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Dover Township Overview
Dover Township, PA Code of Ordinances
CODE OF ORDINANCES of the TOWNSHIP OF DOVER
OFFICIALS of the TOWNSHIP OF DOVER County of York, Pennsylvania
FOREWORD
ADOPTING ORDINANCE
Chapter 1 Administration and Government
Chapter 2 [Reserved]
Chapter 3 [Reserved]
Chapter 4 Buildings
Chapter 5 Code Enforcement
Chapter 6 Conduct
Chapter 7 Fire Prevention and Fire Protection
Chapter 8 Fire Insurance Escrow
Chapter 9 [Reserved]
Chapter 10 Health and Safety
Chapter 11 Housing
Chapter 12 [Reserved]
Chapter 13 Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations
Chapter 14 Mobile Homes and Mobile Home Parks
Chapter 15 Motor Vehicles and Traffic
Chapter 16 Parks and Recreation
Chapter 17 [Reserved]
Chapter 18 [Reserved]
Chapter 19 Stormwater Management
Chapter 20 Solid Waste
Chapter 21 Streets and Sidewalks
Chapter 22 Subdivision and Land Development
Chapter 23 [Reserved]
Chapter 24 Taxation; Special
Chapter 25 [Reserved]
Chapter 26 Water, Sewer and Sewage Disposal
Chapter 27 Zoning
Part 1 Short Title, Purpose, Community Development Objectives and Authority
Part 2 Definitions of Terms
Part 3 Zoning Districts, Map, Boundaries
Part 4 District Regulations
Part 5 Supplementary Regulations
Part 6 Specific Standards for Uses
§ 27-601. Purpose.
§ 27-602. Accessory Apartment.
§ 27-603. Accessory Family Dwelling Unit.
§ 27-604. Adaptive Reuse.
§ 27-605. Adult-Oriented Facility.
§ 27-606. Age-Restricted Community (ARC).
§ 27-607. Agribusiness.
§ 27-608. Animal Day Care/Animal Grooming Facility.
§ 27-609. Animal Hospital/Crematorium.
§ 27-610. Asphalt/Concrete Plant.
§ 27-611. Banks and Other Similar Financial Institutions.
§ 27-612. Bed and Breakfast Inn.
§ 27-613. Business and Professional Offices.
§ 27-614. Campground or Recreational Vehicle Park.
§ 27-615. Care Facilities.
§ 27-616. Car Wash, Automatic and Self-Service.
§ 27-617. Catering Facility.
§ 27-618. Cemetery.
§ 27-619. Clubs, Profit/Nonprofit.
§ 27-620. Commercial Recreation Facilities.
§ 27-621. Conference Centers and Corporate Headquarters.
§ 27-622. Conservation-Based Design.
§ 27-623. Contractor Office/Shop.
§ 27-624. Contractor's Yard/Heavy Storage.
§ 27-625. Cryptocurrency Mining Factory.
§ 27-626. Drive-Through Service Facility.
§ 27-627. ESA - Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
§ 27-628. Farm Product Warehouses, Farm Equipment Sales and Service.
§ 27-629. Farm/Farmer's Market.
§ 27-630 Funeral Home/Crematorium.
§ 27-631. Garden Center.
§ 27-632. Golf Courses.
§ 27-633. Greenhouses and Nurseries.
§ 27-634. Group Home.
§ 27-635. Half-Way House.
§ 27-636. Home Occupations.
§ 27-637. Hospital.
§ 27-638. Hotel and Motel.
§ 27-639. Household Pet Breeding, Commercial.
§ 27-640. House of Worship.
§ 27-641. Industrial Park.
§ 27-642. Intensive Agricultural Operations.
§ 27-643. Junkyards.
§ 27-644. Kennel.
§ 27-645. Laundry/Laundromat and Dry-Cleaning Establishments.
§ 27-646. Manufacturing
§ 27-647. Medical Center/Facilities /Laboratory.
§ 27-648. Medical Marijuana Dispensary/Grower/Processor.
§ 27-649. Micro-brewery.
§ 27-650. Micro-distillery.
§ 27-651. Mineral Development.
§ 27-652. Natural Gas Compressor Station.
§ 27-653. Natural Gas Processing Plant.
§ 27-654. Mini-Storage Facility.
§ 27-655. Mobile Home Park.
§ 27-656. No Impact Home-Based Business.
§ 27-657. Outdoor Recreations Facilities
§ 27-658. Outdoor Trap, Skeet, Rifle, Pistol or Archery Range.
§ 27-659. Owner-Operated Automotive Repair Business.
§ 27-660. Principal Solar Energy Systems ("PSES").
§ 27-661. Public/Semi-Public Facilities and Uses.
§ 27-662. Public Utility Buildings and/or Service Structures.
§ 27-663. Quarries.
§ 27-664. Recycling Business.
§ 27-665. Refining Operations.
§ 27-666. Research Laboratory/Product Development Facility.
§ 27-667. Residential Conversions.
§ 27-668. Restaurant - Fast Food and/or Carry-Out/Delivery.
§ 27-669. Retail Sales and Services.
§ 27-670. Riding Academy or Boarding Stables.
§ 27-671. Roadside Stand.
§ 27-672. Rooming House.
§ 27-673. Service Station or Convenience Store Dispensing Fuel.
§ 27-674. Schools, Public/Commercial Private/College/University.
§ 27-675. Shopping Center/Flea Market.
§ 27-676. Special Event Venue.
§ 27-677. Tavern/Micro-brewery/Micro-distillery/Nightclub/Winery.
§ 27-678. Transportation Terminal/Trucking Facility.
§ 27-679. Vehicle Sales, Service, Repair and/or Body Shop.
§ 27-680. Wholesale Establishment/Warehousing Establishment/ Distribution Center.
§ 27-681. Wind and Other Energy Related Uses.
§ 27-682. Winery, Retail.
Part 7 Off-Street Parking and Loading
Part 8 Signs
Part 9 Nonconformities
Part 10 Zoning Hearing Board
Part 11 Administration and Enactment
Part 12 Wireless Communications Facilities
Part 13 Planned Residential Development
ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS
Appendix
Table to Disposition of All Ordinances
Table to Disposition of Significant Resolutions
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§ 27-662.   Public Utility Buildings and/or Service Structures.
   1.   Front, side, and rear yard setbacks and lot coverage shall be provided in accordance with the regulations of the district in which the building is located. The lot area requirement shall be exempted.
   2.   Maximum height of buildings shall be as required by the district regulations.
   3.   The external design of the building shall, to the extent possible be in conformity with the buildings in the surrounding area.
   4.   Unhoused equipment shall be enclosed by a fence or wall not less than six feet in height, which shall be so constructed as not to have openings, holes or gaps larger than six inches in any direction and shall be limited to those items normally used by the utility. The required fence for unhoused equipment shall be surrounded by an evergreen screen planting when located adjacent to existing residential uses or in a residential district.
   5.   When the equipment totally enclosed within a building, no fence or screen planting shall be required and the yard shall be maintained in conformity with the district in which the facility is located.
   6.   In residential districts, the permitted public facilities shall not include the storage of vehicles or equipment used in the maintenance of any utility and no equipment causing unreasonable noise, vibration, smoke, odor, or hazardous effect shall be installed.
   7.   A stormwater management plan shall be required.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-663.   Quarries.
   1.   In making determinations concerning special exceptions for quarrying operations, the Zoning Hearing Board must make findings as to the specific following factors:
      A.   Application.
         (1)   Prior to granting approval of the special exception, the applicant shall submit for review by the Planning Commission and approval of the Zoning Hearing Board a development or mining plan, operational requirements, and restoration/reclamation requirements.
         (2)   Prior to granting approval of the special exception, the applicant shall submit for review by the Planning Commission and the Zoning Hearing Board, a copy of all applications, plans, maps, and related information filed with any regulatory agency or body having jurisdiction and all permits issued with respect thereto.
      B.   Development or Mining Plan. A development plan or mining plan shall consist of a topographic plan with a contour interval of not greater than five feet showing all natural and man-made features, rights-of-way, easements, property lines, flood information, any other pertinent data, and a plan and cross-sections of the proposed surface mining including ground-water information. More specifically the plan shall include:
         (1)   Location of quarrying pit, buildings, stockpiles, waste piles in relation to other existing or planned uses in the area.
         (2)   Physical Factors.
            (a)   Soil, nature and characteristics, including possible erosion by water and wind.
            (b)   Drainage.
            (c)   Prevailing wind.
         (3)   Abutting land and streets, lateral support slopes and grades.
         (4)   A rehabilitation plan shall be filed with the Zoning Hearing Board stating the guarantee implementation plan for the best possible reuse.
      C.   Operational Requirements.
         (1)   Machinery, Equipment and Operations. All machinery, equipment and materials used in quarrying; all processing and manufacturing operations; and all hauling of quarrying products must be maintained, operated, or conducted in such a manner that in a residential zone:
            (a)   Flying objects and debris are not thrown.
            (b)   Noxious gases are not disseminated.
            (c)   There is no appreciable noise, vibration, dust, or mist.
         (2)   Barriers.
            (a)   Fencing. A six-foot substantial fence or other suitable barrier six feet high must surround the area of actual quarrying, unless such requirement is waived by the special exception issued by the Zoning Hearing Board. If guarded at all times, the entrance of the pit where adjacent to the quarry office, may be left unfenced.
            (b)   Screens. Where the quarry operations will substantially impair the beauty and character of the surrounding countryside, trees or shrubs must be planted, or attractive earth barriers erected, to screen the operation as far as practical from normal view.
         (3)   Washing. The washing of any earth material is permitted except:
            (a)   Where the quantity of water required will seriously affect the supply for residential uses in the area.
            (b)   Where the written opinion of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, disposal of water will result in contamination, pollution, or excessive silting.
         (4)   Setbacks from Residential Zones. Where the lot or parcel land which is the focus of quarrying operations is adjacent to a residential zone:
            (a)   No stockpiles, waste piles, processing or manufacturing equipment, may be closer than 1,000 feet to the residential zone.
            (b)   No part of the quarrying pit, private access road, truck parking area, scales, or operational equipment, may be closer than 500 feet to the residential zone.
         (5)   Street Setbacks. From the right-of-way line of a public street or highway, no part of the quarrying pit, stockpiles, waste piles, processing or manufacturing equipment, scales, or operational equipment, may be closer than 100 feet.
         (6)   Property Line Setbacks. From a property line, except for those following:
            (a)   No part of the quarrying pit stockpiles, waste piles, processing or manufacturing equipment, may be closer than 200 feet.
            (b)   No private access road, truck parking area, scales, or operational equipment, may be closer than 100 feet.
            (c)   Where a quarry property abuts another quarry property, an operating railroad's right-of-way property or a property in an agricultural zone, no part of the quarrying operation except an access road may be closer than 50 feet.
         (7)   Access Drive. The access drive to the facility shall be paved within 200 feet from the street line.
      D.   Restoration or Reclamation Requirements.
         (1)   Restoration Required. Within two years after the termination of quarrying operations, the area of actual quarrying operations must be rehabilitated to a condition of reasonable physical attractiveness and, as practical, restored.
         (2)   Restoration Standards. In rehabilitating the area of actual quarrying operations, the owner or operator must comply with the following standards:
            (a)   Slope. The slope of earth material in any excavated pit must not exceed the angle of slippage.
            (b)   Topsoil and Ground Cover. Where filling of the pit is desirable and economically feasible, the fill must be of a kind and depth to sustain grass, plants or trees and such must be planted.
            (c)   Drainage. To prevent any silt, erosion debris, or other loose material from filling any existing drainage course, or encroachment on State or Township roads or private property, all surface drainage existing or developing by or through the topsoil site must be controlled by dikes, barriers, or drainage structures. All measures to control natural drainage or flood water must meet with the approval of the Board of Supervisors.
            (d)   Removal of Plant and Equipment. Within two years after termination of operations, all plant and equipment must be removed, except where the plant and equipment is still used for processing earth material from other properties. If substantially covered, foundations and piers maybe left in the ground.
         (3)   Reporting of Operational and Restoration Information. In order to keep the Zoning Officer abreast of impending termination of quarrying operations and plans for restoration as well as operational activities which he/she has a duty to check, each quarry owner or operator must submit to the Zoning Officer, annually in the month of October, the information following:
            (a)   Operational Data.
               i.)   Ownership and acreage of the land which is the site of quarrying operations, including all land held under contract or lease.
               ii.)   Type of earth resources quarried.
               iii.)   Present depth of quarrying operations.
            (b)   Location map, at a scale of one inch equals 100 feet, or such other scale acceptable to the Township, showing:
               i.)   All land owned or under option, contract or lease.
               ii.)   Lot or land quarried.
               iii.)   As practical, contours at 20-foot intervals extending beyond the site to the nearest public street or highway.
               iv.)   Private access roads and abutting streets and highways.
               v.)   Existing structures.
               vi.)   Existing stockpiles and waste piles.
               vii.)   Title, scale, north point, and date.
               viii.)   Fencing and screen planting. If fencing vegetation, give details of size and type.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-664.   Recycling Business.
   1.   The perimeter of the property shall be enclosed with a fence or wall no higher than eight feet and no lower than six feet in height. Barbed-wire fences are prohibited.
   2.   Requirements for indoor and outdoor storage are listed in the table below:
Type of Recyclable
Under Roof Y/N
Need to be Covered Y/N
Type of Recyclable
Under Roof Y/N
Need to be Covered Y/N
Beverage Containers
No
No
Demolition Debris
No
No
Electronics
Yes
N/A
Metal
No
No
Oil
Yes
N/A
Paper
Yes
N/A
Plastic
No
No
Rubber Products
No
Yes
Tires
Yes
Yes
 
      A.   Batteries and other items considered hazardous waste shall not be kept on site.
      B.   Recycled oil shall be kept in an enclosed container at all times.
      C.   Any item that would create a hazardous run-off shall be kept under a roof or covered at all times.
      D.   Items such as newspaper, office paper, plastic, and drinking containers shall be secured so that they are not affected by the wind.
   3.   No pile of recyclables shall exceed 20 feet in height.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-665.   Refining Operations.
   1.   All uses shall have vehicular access to an arterial or collector road as identified in the Dover Township Comprehensive Plan.
   2.   Minimum lot size shall be two acres.
   3.   All structures shall be located at least 150 feet from all property lines, unless setback further by standards the underlying zoning.
   4.   Maximum lot coverage shall be 60%.
   5.   A minimum buffer strip shall be provided along all property lines in accordance with Section 409.
   6.   All outside storage of raw material shall be completely enclosed by an eight-foot-high fence and screened from adjoining properties and roads. No outdoor storage is permitted within the required buffer strip.
   7.   All storage facilities, conveying apparatuses, drying or wetting chambers and axial ventilation fans shall be set back a minimum of 150 feet from all property lines.
   8.   Operational Requirements.
      A.   Machinery, Equipment and Operations. All machinery, equipment and materials used in refining; all processing and manufacturing operations; and all hauling of refined products must be maintained, operated, or conducted in such a manner that:
         (1)   Flying objects and debris are not thrown.
         (2)   Noxious gases are not disseminated.
         (3)   There is no appreciable noise, vibration, dust, or mist.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-666.   Research Laboratory/Product Development Facility.
   1.   Access shall be via an arterial or collector road as identified in the Dover Township Comprehensive Plan.
   2.   Buffers and screens shall be provided as necessary to adequately protect neighboring properties. This includes, but is not limited to, fences, walls, plantings and open spaces.
   3.   Satisfactory provision shall be made to minimize harmful or unpleasant effects (noise, odors, fumes, glare, vibration and smoke).
   4.   The use must comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local regulations.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-667.   Residential Conversions.
   1.   Conversion may occur to single-family detached dwellings only.
   2.   No conversion shall result in a dwelling unit which has less than the minimum habitable floor area required by this Chapter.
   3.   Each unit shall provide required parking spaces in accordance with Part 7 of this Chapter.
   4.   All bulk and area requirements for the underlying district shall apply to the lot.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-668.   Restaurant - Fast Food and/or Carry-Out/Delivery.
   1.   Exterior trash receptacles shall be provided and routinely emptied to prevent the scattering of litter. A description of a working plan for the control of litter shall be provided. The trash receptacle shall be adequately screened in accordance with § 22-721 of the Dover Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22].
   2.   All exterior seating/play areas shall be suitably enclosed. Stacking lanes shall be provided to allow a minimum of four vehicles on site and out of the cartway.
   3.   Any associated Drive-Through windows and/or lane(s) must meet the standards outlined in § 27-627.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
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