For the purpose of this chapter, Muhlenberg Township is hereby divided into 11 base zoning districts, which shall be designated as follows:

For the purpose of this chapter, the following conservation overlay districts shall be established in accordance with the provisions of Article V of this chapter of the Muhlenberg Township Code:

For the purpose of this chapter, the following special overlay districts shall be established in accordance with the provisions of Article VI of this chapter of the Muhlenberg Township Code:

The boundaries of the zoning districts shall be as shown on the Zoning Map of Muhlenberg Township. The Zoning Map and all notations, references and data illustrated thereon are hereby incorporated by reference into this chapter. The official copy of the Zoning Map[1] shall be labeled as the "Muhlenberg Township Zoning Map" and shall identify the signatures of the Board of Commissioners, attested by the Secretary of said Board, and bear the Seal of Muhlenberg Township under the following words:

If changes are made to district boundaries or other matters portrayed on the Official Zoning Map, such changes shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended, and the changes shall be entered on the Official Zoning Map promptly after the amendment has been approved by the Board of Commissioners. No changes of any nature shall be made to the Official Zoning Map, or matter thereon shown, except in conformity with the applicable procedures established in this chapter. All changes shall be noted by date with a brief description of the nature of the change.

The Official Zoning Map shall be located in a place designated by the Board of Commissioners and shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land and water area in Muhlenberg Township regardless of unofficial copies which may have been made or published from time to time.

In the event that the Official Zoning Map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of changes and additions, the Board of Commissioners may adopt a new Official Zoning Map. The new Official Zoning Map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior Official Zoning Map, but no such correction shall have the effect of amending the original Official Zoning Map or any subsequent amendment thereof. The new Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Board of Commissioners, attested by the Secretary of said Board, and bear the Seal of Muhlenberg Township under the following words:

Unless the prior Official Zoning Map has been lost or has been totally destroyed, the prior map or any significant parts thereof remaining shall be preserved, together with all applicable records pertaining to its adoption or amendment.

Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately coinciding with the center lines of streets, highways, lanes, alleys, railroad tracks, rivers or creeks, such center line shall be construed to be such boundaries.

Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately coinciding with lot lines or deed lines which were in effect at the date of this chapter, such lines shall be construed to be such boundaries.

Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately coinciding with municipal boundary lines, such lines shall be construed to be such boundaries.

Where district boundaries are indicated as being approximately parallel to the center or right-of-way lines of streets or highways, lanes, alleys, railroad tracks, rivers or creeks, such district boundaries shall be construed as being parallel to the center or right-of-way lines at such distance as is indicated on the Official Zoning Map.

Where district boundaries are indicated as being approximately perpendicular to the right-of-way lines of streets or highways, such district boundaries shall be construed as being perpendicular to the right-of-way lines.

Where district boundaries are referenced by a distance or measurement from a specific feature, such distance shall be measured in feet and the district boundaries shall follow the specified setback. Where distances or measurements are not specifically referenced on the Official Zoning Map, the scale of the Official Zoning Map shall determine the unspecified setback.

Where a district boundary line divides a lot which was in single ownership at the effective date of this chapter, at the election of the property owner, the regulations of either zoning district may be extended a distance of not more than 50 feet beyond the district boundary line onto the remaining portion of the lot.

Where physical or cultural features existing on the ground are inconsistent with those indicated on the Official Zoning Map, or when circumstances not covered within the context of this section apply, the Zoning Hearing Board shall interpret the district boundaries.

Unless otherwise provided by law or the provisions of this chapter, no building, structure or land area shall be used or occupied except for a permitted use in the zoning district within which the building, structure or land area is located.

Any legally established use of a building, structure, lot, land area, or part thereof, which constitutes a conforming use under the provisions of this chapter, may be continued.

Any legally established use which occupies a building, structure, lot or land area prior to the effective date of this chapter or amendment thereto but does not comply with the use regulations of the district in which it is situated after the effective date of this chapter or any amendment thereto may be continued as a nonconforming use in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

The regulations established within this chapter shall apply uniformly to buildings, structures or uses, unless otherwise provided in the Code.

Permitted uses shall adhere to the dimensional requirements for lot area, lot width, yard, height and coverage as specified for the zoning district in which the use is located, unless otherwise specified by this chapter.

No building, structure or land shall be used and no building, structure or part thereof shall be erected, constructed, assembled, moved, enlarged, reconstructed, removed or structurally altered unless it conforms to the Zoning Map and zoning district requirements specified within this chapter of the Code.

No building, structure or area of land shall be occupied without the issuance of a certificate of use and occupancy by the Zoning Officer.

No part of a yard, common open space, other open space, off-street parking area, or loading space required in connection with any structure, building or use of the land shall be included as part of a yard, common open space, open space, off-street parking area, or loading space similarly required for any other structure, building or use of the land, except as permitted or required by this chapter.

No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this chapter which meets the requirements of this chapter shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth in this chapter. A nonconforming yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this chapter shall not be further reduced below the minimum requirements of this chapter.

Where district regulations specify a minimum lot width at the street line, the minimum lot width shall be provided contiguous along the street line of one street. It is prohibited, when calculating the width of a lot, to add widths along the street lines of two or more streets. In the case of a corner lot, the minimum lot width must be provided along each street on which the lot fronts.

In the case of a lot of irregular shape, the Zoning Officer shall designate the front, side and rear yards, as considered appropriate for the configuration and conditions.

All territory or land area which may be annexed to Muhlenberg Township shall be considered to be zoned in the same manner as the contiguous territory inside the previous municipal limits until otherwise classified.