For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACCESSORY USE. A use which is incidental to the main use of the premises.
ALLEY. A public thoroughfare, which affords only secondary means of vehicular access to abutting property, and less than 30 feet in width.
APARTMENT HOUSE. See DWELLING, MULTI-FAMILY.
BASEMENT. A story partly underground, but having less than one-half of its clear height below, which unless subdivided into rooms and used for tenant purposes, shall not be included as a story for the purpose of height measurements.
BLOCK. Property having frontage of one side of a street and lying between the two nearest intersecting or intercepting streets, or nearest intersecting or intercepting street and railroad right-of-way, waterway, or other barrier.
BOARD. The Board of Zoning Appeals of the City of Greendale, Indiana.
BOARDINGHOUSE. A building not open to transients where lodging and/or meals are provided for three or more, but not over 30 persons regularly; a lodging house.
BUILDING. A structure having a roof supported by columns or walls, for the shelter, support, enclosure or protection of persons, animals, chattels, or property. When separated by party walls, without openings through the walls, each portion of the building shall be considered a separate structure. The word BUILDING includes the word STRUCTURE and vice versa.
BUILDING, ACCESSORY. A subordinate building, or a portion of a main building, the use of which is incidental to that of the main building.
BUILDING AREA. The maximum horizontal projected area of the principal and accessory building, excluding open steps or terraces, unenclosed porches not exceeding one story in height, or architectural appurtenances projecting not more than two feet.
BUILDING, FRONT LINE OF. The line of that face of the building nearest the front lot line.
BUILDING, HEIGHT OF. The vertical distance measured from the lot ground level to the highest point of the roof for a flat roof; to the deck line of a mansard roof; and to the mean height between eaves and ridges for gable, hip, and gambrel roofs.
BUILDING, PRINCIPAL. A building in which is conducted the main or principal use of the lot on which the building is situated. Where a substantial part of the wall of an accessory building is a part of the wall of the PRINCIPAL BUILDING or where an accessory building is attached to the main building in a substantial manner by a roof, the accessory building shall be counted as a part of the PRINCIPAL BUILDING.
BUSINESS (COMMERCIAL) USES. The engaging in the purchase, sale, barter, or exchange of goods, wares, merchandise, or services, the maintenance or operation of offices, or recreational and amusement enterprises for profit.
BUSINESS USES, GENERAL. Commercial uses including wholesale and storage uses conducted within enclosed, substantially constructed buildings.
BUSINESS USES, LOCAL. Commercial uses primarily of a retail or service nature.
CAMP, PUBLIC. Any area or tract of land used or designed to accommodate two or more automobile house trailers, or two or more camping parties, including cabins, tents, or other camping outfits.
CONDOMINIUM. Real estate used as a CONDOMINIUM as defined in I.C. 32-25 et seq., as the same may be amended from time to time. A CONDOMINIUM UNIT means an enclosed space consisting of one or more rooms occupying all or part of a floor or floors in a structure or one or more floors or stories regardless of whether it is designed for residential, office, for the operation of any industry or business, or for any type of independent use.
CONTINGENT USES. Uses which are likely or liable, but not certain, to occur, and which are not inappropriate to the principal use of the district in which located.
DISTRICT. A section of the city for which uniform regulations governing the use, height, area, size, and intensity of use of buildings and land, and open spaces about buildings are herein established.
DWELLING. A building or portion thereof designed or used exclusively for residential occupancy.
DWELLING, MULTI-FAMILY. A dwelling or portion thereof, containing three or more dwelling units, whether or not the units are under the same roof, with the number of families not exceeding the number of dwelling units.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY. A detached building designed or occupied by one family exclusively.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY. A detached building designed for or occupied by two families. A duplex dwelling has one family above the other. A double dwelling has one family beside the other.
FAMILY. A group of one or more persons occupying a building and living as a single housekeeping unit. No unrelated group living as a single housekeeping unit shall consist of more than six persons, as distinguished from a group occupying a lodging house or hotel.
GARAGE, PRIVATE. An accessory building with capacity for not more than three motor vehicles for storage only, not more than one of which may be a commercial vehicle of not more than three tons capacity. However, a garage designed to house one motor vehicle for each family housed in an apartment shall be classed as a PRIVATE GARAGE.
GARAGE, PUBLIC. Any building or premises, except those defined herein as a private garage, used for the storage, or care of motor vehicles, or where the vehicles are equipped for operation, repaired, or kept for remuneration, hire, or sale.
GROUND FLOOR AREA. The square foot area of a residential building within its largest outside dimensions computed on a horizontal plane at the ground level, exclusive of open porches, breezeways, terraces, garages, and exterior and interior stairways.
GROUP HOME. A building designed for or occupied by three or more families exclusively for dwelling purposes, not exceeding two and one-half stories in height.
GUEST HOUSE. A small separate house on the grounds of a larger one used to accommodate guests.
HOME OCCUPATION. An occupation carried on by a member of the family residing on the premises, in conjunction with which no commodity is sold or stock in trade is kept on the premises; no sign, other than a nameplate, not exceeding one square foot in area, is displayed.
HOTEL. A building in which lodging is provided and offered to the public for compensation, and which is open to transient guests in contradistinction to a boarding or lodging house.
INDUSTRIAL USES. An industrial use is one which requires both buildings and open area for manufacturing, fabricating, processing, heavy repairing, dismantling, storage or disposal of raw materials, manufactured products or wastes, which is not injurious to health or safety of humans or animals, or injurious to vegetation; and which is not noxious or offensive by reason of the emission of smoke, dust, gas fumes, odors, or vibrations beyond the limits of the premises upon which the industry is conducted.
INDUSTRIAL USES, LIGHT. A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE is one which ordinarily uses only light machinery, is conducted entirely within enclosed, substantially constructed buildings; does not use the open area around the buildings for storage of raw materials or manufactured products or for any other industrial purpose, other than loading and unloading operations in the area; and which is not noxious or offensive by reason of the emission of smoke, dust, fumes, gas, odors, noises, or vibrations beyond the confines of the building.
KENNEL. Any lot or premises, or portions thereof on which more than a total of two dogs, cats, or other animals over three months of age are kept or maintained.
LOADING AND UNLOADING BERTHS. Space required in conjunction with specified commercial and industrial uses for off-street loading and unloading of delivery vehicles. The space shall be provided on the same premises as the building containing the specified use, and shall include a 12-foot by 35-foot loading space with a 14-foot height clearance.
LOT. A parcel of land occupied or intended for occupancy by a use permitted in this chapter, including one principal building and its accessory buildings, and the open spaces required herein, and having its principal frontage on a street, or an officially designated and approved place.
LOT, CORNER. A lot abutting upon two or more streets at their intersection.
LOT, COVERAGE. The percentage of the lot area covered by the building area.
LOT, DEPTH OF. The mean horizontal distance between the front line and the rear line of the lot, measured in the general direction of the side lot lines.
LOT, GROUND LEVEL.
(1) For buildings having walls adjoining one street only, the elevation of the sidewalk at the center of the wall adjoining the street.
(2) For buildings having walls adjoining more than one street, the average of the elevation of the sidewalk at the center of all walls adjoining the streets.
(3) For buildings having no wall adjoining the street, the average level of the ground adjacent to the exterior walls of the building.
(4) Any wall approximately parallel to and not more than five feet from a street is to be considered as adjoining the street.
LOT, INTERIOR. A lot other than a corner lot or through lot.
LOT LINE, FRONT. In the case of an interior lot, a line separating the lot from the street or place; and in the case of a corner lot a line separating the narrowest street frontage of the lot from the street, except in cases where deed restrictions in effect specify another line as the FRONT LOT LINE.
LOT LINE, REAR. A lot line which is opposite and most distant from the front lot line and, in the case of an irregular or triangular shaped lot, a line ten feet in length within the lot, parallel to and at the maximum distance from the front lot line.
LOT LINE, SIDE. Any lot boundary line not a front lot line or a rear lot line.
LOT, THROUGH. A lot having frontage on two streets at opposite ends of the lot.
LOT, WIDTH OF. The distance between the side lot lines at the front line of building measured at right angles to the depth of the lot.
MANUFACTURING, LIGHT. A LIGHT MANUFACTURING USE is one which ordinarily uses only light machinery, is conducted entirely within enclosed, substantially constructed buildings: does not use the open area around the buildings for storage of raw materials or manufactured products or for any other industrial purpose, other than loading and
unloading operations in the area; and which is not noxious or offensive by reason of the emission of smoke, dust, fumes, gas, odors, noises, or vibrations beyond the confines of the building.
MOTEL. A building or group of buildings, in which lodging is provided and offered to the public for compensation, and catering primarily to the public traveling by motor vehicle.
NONCONFORMING USE. A building or premises which does not conform in its use or otherwise with all of the regulations of the district in which the building or premises is located.
PARKING LOT. A parcel of land devoted to unenclosed parking space for five or more motor vehicles for compensation or otherwise.
POLE BARN. A simplified building consisting of post frame construction and vertical pole columns traditionally used in agricultural practices.
PROFESSIONAL OFFICE. Office of members of recognized professions, such as an architect, artist, dentist, engineer, musician, physician, surgeon, or other professional person.
SIGN. Any structure, object, lettering, design, graphic, device, or other thing of any nature or type which is designed, intended, or results in a visual communication which is not subject to mandating requirements imposed under any law of the state or the United States is regulated by this code.
SIGN, TEMPORARY. A sign which is neither mechanical nor electrified and is constructed as a placard or board having a height of not more than four feet and a total face area of not more than 20 square feet.
STORY. The portion of a building, included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it. If there is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling next above it shall be the STORY.
STORY, HALF. The portion of a building under a sloping gable, hip, or gambrel roof, the wall plates on at least two opposite exterior walls of which are not more than three feet above the floor level of the HALF STORY.
STREET. A public thoroughfare 30 feet or more in width between property lines, which affords principal means of vehicular access to abutting property.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATION. Any change in the supporting members of a building, such as bearing walls or partitions, columns, beams, or girders, or any substantial change in the exterior walls or the roof.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires more or less permanent location on the ground, or which is attached to something permanently located on the ground.
TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION FOR PLANNING AND ZONING. The City of Greendale, Indiana, and the contiguous unincorporated territory shown on a map on file with the County Recorder.
TOURIST HOME. A dwelling in which overnight accommodations for not more than five transient guests is offered for compensation.
VEHICLE PARKING SPACES. The area required for parking one automobile, which in this chapter is held to be an area nine feet wide and 20 feet long plus 70 square feet of maneuver area for each vehicle parking space.
VISION CLEARANCE ON CORNER LOTS. A triangular space at the street corner of a corner lot, free from any kind of obstruction to vision between the height of three and one-half and 12 feet above established grade, determined by a diagonal line connecting two points measured equidistant from the corner along each property line.
YARD, FRONT. Horizontal space measured at 90 degrees with the property line, between the front line of the principal building and the property line of the street upon which the building faces, unoccupied other than by steps, walks, terraces, and open, unroofed, unenclosed porches; or architectural appurtenances projecting not more than 24 inches from the building.
YARD, REAR. Horizontal space measured at 90 degrees to the rear lot line, between the rear of the principal building and the rear line of the lot, unoccupied other than by vehicle parking space, architectural appurtenances, or accessory buildings which do not occupy more than 30% of the required rear yard.
YARD, SIDE. Horizontal space measured at 90 degrees to the side lot line between the side of a building and the adjacent side line of the lot, unoccupied other than by architectural appurtenances projecting not more than 24 inches, or open or lattice-enclosed fire escapes or fireproof outside stairways, projecting not over four feet.
ZONE. Same as DISTRICT.
(1985 Code, § 8-1-7) (Ord. passed 3-25-1957; Res. passed 6-14-1988; Ord. 7-1995, passed 10-10-1995; Ord. 2002-5, passed 10-22-2002; Ord. 2004-1, passed 1-14-2004; Ord. 2018-5, passed 7-11-2018; Ord. 2021-9, passed 8-11-2021)