Mount Laurel Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE X
Area and Height Requirements
§ 154-63 Schedule of Area and Height Requirements.
Area and height regulations shall be as shown in the tabulation which follows and as described further in the text of this article which follows the tabulation.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of Area and Height Requirements is included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 154-64 Yards.
A.
Projections into yards.
[Amended 7-6-1998 by Ord. No. 1998-5; 3-5-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-2; 12-1-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-30; 10-2-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-10]
(1)
Projections of steps, sills, chimneys, eaves, cornices, ornamental features, carports and other similar projections of buildings may extend into yards for a maximum distance of five feet and for a maximum area of 40 square feet.
(2)
Patios, terraces, boardwalks, basketball courts, at-grade decks, and tennis courts. These improvements may be built at any size within the permitted building envelope. Outside the permitted building envelope, these improvements may not be greater than 250 square feet. However, any lot with a frontage of less than 50 feet shall be exempt from this section on the condition that there be a minimum side yard setback of two feet to the property line and rear yard setback of 10 feet to the property line and the total impervious coverage of the rear yard shall not exceed 250 feet outside the permitted building envelope. For lots with a road frontage of 50 feet or greater, a minimum setback of 10 feet shall be maintained from all property lines, and the total impervious coverage of the rear yard shall not exceed 250 feet outside the permitted building envelope. A zoning permit shall be required and a construction permit may be required.
(3)
For any swimming pool, a surface of decking, patio, or boardwalk may be permitted for up to three feet in width around the perimeter of the pool, and such decking, patio, or boardwalk shall not be considered as a part of the 250 square feet of maximum permitted coverage stated in Subsection A(2) above. All such decking, patio, or boardwalk shall be set back a minimum of three feet from any property line when immediately surrounding a swimming pool.
(4)
Raised decks that will be constructed with a finished elevation greater than three feet above grade shall be considered a part of the principal building and subject to all bulk requirements for principal structures.
B.
Increased yard size requirement adjacent to arterial streets. In Industrial Districts, yard depth or width must be increased by 60 feet where a yard is adjacent to a street shown as an existing or proposed arterial street on the Master Plan. The increased yard depth or width is for the purpose of providing space for a marginal access street. The increased yard area immediately adjacent to the arterial street may not be used in satisfying minimum requirements of this chapter for automobile parking spaces or truck berths, but this increased yard area may be used for these purposes to provide space for these purposes over and above the minimum required. Also, this increased yard area may be used for other outside uses permitted by this chapter which do not require the construction of buildings or structures.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C, which immediately followed this subsection, regarding lots within freshwater wetlands, floodplains and similar areas, as amended, was repealed 8-21-1995 by Ord. No. 1995-26.
§ 154-64.1 (Reserved) [1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 154-64.1, Lot suitability, added 4-18-1988 by Ord. No. 1988-8, as amended, was repealed 11-17-1997 by Ord. No. 1997-27.
§ 154-65 Accessory buildings.
A.
Front yard. Every accessory building, except an accessory building constructed as an integral part of a main building, shall be located on the lot to the rear of the front line (or extended front line) of the main building.
[Amended 3-4-1968 by Ord. No. 1968-2]
B.
Side and rear yards. No accessory building shall be located in or encroach upon any required yard, except that a detached accessory building may be located in the side yard or rear yard of the lot, but not within six feet of any property line. In the case of a corner lot, any accessory building shall be located back of any required setback or specific building line.
[Amended 3-25-1968 by Ord. No. 1968-2]
C.
Party walls. Accessory buildings eligible for minimum side and rear yards that are smaller than the requirements for such yards for main buildings, in accordance with Subsection A immediately above, are also eligible to be constructed with party walls located on property lines if the owners of lots involved so agree.
D.
Accessory building in rear yard of main building. An accessory building may be located within the minimum rear yard of a main building.
E.
Number and height of accessory buildings.
[Added 7-6-1998 by Ord. No. 1998-5]
(1)
Each residential lot of 30,000 square fee or less shall be permitted only one detached accessory building with a maximum height of 12 feet. A zoning permit shall be required and a construction permit, may be required.
(2)
Each residential lot greater than 30,000 square feet shall be permitted two detached accessory buildings. The maximum height shall be 12 feet if the accessory buildings are located six feet from any property line. This height may increase by one foot for each additional setback of five feet, but in no case shall the ultimate height exceed 15 feet. A zoning permit shall be required and a construction permit may be required.
(3)
The size of accessory buildings shall be as follows:
[Amended 10-2-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-10]
(a)
A utility shed shall be permitted to have a maximum area of 200 square feet on any property that is 30,000 square feet in area or less. On a property greater than 30,000 square feet, utility sheds shall be permitted to have a maximum size of 300 square feet.
(b)
A private garage, pole barn, or other accessory storage structure shall have a maximum area of 1,000 square feet on any property that is 30,000 square feet or less in area. On a property that has an area greater than 30,000 square feet, the maximum size of such structure shall be 1,200 square feet in area.
(c)
A detached accessory building solely for the purpose of containing swimming pool equipment shall be exempt, provided that the size does not exceed 60 square feet.
(d)
All other accessory buildings shall have a maximum size of 1,000 square feet.
§ 154-66 Height limitation exceptions.
A.
Residential district exceptions. Residential district height limitations of this chapter may be exceeded by a church spire, belfry, dome not used for human habitation, chimney, antenna, farm silo or other similar item, subject to a reasonable height limitation that may be approved by the Board of Adjustment.
B.
Business and industrial district exceptions. Business and Industrial District height limitations of this chapter may be exceeded by nonresidential buildings and structures, subject to a reasonable height limitation as may be approved by the Board of Adjustment, with the provision that the owner will provide and maintain higher-than-normal buffer strip planting and other planting in lieu thereof, if necessary, in order to prevent the higher-than-normal buildings and structures from being seen in residence districts in accordance with § 154-68b.
C.
McGuire Air Force Base height limitation. The Board of Adjustment shall never allow a structure greater than 850 feet in height in order to prevent the creation or establishment of flight hazards for McGuire Air Force Base.
D.
Township-owned property used for recreational purposes which abuts residential zones and/or uses. Height limitations of this chapter are not applicable to Township-owned properties which are being used for recreational purposes and which abut a residential zone and/or use. This serves to advance the public health, safety, and welfare, and protects the residents and guests of the Township and their property and rights.
[Added 7-2-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-8]
§ 154-67 Lot area requirement for water supply and sewage disposal.
In addition to the area requirements in the tabulation for minimum lot size, each lot must be of sufficient size to meet water supply and sewage disposal requirements of the Board of Health of Mount Laurel Township.