighting fixture definition
A lighting fixture which emits a light distribution where some light is emitted at or above a horizontal plane located at the bottom of a fixture. Such fixtures may contain visors, louvers or other types of shields, baffles or lenses which are designed to direct light onto a targeted area and to minimize light spillage.
- Discontinuance definition
Vacancy of a building originally designed or arranged for the nonconforming use for a continuous period of two years; Vacancy of land for a period of 90 days; Vacancy of any building other than in subparagraph (1) above for a period of six months; or Clear intent on the part of the owner to abandon the nonconforming use.
- Dry floodproofing definition
A combination of measures that results in a structure, including the attendant utilities and equipment, being watertight with all elements substantially impermeable and with structural components having the capacity to resist flood loads.
- Exclusions from dwelling definition
except hotels, motels, boardinghouses, lodging houses, tourist cabins, time-share units, motor lodges, tents, travel trailers, recreational vehicles and similar accommodations
One or more rooms in a dwelling designed for living or sleeping purposes, and having at least one kitchen.
- Dwelling unitDwelling unitOne independent home: its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance. must have at least one kitchen
One or more rooms in a dwelling designed for living or sleeping purposes, and having at least one kitchen.
- Electric vehicle charging station definition
An Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS) is an appliance that supplies energy to recharge electric vehicle batteries.
- Elevated building definition
A non-basement building built to have the lowest floor elevated above the ground level by means of solid foundation, perimeter walls, pilings, or columns (post and piers).
- Eligible facilities request definition
Any request for modification of an existing tower or existing base station that does not substantially change the physical dimensions of such tower or base station
- Eligible support structure definition
Any tower or base station, provided that it is existing at the time the relevant application is filed with the county.
- Encroachment definition
The advance or infringement of uses, plant growth, fill, excavation, buildings, permanent structures or development into a floodplain, which may impede or alter the flow of capacity of a floodplain.
- Equipment enclosure definition
A small building, cabinet, or vault used to house and protect the electronic equipment necessary to process wireless communications signals.
- Existing definition
Having been reviewed and approved under the applicable zoning process. A tower or base station that has not been reviewed and approved because it was not required to be reviewed when it was built, but was lawfully constructed, shall also be deemed 'existing.'
- Existing structure definition
structures for which the start of construction commenced before the effective date of the FIRM on or before February 6, 1991
- Exterior lot definition
Pertaining to lots for three- or four-family dwellings whose units are laid out side-by-side in a row, an exterior lot is a lot intended to contain a dwelling unit sharing only one wall in common with another dwelling unit.
- Fair market value definition
The price that a good or service would bring between a willing seller and a willing buyer in the open market after negotiation.
- Definition of family
A number of persons, not exceeding three, living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit though not related by blood, adoption or marriage shall be deemed to constitute a family.
- Maximum number of unrelated persons in a family3 persons
A number of persons, not exceeding three, living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit though not related by blood, adoption or marriage shall be deemed to constitute a family.
- Maximum unrelated persons when living with related persons2 persons
Not more than two unrelated persons living and cooking together along with two or more persons related by blood, marriage, adoption or guardianship, as a single housekeeping unit.
- Farmer's market definition
An occasional or periodic market held in a structure or open area where farmers sell their produce or farm products.
- Fast food restaurant definition
Any building in which, for compensation, food or beverages are dispensed for consumption on or off the premises. Customer orders and/or services may be by means of a walk-up counter or a window designated to accommodate traffic of vehicles.
- Fish farm definition
See 'Aquaculture.'
- Flag lot definition
A lot where a majority of the parcel does not abut a public right-of-way, but that achieves access to the public road by a narrow section of land not less than 25 feet in width.
- Minimum width of flag lot access strip25 ft
a narrow section of land not less than 25 feet in width
- Flea market definition
An occasional or periodic market held in a structure or open area where one or more individuals offer goods for sale to the public.
- Exclusions from flea market definition
does not include sales held by charitable or nonprofit organizations not more than four times a year, farmer's market or garage sales
- Flood definition
A general or temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from the overflow of inland or tidal waters; the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or mudflows
- Flood Insurance Rate Map definition
An official map of a community, on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has delineated both the special hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.
- Flood Insurance Study definition
A report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that examines, evaluates and determines flood hazards and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface elevations, or an examination, evaluation, and determination of mudflow and/or flood-related erosion hazards.
- Flood proofing definition
Any combination of structural and non-structural additions, changes or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents.
Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source.
- Floodway definition
The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot.
- Maximum water surface elevation increase in floodway1 ft
without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot
- Floor area definition
The total number of square feet of floor space within the exterior walls of a building, not including space in cellars, basements or attics.
- Exclusions from floor area
not including space in cellars, basements or attics
A mathematical expression determined by dividing the total floor area of a building by the area of the lot on which it is located
- Foot-candle definition
A measure of light falling on a surface. One foot-candle is equal to the amount of light generated by one candle shining on one square foot surface located one foot away.
- Freeboard definition
A factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood level for purposes of floodplain management also known as the design base flood elevation for building code purposes.
The minimum width of a lot measured along the street from one side lot line to the other.
- Full cut-off lighting fixture definition
A lighting fixture from which no light output is emitted at or above a horizontal plane drawn through the bottom of the lighting fixture.
- Garage definition
A deck, building or structure, or part thereof, used or intended to be used for the parking or storage of vehicles.
- Garage sale definition
The sale of goods by a property owner and his neighbors at the property owner's residence occurring not more than twice a year.
- Maximum frequency of garage sales2 times per year
occurring not more than twice a year
- Glare definition
The effect of a light source that shines in a conspicuous and obtrusive manner.
- Golf course definition
Any area of land, publicly or privately owned, on which the game of golf is played, including accessory uses and buildings customary thereto, but excluding golf driving ranges as defined herein.
- Exclusions from golf course definition
excluding golf driving ranges as defined herein
- Golf driving range definition
A limited area on which golf players do not walk, but onto which they drive golf balls from a common driving tee.
- Green building definition
Structures constructed in a manner that addresses elements such as efficient management of energy and water resources, management of material resources and waste, protection of environmental quality, protection of health and indoor environmental quality, reinforcement of natural systems, and integration of the design approach.
- Group homeGroup homeA dwelling shared by unrelated residents receiving supervision or care. definition
A residential facility in which individuals with mental illness, mental retardation or developmental disabilities reside with one or more resident counselors or other staff persons, and which is licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services.
- Guest room definition
A room which is intended, arranged or designed to be occupied, or which is occupied, by one or more guests paying direct or indirect compensation therefor, but in which no provision is made for cooking. Dormitories are excluded.
- Highest adjacent grade definition
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.
- HistoricHistoric districtAn area where exterior changes need design review to protect its character. and scenic resource area definition
Land managed by Colonial Williamsburg, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, the National Park Service, York River State Park, the Virginia Association for Preservation of Antiquities, the Williamsburg Land Conservancy, or properties listed in the National Register, Virginia Historic Landmarks Register, or locally designated historic structures or districts, or Community Character Areas as defined in the Comprehensive Plan.
- HistoricHistoric districtAn area where exterior changes need design review to protect its character. structure definition
Any structure that is listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places, certified as contributing to a registered historic district, listed on a state inventory, or listed on a local inventory
- Home garden definition
An accessory use in a residential district for the production of vegetables, fruits and flowers generally for use or consumption, or both, by the occupants of the premises.
- No exterior evidence of home occupationHome occupationA business run from a dwelling, permitted so long as it stays subordinate to living there.
No exterior evidence of the secondary use exists
- Home occupationHome occupationA business run from a dwelling, permitted so long as it stays subordinate to living there. parking must be off-street
any need for parking generated by the conduct of such home occupation shall be met off the street
- No articles displayed or offered for sale on premises for home occupationHome occupationA business run from a dwelling, permitted so long as it stays subordinate to living there.
No articles are displayed or otherwise offered for sale upon the premises
- Home occupationHome occupationA business run from a dwelling, permitted so long as it stays subordinate to living there. traffic not greater than normal residential
Traffic is not generated in greater volumes than would normally be expected in a residential neighborhood
- Horizontal light bars/strips definition
An illumination device erected in a way so there is no visible bulb, lens, globe, diode or other light source as desired and designed such that there is no light spillage beyond the intended object to be illuminated.
- Hospital definition
Any facility in which the primary function is the provision of diagnosis, of treatment and of medical and nursing services, surgical or nonsurgical, for two or more nonrelated individuals
- Hospitals definition
Any facility in which the primary function is the provision of diagnosis, of treatment and of medical and nursing services, surgical or nonsurgical, for two or more nonrelated individuals
- Minimum individuals for hotel definition10 individuals
A building designed or occupied as the more or less temporary abiding place for more than ten individuals
- Hydrologic and hydraulic analysis definition
Analyses performed by a licensed professional engineer in accordance with standard engineering practices that are accepted by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and FEMA, used to determine the base flood, other frequency floods, flood elevations, floodway information and boundaries, and flood profiles.
- Independent living facility definition
A facility containing independent dwelling units providing housing and supportive services such as meals, housekeeping, social activities and transportation to residents.
- Institutional use definition
A nonprofit, religious, private or public use, such as a church, library, school, hospital, or government-owned or operated building, structure, or land used for a public purpose.
- Exemption from intensive agricultureAgricultureRaising crops or livestock, generally including the structures that serve them. for pasture/range
Enclosed pasture or range where grass is maintained for at least ten months of the year or where animals are confined at no more than 15 adult animals per acre for no longer than 120 continuous days shall not constitute intensive agriculture.
- Maximum animals per acreacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones. for pasture exemption from intensive agricultureAgricultureRaising crops or livestock, generally including the structures that serve them.15 animals per acreacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
animals are confined at no more than 15 adult animals per acre
- Maximum days for pasture exemption from intensive agricultureAgricultureRaising crops or livestock, generally including the structures that serve them.120 days
for no longer than 120 continuous days
- Minimum months of grass maintenance for pasture exemption10 months
Enclosed pasture or range where grass is maintained for at least ten months of the year
- Thresholds for intensive agricultureAgricultureRaising crops or livestock, generally including the structures that serve them.
more than 300 veal animals, slaughter or feeder cattle, 200 dairy cattle, 750 swine, 150 horses, 500 sheep, lambs, goats or similar animals, 5,500 turkeys, or 10,000 laying hens or broilers
- Iso-footcandle diagram definition
A diagram consisting of lines showing the relative illumination in foot candles from a light source or group of light sources.
- Junk yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. definition
The use of any area of land lying within 100 feet of a state highway or the use of more than 200 square feet of land area in any location for the storage, keeping or abandonment of junk, including scrap metals or other scrap materials.
- Distance from state highway for junk yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. definition100 ft
The use of any area of land lying within 100 feet of a state highway
- Minimum area for junk yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. definition200 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
or the use of more than 200 square feet of land area in any location
A place prepared to house, board, breed, handle or otherwise keep or care for either dogs or cats or both for sale or in return for compensation.
A place prepared to house, board, breed, handle or otherwise keep or care for either dogs or cats or both for sale or in return for compensation.
- Landscaped open spaceOpen spaceLand a development must leave unbuilt, sometimes required to be usable or planted. definition
An area containing living plant materials, including trees, flowers, shrubs or grass. Landscaped areas may include pedestrian walks, ornamental objects, decorative planting, lawns and wooded areas, but at least 50 percent of the area must be vegetated.
- Exclusions from landscaped open spaceOpen spaceLand a development must leave unbuilt, sometimes required to be usable or planted.
shall not include any building, parking surface or structure except as stated above, or any wet detention pond or infiltration trench
- Minimum vegetation percentage for landscaped open spaceOpen spaceLand a development must leave unbuilt, sometimes required to be usable or planted.50 pct
at least 50 percent of the area must be vegetated
- Lighting fixture definition
A complete lighting unit consisting of the lamp, lens, optical reflector, housing and any electrical components necessary for ignition and control of the lamp, which may include a ballast, starter and/or photo control.
- Limited farm brewery definition
Breweries that manufacture no more than 15,000 barrels of beer per calendar year, provided the brewery is located on a farm where agricultural products, including barley, other grains, hops, or fruit, used by such brewery in the manufacture of its beer are grown on the farm.
- Maximum barrels for limited farm brewery15,000 barrels per year
Breweries that manufacture no more than 15,000 barrels of beer per calendar year
- Limited farm distillery definition
Distilleries that manufacture no more than 36,000 gallons of alcohol per calendar year, provided the distillery is located on a farm where agricultural products used by such distillery in the manufacture of its alcohol are grown on the farm.
- Maximum gallons for limited farm distillery36,000 gallons per year
Distilleries that manufacture no more than 36,000 gallons of alcohol per calendar year
- Livestock definition
Domestic animals normally raised on a farm such as horses, cows, swine, goats, sheep, etc.
- Livestock market definition
A commercial establishment wherein livestock is collected for sale and auctioned off.
- Livestock market definition
A commercial establishment wherein livestock is collected for sale and auctioned off.
- Lot definition
A unit, division or piece of land occupied or to be occupied by a main structure or group of main structures and accessory structures, together with such yards, open spaces, lot width and lot areas as are required by this chapter, and having frontage upon a street, either shown on a plat of record or considered as a unit of property and described by metes and bounds.
- Lot definition
A unit, division or piece of land occupied or to be occupied by a main structure or group of main structures and accessory structures, together with such yards, open spaces, lot width and lot areas as are required by this chapter, and having frontage upon a street, either shown on a plat of record or considered as a unit of property and described by metes and bounds.
- Maximum floor area of attached accessory apartmentAccessory dwelling unit (ADU)A second, smaller home on a lot that already has one — a garage flat, basement flat or backyard cottage. as percentage of dwelling floor area35 pct
The accessory apartment may not occupy more than 35 percent of the floor area of the dwelling.
- Maximum floor area of detached accessory apartmentAccessory dwelling unit (ADU)A second, smaller home on a lot that already has one — a garage flat, basement flat or backyard cottage. as percentage of accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure floor area50 pct
The detached accessory apartment may not occupy more than 50 percent of the floor area of the accessory structure.
- Maximum floor area for home occupationHome occupationA business run from a dwelling, permitted so long as it stays subordinate to living there.25 pct
Not more than 25 percent of the first floor area is used throughout the structure for such occupation or activity
- Maximum sign area for home occupationHome occupationA business run from a dwelling, permitted so long as it stays subordinate to living there.4 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
one sign, not to exceed four square feet. Such a sign must be attached to the dwelling and shall not be illuminated
A building or structure including, but not limited to, townhouses, duplexes, and triplexes that are arranged or designed to be occupied by more than one family living in separate dwelling units with separate cooking, toilet facilities, and entrances.
- Net density definition
Net density shall be calculated as the number of dwelling units divided by the developable area.
- Private garage definition
An accessory building which is designed or used for the storage of automobiles owned and used by the occupants of the building to which it is accessory and which is not operated as a separate commercial enterprise available to the public.
- Repair garage definition
A building or portion thereof, other than a private garage, designed or used for servicing, repairing, equipping, renting, selling or storing motor-driven vehicles.
- Exclusions from retail floor area
excluding stairwells, elevator shafts, equipment rooms (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical), storage areas, restrooms, hallways, and interior vehicle parking or loading
- Single-familySingle-family dwellingOne dwelling unit on its own lot, usually detached from its neighbours. detached definition
A detached structure arranged or designed to be occupied by one family, the structure having only one dwelling unit.
- Minimum area of steep slopes excluded from developable area1,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
areas of 1,000 square feet or greater containing steep slopes
- Structure definition reference
Refer to the definition of 'structure.'
From the ordinance
Accessory apartment, attached. A separate, complete housekeeping unit that is substantially contained within the structure of, and clearly secondary to, a single-family dwelling. The accessory apartment may not occupy more than 35 percent of the floor area of the dwelling.