In these regulations, words used in the present tense shall include the future tenses, words in the singular number include the plural number, and words in the plural number include the singular, except where the natural construction of the writing indicates otherwise. The word “shall” is mandatory and not directory. For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACCESSORY BUILDING. A building customarily incidental and subordinate to the main building and located on the same lot with the main building.
ACCESSORY USE. A use customarily incidental, appropriate and subordinate to the principal use of land or buildings located upon the same premises.
ALLEY. A public passage or way affording a secondary means of vehicular access to abutting property and not intended for general traffic circulation.
APARTMENT HOUSE OF MULTIPLE-FAMILY DWELLING. A single detached dwelling designed for and occupied by three or more families living independently of each other as separate housekeeping units, including apartment houses, apartment hotels and flats, but not including auto or trailer courts or camps, hotels or resort-type hotels.
BOARDING HOUSE. A dwelling other than a hotel where, for compensation and by prearrangement for definite periods, meals or lodging and meals are provided for three or more but not exceeding 12 persons.
BUILDING. Any structure intended for shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals or chattel. When separated by dividing walls without openings, each portion of such structure so separated, shall be deemed a separate structure.
BUILDING, MAIN. A building in which is conducted the principal use of the lot on which it is situated. In any district, any dwelling shall be deemed to be a MAIN BUILDING on the lot on which it is situated.
COVERAGE. The lot area covered by the building, including all overhanging roofs, except where otherwise specifically designated.
DWELLING. Any building or portion thereof, which is designed or used as living quarters for one or more families, but not including house trailers.
DWELLING, MULTIPLE. A dwelling designed for occupancy by three or more families living independently of each other, exclusive of auto or trailer courts or camps, hotels or resort-type hotels.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY. A dwelling designed to be occupied by one family.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY. A dwelling designed to be occupied by two families living independently of each other.
FAMILY. One or more persons related by blood or marriage, including adopted children, or a group of not to exceed five persons (excluding servants) not all related by blood or marriage, occupying premises and living as a single, nonprofit housekeeping unit as distinguished from a group occupying a boarding or lodging house, hotels, club or similar dwelling for group use. A FAMILY shall be deemed to include domestic servants employed by the family.
GARAGE APARTMENT. A dwelling unit for one family erected above a private garage.
HOME OCCUPATION. Any occupation or profession carried on by the inhabitants which is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes, which does not change the character thereof, and which is conducted entirely within the main or accessory buildings; provided, that no trading in merchandise is carried on and in connection with which there is no display of merchandise or sign other than one nonilluminated name plate not more than two square feet in area attached to the main or accessory building, and no mechanical equipment is used or activity is conducted which creates any noise, dust, odor or electrical disturbance beyond the confines of the lot on which the occupation is conducted.
HOTEL. A building or group of buildings under one ownership containing six or more sleeping rooms occupied, intended or designed to be occupied as the more or less temporary abiding place of persons who are lodged with or without meals for compensation, but not including an auto or trailer court or camp, sanitorium, hospital, asylum, orphanage or building where persons are housed under restraint.
HOUSE TRAILER. Any portable or mobile vehicle used or designed to be used for living purposes and with its wheels, rollers or skids in place or removed.
LOT. Any plot of land occupied or intended to be occupied by one building or a group of buildings, and its accessory buildings and uses, including such open spaces as required by these regulations and other laws or ordinances, and having its principal frontage on a street.
LOT, AREA. The total area measured on a horizontal plane included within lot lines.
LOT, CORNER. A lot of which at least two adjacent sides abut for their full lengths on a street, provided that the interior angle at the intersection of such two sides is less than 135 degrees.
LOT, DEPTH. The average distance from the street line of the lot to its rear line, measured in the general direction of the side lines of the lot.
LOT, DOUBLE FRONTAGE. A lot having a frontage on two nonintersection streets, as distinguished from a corner lot.
LOT, FRONTAGE. The dimension of a lot or portion of a lot abutting on a street, excluding the side dimension of a corner lot.
LOT, INTERIOR. A lot other than a corner lot.
RESIDENCE or RESIDENTIAL. Any building, structure or portion thereof, which is designed or used as living quarters for one or more persons, but not including a tent, cabin, trailer or trailer coach, boarding or rooming house, hotel, motel, apartments, duplexes or multiple dwellings.
STREET. Any public or private thoroughfare which affords the principal means of access to abutting property.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on the ground or attached to something having a location on the ground.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS. 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 roof or in the exterior walls.
TOURIST COURT. An area containing one or more structures designed or intended to be used as temporary sleeping facilities of one or more transient families and intended primarily for automobile transients.
TRAILER COURT. The land or property which is used or intended to be used or rented for occupancy by one or more trailers or movable sleeping quarters of any kind.
YARD. An open space at grade between a building and the adjoining lot lines, unoccupied and unobstructed by any portion of a structure from the ground upward except that where otherwise specifically provided in these regulations an accessory building may be located in a portion of a yard required for a main building. In measuring a YARD for the purpose of determining the width of the side yard, the depth of a front yard or the depth of a rear yard, the least horizontal distance between the lot line and the main building shall be used.
YARD, FRONT. A yard located in front of the front elevation of a building and extending across a lot between the side yard lines and being the minimum horizontal distance between the front property line and the main building or any projection thereof, other than steps.
YARD, REAR. A yard extending across the rear of a lot measured between lot lines and being the minimum horizontal distance between the rear lot line and the rear of the main building or any projections other than steps, unenclosed balconies or unenclosed porches. On corner lots, the REAR YARD shall be considered a parallel to the street upon which the lot has its least dimension. On both corner lots and interior lots, the REAR YARD shall in all cases be at the opposite end of the lot from the front yard.
YARD, SIDE. A yard between the building and the side line of the lot and extending from the front lot line to the rear lot line and being the minimum horizontal distance from the side lot line and the side of the main building or any other projections other than steps.
(Prior Code, § 12-204)