The Residential Office District is intended to provide areas for residential uses and professional and administrative offices. The purpose of the district is to preserve and enhance the residential character of the locality involved, while allowing office uses whose nature is highly compatible with single-family dwellings (e.g., low traffic generation, similar scale, and similar intensity). Within the Main Street Revitalization Area, the district protects the essential residential element of downtown Hampstead while offering increased reuse opportunities for existing dwellings.

Any addition or alterations to the exterior of an existing or former residence shall not alter the residential character of the building. Any building, renovation or addition shall be consistent with the architecture, construction and materials of neighboring structures. Within the Main Street Revitalization Area, the architecture, construction and materials shall be consistent with the design guidelines in the Main Street Revitalization Plan. Any new building shall be residential in design and appearance.

The business shall be carried on entirely within the principal building. The business shall not substantially injure the value of adjoining property and shall be in harmony with the surrounding land uses. The business shall not materially endanger the public health and safety, or constitute a public nuisance. The business shall not cause any noise, odors, effluent, smoke, dust, vibrations, electrical interference, bright or flashing light, or other objectionable conditions detectable at or beyond the lot line. The business shall be consistent with the purpose of the district, with the Town's Comprehensive Plan, and with the Main Street Revitalization Plan, if located in the Revitalization Area. No sale of goods on the premises is allowed except for sales which are incidental to the provision of services.

No exterior business signs shall be allowed except one unlit sign not exceeding six square feet per face.

Setbacks shall be established to be congruent with adjacent properties and consistent with the Main Street Revitalization Plan within the Main Street Revitalization Area. In the absence of developed adjacent properties, the district shall use the setbacks of the R-7500 District. In all instances, the Commission shall have the authority to determine appropriate setbacks in the site plan approval process. New principal structures shall not exceed 45 feet in height, and no new accessory structure shall exceed 1 1/2 stories or 25 feet in height, except as provided in § 135-258.

A building permit or zoning certificate for any business shall not be issued by the Town without an approved site plan that conforms to the standards in the Town Code.