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. One which:
(1) Is subordinate to and serves a principal building or principal use;
(2) Is subordinate in area, extent, or purpose to the principal building or principal use served;
(3) Contributes to the comfort, convenience, or necessity of occupants of the principal building or principal use served; and
(4) Is located on the same zoning lot as the principal building or principal use served, with the single exception of any accessory off-street parking facilities as are permitted to locate elsewhere than on the same zoning lot with the building or use served.
ADULT-USE CANNABIS BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT. A cultivation center, craft grower, processing organization, infuser organization, dispensing organization or transporting organization.
ADULT-USE CANNABIS CRAFT GROWER. A facility operated by an organization or business that is licensed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture to cultivate, dry, cure and package cannabis and perform other necessary activities to make cannabis available for sale at a dispensing organization or use at a processing organization, per the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, (P.A. 101-0027), as it may be amended from time-to-time, and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ADULT-USE CANNABIS CULTIVATION CENTER. A facility operated by an organization or business that is licensed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture to cultivate, process, transport and perform necessary activities to provide cannabis and cannabis-infused products to licensed cannabis business establishments, per the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, (P.A. 101-0027), as it may be amended from time-to-time, and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ADULT-USE CANNABIS DISPENSING ORGANIZATION. A facility operated by an organization or business that is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to acquire cannabis from licensed cannabis business establishments for the purpose of selling or dispensing cannabis, cannabis-infused products, cannabis seeds, paraphernalia or related supplies to purchasers or to qualified registered medical cannabis patients and caregivers, per the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, (P.A. 101-0027), as it may be amended from time-to-time, and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ADULT-USE CANNABIS INFUSER ORGANIZATION OR INFUSER. A facility operated by an organization or business that is licensed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture to directly incorporate cannabis or cannabis concentrate into a product formulation to produce a cannabis-infused product, per the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, (P.A. 101-0027), as it may be amended from time to time, and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ADULT-USE CANNABIS PROCESSING ORGANIZATION OR PROCESSOR. A facility operated by an organization or business that is licensed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture to either extract constituent chemicals or compounds to produce cannabis concentrate or incorporate cannabis or cannabis concentrate into a product formulation to produce a cannabis product, per the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, (P.A. 101-0027), as it may be amended from time-to-time, and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ADULT-USE CANNABIS TRANSPORTING ORGANIZATION OR TRANSPORTER. An organization or business that is licensed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture to transport cannabis on behalf of a cannabis business establishment or a community college licensed under the Community College Cannabis Vocational Training Pilot Program, per the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, (P.A. 101-0027), as it may be amended from time-to-time, and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ADVERTISING DEVICE. Any advertising sign, billboard, or poster panel which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment not exclusively related to the premises where the sign is located or to which it is affixed; but does not include those advertising signs, billboards, or poster panels which direct attention to the business on the premises or to a brand name of a product or commodity with which the business is specifically identified and which is sold on the premises.
AGRICULTURE. Land, or land, buildings, and structures, the principal use or uses of which is growing of farm or truck garden crops, dairying, pasturage, apiculture, horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, or animal or poultry husbandry, and accessory uses customarily incidental to agricultural activities, including but not limited to farm dwellings, dwellings for tenants and full-time hired workers, dwellings or lodging rooms for seasonal workers, and uses for treating, packing, or storing produce; provided, however, that the operation of the accessory uses shall be secondary to that of normal agricultural uses.
ALLEY. Any public right-of-way with a width of not less than 16 feet nor more than 24 feet which affords a secondary means of vehicular access to abutting properties. A street shall not be considered an ALLEY.
ALTERATION. Any change in size, shape, character, location, occupancy, or use of a building or structure.
APARTMENT. A dwelling containing more than one dwelling unit having an entrance to a common hallway or balcony.
APARTMENT HOTEL. A building designed for or containing both apartments and individual guest rooms or suites of rooms and apartments, including services ordinarily furnished by hotels, such as drugstore, barber shop, cigar and newsstand, when the uses are located entirely within the building with no entrance from the street, and having no sign or display visible from the outside of the building indicating the existence of the use.
AUTOMOBILE, ABANDONED. Any motor vehicle or portion thereof which when operated on a highway is required to be registered by this state, having no registration or expired registration. Notwithstanding the foregoing definition, a motor vehicle or portion thereof stored within a permitted building or structure shall not be considered to be an ABANDONED AUTOMOBILE.
AUTOMOBILE LAUNDRY. A building or portion thereof containing facilities for washing automobiles using production-line methods with a chain conveyor, blower, steam-cleaning device, or other mechanical devices.
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR GARAGES. Any premises used for supplying gasoline and oil, tires, accessories and services for automobiles at retail direct to the motorist consumer, including the making of minor repairs and such major repairs as:
(1) Spray painting;
(2) Body, fender, clutch, transmission, differential, axle, spring, and frame repairs;
(3) Major overhauling of engines requiring removal therefrom of the cylinder-head or crankcase pan;
(4) Repairs of radiator requiring removal thereof; and
(5) Complete recapping or retreading of tires.
AUTOMOBILE SERVICE STATION (GAS, FILLING STATION). Any premises used for supplying gasoline and oil, tires, accessories, and services for automobiles at retail direct to the motorist consumer, including the making of minor repairs, but not including such major repairs as:
(1) Spray painting;
(2) Body, fender, clutch, transmission, differential, axle, spring, and frame repairs;
(3) Major overhauling of engines requiring removal therefrom of the cylinder-head or crankcase pan;
(4) Repairs of radiator requiring removal thereof; or
(5) Complete recapping or retreading of tires.
AUTOMOBILE WRECKING. The dismantling or wrecking of used motor vehicles or trailers, or the storage, sale, or dumping of dismantled, partially dismantled, obsolete, or wrecked vehicles or their parts.
AUTOMOBILE WRECKING YARD. An area of land where two or more motor vehicles, not in running condition, or parts thereof are stored in the open and any land, building, or structure used for wrecking or storing of the motor vehicles or parts thereof.
AVERAGE GROUND ELEVATION. The average level of the finished surface of the ground adjacent to the exterior walls of a building or structure.
BASEMENT. A portion of a building wholly or partly below the average ground elevation.
BOARDING HOUSES. A building other than a motel, apartment hotel, or hotel where, for compensation and by arrangement, lodging or lodging and meals are provided for three or more but less than ten unrelated individuals. A rooming house or furnished rooming house shall be deemed to be a BOARDING HOUSE.
BORROW PIT. Any place or premises where dirt, soil, sand, gravel, or other material is removed by excavation or otherwise, below the grade of surrounding land, for any purpose other than that necessary and incidental to grading or to building construction or operation on the premises.
BUILDABLE AREA OF A LOT. The portion of a lot bounded by the required rear and side yards and the building setback line.
BUILDING. Any structure built for the support, shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or moveable property of any kind, and which is permanently affixed to the land.
BUILDING, COMPLETELY ENCLOSED. A building separated on all sides from the adjacent open space, buildings, or structures by a permanent roof and by exterior walls or party walls, pierced only by windows and normal entrance or exit doors.
BUILDING COVERAGE. The percent of a lot which may be covered by the main building and accessory building.
BUILDING, DETACHED. A building surrounded by an open space on the same lot.
BUILDING HEIGHT. The vertical distance from the average ground elevation to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to deck line of a mansard roof, or to the mean height level between eaves and ridge for gable, hip, and gambrel roofs.
BUILDING LINE. A line on a lot parallel to a lot line or street right-of-way line at a sufficient distance to provide the required yards, delimiting the area in which structures are permitted, subject to the provisions of this chapter.
BUILDING, PRINCIPAL. A non-accessory building in which a principal use of the lot on which it is located is conducted.
BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL. A residential building which is arranged, designed, used, or intended to be used for residential occupancy by one or more families or lodgers and which includes but is not limited to the following types:
(1) Single-family detached dwellings;
(2) Two-family dwellings;
(3) Multiple-family dwellings; and
(4) A row of single- or two-family attached dwellings developed initially under single ownership or control.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE. A building line established the minimum allowable distance between a street right-of-way and any structure.
BULK. The term used to indicate the size and setbacks of buildings or structures and the location of same with respect to one another, and includes the following:
(1) Size and height of buildings;
(2) Location of exterior walls at all levels in relation to lot lines, streets, or to other buildings;
(3) Gross floor area of buildings in relation to lot area (floor area ratio);
(4) All open spaces allocated to buildings; and
(5) Amount of lot area provided per dwelling unit.
CABIN or COTTAGE. A dwelling unit designed for temporary or seasonal occupancy.
CAMP. Any land, including structures, used for assembly or temporary occupancy by persons and providing outdoor recreational facilities.
CAPACITY IN PERSONS. Of an establishment or use, the maximum number of persons that can avail themselves of the services (or goods) of the establishment at any one time with reasonable comfort and safety.
CARPORT. An open-sided, roofed automobile shelter usually formed by extension of the roof from the side of a building.
CLINIC. An establishment where patients, who are not lodged overnight are admitted for examination and treatment by a group of physicians or allied practitioners practicing together.
CLUB, PRIVATE (NONPROFIT). A nonprofit association of persons, who are bona fide members paying annual dues, which owns, hires, or leases a building, or portion thereof; the use of the premises being restricted to members and their guests. The affairs and management of the PRIVATE CLUB are conducted by a board of directors, executive committee, or similar body chosen by the members at their annual meeting. It shall be permissible to serve food and meals on the premises, provided adequate dining room space and kitchen facilities are available. The sale of alcoholic beverages to members and their guests shall be allowed provided it is secondary and incidental to the promotion of some other common objective of the organization, and further provided that the sale of alcoholic beverages is in compliance with the applicable federal, state, and county laws.
DENSITY. The number of dwelling units per net acre or gross acre, as indicated for the appropriate zoning district in the schedule of district regulations.
DORMITORY. A building not open to transients, where lodging or lodging and meals are provided, for more than ten persons. Kitchen facilities shall not be included for each unit. If kitchen facilities are included in any unit other than for management personnel, then the building shall be defined as a multiple-family dwelling. A DORMITORY may have a central kitchen facility to provide meals for inhabitants of the dormitory.
DRIVE-IN ESTABLISHMENT. One which accommodates the patrons’ automobiles, from which the occupants may watch, purchase, or otherwise conduct business from automobiles.
DWELLING. A building, exclusive of mobile homes, travel trailers, apartment hotels, hotels, motels, and boarding houses, as herein defined, containing as the principal use one or more DWELLING units.
DWELLING, ATTACHED. One which is joined to another dwelling 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. A residential building designed for and occupied by three or more families.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY. A dwelling designed for and occupied exclusively by one family.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY. A dwelling designed for two families and occupied by no more than two families with completely separate entrances.
DWELLING UNIT. Consists of one or more rooms which are arranged, designed, or used as living quarters for one family only. Individual bathrooms and complete kitchen facilities, permanently installed, shall be included for each DWELLING UNIT.
EFFICIENCY UNIT. A dwelling unit consisting of one principal room exclusive of bathrooms, kitchen, hallway, closets, or dining alcove directly off the principal room, providing the dining alcove does not exceed 125 square feet in area.
EMPLOYEE(S). In regard to off-street parking requirements, mean all who work in the enterprise including owners, partners, management, and office personnel.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES. The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance by public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies of underground or overhead, gas, electrical, steam or water transmission or distribution systems, collection, communication, supply or disposal systems, elevated and underground water storage tanks, including poles, wires, mains, drains, sewers, pipes, conduits, cables, traffic signals and signs, hydrants, and other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith, reasonably necessary for the furnishing of adequate service by the public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies or for the public health or safety or general welfare, but not including building or public utility substations as herein defined.
FAMILY. Any individual or two or more persons related by blood, marriage, or legal adoption or a group of not more than five persons (excluding servants) who need not be related by blood or marriage, living together as a single housekeeping unit and occupying a single-family dwelling unit.
FLOOR AREA (for determining floor area ratio). The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of the building measured from the exterior faces of the exterior walls or from the centerline of walls separating two buildings. The FLOOR AREA of a building shall include the basement floor area when more than one-half of the basement height is above the established curb level or above the finished lot grade level where curb level has been established, elevator shafts and stairwells at each floor, floor space used for mechanical equipment–except equipment, open or enclosed, located on the roof–penthouses, attic space having balconies and mezzanines, enclosed porches, and floor area devoted to accessory uses. However, any space devoted to bulk storage of materials–including but not limited to grain elevators and petroleum storage tanks–shall be determined on the basis of height in feet: i.e., ten feet in height shall equal one floor.
FLOOR AREA (for determining off-street parking and load requirements).
(1) When prescribed as the basis of measurement for off-street parking spaces and loading berths for any use, shall mean the sum of the gross horizontal area of the several floors of the building, or portion thereof, devoted to that use, including accessory storage areas located within selling or working space such as counters, racks, or closets, and any basement floor area devoted to retailing activities, to the production or processing of goods, or to business or professional offices.
(2) However, FLOOR AREA for the purpose of measurement for off-street parking spaces shall not include: floor area devoted primarily to storage purposes (except as otherwise noted herein); floor area devoted to off-street parking or loading facilities, including aisles, ramps, and maneuvering space; or basement floor area other than area devoted to retailing activities, to the production or processing of goods, or to business or professional offices.
FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR). The FLOOR AREA RATIO of the building or building on any zoning lot is the floor area of the building or buildings on that zoning lot divided by the area of the zoning lot, or, in the case of planned developments, by the net site area. The FLOOR AREA RATIO requirements, as set forth under each zoning district, shall determine the maximum floor area allowable for the building or buildings (total floor area of both principal and accessory buildings) in direct ratio to the gross area of the zoning lot.
GARAGE, PRIVATE. An area attached to a dwelling or a detached accessory building designed or used for the storage of privately owned motor-driven vehicles owned and used by the occupants of the dwelling to which it is accessory and not for storing more than one truck or commercial vehicle or any vehicle which exceeds a two-ton capacity.
GARAGE, PUBLIC. A building or portion thereof, other than private or storage garage, which is designed or used for equipping, servicing, repairing, hiring, selling, or storing motor-driven vehicles.
GRADE. The average level of the finished surface of the ground adjacent to the exterior walls of the building or structure.
GUEST HOUSE. A detached accessory building located on the same zoning lot as the principal building and containing living quarters for temporary guests; the quarters shall not be rented.
HOME OCCUPATION. Any occupation carried on by a member of the immediate family residing on the premises not involving the conduct of a wholesale, retail, or manufacturing business, provided that:
(1) No person other than members of the family residing on the premises shall engage in that occupation;
(2) There is no display that will indicate from the exterior that the building is being utilized for any purpose other than that of a dwelling other than one sign, not exceeding one square foot in area, non-illuminated and mounted flat against the wall of the principal building;
(3) The products of the HOME OCCUPATION are produced only on the premises;
(4) The use of the dwelling unit for the HOME OCCUPATION shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential purposes by its occupants, and not more than 25% of the floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used in the conduct of the HOME OCCUPATION;
(5) The home occupation must be confined to the principal structure and no accessory building shall be used for the HOME OCCUPATION;
(6) No traffic shall be generated by the HOME OCCUPATION in greater volumes than would normally be expected be expected in a residential neighborhood, and any need for parking generated by the conduct of the HOME OCCUPATION shall be met off the street and other than in a required front yard;
(7) No equipment or process shall be used in the HOME OCCUPATION which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the lot if the occupation is conducted in a single-family residence or outside the dwelling unit if conducted in other than a single-family residence. In the case of electrical interference, no equipment or process shall be used which creates visual or audible interference in any radio or television receivers off the premises, or causes fluctuations in line voltage off the premises; and
(8) A professional person may use his or her residence for consultation, emergency treatment, or performance of religious rites but not for the general practice of his or her profession and further a barber or beauty shop, dentist, physician, insurance, or real estate offices shall not be construed to be HOME OCCUPATIONS.
HOTEL. An establishment which is open to transient guests and which provide customary hotel services such as maid person service, furnishing and laundering of linen, telephone and secretarial or desk service, the use and upkeep of furniture, and bell person service.
JUNKYARD. The use of more than 500 square feet of open storage on any tract of land as a place where personal property is or may be salvaged for re-use, resale, or reduction, or similar disposition and is owned, possessed, collected, accumulated, dismantled, or assorted, including but not limited to used or salvaged base metal or metals, their compounds or combinations, used or salvaged rope, bags, paper, rags, glass, rubber, lumber, millwork, brick, and similar property except animal matter, and used motor vehicles, machinery, or equipment which are used, owned, or possessed for the purpose of wrecking or salvaging parts therefrom. A JUNKYARD does not include uses established entirely within enclosed buildings.
KENNELS. Any premises or portion thereof on which more than three dogs, cats, or other household domestic animals, over age four months are kept for the purpose of sale, or on which more than two animals are maintained, boarded, bred, or cared for in return for enumeration.
LOADING SPACE, OFF-STREET. Adequate space, logically and conveniently located for bulk pickups and deliveries, scaled to delivery vehicles expected to be used and accessible to the vehicles at all times. Required OFF-STREET LOADING SPACE is not to be included as off-street parking space in computation of required off-street parking space.
LODGE. A hall or meeting place of a local branch or the members composing such a branch of a fraternal order or society such as the Masons, Knights of Columbus, Moose, American Legion, and other similar organizations. It shall be permissible to serve food and meals on the premises, provided adequate dining room space and kitchen facilities are available. The sale of alcohol beverages to members and their guests shall be allowed, provided that it is secondary and incidental to the promotion of some other common objective by the organization, and further provided that the sale of alcoholic beverage is in compliance with the applicable federal, state, and county laws.
LODGING HOUSE. A building originally designed for or used as a single-family or two-family dwelling, all or a portion of which contains lodging rooms which accommodate persons who are not members of the keeper’s family. Lodging or meals or both are provided for compensation on a weekly or monthly basis.
LODGING ROOM. A room rented as sleeping and living quarters without cooking facilities.
LOT. A single parcel of land which may be legally described as such. For residential uses, the LOT shall abut on a street or place for a least 60% of the lot width prescribed for the district in which the LOT is located. The LOT may be a single parcel separately described in a deed or plat which is recorded in the office of County Recorder, or it may include parts of or a combination of parcels when adjoining one another and used as a single unit.
LOT AREA, GROSS. The area of a horizontal plane bounded by the front, side, and rear lot lines.
LOT, CORNER. A lot abutting on two streets at their juncture, when the interior angle formed is less than 135 degrees.
LOT DEPTH. The distance between the midpoints of straight lines connecting the foremost points of the side lot lines in front and the rearmost points of the side lot lines in the rear.
LOT, DOUBLE FRONTAGE. A lot having a frontage on two non-intersecting streets, as distinguished from a corner lot.
LOT LINE, FRONT. The boundary of a lot which is along an existing or dedicated public street, or, where no public street exists, is along a public way; where the public way is not a dedicated street, the right-of-way of the public way shall be deemed to be 66 feet, unless otherwise provided. On corner lots the FRONT LOT LINE shall be considered as parallel to the street upon which the lot has its least dimension.
LOT LINE, REAR. The boundary of a lot which is most distant from, and is, or is most nearly, parallel to the front lot line.
LOT LINE, SIDE. Any boundary of a lot which is not a front lot line or a rear lot line.
LOT OF RECORD. A lot which is part of a subdivision, the plat of which has been recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of this county or a parcel of land, the deed of which was recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of this county prior to the enactment of this chapter. A recorded lot may or may not coincide with a zoning lot.
LOT, REVERSED CORNER. A corner lot, the street side lot line of which is substantially a continuation of the front lot line of the first lot to its rear.
LOT WIDTH. The width of the lot at the building line.
LOT, ZONING. A parcel of land composed of one or more recorded lots, occupied or to be occupied by a principal building or buildings, or principal use or uses, along with permitted accessory buildings or uses meeting all the requirements for area, buildable area, frontage, width, yards, setbacks, and any other requirements set forth in this chapter.
MANUFACTURED HOME. A dwelling unit fabricated in an off-site manufacturing facility for installation or assembly at the building site, bearing a seal certifying that it is built in compliance with the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Code being 25 C.F.R. §§ 3220.
MANUFACTURED HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS CODE. Title VI of the 1974 Housing and Community Development Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 5301 et seq.), as amended (previously known as the Federal Mobile Home Construction and Safety Act, being 42 U.S.C. §§ 5301 et seq.), rules and regulations adopted thereunder (including information supplied by the home manufacturer, which has been stamped and approved by a design approval primary inspection agency, an agent of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to HUD rules), all of which become effective for mobile/manufactured home construction on June 15, 1976.
MARINA. A boat basin and recreational facility located on waterfront property, providing moorings for boats and one or more of the following facilities: boat launching ramps, boat livery, boat sales, maintenance shops, marine supply store, and fuel dock.
MARQUEE or CANOPY. A roof-like structure of a permanent nature which projects from the wall of a building and overhangs a public way.
MOBILE HOME. A transportable structure larger than 320 square feet, designed to be used as a year-round residential dwelling, and built prior to June 15, 1976.
MOTEL. An establishment consisting of a group of attached or detached living or sleeping accommodations with bathroom and closet space, located on a single zoning lot and designed for use by transient motor vehicle tourists. A MOTEL furnishes customary hotel services such as maid person service and laundering of linen, telephone and secretarial or desk service, and the use and upkeep of furniture. In a MOTEL, less than 50% of the living and sleeping accommodations are occupied or designed for occupancy by person other than transient automobile tourists.
MOTOR FREIGHT TERMINAL. A building or area in which freight brought by motor truck is assembled and/or stored for routing in intrastate and interstate shipment by motor truck.
MOTOR VEHICLE. Any passenger vehicle, truck, truck-trailer, trailer, or semi-trailer propelled or drawn by mechanical power.
NONCONFORMING USE. The use of land or a building or portion thereof which use does not conform with the use regulations of the district in which it is situated which use legally existed therein or thereon before the date of this amendment.
NOXIOUS MATTER OR MATERIALS. Material which is capable of causing injury to living organisms by chemical reaction or is capable of causing detrimental effects upon the physical or economic well-being of individuals.
NURSERY SCHOOLS. A school–private, semi-private or public–providing organized instruction and care for children prior to their enrollment as required by law in a school which has a course of study which meets applicable state and national standards for an accredited elementary school. (A NURSERY SCHOOL may provide meals but not lodging rooms for students.)
PARKING AREA. An open space other than a street or alley designed for use or used for the temporary parking of motor vehicles exclusively, whether free or for compensation, in which no gasoline or automobile accessories are sold and no other business is conducted.
PARKING SPACE, OFF-STREET. A space not located within a street right-of-way containing adequate space for parking an automobile with room for opening doors on both sides, together with properly related access to a public street or alley (intended to mean forward motion as opposed to backing out) and maneuvering room.
PERFORMANCE STANDARD. A criterion established to control noise, odor, smoke, toxic or noxious matter, vibration, fire, and explosive hazards, or glare or heat generated by, or inherent in, uses of land or buildings.
PERSON. Any person, firm, corporation, association, club, society or other organization, including any owner, manager, proprietor, employee, volunteer or agent.
PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. A tract of land three acres or more in area developed under single ownership or control, the development of which is unique and of a substantially different character than that of surrounding areas.
PREFABRICATED HOUSING UNIT. A factory-assembled structure or structures equipped with the necessary service connections and made so as to be readily movable as a unit or units on flatbed or other trailers, or detachable wheels or on its (their) own running gear, and designed as a single-family housing unit suitable for year-round occupancy and meeting all required building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical codes.
PROPERTY LINES. The lines bounding a zoning lot, as defined herein.
PUBLIC WAY. A sidewalk, street, alley, highway, or other public thoroughfare whether built, dedicated, or merely an easement for road purposes.
RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY. A strip of land with tracks and auxiliary facilities for track operation, but not including freight depots or stations, loading platforms, train sheds, warehouses, car or locomotive shops, or car yards.
RECREATIONAL CLUB. A nonprofit association of persons who are bona fide members paying annual dues, which owns, hires, or leases land or buildings or portions thereof, the use of the premises being restricted primarily to the principal use, which is a generally recognized sport or recreational activity. The premises shall be restricted to members and their guests. The affairs and management of a RECREATIONAL CLUB are conducted by a board of directors, executive committee, or similar body chosen by the members at their annual meeting. It shall be permissible to serve food and meals on the premises, provided adequate dining room space and kitchen facilities are available. The sale of alcoholic beverages to members and their guests shall be allowed, provided it is secondary and incidental to the promotion of some recognized sport or recreational activity, and further provided that the sale of alcohol beverages is in compliance with the applicable federal, state, and county laws.
RESERVOIR PARKING. RESERVOIR PARKING facilities are those off-street parking spaces allocated to automobiles awaiting entrance to a particular establishment.
REST HOME or NURSING HOME. A private home for the care of children or the aged or infirm.
ROADSIDE STAND. A structure for the display and sale of agricultural products with no space for customers within the structure itself.
ROOMING HOUSE. A residential building or portion thereof, other than a motel, apartment hotel, or hotel, containing lodging rooms for accommodations of three or more persons who are not members of the keeper’s family and where lodging without meals is provided by prearrangement and for definite periods.
SANITARY LANDFILL. An area used for the disposal of refuse by the method of daily spreading and covering the refuse with earth.
SETBACK. The minimum horizontal distance measured between a building foundation or structure and the right-of-way line or centerline of a street, alley, stream, or railroad right-of-way; the measurements will be the minimum distances measured perpendicular to the centerlines or right-of-way.
SHELTER CARE HOME. A private boarding home, institution, building, residence, or other place, which through its ownership or management provides sheltered care to three or more adults who are not related to the operator or owner by blood or marriage.
SHOPPING CENTER. A group of more than six commercial establishments planned, developed, and managed as a unit, located on a zoning lot of at least five acres, with off-street parking provided on the property.
SIGN. Any object used to identify, advertise, or attract attention to any object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, firm, group, commodity, profession, enterprise, industry, or business, which is intended to be seen from off the premises or from a parking lot. The word SIGN shall include signs which are affixed to the inside of windows and glass doors and are intended to be seen from roadways or parking lots. No other indoor sign shall be deemed a SIGN within this chapter.
SIGN, ADVERTISING. A sign which directs attention to a business or profession conducted or to a commodity, service, or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises where the sign is located or to which it is affixed.
SIGN, FLASHING. Any illuminated sign on which the artificial light is not maintained stationary 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.
SIGN, GROSS AREA OF. The entire area within a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the sign and in no case passing through or between any adjacent elements of the same.
SOLAR COLLECTOR. A device, structure, or part of a device or structure (ie. array, panel, etc.) installed for transforming solar energy into thermal, mechanical, chemical or electrical energy.
SOLAR ENERGY. Radiant energy received from the sun that is collected in the form of heat or light by a solar collector.
SOLAR FARM. A use of land where a series of solar collectors are placed in the area for the purpose of converting solar energy into electrical power for interconnection with the power grid primarily for off-site energy consumption. The term includes any associated cabling, devices, equipment, and structures located on site that are associated with the operation of a solar farm. The use of solar collectors for residential or business consumption that occurs on-site is not considered a solar farm.
STORAGE CONTAINER. A large, van like reusable box/container designed for the storage of commercial, industrial, agricultural or residential household goods, that does not contain wheels for movement.
STORAGE TRAILER. A large van/wagon drawn by a truck or tractor, used especially in hauling freight by road without current license plates.
STORY. The portion of the building, other than a cellar or basement (except one used for business or residence), included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it or, if there isn’t a floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling next above it.
STORY, HALF. A partial story under a gable, hip, or gambrel roof, the wall plates of which on at least two opposite exterior walls are not more than four feet above the floor of the story; except that any partial story used for residence purposes, other than for a janitor or caretaker or his or her family, or by a family occupying the floor immediately below it, shall be deemed a full story.
STREET. A public or private thoroughfare which affords the principal means of vehicular access to abutting property.
STREET, COLLECTOR. A street which carries traffic from a major street to a local street.
STREET, HIGHWAY. A street primarily designed for inter-urban or inter-regional travel.
STREET LINE. A dividing line between a lot, tract, or parcel of land and a contiguous street.
STREET, LOCAL. A street primarily designed for access to abutting properties and for access to collector streets.
STREET, MAJOR. A street designed to carry traffic from one part of the city to another part of the city through neighborhood areas, including streets designed to carry heavy business or industrial traffic.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS. Any change other than normal maintenance which would tend to prolong the life of a supporting member of a structure such as a bearing wall, column, beam, girder, or any substantial change in the roof or exterior walls.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires more or less permanent location on the ground or attachment to something having a permanent location on the ground, including but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, advertising signs, billboards, backstops for tennis courts, and arbors and carports.
TAVERN. A place where alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on the premises.
TENT. Any structure or enclosure, the roof of which and/or one-half or more of the sides are constructed of silk, cotton, canvas, or a similar light fabric.
TOURIST HOME. A building designed for or used as a single-family or two-family dwelling on which sleeping rooms are provided or offered to transient guests for compensation.
TRAILER. Any structure used for temporary living, sleeping, business, or storage purposes, having no foundation other than wheels, blocks, skids, jacks, horses, or skirtings and which is, has been, or reasonably can be equipped with wheels or other devices for transporting the structure from place to place, whether by motor power or other means. The term TRAILER shall include CAMPER and VAN.
TRAILER OR TOURIST CAMP. Any lot or parcel used for one or more auto trailers, tents, house or camp cars, or other portable or mobile shelters used for temporary living, sleeping, business, or storage purposes.
USE. The purpose or activity for which the land or any structure thereon is designed, arranged, or intended, or for which it is occupied or maintained and shall include any manner of performance of the activity with respect to the performance standards of this chapter.
USE, ACCESSORY. A use subordinate to the principal use and located on the premises serving a purpose customarily incidental to the principal use. Residential ACCESSORY USES may include storage of household goods, parking areas, gardening, servants’ quarters, private swimming pools, and private emergency shelters.
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 of the district.
USE, PRINCIPAL. The main use of land or building as distinguished from a subordinate or accessory use. It may be either a “permitted” or a “special use”.
USE, SPECIAL. A use, either public or private, which, because of its unique characteristics, cannot be properly classified as a permitted use in any particular district or districts.
VARIANCE. A relaxation of the terms of the zoning ordinance where the variance will not be contrary to the public interest and where, owing to conditions peculiar to the property and not the result of the actions of the applicant, a literal enforcement of this chapter would result in unnecessary and undue hardship. As used in this chapter, a VARIANCE is authorized only for heights, area, and size of structure or size of yards and open spaces; establishment or expansion of a use otherwise prohibited shall not be allowed by VARIANCE, nor shall a VARIANCE be granted because of the presence of nonconformities in the zoning district or uses in an adjoining zoning district.
WHOLESALE ESTABLISHMENT. A business establishment engaged in selling to retailers or jobbers rather than consumers.
YARD. An open space on the same lot with a building unobstructed from the ground upward.
YARD, FRONT. A yard extending across the front of a lot between the side lot lines, and between the street line and the front face or faces of the main building. On corner lots, the FRONT YARD shall be considered to be parallel to the street upon which the lot has the smaller dimensions.
YARD, REAR. A yard extending across the rear of a lot, between the side lot lines, and between the rear lot line and the rear face or faces of the main building.
YARD, REQUIRED (OR MINIMUM). For purposes of determining building lines, the REQUIRED (OR MINIMUM) YARD shall be the least horizontal distance between the lot line and the main building or any projection thereof, other than the projections of uncovered steps, uncovered balconies, terraces, or uncovered porches.
YARD, SIDE. A yard extending between the front and rear yard lines and between the side lot line and the side face or faces of the main building.
ZONING DISTRICT. An area or areas of the unincorporated territory of the county for which the regulations and requirements governing use, lot, and bulk of buildings and premises are uniform.
(Ord. O-95-2-12, passed 2-9-2012; Ord. O-131-09-18, passed 9-13-2018; Ord. O-136-01-20, passed 1-9-2020)