The term applied to a building or use which is customarily incidental and subordinate to and serves a principal building or principal use; is subordinate in area, extent or purpose to the principal building or principal use served; contributes to the comfort, convenience or necessity of occupants of the principal building or principal use; and is located on the same zoning lot as the principal building or principal use.

The use of land for agricultural purposes, including farming, dairying, pasturage, truck farms or nurseries, agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, apiaries and animal and poultry husbandry and the necessary accessory uses for storage; provided, however, that the operation of any such accessory use shall be incidental to that of the principal agricultural activities.

Any area of land designed for private noncommercial use of airborne craft, including hangars, taxiways and landing strips.

As applied to a building or structure, the change or rearrangement in the supporting members of a building or structure such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders or in the exit facilities; an enlargement of a building or structure, whether by extending on a side or by increasing in height; the moving from one location or position to another; any alteration whereby a structure is adapted to another or different use.

A building arranged, intended or designed to be occupied by three or more families living independently of each other, but having common hallways and entrances.

Two or more apartment buildings located on a lot.

Land in the floodplain subject to a one-percent-or-greater chance of flooding in any given year.

The flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any one given year.

Living quarters within a principal building for the temporary use of guests, which said living quarters shall not be a dwelling and which are not rented or otherwise leased as a separate dwelling unit. In order to qualify as a bed-and-breakfast establishment, the following criteria must be met:

A dwelling other than a hotel or motel where more than two persons are housed or lodged for hire with or without meals.

Strips of land area covered with grass, vegetation, trees, fencing, embankments or berms designed to separate or screen one zoning district or use from another zoning district or use or from a highway.

Any structure having a roof supported by columns or by walls and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals, property or business activity.

The aggregate of the areas of all enclosed and roofed spaces of the principal building and all accessory buildings. Such areas shall be computed by using outside building dimensions measured on a horizontal plane at ground level.

The vertical dimension measured from the average elevation of the finished grade level at the front of the building to the highest point of the structure.

A line formed by the intersection of a horizontal plane at average grade level and a vertical plane that coincides with the exterior surface of the building on any side. In case of a cantilevered section of a building or a projected roof or porch, the vertical plane will coincide with the most projected surface, excluding steps and overhanging eaves less than two feet in width. All yard and setback requirements are measured to the building lines.

A building in which is conducted the main or principal use of the lot on which said building is situated.

A parcel of land used or intended to be used, let or rented for transient, vacation and recreational occupancy by travel trailers, campers, tents, recreational vehicles, motor homes and the motor vehicles propelling or carrying the same, but excluding manufactured homes designed for year-round occupancy or as a place of residence.

An official finding signifying that a parcel of land, building or structure is being used in a lawful manner with respect to the provisions of this chapter.

An organization catering exclusively to members and their guests, including premises and buildings for recreational or athletic purposes, which are not conducted primarily for gain, provided that there are not conducted any vending stands, merchandising or commercial activities, except as required generally for the membership and purposes of such club.

A development of residential lots, each containing less area than the minimum lot area required for the zone within which such development occurs while maintaining the density limitation imposed by said minimum lot area through the provision of open space as part of the site development plan.

The use of a property for golf courses, batting cages, driving ranges and other similar uses where typically a fee is charged to use the facilities.

A roadway providing a means of access from a street to a property or off-street parking area. An accessway may also be deemed a driveway.

A building designed or used for one or more families. The term dwelling shall not be deemed to include a motel, hotel, boardinghouse or travel trailer.[1]

A residential building designed for or occupied by three or more families living independently of each other with the number of families in residence not exceeding the number of dwelling units provided.

A series of multiple-family dwellings, designed and built as an integrated development with a common architectural style.

A detached residential dwelling unit other than a manufactured home designed for and occupied exclusively by one or more persons living as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit.

A detached residential building, containing two dwelling units, designed for occupancy and used exclusively by two families living independently of each other.

A building or portion thereof providing housekeeping facilities for a single family.

A residential structure which has not less than 50% of its exterior envelope covered by earth in order to moderate temperature extremes and to serve as a passive means of lowering the dependence of the residence on artificial climate control derived from fossil fuel energy. The term shall include underground houses, earth contact homes, terratectural designs and geobuilt homes.

The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance by public utilities or any governmental department or commission of underground or overhead gas, electrical, telecommunications or water transmission and/or distribution systems, including poles, wires, drains, sewers, pipes, conduits, cables, towers, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, hydrants and other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith, reasonably necessary for the furnishing of adequate service by such public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies or for the public health, safety or general welfare. This definition expressly excludes power generator facilities or sites for the disposal of waste materials associated with the provision of such services.

The process of the removal of no more than 750 cubic yards or 1,000 tons per year of sand, gravel, soil (including topsoil) or other natural deposits by stripping, digging or other means, when such sand, gravel, topsoil and/or other natural deposits are transported off the lot on which they are stripped, dug or otherwise removed.

A parcel of land used for the purpose of extracting stone, sand, gravel or topsoil for sale as an industrial or commercial operation.

One or more persons, related by birth, marriage or other domestic bond, occupying a dwelling unit and living as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit. In order to distinguish a family from a fraternity club or boardinghouse, not more than two members of the household shall be other than blood relatives, adopted or foster children.

The land used in agricultural production, farm buildings, equipment and farm dwelling. A farm excludes riding academies, livery or boarding stables and kennels. Farm activities may be permitted on parcels of land of less than 10 acres; however, the raising of fur-bearing animals, swine and poultry on smaller parcels of land in residential districts may only be permitted with a special permit.[2]

Any building used for the housing of agricultural equipment, produce, livestock or poultry or for the incidental or customary processing of farm products, and provided that such building is located on, operated in conjunction with and necessary to the operation of the farm as defined by this article. The term "farm building" shall not include "farm dwelling."

A dwelling located on a farm and occupied by a family engaged in agricultural activities.

A structure of wood, masonry, wire mesh or other material which prohibits or inhibits unrestricted travel or view between properties or portions of properties or between the street or public right-of-way and a property.

The level where the finished grade of the ground intersects the foundation walls. Height measurements shall be based from the finished grade level.

The official map on which the Federal Insurance Administration has delineated both the areas of special flood hazard and the risk premium zones applicable to the Town.

The official report in which the Federal Insurance Administration has provided flood profiles, as well as the Flood Hazard Boundary - Floodway Map and the water surface elevation of the base flood

The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation of the base flood.

The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of a building or buildings, measured from the inside faces of exterior walls or from the center line of walls separating two uses. For the purpose of applying the requirements for off-street parking and loading in the case of offices, merchandising or service types of uses, gross floor area shall not include areas used principally for nonpublic purposes such as storage, rest rooms, fitting or alteration rooms or general maintenance or enclosed pedestrian malls or corridors.

The horizontal area of any floor of a building designed and intended for living purposes, which includes working, sleeping, eating, cooking or recreation or combination thereof. A floor used only for storage purposes is not a "habitable floor." All dimensions shall be measured from the interior faces of exterior walls or from the center line of the base of walls separating two dwelling units.

An accessory building which provides for the storage of motor vehicles or household items by the occupants on the lot upon which it is erected, with no provision for repairing or servicing such vehicles for profit.

Any garage other than a private garage operated for gain, available to the public, which is used for the storage, repair, servicing or rental of motor vehicles.

Any occupation customarily conducted entirely within a dwelling or a building accessory to the dwelling by the inhabitants thereof, which is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes and does not change the character thereof. A home occupation shall not be interpreted to include the following: commercial stables and kennels, restaurants, musical and dancing instruction to groups exceeding four pupils, convalescent homes, mortuary establishments, garages or shops for the repair of motor vehicles, retail businesses and trades and service establishments.

The office of a member of a licensed profession when conducted within a dwelling or a building accessory thereto. Such occupations shall include but not be limited to those of doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, ministers and other licensed professionals.

Any premises on which four or more dogs six months or older are kept, bred and/or boarded. All kennels shall require a special use permit.

Not less than 10 acres of land used as a single operation in the preceding two years for the production for sale of crops, livestock or livestock products of an average gross sales value of $10,000 or more. Land used in agricultural production shall not include land or portions thereof used for processing or retail merchandising of such crops, livestock or livestock products. Land used in agricultural production shall also include:

Space logically and conveniently located for public pickups and deliveries, scaled to delivery vehicles expected to be used and accessible to such vehicles. Required off-street loading space is not to be included as off-street parking space in the computation of required off-street parking area.

A parcel of land considered as a unit, devoted to a certain use and occupied or capable of being occupied by a building or group of buildings that are united by common interest or use and the customary accessory uses and open spaces belonging to same.

The square footage or acreage contained within the boundaries of a lot. Any portion of a lot included in a public road, street or highway right-of-way shall not be included in calculating lot area.

A parcel of land at the junction of and fronting on two or more intersecting streets.

That percentage of the lot area which is devoted to building area.

The front of a lot shall be construed to be the portion nearest the street. For the purposes of determining yard requirements on corner lots and through lots, all sides of a lot adjacent to streets shall be considered front yards.

The property lines bounding the lot:

A lot which is part of an approved subdivision recorded in the office of the County Clerk or a lot described by metes and bounds, the description of which has been so recorded.

The distance between the side lot lines measured parallel to the street line at the front building line.

A structure, transportable in one or more sections, that in the traveling mode is eight body feet or more in width and 40 body feet or more in length or when erected on site is 320 or more square feet, that 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 that includes the plumbing, heating, air-conditioning and electrical systems contained therein. A "manufactured home" is distinguished from a modular home.

A parcel of land within a manufactured home park reserved for placement of a manufactured home, including accessory buildings, for the exclusive use of its occupants.

A parcel of land under single ownership which has been planned and approved for the placement of manufactured homes, accessory buildings or structures and equipment.[5]

A structure, transportable in two or more sections that in the traveling mode are 12 feet to 14 feet in width and up to 60 feet in length or when erected on site is 1,000 or more square feet, that is not built on a permanent chassis, but is transported to the site on a temporary removable chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling only with a permanent foundation, when connected to required utilities, and that includes plumbing, heating, air-conditioning and electrical systems contained therein. A modular home must be erected on a permanent foundation consisting of a full basement or partial basement with crawl space, unless basements are not permitted in the area due to the water table.

A building or buildings containing sleeping units for transient guests and providing accessory off-street parking facilities and which may include restaurant facilities and a dwelling unit for a bona fide caretaker or operator. The term "motel" includes hotels, auto courts, tourist courts, motor lodges and similar terms. Each sleeping unit shall contain not less than 240 square feet of living space.

Any building, structure or land used to disperse, sell or offer automotive fuels, oils or accessories, including lubrication, washing, polishing or cleaning and the replacement or installation of minor parts and accessories to passenger automobiles or trucks not exceeding 1 1/2 tons rated capacity, but not including any major mechanical repair, rebuilding or reconditioning of engines, motor vehicles or trailers or collision service, body repair, frame straightening, painting, undercoating, vehicle steam cleaning or upholstering.

Any lawful building or structure existing at the date of enactment of this chapter which in its design or location upon a lot does not conform to the regulations of this chapter for the district in which it is located.

A lot of record existing at the date of the enactment of this chapter which does not have the minimum width, depth or area for the district in which it is located.

Any use of land, buildings or structures lawfully existing on the date of enactment of this chapter which does not conform to the use regulations of the district in which it is situated.

A space adequate for parking an automobile and having an area of not less than 200 square feet per vehicle, exclusive of passageways and driveways appurtenant thereto. Such space shall be located on the lot it is accessory to and shall have direct access to a street or public way.

Any man-made body of water which has a capability of more than two feet in depth resulting from excavations, dams, dikes, etc.

A zone district regulating the use of land exclusive of any overlay restrictions or regulations.

A building in which is conducted the main or principal use of the lot on which said building is located.

The main or primary purpose for which a building, structure or lot is to be used.[6]

The words "public buildings and grounds," as used in this chapter, are intended to designate any one or more of the following uses, including grounds and accessory buildings necessary for their use:

A vehicle type unit primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use, which either has its own motive power or is mounted on or drawn by another vehicle. The basic entities are:

Any temporary storage space for a vehicle waiting for service or admission. Such space shall be in addition to drives, aisles or parking space required by this chapter. One reservoir space shall be 20 feet long and eight feet wide.

Any establishment, however designed, at which food is sold for consumption on the premises to patrons seated within an enclosed building and where the taking of food and drink from said building is incidental. However, a snack bar or refreshment stand at a public, semipublic or community swimming pool, playground, playfield or park operated by the agency or groups or an approved vendor operating the recreational facilities and for the convenience of the patrons of the facility shall not be deemed to be a restaurant.

An establishment where food, soft drinks, ice cream and similar confections are sold for principal consumption outside the confines of the principal building or in automobiles, regardless of whether or not seats are provided for patrons.

The line determining the street or highway limit of public ownership.

Retail outlets with all related structures for the sale of farm products.

A dwelling other than a hotel on motel where more than two persons are housed or lodged for hire with or without meals.

The horizontal distance between the street line, rear or side lines of the lot and the front, rear or side lines of the building. All measurements shall be made at right angles to or radially from the lot lines to the building lines. Setbacks from street lines to building lines are defined as "front setbacks." Setbacks from side lot lines are "side setbacks." Setbacks from rear lot lines are "rear setbacks."

Two or more commercial buildings located on a single lot or adjacent lots, with such buildings developed as part of a single integrated development with a common architectural design.

Any structure, part thereof or device attached thereto or painted or represented thereon or any material or thing, illuminated or otherwise, which displays or includes any numeral, letter, word, model, banner, emblem, insignia, device, trademark or other representation used as or in the nature of an announcement, advertisement, direction or designation of any person, firm, group, organization, place, commodity, product, service, business, profession, enterprise or industry, which is located upon any land or on any building; provided, however, that the following shall not be included in the application of the regulations herein:

Any sign which directs attention to a business, principal commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than upon the premises where the sign is located and only incidentally on the premises if at all.

The area of a sign consisting of the entire surface of any regular geometric form or combinations of regular geometric forms, comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed, but excluding supporting or structural members not bearing advertising matter.

An outdoor advertising sign, structure or symbol erected and maintained by an individual or corporation engaged in the sale or rental for profit of space thereon, having more than 100 square feet of display surface and which is either erected on the ground or attached to or supported by a building or structure.

An accessory sign which directs attention to a business, profession or industry conducted upon the premises on which the sign is located or to a primary product, commodity or service sold by such business, profession or industry.

An advertising sign or device intended to direct or point toward a place of business or one that points out the way to either an unfamiliar or unknown place that obviously could not be easily located without such sign or device.

A sign supported by a pole, uprights or braces placed in or on the ground.

Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outlines illuminated by electric lights, neon or luminescent tubing.

Any sign which is attached to a building or other structure beyond the surface or that portion of the building or structure to which the sign is attached and not parallel to the face of the building.

Any sign, banner or other advertising device constructed of temporary material, with or without structural frames, intended for a limited period of display.

A plan, to scale, showing uses and structures proposed for a parcel of land, including lot lines, streets, existing and proposed buildings and structures, topography, rights-of-way, parking areas, open space and any other information deemed necessary by the Planning Board.

A building in which any horses are kept for remuneration, hire or sale.

That portion of a building included between the surface of the floor and the ceiling next above it, having a vertical distance of at least seven feet six inches along the studs forming each of the exterior walls. Each story above the first story must have an area equal to at least 2/3 that of the first story. The first story is the lowest story which is 75% or more above the average level of the ground adjacent to said building.

That portion of a building next under a gable, hip or gambrel roof having a vertical distance between the floor and horizontal ceiling of at least seven feet six inches, except that for habitable space under a sloping roof, the minimum height above at least 50% of such floor area shall be seven feet six inches, and the area where the height is less than five feet shall not be considered in computing required floor area.

A public or private thoroughfare which affords the principal means of access to abutting properties.

The right-of-way line of a street; the front lot line; the line separating a lot from a street.

Anything constructed or erected which requires temporary or permanent support or attachment to the ground, beneath the ground or to something having permanent location on the ground, including gasoline and oil tanks, buildings, manufactured homes, fences and billboards.

Any repair, reconstruction, alteration, modification of a building, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the building either before the improvement or repair is started or, if the building has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. The Code Enforcement Officer shall determine the value of the improvements to be made based upon the square footage of building area added or improved. For the purposes of this definition, substantial improvement is considered to occur when the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building. The term does not, however, include either any project for improvement of a building to comply with existing state or local health, sanitary or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions or any alteration of a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.

Any body of water or receptacle for water which has a capability of a depth of more than two feet at any point, used or intended to be used for swimming, bathing or wading and installed or constructed above or below the ground.

An activity conducted for a specific limited period of time which may not otherwise be permitted by the provisions of this chapter. Examples of such uses are structures incidental to new construction which shall be removed after the completion of the construction work.

A use that would not be appropriate generally or without restriction throughout the zoning district but which, if controlled as to number, area, location or relation to the neighborhood, would promote the public health, safety, order, comfort, convenience, appearance, prosperity or general welfare. Such uses may be permitted in a zoning district as a special permit use only if specific provision for such special permit use is made in this chapter.

A variance is a relaxation of the terms of this chapter where such variance will not be contrary to the public interest and where, owing to conditions peculiar to the property and not the result of the actions of the applicant, a literal enforcement of this chapter would result in unnecessary and undue hardship.

An alternate energy device which converts wind energy by means of a rotor to mechanical or electrical energy. A wind generator may also be deemed a "windmill."

A required open space unoccupied and unobstructed by any structure or portion of a structure, except as may be provided by this chapter, and situated between the principal building or group of buildings and the nearest lot line.

A yard extending between the side lot lines across the front of a lot adjoining a street, situated between the street line and the front building line.

A yard extending between the side lot lines situated between the rear line of the building and the rear lot line. In the case of through lots, there will be no rear yards but only front and side yards.

A yard extending between the side building line and the nearest side lot line, situated between the front and rear yards.