Butler City Zoning Code

No grading shall occur within five feet of any property or street right-of-way line.

Excavation of earth materials during grading shall result in a finish grade not in excess of one foot vertical rise to each one foot of horizontal run, provided that no fill material is placed over disturbed soil in the cut area except for topsoil. Material in place less than one year shall be considered as fill.

Placing of earth fill upon undisturbed soil shall result in a finish grade not in excess of one foot vertical rise to every two feet of horizontal run. Fill slopes shall be keyed in to undisturbed earth and well compacted in layers not to exceed eight inches in thickness.

The toe of a slope shall be either graded to a natural existing drainageway, to a stormwater drainage system or provided with a stormwater pipe draining to such a system.

Where a slope continues upward beyond the limits of grading, the top of the graded area shall be protected from accumulation of stormwater by a sloped bench and a stormwater collection swale sloped to a drainage system.

Slope areas shall be planted with erosion resisting materials.

Where soil conditions apparently will permit steeper grades without sacrificing the stability of the graded slope, the developer shall present to the Zoning and Code Management Officer a report prepared by a registered professional engineer with proven experience in soil mechanics and bearing his seal, testifying that the soil conditions in the area to be developed will tolerate grades up to a maximum slope established by the engineer.

Any proposal for the development of a property shall indicate the grading by cross-sections through the property at strategic locations indicating existing and proposed grades and noting percentages of slope. The Zoning and Code Management Officer shall not approve any development proposal until he is satisfied that the proposed grading will not exceed the requirements of this section.

Stormwater shall not be permitted to collect upon any property nor to flow from one property to another without benefit of an easement for such purpose nor from any property over a public street.

In designing a stormwater drainage system the flow accumulating from the twenty-five-year frequency rainfall shall be considered the maximum condition.

Any proposal for the development of a property shall indicate the means of collection and disposal of stormwater and the Zoning and Code Management Officer shall not approve any proposal until he is satisfied that adequate drainage is provided, including easements, if needed.

Swimming pools may be constructed in any zone district in which residential or transient residential uses are permitted, but only as an accessory use thereto.

Pools shall be considered any open tank, vessel or lake above or below ground, not located within a completely enclosed building and capable of containing water to a depth at any point greater than 24 inches and/or having a surface area of at least 150 square feet.

Pools shall be located in side or rear yards of a property only, shall be set back from property lines at least five feet and shall be at least 15 feet from houses on adjacent lots.

Pools shall be enclosed by a wood or metal fence whose top is at least four feet but not more than eight feet above surrounding ground, access through which shall be through a gate capable of being locked. If the pool is above ground with a deck at least three feet above ground level all around the pool, surrounded on its outer edge by a fence at least three feet in height above the deck, with no openings more than six inches wide, no fence at ground level will be required.

A building permit shall be required to construct any swimming pool as defined under Subsection B hereof. The Zoning and Code Management Officer shall satisfy himself that in addition to compliance with the requirements of this chapter, the owner has made provisions to drain the pool to a stormwater drainage inlet.

A mobile home shall meet all requirements of this chapter and the other City ordinances governing buildings in the zoning district where it is proposed to be located and shall be certified under the laws of Pennsylvania. Mobile homes not meeting minimum standards above or not complying with all applicable building codes shall be prohibited.

Mobile homes shall be supported directly on a fully enclosed peripheral masonry foundation carried to a depth of at least three feet below surrounding finished grade. Such foundation shall be completed before the arrival of the mobile home on the lot.

Mobile homes shall be connected to public sewage disposal and water supply systems.

No mobile home lacking toilet or bathing facilities or cooking and food storage facilities or any of these shall be permitted, nor shall any self-propelled vehicles used as living accommodations or travel trailers designated for temporary occupancy be permitted for residential purposes for a period exceeding 30 days.

A mobile home temporarily used in connection with an authorized construction project may be permitted, provided that such mobile home is removed upon completion of the project.