Zoneomics Logo
search icon

Brighton Township City Zoning Code

ARTICLE V

R-1 Rural Residential District

§ 195-15 Purpose.

The purpose of the R-1 Rural Residential District is to provide for the development of a mix of moderate-density residential and service uses where public utilities are or will be most readily available. It is the intent of this district to provide for a variety of housing types and compatible support uses which supplement residential development.

§ 195-16 Permitted uses.

A lot or parcel may be used and a building or structure may be erected and used for any of the following purposes:
A. 
Principal uses.
(1) 
One single-family detached dwelling per lot. A mobile home is not permitted.
[Amended 12-10-2007 by Ord. No. 156]
(2) 
Duplex, either side by side or over and under, with public sanitary sewerage and public water service.
(3) 
Horticulture.
[Amended 3-14-2022 by Ord. No. 232]
(4) 
Non-tower wireless communications facilities that fall under the Pennsylvania Wireless Broadband Collocation Act. See § 195-135.
[Added 1-11-1999 by Ord. No. 107; amended 8-10-2015 by Ord. No. 198]
(5) 
Forestry.
[Added 5-12-2003 by Ord. No. 129]
(6) 
Non-tower wireless communications facilities outside the public rights-of-way that do not fall under the Pennsylvania Wireless Broadband Collocation Act. See § 195-135.
[Added 8-10-2015 by Ord. No. 198]
(7) 
Non-tower wireless communications facilities inside the public rights-of-way that do not fall under the Pennsylvania Wireless Broadband Collocation Act. See § 195-135.
[Added 12-13-2021 by Ord. No. 231]
(8) 
Tower-based wireless communications facilities located inside the public rights-of-way. See § 195-135.
[Added 12-13-2021 by Ord. No. 231]
(9) 
Agriculture operation.
[Added 3-14-2022 by Ord. No. 232]
(10) 
Farm (agriculture use).
[Added 3-14-2022 by Ord. No. 232]
B. 
Accessory uses.
(1) 
Home occupations.
(2) 
Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to the permitted principal uses, including but not limited to storage sheds, garages and satellite dishes.
(3) 
Private swimming pools as per the provisions of Article XV.
(4) 
Private greenhouse.
[Amended 3-14-2022 by Ord. No. 232]
(5) 
Signs as provided for in Article XIV.
(6) 
Private stable located on a minimum lot of five acres and a minimum of 200 linear feet from any dwelling unit and 100 feet from the closest property line. The pasture area shall be located a minimum of 50 feet from the closest property line, unless the adjacent property closest to the subject property has been established for agricultural or pasturage use or is forested in a natural state or undeveloped, in which case no fifty-foot separation shall be required.
[Amended 5-11-2009 by Ord. No. 163]
(7) 
Antenna support structures.
[Added 1-11-1999 by Ord. No. 107; amended 8-10-2015 by Ord. No. 198]
(8) 
No-impact home-based business.
[Added 5-12-2003 by Ord. No. 129]
(9) 
Accessory WECS. (See § 195-137.8A.)
[Added 10-8-2007 by Ord. No. 154]
(10) 
Private dog kennels (see § 195-137.9A).
[Added 9-13-2010 by Ord. No. 171]
(11) 
Agritourism. (See § 195-137.19.)
[Added 8-9-2021 by Ord. No. 229]
(12) 
Accessory solar energy systems. (See § 195-137.18.)
[Added 8-9-2021 by Ord. No. 228]

§ 195-17 Conditional uses.

[Amended 5-12-2003 by Ord. No. 129; 4-14-2008 by Ord. No. 158; 9-12-2011 by Ord. No. 176; 2-9-2015 by Ord. No. 191; 4-11-2016 by Ord. No. 203; 8-11-2025 by Ord. No. 250]
A lot or parcel may be used and buildings or structures may be erected and used for any of the following purposes, in the R-1 Rural Residential District, subject to the granting of a conditional use and following the conduct of a public hearing as per the provisions of §§ 195-163 and 195-164.
A. 
Conversion apartment unit.
B. 
Planned residential developments. (See §§ 195-39 through 195-70.)
C. 
Bed-and-breakfast on a minimum three-acre lot and in accordance with § 195-137.5.
D. 
Nonresidential uses as follows: public uses, schools, public and private, places of worship, and public (noncommercial) recreational facilities subject to the following:
(1) 
Minimum setback contiguous to a residential use or residential zoning district: 50 feet.
(2) 
Minimum setback from the right-of-way of all streets: 50 feet.
(3) 
Parking and lighting shall be in accordance with §§ 195-104 through 195-108.
(4) 
Signs in accordance with §§ 195-109 through 195-117.
(5) 
Buffer yard B for side and rear yards, and buffer yard A adjacent to any right-of-way in accordance with § 195-137.1.
(6) 
Minimum lot area without both public water and public sewer: one acre.
E. 
Oil and gas wells only if the well site can be placed so that the well head is at least 1,000 feet from any property line; otherwise oil and gas wells are prohibited. See § 195-137.12.
F. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection F, regarding non-tower wireless communications facilities, added 8-10-2015 by Ord. No. 198, was repealed 12-13-2021 by Ord. No. 231.
G. 
(Reserved)[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection G, regarding tower-based wireless communications facilities, added 8-10-2015 by Ord. No. 198, was repealed 12-13-2021 by Ord. No. 231.
H. 
Boardinghouse. See § 195-137.14.
I. 
Retreat facility. See § 195-137.20.

§ 195-18 Lot area, yard and height requirements.

These standards are hereby established as the minimum necessary to achieve the community goals and objectives identified. Development proposals which exceed these standards are encouraged.

§ 195-19 Lot or parcel area.

A. 
Single-family detached dwellings.
(1) 
With on-lot septic disposal and/or private well:
(a) 
Minimum lot area one acre: (43,560 square feet).
(b) 
Minimum lot width: 125 feet at the building line.
(c) 
Maximum lot coverage including accessory structures shall not exceed 30%.
(2) 
With public sanitary sewer service or connected to a private sanitary treatment plant and public water distribution system:
(a) 
Minimum lot area: 12,500 square feet.
(b) 
Minimum lot width: 90 feet at the building line.
(c) 
Maximum lot coverage including accessory structures shall not exceed 30%.
B. 
Duplex, with both public water and sanitary sewer service.
(1) 
Minimum lot area: 8,000 square feet per dwelling unit.
(2) 
Minimum lot width: 125 feet at the building line.
(3) 
Maximum lot coverage including accessory structures shall not exceed 35%.

§ 195-20 Yard requirements.

The following yard regulations shall apply to all permitted and conditional uses in the R-1 Rural Residential District, unless otherwise specified:
A. 
Front yard for permitted use.
(1) 
Minimum 40 feet from the right-of-way line of collector or arterial roadways.
(2) 
Minimum 30 feet from the right-of-way of local streets.
B. 
Front yard for conditional use.
(1) 
Minimum 50 feet from the right-of-way line of collector or arterial roadways.
(2) 
Minimum 40 feet from the right-of-way of local streets.
(3) 
On corner lots, all yards with frontage on a right-of-way shall be considered front yards.
C. 
Side yard for permitted use.
(1) 
Minimum 10 feet each side yard.
(2) 
Minimum 20 feet for the side yards of a corner lot, measured from the right-of-way line.
D. 
Side yard for conditional use.
(1) 
Minimum 30 feet each side yard.
E. 
Rear yards for permitted and conditional uses: minimum 40 feet.
F. 
Accessory uses: minimum five feet side and rear yards for structures 720 square feet or smaller in size and a minimum 10 feet side and rear yards for structures larger than 720 square feet in size. Accessory uses located in the front yard or side yard on a corner lot shall be set back from the right-of-way line in conformance with the required setback of the principal use. Private swimming pools shall comply with the provisions of Article XV, § 195-123.
[Amended 5-11-2009 by Ord. No. 163]

§ 195-21 Height requirements.

A. 
Building height shall be a minimum of one story and a maximum of three stories or 36 feet, whichever is less.
[Amended 11-10-2008 by Ord. No. 162]
B. 
Agricultural accessory uses, including but not limited to barns and silos, may be constructed to a height of 70 feet.

§ 195-22 Off-street parking regulations.

A minimum of two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Article XIII. Parking for other permitted or conditional uses shall be provided in accordance with the off-street parking regulations, Article XIII.