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Beacon Falls City Zoning Code

PART 1

General Provisions

§ 380-1.1 Purpose.

These regulations are adopted for the purposes set forth in the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, namely:
A. 
To lessen congestion in the streets;
B. 
To secure safety from fire, panic, flood and other dangers;
C. 
To promote health and the general welfare;
D. 
To provide adequate light and air;
E. 
To prevent the overcrowding of land;
F. 
To avoid undue concentration of population; and
G. 
To facilitate the provision for transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements.

§ 380-1.2 Plan.

[Amended 2-15-2024]
The regulations are made in accordance with a comprehensive plan, with due consideration for the recommendations of the Plan of Conservation and Development of the Town, with reasonable consideration as to the character of each district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses and with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the Town.

§ 380-2.1 Jurisdiction.

Within the Town of Beacon Falls, no land, building or other structure shall be used and no building or other structure shall be constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, extended, moved or structurally altered except in conformity with these regulations. No lot or land shall be subdivided, conveyed or encumbered so as:
A. 
To make said lot or land nonconforming or more nonconforming to these regulations;
B. 
To make any use, building or other structure nonconforming or more nonconforming;
C. 
To reduce any setback, yard, open space or off-street parking and loading spaces less than is required by these regulations; or
D. 
To make any nonconforming setback, yard, open space or off-street parking and loading more nonconforming.

§ 380-2.2 Nonconformity.

Any use, building or other structure or any lot which existed lawfully, by variance or otherwise, on the date these regulations or any amendment hereto became effective, and fails to conform to one or more of the provisions of these regulations or such amendment hereto, may be continued subject to the provisions and limitation of Article 10 (Nonconformity).

§ 380-3.1 Certificate.

No building or other structure, or part thereof, shall be constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, extended, moved or structurally altered until an application for a certificate of zoning compliance has been approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer. No land, building or other structure, or part thereof, shall be used or occupied, or changed in use, until an application for a certificate of zoning compliance therefor has been approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer and until a certificate of zoning compliance therefor has been issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer, certifying conformity with these regulations. No application or certificate, however, is required for a farm, forestry, truck garden or nursery use having no building or other structure in connection with such use. All applications for a certificate of zoning compliance shall be submitted and approved in accordance with the provisions of Article 82; all certificates of zoning compliance shall be issued in accordance with such article.

§ 380-3.2 Conflict with amendments.

No application for a certificate of zoning compliance shall be approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer authorizing a proposed use of land, building, or other structure or proposed construction, reconstruction, enlargement, extension, moving or structural alteration of a building or other structure which does not conform to any proposed amendment of these regulations if the first notice of a public hearing to consider such amendment has been published in a newspaper as required by the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut. If, however, the proposed amendment has not been adopted by the Commission and made effective within 65 days from the date of such public hearing, the application for a certificate of zoning compliance may be approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer.

§ 380-3.3 New business.

For any new business or commercial enterprise locating within the Business District No. 1, Industrial District No. 1 or the Industrial Park District, said business shall submit an application for a certificate of zoning compliance to the Zoning Enforcement Officer (effective November 17, 2014).

§ 380-4.1 Districts.

[Amended 9-21-1999]
For the purpose of these regulations, the Town of Beacon Falls is hereby divided into the following classes of districts:
District
Map Code
Residential District R-1
R-1
Residential District R-2
R-2
Residential District R-3
R-3
Planned Residential Design Districts
PRDD
Incentive Housing Zone
IHZ
Planned Adaptive Reuse Development
PARD
Planned Adaptive Reuse District No. 1
PARD No. 1
Planned Adaptive Reuse District No. 2
PARD No. 2
Planned Adaptive Reuse District No. 3
PARD No. 3
Planned Adaptive Reuse District No. 4
PARD No. 4
State Forest District
SF
Business District No. 1
B-1
Industrial District No. 1
I-1
Industrial Park District
IPD

§ 380-4.2 Special districts.

The following are additional classes of districts established in accordance with Part 5:
District
Map Code
Floodplain District
FPD

§ 380-5.1 Map.

The boundaries and districts specified in Article 4 are hereby established as shown on a map entitled "Zoning Map of the Town of Beacon Falls," adopted May 17, 2012, including any special maps and boundary descriptions supplementary thereto and any amendments thereof, which map is hereby declared to be a part of these regulations and is herein referred to as "Zoning Map."

§ 380-5.2 Interpretation of map.

Where a question arises as to exact boundaries of a district shown on the Zoning Map, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall by resolution determine the location of the boundary, giving due consideration, among other factors, to the indicated location of the boundary on the Zoning Map, the scale of the Zoning Map, the location of property lines and the expressed intent and purposes of these regulations.

§ 380-5.3 Extension of use.

Where the boundary of a district divides a lot, the existence of which lot is evidenced by deed or deeds recorded in the land records of the Town of Beacon Falls on the effective date of these regulations or on the effective date of any amendment of these regulation establishing such boundary, the Planning and Zoning Commission, in accordance with the provisions of Article 52, may grant a special exception authorizing a use of land, buildings and other structures permitted in one district to be extended into the other district for a distance of not more than 30 feet.

§ 380-6.1 Permitted, special exception and prohibited uses.

Land, buildings and other structures in any district may be used for one or more of those uses listed as permitted in the district under Parts 2, 3 and 4. Uses listed as special exception uses are permitted in the district subject to the approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission in accordance with the provisions of Article 52 or 53 as specified. The following uses are specifically prohibited in all districts:
A. 
The use, occupancy, parking or storage of a trailer on any lot except in accordance with the provisions of Article 65.
B. 
The storage on any lot in a residence district of more than one unregistered motor vehicle.
C. 
Carousel, roller coaster, whirligig, merry-go-round, Ferris wheel or similar amusement device, unless sponsored by a local charitable or benevolent organization and located in a business or industrial district and then for a period not to exceed six days as a special exception in accordance with the provisions of Article 52.

§ 380-6.2 Performance standards.

The use of land, buildings and other structures, wherever located, shall be established and conducted so as to conform to the performance standards specified in Article 61.

§ 380-6.3 Parking and loading.

As specified in Article 62, parking and loading spaces shall be provided off the street in connection with all uses of land, buildings and other structures. In addition, all off-street parking and loading spaces shall conform to the requirements of Article 62.

§ 380-6.4 Prohibited use.

[Amended 11-6-1991]
Any use not specified as permitted in the district is prohibited. To assist in the interpretation of Parts 2, 3 and 4, the following uses, the listing of which not intended to be exhaustive, are specifically prohibited:
A. 
The outdoor accumulation or storage of trash, rubbish, debris, building materials, two or more unregistered, used motor vehicles which are either no longer intended or in condition for legal use on the public highways, scrap metal, or parts of construction equipment.
B. 
The reduction, storage, dumping, or the maintenance of a facility for the reduction, storage, or dumping of refuse, garbage, or any other waste material.
C. 
Junkyards as set forth in § 380-9.2, and motor vehicle junkyards as defined by the Connecticut General Statutes. Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes, this prohibition may not be overridden by the Planning and Zoning Commission in its administration of certificates of approval of location for motor vehicle junkyards.
[Amended 2-15-2024]
D. 
The manufacturing or storage of explosives or gunpowder.
E. 
The manufacturing or storage or disposal of hazardous, toxic, nuclear or radioactive substances or agents.
F. 
The distilling of bones, fat or glue or the manufacturing of glue or gelatin.
G. 
The use of polychlorinated biphenyls or hydrocarbon mixtures containing polychlorinated biphenyls in concentrations greater than two parts per million, including the commercial storage thereof, other than its use in the manufacture or processing of other substances or mixtures.
H. 
The operation of a commercial waste disposal or waste processing area, including but not limited to the dumping, grinding, depositing, storing, incinerating or landfilling of solid waste, liquid waste, bulky waste, or processed or unprocessed trash or garbage.
I. 
The commercial operation of a resources recovery facility, recycling facility or recycling center as defined in the Connecticut General Statutes.
J. 
A trailer or mobile structure, whether supported on wheels, a foundation or otherwise, shall not be used as a part of any principal or accessory use, except as a temporary field office in connection with and only during the course of construction, and except as it may otherwise be specifically permitted by these regulations. A temporary permit for a construction trailer may be issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer for a period not exceeding six months but may be renewed for successive periods of not more than three months each, at his discretion, if work on said construction is diligently progressing but not yet completed. An unoccupied parked trailer shall not be kept on a lot unless garaged or screened from view from the street and adjacent properties.
[Amended 3-15-2009]
K. 
A cannabis retailer, cannabis hybrid retailer, cannabis delivery service and cannabis micro-cultivator as defined in Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) § 21a-420.
[Added 7-21-2022]

§ 380-7.1 General.

The following regulations shall apply to the area, shape and frontage of lots and the location and bulk of buildings and other structures in each district under Parts 2, 3 and 4.

§ 380-7.2 Lot area, shape and frontage.

Each lot shall have at least the minimum area as specified in the district. Each lot to be used for a dwelling shall have at least the minimum area as specified in the district, and each lot to be used for a dwelling containing more than one dwelling unit shall have at least the minimum additional area for each dwelling unit in the dwelling in excess of one specified in the district. Each lot shall be of such shape that a square with the minimum dimension specified in the district will fit on the lot and, in residence districts, shall also have the minimum width along the building line specified in the district. Each lot shall have the minimum frontage on a street specified in the district.

§ 380-7.3 Height.

No building or other structure shall exceed the number of stories and/or the maximum height, whichever is less, as specified in the district. This limitation, however, shall not apply to the following: ornamental cupolas, belfries, chimneys, flag or radio poles, silos, bulkheads, water tanks, towers, churches or Town buildings and structures, or to tanks and elevators, heating, solar collectors, ventilating, air-conditioning or similar equipment located on the roof of a building and not occupying more than 25% of the area of the roof, or to parapets used to screen or hide water tanks, ventilating, air-conditioning or similar equipment.

§ 380-7.4 Setbacks.

No building or other structure shall extend within less than the minimum distance of any street line, rear property line, other property line or residence district boundary line as specified in the district, subject to the following exceptions and additional limitations:
A. 
Signs. Certain permitted signs, as specified in Article 63, may extend within lesser distances of a property or street line.
B. 
Projections. Pilasters, belt courses, sills, cornices, marquees, canopies, awnings, eaves and similar architectural features and open fire escapes may project into the area required for setback from a street line, property line or residence district boundary line for the distance specified in the district.
C. 
Additional setbacks. In any district, any portion of a building or other structure, which portion exceeds the height limit specified in the district, shall be set back from any street line, property line or residence district boundary line by two additional feet for each foot or fraction thereof by which such portion exceeds the height specified in the district.
D. 
Narrow streets. The required setback from a street line of a street having a width of less than 50 feet shall be increased by 1/2 of the difference between 50 feet and the actual width of the street.
E. 
Railroad. In business and industrial districts, no setback is required from the right-of-way line of a railroad.
F. 
Fences, walls and terraces. The required setback distances shall not apply to fences or walls six feet or less in height or to necessary retaining walls or to unroofed terraces, but no fence, wall or terrace shall be located within the right-of-way of any street.
G. 
Accessory buildings in residence districts. In residence districts, unattached accessory buildings or structures which are less than 20 feet in height and 400 square feet in floor area may be located in the required rear yard not less than 10 feet from any side or rear lot line. The term "accessory buildings or structures" shall include swimming pools.

§ 380-7.5 Building and bulk coverage.

The total new floor area of all buildings and other structures on any lot, excluding basements, shall not exceed the percentage of lot area as specified in the district, and the aggregate ground coverage of all buildings and other structures on any lot shall not exceed the percentage of lot area as specified in the district.

§ 380-8.1 General.

The requirements hereinafter specified are supplementary to and in addition to standards set forth elsewhere in these regulations.

§ 380-8.2 Plans.

Site plans and architectural plans, when required to be submitted under these regulations in connection with an application for a certificate of zoning compliance, shall conform to the following standards:
A. 
Site plan. A site plan shall be drawn to a scale of not less than 50 feet to the inch and shall show all of the following information, both existing and proposed, as applicable to the particular application: property lines and lines delimiting the land to be used under the application; contours at an interval not exceeding two feet or equivalent ground elevations; buildings, structures, retaining walls, signs and outdoor illumination facilities; streets, driveways and off-street parking and loading spaces; outside storage areas and all paved areas; watercourses, ponds and wetlands; storm drainage and sewage disposal and water supply facilities; docks, wharves, and bulkheads; and landscaping (including trees and/or shrubs, lawn, other landscape features and natural terrain not to be disturbed). The site plan shall be prepared by a professional engineer, architect, land surveyor or landscape architect licensed to practice in the State of Connecticut and as required by law.
B. 
Architectural plans. Architectural plans shall include all proposed buildings, structures and signs proposed to be reconstructed, enlarged, extended, moved or structurally altered. Architectural plans may be in preliminary form but shall include exterior elevation drawings, generalized floor plans and perspective drawings, prepared, except for drawings for signs, by an architect or professional engineer licensed to practice in the State of Connecticut.
C. 
Erosion and sediment control plan. An erosion and sediment control plan drawn at the same scale as the site plan shall show all short-term and permanent erosion control measures to be provided. The erosion and sediment control plan shall be prepared by an engineer, architect or landscape architect licensed to practice in the State of Connecticut.

§ 380-8.3 Indoor restaurants.

Indoor restaurants and other food and beverage service establishments shall serve customers only when seated at tables or counters, and at least 75% of the customer seats shall be located within an enclosed building. Such establishments may include a food takeout service incidental to the primary permitted use but shall not include establishments where customers are served in motor vehicles or served primarily at food takeout counters.

§ 380-8.4 Accessory uses.

Accessory uses shall not include uses which are otherwise not permitted or specifically prohibited in the district. In residence districts, accessory uses shall also conform to the following additional standards and conditions:
A. 
The accessory use shall be located on the same lot with the use to which it is accessory.
B. 
Accessory uses may include a boat landing and dock to accommodate no more than two boats.
C. 
Accessory uses may include off-street parking spaces and private garages, but except in connection with a farm or a special exception use, there shall be no more than one commercial vehicle parked on any lot, and such vehicle shall not exceed 1.5 tons' capacity.
D. 
No part of a lot located in any of the residence districts shall be used for access to a use not permitted in such district.

§ 380-8.5 Professional office in dwelling unit.

A professional office in a dwelling unit located in a residence district is an additional use for which a certificate of zoning compliance is required. Such office shall be used only for the office of persons engaged in a recognized profession, such as physicians, dentists, lawyers, engineers, architects, land surveyors, teachers and clergymen, who through training and experience are qualified to perform services of a professional as distinguished from a business nature. The person conducting the office shall reside in the dwelling unit, and there shall be no more than two nonresident persons employed in connection with such office. The floor area used for the office shall not exceed 1/3 of the floor area of the dwelling unit.

§ 380-8.6 Home occupation in dwelling unit.

A home occupation in a dwelling unit located in a residence district is an additional use for which a certificate of zoning compliance is required. Home occupations consist of activities conducted for gain and shall conform to the following standards and conditions:
A. 
The person conducting the home occupation shall reside in the dwelling unit, and there shall be no more than two nonresident persons employed in connection with such occupation.
B. 
There shall be no evidence outside the dwelling, except permitted signs and required off-street parking, that the dwelling contains a home occupation.
C. 
The home occupation shall be confined to but one floor of the dwelling unit and not more than 25% of such floor shall be so used.
D. 
No finished consumer goods shall be acquired outside the dwelling unit for sale in connection with a home occupation within the dwelling unit.

§ 380-8.7 Renting of rooms.

The renting of rooms in a dwelling unit located in a residence district is an additional use for which a certificate of zoning compliance is required. The person renting the rooms shall reside in the dwelling unit. No accessory building shall be used for renting of rooms, and there shall be no provision for cooking facilities in or available to such rooms except the principal cooking facilities of the dwelling unit.

§ 380-8.8 Farms.

Farms, including truck garden, nurseries, greenhouses, forestry and the keeping of livestock, shall conform to the following additional standards and conditions:
A. 
Farms shall not include commercial piggeries, and there shall be no commercial slaughtering, fertilizer manufacturing or any commercial reduction of animal matter.
B. 
No livestock shall be kept on a lot of less than five acres and any building in which the livestock or poultry are kept shall not extend within less than 150 feet of any property or street line, except as follows:
(1) 
Horses or ponies may be kept on a lot of less than five acres, provided that the lot contains an area of not less than 40,000 square feet for each such animal and the total number thereof does not exceed three; and
(2) 
An aggregate of not more than 20 chickens or other poultry may be kept on any lot if kept in a building or enclosure conforming to the setback requirements for buildings and other structures.
C. 
No commercial greenhouse shall extend within less than 150 feet of any property or street line.

§ 380-8.9 Interior lots.

[Added 10-7-1992]
In residential districts, no certificate of zoning compliance shall be issued for the construction of a dwelling or building or the conversion of any existing accessory building used in connection therewith, unless the required "minimum street frontage," which shall be defined as the minimum width requirement for each said district for the district involved, as set forth in Article 11, shall be on an accepted, approved public street, except that where a parcel of land is of sufficient area to afford division into two or more lots, of which some do not have the required minimum street frontage on said public street for that particular district, a certificate of zoning compliance may be issued for the lot(s) not having the required minimum street frontage, provided that the following standards are met:
A. 
Each lot has access to an accepted, approved public street by means of an accessway, which accessway is part of said lot and serves only the subject lot not having the required minimum frontage for the district involved, and such accessway is not less than 20 feet in horizontal width in any location from the street to the point where said accessway joins the balance of said lot, except that one other lot having all necessary street frontage may utilize said accessway under an easement for ingress and egress.
B. 
The accessway has a cleared and graded travelway of not less than 16 feet in width and is to be constructed in accordance with the regulations set forth in Article 68 of the Beacon Falls Zoning Regulations. This shall include a graded base of at least eight inches and meeting Grade "B" gradation requirements as called for in the state's Specifications for Roads and Bridges, Form 814A, or as amended. Gradation tests shall be performed by the contractor or developer and submitted to the Town Engineer for review and approval prior to use.
[Amended 9-21-1999]
C. 
Such interior lot shall conform to 1 1/2 times the minimum lot area requirement for the district involved, without including the area of such accessway. The accessway shall be that portion of the lot leading to the street which has less than one-half the required width for the district in which the lot is located.
[Amended 9-21-1999]
D. 
The front yard and minimum depth for said lot shall not be measured from the street line but from a line parallel to or concentric with the street line and the least distance therefrom sufficient to make said line equal to the minimum width specified for the district involved; the minimum front yard setback shall be 1 1/2 times the minimum requirement for the district in which the lot is located (see typical rear lot illustration at the end of this section).
E. 
All utility lines, including but not limited to electric and telephone service, extending from the street line of such lot to the building site of said lot shall be installed underground.
F. 
There shall be no more than three such accessways installed and constructed adjacent to each other, and such three parallel accessways may utilize one common travelway, subject to cross-easements for ingress and egress. In such an instance where there are two or three such accessways utilizing said one travelway, said travelway shall, in the case of two accessways, be not less than 16 feet in width as set forth in Subsection B above; in the case of three accessways utilizing the one said travelway, then in that event the travelway shall be 22 feet in width, constructed in accordance with the provisions of Subsection B above. Except as set forth with said two adjacent accessways, there shall be a minimum of three street frontage lots, meeting the requirements for the particular zone in which the subject parcel(s) is/are located, as a buffer between any such interior lot accessway. In addition, parking of any vehicles shall not be permitted on the common travelway. In addition, said travelway, including all utilities, shall be constructed in its entirety before issuing building permits on said common travelway. Further, parking of any vehicles shall not be permitted on the common travelway.
[Amended 9-21-1999]
G. 
The common travelway shall be constructed in its entirety with all utility lines (including but not limited to electric, telephone, cable, gas and water services) from the street line to the property line of each individual lot. This common travelway shall be completed by the developer prior to the issuing of any building permits.
[Amended 9-21-1999]
H. 
No underground structures of any type shall be permitted under the travelway as defined in Subsections B and F. Should underground structures be required, the owner, at his/her own expense, shall submit a plan prepared by a licensed professional engineer to the Building Inspector/Town Engineer for review and approval prior to issuance of a permit. All underground structures shall be designed for HS 20 loadings.
[Amended 9-21-1999]
I. 
The developer/landowner shall be required to submit a plan clearly demonstrating that, in addition to passenger vehicles, single-unit vehicles can travel said accessway throughout its entire length.
[Amended 9-21-1999]
J. 
When the combined length of the common travelway, accessways and driveways exceeds 250 feet (measured along the center line), a turnaround area, with a turning radius of 35 feet, shall be provided at the terminus end of the driveway and at any point where the angle of the travelway, accessway or driveway exceeds 45°.
[Amended 9-21-1999]
Typical Illustrations: Interior Lots
380 Typ Illustrations_Interior Lots.tif

§ 380-8.10 Corner visibility.

On any corner lot, there shall be no building, structure, fence, wall or planting located within a triangular space of the lot bounded by the two intersecting street lines and a straight line connecting a point on one street line 25 feet from the intersection, so as to obstruct a clear line of sight anywhere across such triangle between an observer's eye at an elevation 3.5 feet above one street line and an object one foot above the other street line, except that any building may extend to within the minimum distance of a street line as specified in these regulations. Any fence, wall or planting which so obstructs such line of sight shall not be considered a nonconformity authorized to continue under the provisions of § 380-2.2.

§ 380-8.11 Motor vehicle repair.

No part of a lot located in a residence district shall be used to repair or paint any motor vehicle which is not registered to an occupant of the premises.

§ 380-8.12 Minimum solar access.

No dwelling shall be constructed and no building shall be expanded or enlarged if said construction, expansion or enlargement would cast a shadow upon the south wall of an existing building or a proposed building for which a building permit has been issued for more than 25% of the time between 8:34 a.m. and 3:08 p.m. local time on December 21. Minimum setbacks for buildings required to protect solar access shall be based upon the shadow length table available from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Where solar access protection precludes development of any portion of the lot, then the minimum solar access requirements of this section shall not apply.

§ 380-8.13 Screening.

Mechanical equipment or other utility hardware on roof, ground or buildings shall be screened from public view with materials harmonious with the building, or it shall be so located as not to be visible from any public ways.

§ 380-8.14 Landscaping.

In an Industrial Park District, any area not covered by a building or structure, or paved, shall be suitably landscaped with trees, shrubs, or lawns or left in a natural state, if already wooded. Site development shall preserve major trees and existing landscape features wherever possible. Along and adjacent to any residential district boundary line, a strip of land not less than 40 feet in width shall be suitably landscaped with trees and shrubs to effectively screen the industrial development from the residential district.

§ 380-8.15 Outdoor lighting.

A. 
In an Industrial Park District, all outdoor lighting shall be directed so that the source of illumination is not visible beyond the property line.
B. 
All areas subject to vehicular or pedestrian traffic during the hours of darkness shall be lighted.

§ 380-8.16 Access in residential districts.

In residential districts, no accessway, driveway, right-of-way or walk shall be maintained or used for access to any other property which is being used for a use other than a dwelling.

§ 380-8.17 (Reserved) [1]

[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 8.17 was deleted 3-15-2009.

§ 380-8.18 Accessory buildings.

All accessory buildings or structures shall have the same architectural character as the principal or main building.

§ 380-8.19 Accessory dwelling units in single-family residences.

[Amended 11-17-2022]
A single-family dwelling unit in the R-1, R-2 or R-3 Residence One Family Districts may be permitted to allow an accessory dwelling unit to be attached or located within a proposed or existing principal dwelling of greater square footage or detached from a proposed or existing principal dwelling of greater square footage and located on the same lot of such dwelling, subject to the receipt of a site plan approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission based upon the following conditions:
A. 
Maximum size. The floor area of the accessory dwelling unit may not exceed 1/3 of the gross floor area of the primary building or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less.
B. 
Accessory dwelling unit. Building or part of a building designed for occupancy by one family unit, maintaining a common household, with a separate kitchen for the exclusive use of that unit's occupant(s), a complete separate bathroom/toilet facility, and one separate means of egress and ingress to the exterior.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
C. 
Location of units. At least one side of each dwelling unit shall be located at or above grade. Each unit shall have separate exterior entrances. There shall be only one street number address for the dwelling structure and only one mailbox provided.
D. 
Utilities/adequacy. There shall be only one utility service per lot (i.e., electrical, water, sewer, natural gas, bottled gas) provided for both units. Certification shall be required from the Naugatuck Valley Health District that the sewage disposal system and/or potable water supply is adequate to serve both the principal and accessory dwelling units.
E. 
Parking. Sufficient off-street parking shall be provided for a minimum of three vehicles.
F. 
Minimum lot size and yard requirements. Accessory dwelling units shall be located only in structures which are in conformity with minimum area and dimensional requirements of the zoning district within which they are located.
G. 
The structure(s) which contains the principal and accessory unit (combined) shall meet all applicable setback, height, and bulk requirements.
H. 
Short-term rentals or vacation home. An accessory dwelling unit shall not be occupied or utilized for either a vacation home and/or short-term rental.
I. 
The owner of the property that contains both the principal dwelling unit with accessory dwelling unit shall register the existence of said accessory dwelling unit with the Northwest Connecticut Public Safety (NWCTPS) Primary 911 Public Safety Answering Point. It is the responsibility of such owner to reregister such inhabited ADU each year with the NWCTPS to maintain zoning compliance.
J. 
Accessory/in-law apartments which were built prior to the adoption of this regulation, but for which permits were issued, may be certified upon inspection by the Zoning Enforcement Officer and the Building Inspector, provided they are deemed safe and in compliance with the basic conditions of these regulations.

§ 380-8.20 As-built requirements.

[Amended 9-21-1999]
An A-2 survey shall be waived by the Zoning Enforcement Officer and the Building Inspector in the case where the land constitutes an existing and operating farm of five acres or more, and the building is not a residence nor to be used to house animals, and not encroaching within 50 feet of an adjacent property line. Farm buildings which house farm animals must be 150 feet from an adjacent property line. Where the Zoning Enforcement Officer cannot determine the apparent distance, an A-2 survey of the adjacent lot line(s) may be required.
A. 
Inspection; required information.
(1) 
At the time of the inspection for the determination of issuance of a certificate of zoning compliance, the Zoning Enforcement Officer may request the applicant to:
(a) 
Furnish the Zoning Enforcement Officer with measurements, prepared and bearing the name and seal of a land surveyor licensed in the State of Connecticut, of all setback distances for any structure on said parcel; or
(b) 
Furnish the Zoning Enforcement Officer, upon his request, with a letter prepared by and bearing the name, signature and seal of a land surveyor or professional engineer, licensed in the State of Connecticut, noting that the inspected parcel/lot(s) meet(s) all of the standards specified in Articles 7, 8 and 11 of these regulations.
(2) 
If requested, said information shall be submitted to the Zoning Enforcement Officer prior to his approval of any certificate of zoning compliance.
B. 
The Building Inspector and Zoning Enforcement Officer shall require a Class A-2 survey map as defined by the Connecticut Association of Land Surveyors, Inc., depicting all setbacks and areas in conformity with these regulations. This map shall be on sheet size of multiples of 8.5 inches by 11 inches, but no larger than 24 inches by 36 inches. Said Zoning Enforcement Officer and Building Inspector shall require this map to be filed when:
(1) 
A new building is to be constructed for which a certificate of zoning compliance and building permit have been issued, and upon such time as the completion of the foundation of the building. No further work shall be performed upon this structure until the required survey map showing the as-built conditions has been filed with the Zoning Enforcement Officer and Building Inspector and has been approved by both; or
(2) 
The proposed construction is an addition to an existing building or structure, and in that event the required survey map shall be filed with the application for the certificate of zoning compliance and building permit; or
(3) 
The construction or structure is of a component not considered a "building" per se. In this event, the required survey map shall be submitted upon the completion of the excavation and forming but prior to placing or surfacing, pouring of footings or erection of the structure to the Zoning Enforcement Officer and the Building Inspector for their approval.
C. 
All Class A-2 survey maps are required to be submitted in accordance with Subsection B. The above shall contain the following information:
(1) 
Location of existing and proposed structures/buildings.
(2) 
Location of structures, watercourses, wells, septic tanks, dry wells, and subsurface leaching systems.
(3) 
Property lines and measurements between said property lines and new construction as shall be adequate to allow the Zoning Enforcement Officer and Building Inspector to determine compliance with the minimum front, side and rear yard requirements.
(4) 
Setback from watercourses, water bodies and wetlands, as may be required by local and state inland wetland regulations, stream encroachment regulations and floodplain regulations.
(5) 
Setbacks for subsurface disposal systems in compliance with local and state Health Department codes and regulations.
D. 
In the case of rear additions, side additions, upper-level additions, front porches, above-ground and in-ground swimming pools, tennis courts or signs in/on residential structures, the Class A-2 survey requirement may be waived upon written approval by both the Zoning Enforcement Officer and the Building Inspector, provided the following conditions are met (in no event may the front setback requirement be waived):
(1) 
Proposed addition is clearly 20 feet in addition to the zoning district requirement from the rear and side setback requirement and is not applicable to an upper-level addition.
(2) 
Applicant provides a Class D survey.
(3) 
Applicant accepts and assumes liability, in writing, for any future property line disputes.
(4) 
All abutting property owners are notified by the applicant of the proposed addition by certified mail, return receipt requested, and there is no dispute or objection raised. The applicant shall provide the certified mail return receipts to the Zoning Enforcement Officer.

§ 380-8.21 Accessory residential poultry and/or livestock use.

[Added 2-17-2022; amended 6-16-2022]
The intent of this section is to provide regulations for the keeping of a very limited number of poultry and/or other livestock for personal use, enjoyment, or personal consumption, provided that such animals are kept in a sanitary and nonoffensive manner and consideration has been made to the number of animals, size of the lot and proximity of adjacent residences. These regulations are for the R-1, R-2, and R-3 Residential Zoning Districts in the Town of Beacon Falls.
A. 
Farms and farming operations as a primary use. Farms and farming operations as a primary use of a property shall conform to the standards set in Part 1, § 380-8.8.
B. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
LIVESTOCK UNIT, RESIDENTIAL ACCESSORY USE
(1) 
One horse or one cow or one donkey.
(2) 
Two sheep or two goats.
(3) 
Sixteen chickens or 16 rabbits.
LIVESTOCK, RESIDENTIAL ACCESSORY USE
Horses, cows, donkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits; but not pigs and minks.
POULTRY, RESIDENTIAL ACCESSORY USE
Chickens, ducks, turkeys; but not guinea hens, peacocks, emus, or ostriches.
C. 
General application requirements.
(1) 
An application for a certificate of zoning compliance shall be submitted to the Zoning Enforcement Officer per Article 3 and Article 72 of the Town of Beacon Falls Zoning Regulations for an accessory residential poultry and/or livestock use. A plot plan shall be provided depicting:
(a) 
The areas designed for the keeping of the livestock and/or poultry.
(b) 
The total number of type of livestock and/or poultry kept; and
(c) 
The locations, type and size of the shelters, grazing areas, keeping areas, and fences.
(2) 
An application for an accessory poultry and/or livestock use must be submitted and signed by the owner of such property.
(3) 
Poultry and/or livestock must be owned by the residents or owner of the premises on which they are kept.
(4) 
The keeping of poultry and/or livestock under this provision shall be for the personal use of the residents or owners of the premises on which they are kept. Stabling of livestock other than those owned by the owner or resident of the lot is prohibited, and no 4-H project shall be conducted simultaneously with the accessory poultry and/or livestock use.
(5) 
The keeping of said poultry and livestock under this provision shall not be construed as allowing the establishment of any commercial enterprise.
(6) 
Poultry and livestock offspring shall not apply to the calculation of number of animals until after weaning.
(7) 
The raising or breeding of livestock exclusively for their pelts is prohibited.
(8) 
Additional regulations of the Public Health Code, the Department of Energy and Environment Protection, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, or the Connecticut General Statues may apply.
(9) 
An applicant may be required to submit an erosion and sedimentation control plan, depending on the site-specific characteristics of the property.
D. 
Specific poultry requirements.
(1) 
Number of poultry. A property shall meet the requirements of § 380-8.21E, General accessory residential poultry and/or livestock use requirements, in order to keep up to a maximum of eight poultry.
(2) 
Management. Poultry shall be suitably contained on the premises at all times. Free-range poultry are prohibited.
E. 
Specific livestock requirements.
(1) 
Minimum lot size. A property must be greater than or equal to 40,000 square feet in order to keep livestock as an accessory residential use.
(2) 
Number of livestock. A property which meets the minimum lot size may keep up to one livestock unit. A property of one acre or more may keep up to 1.0 livestock unit and 0.5 livestock unit for every additional acre thereafter. Please refer to Table 1 - Number of Permitted Accessory Residential Poultry or Livestock Uses, for additional information.
(3) 
Management. Livestock shall be suitably contained on the premises at all times. Free-range livestock are prohibited.
F. 
General accessory residential poultry and/or livestock use requirements.
(1) 
Roosters. Roosters are not permitted on property which has less than three acres.
(2) 
Waste management. The storage and management of waste (e.g., a combination of manure and bedding) for poultry and/or livestock shall be in accordance with the Public Health Code, as amended.[1] In no case shall waste be located closer to the property lines than the minimum setback requirements for structures and enclosures for the keeping of poultry and shall not exceed two cubic yards at any given time.
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 19-13-B1 et seq. of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
(3) 
Setbacks and permitting requirements.
(a) 
The area used for grazing, exercising, or training of such animals shall be located at least 10 feet away from any lot line and securely fenced in to prevent straying and to prevent the public from entering the enclosure.
(b) 
Any preexisting nonconforming fence for confining livestock may be repaired, maintained, or replaced.
(4) 
Site-suitability in impact. To minimize potential adverse impacts, the following shall apply:
(a) 
Sites with slopes of greater than 15% shall be avoided or improved to avoid heavy surface water runoff, soil erosion, sedimentation, or hazardous conditions for keeping poultry under these regulations.
(b) 
Structure for the keeping of accessory residential poultry and/or livestock under these regulations shall not be permitted directly over land containing an on-site sewage disposal system. Structures and enclosures (such as fenced areas) shall not be permitted directly over wells.
(c) 
Property drainage shall be provided to avoid collection of water. Water shall be diverted from accessory residential poultry and/or livestock under keeping in areas; however, such water shall not pollute surface or subsurface water supplies nor shall runoff be directed at neighboring properties.
Table 1 - Number of Permitted Accessory Residential Poultry or Livestock Uses
Lot Size
Allowed Accessory Poultry and/or Livestock
Less than 0.5 acre to 40,000 square feet
8 poultry (See § 380-8.21D)
40,000 square feet to 1.0 acre
8 poultry (See § 380-8.21D) and 1.0 livestock unit (See § 380-8.21E)
More than 1 acre
8 poultry (See § 380-8.21D) and 1.0 livestock unit (See § 380-8.21E) and an additional 0.5 livestock unit for every additional acre thereafter

§ 380-9.1 Word usage.

Section 380-9.2 defines and explains certain words used in these regulations. Other words used in these regulations shall have the meaning commonly attributed to them. Words in the present tense include the future; the singular number includes the plural and vice versa. The word "person" includes a partnership, corporation or other entity. The word "lot" includes the word "plot." The word "building" includes the word "structure." Where a question arises as to the precise meaning of a word, the Commission shall, by resolution, determine the meaning of the word, giving due consideration to the expressed purpose and intent of these regulations.

§ 380-9.2 Definitions.

[Amended 2-15-2001; 4-19-2001; 3-15-2009; 7-21-2022; 6-20-2024, effective 8-8-2024; 12-19-2024, effective 1-3-2025]
As used in these regulations, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY USE or ACCESSORY BUILDING
A use or building subordinate to the main building on a lot and used for purposes customarily incidental to those of the main use or building.
ADULT BOOKSTORE
An establishment having a substantial or significant portion of its stock-in-trade in books, films, videocassettes, or magazines and other periodicals which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas, as defined herein.
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT
Any exhibition of any adult-oriented motion pictures, live performance, display or dance of any type which has as a significant or substantial portion of such performance any actual or simulated performance of specified sexual activities or exhibition and viewing of specified anatomical areas, removal of articles of clothing or appearing unclothed, pantomime, modeling, or any other personal services offered customers. It also includes any amusement machine that is regularly used for presenting material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas, as defined herein, for observation by patrons thereof.
ADULT MINI MOTION-PICTURE THEATER
An enclosed building with a capacity of fewer than 50 persons regularly used for presenting material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas, as defined herein, for observation by patrons therein.
ADULT MOTION-PICTURE THEATER
An enclosed building with a capacity of 50 or more persons regularly used for presenting material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas, as defined herein, for observation by patrons therein.
ADULT-ORIENTED ESTABLISHMENT
Includes, without limitation, adult bookstores, adult motion-picture theaters, and adult mini motion-picture theaters and further means any premises to which the public, patrons, or members are invited or admitted and wherein an entertainer provides adult entertainment, or which premises are so physically arranged as to provide booths, cubicles, rooms, studios, compartments or stalls separate from the common areas of the premises for the purpose of viewing adult-oriented motion pictures or wherein an entertainer provides adult entertainment, when such adult entertainment is held, conducted, operated or maintained for profit, direct or indirect. An "adult-oriented establishment" further includes, without limitation, any adult entertainment studio or any premises that are physically arranged and used as such, whether advertised or represented as an adult entertainment studio, rap studio, exotic dance studio, encounter studio, sensitivity studio, modeling studio or any other term of like import.
BUILDING
Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls and intended for shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals or chattel.
BUILDING LINE
A line on a lot or parcel of land establishing the minimum setback for structures from a street line. Building line may or may not be coterminous with a street line.
CANNABIS
Marijuana, as defined in C.G.S. § 21a-420.
CANNABIS CULTIVATOR
A person that is licensed to engage in the cultivation, growing and propagation of the cannabis plant at an establishment with not less than 15,000 square feet of grow space.
CANNABIS DELIVERY SERVICE
A person that is licensed to deliver cannabis from micro-cultivators, retailers and hybrid retailers to consumers and research program subjects; and hybrid retailers and dispensary facilities to qualifying patients, caregivers and research program subjects, as defined in C.G.S. § 21a-408, or to hospices or other inpatient care facilities licensed by the Department of Public Health pursuant to Chapter 368v that have a protocol for the handling and distribution of cannabis that has been approved by the department, or a combination thereof.
CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENT
A producer, dispensary facility, cultivator, micro-cultivator, retailer, hybrid retailer, food and beverage manufacturer, product manufacturer, product packager, delivery service or transporter.
CANNABIS FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURER
A person that is licensed to own and operate a place of business that acquires cannabis and creates food and beverages.
CANNABIS HYBRID RETAILER
A person that is licensed to purchase cannabis and sell cannabis and medical marijuana products.
CANNABIS MICRO-CULTIVATOR
A person licensed to engage in the cultivation, growing and propagation of the cannabis plant at an establishment containing not less than 2,000 square feet and not more than 10,000 square feet of grow space, prior to any expansion authorized by the Commissioner.
CANNABIS PRODUCER
A person that is licensed as a producer pursuant to C.G.S. § 21a-408i and any regulations adopted thereunder.
CANNABIS PRODUCT MANUFACTURER
A person that is licensed to obtain cannabis, extract, and manufacture products exclusive to such license type.
CANNABIS PRODUCT PACKAGER
A person that is licensed to package and label cannabis.
CHILD CARE CENTER
A private establishment that offers or provides a program of supplemental care to more than 12 unrelated individuals outside their home which is licensed or approved to operate as a child care center by the State of Connecticut pursuant to § 19a-77 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
CHILD CARE HOME GROUP
An establishment that offers or provides a program of supplementary care to (A) not less than seven nor more than 12 related or unrelated children on a regular basis or (B) that meets the definition of a family child care home except that it operates in a residence other than a private family home consistent with the requirements of § 19a-77 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
CHILD CARE HOME, FAMILY
A private family home providing care (A) for (i) not more than six children, including the provider's own children not in school full time, without the presence or assistance of additional staff or (ii) not more than nine children, including the provider's own children, with the assistance of additional staff and (B) for not less than three hours nor more than 12 hours per day on a regular basis consistent with the requirements of § 19a-77 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
CLUB
An organization catering exclusively to members and their guests, provided that the purpose of the club is not conducted primarily for gain and that there are not conducted any commercial activities except as required generally for the membership and purpose of the club.
COMMISSION
The Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Beacon Falls.
COMMUNITY RESIDENCE
Means a facility as defined by CGS § 8-3e.
CONVALESCENT HOME
Any establishment, other than a hospital, where three or more persons suffering from or afflicted with, or convalescing from, any infirmity, disease or ailment are habitually kept, boarded or housed for remuneration.
DWELLING
A building or portion thereof, designed exclusively for residential occupancy, including one-family, two-family and multiple dwellings, but not including hotels, motels or boardinghouses.
EARTH PRODUCTS
Includes all excavated materials, including but not limited to earth, loam, sand, gravel, clay, peat, quarry stone and rock.
FAMILY
One or more persons occupying a single housekeeping unit and using common cooking facilities, provided that unless all members are related by blood, marriage, adoption, guardianship, or other duly authorized custodial relationship or are any of the following groups:
A. 
Any number of persons possessing a disability within the meaning of the Fair Housing Act [42 USC § 3602(h)].
FLOOR AREA
The sum of the horizontal area of the several floors of a dwelling unit measured from the outside, excluding cellar floor areas, basement rooms, garages, porches, and open attics or unfinished rooms, or for which a certificate of zoning compliance has been issued as habitable living quarters. In split-level houses, the first two levels may be counted as one floor, provided the differences in floor levels are less than five feet.
GARAGE, PRIVATE
A detached or accessory building or portion of a main building for the parking and storage only of automobiles belonging to the occupants of the premises.
GARAGE, PUBLIC
A building or use, other than a private garage, used for maintenance, repair and storage of automobiles.
HEIGHT OF BUILDING
The vertical distance measured from the average level of the finished grade at the four corners of the building to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs, to the deckline for mansard roofs, and to the mean height between eaves and ridge for gable, hipped or gambrel roofs.
HOSPITAL
An institution providing health services primarily for human inpatient or medical or surgical care for the sick or injured, and including the related facilities such as laboratories, outpatient departments, training facilities, central service facilities, and staff offices which are integral parts of the facilities.
HOTEL
A building containing rooms intended or designed to be used or which are used, rented or hired out to be occupied or which are occupied for sleeping purposes by guests and where only a general kitchen and dining room are provided within the building or in an accessory building. The term "hotel" shall be deemed to include the term "motel."
INDOOR COMMERCIAL RECREATION
An establishment where a fee is paid for participating in activities, events, or programs related to sports, athletics, or leisure conducted primarily indoors. Examples include but are not limited to baseball, basketball. skating rinks, training facilities. trampoline/bounce parks. concert/arts venues, theaters, and other places of assembly.
JUNKYARD
Shall be construed to include any junkyard, motor vehicle junk business and motor vehicle junkyard as defined in the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut. The term shall also include any place of storage or deposit, whether in connection with a business or not, for two or more unregistered, used motor vehicles which are either no longer intended or in condition for legal use on the public highways and shall also include any place of storage or deposit of used parts of motor vehicles and old metals, iron, glass, paper, cordage and other waste materials which on any lot have an aggregate bulk equal to one automobile.
KENNEL
Shall have the same meaning as defined in the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut and shall include "commercial kennel" as defined in such statutes.
LOT
A parcel of land which is either owned separately from any contiguous parcel as evidenced by fee conveyance recorded in the Land Records of the Town of Beacon Falls or is a building lot shown on a subdivision map approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and filed in the office of the Beacon Falls Town Clerk.
LOT AREA AND SHAPE
In determining compliance with a minimum lot area and shape requirements of these regulations, land subject to easements for drainage facilities and underground public utilities may be included, but no street or highway, easement of vehicular access, private right-of-way for vehicles or easement for above ground public utility transmission lines may be included. Area consisting of ponds, lakes, swamps or marsh shall not be used for compliance with more than 25% of the minimum lot area requirement. In addition, (existing) area (prior to any purposed excavation, filling, or earthmoving activity) having a slope of 25% or greater shall not be used for compliance with more than 25% of the minimum lot area requirement. Land in two or more zoning districts may be used to satisfy a minimum lot area requirement, provided that the requirement of the district requiring the largest lot area is met, but no land in a residence district shall be used to satisfy a lot area requirement in any other district.
LOT DEPTH
The mean horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines, measured in the general direction of the side lot lines. In determining the required depth of a lot, any portion of said lot that is in excess of the minimum lot area need not be included.
LOT LINE
The property lines bounding a lot as defined herein:
A. 
LOT LINE, REARThe lot line which is generally opposite the front lot line; if the rear lot line is less than 10 feet in length or if the lot comes to a point at the rear, the rear lot line shall be deemed to be a line parallel to the front line not less than 10 feet long, laying wholly within the lot and farthest from the front lot line.
B. 
LOT LINE, FRONTIn the case of a lot abutting upon only one street, the line separating the lot from the street; in the case of any other lot, the owner shall, for the purpose of these regulations, have the privilege of electing any street lot line as the front lot line.
C. 
LOT LINE, SIDEAny lot line which is not a front lot line or a rear lot line, as defined herein.
LOT WIDTH
The horizontal distance, measured at right angles and in the center of the depth of the lot. In determining the required width of a lot, any portion of the lot that is in excess of the minimum lot area need not be included.
LOT, CORNER
A lot located at the intersection of two or more streets.
LOT, REAR
A lot on which the buildable area is located generally to the rear of other lots having frontage on the same street as said lot and having access to the street via a private right-of-way.
MEDICAL OFFICE
A facility for examining and treating patients with medical problems on an outpatient basis, including ambulatory care or similar medical services that generally require a stay of less than 24 hours.
MOTEL
A building or group of buildings having units containing sleeping accommodations, which are available for temporary occupancy by automobile transients.
PROFESSIONAL OFFICE
The office of recognized professions, such as doctors, lawyers, dentists, architects, engineers, artists, musicians, designers, teachers and others who, through training or experience, are qualified to perform services of a professional as distinguished from a business nature.
SELF-STORAGE WAREHOUSE
A building or group of buildings consisting of individual, self-contained units leased to individuals, businesses or organization for the storage of personal or business property.
SEXUAL ACTIVITIES
Not intended to include any medical publications or films or bona fide educational publication or films, nor does it include any art or photography publication which devotes 25% of the lineage of each issue to articles and advertisements dealing with subjects of art or photography. Nor does this definition apply to any news periodical which reports or describes current events and which, from time to time, publishes photographs of nude or seminude persons in connection with the dissemination of the news. Nor does this definition apply to publications or films which describe and report different cultures and which, from time to time, publish or show photographs or depictions of nude or seminude persons when describing cultures in which nudity or seminudity is indigenous to the population.
SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS[Amended 2-15-2001]
A. 
Less than completely and opaquely covered:
(1) 
Human genitals, pubic region;
(2) 
Buttock(s);
(3) 
Female breast(s) below a point immediately above the top of the areola; and
B. 
Human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely opaquely covered.
SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES
Simulated or actual:
A. 
Showing of human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal;
B. 
Acts of masturbation, sexual intercourse, sodomy, bestiality, necrophilia, sadomasochistic abuse, fellatio or cunnilingus;
C. 
Fondling or erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttock(s) or female breast(s);
D. 
Lap dancing;
E. 
Excretory functions as part of or in connection with any of the activities set forth in Subsections A through D.
STORY
That portion of a building which is between the surface of a floor and the surface of the next floor above or, in its absence, the next ceiling above. A basement shall be counted as a story if the ceiling is more than five feet above the level from which the height of the building is measured or if it is used for business or residential purposes by other than a janitor or watchman.
STREET
Any way which is an existing Town or state highway or any way shown on a recorded subdivision map duly approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission, or any map duly recorded and approved prior to the adoption of subdivision regulations.
STREET LINE
A line separating a parcel of land from a street.
STRUCTURE
Anything constructed or erected, including a building, the use of which requires location on or under the ground or attachment to something having location on the ground.
YARD
An open space on the same lot with a structure which lies between said structure and the nearest lot line and which is unoccupied except as may be specifically authorized in these regulations. In measuring a yard, as hereinafter provided, the line of structure shall be deemed to mean a line parallel to the nearest lot line, drawn from a point of a structure nearest to such lot line. Such measurement shall be taken at right angle from the line of the structure, as defined herein, to the nearest lot line.
YARD, FRONT
The open, unoccupied space required across the full width of a lot from the front lot line to the nearest edge of the principal building or any covered porch, garage or addition which extends from the principal building.
YARD, REAR
A yard extending across the full width of the lot and lying between the rear lot line and the nearest line of the building.
YARD, SIDE
A yard between the side lot line of a lot and the nearest line of the building and extending from the front yard to the rear yard or, in the absence of either such yard, to the front or rear lot line, as the case may be.

§ 380-10.1 Continuing existing nonconforming uses.

The lawfully permitted use of land or structures existing at the time of the adoption of the Zoning Regulations or any amendment thereto may be continued, although such use does not conform to the standards of the district in which such land or structure is located. Said uses shall be deemed nonconforming uses.

§ 380-10.2 Nonconforming use of land.

Where no structure is involved, the nonconforming use of land may be continued; provided, however:
A. 
That no such nonconforming use shall be enlarged or increased, nor shall it be extended to occupy a greater area of land than that occupied by such use at the time of the adoption of the Zoning Regulations, unless specifically allowed by other provisions in these regulations.
B. 
That no such nonconforming use shall be moved in whole or in part to any other portion of the lot or parcel of land occupied by such nonconforming use at the time of the adoption of these regulations.
C. 
That if such nonconforming use of land, or any portion thereof, ceases for any reason for any continuous period of more than one year or is changed to a conforming use, any future use of the land shall be in conformity with the provisions of these regulations.

§ 380-10.3 Nonconforming use of structures.

A. 
A structure, the use of which does not conform to the use regulations for the district in which it is situated, shall not be enlarged or extended unless the use therein is changed to a conforming use.
B. 
Such nonconforming structure shall not be structurally altered or reconstructed unless such alterations are required by law; provided, however, that such maintenance and repair work as is required to keep a nonconforming structure in sound condition shall be permitted.
C. 
A nonconforming use may be extended throughout any parts of the structure which were manifestly arranged or designed for such use at the time of the adoption of these regulations, provided this extension was made within one year of the date of such adoption.
D. 
A nonconforming use or structure may be changed to a conforming use or changed to a use less nonconforming than its present use.
E. 
If any nonconforming use of a structure ceases for any reason for a continuous period of more than one year or is changed to a conforming use, or if the structure in which such use is conducted or maintained is moved for any distance whatsoever, for any reason, then any future use of such structure shall be in conformity with the standards specified by the zoning regulation for the district in which such structure is located.
F. 
If any structure in which any nonconforming uses are conducted or maintained is removed, the subsequent use of the land on which such structure was located, and the subsequent use of any structure thereon, shall be in conformity with the standards specified by the zoning regulations for the district in which such land or structure is located.

§ 380-10.4 Restoration of damaged structures.

Any structure legally nonconforming in use which is damaged or destroyed by fire, explosion, act of God or the public enemy may be rebuilt and the use continued, but not to any greater extent than in the previously existing structure.

§ 380-10.5 Nonconforming lot.

A parcel of land which fails to meet the area, shape or frontage or any other applicable requirements of these regulations pertaining to lots may be used as a lot, and a building or other structure may be constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, extended, moved or structurally altered thereon, provided that the following requirements are met:
A. 
The use, building or other structure shall conform to all other requirements of these regulations, except that residential uses or structures located in any zone may be expanded or enlarged, provided any building expansion complies with all requirements of the R-1 Zone and the number of dwelling units does not increase.
[Amended 6-17-2010]
B. 
If the parcel fails to meet the area requirements of these regulations, the owner of the parcel shall not also be the owner of contiguous land which, in combination with such parcel that fails to conform, would make a parcel that conforms, or more nearly conforms, to the area requirements of these regulations pertaining to lots.
C. 
A building or structure containing a residential use and located in any zone may be maintained or repaired, including the making of structural alterations. Such buildings or structures may be demolished and replaced by a new building or structure, provided any expansion of said building or structure does not violate any requirements of the R-1 Zone, and if such building or structure is located on a site, it shall conform to all requirements of the R-1 Zone.
[Amended 6-17-2010]

§ 380-10.6 Registration of nonconforming use of land or structure.

Any nonconforming use of land or structures shall be registered in the office of the Planning and Zoning Commission within one year of the adoption of the Zoning Regulations. Such registration shall include the identification of the premises, a description of the nature and extent of the nonconforming use and, if necessary to description, a plot plan drawn to scale, showing property lines, all structures and any other pertinent information, and an affidavit by the owner as to the date since which such nonconforming use has existed. Failure to so register shall place the burden of proof on the property owner that any alleged nonconforming use of land or structure legally existed at the time these regulations or any amendment thereto became effective.

§ 380-10.7 Failure to apply for permit.

Where permit requirements are imposed upon nonconforming uses, failure to apply for a permit shall operate to terminate a nonconforming use.

§ 380-10.8 Severability.

Each subsection and each subpart of Article 10 is independent and severable, and if any subsection or subpart of Article 10 is held invalid, the remaining subsections and subparts shall continue in effect.

§ 380-11.1 R-1 Residence District.

Dimensional Requirement
One-Family
Two-Family
Minimum lot area (square feet)
45,000
80,000
Minimum width (feet)
125
200
Minimum depth (feet)
200
250
Minimum square (feet)
150 x 150
Minimum side yard (2) (feet)
20
25
Minimum front yard (feet)
35
35
Minimum rear yard (feet)
20
20
Maximum height (stories)
3 1/2
3 1/2
Maximum lot coverage
20% of lot
20% of lot
NOTES:
One primary structure per lot in all cases.
(a)
Maximum height is 3 1/2 stories or 40 feet.
Minimum road (street) frontage is the same as "Minimum width."

§ 380-11.2 R-2 Residence District.

Without Public Water Supply or Sewers
(a)
Without Public Water Supply or Sewers
(b)
With Public Water and With Public Sewers
(c)
Primary Permitted Use
One-Family and Two-Family (c)
One-Family or Two-Family (c)
One-Family
Two-Family
Primary structure per lot
1
1
1
1
Minimum lot area (square feet)
40,000
30,000
12,500
18.750
Minimum lot width (feet)
150
125
100
100
Minimum lot depth (feet)
175
150
125
125
Minimum lot square (feet)
150 x 150
125 x 125
100 x 100
100 x 100
Minimum front yard (feet)
25
25
25
25
Minimum side yards (2 each) (feet)
15
15
15
15
Minimum rear yard (feet)
20
20
20
20
Maximum height (stories) (d)
3 1/2
3 1/2
3 1/2
3 1/2
Maximum coverage
20%
20%
20%
20%
NOTES:
The front, side and rear yards of rear lots shall conform to the maximum requirements of the zone for any yard or setback.
(a)
Septic tank and private well.
(b)
Either septic tank or private well.
(c)
Two-family dwelling must add 50% more to lot area.
(d)
Maximum height is 3 1/2 stories or 40 feet.
Minimum road (street) frontage is the same as "minimum width."

§ 380-11.3 R-3 Residence District.

Without Public Water Supply or Sewers (a)
Without Public Water Supply or Sewers (b)
With Public Water and With Public Sewers (c)
Primary Permitted Uses
One-Family and Two-Family (c)
One-Family or Two-Family (c)
One-Family
Two-Family
Primary structure per lot
1
1
1
1
Minimum lot area (square feet)
40,000
20,000
7,500
11.250
Minimum lot width (feet)
150
100
75
100
Minimum lot depth (feet)
150
100
100
100
Minimum lot square (feet)
150 x 150
100 x 100
75 x 75
100 x 100
Minimum front yard (feet)
25
25
25
25
Minimum side yards (2 each)
Minimum (feet)
10
10
10
10
Total of 2 (feet)
30
30
30
30
Minimum rear yard (feet)
20
20
20
20
Maximum height (stories) (d)
3 1/2
3 1/2
3 1/2
3 1/2
Maximum coverage
20%
20%
20%
20%
NOTES:
The front, side and rear yards of rear lots shall conform to the maximum requirements of the zone for any yard or setback.
(a)
Septic tank and private well.
(b)
Either septic tank or private well.
(c)
Two-family dwelling must add 50% more to lot area.
(d)
Maximum height is 3 1/2 stories or 40 feet.
*
Lesser side yard may not be utilized for driveway or parking.
Minimum road (street) frontage is the same as "Minimum width."

§ 380-11.4 Business and Industrial Zones.

[Amended 2-21-2002]
Dimensional Requirement
Business
Industrial
Minimum lot area (square feet)
#
85,000
Minimum lot width (feet)
40
150
Minimum lot frontage (feet)
40
25
Minimum front yard (feet)
10
25
Minimum side yard (one) (feet)
*
20
Minimum side yard (other) (feet)
*
10
Minimum rear yard (feet)
10
25
Minimum setback
Residence zone (side and rear) (feet)
10
50
Any street line (feet)
10
25
Maximum height of structure
3 1/2 stories or 50 feet
3 1/2 stories or 50 feet
Maximum lot coverage
50%
30%
NOTES:
*
If side yard provided, width must be at least five feet.
#
For residential uses see "Schedule of Permitted Uses in Business and Industrial Zone."[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original. For permitted residential uses in business and industrial zones, see §§ 380-31.1 and 380-41.1, respectively.

§ 380-11.5 Industrial Park District.

[Amended 2-21-2002]
Minimum lot area (square feet)
If lot is not served by public sewage system
174,000
If lot is connected to a public sewage system
87,000
Minimum lot width (feet)
200
Minimum lot frontage (feet)
200
Minimum front yard (feet)
50
Minimum side yard (feet)
25
Minimum rear yard (feet)
50
Minimum setback from
1.
Residence district boundary (feet)
50
2.
Any street line (feet)
50
Maximum height of structure
6 stories or 75 feet
Maximum lot coverage
30%