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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
Appendix
Table to Disposition of All Ordinances
Table to Disposition of Significant Resolutions
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§ 27-703.   Schedule of Required Parking Spaces.
   1.   Off-street parking spaces must be provided for each building erected or enlarged in accordance with the following schedule:
Type of Use
Minimum of One Parking Space for Each
Type of Use
Minimum of One Parking Space for Each
   Residential Uses
 
Age Restricted Community
 
   Residential
2 spaces/dwelling unit
   Non-residential
See § 27-703.1 for each individual use
   Employee/staff
Each employee on the largest shift
Bed and Breakfast Rooming House
Bedroom or guest sleeping room plus the dwelling unit requirements
Dwelling Units
1:2 of a dwelling unit (i.e., 2 spaces for each dwelling unit)
Rooming House/Shared Residence
Resident
Guest Parking for multi-family units; townhouses; multi-unit buildings in an age-restricted community and any other planned multi-unit building
2.5 units
Group Home
5 residents. Plus at least 1 off-street parking space must be provided for each 2 residents over the initial 5. Plus 1 space for each on-site resident staff.
Adult Care Home
Dwelling requirement plus 1 space per client who operates a vehicle
Domiciliary Care Home
Dwelling requirement plus 1 space per client who operates a vehicle
Family Child Care Home
6-person capacity, plus the spaces required for the dwelling unit, plus 1 space for every 2 adult attendants/ caregivers
Group Child Care Home
If in a private dwelling, none, except parking required per dwelling
   Commercial Uses
 
Adult Care Facility
Employee plus 1 space per 1,000 sq. ft of gross floor area
Amusement Arcade
80 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Billiard Room
1:4 table (i.e., 4 spaces per table) and 1 per each 2 employees
Bowling Alley   
1:6 lane (i.e., 6 spaces per lane) plus 1 per each 2 employees
Campgrounds
Campsite, plus 1 per employee, plus 50% of the spaces normally required for any uses accessory to the campgrounds, if applicable
Clubs, Lodges, and Other Similar Facilities
50 sq. ft. of gross floor area plus one for each employee on the largest shift
Child Care Center
Employee, plus 1/10 pupils, plus 1 space designated as a passenger loading space
Drive-Through or Fast Food Restaurants
2 seats plus 1 per each 2 employees
Farmer's Market
100 square feet of sales area. Minimum of 6 spaces
Food Markets, Grocery Stores, and Convenience Store
200 sq. ft. of floor area for public use plus 1 per each employee on the 2 largest shifts
Funeral Home
100 sq. ft. of gross floor area plus 1 space per each hearse or ambulance
Garden Center/Greenhouse/Nursery
300 square feet of sales area, plus 1 for every 1,000 square feet outdoor sales/display area
Golf Course
1:8 hole (i.e., eight spaces per hole), plus one per employee, plus 50% of spaces for accessory uses
Golf Driving Range
1 per tee plus 1 per employee
Hotel/Motel
Guest sleeping room plus 2 for each 3 employees or part thereof
Kennel/Animal Boarding
Employee on the largest shift, plus 5 additional spaces
Laundromat
3 washing machines
Medical Care Clinic or Facility
Employee plus 1 space per 200 sq. ft. of net floor area
Miniature Golf Course
Hole plus 1 per employee
Mini-Storage/Self Storage Facility
5 storage bays, plus 1 per employee. For a wholly enclosed self-storage facility, 1 space per 2,500 sq. ft. of gross floor area.
Office Building
300 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Other Commercial Buildings
400 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Nursing Facility
1 per 2 beds, except institutions providing long-term custodial care need not provide more than 1 per 4 beds; plus 2 per 3 full-time employees of the largest shift plus 1 per staff doctor
Personal Care Facility
Employee plus 1 space per 250 sq. ft of gross floor area
Personal Services
200 square feet of gross floor area
Professional Offices of Physicians, Dentists, Veterinarians, etc.
1:6 physician or dentist (i.e., six spaces per physician or dentist) plus one per employee
Recreation Facility
100 square feet of floor area in largest room and 1/400 square feet of floor area in smaller rooms
Retail Store or Shop
300 sq. ft. of floor area for public use plus one per employee on the two largest shifts
Riding Academy or Horse Stable
4 stalls, plus 1 per every 4 seats of spectator seating
Roadside Stand
6 spaces per establishment
Shopping Center or Mall
360 sq. ft. of gross leasable floor area
Sit-Down Restaurant
4 seats plus 1 for each employee on the largest shift
Skating Rink
4 persons based on the designed capacity of the rink
Swimming Pools (other than accessory to residential development)
4 persons based on the designed capacity of the pool
Tennis or Racquetball Clubs
1:4 court (i.e., 4 spaces per court) plus 1 per employee plus 50% of the spaces normally required for accessory uses
Vehicle Repair, Service/Gasoline Station
1:2 service bay (i.e., 3 spaces per bay) plus 1 for each employee or 1 for every 200 sq. ft. of gross floor area, whichever is greater
Vehicle Sales Lots
20% of lot area devoted to the use to be reserved for customer parking
   Industrial Uses
 
Industrial & Heavy Commercial
Employee on the largest shift or 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area, whichever is greater
Quarry operations
Employee on the largest shift
Warehousing
Employee on the 2 largest shifts
Wholesale establishments
Employee on the largest 2 shifts
   Public and Semi-Public Uses
 
Athletic Field or Outdoor Recreational Facilities
4 seats of spectator seating; however, if no spectator seating is provided, a temporary parking area shall be provided on the site, which shall be delineated by a temporary barrier for such parking area
Auditorium, House of Worship, Theater and Other Such Places of Public Assembly
200 sq. ft. or 4 seats, whichever is greater, plus 1 per employee
Hospital, Convalescent/Nursing Home
1:2 bed (i.e., 1 space per 2 beds), plus 1 per employee on the largest shift
Municipal Buildings, Facilities and Uses
1 per each employee plus 1 additional for each 2 employees
Other Indoor Recreational Facilities
100 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Picnic Area
1:2 table (i.e., 2 spaces per table)
Public/Semi-Public Facilities and Uses
300 sq. ft. of gross floor area plus one per each employee for the largest shift
Public Utility Building and/or Service Structure   
1 per each employee with a minimum of 1 space
Schools, below grade 10
6 students enrolled based on the design capacity plus 1 classroom
Schools 10th grade and above including colleges (public or private)
3 students enrolled based on the design capacity plus 1 for each classroom
Vocational Training and Adult Educational Facilities (Public or Private)
1.5 students enrolled based on the design capacity plus 1 for each classroom
 
   2.   Parking required for lots containing multiple principal uses shall be the total of the number of spaces required for each individual use on the lot at issue.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-704.   Location of Parking Facilities.
   1.   Ground-level parking facilities shall be allowed in any yard, unless restricted by other Parts of this Chapter.
   2.   Joint parking facilities shall be allowed subject to the following requirements.
      A.   The nearest point of the parking lot shall be no further distance to the nearest point of the property served as provided below:
         (1)   Residential use: 100 feet.
         (2)   Commercial use: 200 feet.
         (3)   Industrial use: 300 feet.
      B.   The required parking shall be not less than the total required separately for each use with the following exceptions.
         (1)   Where it shall be demonstrated that the uses are utilizing the lot at different periods of the day, a reduction may be granted to the total number of parking spaces. The required number of spaces shall be based on the use which requires the most spaces.
         (2)   To encourage joint use of facilities on separate properties in areas of contiguous commercial development fronting on an urban principal arterial, a parking reduction of 20% may be granted to those uses which demonstrate safe and convenient walking distances between uses and meet the criteria in § 27-704.B(1).
         (3)   The parking area must remain under control of the owner or operator of the use to which the parking area is appurtenant.
   3.   Parking facility location shall be in conformance with the Dover Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 22, Part 11.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-705.   Layout of Parking Facilities.
   1.   When a parking area abuts the right-of-way line, curbing, permanent guardrail or fencing may be required along the right-of-way line in order to prohibit vehicle encroachment upon the sidewalk or shoulder area.
   2.   Handicapped parking spaces shall be designed in conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-706.   Drainage of Parking Facilities.
   All parking lots shall be drained so as to prevent damage to other properties or public streets. All parking lots shall be designed to prevent the collection of standing water on any portion of the parking lot surface. The use of urban BMP's, that is, filter strips and water quality inlets are required in the Wellhead Protection Area.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-707.   Lighting of Parking Facilities.
   Lighting shall be provided in accordance with § 27-509, “Illumination,” of this Chapter.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-708.   Parking Lot Setbacks.
   All parking lots must be set back a minimum of 15 feet from residential properties or residential districts and ten feet from all other property lines and street right-of-way lines.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-709.   Surfacing of Parking Facilities.
   For commercial, industrial and multi-family uses, all required parking areas and all access drives shall be paved or improved with other hard surfaces approved by the Township. Agricultural operations that operate a roadside stand, whether permanent or seasonal, may utilize either stone or stabilized grass areas for parking, provided no erosion is created.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-710.   Parking and Storage of Motor Vehicles, Recreational Vehicles, Boats, and Trailers.
   1.   Motor vehicles without current license plates and current inspection stickers shall not be parked or stored in any district other than in a completely enclosed building.
   2.   Recreational vehicles, boats and trailers may be stored in the yard area of a property in any district, subject to the following requirements.
      A.   Rear and side yards: The vehicle shall be set no closer than five feet to the rear and side property lines.
      B.   Front yard: The vehicle may be stored or parked in the front yard on the driveway area only, provided the vehicle is not occupying one of the required parking spaces for the principal use.
   3.   Tractor and/or trailers; construction equipment, including but not limited to backhoes, dump trucks over 20,000 GVW, cranes, forklifts; and school buses, with the exception of vans, shall not be parked or stored in residential districts, except for local delivery.
   4.   The requirements of this Section shall not be applicable to farm vehicles not normally used as a means of conveyance on a public highway.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
§ 27-711.   Off-Street Loading.
   Off-street loading berths, open or enclosed, are permitted accessory to any use (except single or two-family residences) subject to the following minimum provisions.
      A.   Size. The loading space shall not be less than 12 feet wide and 40 feet long, and in the case of tractor-trailers, not less than 12 feet wide and 60 feet long.
      B.   Surfacing. All off-street loading facilities shall be paved with bituminous or cement paving material.
      C.   Schedule of Required Spaces. Off-street loading spaces must be provided for each building erected or enlarged in accordance with the following schedule:
 
Type of Use
Number of Loading Spaces
Manufacturing, Storage, Display or Sale of Goods
One space for a gross floor area of 5, 000 to 25,000 sq. ft. each 10,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area in excess of 25,000 sq. ft.
Offices, Hotels, Theaters, or Similar Uses
One space for a gross floor area from 20,000 to 100,000 sq. ft. One additional space for each 40,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area in excess of 100,000 sq. ft.
 
      D.   Layout of Loading Spaces. The loading area shall be arranged so that there will be no need for motorists to back over public rights-of-way and shall not be located in the front yard area. Off-street loading spaces shall not interfere with off-street parking spaces.
      E.   Off-Street Loading Facilities. Off-street loading facilities shall be in conformance with the Dover Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance § 22. Part 11.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
Part 8
Signs
§ 27-801.   Outdoor Signs.
   1.   General Regulations for All Signs.
      A.   Determination of Size. The size of the sign shall refer to the area of the sign facing, including any border framing or decorative attachments. In the case of open signs made up of letters, figures and designs, the space between such letters, figures and designs shall be included. Where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that where two such faces are placed back to back and at no point more than three feet from one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face if the two faces are of equal area, or as the area of the larger face if the two faces are of unequal size.
      B.   Prohibited in Right-of-Way. Signs shall not be erected within or extend into the public right-of-way, which for the purpose of this Part shall be construed to extend to and include, at a minimum, the sidewalks on both sides of every street.
      C.   Measurement Not to Include Base. The base of any freestanding sign shall not be included in the measurement for determining the area of the sign. However, the base shall not be used for any portion of the message, whether verbal or pictorial, nor shall it be used for the placement of any future signs, whether permanent or temporary.
      D.   Two-Sided Signs. In computing the total permitted square foot area of a double-faced sign, only one side shall be considered, provided both faces are parallel and not more than 12 inches apart. Otherwise, all sides shall be considered in calculating the total permitted square foot area.
      E.   Location/Projection of Signs.
         (1)   Signs must be located so that they do not interfere with proper sight distances.
         (2)   For all uses, no sign exceeding 32 square feet in area may be located within 75 feet of a residential use.
         (3)   No sign may project over a public sidewalk area or over a public highway or street unless specifically authorized by other Township or State regulations.
         (4)   Projecting signs shall be no less than eight feet high at the lower edge of the sign.
      F.   Illumination of Signs.
         (1)   Flashing, rotating, and intermittent lights are not permitted.
         (2)   A sign may be illuminated only if the lighting is so screened that it is not directed or reflected toward any residence within 100 feet or so it does not obstruct the vision of motorists.
         (3)   Signs which are illuminated in the colors red, green, or amber, either by colored bulbs or tubing, or in high reflection by the use of special preparations such as fluorescent paint or glass, may not be located within a radius of 200 feet of a highway traffic light or similar safety device or from the center of any street intersection.
         (4)   Freestanding internally illuminated signs shall be dimmable at night so as not to cause an objectionable glare to adjacent residential uses or motorists along a roadway.
      G.   Signs Painted on Buildings. Advertising painted upon, or displayed upon, a barn or other building or structure shall be regarded as wall sign and the regulations pertaining thereto shall apply.
      H.   Signs Within a Building. Nothing in these regulations shall be construed as prohibiting signs intended for viewing principally from within a building or signs temporarily attached to the inside face of a display window, announcing a sale or similar feature, provided that the latter shall not occupy more than 33-1/3% of the total display window area for a period not to exceed ten days. Such signs shall be permitted in addition to any of the specific sign types designated on the charts to follow.
      I.   Construction and Maintenance. Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and not allowed to become dilapidated.
      J.   Termination of Enterprise. Upon termination or abandonment of a commercial or industrial use, all signs pertaining to the enterprise must be removed.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
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