The purpose of this article is to establish the meaning of words that are subject to different interpretations.

(C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)

The definitions listed in this article shall have the meaning specified herein for the purposes of this chapter, except where the text of this chapter clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

(C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)

Abandoned shall mean the discontinuance of a nonconforming use for a period of six (6) continuous months or more. Cessation of a use due to damage caused by fire, explosion, or catastrophe does not constitute abandonment unless there is no action to commence restoration within twelve (12) months of the incident. Any period of discontinuance of a commercial or industrial use caused by strikes, material shortages, or other circumstances without fault of the owner shall not be considered in calculating the length of discontinuance.

Access shall mean a way or means of vehicular entry onto a property.

Access drive. See "driveway".

Accessory parking lot shall mean a parking lot, serving a use on another lot.

Accessory use shall mean for purposes of this chapter a structure or use on the same lot as a principal use provided that such use meets all of the following characteristics:

(a)

The use is related to the principal use.

(b)

The use is incidental or subordinate to the principal use.

(c)

The use is allowed as a permitted, provisional, or special use in this district, or is a home occupation.

Adjacent shall mean adjoining, bordering, touching, or contiguous. This shall also include two (2) lots which are separated by a street, public alley, or public walk.

Administrative regulations shall mean written orders which are issued by the Mayor, City Manager, or person designated by ordinance or resolution and compiled in a manual.

Alley shall mean any public way whose primary function is to furnish secondary vehicular access to the side or rear of properties abutting on each side and having their main access on a street.

Alteration shall mean any act or process which changes or makes improvements to one or more of the exterior architectural features of a structure and/or improvements to the structure.

Alteration, structural shall mean any change in the structural members of a building, such as foundations, bearing walls, columns, beams, or girders.

And/or shall mean "and", may be read "or", and "or" may be read "and", if the sense requires it.

Animal clinic shall mean a place used for the veterinary care, diagnosis, and treatment of sick, ailing, infirm, or injured domesticated animals, exclusive of livestock, and those animals who are in need of medical or surgical attention for either outpatient or overnight treatment but not for general boarding purposes.

Applicant shall mean a person submitting an application for planning or zoning action.

Arterial, major. See "Street, arterial."

Assembly, manufacturing shall mean the process of assembling and packaging premanufactured items into a single final product.

Assembly, public shall mean, for the purpose of this Chapter, the gathering of people in a facility otherwise defined in this Chapter including, but not limited to, a Religious Institution, Event Centers, Schools or public buildings.

Assisted/Independent Living Facility contains a combination of housing, supportive services, personalized assistance, and health care designed to respond to the individual needs of residents who need limited help with activities of daily living. Facilities have separate bedrooms or living quarters, and the emphasis of the facility remains residential. The facility may include communal kitchen, dining, and recreational facilities. An Assisted/Independent Living Facility may not house a "service dependent population" as defined in this Chapter, and those providing services to the residents may not reside on the premises nor provide nursing care twenty-four (24) hours a day.

Associated use shall mean a commercial or industrial enterprise which owns or leases an accessory parking lot for the exclusive use of its or their tenant's customers and employees.

Automobile repair, major shall mean general repair, rebuilding, or reconditioning of engines, motor vehicles, or trailers; collision services, including body, frame, or fender straightening, and repair; vehicle painting. The servicing of one's personal vehicle does not constitute an Automobile repair, major business or activity.

Automobile repair, minor shall mean replacement of parts, maintenance and repair services to passenger cars and trucks not exceeding one and one-half (1½) ton payload, excluding activities defined herein as major automobile repair.

Awning shall mean an architectural projection that provides weather protection, and is wholly supported by the structure to which it is attached. The awning may provide a business sign or identification, or decoration of the structure to which it is attached. An awning is comprised of a lightweight, ridged skeleton structure over which a rigid covering is attached.

Awning or canopy sign shall mean an on-premises business sign other than a projecting sign located upon a canopy or awning.

(C.B. No. 97-172, § 1, 8-19-97; C.B. No. 2000-13, § 1, 5-2-00; C.B. No. 2010-164, § 1(Att. A), 8-3-10; C.B. 2013-160, § 1(Exh. A), 9-17-13; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)

Balcony shall mean an exterior platform on a structure, projecting from the wall.

Bank shall mean the natural or man-made slope immediately bordering the watercourse or waterbody containing or confining the normal water flow.

Banner shall mean a strip of flexible material such as cloth, paper, or plastic, securely fastened on all corners to a building or a structure and used to advertise a special event.

Basement shall mean that story of a structure which is partly or completely below grade. A basement shall be considered a story above grade when the distance from grade to the finished surface of the floor above the basement is more than six (6) feet for more than fifty (50) percent of the total perimeter or more than twelve (12) feet at any point.

Bed and breakfast shall mean an owner-occupied single-family detached dwelling in which no more than three (3) bedrooms are rented to transient guests on an overnight basis and in which breakfast only is served to overnight guests.

Bedroom shall mean a room intended for, or capable of being used for, sleeping and which is at least seventy (70) square feet in area. A room designated on building plan submittals as a "den", "library", "study", "loft", "dining room" or other extra room which satisfies the definition and is not a kitchen, living room, or bath will be considered to be a bedroom for the purpose of computing the number of bedrooms in a dwelling unit and bedroom area.

Bedroom area shall mean the floor area of a bedroom exclusive of closet and bathrooms.

Berm shall mean a man-made landform, typically built as an earth mound.

Biomanufacturing shall mean the use of biological process and systems such as fermentation to transform biological and agricultural materials into biomaterial outputs used for manufacturing consumer goods.

Block shall mean a unit of land bounded by streets or by a combination of streets and public park land, railroad rights-of-way, waterbody, or any other barrier to the continuity to development.

Board shall mean the Zoning Board of Appeals (see Article XIV, Zoning Board of Appeals).

Bond shall mean an obligation in writing, binding the signatory to pay a sum certain upon the happening or failure of an event.

Brewery shall mean a facility where beverages are manufactured by the alcoholic fermentation of a concoction of barley (or other grain), malt and hops in water. These beverages include, but are not limited to, beer, ale, lager, stout, pilsner, and other malt beverages. A Brewery may have a tasting room.

Broadcast Studio shall mean a facility for the production and transmission of audio or video broadcasts.

Buffer area shall mean land area used to visibly separate one use from another or to shield or block noise, lights, or other nuisances. Buffer areas may include fences, berms, shrubs, or trees to mitigate the impacts of the more intense use.

Building. See "Structure."

Building Footprint shall mean the total area covered by a structure's perimeter at the ground level, measured along the exterior walls.

Building height. See "Height, building."

Building line shall mean a line parallel to or concentric with the street right-of-way line at any story level of a structure and representing the closest point of any structural part of the building is set back from such right-of-way line.

Building, principal. See "Structure, principal."

Building Safety Division shall mean the Building Safety Division of the Fire Department of the City of Champaign.

Bulk storage, enclosed shall mean the storage of chemicals, petroleum products, or hazardous materials for wholesale distribution or mass consumption in above- or below-ground storage containers or structures that meet applicable fire and building codes.

Bulk storage, unenclosed shall mean the storage of chemicals, petroleum, products or hazardous materials for wholesale distribution or mass consumption, not within a building or structure.

Bulletin board sign shall mean a sign of permanent character, but with manually movable letters, words, or numerals indicating the names of persons associated with, events conducted upon, or products or services offered upon the premises where such sign is maintained.

Business shall mean any profession, trade, occupation, and any other commercial enterprise conducted for monetary reward.

Business day shall mean Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., excepting therefrom legal holidays.

Business sign shall mean a sign which directs attention to or identifies a business, or which directs attention to or identifies a commodity, service, or entertainment to be sold or offered for sale. Any sign displaying the name of a business enterprise shall be conclusively presumed to be a business sign. Any sign displayed on a lot occupied by a business enterprise shall be presumed to be a business sign.

By law (law) shall mean as provided by statute of the United States or State of Illinois, or ordinance of the City.

(C.B. No. 97-171, § 1, 7-1-97; C.B. No. 2004-156, § 2, 6-15-04; C.B. No. 2016-001, § 1(Exh. A), 1-5-16; C.B. No. 2017-129, § 1(Exh. A), 6-6-17; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2022-050, § 1(Exh. 1), 4-5-22; C.B. No. 2024-028, § 1(Exh. 1), 3-5-24; C.B. No. 2025-061, § 1(Exh. 1), 5-6-25)

Caliper shall mean a measurement of the size of a tree equal to the diameter of the trunks measured eighteen (18) inches above natural grade.

Canopy shall mean an architectural projection that provides weather protection and is supported by the building to which it is attached and the outer end by not less than two (2) stanchions. A canopy is comprised of a rigid structure over which a rigid covering is attached. The awning or canopy may provide a business sign or identification, or decoration of the structure which it is attached to. A canopy shall have a projection of no less than two (2) feet and is comprised of a rigid structure over which a rigid covering is attached.

Car Wash shall mean a facility for the washing of passenger vehicles either manually or automated.

Carport, freestanding shall mean a freestanding roof structure open on all sides intended to provide protection for motor vehicles parked below. For purposes of signage, signs on freestanding carports shall be treated as wall signs.

Cellar shall mean a story of building having more than three-fourths (¾) of its height below the level of the finished grade at all points on walls facing front and side yards.

Cemetery shall mean land used or intended to be used for the burial of dead human or dead animals and dedicated for cemetery purposes.

Certificate of Appropriateness shall mean a certificate issued by the Historic Preservation Commission verifying its review and indicating its approval of plans for the alteration, construction, or demolition, relocation or removal of a Landmark or structure within a Conservation or Historic District as defined by this article.

Certificate of Economic Hardship shall mean a certificate issued by the Historic Preservation Commission authorizing an alteration, relocation, construction, removal, or demolition of a Landmark or structure within a Conservation or Historic District for which a Certificate of Appropriateness has previously been denied, but for which economic hardship has been determined.

Chapter shall mean "Chapter 37, Zoning" of the Champaign Municipal Code.

City shall mean the City of Champaign, in the County of Champaign and State of Illinois.

City Attorney shall mean the City Attorney of the City of Champaign or designee.

City Council shall mean the City Council of the City of Champaign.

City Engineer shall mean the City Engineer of the City of Champaign or designee.

City Forestry Supervisor shall mean the Forestry Supervisor of the City of Champaign or designee.

City limits or in the City shall mean property within the corporate City limits of the City of Champaign.

City Manager shall mean the City Manager of the City of Champaign. "Manager" shall also mean City Manager.

Clerk shall mean City Clerk of the City of Champaign.

Clinic shall mean a place used for the care, diagnosis, and treatment of persons in need of medical or surgical attention.

Club, Country shall mean a structure and ancillary facilities utilized by a membership organization whose facilities include at least a nine-hole golf course and are available for use only by its dues paying members and their guests.

Club, Lodge shall mean a structure and ancillary facilities utilized by a membership organization who may hold meetings, maintain dining facilities, serve alcohol, or engage entertainment for the enjoyment of members and their guests but are not sleeping facilities. This definition shall not include fraternities or sororities.

Code shall mean the "City of Champaign Municipal Code, of 1985," as amended. Also referred to as "Municipal Code," "Champaign Municipal Code," and "City Code."

Code Enforcement Superintendent, Superintendent of Code Enforcement, and Director of Building Safety shall mean and refers to the Supervisor of the Building Safety Division of the Fire Department whenever it appears in this Code.

Collector street. See "Street, collector."

College or University shall mean an educational institution authorized by the State to award associate, baccalaureate, or higher degrees. College or Universities commonly include lecture halls, research facilities, office uses, dormitories, open space and sporting facilities. Locally this includes the University of Illinois and Parkland College.

Commercial shall mean an activity related to a business enterprise.

Commercial motor vehicle shall mean a vehicle weighing over ten thousand (10,000) pounds and designated to carry cargo or fifteen (15) or more passengers.

Commercial recreation, indoor shall mean structures where recreational or sporting activities are carried on predominately indoors. Such establishments may include, but not be limited to, bowling alleys, skating rinks, racquet clubs, indoor swimming pools, gyms, fitness centers, sports training and practice facilities, and other similar facilities. Commercial recreation facilities do not include facilities owned and operated by a government agency which are available to the general public.

Commercial recreation, outdoor shall mean establishments where recreational or sporting activities that are conducted outdoors. Such establishments may include, but not be limited to, amusement parks, miniature golf, batting cages, go-cart tracks, stables, ballfields and other similar operations. Commercial recreation facilities do not include facilities owned and operated by a government agency which are available to the general public.

Common lot line dwellings. See "Dwelling, common lot line."

Community Center shall mean a building, or part of a building, used as a place of meeting, generally open to the public or a neighborhood, for cultural, recreational or social purposes. Community centers are not operated for profit.

Community Garden shall mean a facility, primarily outdoors but may include ancillary structures, for cultivation of fruits, flowers, vegetable, or ornamental plants by more than one person or family.

Community living facility shall mean a dwelling unit operated to provide supervision, food, lodging, or other services to a service dependent population as herein defined, living and cooking together in a single cooperative housekeeping unit, consisting of:

(a)

A basic group of members of a service dependent population.

(b)

Additional staff persons providing supervision of service to the basic group.

A community living facility shall house a basic group limited to not more than sixteen (16) service dependent individuals plus staff. Said facility may be used for temporary or permanent placement of service dependent individuals.

Conforming use shall mean any use of a structure or land which is a permitted, or approved provisional or special use in the district in which the structure or land is situated and which conforms to the regulations of that district and all other regulations of this chapter. Also see Article XII, Nonconformities, for further definitions.

Conservation district shall mean an area designated as a "Conservation District" by ordinance of the City Council which contains buildings or sites within definable geographic boundaries that, while not of such historic and/or architectural significance to be designated as a landmark or included within a Historic District, nevertheless are characterized by sound housing or commercial buildings that contribute to the visual characteristics or distinctive atmosphere of the neighborhood in which such property is located.

Construction shall mean any act or process which adds an addition onto an existing building or erects a new principal or accessory structure on a lot which is subject to the design standards for the district in which the property is located.

Contractor shop shall mean the buildings and land associated with a business engaged in or providing goods or services to the construction trades (plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, carpentry, and masonry contractors, etc.) or service trades (landscaping, exterminating, commercial cleaning, and painting contractors, etc.). Activities which are associated with a contractor shop may include merchandise showrooms; materials storerooms; yards for the storage of vehicles, large equipment and materials, or other similar activities and may engage in the sale of construction materials, tools and contracting equipment to contractors and the repair and maintenance of contractor tools and equipment.

Contributing building shall mean a building, site, structure, or object that adds to the historic association, historic architectural quality, or cultural values because it was present during the period of significance, relates to the documented significance of the property, and possesses historic integrity, or is capable of yielding important information about the period.

Conversion, Residential shall mean the conversion of an existing structure to include more than one dwelling unit, as allowed in the appropriate zoning district, provided the existing structure is not physically expanded beyond 33% of its existing gross floor area.

Cornice shall mean a horizontal molded projection that crowns or completes a building wall, or provides a delineation between floors.

Council shall mean the governing body of the City, the Champaign City Council.

County shall mean Champaign County, Illinois.

Courtyard shall mean an open, uncovered and unoccupied space, other than a yard, which is bounded in whole or in part by the walls of a building.

Currency exchange shall mean a commercial use, which exchanges common currencies, sells money orders or cashier's checks, cashes checks, or issues personal loans as its principal business activity. This shall not include a financial institution.

(C.B. No. 2007-275, § 1, 11-2-07; C.B. No. 2010-028, § 1, 3-2-10; C.B. No. 2010-164, § 1(Att. A), 8-3-10; C.B. No. 2011-020, § 1, 2-8-11; C.B. No. 2016-211, § 1(Exh. A), 10-18-16; C.B. No. 2017-171, § 1(Exh. A), 8-1-17; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2023-204, § 1(Exh. 1), 12-5-23; C.B. No. 2024-028, § 1(Exh. 1), 3-5-24)

Data center shall mean a facility used for the storage, management, processing, and transmission of digital data which houses computers, servers and network equipment related to digital data operations and delivery. These facilities may also include mechanical, electrical and utility infrastructure necessary to support sustained on-site operations.

Day care center, adult shall mean a building or portion thereof, used to receive adults, for short-term supervision, and used to provide personal care, protection, training, or programs to meet the needs of the adults served.

Day care center, child shall mean a building or portion thereof, used to receive children, whether infants, preschool, school age children, or combinations thereof, for short-term supervision, and used to provide personal care, protection, training, or programs to meet the needs of the children served, but which shall not include a school.

Definitions shall mean given within a chapter, article or division apply only to words or phrases used in such chapter, article, or division unless otherwise provided.

Demolition shall mean any act or process which destroys a structure, or a feature of a structure, either in part or whole.

Density shall mean the number of dwelling units per acre.

Density, gross shall mean the density based on all land within the boundaries of the particular area.

Density, net shall mean the density based on land within the boundaries of the particular area excluding public rights-of-way.

Design standards shall mean a set of standards regarding the architectural appearance of a building, or improvement, which governs the alteration, construction, demolition, or relocation of a building, or improvement.

Destroyed shall mean damage to a building caused by fire, explosion, or other catastrophe in which the costs to reconstruct or repair the building exceed more than fifty (50) percent of the value of the building immediately prior to the time the damage occurred.

Development standards shall mean standards established by this chapter for zoning lots or the placement or size of a building on the lot.

Director shall mean the chief executive officer of the office or department to which the particular division, bureau, board, agency, or subordinate municipal administrative body has been assigned by the Council.

Distillery is a facility where grains and/or fruits are distilled into spirituous liquor and which may include bottling, packaging, canning, storage and aging facilities. A distillery may have a tasting room.

Distribution facility shall mean a use where short- or long-term storage takes place in connection with the distribution operations of a wholesale or retail supply business.

District shall mean a territory delineated on the Zoning Map for which the regulations and restrictions of this chapter governing the use of land and buildings, height of buildings, bulk of buildings, floor area, open space, size and location of yards, and off-street parking facilities are uniform.

Dormitory shall mean a building, or residence hall, owned and operated by a University or College for the housing of students by prearrangement and for definite periods of time, and in which provisions for sanitary facilities within individual units may or may not be provided and where cooking facilities are provided outside the units.

Drive-in or drive-through shall mean a building or portion thereof which is designed to provide either wholly or in part, service to customers in vehicles that are either parked or stacked in a service lane. Drive-in facilities include, but are not limited to, drive-in restaurants, drive-in banking facilities, and other uses with drive-up windows.

Driveway or driving lane shall mean a private roadway providing access for vehicles to a parking space, garage, dwelling, or other structure.

Duplex. See "Dwelling, two-family."

Dwelling shall mean any building or a portion of a building, occupied or designed to be occupied by one or more units each of which is used or designed to be used as a permanent place of abode for human occupancy.

Dwelling, attached - Common lot-line shall mean a dwelling attached to one or more dwellings by common vertical walls with each dwelling unit being located on its own lot.

Dwelling, detached shall mean a single dwelling which is not attached to any other dwelling unit or structure.

Dwelling, manufactured home. See "Manufactured Home."

Dwelling, multifamily shall mean a structure or portion of a building containing three (3) or more dwelling units.

Dwelling, single-family shall mean one detached dwelling unit on an individual lot.

Dwelling, two-family shall mean a dwelling containing two (2) dwelling units on a single lot. This is commonly referred to as a duplex.

Dwelling unit shall mean one or more rooms, designed, occupied, or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters, with cooking, sleeping, and sanitary facilities provided within the unit for the exclusive use of a single-family maintaining a household.

(C.B. No. 2010-006, § 1, 1-19-10; C.B. No. 2016-211, § 1(Exh. A), 10-18-16; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2019-198, § 1(Exh. A), 11-5-19; C.B. No. 2024-112, § 1(Exh. 1), 6-18-24)

Easement, drainage shall mean an easement for the installation, preservation or maintenance of stormwater sewers, stormwater control apparatus, or drainage ditches of a drainage way, natural stream, watercourse, or other drainage facility.

Easement, maintenance shall mean an easement which provides access for maintenance of an adjoining stream, building, or property.

Easement, utility shall mean a general easement for the location and maintenance of public utilities.

Egress shall mean an exit.

Electronic bulletin board shall mean a sign of permanent character, but with electronically changeable letters, words, or numerals indicating the names of persons associated with or events conducted upon or products or services offered upon the premises where the sign is maintained which changes no more than once in any fifteen (15) minute period, illuminated internally by means of electric bulbs or other similar methods, controlled electronically, and able to be programmed to change indefinitely.

Electronic message sign, changing shall mean a sign displaying words or numerals indicating the names of persons associated with or events conducted upon or products or services offered upon the premises where the sign is maintained, which changes more than once in any fifteen (15) minute period, and is illuminated internally by means of electric bulbs or other similar methods, controlled electronically and able to be programmed to change indefinitely.

Eleemosynary Student Foundation shall mean a facility established on campus by a religious or other eleemosynary national organization as an outreach to their members, but generally serving a wider campus population. Eleemosynary Student Foundations may have associated coffee houses, dining halls and meeting spaces that are available to members as well as the public. This definition does not include affiliated religious institutions or residential housing.

Emergencies shall mean life or health threatening condition which requires immediate attention.

Emergency shelter shall mean a structure utilized for temporary housing of persons in a dormitory-style setting in which each resident lives at the shelter for a period not to exceed sixty (60) consecutive days.

Enlargement shall mean an increase in the exterior footprint or floor area of an existing structure or building.

Erosion shall mean the detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments, or the wearing away of the land surface by water, wind, ice and gravity.

Event Center shall mean a facility, whether indoors or outdoors, for groups of people to gather for an event or regularly scheduled program. Event centers include, but are not limited to, indoor sporting or music concert arenas, outdoor sporting or music concert stadiums, lecture halls, banquet facilities, dance halls and similar facilities. Sporting facilities that are accessory to Schools, K—12 are not considered Event Centers.

Expansion. See "Enlargement."

Expression Line shall mean a horizontal line used to organize the elements of the façade and/or provide a delineation between floors. The expression line may be created through a change in cladding material, the use of trim material or a change in the way façade materials are used, such as the use of a soldier course on a brick exterior to create a visual break in the façade.

Exterior architectural appearance shall mean the architectural character and general composition of the exterior of a structure, including but not limited to, the kind and texture of the building material and the type, design, and character of all windows, doors, light fixtures, ornamental details, signs, and appurtenant elements.

(C.B. No. 2008-258, § 1, 12-16-08; C.B. No. 2012-073, § 1, 5-15-12; C.B. No. 2016-211, § 1(Exh. A), 10-18-16; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)

Façade, Primary shall mean the face of a building situated on a lot which fronts onto the public street and if there is more than one street frontage for the lot, the more prominent public street as determined by the Street Classification Map If the Street Classification Map identifies identical classifications for both streets, the primary façade shall front the street with the greater length measured by linear footage.

Façade, Secondary shall mean the face of a building situated on a lot which fronts onto multiple public streets and where the façade faces the less prominent public street as determined by the Street Classification Map. If the Street Classification Map identifies identical classifications for both streets, the primary façade shall front the street with the lesser length measured by linear footage.

Family shall mean a person living alone, or two (2) or more persons living together as a single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit, as distinguished from a group occupying a rooming house, motel, hotel, fraternity, or sorority house, provided, however, that for the purposes of definition, "family" shall not include more than four (4) persons unrelated to each other by blood, marriage, or legal adoption. "Family" shall include members of the service dependent population living in community living facilities and recovery homes as herein defined.

Farm shall mean a property used for the growing and storage of agricultural products such as grain, vegetables, and fruit with the necessary operations for planting, treating, harvesting, or storing the produce provided. The operation of any other associated uses shall be accessory to that of the farming activities. Residential structures currently or previously associated with the farming at the location of the farm shall be included in the term "Farm." A commercial feed lot shall not be considered a "Farm."

Financial institution shall mean a bank, savings and loan, credit union or mortgage office. "Financial Institution" shall not include a currency exchange.

Fitness Center shall mean a structure offering facilities and services for physical fitness. Such facilities may incorporate, but are not limited to, exercise equipment, sports courts, indoor swimming pools and other similar amenities.

Flag, public or governmental shall mean a flag designated as an official flag of any governmental entity.

Flashing sign shall mean a sign which exhibits artificially changing light or color effects which is visible from the right-of-way or adjoining properties.

Floodplain. See Chapter 9 of the City of Champaign Municipal Code.

Floor area shall mean gross floor area, measured to the outside walls, but exclusive of such floor area as may be used for:

(1)

Parking facilities within the principal building;

(2)

Cellars in single-family dwellings;

(3)

Penthouse housing ventilators, heating systems, and similar uses. See Article IV, Development Standards.

Floor area ratio shall mean gross floor area divided by total lot area.

Footcandle shall mean a measure of illumination on a surface that is everywhere one foot from a uniform point source of light of one candle and equal to one lumen per square foot.

Freestanding Parking Lot shall mean a lot used for the purpose of parking motor vehicles at grade but where there is no principal use on that lot.

Freestanding Parking Structure shall mean a structure used for the purpose of parking motor vehicles but where there is no other principal use on the lot.

Freestanding sign or outdoor advertising sign structure shall mean a sign or outdoor advertising sign structure secured to the ground and not attached to a building.

Freestanding Telecommunication Tower shall mean any structure that is designed and constructed primarily for the purpose of supporting one (1) or more antennas, for the transmission of various forms of communication, including wireless telephone, radio and television signals, pager signals and other similar communications. This definition includes radio and television transmission towers, microwave towers, cellular telephone towers and other similar communication towers. Electrical transmission and distributions towers, telephone poles and non-commercial freestanding towers shall be excluded from this definition.

Frontage shall mean that portion of a lot abutting a street.

Funeral Home shall mean an establishment engaged in undertaking services such as preparing the dead for burial and arranging and managing funerals. Funeral homes may include cremation services.

(C.B. No. 97-32, § 1, 3-4-97; C.B. No. 98-132, § 1, 6-2-98; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2021-007, § 1(Exh. A), 1-19-21; C.B. No. 2022-185, § 1(Exh. A), 12-6-22; C.B. No. 2025-037, § 1(Exh. A), 3-18-25)

Garage, private shall mean an accessory structure or a portion of a principal structure designed for the storage of one (1) or more automobiles belonging to the occupants of a specified dwelling. This term shall also include "car port."

Gas station shall mean a place where gasoline, kerosene, or any other motor fuels are offered for sale to the public, and deliveries are made directly into motor vehicles. Gas Stations may also include retail stores offering convenient food and grocery items and Automobile Repair, Minor as defined.

Golf Course shall mean an area or course for playing golf; consisting of at least nine holes but excluding miniature golf. May include accessory clubhouse, maintenance and storage structures.

Government facility shall mean a use of land, structure, or portion of a structure used for the operations of the City of Champaign, State of Illinois, Federal Government, or any other unit of government authorized by City, State, or Federal legislation. Land and/or buildings owned by a governmental entity which are leased or operated as a private enterprise shall not be classified as a government facility.

Grain Elevator shall mean a structure built for the storage and distribution of grain.

Gravel Processing shall mean a place where stone, rock, concrete, asphalt or similar materials are stored and/or processed for first time use or recycled for reuse.

Greenhouse/Nursery shall mean an establishment where flowers, shrubs, vegetables, trees, and other horticultural and floricultural products are grown in either open areas or enclosed structures. Greenhouses/Nurseries may include accessory retail sales of products directly to consumers on the site.

Gross area shall mean the entire area within the development boundaries.

Groundwater shall mean the supply of freshwater under the surface in an aquifer or soil that forms a natural reservoir.

Group housing, university shall mean group housing structures, either owned or certified by the University as approved residences for University students. Such housing structures include dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and privately-owned certified structures.

Group quarters shall include the housing types listed in group housing university, and also rooming houses, and buildings originally designed as single-family dwellings which have been converted into multifamily uses.

Guest residence shall mean an accessory residential dwelling unit reserved for temporary occupancy by a visiting supervisor, executive, consultant or other similarly invited guest of an office, industrial or commercial business, and/or the permanent occupancy of that business' property manager, located on the same site as the office, industrial or commercial use in question.

(C.B. No. 2003-019, § 3, 2-4-03; C.B. No. 2010-164, § 1(Att. A), 8-3-10; C.B. No. 2014-126, § 1(Exh. A), 7-15-14; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)

Hazardous substance shall mean any substance defined as hazardous by the City, State or Federal Government from time to time.

Height, building shall mean the mean vertical distance from the average established grade in the front of the lot or from the average natural grade at the building line, if higher, to the average height of the top of the cornice of flat roofs, to the deck line of a mansard roof, to the mid-height of the highest gable or dormer in a pitched or hipped roof or if there are no gables or dormers to the mid height of a pitched or hipped roof.

(1)

Where a lot faces on two (2) or more streets or alleys of different average established grades in front of the lots, the higher of such grades shall control only for a depth of one hundred twenty (120) feet perpendicularly back from the street line of the higher street or alley.

(2)

On a corner lot, the height is the mean vertical distance from the average established grade or from the average natural grade at the building line, if higher, on the street of greatest width, or if two (2) or more streets are of the same width, from the higher of such grades.

Height, sign or outdoor advertising sign structure shall mean the height of a sign or outdoor advertising sign structure shall be the distance from the top of the highest portion of the sign or structure to:

(1)

The grade at the foundation of the sign or outdoor advertising sign structure.

(2)

The average grade of the lot, whichever distance is greater.

Helicopter Landing Pad shall mean a landing area used for the landing and takeoff of helicopters, including necessary passenger and cargo facilities, fueling, and emergency service facilities.

Historic shall mean includes, but is not limited to, cultural, artistic, social, economic, ethnic, or political heritage.

Historic district shall mean an area designated as an "Historic District" by ordinance of the City Council which contains within definable geographic boundaries, properties, or buildings, which may or may not be landmarks, which contribute to the overall historic character of the designated area.

Historic Preservation Commission shall mean the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Champaign.

Historic preservation design standards. See "Design standards."

Home occupation shall mean an accessory use within a dwelling unit, involving the manufacture, provision, or sale of goods or services or a combination thereof, which is carried on by residents of the dwelling unit.

Hospital shall mean a building or portion thereof used for the treatment of sick, injured or infirm persons and approved by the State of Illinois to be a hospital.

Hotel shall mean a building in which lodging or lodging and meals are regularly provided or offered to the public for compensation and which is customarily open to transient guests.

(C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)

ILCS or Illinois Compiled Statutes or Statute shall mean the latest edition of the Illinois Compiled Statutes.

Illuminated sign shall mean a sign designed to give forth any artificial light or reflect light from any artificial source.

Immediately adjacent shall mean adjoining, bordering, touching, or contiguous. If two (2) lots are separated by a street, public alley, or public walk, they shall not be deemed immediately adjacent.

Improvement shall mean any building, structure, bridge, work of art, area, parking facility, public facility, fence, gate, wall, landscaping, or other object constituting a physical addition to real property, or any part of such addition.

Ingress shall mean access or entry point or entrance.

Institutional campus, major shall mean the site for an institutional use consisting of an adjacent land area that is twenty (20) acres in size or greater.

Institutional campus, minor shall mean the site for an institutional use consisting of a contiguous bounded area less than twenty (20) acres in size.

Institutional use shall mean a nonprofit or quasi-public use such as a religious institution, library, public, or private school, hospital, university, or government owned, or operated structure or land used for public purpose or a university research park.

Instructional or directional sign shall mean a sign conveying instructions or directions with respect to the lot on which it is located. A business name or logo may be a part of an instructional or directional sign, providing that it occupies less than fifty (50) percent of the surface area.

Intermodal Transportation Facility shall mean a building or portion of building integrating multiple modes of transportation.

Internal circulation system shall mean a road providing primary access to properties within a planned development, special use, or other unified development.

In-Town shall mean that area of the City which is roughly bounded by Columbia and Washington Streets on the north, State and Randolph Streets on the east, John Street and Hessel Boulevard on the south, and Prospect Avenue on the west.

In-Town Districts shall mean any of the following zoning districts: IT-SF1, In-Town—Single Family, IT-SF2, In-Town—Single and Two-Family, IT-MR1, In-Town Mixed Residential-1, IT-MR2, In-Town Mixed Residential-2, and IT-MX, In-Town—Mixed Use.

In-Town Neighborhood Plan shall mean the amendment to the "City of Champaign Comprehensive Plan: Land Use Element and the Land Use Plan Map" identified as the "In-Town Neighborhood Plan" adopted by ordinance of the City Council pursuant to Council Bill No. 89-84, as amended from time to time.

(C.B. No. 97-172, § 2, 8-19-97; C.B. No. 2010-028, § 2, 3-2-10; C.B. No. 2010-060, § 1, 4-20-10; C.B. No. 2010-164, § 1(Att. A), 8-3-10; C.B. No. 2011-195, § 1, 10-18-11; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2019-162, § 1, 9-17-19)

Joint authority shall mean that authority given to several persons or officers. Such authority vests in a majority of such persons or officers.

(C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)

Kennel shall mean any structure or premises on which five (5) or more domesticated pets are boarded for customers or offered for sale.

Kitchen, Commissary shall mean a commercial food preparation facility providing kitchen space for one or more businesses.

(C.B. No. 2007-050, § 1, 3-6-07; C.B. No. 2011-020, § 2, 2-8-11; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2023-204, § 1(Exh. 1), 12-5-23)

Landmark shall mean a property, structure, or building designated as a "landmark" by ordinance of the City Council which is worthy of rehabilitation, restoration, and preservation because of its historic and/or architectural significance to the City of Champaign.

Landscape shall mean the berms, trees, shrubbery, lawns, grass, and groundcover which is on a parcel.

Landscape setback shall mean that area along the common property line, associated with the side or rear yard areas of a lot, which is improved with berms, trees, shrubs, groundcovers, or structural screening walls for the purpose of physically separating and buffering adjacent land uses.

Landscaping shall mean changing, rearranging, or adding to the original vegetation or scenery to produce an aesthetic effect.

Liquor establishment shall mean any business with a liquor license to serve alcoholic liquor or beverages by the glass, except for an R "Restaurant" license, as defined by Chapter 5, Alcoholic beverages, of the Municipal Code of Champaign, in the City of Champaign.

Livestock shall mean domestic outdoor animals raised and kept on farms such as cows, goats, horses and pigs but not including household domestic animals such as dogs and cats.

Loading space or area shall mean an off-street space or berth on the same lot with a building or contiguous to a group of buildings for the parking of a vehicle while loading or unloading merchandise or materials and which abuts upon a driveway, street, alley, or other appropriate means of access.

Local street. See "Street, local."

Lot shall mean a unit of land intended to be used for the development of a principal use.

Lot, adjacent shall mean adjoining, bordering, touching, or contiguous. If two (2) lots are separated by a street, public alley, or public walk they shall not be deemed to be adjacent.

Lot, corner shall mean a lot abutting two (2) or more streets at their intersection, or upon two (2) parts of the same street, such intersecting streets or parts of the same street forming an interior angle of less than one hundred thirty-five (135) degrees.

Lot coverage shall mean that portion of the lot that is covered by buildings and structures.

Lot, double frontage. See "Lot, through."

Lot, interior shall mean a lot other than a corner lot.

Lot line shall mean the perimeter of a lot as defined by public records which divides one lot from another lot or from a public or private street or any other public space.

Lot line, front shall mean the line dividing a lot from a street, unless the property fronts on two (2) streets. In this instance the front line shall be the shortest line of the two if the shorter line is eighty (80) percent or less of the longer. In the instance the line is not, then the property owner may choose which line is the front line.

Lot line, rear shall mean the lot line opposite the front lot line. In the case of an irregular or triangular shaped lot, it shall mean a line within the lot, ten (10) feet long parallel to and at the maximum distance from the front lot line.

Lot line, side shall mean any lot line other than a front or rear lot line.

Lot, nonconforming. See Article XII, Nonconformities.

Lot of record shall mean a lot which exists as shown or described on a plat or deed which has been recorded in the office of the Recorder of Champaign County.

Lot, rowhouse, exterior shall mean a lot which is or is intended to be a site for a rowhouse with a similar rowhouse attached on only one side.

Lot, rowhouse, interior shall mean a lot which is or is intended to be a site for a rowhouse with a similar rowhouse attached on each side.

Lot, through shall mean a lot having frontage on two (2) streets, but not a corner lot.

Lot width, minimum shall mean the distance measured along a straight line between the points at which the front setback line intersects the side lot lines.

Lot, zoning shall mean one (1) or more buildable lots located within a single block, which is designated as a tract to be used, developed, or built upon as a unit under single ownership or control. A zoning lot may or may not coincide with a lot of record.

Luminaire shall mean a complete lighting unit consisting of a light source and all necessary mechanical, electrical, and decorative parts.

(C.B. No. 2004-066, § 2, 4-6-04; C.B. No. 2005-053, § 1, 3-1-05; C.B. No. 2010-164, § 1(Att. A), 8-3-10; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)

Manual of Practice shall mean the technical document, authorized by the City Engineer and Planning Director pursuant to Section 3-350, which implements, interprets and clarifies the requirements of these regulations.

Manufactured home shall mean a structure, transportable in one (1) or more sections, which while in the traveling mode is eight (8) body feet wide or more in width or forty (40) body feet or more in length, or, when erected on site, is 320 square feet or more, and which is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems contained therein. Manufactured homes must be compliant with State of Illinois and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements.

Manufactured Home Community shall mean a tract of land or two or more contiguous tracts of land that contain individual pads available for lease for manufactured homes as defined herein. Manufactured Home Communities have commonly been referred to as Mobile Home Parks.

Manufacturing, heavy shall mean the same processes as heavy manufacturing, intermediate, but these uses pose special health or safety hazards requiring special use review. Such uses include, acid manufacture, cement, lime, gypsum manufacture, explosive manufacture or storage, fertilizer manufacture, petroleum refining, petrochemical plant, smelting of tin, copper, zinc, or iron ores, stockyards, and other similar uses.

Manufacturing, intermediate shall mean the converting of raw or partially processed materials into a product used for further processing or distribution. Examples include, lumber and paper mills, sewage treatment plants, stone, clay, glass product manufacturing, asphalt and concrete batch plants, and similar operations. These uses may be conducted partially or wholly outdoors and usually create noxious by-products such as dust, fumes, hazardous waste products, noise, vibration and glare.

Manufacturing, light shall mean the fabrication, assembling, altering, processing, converting, or finishing of preprocessed materials for food or consumer products. Operations are conducted mostly indoors with limited by-products. The definition shall not include establishments engaged in casting or forging.

May shall mean the word "may" is permissive and discretionary.

Mayor shall mean the Mayor of the City of Champaign.

Microbrewery is a brewery that produces less than 10,000 barrels of beer per year. A microbrewery may include a tasting room.

Micro-Distillery is a facility where grains and/or fruits are distilled into spirituous liquor not to exceed 50,000 proof gallons per year, and which may include bottling, packaging, canning, storage and aging facilities. A micro-distillery may have a tasting room.

Minor works shall mean those exterior changes that do not involve substantial alterations, additions, or removals that could impair the integrity of the property and/or the district as a whole.

Mitigation plan shall mean a strategy developed by the property owner, and approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals to alleviate or mitigate any existing or potential negative impacts of a nonconforming use on surrounding properties.

Mixed use shall mean the use of a tract of land or structure with two (2) or more different principal uses. Each use must comply with the use regulations of this article.

Month shall mean a calendar month.

Multifamily dwelling. See "Dwelling, multifamily".

Museum shall mean an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value. Museums may be open to members or the general public.

(C.B. No. 2000-182, § 1, 7-18-00; C.B. No. 2004-295, § 2, 11-16-04; C.B. No. 2005-073, § 1, 3-15-05; C.B. No. 2016-001, § 1(Exh. A), 1-5-16; C.B. No. 2016-211, § 1(Exh. A), 10-18-16; C.B. No. 2017-129, § 1(Exh. A), 6-6-17; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2019-198, § 1(Exh. A), 11-5-19)

Net area shall mean the area within the development boundaries not including areas for public or private streets, driveways, or utility easements.

Non-commercial Freestanding Tower shall mean a tower, satellite dish or similar freestanding structure constructed for the purpose of amateur radio, ham radio or residential television reception.

Nonconforming feature shall mean a characteristic of a building or property such as signs, parking, loading, landscaping, performance standards, or condition of a special/provisional use which lawfully existed prior to the enactment of the requirements of this chapter, but does not comply with the current requirements of this chapter.

Nonconforming location shall mean a use which lawfully existed prior to the enactment of the requirements of this chapter and is permitted in the zoning district, but does not meet the location requirements of the district.

Nonconforming lot shall mean a lot which lawfully existed prior to the enactment of the requirements of this chapter, but which does not meet the minimum lot size or lot width requirements of the zoning district in which it is located.

Nonconforming sign or outdoor advertising sign structure shall mean a nonconforming sign or outdoor sign structure which is:

(1)

A sign or outdoor advertising sign structure lawfully erected, constructed, installed, or maintained prior to the enactment of the regulations in this ordinance, which does not conform to the standards or requirements for permitted signs and is not specifically prohibited.

(2)

A sign or outdoor advertising sign structure lawfully erected, constructed, installed, or maintained after the enactment of the regulations in this ordinance, which does not conform to existing standards or requirements for permitted signs because of annexation, change in zoning districts, or amendments to this article.

Nonconforming structure shall mean a structure or part thereof which lawfully existed prior to the enactment of the requirements in this chapter, but is not in conformance with the zoning regulations covering building bulk, dimensions, height, area, yards, or floor area ratio of the district in which it is located.

Nonconforming use shall mean a use of land or a building which lawfully existed prior to the enactment of the requirements of this chapter and which does not comply with the use restrictions of the zoning district in which it is located.

Nonconformity shall mean any nonconforming aspect of a structure, land, or use as defined in this section.

Noncontributing building shall mean a building, site, structure, or object which does not add to the historic architectural qualities, historic association, or cultural values of the area because it was not present during the period of significance or does not relate to the documented significance of the property, due to alterations, disturbances, additions, or other changes, or because it no longer possesses historic integrity nor is capable of yielding important information about the period.

Number shall mean words used in the singular include the plural and the plural includes the singular.

(C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)

Oath shall mean any form of attestation by which a person signifies that he/she is bound in conscience to perform an act or to speak faithfully and truthfully, and includes an affirmation or declaration in cases where by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath.

Obstruction, land shall mean any building, structure, apparatus, mechanical equipment, fence, or other construction of a long-term nature placed above or on the ground within a required yard, setback, or buffer area.

Obstruction, watercourse shall mean any dam, wall, embankment, levee, dike, pile, abutment, soil material, bridge, conduit, culvert, building, wire, fence, refuse, fill, structure, or other matter in, along across, or projecting into any channel, watercourse, or floodplain which may impede, retard, or change the direction of the flow of water, either in itself or by catching debris carried by such water, or that is placed where the flow of water might carry the same downstream.

Occupant shall mean tenant or person in actual possession.

Occupation, home. See "Home occupation."

Office shall mean a structure or a series of rooms in a structure used for conducting the practice of a profession or for the conduct of business, provided that any retail sales are accessory to the principal office use.

Office conversion shall mean a single-family residential structure occupied by or converted for an office use.

Office park shall mean a development that contains a number of separate office buildings, supporting uses, and open space designed, planned, constructed and managed on an integrated and coordinated basis.

Officer, employee, department, board, commission, or other agency shall mean whenever any officer, employee, department, board, commission, or other agency, is referred to by title only, such reference shall be construed as if followed by the words "of the City of Champaign, Illinois." Whenever, by the provisions of this Code, any officer, employee, department, board, commission or other agency of the City is assigned any duty or empowered to perform any act or duty, reference to such officer, employee, department, board, commission, or other agency shall mean and include such officer or any designee or authorized subordinate and shall also include the successor in function to such officer, employee, department, board, commission, or agency when such succession has been authorized or directed by the Council or City Manager.

Off-premises sign shall mean a business sign which is not included in the definition of "sign, on-premises."

On-premises sign shall mean a business sign which relates solely to a use or business conducted upon, or to a principal product, service, or entertainment sold, provided, or offered upon the lot where the sign is located.

Open space. See "Open space, usable."

Open space, public shall mean such uses as parks, cemeteries, playgrounds, and other similar public uses.

Open space ratio shall mean usable open space divided by the total floor area.

Open space, usable shall mean that portion of a lot that is unobstructed to the sky and unoccupied by mechanical equipment. This usable open space shall not be devoted to service driveways, off-street parking spaces, or loading berths. Such space shall be usable for landscaping and decoration, recreational space, and other leisure activities normally carried on outdoors.

Operate shall mean carry on, keep, conduct, maintain, manage, direct, or superintend.

Ordinances shall mean the ordinances of the City and all amendments and supplements thereto.

Outdoor advertising sign structure shall mean a standardized outdoor advertising display, including the permanent framework, structural members, support, or support foundation, scaffolding and illumination, facing or panels, and message, which is intended and whose customary use is to mount periodically changing commercial displays and which is made generally available for display to the public by the owners on a short-term basis. Such structures shall be limited to the three (3) following standardized structures:

(1)

The thirty (30) sheet poster panel or painted bulletin, whose outside dimensions, including trim, if any, but excluding the base, apron, supports, and other structural members, is approximately twelve (12) feet by twenty-five (25) feet, containing approximately three hundred (300) square feet of total display area.

(2)

The one hundred fifty (150) square foot face, commonly painted rather than posted.

(3)

The junior panel, whose outside dimensions, including trim, if any, but excluding the base, apron, supports, and other structural members, is approximately six (6) feet by twelve (12) feet, containing approximately seventy-two (72) square feet of total face area.

Overlay district shall mean a land use designation on the Zoning Map that modifies the applicable design, or development standards, or other regulations of this chapter otherwise applicable in some specific manner.

Owner of record shall mean one who has complete dominion over particular property and who is the one in whom legal or equitable title rests; when applied to a building or land, owner means any part owner, joint owner, owner of a community or partnership interest, trust, estate, life tenant in common, or joint tenant, of the whole or part of such building or land.

(C.B. No. 97-32, § 2, 3-4-97; C.B. No. 97-207, § 1, 8-5-97; C.B. No. 2010-060, § 2, 4-20-10; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2022-050, § 1(Exh. 1), 4-5-22)

Parcel. See "Lot."

Park shall mean an area that is predominately open space, used principally for active or passive recreation, and not used for profit-making purposes.

Parking lot shall mean three (3) or more parking spaces served by internal circulation lane(s).

Parking space shall mean an area surfaced with concrete or asphaltic concrete either within a structure or in the open, exclusive of driveways, or access drives, for the parking of a motor vehicle.

Parking stall. See "Parking space."

Parkway shall mean the area between the street pavement and front property line.

Pennant shall mean any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind.

Performance standards shall mean a set of criteria or limits relating to nuisance elements and other aspects of the use, which must be met by uses within a particular zoning district. Restrictions or conditions placed upon a use by the Zoning Board of Appeals as a condition of an extension of the termination date of a nonconforming use, under the provisions of Sections 37-312 and 37-312.1 of the Amended Zoning Ordinance of 1965, shall be deemed to be performance standards as defined herein.

Permitted use shall mean any use of a structure or land which is included in the list of permitted uses in the district in which the structure or land is situated.

Person shall mean any individual, natural person, joint stock company, partnership, voluntary association, society, club, firm, company, corporation, business trust, organization, or any other group acting as a unit, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, partner, member, director, officer, or employee of any of them including an executor, administrator, trustee, receiver, or other representative appointed according to law.

Personal property shall mean any money, goods, movable chattels, things in action, evidence of debt, all objects and rights which are capable of ownership, and every other species of property except real property.

Personal service shall mean an establishment or place of business primarily engaged in the provision of frequent or recurrent needed services of a personal nature. Typical uses include, but are not limited to, dry cleaners, hair and nail salons and tailor shops.

Petitioner. See "Applicant."

Plan Commission shall mean the Plan Commission of the City of Champaign.

Planned development shall mean an area planned and developed in a unified manner in accordance with a project plan which meets the specifications of this Chapter.

Planned development certificate shall mean a written summary of a planned development's project description, drawings, deviations from usual development requirements, and other information as further described in this Chapter and maintained as a permanent record within the Planning and Development Department case file.

Planned regional shopping center shall mean a commercial development that meets the following minimum standards:

(1)

The buildings are erected on a single zoning lot of not less than forty (40) acres.

(2)

Gross building floor area exceeds four hundred thousand (400,000) square feet.

(3)

At least ten (10) separate business establishments operate within the buildings on the lot.

(4)

At least two (2) separate points of ingress and two (2) separate points of egress for the entire center are provided.

(5)

On-site parking is provided for not less than one thousand five hundred (1,500) vehicles.

Planning and Development Department shall mean the Planning and Development Department of the City of Champaign.

Planning and Development Director shall mean the Director of the Planning and Development Department of the City of Champaign.

Planting season shall mean the time of year when new plants, crops, and trees are planted with the best chance of survival generally falling between the first and last frost of the year.

Portable sign shall mean a sign not permanently anchored or secured to either a building or the ground such as, but not limited to, A-frame, inverted T-shaped signs, and signs affixed to a chassis with wheels for towing.

Portable storage units are transportable units designed and used primarily for temporary storage of building materials, household goods, personal items and other materials for use on a limited basis. This term shall not include recycling or refuse containers or storage containers having storage capacity of less than one hundred fifty (150) cubic feet.

Porte cochere shall mean a porch or cover, under which a vehicle may be driven temporarily to protect the occupants when alighting. A porte cochere shall not be construed to be a "carport."

Power Generation Facility shall mean a standalone facility that has the sole purpose of generating power.

Preceding and following shall mean next before and next after, respectively.

Principal building. See "Structure, principal."

Principal use shall mean the predominant use of land or a structure as distinguished from an accessory use.

In a residential district, multiple tenants of a similar or related nature in a single building constitute one (1) principal use. Each tenant of the building must comply with the use regulations of this Chapter.

In a commercial district, multiple tenants of a single building constitute individual principal uses. Each tenant of the building must comply with the use regulations of this Chapter.

Prohibited use shall mean a use that is not permitted or provisional or a special use in a zoning district or location.

Projecting yard sign shall mean a sign attached to and erected approximately perpendicular to the wall of a structure; including a sign erected at the corner of a structure and projecting into an open space or yard, but not projecting into the right-of-way of any street, sidewalk, alley, or other public property.

Property shall mean a distinct parcel of real property which is assigned a separate tax parcel identification number by the Supervisor of Assessments of Champaign County.

Property line. See "Lot line."

Proprietor shall mean an owner of the property or premises including any person, firm, association, corporation, club, partnership, or other group acting as a unit whether acting by themselves or by a servant, agency, or employee.

Provisional use—Level I shall mean a level I provisional use is generally compatible in the district provided it complies with certain restrictions regarding location, operation, or screening.

Provisional use—Level II shall mean a level II provisional use is generally compatible with the other uses permitted in a zoning district, but requires individual review of their location, design, configuration, and intensity to mitigate any potential adverse effects on surrounding lands.

Public art shall mean a fountain, sculpture, painting, mural, or similar object which is displayed as a focal point and is intended for the enjoyment of the general public.

Public improvement shall mean any improvement, facility, or service together with its associated public site or right-of-way necessary to provide transportation, drainage, public utilities, cable television or similar essential services.

Public place shall mean open space including any park, lake, stream, stadium, athletic field, playground, school yard, street, avenue, plaza, square, bus, train or railroad depot, station, terminal, cemetery, open space adjacent thereto, or any other place commonly open to the public, including, but not limited to, areas on private property commonly open to the view by the public.

Public-private setback zone means an area on a lot between a principal building on the lot and the lot line along a public street right-of-way or along public property. This area may be utilized for seating, outdoor dining, public art and/or other pedestrian amenities.

Public promotion sign shall mean a sign which promotes a general civic pride for the City, or a portion of the City, or a district of the City, or a specific charitable or not-for-profit event or organization. No business name, logo, device, symbol, or trademark shall be permitted on a public promotion sign.

Public way shall mean any street or sidewalk.

(C.B. No. 98-243, § 1, 10-20-98; C.B. No. 2004-295, § 3, 11-16-04; C.B. No. 2006-203, § 1, 8-1-06; C.B. No. 2011-175, § 1, 9-6-11; C.B. No. 2012-216, § 3, 1-15-13; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2024-070, § 1(Exh. 1), 5-7-24)

Reserved.

Railroad Yard/Freight Terminal shall mean transfer or processing node for rail transportation including the movement of freight.

Real estate sign shall mean a sign placed on property, which is actively marketed for sale, rental, or lease of the premises on which it is located.

Real property shall mean land, together with all things attached to the land so as to become a part thereof.

Recovery home shall mean a dwelling unit operated for the purpose of: (1) promoting the joint rehabilitation of its occupants from alcohol or drug addiction; or (2) supporting formerly incarcerated individuals. A recovery home shall be limited to not more than eight (8) individuals recovering from alcohol or drug addiction or formerly incarcerated individuals and up to two (2) live-in staff members.

Recreational shall mean organized leisure time activities, often requiring equipment and taking place at prescribed places, sites, or fields which may be either indoor or outdoor locations.

Recreational vehicleshall include but not limited to, every camping trailer, motor home, mini-motor home, travel trailer, truck camper, van camper, or boat with a trailer used primarily for recreational purpose and not used commercially nor owned by a commercial business.

Recycling center shall mean a facility where discarded materials are separated and processed for transport to another location for future reuse. Salvage Yards are not Recycling centers.

Rehabilitation shall mean the process of returning a property to a state of utility, through repair or alteration, which makes possible an efficient contemporary use while preserving those portions and features of the property which are significant to its historic or architectural values.

Religious institution shall mean a place of public assembly of over forty-nine (49) seats in the principal assembly area, for the purposes of religious activities, and conducting worship services on a regular basis.

Relocate shall mean any repositioning of a building on its site or moving it to another site.

Remodel shall mean any improvement to the exterior or interior of a building which requires an electrical, plumbing, or HVAC permit and which is not a structural alteration, new construction, or enlargement.

Repair shall mean any change that does not require a building permit that is not construction, relocation, or alteration.

Repair, major shall mean the repair or replacement of nonbearing walls, fixtures, wiring, roof, or plumbing which exceeds twenty (20) percent of the replacement value of the building or structure.

Repair, minor shall mean the repair or replacement of nonbearing walls, fixtures, wiring, roof, or plumbing to an extent not exceeding twenty (20) percent of the replacement value of the building or structure.

Research and Testing Facility shall mean a facility for applied and developmental research, where product design fabrication and testing is an integral part of the operation and goods or products may be manufactured as necessary for testing, evaluation, and test marketing.

Residential care facility shall mean housing for three (3) or more individuals unrelated by blood, marriage, adoption, or guardianship which receive some form of nursing care, supervision, or assistance from employees at the facility. Nursing care and support staff are available twenty-four (24) hours a day. Included are nursing homes, sheltered care facilities, intermediate care facility, and other similar uses.

Restaurant shall mean an establishment which is open to the general public and where food and beverages are prepared and offered for consumption on the premises where prepared whether or not the establishment holds a liquor license.

Restaurant, Carry Out shall mean a restaurant as defined above but where the establishment has limited to no seating on-site for the consuming of food and beverage and where prepared food and beverages are either delivered to the consumer or picked-up on-site by the consumer.

Retail, food/drug shall mean an establishment selling food or beverage for consumption primarily off-premises as well as an establishment that sells medication and merchandise. Such establishments may include, but not be limited to, supermarket, grocery store, drug stores, pharmacies, and similar establishments.

Retail, general merchandise shall mean establishments that are retail operations providing goods directly to the consumer.

Retail, package liquor shall mean an establishment licensed to sell any and all alcoholic liquor in original package form for consumption off the premises where sold.

Retail sales shall mean the direct sale of goods or merchandise to the ultimate consumer of the goods or merchandise.

Right-of-way (ROW) shall mean the entire dedicated tract or strip of land that is legally used by the public for circulation and service.

Roof overhang shall mean a roof-like structure projecting from the wall of the principal structure and which is not part of the roof of the structure.

Roof sign or roof outdoor advertising sign structure shall mean a sign or outdoor advertising sign structure erected upon the roof of any structure.

Room, habitable shall mean a room occupied or designed to be occupied by one or more persons for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking, including kitchens serving a dwelling unit, but not including, bathrooms, toilet compartments, laundries, pantries, cellars, attics for storage, and other similarly approved spaces that are not used frequently or for extended periods.

Rooming House shall mean a structure that meets the definition of a detached dwelling unit, except that it is occupied by more individuals than meet the definition of family in the Zoning Ordinance. Only a building originally designed and constructed as a detached dwelling unit before 1965 may be used as a rooming house.

(C.B. No. 2004-140, § 4, 6-1-04; C.B. No. 2004-156, § 1, 6-15-04; C.B. No. 2013-231, § 1(Exh. A), 12-3-13; C.B. No. 2014-047, § 1(Exh. A), 3-18-14; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2020-019, § 1(Exh. A), 3-3-2020; C.B. No. 2021-007, § 1(Exh. A), 1-19-21)

Salvage Yard shall mean a lot, land, building, structure, or part thereof, used primarily for the collecting, storage, and/or sale of scrap metal, or for the collecting, dismantling, storage, salvaging of machinery, appliances, or inoperable vehicles.

School, K through 12 shall mean any public or private elementary school, middle school or high school, but shall not include, day cares or nursery schools except as accessory to such operations.

School, vocational shall mean a structure, or part thereof, utilized for teaching persons in fields of knowledge, but excluding College or University and Schools, K through 12.

Screening shall mean a method of visually shielding or obscuring one abutting or nearby structure or use from another by fencing, walls, berms, or densely planted vegetation.

Searchlight, sign shall mean for the purposes of this section, searchlights shall be considered signs which are used to announce, direct attention to, or advertise businesses.

Service dependent population shall mean those persons, who by reason of mental or physical disability require supervision in a quasi-parental relationship, but do not require medical or nursing care on-site. A service dependent population shall not include persons for whom such services are a requirement of a sentence upon conviction of a criminal offense or whose need for such services arises during or immediately following a sentence of incarceration for a criminal offense.

Setback shall mean the distance between the street right-of-way and the front line of a building, parking lot, accessory building or other structure. The setback to the structure shall be measured from the outermost projection thereof, excluding uncovered steps.

Setback line shall mean the line that is the required minimum distance from the street right-of-way or any other lot line that establishes the area within which the regulated structure must be erected or placed.

Shall shall mean the word "shall" is mandatory.

Shopping center shall mean a group of retail and other commercial establishments developed, owned and managed as a single property.

Sidewalk shall mean that portion of a street between the curb line and the adjacent property along the margin of a street or other highway, designed, constructed, and intended for the use of pedestrians to the exclusion of vehicles.

Sign shall mean a sign shall include any writing including a word or numeral; pictorial representation including illustration, emblem including device, symbol, or trademark; flag including banner or pennant; or any figure of similar character which is used to announce, direct attention to, or advertise, and which is a structure or part thereof, or is attached to, painted on, or in any manner represented on a building or other structure. This definition shall not include the following:

(1)

Outdoor advertising sign structure or signs displayed thereon.

(2)

Writings, representations, or other figures of similar character within a building unless it is a flashing sign or signs with lights.

(3)

Nonpictoral color treatments on the surface of a building which do not include writing or other direct forms of advertising.

Sign triangle shall mean an area at the street side of a corner lot which is measured by proceeding from the point of intersection of right-of-way property lines, along the lines for a distance of fifty (50) feet, and connecting these points forming a triangle at the corner of the lot.

Signature and subscription shall mean the name of a person, mark or symbol appended by such person to a writing with intent to authenticate the instrument as one made or put into effect by such person.

Signs for special events of state-wide interest shall mean a sign advertising or announcing a special event or activity of state-wide interest conducted by, or sponsored by, or on behalf of a unit of local government, the University of Illinois, or a not-for-profit corporation. A special event of state-wide interest is one which occurs not more than once in any twelve-month period, is a minimum of two (2) or more days in length and has an attendance projected in good faith of more than forty thousand (40,000) persons at the event. Such a sign may not include advertising for a for profit entity.

Single-family attached dwelling. See "Dwelling, single-family attached."

Single-family dwelling. See "Dwelling, single-family."

Site shall mean any plot or parcel of land or combination of contiguous lots or parcels of land.

Site area, gross shall mean the total area of a site with no exclusions for streets, easements, or other areas.

Site area, net shall mean the total area of a site excluding streets, easements, or water areas.

Site plan shall mean a scaled drawing indicating the generalized physical conditions and proposed improvements of a planned development as described in Table VI-B, Article VI, Planned Developments.

Solid waste shall mean unwanted or discarded material, including garbage with insufficient liquid content to be free flowing.

Solid Waste Transfer Station shall mean a facility where solid waste is collected and consolidated for subsequent transport to a permanent disposal site. Solid Waste Transfer Stations do not include long-term or permanent storage of solid waste or the incineration of waste.

Space, nonhabitable shall mean space used as a pantry, laundry room, closet, bathroom, toilet room, restroom, dressing room, locker room, storage room, utility room, heater room, or boiler room, and other spaces used only for service and maintenance of a building and those spaces used for access and vertical travel between stories.

Space, occupied shall mean space in a building other than a habitable room wherein people normally work, assemble, or remain for a period of time.

Special event sign shall mean a sign advertising or announcing a special community-wide event or activity conducted by, or sponsored by, or on behalf of a unit of local government, the University of Illinois, a charitable organization or a not-for-profit corporation. A special community-wide event or activity is one which occurs not more than twice in any twelve-month period and which seeks to attract donations, participants, or customers throughout the City of Champaign and the City of Urbana.

Special use shall mean a special use is potentially appropriate in and compatible with other uses in its zoning district, but due to the scale and nature of the use the special use has the potential to make a major negative impact on other uses in the district. Such uses necessitate close examination, site plan review, individual regulation, and notification of surrounding land owners. The proposed special use must serve a special need or be required at the specific location for the public convenience.

Specialized vehicle beds are defined as dumping beds, refrigerated box beds, vehicles with bodies modified for the preparation and sale of food, the installation of cranes, hooks or booms, or similar commercial modifications. Toolboxes or simple enclosures shall not be considered specialized beds.

State shall mean the State of Illinois.

Storage shall mean a location where equipment, materials, or vehicles are stored for an uninterrupted period exceeding sixty (60) days without being used for its intended purpose or relocated off-site to another zoning lot.

Stormwater detention shall mean any storm drainage technique that retards or detains runoff, such as a detention or retention basin, parking lot storage, rooftop storage, porous pavement, dry wells, or any combination thereof.

Stormwater management shall mean any stormwater management technique, apparatus, or facility that controls or manages the path, storage, or rate of release of stormwater runoff. Such facilities may include storm sewers, retention or detention basins, drainage channels, drainage swales, inlet or outlet structures, or other similar facilities.

Story shall mean that part of a building included between any floor and the floor or roof immediately above.

Story, half shall mean the space within or under a sloping roof, the floor area of which does not exceed two-thirds of the floor area of the story immediately below it, and which does not contain a dwelling unit.

Street shall mean all streets, highways, avenues, boulevards, parkways, roads, lanes, viaducts, bridges and the approaches thereto, docks built on the public street, alleys, courts, places, squares, curbs, sidewalks, recreation and park lands used for vehicular traffic, or other public ways or thoroughfares in this City, over which it has jurisdiction, which have been or may hereafter be dedicated and open to public use and has been accepted for such use by the City, or such other public property so designated in any law of this State.

Street Classification Map shall mean the map as designated in Chapter 31 of this code which identifies the classification for all streets in the City including, but not limited to, arterials, collectors, and local streets.

Street, arterial shall mean any street designated as an arterial street on the Street Classification Map.

Street, collector shall mean any street designated as a collector street on the Street Classification Map.

Street, local shall mean any street designated as a local street on the Street Classification Map.

Street, private. See "Internal circulation system."

Street, public shall mean a street whose ownership or maintenance is under governmental jurisdiction.

Street, residential shall mean any local street as defined in the City of Champaign Comprehensive Plan where the primary land use of lots with frontage on both sides of the street within the block is residential.

Structure shall mean anything constructed or made, the use of which requires permanent location in or on the ground or attachment to something having a permanent location in or on the ground.

Structure, accessory shall mean a subordinate structure on the same lot as the principal or main building or use occupied or devoted to an incidental use to the principal use.

Structure, principal shall mean a structure in which is conducted the principal use of the lot on which it is located.

Surface area, sign or outdoor advertising sign structure shall mean the surface area of a sign or surface display area of an outdoor advertising sign structure shall be the area of the smallest convex geometric figure encompassing the maximum projected area of the volume on a flat plane which completely encloses the extreme limits of the surface display area of writing, representation, emblem, or other figure of similar character or potential display area of an outdoor advertising structure, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate such sign or outdoor advertising sign structure from the background against which it is placed. Such measurement shall exclude the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign is placed, unless the supports or uprights constitute part of the display because of the predominant overall concept of the sign.

(C.B. No. 97-263, § 1, 10-7-97; C.B. No. 2000-271, § 1, 11-7-00; C.B No. 2007-179, § 1, 7-10-07; C.B. No. 2012-216, § 4, 1-15-13; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2022-185, § 1(Exh. A), 12-6-22)

Tasting Room shall mean a dedicated space in a Brewery, Microbrewery, Distillery, Micro-Distillery, or any other alcohol producing facility open to the public for the retail sale of beer, ale, malt beverages, and spirits the majority of which are manufactured on-site.

Tavern shall mean a structure, or portion thereof, whose owners or lessees hold a Class "A" liquor license under the City's Liquor Ordinance and excludes an establishment that holds an "R" or" "RT" license as defined under the Liquor Ordinance. The term "tavern" shall not include any restaurant with a Class "A" liquor license that has filed an exemption of the prohibition against minors under age nineteen (19) pursuant to Section 5-45 of the Champaign Municipal Code.

Temporary sign shall mean a sign not permanently affixed to a building or in the ground which is intended to be displayed for no more than ninety (90) days in a calendar year, unless otherwise specified in this Article.

Temporary use shall mean a use established for a limited period of time with the intent to discontinue such use upon the expiration of such time. Such uses are subject to the time restrictions contained in this chapter. No temporary use shall involve the construction or alteration of any permanent structure.

Tenant shall mean any person occupying the premises, building, or land of another in subordination to such other person's title and with the other person's express or implied assent, whether the tenant occupies the whole or a part of those premises, building or land, whether alone or with others.

Tense shall mean words used in the past or present tense including the future, past and present where applicable, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Theater shall mean an establishment devoted to showing motion pictures or the performing arts. Theaters may include related services such as food and beverage sales and other concessions.

Theater marquee shall mean a canopy with changeable letters which is attached to a building that currently functions or has historically functioned as a theater.

Time shall mean an hour of the day according to the official time of the City.

Time of performance shall mean the time within which an act is to be done as provided in any section or any order issued pursuant to any section, when expressed in days, and is computed by excluding the first and including the last day. If the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, that day shall not be counted in the computation. When the time is expressed in hours, the whole of Saturday and Sunday or a legal holiday from midnight to midnight is excluded.

Townhouse. See "Dwelling, attached Common Lot-line."

Transition shall mean an area which acts as a buffer between two (2) land uses of different intensity.

Transitional housing shall mean a structure utilized for the semi-temporary housing of persons in a dormitory style setting in which each resident receives training and/or counseling on a regular basis, as a requirement of residing within the facility. Residents shall not live at the facility for a period longer than two (2) consecutive years.

Transparent shall mean non-reflective glass with a visible transmittance rating of 0.50 or greater per the National Fenestration Rating Council. Visible Transmittance is a measure of how much light passes through a window. Visible Transmittance ranges from zero (0) (zero (0) percent - no light) to one (1) (one hundred (100) percent - all light).

Truck stop shall mean land substantially devoted to fueling, servicing, repair, or parking of tractor trucks or similar heavy commercial vehicles, including the sale of accessories and equipment for such vehicles. A truck stop may also include overnight accommodations, showers, and/or restaurant facilities primarily for the use of customers.

Truck terminal shall mean a structure or part thereof which is used for the short-term storage and transfer of truck trailers and/or cargo containers and which is designed to accommodate the simultaneous loading or unloading of five (5) or more trucks.

Truck wash shall mean a washing facility for commercial motor vehicles. This definition includes facilities with automated washing as well as facilities employing personnel for washing.

(C.B. No. 97-223, § 1, 8-19-97; C.B. No. 99-118, § 1, 5-4-99; C.B. No. 2009-235, § 1, 12-15-09; C.B. No. 2010-164, § 1(Att. A), 8-3-10; C.B. No. 2012-073, § 2, 5-15-12; C.B. No. 2016-001, § 1(Exh. A), 1-5-16; C.B. No. 2016-211, § 1(Exh. A), 10-18-16; C.B. No. 2017-129, § 1(Exh. A), 6-6-17; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2019-198, § 1(Exh. A), 11-5-19; C.B. No. 2021-007, § 1(Exh. A), 1-19-21)

University shall mean University of Illinois.

University District shall mean that area within the following boundary: Start at University and First, proceed east along University south row line to Wright, proceed south on Wright (extended) along City limit line (located at the back of east curb) to Windsor, proceed west on Windsor along north row line to Neil, proceed north on Neil along east row line to Springfield, proceed east on Springfield along south row line to First, proceed north on First along east row line to beginning.

University Research Park shall mean the research complex generally located south of St. Mary's Road and east of the I.C.R.R. as described in the annexation agreement approved in April 2000 by Council Bill No. 2000-83.

Usable open space. See "Open space, usable."

Utilitarian areas shall mean utility areas accessory to a building, including but not limited to, loading docks, mechanical equipment, trash enclosures, and storage yards for construction materials, or other equipment or materials.

Utility stations shall mean an above ground structure and appurtenances to a utility system including energy transmission and distribution facilities, telephone exchange, cable/fiber exchange, pump stations, booster pumps, water supply facilities, sewer facilities and any other appurtenances that require a structure. Individual utility boxes necessary in the delivery of utilities to the end customer are not considered utility stations.

(C.B. No. 97-207, § 2, 8-5-97; C.B. No. 2000-84, § 1, 4-18-00; C.B. No. 2010-060, § 3, 4-20-10; C.B. No. 2010-164, § 1(Att. A), 8-3-10; C.B. No. 2014-194, § 1, 11-18-14; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)

Vacant building shall mean the cessation of all activity in a building. Said building shall not be considered vacant if the lessee of any building shall, at any time before the expiration of said lease, cease to occupy or use said building and the owner of said building is not entitled legally to regain possession of said building.

Vacant land shall mean that there is no building or structure, or vehicular surface areas within two hundred (200) feet, or any outstanding approved City permit or subdivision plat for the construction of the same, from any common property line of the developing property and the adjoining property. Public parks or common open space shall not be considered as vacant land.

Value shall mean the full, fair, cash market value.

Vegetation shall mean lawns, trees, shrubs, groundcover, annual or perennial flowers, or other natural growing plants.

Vehicle, commercial. See chapter 33 of the City of Champaign Municipal Code.

Vehicle, inoperable. See chapter 33 of the City of Champaign Municipal Code.

Vehicle Sales shall mean any establishment that sells or leases licensed vehicles such as automobiles, boats, recreational vehicles and motorcycles.

Vehicle Storage Lot shall mean a lot used for the storage of operable and inoperable vehicles commonly towed to the lot. Crushing, dismantling and disassembly of vehicles is prohibited. A Vehicle Storage Lot is not a Parking Lot as defined by Chapter 37 of the Champaign Municipal Code.

Vexillum flag shall mean a vertical flag, fixed at the top and bottom to an anchored pole to minimize movement with wind currents and does not display a sign.

Vexillum sign shall mean a vertical flag, mounted over the public right-of-way, fixed at top and bottom to an anchored pole to minimize movement with wind currents.

Violation shall mean no person shall construct, alter, use, maintain, or allow any building or property to be used or maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter. In addition to any other actions which may constitute a violation, the following constitutes violations of this chapter and shall be strict liability offenses:

(a)

The use, arrangement, or construction of a building, structure, or improvement to land does not conform with that authorized by approved plans.

(b)

The improvement is constructed, or a use is operating without obtaining the appropriate permits or zoning approval.

(c)

The use of the building or land is nonconforming, unless such use has been established in accordance with Article XII, Nonconformities.

(d)

The use of the building or land which is a conforming use but does not meet the applicable district performance standards or other requirements of this chapter, unless otherwise provided for in Article XII, Nonconformities.

(e)

The use of the building or land which does not comply with conditions or standards enumerated in a provisional, or special use approval.

(f)

The sale, conveyance, or use of any portion of a lot is sold, conveyed, or used which reduces the following:

(1)

The lot area below the minimum area requirements of this chapter.

(2)

The lot area to the extent that the floor area ratio is greater than the maximum permitted by this chapter.

(3)

The usable open space areas below the open space ratio and usable open space requirements of this chapter.

(4)

The depth or width of a yard to less than the minimum depth or width required by this chapter.

(5)

The number and size of parking spaces on the lot is reduced below the minimum number of such spaces required by this chapter.

(6)

The subdivision of land was not done in accordance with chapter 31 of the Municipal Code.

Visibility triangle shall mean also known as site distance triangle. The area at an intersection that should remain unobstructed in order for motorists to have a clear vision of oncoming traffic.

(C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19; C.B. No. 2021-030, § 1(Exh. A), 5-2-21)

Wall sign or outdoor advertising sign structure shall mean a sign or outdoor advertising sign structure attached to, erected against or painted upon the wall of any building with the exposed face thereof in a plane parallel to the plane of such wall, and which sign is mounted at a distance measured perpendicular to such wall, no greater than eighteen (18) inches. A wall sign shall include signs suspended from the ceiling of a marquee, canopy or vestibule where such sign does not project into the street right-of-way or a freestanding sign or freestanding outdoor advertising sign structure any part of which is parallel to and any part of which is within twenty-four (24) inches of a wall.

Warehouse shall mean a building used for the storage of goods which will be subsequently transported to another location for sale, consumption or distribution.

Warehouse, self-storage shall mean a structure or group of structures, which are compartmentalized for personal or business storage.

Waterbody shall mean any natural or artificial collection of surface water, generally intended or functioning as a permanent feature.

Watercourse shall mean any drain, ditch, and stream, flowing in a definite direction or course in a bed with banks.

Week shall mean seven (7) days.

Wholesale shall mean an operation at which goods are sold for delivery on or from the premises to a person other than the ultimate consumer. If more than twenty (20) percent of the annual dollar volume of the sales made from an establishment is subject to the State Retailers Occupation Tax, the store shall be considered a retail operation.

Words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of the language, but technical words and phrases and others that have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in the law, shall be construed and understood according to such meaning.

Writing and written shall mean any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing or otherwise, capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means.

(C.B. No. 99-240, § 1, 8-17-99; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)

Reserved.

Yard shall mean an open space, other than a court, that lies between the principal or accessory building or buildings and the nearest lot line. Such yard is unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward except as otherwise specified in this chapter.

Yard, front shall mean a yard extending across the full width of the lot and measured between the front lot line and the closest point of the building to the front lot line.

Yard, rear shall mean a yard extending across the full width of the lot and measured between the rear lot and the closest point of the building to the rear lot line.

Yard, side shall mean a yard extending from the front yard to the rear yard and measured between the side lot line and closest point of the building to the side lot line.

Yard sign shall mean a temporary sign, which is freestanding and self-supporting in nature. Such a sign is mounted on a stand and is placed into the ground. Such signs are used to advertise a special event of statewide interest.

Year shall mean a calendar year.

(C.B. No. 2000-271, § 2, 11-7-00; C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)

Zoning action shall mean any action requiring application to the Planning and Development Department for review and approval. Zoning actions include, but are not limited to, map amendments, text amendments, appeals, variations, provisional use approval, special use approval, planned development approval, landmark designation, Conservation or Historic District designation.

Zoning Board of Appeals shall mean the Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of Champaign.

Zoning Administrator shall mean the Zoning Administrator, Planning and Development Director, or any official City employee as designated by the Planning and Development Director with the responsibility for reviewing and administering the regulations of this chapter.

(C.B. No. 2018-149, § 1(Exh. A), 9-18-18; C.B. No. 2019-119, § 1(Exh. A), 7-9-19)