Mount Pleasant Township Washington County
City Zoning Code

The Township is hereby divided into Zoning Districts, as shown on the Official Zoning District Map which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter.[1] (See also Appendix C, Official Zoning District Map.)

The Official Zoning District Map shall be identified by the signature of the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, attested to by the Township Secretary/Treasurer and certified by the Township Engineer, and shall bear the Seal of the Township under the following words: "This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning District Map referred to in Article III of Ordinance Number 105, as amended, of Mount Pleasant Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania," together with the date of adoption of this chapter.

All amendments affecting district boundaries shall be noted on the Official Zoning District Map by the Township Engineer, including the date of adoption, and shall be attested to by the Township Secretary/Treasurer.

No changes of any nature shall be made in the Official Zoning District Map or matter shown thereof except in conformity with the procedure set forth in this chapter. Any unauthorized change of whatever kind by any person shall be considered a violation of this chapter and punishable as provided under § 200-1202 of this chapter.

The Official Zoning District Map, which shall be located in the Township Municipal Building, shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land and water areas, buildings and other structures in the Township.

A-1 Agricultural District: The purpose of the A-1 Agricultural District is to provide for agriculture and low-density single-family residential development in the more remote rural areas of the Township where public sewers are not available and to preserve natural resources and limited agricultural operations.

R-L Suburban Residential District: The purpose of the R-L Suburban Residential District is to encourage low-density single-family developments at moderate densities in locations in the Township where utilities and transportation facilities exist or are anticipated in the future.

R-H Neighborhood Residential District: The purpose of the R-H Neighborhood Residential District is to preserve established neighborhoods of higher density housing in the Township and provide for the expansion of this type of residential development in appropriate locations on the regional highway network that are or will be served by public water and sewage.

MU Mixed-Use District: The purpose of the Mixed-Use District is to promote a mix of compatible land uses, both residential and nonresidential, within the same zoning district. Encouraging diverse but complementary land uses, while supporting a variety of densities, allows the district to function as a "work, live, play" area within the Township.

B-1 Highway Commercial District: The purpose of this district is to provide opportunities for highway-oriented commercial development that meets the general needs of the population within the market area for shopping and services on properties located on arterial.

M-1 Light Industrial District: The purpose of the M-1 Light Industrial District is to encourage development of light industrial uses in appropriate locations in the Township, consistent with sound planning and environmental controls.

Boundaries indicated as appearing to follow the center lines of streets, highways or alleys shall be construed to follow such center lines.

Boundaries indicated as appearing to follow platted lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines.

Boundaries indicated as appearing to follow municipal limits shall be construed as following municipal limits.

Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed to be midway between the main tracks.

Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center lines of streams, rivers or other bodies of water shall be construed to follow center lines, and in the event of change in the location of streams, rivers and other bodies of water, shall be construed as moving with the actual body of water and following the center line.

Distances not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning District Map shall be determined by the scale of the map.

Whenever in any district established under this chapter, a use is neither specifically permitted nor denied and an application is made by a property owner to the Zoning Officer for such use, the Zoning Officer shall refer the application to the Zoning Hearing Board which shall have the authority to permit the use. The use may be permitted as a special exception if it is similar to and compatible with permitted uses, conditional uses or uses by special exception in the district, and in no way is in conflict with the general purpose of this chapter.

Accessory uses or structures that are customarily accessory to principal structures or uses that are authorized as conditional uses shall be permitted as accessory uses by right.

In all zoning districts, where single-family dwellings either exist or are proposed, they shall be the only principal structure on a lot.

In all zoning districts where authorized by this chapter, two or more nonresidential buildings may occupy the same lot; and two or more authorized nonresidential uses may occupy the same building, provided, in all cases, that all applicable requirements for each of the structures or uses can be met on the lot.

In all zoning districts, all accessory structures shall be located on the same lot with the principal structure to which they are accessory.

Table 1 identifies which principal land uses are permissible in each of the Township's zoning districts.[1] After identifying the zoning district in which the lot is located, use the listing of uses described in the table below to determine what uses are permissible by right or conditional use. If no letter denotation exists, the use is not permissible in that zoning district.

Table 2 identifies which accessory land uses are permissible in each of the Township's zoning districts.[2] After identifying the zoning district in which the lot is located, use the listing of uses described in the table below to determine what accessory uses are permissible by right or conditional use. If no letter denotation exists, the use is not permissible in that zoning district.

The area and bulk regulations which shall apply to permitted and conditional residential land uses within each zoning district are set forth in Table 3, Area and Bulk Regulations - Residential Permitted Uses, which follows and is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter.[1]

The area and bulk regulations which shall apply to permitted and conditional nonresidential land uses within each zoning district are set forth in Table 4, Area and Bulk Regulations - Nonresidential Permitted Uses, which follows and is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter.[2]