For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACCESSORY BUILDING OR USE. A use or building subordinate to the principal use of land or a building on the same lot and serving a purpose customarily incidental to the principal use or structure. For regulations see § 150.11.
AGRICULTURE. The tilling of the soil, the raising of crops, forestry, horticulture and gardening, including the keeping or raising of domestic animals or fowl.
BUILDING, NONCONFORMING. A building so constructed or so located on a lot that it does not comply with the building requirements or with the minimum lot requirements of the district within which it is located.
BUILDING, PRINCIPAL. A non-accessory building in which the primary use of the lot on which it is located is conducted.
COMMERCE, RETAIL SERVICE. An enterprise that involves the offering of a service or entertainment to the general public for compensation.
COMMERCE, RETAIL TRADE. An enterprise that involves the offering of a product to the general public for compensation.
DWELLING. A building, or portion thereof, designed or used predominantly for residential occupancy, including one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings and multiple-family dwellings, but not including hotels, motels, boarding or rooming houses, tourist homes or mobile homes.
DWELLING, ATTACHED. One which is joined to another dwelling or building at one or more sides by a party wall or walls.
DWELLING, DETACHED. One which is entirely surrounded by open space on the same lot.
DWELLING, MULTIPLE-FAMILY (APARTMENT BUILDING). A building or portion thereof containing three or more dwelling units but not including a motel, hotel or rooming house.
DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY. A residential structure containing one dwelling unit only.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY (DUPLEX). A residential structure containing two dwelling units only.
DWELLING UNIT. One or more rooms containing complete kitchen facilities, permanently installed, which are arranged, designed, used or intended for use exclusively as living quarters for one family and for not more than an aggregate of two roomers or boarders.
EFFICIENCY UNIT. A dwelling unit with one primary room which doubles as a living room, dining room and bedroom.
BILLBOARD. An advertising sign located off the premises where the advertised product is sold or offered. It is usually, but not necessarily, owned by an advertising company.
EQUAL DEGREE OF ENCROACHMENT. A method of determining the location of encroachment lines so that the hydraulic capacity of floodplain lands on each side of a stream are reduced by an equal amount calculating the increases in flood stages due to floodplain encroachments.
FAMILY. One or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption or a group of not more than five persons not so related, maintaining a common household in a dwelling unit.
FLOOD. A temporary rise in stream flow or stage that results in inundation of the areas adjacent to the channel.
FLOOD FREQUENCY. The average frequency, statistically determined, for which it is expected that a specific flood stage or discharge may be equaled or exceeded.
FLOOD FRINGE. The portion of the floodplain outside of the floodway.
FLOODPLAIN. The areas adjoining a watercourse which have been or hereafter may be covered by the regional flood.
FLOOD PROOFING. A combination of structural provisions, changes or adjustments to properties and structures subject to flooding primarily for the reduction or elimination of flood damages.
104 Granite Falls - Land Usage
FLOODWAY. The channel of the watercourse and those portions of the adjoining floodplains which are reasonably required to carry and discharge the regional flood.
FLOOR AREA. The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of a building or buildings, measured from the exterior faces of exterior walls or from the centerline of party walls separating two buildings. In particular, FLOOR AREA shall include:
(1) Basement space if at least one-half of the basement story is above established curb level, or where the curb level has not been established, above the average level of the finished grade;
(2) Elevator shafts and stairwells at each floor;
(3) Floor space used for mechanical equipment where the structural headroom exceeds seven and one-half feet, except equipment open or enclosed, located on the roof, i.e., bulk needs, water tanks and cooling towers;
(4) Attic floor space where the structural headroom exceeds seven and one-half feet;
(5) Interior balconies and mezzanines;
(6) Enclosed porches, but not terraces and breezeways; and
(7) Accessory uses, other than floor space devoted exclusively to accessory off-street parking or loading.
GARAGE. When used with respect to a private residence, means a garage used only for the storage of power-driven vehicles and which is erected as an accessory building as herein defined.
HOME OCCUPATION. An occupation carried on by the occupant of a dwelling in a residential district as a secondary use including, but not limited to, such occupations as dressmaking and alterations and artist’s studio.
INDUSTRY. An enterprise which involves the production, processing or storage of materials, goods or products.
LOT. A piece, parcel or plot of land intended for building development or as a unit for transfer of ownership.
LOT, CORNER. A lot situated at the intersection of two streets, the interior angle of the intersection not exceeding 135 degrees.
LOT, INTERIOR. A lot other than a corner lot.
LOT AREA. The area of a horizontal plane bounded by the front, side and rear lot lines, measured within the lot boundaries.
LOT WIDTH. The horizontal distance between the side lot lines of a lot measured at the building setback line.
MATERIAL, DURABLE. As pertaining to ground surfacing: a hard surfaced material such as concrete or asphalt, but not including gravel or crushed rock.
MOBILE HOME. As defined in the Chapter 152.
OBSTRUCTION. Any dam, wall, wharf, embankment, levee, dike, pile, abutment, projection, excavation, channel rectification, culvert, building, wire, fence, stockpile, refuse, fill, structure or matter in, along, across or projecting into any channel, watercourse or regulatory flood hazard area, which may impede, retard or change the direction of the flow of water, either in itself or by catching or collecting debris carried by the water, or that is placed where the flow of water might carry the same downstream to the damage of life or property.
PARKING SPACE, AUTOMOBILE. A suitable surfaced and permanently maintained area off the public street right-of-way, either within or outside of a building, of sufficient size to store one standard automobile, but in no event less than 200 square feet, exclusive of passageways, driveways or other means of circulation or access.
PARTICULATE MATTER. Dust, smoke or any other form of air-borne pollution in the form of minute separate particles.
PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. A tract of land containing not less than two acres and which contains or will contain two or more principal buildings, developed or to be developed under unified ownership or control, the development of which is unique and of a substantially different character than that of the surrounding areas.
REACH. A hydraulic engineering term to describe a longitudinal segment of a stream or river influenced by a natural or human-made obstruction. In an urban area, the segment of a stream or river between two consecutive bridge crossings would most typically constitute a REACH.
REGIONAL FLOOD. A flood which is representative of large floods known to have occurred generally in the state and reasonably characteristic of what can be expected to occur on an average frequency in the magnitude of the 100-year recurrence interval.
REGULATORY FLOOD PROTECTION ELEVATION. A point not less than one foot above the water surface profile associated with the regional flood, plus any increases in flood heights attributable to encroachments on the floodplain. It is elevation to which uses regulated by the flood provisions of this chapter are required to be elevated or flood proofed.
SETBACK. The minimum horizontal distance between a building and the street or lot line, (unless specifically related to the street centerline), disregarding steps.
SIGN. Any device for visual communication that is used for the purpose of bringing the subject thereof to the attention of the public, but not including any flag, badge or insignia of any government or governmental agency, or of any civic, charitable, religious, patriotic, fraternal or similar organization. The device may be either stationary or movable.
SIGN, FLASHING. Any illuminated sign on which the artificial light is not maintained stationary and/or constant in intensity and color at all times when the sign is in use. For the purpose of this chapter, any revolving, illuminated sign shall be considered a FLASHING SIGN.
STREET, ARTERIAL. A street which provides for the movement of relatively heavy traffic, to, from or within the city. It has a secondary function of providing access to abutting land. An ARTERIAL STREET system is designated on the City Comprehensive Plan.
STREET, LOCAL. A street of little or no continuity, designed to provide access to abutting property and ideally leading into collector streets.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected on the ground or attached to the ground, including, but not limited to, buildings, factories, sheds, mobile homes and other similar items.
TRAVEL TRAILER. A vehicular portable structure built on a chassis designed to be used as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreation and vacation uses.
TWIN HOME. As defined in the R-1 Low Density Residence District.
USE. The purpose of activity for which the land or building thereon is designed, arranged or intended, or for which it is occupied or maintained.
USE, ACCESSORY. A use subordinate to the principal use or building on the same lot and customarily incidental thereto. See ACCESSORY BUILDING OR USE for greater detail as to definition).
USE, INCOMPATIBLE. A use which is incapable of direct association with certain other uses because it is contradictory, incongruent or discordant.
USE, NONCONFORMING. Any lawfully established use of a building or premise which on the effective date of this chapter does not comply with the use regulations of the zoning district in which the building or premises is located.
USE, PERMITTED. A use which may be lawfully established in a particular district or districts, provided it conforms with all requirements, regulations, and performance standards, if any, of the district.
USE, PRINCIPAL. The main use of land and buildings as distinguished from a subordinate or accessory use.
USE, SPECIAL. A use, either public or private, which, because of the unique characteristics, cannot be properly classified as a permitted use in a particular district. After due consideration in each case, of the impact of the use upon neighboring land, and of the public need for the particular use at the particular location, the SPECIAL USE may or may not be granted.
YARD. An open space on a lot which is unobstructed from the lowest level to the sky, except as hereinafter permitted. A YARD extends along a lot line and at right angles to the lot lines to a depth or width specified in the yard regulations for the district in which the lot is located.
YARD, FRONT. A yard extending along the full width of the front lot line between side lot lines.
YARD, REAR. The portion of the yard on the same lot with the buildings between the rear line of the building and the rear line of the lot for the full width of the lot.
YARD, SIDE. A yard extending along a side lot line between the front and rear yards.
ZONING DISTRICT. An area or areas for which the regulations and requirements governing use, lot and bulk or buildings and premises are uniform.
ZONING MAP. A map setting forth the boundaries of the zoning districts of the city which map is a part of this chapter.
(2003 Code, § 9.02) (Ord. passed 2-16-1953; Ord. 77-4, passed 4-8-1977; Ord. 80-5, passed 5-9-1980; Ord. 59, passed 4-19-1996; Ord. 118, passed 9-15-2003; Ord. 191, passed 10-1-2018; Ord. 200, passed 4-19-2021; Ord. 216, passed 6-17-2023)