Pittsburg City Zoning Code
SECTION I
DEFINITIONS & PURPOSE OF ZONING DISTRICTS
§ 1 PURPOSE OF ZONING DISTRICTS.
This district will permit single-family dwellings on individual lots. The minimum lot size in this district is 9,000 square feet.
This district is provided for the purpose of permitting transitional residential development in the form of two-family dwellings or duplexes.
This district provides for attached single-family dwellings which are built greater than two units per structure in a townhome configuration.
Each dwelling unit is to be located on its own lot. The maximum number of units per structure shall be six (6) and no unit shall be built above another unit.
This district permits multifamily developments of densities not to exceed 25 units per acre. Regulations are designed to protect the residential character and prevent overcrowding of land by providing minimum standards for building spacing, yards, height and off-street parking.
This district allows mid-rise multifamily dwellings up to five (5) stories in height.
This district provides a zoning category for the planning and development of larger tracts of land for a single or combination of residential uses. This zone allows flexibility and variety in design to achieve orderly development with due respect to the protection of surrounding property. Uses or a combination of uses including various forms of residential dwelling types are allowed in this district. This zoning classification requires the approval of a detailed master plan for development.
This district provides for the establishment of HUD-code manufactured home parks and sets out criteria for the development of such parks.
This district allows for placement of professional offices on individual lots or in a complex. This district can be used as a transition or buffer zone between residential and commercial uses.
This district is established to promote the effective adaptive re-use of structures in portions of the city which are important for reasons such as architectural design, historical significance, cultural, ethnic and ecological importance, etc. and are in danger of being eliminated through clearance and redevelopment.
This district accommodates local retail and service operations which by their nature do not require outdoor display of merchandise.
This district accommodates a use which requires considerable space for display sales or open storage, or by the nature of the use is generally not compatible with uses in the B-1 district.
This district provides guidelines for facilities located or to be located in the historic downtown area of the city.
This district allows for site-specific commercial uses under the criteria established by a site plan approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
This district is established to provide for industrial uses that generally assemble or mix raw products manufactured elsewhere.
This district allows for the manufacturing of raw products and other uses not compatible with the uses allowed in the M-1 Light Industrial District.
This zoning suffix provides for historical designation of significant districts and structures and establishes criteria for the historical designation.
(Ordinance 550 adopted –/–/–; Ordinance 551B adopted 8/9/99; Ordinance 663-04, sec. 1, adopted 6/14/04; Ordinance 682-06, sec. I, adopted 2/13/06; Ordinance 940-22 adopted 6/13/2022; Ordinance 958-23 adopted 1/9/2023; Ordinance 1001-24 adopted 6/14/2024; Ordinance 1003-24 adopted 6/10/2024)
§ 2 DEFINITIONS.
For the purpose of this Ordinance, certain terms and words are herein defined as follows:
Words used in the present tense include the future; words in the singular number include the plural, and words in the plural number include the singular and use of any gender shall be applicable to all genders; the word "shall" is mandatory and not directory; the word "building" includes the word "structure"; and the word "lot" includes the word "plot," tract or parcel of land.
1.
ACCESSORY BUILDING OR USE: A subordinate building, or structure, or a portion of the main building, the use of which is incidental or secondary to that of the dominant or primary use of the main building or land. An accessory use is one which is incidental or secondary to the main use of the premises.
2.
ALLEY: A public way which affords only a secondary means of access to property abutting thereon.
3.
APARTMENT: A room or suite of rooms in a multifamily dwelling or apartment house arranged, designed or occupied as a place of residence by a single family, individual or group of individuals.
4.
AREA OF THE LOT: The area shall be the net area of the lot and shall not include portions of the street or alley right-of-way.
5.
AVIARY: A place for keeping birds not including poultry.
6.
B2 GARAGEKEEPER: Mechanics, paint and body shops, not vehicle storage, not used car sales lot. An owner or operator of an establishment for servicing, repairing, or maintaining a vehicle requiring extensive mechanical, paint, or body repairs.
Wrecked, inoperable, or operable vehicles must be on a hard surface, in a marked parking space, and cannot exceed the facility's maximum capacity for parking spaces. A wrecked, inoperable, or operable vehicle may not be allowed on the premises of a Garagekeeper in ordinary public view or out of ordinary public view for more than 30 days, affording adequate time for repair or insurance adjustment. Further, a Garagekeeper may not keep a vehicle under their control on the premises of adjacent property owners. licensing. The enforcement officials appointed by the city manager are authorized to enter the sites, review the required records of arrival dates, and enforce requirements.
7.
BASEMENT: A story having a part but not more than one-half of its height below grade. A basement is counted as a story for the purpose of height regulations, if subdivided and used for business or dwelling purposes by others than a janitor employed on the premises.
8.
BED AND BREAKFAST: A structure originally designed and used as a single-family residence that is the primary residence of the owner or on-site manager where not less than two and no more than six rooms are available to paying guests on an overnight basis for periods not to exceed seven days and where breakfast is available to registered, overnight guests.
9.
BILLBOARD: Any sign used as an outdoor display for the purpose of making anything known, the matter advertised or displayed being remote from its origin or point of sale.
10.
BLOCK: An area enclosed by streets and occupied by or intended for buildings; or if said word is used as a term of measurement, it shall mean the distance along a side of a street between the nearest two streets which intersect said street.
11.
BOARDING HOUSE: A building other than a hotel where, for compensation and by prearrangement for definite periods, meals or lodging and meals are provided for four or more persons but not exceeding 15 persons.
12.
BUILDING: Any structure designed or built for the support, enclosure, shelter or protection of persons, animals, chattels or property of any kind.
13.
BUILDING, HEIGHT OF: The vertical distance at the center of the principal front of building, measured from the grade on that front to the highest point of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or to the average height of the highest gable or of a mean height level between eaves and ridge for a hip or gambrel roof.
14.
BUILDING LINES: A line parallel or approximately parallel to the street line at a specified distance therefrom establishing the minimum distance from the street line that a building may be erected.
15.
CAFE, COFFEE SHOP & TEA ROOM: An establishment open to the public for eating.
16.
CELLAR: A story having more than one-half of its height below grade.
17.
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY: An official certificate by the City through the enforcing official which indicates conformance with the zoning regulations and authorizes legal use of the premises for which it is issued.
18.
CHILD DAY-CARE: A place where four or more children are cared for compensation.
19.
CLINIC, MEDICAL: An institution or station for the examination and treatment of ill and afflicted outpatients.
20.
CLUB: A building or portion thereof or premises owned or operated by a corporation, association, person or persons for a social, educational or recreational purpose, but not primarily for profit or to render a service which is customarily carried on as a business.
21.
COMMON AREA: An area held, designed and designated principally for the common use of the occupants of a townhouse project, apartment project, subdivision, or community unit plans.
22.
COUNTRY INN: A structure with an on-site owner and/or manager containing not less than four and no more than fifteen rooms that are available to paying guests on an overnight basis for periods not to exceed seven days and where meals are made available to guests as well as the public.
23.
DISTRICT: Any section of the City of Pittsburg within which the zoning regulations are uniform.
24.
DRIVE-IN FOOD AND DRINK ESTABLISHMENT: An establishment serving food and drink to customers in their cars, patio or tables outside of a building or through drive-in windows.
25.
DWELLING: Any building or portion thereof which is designed for or used for residential purposes.
26.
DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY: A building designed for exclusive occupancy by one family and occupied exclusively by one family.
27.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY: A building designed for exclusive occupancy by two families and occupied exclusively by two families.
28.
DWELLING, MULTIPLE: A building designed for three or more families and occupied exclusively by than three or more families.
29.
FAMILY: One person or two or more persons related by blood, marriage or legal adoption, or a group of not more than three unrelated persons occupying a dwelling unit. A group of people occupying a boarding house, dormitory, lodging house, fraternity house, sorority house, hotel, motel or similar accommodation shall not be construed as a family.
30.
FILLING STATION (GAS STATION AND ELECTRONIC VEHICLE CHARGING): An establishment beside a road selling fuel for motor vehicles or charging stations for electronic vehicles (EVs).
31.
FLOOR AREA: The total square feet of floor space within the outside dimensions of a building including each floor level, but excluding cellars, carports or garages, malls and walkways.
32.
FOSTER HOME: A home in which three or more children or adults are received, raised, cared for or provided with food and shelter by people other than their natural or adoptive parents.
33.
FRATERNITY OR SORORITY: A social club or association having meeting facilities for the members and at least one dwelling unit occupied by a sponsor, or housemother for the fraternity or sorority. A fraternity or sorority house may have dormitory facilities for its members. The office or headquarters of a professional, business or other fraternal organization shall be considered as an office for the purposes of this chapter.
34.
FRONTAGE: All the property on one side of a street between two streets which intersect such street (crossing or terminating), measured along the line of the street, or if the street is dead-ended, then all of the property abutting on one side between a street which intersects such street and the dead-end of the street.
35.
GARAGE, ATTACHED: A garage which has one or more walls common with the principal building on a lot; or which is attached to the principal building by an enclosed porch, loggia or passageway, the roof of which is a part or extension of the roof of the principal building; and for the purpose of the height and area regulations of this chapter such a garage is to be considered a part of the principal building.
36.
GARAGE, PRIVATE: An accessory building designed or used for the storage only of not more than three motor-driven vehicles owned and used by the occupants of the building to which it is accessory.
37.
GRADE:
a.
For buildings having walls adjoining one street only, the elevation of the sidewalk at the center of the wall adjoining the street.
b.
For buildings having walls adjoining more than one street, the average of the elevations of the sidewalk at the centers of all walls adjoining the streets.
c.
For buildings having no wall adjoining a street, the average level of the finished surface of the ground adjacent to the exterior walls of the building.
Any wall approximately parallel to and not more than 15 feet from a street line is to be considered as adjoining the street. Where sidewalks do not exist the grade shall be as established by the office of the Director of Public Works. |
38.
GUEST HOUSE: A structure originally designed and used as a single-family residence where not less than two (2) and no more than four (4) rooms are available to paying guests on an overnight basis for periods not to exceed seven days.
39.
HISTORICAL DISTRICT OR HISTORICAL LANDMARK: Any site, district, area, building or structure of historical, archaeological or cultural importance or value, which the City Council determines shall be protected, preserved or enhanced in the interest of culture, prosperity, education and welfare of the people.
40.
HOME OCCUPATION: Any occupation or activity not involving the conduct of a business which is clearly incidental and secondary to use of the premises for dwelling purposes and which is carried on wholly within a main building or accessory building by a member of a family residing on the premises, in connection with which there is no advertising other than an identification sign of not more than one square foot in area and no other display or storage of materials or exterior identification of the home occupation or variation from the residential character of the main building or accessory building; and in connection with which no person outside the family is employed and no equipment used which creates offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odor, heat or glare. A home occupation shall not include antique shops, beauty culture school, beauty parlor, barbershops, or businesses or institutions of like character or any occupation or activity which amounts to the conduct of a business.
41.
HOTEL: A building in which lodging or boarding and lodging are provided for more than 15 persons and offered to the public for compensation and in which ingress and egress to and from all rooms are made through an inside lobby or office supervised by a person in charge at all hours. A hotel is open to the transient public in contradistinction to a boarding house, a rooming house, or an apartment which are herein separately defined.
42.
HUD-CODE MANUFACTURED HOME: A structure, constructed on or after June 15, 1976, according to the rules of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, transportable in one or more sections, which, in the traveling mode is eight body feet or more in width or 40 body feet or more in length, or, when erected onsite, is 320 or more square feet, and which 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 includes the plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical systems. The term does not include a recreational vehicle.
43.
IN-LAW/GUEST QUARTERS: Supplemental One-Family Dwelling whose use is incidental to and located on the same lot or premises as the Primary One-Family Dwelling.
44.
INSTITUTION: A building occupied by a nonprofit corporation or nonprofit establishment for public use.
45.
JUNK/SCRAP: Shall mean and include scrap iron, tin, brass, copper, lead, zinc and all metallic substances, secondhand plumbing and electric fixtures, wires, globes, brass pipe, lead pipe and pipe of other metals, melted metals of any kind, such parts of machinery or machines that may be identified as such, any fixtures pertaining to a residence, business house or other house of any kind, automobile accessories, including horns, hub caps, prestolite tanks, tires and all detached and detachable parts of any automobile, motorcycle, bicycle or motor vehicle of any kind or any vehicle of any kind, hydrants, faucets, lawn hose, lawn sprinklers, gas fixtures, fittings and appliances, garden tools, mechanical tools of every description, harness, rags, rubber, rope, bottles and utensils of every description. This enumeration of the articles above shall not be held to exclude other articles that may be reasonably included under the general definition of Junk/Scrap when given its usual trade meaning.
46.
JUNK/SCRAP DEMOLISHER/DEALER: Anyone who engages in the business of collecting, handling, buying, or selling any of the articles defined as junk wares or converting vehicles into processed scrap or scrap metal or of otherwise wrecking or dismantling vehicles.
47.
KINDERGARTEN OR NURSERY SCHOOL: A school for children of preschool age, the work of which is purely preliminary to the work of the public school, and which contemplates a planned program of games, songs, social exercises and object lessons.
48.
LAUNDRY, SELF-SERVICE: An establishment providing home-type washing, drying or ironing machines for use on the premises.
49.
LOADING SPACE: A space within the main building or on the same lot therewith, providing for the off-street standing, loading or unloading of trucks and trailers.
50.
LODGING HOUSE: See Rooming House.
51.
LOT: Land occupied or intended for occupancy by a use permitted in this Ordinance, including one main building together with its accessory building, and the yards and parking spaces required herein, and having its principal frontage upon a street or upon an officially approved place.
52.
LOT, AREA OF: The area of the lot shall be the net area of the lot and shall not include portions of streets and alleys.
53.
LOT, CORNER: A lot abutting upon two or more streets at their intersection.
54.
LOT DEPTH: The mean distance between the front and rear lot lines.
55.
LOT DOUBLE FRONTAGE: A lot having a frontage on two streets as distinguished from a corner lot.
56.
LOT LINES: The lines bounding a lot as defined herein.
57.
LOT OF RECORD: A lot which is part of a subdivision, the map of which has been recorded in the office of the County Clerk of Camp County or a lot described by metes and bounds the description of which has been recorded in the office of the County Clerk of Camp County.
58.
LOT WIDTH: The distance between the side lot lines, measured along the building setback line when one is required and otherwise along the street lines, except, however, in the case of an irregularly shaped lot the width of lot shall be the average of the greatest and least distances between the side lot lines.
59.
M2 (M1 OR B2 WITH SPECIAL USE PERMIT) VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY: Any facility or establishment for the storing or parking of wrecked, impounded, inoperable, or operable vehicles. See Special Use Regulations, Section XXIV, § 14 for full regulations and requirements for a permitted Vehicle Storage Facility.
60.
MANUFACTURED HOUSING OR MANUFACTURED HOME: A HUD-code manufactured home or a mobile home and collectively means and refers to both.
61.
MOBILE HOME: A structure that was constructed before June 15, 1976, transportable in one or more sections, which is in the traveling mode, which is eight body feet or more in width or 40 body feet or more in length, or when erected on-site, is 320 or more square feet, and which 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 includes the plumbing, heating, air-conditioning and electrical systems.
62.
MODULAR HOME: A structure or building module that is manufactured at a location other than the location where it is installed and used as a residence by a consumer, transportable in one or more sections on a temporary chassis or other conveyance device, and designed to be used as a permanent dwelling when installed and placed upon a permanent foundation system. The term includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems contained in the structure. The term does not include a mobile home as defined in Subsection 59 or a HUD-code manufactured home as defined in Subsection 43; nor does it include building modules incorporating concrete or masonry as the primary structural component.
63.
MOTOR COURT OR MOTEL: A building or group of buildings used for the temporary residence of motorists or travelers.
64.
NONCONFORMING USE: Any building or land lawfully occupied by a use at the time of passage of this Ordinance or amendment thereto which does not conform after the passage of the Ordinance or amendment thereto with the regulations of the district in which it is situated.
65.
NURSING, REST OR CONVALESCENT HOME: A home for the aged or infirm in which three or more persons not of the immediate family are received, kept or provided with food and shelter or care for compensation; but not including hospitals, clinics or similar institutions devoted primarily to the diagnosis and treatment of the sick or injured.
66.
ORDINARY PUBLIC VIEW: A vehicle, trailer, vessel or farm equipment or the tarp or cover thereon is visible at any time of the year from any public right-of-way, or adjacent land or the first floor level of a building thereon, which is owned or occupied by a person other than the property owner or occupant of the property on which the vehicle is located or parked.
67.
ORPHANAGE: An institution for the care of orphans.
68.
PACKAGED LIQUOR STORE: Reserved.
69.
PARKING AREA: An open, unoccupied space used or required for use for parking of vehicles exclusively and in which no gasoline or vehicular accessories are sold or no other business is conducted and no fees are charged.
70.
PARKING SPACE: A surfaced area, enclosed or unenclosed, having an area of not less than 180 square feet exclusive of driveways, permanently reserved for the temporary storage of one vehicle and connected with a street or alley by a surfaced driveway which affords ingress and egress for vehicles.
71.
PLACE: An open, unoccupied space or thoroughfare other than a street or alley permanently reserved as a principal means of access to abutting property.
72.
POULTRY: Domesticated birds kept for eggs, meat or feathers, including chickens, ducks, ostriches, rheas and emus.
73.
PREMISES: A lot, together with all buildings and structures existing thereon.
74.
PRIVATE CLUB: Premises occupied by an association of persons who have been granted a private club registration permit under the provisions of the State of Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code enabling said club to have alcoholic beverages: (1) Stored, possessed and mixed on the club premises, or (2) Served for on-premises consumption to members of the club and their families and guests.
a.
RECREATIONAL CLUB: Premises used as a private club by persons who are voluntarily associated in either an incorporated or unincorporated relationship, for the purposes of engaging in recreational activities including golf, tennis, swimming, boating, racquetball, bowling, and similar activities, but not including pool, pinball machines, electronic machines, and other table games customarily played indoors. As used in this definition, the term "premises" shall mean all contiguous lots and land owned by the association. A recreational club may provide food services. Where alcoholic beverages are served or provided, the gross income of the association from membership fees, service charges for the use of recreational facilities, and food sales, but excluding income from pool tables, pinball machines, and similar devices, shall constitute at least fifty percent (50%) of the gross income of the association, exclusive of State sales tax and exclusive of State gross receipt tax on the sale of alcoholic beverages.
b.
RESTAURANT CLUB: A building or portion of a building operated as a private club where the primary business is the on-premises sale of prepared food, with adequate kitchen facilities for the preparation of the food to be sold, the adequacy of said kitchen facilities to be based upon the seating capacity of the restaurant and type of menu offered, and where alcoholic beverages may be sold under the following conditions:
(A)
At least fifty percent (50%) of the gross income of the organization, exclusive of State sales tax and exclusive of State gross receipts tax on the sale of alcoholic beverages shall be derived from the sale of prepared food;
(B)
Any outside entrances, outside separate identification, outside signs or other separate advertising for lounge or bar areas shall be permitted only as an accessory or secondary feature of the restaurant;
(C)
Live entertainment may be permitted.
c.
SOCIAL CLUB: A premises used as a private club which is neither a recreational club or restaurant club.
75.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE: A vehicle equipped for use as a dwelling and designed to travel along a highway and which is of such dimension and weight that it can be licensed and no special movement permit is required for use on State Highways.
76.
RESTAURANT: A building serving food to customers inside the building while occupying seating provided for customers.
77.
ROOMING HOUSE: A building other than a hotel where lodging for 3 but not more than 15 persons is provided for definite periods for compensation pursuant to previous arrangement. A rooming house shall not house more than two unrelated persons per room. Each room shall contain not less than 70 square feet for single occupancy and 50 square feet per person for rooms accommodating more than one person. Separate restroom facilities shall be provided at the ratio of not less than one for each four persons.
78.
SALVAGE/JUNK/SCRAP YARD: A yard or premises used to store or sell junk/scrap, or where wrecked, junked, or inoperable vehicles or other machinery are broken up and the parts are saved and processed for resale.
79.
SIGN: A presentation or representative by letters, figures, designs, devices, pictures, emblems, insignia, numbers, lines or colors displayed so as to be visible to the public for the purpose of making anything known or attracting attention. This definition shall not include temporary merchandise signs within store windows.
80.
STORY: That portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it, or, if there be no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling next above.
81.
STORY, HALF: A space under a sloping roof which has the line of intersection of roof decking and wall face not more than three feet above the top floor level, and in which space not more than two-thirds of the floor area is finished off for use. A half-story containing independent apartment or living quarters shall be counted as a full story.
82.
STREET: A public or private thoroughfare which affords the principal means of access to abutting property.
83.
STREET LINE: A dividing line between a lot, tract or parcel of land and a contiguous street.
84.
STRUCTURE: Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires a location on the ground, or attached to something having a location on the ground, including but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, advertising signs, billboards, backstops for tennis courts, fences, satellite dishes or pergolas.
85.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS: Any change in the supporting members of a building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders, or any substantial changes in the roofs or exterior walls.
86.
TEA ROOM: A commercial establishment that offers specialty teas and coffees in conjunction with breakfast and lunch food service.
87.
TOURIST HOME: A dwelling in which accommodations are provided or offered for one or more, but not exceeding ten, transient guests for compensation.
88.
TRAILER OR TOURIST CAMP: An area containing one or more structures designed or intended to be used as temporary living facilities of one or more families or providing spaces where two or more auto trailers can be parked.
89.
TRAVEL TRAILER: A vehicle equipped for use as dwelling and designed to be towed along a highway by a passenger car, pickup or other prime mover and which is of such dimension and weight that it can be licensed and no special movement permit is required for use on the State Highways.
90.
VAPE or E-CIG SHOP: A retail outlet specializing in the sale of electronic cigarette products, including but not limited to E-cigarettes, "e-cigs," "vapes," "e-hookahs," "vape pens," and "electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)."
91.
VEHICLE CARE FACILITY: Inspection place, tire repair place, oil change place, a facility that does not do heavy mechanical repairs or paint or body work. A facility that provides minor services for maintaining and servicing operable vehicles. This can include various services, such as refueling, washing, detailing, oil changes, minor repairs, inspections, and general maintenance, as well as specialized repair work. Vehicles must be on a hard surface, in a marked parking space, and cannot exceed the facility's maximum capacity for parking spaces. Vehicles in the Vehicle Care Facility's control must not be on the premises for more than five days.
92.
YARD: An open space at grade between a building and the adjoining lot lines, unoccupied and unobstructed by any portion of a structure from the ground upward, except as otherwise provided herein. In measuring a yard for the purpose of determining the width of a side yard, the depth of a front yard or the depth of a rear yard, the minimum horizontal distance between the lot line and the main building shall be used.
93.
YARD, FRONT: A yard extending across the front of a lot between the side yard lines, and being the minimum horizontal distance between the street line and the main building or any projections thereof other than projections permitted in Section XXII. On corner lots the front yard shall be considered as parallel to the street upon which the lot has its least dimension.
94.
YARD, REAR: A yard extending across the rear of a lot between the side lot lines and being the minimum horizontal distance between the rear of the main building or any projections thereof other than the projections of uncovered steps, uncovered balconies or uncovered porches and the rear lot line. On all lots the rear yard shall be at the opposite end of the lot from the front yard.
95.
YARD, SIDE: A yard between the main building and the side line of the lot, and extending from the front yard to the rear yard, and being the minimum horizontal distance between a side lot line and the side of the main buildings or any projections thereto.
(Ordinance 550 adopted –/–/–; Ordinance 551B adopted 8/9/99; Ordinance 663-04, sec. 1, adopted 6/14/04; Ordinance 682-06, sec. I, adopted 2/13/06; Ordinance 940-22 adopted 6/13/2022; Ordinance 958-23 adopted 1/9/2023; Ordinance 1001-24 adopted 6/14/2024; Ordinance 1042-25 adopted 10/20/2025)