Source: https://www.ecode360.com/28515037
Timestamp: 2017-10-24 09:46:15
Document Index: 791345065

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', '§ 270', 'art 7', 'art 7', 'art 5', 'arts 4', '§ 270', 'art 10', 'art 8', 'arts 4', '§ 270', 'art 5', 'art 8', 'arts 4', '§ 270', 'arts 4', 'art 9', 'art 5', 'art 10']

Township of West Manheim, PA Accessory Buildings and Uses
Ch 270 Pt 7 Art XV Accessory Buildings and Uses
§ 270-89 Applicability.
§ 270-90 Accessory buildings.
§ 270-91 Dish antennas.
§ 270-92 Fences and walls.
§ 270-93 Firewood storage.
§ 270-94 Household or private swimming pools.
§ 270-95 Accessory repair of personal motor vehicles.
§ 270-96 Unenclosed storage and/or parking.
§ 270-97 Dumpsters.
§ 270-98 Airstrips/helipads.
§ 270-99 Bed-and-breakfast inns.
§ 270-100 Family day-care facilities.
§ 270-101 Farm occupations.
§ 270-102 Home occupations.
§ 270-103 Noncommercial keeping of livestock.
§ 270-104 Portable storage units.
§ 270-105 Roadside stand.
§ 270-106 Rural occupations.
§ 270-107 Alternative energy facilities.
Part 7 Standards for Uses
Article XV: Accessory Buildings and Uses
Chapter 270 : Zoning Part 7 Standards for Uses Article XV Accessory Buildings and Uses
The following regulations for accessory buildings and uses shall supplement the regulations set forth in this chapter in each zoning district and shall apply throughout the Township unless otherwise specified. If the zoning district regulations are determined to be in conflict with the following general regulations, the most restrictive regulations shall be applied, unless otherwise stated.
Accessory buildings and structures, such as but not limited to detached private garages, barns, storage buildings, garden structures and greenhouses not used for commercial purposes, may be erected in accordance with the following requirements:
Accessory buildings with a floor area not exceeding 250 square feet and 12 feet in height shall not be located less than five feet from the lot line and/or easement. All other accessory buildings shall not be located less than the minimum required building setbacks and/or easements. No accessory building shall be permitted within a roadway or driveway clear sight triangle.
Nonagricultural and nonforestry accessory building(s) shall not cover more than 10% of the net lot area in the Farming and Rural Resource Zoning Districts, except for any farm buildings or accessory buildings used to house livestock, and/or store crops.
Accessory building or buildings shall not cover more than 10% of the net lot area in the Residential and Suburban Residential Zoning Districts, except for any farm buildings or accessory buildings used to house livestock and/or crops.
An accessory building shall be no less than 10 feet from the principal building.
Except for farm buildings which shall have no height limit, all other accessory buildings in the Residential, Suburban Residential, Rural Resource and Farming Zoning Districts shall not be higher than 1 1/2 stories or 20 feet, whichever is less. In all other districts, accessory buildings are permitted to be constructed to the maximum height requirements of the principal buildings in the underlying zoning district.
Dish antennas shall be a permitted accessory use in any district and shall comply with the following requirements:
All dish antennas shall meet the yard setback and height limitations for the zoning district in which they are located.
The distance of any guy anchorage or similar device shall be at least 10 feet from any property line.
Dish antennas shall be limited to one per lot in the Residential and Suburban Residential Zoning Districts.
The dish antenna shall be maintained in a safe condition.
If determined by the Code Enforcement Officer or his designee, a structural engineering analysis may be required at the request of the Zoning Officer.
A dish antenna shall be five feet from any overhead electrical power line.
No dish antenna shall be permitted within a roadway or driveway clear sight triangle.
Fences or walls may be erected, altered and maintained in accordance with the following requirements:
Any fence or wall shall not exceed six feet in height.
Fences or walls may be located up to, but not on a property line, easement or right-of-way line.
Fences or walls shall not be located within a clear sight triangle and shall not reduce the sight distance at intersections and driveways.
Stacks of firewood maintained for personal, residential use shall not be stored to a height in excess of six feet.
Stacks of firewood shall be a minimum of six feet from any property line.
Stacks of firewood shall not be stored in the street right-of-way or sight distance triangle of intersections and/or driveways.
A zoning and building permit shall be required for the installation or construction of a private outdoor swimming pool on the same lot as the principal residence subject to the following conditions:
Such pool may be erected in the rear and side yard, but shall not be located in the front yard.
The water edge of such pool shall not be located nearer than 20 feet to the rear lot line and/or easement and 10 feet to any side lot line and/or easement for any pool. The walkway or patio area surrounding the pool shall not be located nearer than five feet to the lot lines and/or easements.
Fences, barriers and gates for swimming pools shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Uniform Construction Code.[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I). See also Ch. 110, Construction Codes, Uniform.
No permanent swimming pool structure shall be permitted without an operable filtration system utilizing chlorine, bromine or some other antibacterial agent.
Conventional wading pools with a surface area of less than 150 square feet or a depth of less than two feet shall be exempt.[2]
All swimming pools shall comply with the requirements of the Building Code.[3]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 110, Construction Codes, Uniform.
No water from a pool shall be discharged directly onto or within 20 feet of any public right-of-way or adjacent property without the owner's consent.
The routine maintenance, repair and servicing of personal motor vehicles, owned and/or leased by the person performing such services when performed outside of a completely enclosed building, is permitted, subject to the following:
All vehicles shall be maintained with proper licensure.
All work shall be performed on the vehicle owner's (lessee's) property of residence.
All by-product or waste fuels, lubricants, chemicals, and other products shall be properly disposed of.
All such activities shall be conducted during daylight hours and so as not to disturb abutting properties.
All exterior repair, maintenance, and servicing activities shall be completed within 72 hours.
[Amended 10-2-2014 by Ord. No. 1-2014]
Recreational vehicles, boats, campers and trailers. For residential uses in any zone, recreational vehicles, travel trailers, trucks, boats and trailers are not permitted to be parked on a public street or highway, including those intended for dedication. They are permitted only according to the following requirements:
The storage of one such vehicle shall be permitted. Such vehicle is permitted to be parked in any yard as long as no portion of the vehicle (including tongue) is located within any public right-of way, on or above any public sidewalk or easement, or within a distance of five feet from adjoining property lines.
The storage of a second recreational vehicle shall be permitted if the gross lot size is equal to or greater than 0.5 acre, as derived from a recorded deed and/or recorded subdivision plan. The secondary vehicle shall be permitted only in the side/rear yard, and no portion of the vehicle (including tongue) shall be located within any public right-of-way, on or above any public sidewalk or easement, or within a distance of five feet from an adjoining property.
All areas used for storage shall be maintained so as to keep vegetation properly trimmed and debris or litter disposed of regularly. Storage of a recreational vehicle shall not exempt the property owner from any property maintenance requirement of this chapter. All vehicles shall maintain valid registration and inspection, and prevent the leakage of fuels and/or lubricants into the ground; and
In the Residential, Suburban Residential, Business Center, Farming and Rural Resource Zones, commercial vehicles over 14,000 pounds' gross vehicle weight, truck tractors and/or trailers, commercial and/or construction trailers/equipment, including, but not limited to, backhoes, dump trucks over 12,000 pounds' gross vehicle weight, cranes and forklifts, and school buses (excluding vans) shall not be parked or stored on or off a public or private street or highway. The parking of such vehicles off a public or private street or highway shall not apply to lots with a gross lot area of one acre or greater; however, in no case shall such commercial vehicles be parked within 200 feet of any adjoining property. This subsection shall not apply to local deliveries, loading or unloading, or construction equipment used at a construction job site. When loading or unloading, said vehicles shall not be permitted to have their engines, generators or refrigeration units of any sort in operation for a period exceeding a total of 30 minutes in any twenty-four-hour period. Truck tractors and/or trailers used for residential moving purposes shall be permitted to park for period not to exceed 24 hours. This subsection shall not apply to farm vehicles not normally used as a means of conveyance on a public highway.
All permanent trash dumpsters shall be located within a side or rear yard, screened from adjoining roads and properties, and completely enclosed within a masonry or fenced enclosure equipped with a self-latching door or gate. All trash must be stored within the dumpsters or otherwise must be bundled and stored within the masonry or fenced enclosure. Temporary trash dumpsters shall be permitted for use for a period of 60 days, unless a greater time is granted by the Board of Supervisors. Temporary dumpsters shall not be required to be provided with enclosures as described above.
Airstrips/helipads are permitted as provided in Part 5, subject to the following criteria:
All facilities shall be designed and operated in strict compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
The applicant shall furnish evidence of the obtainment of a license from the PennDOT, Bureau of Aviation, prior to the approval of the application.
The approach zone to any of the proposed runways or landing strips shall be in accordance with the regulations of the applicable federal and/or state agencies.
There shall be no existing flight obstructions such as towers, chimneys or other tall structures or natural obstructions outside of the airport and located within the proposed approach zones.
Any building, hanger or structure shall be located a sufficient distance away from the landing strip in accordance with the recommendations of applicable federal and/or state agencies.
The glide path shall be a plane surface laid out in accordance with the operating characteristics of the aircraft for which the airport is designed. The final 500 feet of the glide path shall be wholly within the airport property.
Bed-and-breakfast inns are permitted as provided in Parts 4 and 5 subject to the following criteria:
For the purposes of this chapter, a "bed-and-breakfast" shall be defined as an owner-occupied, single-family detached dwelling, where between one and five rooms are rented to overnight guests on a daily basis for periods not exceeding 14 consecutive days.[1]
Editor's Note: See also the definition of "bed-and-breakfast inn" in § 270-13.
No modifications to the external appearance of the building (except fire escapes) which would alter its residential character shall be permitted.
All floors above grade shall have direct means of escape to ground level.
All parking areas shall be set back a minimum of 25 feet from all property lines and shall be provided with buffering, landscaping, screening in accordance with Part 10 of this chapter.
A bed-and-breakfast inn may erect one sign in accordance with the requirements for home occupation signs in Part 8 of this chapter.[2]
Meals shall be offered only to registered overnight guests, employees of the establishment, and residents of the dwelling.
The applicant shall furnish evidence that an approved means of sewage disposal and water supply shall be used.
The applicant shall furnish proof of approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
Family day-care facilities are permitted as provided in Parts 4 and 5 subject to the following criteria:
All family day-care facilities shall be conducted within a single-family detached dwelling.
A family day-care facility shall offer care and supervision to no more than six different nonresident minors during any calendar day.
All family day-care facilities with enrollment of more than three minors shall furnish a valid registration certificate for the proposed use, issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
An outdoor play area no less than 390 square feet in area shall be provided. Such play area shall not be located within the front yard nor in any vehicle parking lot. Outdoor play areas shall be screened from any abutting existing residential use or residentially zoned properties with Level 1 screening in accordance with § 270-215 of this chapter, but no vegetative materials located within the outdoor play area shall be of a harmful type (plants that are poisonous, thorny, allergenic, etc.). All outdoor play areas must include a means of shade, such as a tree(s) or pavilion(s).
Passenger "dropoff" and "pickup" areas shall be provided on site and arranged so that passengers do not have to cross traffic lanes on or adjacent to the site.
Farm occupations are permitted as provided in Part 5 subject to the following criteria:
For the purposes of this section, farm occupations may involve any one of a wide range of uses, so long as it remains secondary to and compatible with the active farm use. Retail sales shall only be permitted incident to the production of goods on the site.
Only residents of the farm property shall be employed by the farm occupation, and the owner of the farm occupation must reside on the site.
The use must be conducted within one completely enclosed building. Where practical, the farm occupation shall be conducted within an existing farm building. However, any new building constructed for use by the farm occupation shall be located no less than 100 feet from any adjoining street right-of-way or property line.
Any new building constructed for use by the farm occupation shall be of a design so that it can be readily converted to agricultural use, or removed, if the farm occupation is discontinued.
The farm occupation shall occupy no more than 4,000 square feet of gross floor area, nor more than one acre of lot area. However, any driveway serving the farm occupation and the farm shall not be calculated as land serving the farm occupation.
No more than 50% of the land devoted to a farm occupation shall be covered by buildings, structures, parking or loading areas, or any other impervious surfaces.
For purposes of regulation of signs for farm occupations, all signs shall be considered home occupation signs, and meet all applicable provisions of Part 8 of this chapter.
For purposes of this section, any farm occupation which is not a permitted principal use within the zoning district in which the principal agriculture or farm use is occurring shall not be subdivided or separated from the principal agriculture or farm use.
Home occupations are permitted as provided in Parts 4 and 5 subject to the following criteria:
The use shall be clearly incidental to the principal use of the premises as a single-family detached dwelling or single-family semidetached dwelling for living purposes.
No more than two persons, at least one of whom shall be a resident of the dwelling, may be engaged in the home occupation use.
No more than one home occupation may be located in any dwelling or accessory building unit.
The home occupation shall not alter the appearance of the building as a dwelling unit.
No mechanical equipment shall be employed in a home occupation, other than that customarily utilized for hobby or domestic purposes.
No retail sales or services, other than goods grown, produced or assembled on the premises, shall be conducted on the premises; however, retail sales of products not produced on the premises are permitted when these sales are only incidental to and part of the primary function of the business.
No manufacturing shall occur on the premises other than the products of customary hobbies and fabrication of garments by a seamstress.
No goods shall be displayed so as to be visible from the exterior of the premises.
Home occupations shall be limited to not more than 400 square feet of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit or accessory building.
An accessory use to a principal detached single-family dwelling that is not contained upon a farm, whereupon livestock are kept exclusively by the residents of the site.
Group 1: Animals whose average adult weight is less than 10 pounds shall be permitted at an animal density of 12 per acre with a maximum number of 50 animals.
Group 2: Animals whose average adult weight is between 10 pounds and 100 pounds shall be permitted at an animal density of two per acre, with a maximum number of 20 animals.
Group 3: Animals whose average adult weight is greater than 100 pounds shall be permitted at an animal density of one per acre, with a maximum number of five animals.
The keeping of a combination of animal types (Groups 1, 2, and 3) shall require an animal density equal to the ratio of the number of animals, by type. In no case shall a lot contain more than 50 total animals. Should one structure be used to house a combination of animal types, the most restrictive setback shall apply.
Structures directly related to and used as part of keeping noncommercial livestock shall not be permitted in the front yard.
The following lists minimum setbacks (from all lot lines) imposed upon the placement of any structure used in the raising or housing of livestock. Should more than one structure be used in the raising or housing of a combination of livestock types, the most-restrictive setback shall apply:
Group 1: fifteen-foot setback.
Group 2: thirty-foot setback.
Group 3: forty-foot setback.
All outdoor pasture/recreation areas shall be enclosed with fencing to prevent the escape of the animals. Such fencing must be set back at least 10 feet from all property lines and/or easements.
All animal wastes shall be properly stored and disposed of in compliance with Pennsylvania's Manure Management Guidelines so as not to be objectionable at the site's property line. All animals, their housing, and their outdoor pasture/recreation areas shall be properly maintained so as not to become a nuisance to abutting properties.
Unenclosed storage shall be permitted in accordance with § 270-96.
Zoning districts; minimum lot areas for groups:
Group 1: Minimum lot area shall be 1/2 acre.
Group 2: Minimum lot area shall be two acres.
Group 3: Minimum lot area shall be five acres.
Rural Resource:
Specific standards for keeping of chickens:
Chickens: Only female chickens shall be allowed in a Residential Zone.
Chickens may not run at large within the Township.
Chicken houses and lots must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.
Animal density greater than listed is permitted as a conditional use.
A zoning permit shall be required for the noncommercial keeping of livestock. The zoning permit may be revoked for any violation of this section.
No portable storage unit shall be located within 10 feet of any street right-of-way, property line and/or easement. Portable storage units shall not obstruct any street intersection or driveway clear sight triangle.
A portable storage unit shall not exceed a width of eight feet, length of 16 feet, and height of eight feet if located less than 500 feet from a dwelling not owned by the owner/renter of the portable storage unit.
No portable storage unit shall remain on a lot in excess of 60 consecutive days, unless a greater time is granted by the Board of Supervisors. Portable storage units shall not be placed on a lot in excess of 180 days in any calendar year.
A portable storage unit shall be permitted during construction, reconstruction, alteration or renovation of the principal building and for a period of three days before and after such activity, provided a construction and/or zoning permit has been issued by the Township. The portable storage unit shall be removed from the premises before the Township Zoning Officer issues a certificate of occupancy and/or use, or if the construction activity ceases for a period of more than 14 consecutive days.
A portable storage unit may be located on a lot during an emergency situation as declared by the appropriate federal, state, county or Township agency. The portable storage unit shall be removed from the lot within 14 days after the end of the emergency declaration by the appropriate federal, state, county, or Township agency.
Roadside stands are permitted as provided in Parts 4 and 5 subject to the following criteria:
Maximum floor area of the structure used as a roadside stand shall not exceed 300 square feet.
There shall not be more than one roadside stand on any one property.
A roadside stand may be located in any yard area, provided that it is at least 10 feet from street rights-of-way, property lines, and easements. Roadside stands shall not obstruct any street intersection or driveway clear sight triangle.
At least 50% of the products sold must be produced on site.
Parking shall conform to the regulations in Part 9, except that paving shall not be required.
Following the harvesting seasons all structures and signage shall be moved to an area to the side or rear of the principal building and appropriately screened from view.
Rural occupations are permitted as provided in Part 5 subject to the following criteria:
Only one rural occupation may be conducted on the same property as the owner's principal residence, and shall not exceed the area of the principal residence's ground-floor area or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less.
A rural occupation shall only be conducted within one completely enclosed building that satisfies at least one of the following:
The building will remain the same size and in the same location as it existed on the effective date of this chapter.
The building is limited to one story in height, or 20 feet, whichever is lesser.
The building shall comply with the minimum building setbacks of the underlying zoning district.
In no case shall any new rural occupation building be constructed before the owner resides permanently on the subject property. In addition, rural occupations may only be conducted so long as the owner of the business resides on the site.
In no case shall the required maximum lot coverage be exceeded by those impervious surfaces associated with the principal residence, rural occupation and/or other permitted accessory uses and structures.
All off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided with buffering, landscaping and screening in accordance with Part 10 of this chapter.
No outdoor storage or display shall be permitted.
No rural occupation and its principal dwelling shall generate more than 20 vehicle trips per day to and from the site. The applicant shall furnish evidence regarding the expected numbers of vehicles trips associated with the proposed use.
Vehicular access to the rural occupation shall be limited to the same driveway connection with the public street right-of-way that serves the principal residence. No additional roadway connection shall be permitted.
The maximum number of employees that do not reside on the site shall be equal to two full-time positions. For purposes of this section, employees shall be defined as those involved in the on-site conduct of the rural occupation.
Rural occupations shall only be conducted between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
No manufacturing, mechanical or industrial use shall be permitted which causes any noise, glare, fumes, smoke, dust, vibration, electromagnetic interference, or other hazard that is noticeable at any property line of the rural occupation. No use that requires application or permitting by the PA DEP for the handling of hazardous waste or other substances shall be permitted.
Any area devoted to retail sales display shall be limited to 20% of the overall size of the rural occupation.
The applicant shall furnish evidence that an approved means of sewage disposal shall be utilized, and further that such means is part of the same system in use for the principal residence.
Intent. The alternative energy requirements are designed to recognize the need for conservation of energy and natural resources and to facilitate the utilization of renewable resources. These regulations are designed to allow the installation of renewable energy devices and provide the opportunity for individuals to reduce energy dependence by encouraging the productive use of solar and wind energy components.
Solar, wind and alternative energy standards. The use of solar, wind and alternate energy systems is encouraged within these regulations and permitted within any zoning district. Although the installation of such systems is not mandatory, where they are utilized, the following shall apply:
Active and passive solar systems, wind energy systems and similar alternate energy systems, including customary energy storage accessories, shall be permitted for the production, collection, movement, distribution or storage of heated water, air or other medium that is intended for conveyance to a principal or accessory use. Systems may include the following, subject to the requirements contained herein:
Solar panels, with a combined glazing area of 65 square feet or less may be placed in any required yard but shall not be closer than five feet from any property line.
Solar panels with a combined glazing area in excess of 65 square feet shall be provided in accordance with the following:
Solar panels attached to a principal structure shall comply with the zoning setbacks prescribed for a principal structure in the applicable zoning district. All solar panel systems may extend 10 feet above the highest point of a roof;
Solar panels that are freestanding or attached to an accessory structure shall comply with the accessory structure requirements of this chapter.
Solar greenhouses attached to principal structures shall meet all yard requirements for a principal structure in the applicable zoning district. Solar greenhouses attached to accessory structures shall meet all yard requirements specified for accessory structures in this chapter.
Detached solar greenhouses shall meet all yard requirements specified for accessory structures in this chapter.
Wind energy conversion systems, provided that:
The structure shall have a minimum setback from all property lines equal to the height of the longest extension of the rotor.
Towers may be ground- or roof-mounted and shall be securely fastened as per manufacturer's specifications or a demonstrable equivalent to achieve maximum safety and prevent collapse or fall. Any propeller or turning device that reacts to wind velocity shall have a governor to control the speed of revolutions. Such governor may include a rudder that turns the propeller away from the wind, individually spring-mounted paddles that turn away from the wind, or other suitable manufacturer's device. Towers shall be locked or secured to prevent unauthorized access, and in no case shall a permanently mounted ladder be affixed less than 10 feet from grade level.
Protection and maintenance. The improvements required and permitted within this section shall be protected and maintained to ensure the environmental benefits of nonpolluting, replenishable alternate energy. The following requirements shall apply:
Where a solar or wind energy system has been installed to serve an existing structure, it shall be the responsibility of the property owner to secure any easement or restrictive covenants necessary to protect the sky space affecting the solar or wind energy system. Such an agreement shall be negotiated between owners of affected properties, but it is not a requirement for approval of a building and zoning permit for the solar or wind energy system. Guidelines for establishing sky-space easements are provided in Appendix C.[1]
Editor's Note: Said Appendix C is on file in the Township offices.
Maximum height requirements of this chapter shall not apply to roof-mounted solar collector systems.
Energy systems shall be maintained in a safe manner. Broken glass or other potentially hazardous conditions shall be promptly repaired.
A disconnected or abandoned energy system shall be dismantled and removed from the property within 60 days of such abandonment.
Plans and permits.
Plans depicting solar or wind energy installations shall be submitted at the time of application for a building and proposed use permit. Information may be included on the required plot plan specified in this chapter or submitted on a separate plan. In addition to the information required elsewhere within this chapter, plans shall include:
Exact size and location of proposed solar or wind energy conversion system.
Any associated apparatus, structures, or architectural features necessary for the efficient operation of a solar or wind energy device.
Building and proposed use permits. A building and proposed use permit shall be required for installation of or expansion or alteration to any of the energy systems described within this section. Applicable procedures of this chapter shall apply during the processing of such permit applications. Where desired, the Zoning Officer may refer plans to any other applicable agencies for review and comment prior to formal action on the permit application.