Zoneomics Logo
search icon

Hamilton Township Adams County
City Zoning Code

ARTICLE VI

Low Density Residential R-1 District

§ 150-28 Statement of legislative intent.

It is the legislative intent of the Low Density Residential (R-1) District to:
A. 
Preserve the residential environment and community that currently exists in Hamilton Township north of the Borough of Abbottstown.
B. 
Exclude incompatible commercial and industrial uses from locating in those areas of Hamilton Township which have developed primarily as low-to-moderate density, single-family, suburban residential development.
C. 
Provide for the limited use of home occupations, which would provide residents of single-family neighborhoods with reasonable opportunity to operate a business from their homes.
D. 
Provide incentives for the creative design of future residential developments that will serve to conserve land and environmentally sensitive areas, which may be used for recreation and other open space uses.

§ 150-29 Principal uses permitted by right.

A. 
Forestry, excluding permanent saw mills, pursuant to § 150-98.
B. 
Golf courses, public and private, pursuant to § 150-98.
C. 
Government offices, municipal buildings.
D. 
Parks and recreation facilities and easements, public and private.
E. 
Public utility uses.
F. 
Single-family detached dwellings.

§ 150-30 Accessory uses permitted by right.

A structure may be erected or used, and a lot may be used for the following permitted accessory uses and no other:
A. 
Wind energy systems, pursuant to § 150-96.
[Amended 9-13-2021]
B. 
No-impact home-based businesses, pursuant to § 150-96.
C. 
Other accessory uses and structures on the same lot that are customarily incidental to the uses permitted by right pursuant § 150-96.
D. 
Wireless communications antennas mounted on an existing public utility transmission tower, building, or other structure, along with associated communications equipment buildings, pursuant to § 150-98.
E. 
Accessory solar energy systems (ASES), pursuant to § 150-96.
[Added 9-13-2021]

§ 150-31 Uses permitted by special exception.

The following uses are permitted by special exception in accordance with the performance standards contained in this chapter and any additional standards that the Hamilton Township Zoning Hearing Board may deem necessary to apply:
A. 
Accessory dwelling units (ADU), pursuant to § 150-96.
B. 
Cluster residential developments, pursuant to § 150-98.
C. 
Cottage industries.
D. 
Home occupations, pursuant to § 150-98.
E. 
Places of worship, pursuant to § 150-98.
F. 
Schools, public and private.

§ 150-32 Area and bulk regulations.

[Amended 7-7-2025]
The following standards shall govern all uses, subdivision projects, and land development plans within the R-1 District:
A. 
Maximum density:
(1) 
The maximum density for any residential development within the R-1 District shall be one dwelling unit to the acre.
(2) 
Where an applicant chooses to develop a cluster development, the maximum density for the residential development shall be 1 1/2 dwelling units to the acre.
B. 
Minimum lot size:
(1) 
The minimum lot size shall be 40,000 square feet.
(2) 
For cluster development proposed in accordance with the standards established by § 150-98 of this chapter, the minimum lot size shall be 10,000 square feet.
C. 
Minimum lot width:
(1) 
The minimum lot width shall be 175 feet.
(2) 
For cluster residential development proposed in accordance with the standards established by § 150-98 of this chapter, the minimum lot width shall be 100 feet.
D. 
The maximum lot coverage shall be 40%.
E. 
Front yards shall meet the following standards:
(1) 
The minimum front yard depth shall be 50 feet.
(2) 
For cluster development proposed in accordance with the standards established by § 150-98 of this chapter, the minimum front yard depth shall be 20 feet.
F. 
Side yards shall meet the following standards:
(1) 
The minimum side yard depth shall be 15 feet.
(2) 
For cluster developments proposed in accordance with the standards established by § 150-98G, H and I of this chapter, the minimum side yard depth shall be 10 feet.
G. 
Rear yards shall meet the following standards:
(1) 
The minimum rear yard depth shall be 15 feet.
(2) 
For cluster residential developments proposed in accordance with the standards established by § 150-98G, H and I of this chapter, the minimum rear yard depth shall be 10 feet.
H. 
For corner lots, the minimum front yard depth, as established by Subsection E above, shall be applied to both sides of the property with road frontage. The minimum rear depth, as established by Subsection G above, shall be applied to all other sides of the property.
I. 
Maximum building height shall be 35 feet.
J. 
The minimum vegetative coverage shall be 60%.

§ 150-33 Supplemental regulations.

The uses permitted in this district are also subject to the applicable regulations contained in the following sections of this chapter:
A. 
Article XIV - General Regulations.
B. 
Article XV - Performance Standards.
C. 
Article XVI - Sign Regulations.
D. 
Article XVII - Off-Street Parking and Loading Regulations.