The following regulations apply to the development of lots throughout the Township:
1. Lots of Record. On a lot held in single and separate ownership on the effective date of this Chapter, or any amendment thereto, which does not fulfill the requirements for the minimum lot area, lot width, and lot depth for the zone in which it is located, a building may be erected, altered and used and the lot may be used for a conforming (permitted) use providing the setback requirements are not less than the minimum specified herein for the district in which the lot is located.
2. Area Regulations. The area, width and depth of lots shall provide adequate area for off-street loading, unloading, and/or parking space. When necessary, on-lot wastewater facilities shall be provided with areas in addition to the space provided for off-street parking and other paved areas and the area covered by the principal and accessory structures.
A. Setback Modifications. The following standards and requirements apply to all uses in all zones:
(1) Front Yards.
(a) Front Setbacks from All Arterial Roads (As Identified in Dover Township Comprehensive Plan). For the purpose of protecting residential uses from adverse influences of traffic and for the purpose of protecting all arterial roads for their traffic functions, buildings (including residential and nonresidential buildings) along these thoroughfares must be set back at least 50 feet from the right-of-way line of the thoroughfare.
(b) Infill Lots. Where at least two adjacent buildings, along the same street line and within 100 feet of a property line are set back a lesser distance than required, the average of the distances of the adjacent buildings becomes the required front setback for that property.
(c) Agriculture and Farm Operation. No stable or similar animal housing building(s) is permitted within 25 feet of any property line. In addition, such setback modifications are subject to § 27-402.5.E.(5).
(2) Corner Lots.
(a) Corner lots shall have two front yards at the street side of the lot and two side yards on the non-street side.
(b) Unenclosed, uncovered decks must be at least ten feet from right-of-way line of "side street" (street other than street of address).
(c) Accessory buildings in front yards of a corner lot and double frontage lot. Accessory buildings are permitted in front yards on corner lots and double frontage lots in residential districts provided the accessory building is located to the rear, behind the rear building line, or within the side yard of the lot in accordance with Figure 1 and 2. The front of the lot is defined as the area bounded by the street line which determines the property address.
(3) Reverse Frontage or Double Frontage Lots. The front yard shall be determined by the street address of the property.
(4) School bus shelters, cornices, chimneys, steps, stoops, canopies, and similar extensions including fire escapes and eaves may be within the minimum front, side and rear setback. Stoops shall not be greater than 25 square feet in area.
(5) Porches or patios, whether covered or not, shall be considered part of the main building and shall not project into any front or side building setback area. Uncovered porches, decks, patios, or awnings, attached to the principal structure, may be located not closer than ten feet to a rear property line. Covered or enclosed porches, patios, & decks shall adhere to principal building setbacks.
(6) Buffer Yards and Screens. Buffer yards and screens shall be designed in accordance with the Dover Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22].
(7) Outdoor Stockpiling or Storage.
(a) Stockpiling firewood is permitted in all zones, except within the front building setback area.
(b) No stockpiling, except for firewood, is permitted in residential districts. In the Commercial and Industrial Districts, stockpiling may be located in the side yard provided that any stockpiling is screened from any adjoining residential uses. In all other districts, stockpiling shall be located in the rear of buildings and shall be screened.
(c) In the Commercial District, the outdoor display of merchandise shall be permitted in the front of a building provided that the merchandise is displayed no more than six feet from the front of the building.
(d) In multi-family developments, remote, screened storage areas shall be provided for items infrequently used, such as recreation vehicles, etc.
(e) A dumpster shall not be permitted on any occupied residential property for longer than 60 days. A dumpster shall not be placed within any road right-of-way in any zone unless written authorization from the Township is obtained due to the individual lot size, grade, or other justified constraint. A dumpster located in the front yard area in a zone other than residential shall be fully screened from view.
(f) Stockpiling must comply with all applicable building code requirements.
3. Obstruction to Vision. Clear sight triangles shall be established as set forth in the Dover Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22]. Proper sight lines must be maintained at all street intersections. Measured along the center line, there must be a clear sight triangle of 75 feet (150 feet for arterial streets) from the point of intersection of two street lines. No building or obstruction greater than three feet in height nor extending lower than 15 feet shall be permitted in this area above the grade of the center line of the street.
4. Flag Lots. Flag lots shall be allowed in the conservation and agriculture districts only and shall meet the following requirements:
A. The access strip portion of the lot shall be at least 50 feet wide and shall connect to a public right-of-way.
B. All area, yard, and height regulations of the underlying zone shall be applicable. All setbacks shall be measured from the interior staff line or lines of the lot.
C. The front building setback line shall be established at the required distance from that portion of the lot which meets the minimum lot width requirement.
D. No more than two contiguous flag lots shall be allowed, unless the regulations of the agriculture district requiring nonagricultural uses to be located on the least productive agriculture lands warrant the placement of more than two contiguous flag lots in a specific area of the original parcel.
E. The minimum distance between flag lot rights-of-way shall be at least equal to the minimum lot width.
5. Division of Built-On Lots.
A. No lot may be formed from part of a lot occupied by a building unless each newly created lot will meet all the applicable provisions of this Chapter and the Dover Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22].
B. In any residential zone, each single family detached dwelling unit shall occupy a separate lot with the exception of a mobile/manufactured home park.
6. Lot Width. Lot width in the case of an interior lot, the lot width is the horizontal distance measured at the minimum required front setback line between the side lot lines; and in the case of a corner lot, the lot width is horizontal distance measured at the minimum building setback line between each front lot line and its opposite lot line.
7. Residential lots, not considered an agricultural operation, are permitted one Animal Equivalent Unit (AEU) (refer to AEU definition) per acre.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)