The purpose of this article is to establish definitions of some terms used in the chapter.

(Res. of 4-7-2023(1))

When used in this chapter, the following words and phrases have the meaning as defined in this article. Terms not defined here have the same meaning as is found in most dictionaries, where consistent with the content. The terms "must" and "shall" are mandatory in nature, indicating that action shall be done. The term "may" is permissive and allows discretion regarding an action. When consistent with the context, words used in the singular number include the plural, and those used in the plural number include the singular. Words used in the present tense include the future. The word "developer" includes a firm, corporation, co-partnership, association, institution, or person. The word "lot" includes the word "plot" or "parcel." The word "building" includes the word "structure." The words "used" or "occupied" as applied to any land or building include the words "intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied."

Access. The place, means, or way by which pedestrians or vehicles shall have safe, adequate, or usable ingress and egress to a property, use, or parking space.

Accessory structure or accessory use. A structure or use customarily and subordinate to the main use of property and located on the same lot/parcel as the main use.

Accommodation rental event centers are business operations that include facilities designed to host a variety of events such as weddings, family gatherings, photography sessions, and other social gatherings. These centers are equipped with amenities to serve the needs of attendees such as accommodations, whether a single-family residence or a hotel or motel. Accommodation rental event centers may include open spaces that can be customized to meet the specific needs of the event. These centers may offer a range of services including, but not limited to, catering and event planning.

Agriculture. The tilling of the soil, the raising of crops, dairying, animal husbandry, forestry, and horticulture.

Agricultural products include, but are not limited to, crops; fruit, cider and vegetables, floriculture, herbs, forestry, husbandry, livestock, and livestock products; aquaculture products, horticultural specialties, etc.

Agricultural tourism and/or agri-tourism. The practice of visiting an agribusiness, horticultural or agricultural operation, including, but not limited to, a farm, orchard, greenhouse, hunting preserve, a companion animal or livestock show, for the purpose of recreations, education, or active involvement in the operation, other than as a contractor or employee of the operation.

Agriculturally related products. Items sold at a farm market to attract customers and promote the sale of agricultural products. Such items include, but are not limited to, all agricultural and horticultural products, animal feed, baked goods, ice cream and ice cream- based desserts and beverages, jams, honey, gift items, food stuffs, clothing and other items promoting the farm and agriculture in Georgia, and value-added agricultural products and on-site production.

Agriculturally related uses. Those activities that predominantly use agricultural products, buildings, or equipment, such as pony rides, corn mazes, pumpkin rolling, barn dances, sleigh/hayrides, and educational events, such as farming and food preserving classes, etc.

Alley. A minor public right-of-way, which is used primarily for vehicular service access to the back or side of properties otherwise abutting on a street.

Alteration. A change, addition, or modification in construction or occupancy of a building or structure.

Amendment. A change in the wording, context, or substance of the land use resolution, or a change in the district boundaries of district map.

Apartment. A multi-story multifamily structure, including individual units that are located back-to-back, adjacent and/or one over the other. Access is usually from a common hall, although individual entrances can be provided.

Assisted living facility. A state-licensed personal care home serving seven residents or more that is licensed by the Georgia Department of Community Health to provide assisted living care. "Assisted living care" means the specialized care and services provided by an assisted living community which includes the provision of personal services, the administration of medications by a certified medication aide and the provision of assisted self-preservation. This use shall not include hospitals, convalescent centers, nursing homes, hospices, clinics, or similar institutions devoted primarily to the diagnosis and treatment of the sick or injured.

Automobile service station. A retail place of business engaged primarily in the sale of motor fuels, but also supplying goods and services required in the operation and maintenance of automotive vehicles.

Automobile services. As an indoor establishment with fully enclosed service bay(s) with operable door(s) for performing indoor vehicle repair and maintenance, including, but not limited to, brakes, oil changes, lubrication, transmission, engine, belts, hoses, inspections, and tire mounting and installation. Towing services shall constitute a permissible accessory use to this establishment, provided no open or impound storage yard occurs on the property.

Basement. That portion of a building between floor and ceiling which is partly below and partly above grade but is so located that the vertical distance from grade to the floor below is less than the vertical distance from grade to ceiling.

Bed and breakfast. A dwelling occupied by a family and used incidentally to provide overnight accommodation and meals to transient travelers, operated by an owner or designated operator-in-residence, with a maximum number of rented units being six.

Board of commissioners or board. The Board of Commissioners of Dawson County.

Buffer. An area of natural vegetation or manufactured construction providing a horizontal distance designed to provide attractive space or distance, obstruct undesirable views, serve as an acoustic barrier, or generally reduce the impact of adjacent development.

Building. A structure built and maintained for the support, shelter, or enclosure for persons, motor vehicles, animals, or personal or real property of any kind. The word "building" shall include the word "structure."

Building height. The vertical distance from the average grade to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or the average point of a pitch or hip roof.

Building line. A line that coincides with the front side of the main building.

Caretaker/employee residence. A second dwelling designed and intended for the housing of person's employed principally on-site for the purposes of care, protection, and security of said property. Caretaker/employee residence shall be subordinate to the principal residence.

Cellar. That portion of a building between floor and ceiling which is wholly or partly below grade and so located that the vertical distance from grade to the floor below is equal to or greater than the vertical distance from grade to ceiling.

Churches. See definition, "Places of worship".

Cluster development. Also referred to as a conservation subdivision, planned development, or grouping of lots or dwellings arranged in such a way that open space is maintained throughout the area, that sensitive lands such as wetlands, floodplain, constrained land, and steep slopes remain undeveloped, and that lot layout requires a reduced amount of street and utility placement.

Common open space. Publicly or privately owned undeveloped open space intended for aesthetic, recreation, public safety, or other conservation purposes, to be used by the owners or residents of a particular development or the public in general.

Constrained land. Unbuildable land such as floodplain, as described by FEMA or other suitable study by an engineer (PE), state water buffers (streams and lakes), wetlands, as defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and steep slopes greater than 45 percent for a distance of 100 feet or more.

Continuing care retirement community. A retirement community with accommodations for independent living units, assisted living facilities, and nursing home care, offering residents a continuum of care in a planned, campus-like setting.

Conventional construction. A building constructed on the building site from basic materials delivered to the site and from lumber cut on the job. A conventional building is subject to local codes and ordinances.

County. Dawson County, Georgia.

Court. An open unoccupied space other than a yard, on the same lot with a building and bounded on two or more sides by such building.

Day care center. An institution, establishment, or place in which are commonly received at one time four or more children not of common parentage, for a period not to exceed 12 hours, for the purpose of being given board, care, or training apart from their parents or guardians for compensation or reward.

Density. The number of dwelling units per acre of land. Gross density refers to the number of units per acre of the total land to be developed.

Density net. The number of dwellings per net acre, based on the total developable area of the parcel, including vacated rights-of-way, and excluding separate or non-contiguous lands, constrained lands, previously designated common open space, and excluding rights-of-way or easements.

Development standard. A specific requirement of this chapter regulating land use, quantitative in nature.

Directional lighting. Methods of directing light downward, rather than upward or outward, with the intention of directing light where it is needed.

Duplex. A building containing two dwelling units, each of which has direct access to the outside and with each unit totally separated from the other by an unpierced common wall.

Dwelling, apartment, or multiple family. A building designed and used for occupancy by three or more families, all living independently of each other, and having separate full kitchen facilities for each family.

Dwelling, single-family. A detached building, not attached by any means to any other dwelling designed or used exclusively for the occupancy of one family and having full kitchen facilities for only one family and surrounded by open space or yards.

Dwelling unit. One or more rooms designed for occupancy by one family and not having more than one full cooking facility except facilities designed for camping purposes such as tents and recreation vehicles.

Event centers are business operations that include facilities designed to host a variety of events such as weddings, family gatherings, photography sessions, and other social gatherings. These centers are equipped with amenities to serve the needs of attendees such as accommodations. Event centers include open spaces that can be customized to meet the specific needs of the event. Event centers may offer services including, but not limited to, catering and event planning.

Factory-built housing. See "Industrialized building."

Family. One person or two or more persons related by blood, marriage, legal adoption, or guardianship; or a group of persons all or part of whom are not related by blood, marriage, legal adoption, or guardianship living together as a single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit.

Farm building, major. A building or structure, larger than 400 square feet in size, associated with and located on land devoted to the practice of farming and that is used essentially for the housing of farm equipment or livestock, or the production, storage or processing of agricultural and horticultural produce or feeds, and as part of or in connection with a bona fide farming operation and includes barns, silos and other buildings or structures ancillary to that farming operation.

Farm market/on-farm market/roadside stand. The sale of agricultural products or value-added agricultural products, directly to the consumer from a site on a working farm or any agricultural, horticultural or agribusiness operation or agricultural land.

Fence, sight obscuring. A fence consisting of wood, metal, masonry, or similar materials, or an evergreen hedge or other evergreen planting arranged in such a way as to obscure merchandise or land uses at least 80 percent.

Fill. The placement with sand, sediment, or other material to create new uplands or raise the elevation of land.

Floor area. The sum of the gross horizontal area of several floors of a building, measured from the exterior faces of the exterior walls, or from the centerline of walls separating two buildings, but not including:

(1)

Attic space providing headroom of less than seven feet;

(2)

Basement or cellar, unless finished and heated for occupancy;

(3)

Uncovered steps or fire escapes;

(4)

Private garages, carports, or porches;

(5)

Accessory water towers or cooling towers; and

(6)

Accessory off-street parking or loading spaces.

Foot-candle (abbreviated "fc"). A unit of illuminance defined as one lumen per square foot. One foot-candle is approximately equal to 10.76 lux.

Frontage. Property abutting on a street.

Fully shielded. A light fixture constructed and installed in such a manner that all light emitted, either directly from the lamp or a diffusing element, or indirectly by reflection or refraction from any part of the fixture, is projected below the horizontal plane through the fixture's lowest light-emitting part.

Glare. Light or illuminance entering the eye directly from a light fixture or indirectly from reflective surfaces that causes visual discomfort, reduced visibility to a reasonable person, or is in violation of this chapter.

Goal. A general statement establishing a direction for policies, resolutions, or actions.

Gross acre. Includes the entire area of a parcel of land, excluding natural open water bodies.

Guest quarters. An accessory attached or detached dwelling unit designed and intended for the temporary housing of visitors to a property at the request of the primary property residents for no fee or other consideration. Guest quarters shall be subordinate to the principal residence.

Hazards. Threats of life, property, or the environment such as land sliding, flooding, subsidence, erosion, or fire.

Home occupation. Any business, occupation, or activity undertaken for gain or profit within a residential district, except agriculturally related uses, within a residential structure that is incidental and secondary to the use of that structure as a dwelling unit or within an accessory structure that is incidental and secondary to the use of that structure as attendant to a dwelling unit.

Home office. An office use carried on by the occupant thereof that is incidental and secondary to the use of the structure as a dwelling unit that includes, but is not limited to, receiving or initiating correspondence, such as phone calls, mail, faxes or e-mail; preparing or maintaining business records; word and data processing; and telephone, mail, order, direct sales (by invitation only), and off-premises sales.

Home workshop. An accessory attached or detached structure that typically contains a workbench, hand tools, power tools and other hardware. Manufacturing processes on an industrial scale in an industrial manner does not qualify as a home workshop activity.

Horticulture. The cultivation of plants, garden crops, trees, or nursery stock.

Hospitals. Institutions devoted primarily to the rendering of healing, curing, and/or nursing care, which maintain and operate facilities for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of two or more non-related individuals suffering from illness, injury, or deformity or where obstetrical or other healing, curing, and/or nursing care is rendered over a period exceeding 24 hours.

Hotel (motel, motor hotel, tourist court). A building or group of buildings used as temporary abiding place of individuals containing guest rooms which are designed to be used, rented, or hired out for sleeping purposes.

Illuminance. The intensity of light falling upon or hitting a given surface and is measured in units of foot-candles or lux.

Impervious surface. A surface which has been compacted or covered with a layer of material so that it is highly resistant to infiltration by water. It includes semi-pervious surfaces such as compacted clay, as well as most conventionally surfaced streets, roofs, sidewalks, parking lots, paved patios, swimming pools and other similar surfaces.

Industrialized building. Any structure or component thereof or any modular home that is wholly or in substantial part made, fabricated, formed or assembled in manufacturing facilities for installation or assembly on a building site and that has been manufactured in such a manner that all parts or processes can be inspected at the installation site without disassembly, damage, or destruction and that does not have a permanent chassis.

Institution, higher educational. A college or university accredited by the State of Georgia.

Intensity. A measure of the magnitude and negative impact of a land use on the environment and neighboring land uses.

Junk or wrecking yard. Any property where a person is engaged in breaking up, dismantling, sorting, storing, distributing, buying, or selling any scrap or waste material.

Kennels. A lot or premises on which four or more adult dogs are kept, whether by owners of the dogs or by persons providing facilities and care for compensation. An adult dog is one that has reached the age of six months.

Lamp. A source of optical radiation often called a "bulb" or "tube." Examples include incandescent, fluorescent, high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, and low-pressure sodium (LPS) lamps, as well as light emitting diode (LED) modules and arrays.

Land use. Any use of the land including, but not limited to, commercial, industrial, residential, agriculture, recreation, public utilities placement, forest management, or natural uses.

Light pollution means the unintended, adverse and/or obstructive effects from the use of outdoor light.

Light source. A light emitting portion of the luminaire and any diffusing elements and surfaces intended to reflect or refract light emitted from the lamp individually or collectively. Examples include a lamp, bulb, lens, highly reflective surface, or frosted glass.

Light trespass. Artificial light or illuminance that falls beyond the property that it is located on.

Loading space. An off-street space or berth on the same lot, or parcel, with a building or use, or contiguous to a group of buildings or uses, for the temporary parking of a vehicle while loading or unloading persons, merchandise, or materials, and which space or berth abuts upon a street, alley, or other appropriate means of ingress and egress.

Lot. For purposes of the resolution, a lot is a parcel of land of at least sufficient size to meet minimum districts requirements for use, coverage, and area and to supply such yards and other open spaces as are herein required. Such lot shall have frontage on an improved public street, or on an approved private street or easement, and may consist of:

(1)

A single lot of record.

(2)

A combination of complete lots of record, complete lots of record and portions of lots of records, or of portions of lots of record.

(3)

A parcel of land described by metes and bounds; provided that in no case of division or combination shall any residual lot or parcel be created which does not meet the requirements of this resolution.

Lot area. The total area of a lot measured in a horizontal plane within the lot boundary lines exclusive of public streets.

Lot coverage. The portion of a lot or parcel of land, which is covered with buildings, parking and maneuvering area, patios, decks, covered or paved storage area, or another impervious surface.

Lot depth. The greater horizontal distance between front and rear lot lines.

Lot, flag. Property in which the lot/parcel has less than 50 feet of public road frontage or less than 50 feet of private road frontage on a private road built to the standard details of the public works department. See Dawson County Subdivision Regulations for example of a flag lot.

Lot line, front. For an interior lot, a line separating the lot from the street; and for a corner lot, a line separating (but not both) frontage of the lot from the street.

Lot line, rear. For an interior lot, a line separating one lot from another on the opposite side of the lot from the front lot line; for corner lot either (but not both) interior lot line separating one lot from another; and for an irregular or triangular shaped lot, a straight line ten feet in length that is parallel to and at the maximum distance from the front lot line.

Lot line, side. For an interior lot, a line separating one lot from the abutting lot or lots fronting on the same street; for corner lots, a line other than the front lot line separating the lot from the street or a line separating the lot from the abutting lot along the same frontage.

Lot of record. Whenever a lot or plat has been legally and duly recorded with the County Clerk of Superior Court prior to February 23, 1998 and actually exists as so shown or described, it shall be deemed a lot of record. In addition, lots legally recorded that met zoning standards in place at the time of recordation, but do not meet standards currently in place are also considered lots of record. Although said lot may not contain sufficient land area or lot frontage to meet the minimum lot size requirements of the current zoning, such lot may be used as a building site provided that all other requirements of the district, such as setbacks, are met and that building plans are consistent with all state and local health codes.

Lot panhandle. See Dawson County Subdivision Regulations for example of a panhandle lot.

Lot width. The greatest horizontal distance between side lot lines.

Lumen. The unit of measure used to quantify the amount of visible light produced by a lamp or emitted from a light fixture (as distinct from "watt," a measure of power consumption).

Lux (abbreviated "lx"). The unit of illuminance defined as one lumen per square meter. One lux is approximately equal to 0.093 foot-candle.

Manufactured home. A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which, in the traveling mode, is eight body feet or more in width or 40 body feet or more in length or, when erected on-site, is 320 or more square feet 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; except that such term shall include any structure which meets all the requirements of this paragraph except the size requirements and with respect to which the manufacturer voluntarily files a certification required by the secretary of housing and urban development and complies with the standards established under the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. Section 5401 et seq. Any structure built prior to the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards (mobile home or trailer) shall not be permitted to be moved into Dawson County.

Manufactured home lot. A parcel of land for the placement of one manufactured home and the exclusive use of its occupants.

Manufactured home park. A privately owned place where two or more manufactured homes used for human occupancy are parked on a lot, tract, or parcel of land under the same ownership. A manufactured home park may have either or both single-section and multi-section manufactured homes.

Manufactured home site. See "Manufactured home lot."

Manufactured home stand. That part of an individual lot, which has been reserved for the placement of the manufactured home, appurtenant structures, or addition.

Mobile home. See "Manufactured home."

Non-agriculturally related products. Those items not connected to farming or the farm operation, such as novelty t-shirts or other clothing, crafts, and knick-knacks.

Non-agriculturally related uses. Activities that are part of an agricultural tourism operation's total offerings but not tied to farming or the farm's buildings, equipment, fields, etc. Such non-agriculturally related uses include, but are not limited to, amusement rides, concerts, etc., and subject to special use permit.

Nonconforming structure or use. A lawful existing structure or use, at the time this chapter or any amendment thereto become effective, which does not conform to the requirements of this chapter.

Nursing home. A state-licensed facility which admits five or more patients on medical referral only and for whom arrangements have been made for continuous medical supervision; it maintains the services and facilities for skilled nursing care, rehabilitative nursing care, and has a satisfactory agreement with a physician and dentist who will be available for any medical and/or dental emergency and who will be responsible for the general medical and dental supervision of the home.

Open area. The area devoted to lawns, setbacks, buffers, landscaped areas, natural areas, outdoor recreation areas, and similar types of uncovered open area and maintained in plant cover, and excluding storage areas for materials, boats, or vehicles.

Open space, amenity space. The amenity space open space is intended to supply small covered or uncovered, unenclosed, outdoor areas on development sites. Amenity spaces are limited to at-grade hardscape or landscape areas improved for pedestrian enjoyment; patios and porches; or yards, lawns, and gardens.

Open space, common. The central space within a residential or mixed-use development reserved for exclusive use by the occupants and their guests. Examples include protected areas and buffers, lawn, gardens, or on-site forested areas. Common open space does not include golf courses, off-street parking, maneuvering, loading, landscape strips, or delivery areas.

Open space, conservation. Undisturbed open space used for buffering, conservation, flood control, natural resource protection. Conservation open space are those lands that are constrained.

Open space, pocket park. The pocket park open space is intended to provide an open space for unstructured recreation. A pocket park may be spatially defined by buildings or streets at its edges.

Open storage yard. An area(s) dedicated as an exterior depository, stockpiling, or safekeeping of materials, products, vehicles, trailers, boats, and the like. Outside storage yards may be enclosed by a structure that includes a roof, but no side walls, in which case the structure shall be considered outside storage.

Outdoor light fixtures. Outdoor electrically powered illuminating devices, lamps and similar devices, including solar powered lights, and all parts used to distribute the light and/or protect the lamp, permanently installed or portable; synonymous with "luminaires."

Outside storage yards may involve fencing or screening without a roof in which case fencing or screening shall be deemed outside storage. Parking lots do not qualify as outside storage yards. Vending machines accessory to allowable uses do not constitute outside storage. The parking or storage of vehicles, equipment, or merchandise for a period of less than 96 hours does not constitute outside storage. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the parking of vehicles requiring a commercial driver's license for a period of 72 hours or more shall constitute outside storage. For purposes of calculating the length of a period a vehicle is parked pursuant to this definition, holidays as defined by O.C.G.A. § 1-4-1 shall not be included in the calculation.

Owner. Any individual, firm, association, syndicate, co-partnership, corporation, trust, or any other legal entity having proprietary interest in the land, including the attorney and agent thereof.

Parcel. A unit of land that is created by a partitioning of land.

Parking area, private. Privately or publicly owned property, other than streets or alleys, on which parking spaces are defined, designated, or otherwise identified for use by the tenants, employees, or owners of the property for which the parking area is required by this chapter and not open for use by the public.

Parking area, public. Privately or publicly owned property, other than streets or alleys, on which parking spaces are defined, designated, or otherwise identified for use by the public, either free or for remuneration. Public parking areas may include parking lots, which may be required by this chapter for retail customers, patrons, and clients.

Parking space. An area permanently available for the parking of a full-size automobile, having dimensions of not less than nine feet by 18 feet.

Permanent chassis. The entire transportation system comprised of the following sub-systems: drawbar and coupling mechanism, frame, running gear assembly, and lights.

Person. Any natural person, firm, partnership, association, social or fraternal organization, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, syndicate, branch of government, or any other group or combination acting as a unit.

Personal care home. A state-licensed dwelling or facility which undertakes through its ownership or management to provide or arrange for the provision of housing, food service, and one or more personal services for two to 24 adults.

Personal services. In a personal care home includes, but is not limited to, individual aid with or supervision of self-administered medication, aid with ambulation and transfer, and essential activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting.

Places of worship means any church, temple, synagogue, or other place of organized religious assembly which qualify for tax exemption under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-41(a)(2.1)(A).

Planning commission. The Dawson County Planning Commission.

Plat. Includes a final map, diagram, drawing, re-plat or other writing containing all the descriptions, locations, specification, dedications, provisions, and information concerning a subdivision or an individual lot/parcel that has been surveyed and recorded as a recorded plat with the Dawson County Clerk of Court.

Prefabricated building. A broad term applied to any building completed in a factory setting.

Principal residence. Any residence by reason of its use, that is the primary purpose for which the lot is used.

Public road. Roads in the state, county, or city road system.

(1)

Arterial. Arterials are usually state and federal highways such as SR 53 designed to move traffic over greater distances and provide access to counties and states.

(2)

Collector roads. The main function of collector roads is to provide access to arterials.

(3)

Local road and street. Local roads or streets are designed to provide access to abutting property such as a local street in a municipal area. Local roads and are not intended for through traffic.

Quadplex. A building containing four dwelling units, each of which has two open space exposures, direct separate access to the outside, and with each unit sharing one or two common walls with adjoining units.

Sawmill, portable. A sawing or cutting machine used to turn logs into lumber; whether trailered or truck- mounted; capable of easily being moved, set up and operated on a site; not attached or fixed in location.

Sawmill, stationary. A fixed structure mounted on a foundation for the purpose of turning logs into lumber; includes the entire operational area: e.g., log sorting yard(s), milling machine(s), sorting and storage area(s); administration and maintenance area(s).

School, commercial. A place where instruction is given to pupils in arts, crafts, trades, or other occupational skills and operated as a commercial enterprise as distinguished from schools endowed or supported by taxation.

School, primary, elementary, junior high, or high. Includes public, private, or parochial but not nursery school, kindergarten, or day nursery except when operated in conjunction with a school.

Screen. A fence, wall berm, hedge, tree row, or other dense structure intended to perform a buffering effect in a limited space and may be required in addition to a buffer.

Seasonal. A recurrent period characterized by certain occurrences, festivities, or crops; harvest, when crops are ready; not all year round.

Seasonal lighting. Temporary lighting displays installed and operated on a property, typically in connection with holidays or traditions. Lighting shall not be considered seasonal if the lighting display is installed or operated more than 30 days prior to a holiday or tradition, or more than 30 days after the holiday or tradition.

Setback. The minimum allowable horizontal distance measured from the furthest projection of the structure to the adjacent property line. As an example, the front setback shall be the distance from the furthest projection of the structure to one or more adjacent property lines with frontage on a public road or a private road built to the subdivision road standards of the public works department.

Shooting preserve and game farming. The intensive, small pasture production of wild animals for the purpose of hunting, on agricultural land, for a fee, over an extended period, in conformance with state and federal game laws.

Short-term home rental. A single-family residential dwelling offered for rent for a period of less than 30 days per renter. Typically, an owner's vacation home or second home offered for vacation rentals to guests for a fee.

Sign. An identification, description, illustration, or device which is affixed to or represented, directly or indirectly, upon a building, structure, or land and which directs attention to a product, place, activity, person, institution, or business. Each display surface of a sign shall be considered to be a sign.

Site-built. Constructed on-site ("stick-built") but includes pre-constructed wall units, including "industrialized building."

Sky glow. The brightening of the nighttime sky that results from scattering and reflection of artificial light by air molecules, moisture, and dust particles in the atmosphere. Sky glow is caused by light directed or reflected upwards or sideways.

Story. That portion of a building included between a floor and the ceiling next above which is six feet or more above the grade.

Street. An officially approved public thoroughfare or right-of-way dedicated, deeded, or condemned, which has been officially approved by the planning commission and accepted by the board of commissioners for use as such, other than an alley, which affords the principal means of access to abutting property, including avenue, place, way, drive, lane, boulevard, highway, road and any other thoroughfare, except as excluded in this chapter. The word "street" shall include all arterial highways, freeways, traffic collector streets, local streets, and lanes.

String lights. Outdoor light fixtures or light source connected by free-strung wires or inside of tubing resulting in several or many points of light that are visible from the exterior of the building.

Structure. Something constructed or built or having a fixed base on, or fixed connection to, the ground or another structure.

Subdivider. Any individual, firm, association, syndicate, co-partnership, corporation, trust, or any other legal entity commencing proceedings under this chapter to affect a subdivision of land hereunder for himself or for another.

Subdivision. All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose, whether immediate or future, or sale, or building development. See also the Dawson County Subdivision Regulations.

Subdivision amenity area. The area situated within the boundaries of a residential development site intended for recreational purposes, and may include landscaped areas, patios, private lounges, pools, play areas and similar uses.

Superstore. Establishments known as warehouse clubs, superstores, or supercenters, primarily engaged in retailing a general line of groceries, including a significant amount and variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, and other perishable groceries, in combination with a general line of new merchandise, such as apparel, furniture, and appliances.

Townhouse. A one-family dwelling in fee simple ownership constructed in a row of at least three such units in which each unit has its own front and rear access to the outside, no unit is located over another unit, and each unit is separated from any other unit by one or more vertical common fire-resistant unpierced walls.

Travel trailer. A vehicular, portable structure built on a chassis, designed to be used as a temporary dwelling for travel and recreational purposes, commonly referred to as an RV.

Triplex. A building containing three dwelling units, each of which has direct access to the outside and with each unit totally separated from the other by an unpierced common wall.

U-pick. A fruit or vegetable-growing farm that provides the opportunity for customers to pick their own fruits or vegetables directly from the plant.

Use. The purpose for which land or a structure is designed, arranged, or intended, or for which it is occupied or maintained.

Value-added agricultural product. The enhancement or improvement of the overall value of an agricultural commodity or of an animal or plant product to a higher value. The enhancement or improvement includes, but is not limited to, marketing, agricultural processing, transforming, packaging, and educational presentation, activities and tours that relate to agriculture or agricultural products.

Vehicle. A device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, such as such as cars, motorcycles, boats, horse trailers and general trailers, trucks, buses, campers, and recreational vehicles; except devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

Vehicle storage facility means a commercial building or parcel used for storing, stockpiling, or safekeeping of) or more vehicles that are not occupied for living purposes or used as dwellings.

Water-related uses. Uses which are not directly dependent upon access to a water body, but which provide goods or services that are directly associated with water-dependent land or waterway use, and which, if not located adjacent to water, would result in a public loss of the quality of goods or services offered. Except as necessary for water-dependent or water-related uses or facilities, residences, parking lots, spoil and dump sites, roads and highway, restaurants, businesses, factories, and trailer parks are not generally considered dependent on or related to water location needs.

Winery. The retail and/or manufacturing premises of a small winemaker or winemaker licensee as defined by the Dawson County Alcohol Ordinance.

Yard. A required open space other than a court unoccupied and unobstructed by any structure or portion of a structure from 30 inches above the general ground level of the graded lot upward, provided, however, that fences, walls, poles, posts, and other customary yard accessories, ornaments, and furniture may be permitted in any yard subject to height limitations and requirements limiting obstruction of visibility.

Yard, front. A yard extending between lot lines which intersect a street line, the depth of which is the minimum horizontal distance between the street line and a line parallel thereto on the lot.

(Res. of 4-7-2023(1); Ord. of 12-5-2024(1); Ord. of 9-18-2025(1), Exh. A, § 52)