Plain City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 1145
RU Rural District
1145.01 PURPOSE.
The Rural District (RU) is established as an agricultural and low density, detached, single-family residential district serviced by public water and sanitary sewer systems where physical conditions limit the suitability of servicing by on-site systems. The RU District is most appropriate in less developed portions of the Municipality, serving as a transition between rural, predominantly agricultural areas and more developed areas.
(Ord. 05-08. Passed 2-25-08.)
1145.02 PERMITTED USE.
Land and buildings in the RU Rural District shall be used only for the following purposes:
(a) Agriculture. All agricultural activities as defined in Section 1.61 of the Ohio Revised Code excluding Large and Major Farms, (also known as mega-farms, and factory farms) as defined by the Ohio Department of Agriculture Livestock Environmental Permitting Program, which presents environmental concerns.
(1) Farm dwelling structures.
(2) Farm labor quarters for labor working on the premises.
(3) Roadside stand offering for sale only farm products produced on the premises.
(b) Dwelling Structures. Single-family dwelling structures.
(c) Accessory Uses. Accessory buildings and uses in association with agriculture or permitted dwellings as specified in Section 1183.05
, including: noncommercial guest house provided the lot is five acres or more.
(d) Storage and Processing of Agricultural Products. Grain elevator, mill, or other facilities for the storage, sorting, or other preliminary processing of agricultural products, except that commercial grain elevator operations shall not be permitted. Storage facilities shall not be within fifty feet of a side or rear lot line, except when along a railroad right of way. Processing facilities shall not be within one hundred feet of a side or rear lot line, except when along a railroad right of way.
(Ord. 05-08. Passed 2-25-08; Ord. 1-15. Passed 4-27-15.)
(f) Professional Office. (Ord. 21-2022. Passed 9-12-22.)
1145.03 CONDITIONAL USE.
The following uses shall be allowed in the RU Rural District subject to approval in accordance with Section 1138.06.
(a) Elementary and Secondary Schools. No rooms shall be regularly used for housing or sleeping of students.
(b) Public and Private Parks and Public Recreational Facilities.
(c) Religious. Church or other place of worship.
(d) Child Day Care Services. (8351)
(e) Cemetery. Cemeteries hereafter established, following the adoption of the Zoning Ordinance, shall occupy a parcel of not less than forty acres, excepting those parcels added to an existing cemetery, which may be less than forty acres.
(1) Interment shall not be within one hundred feet of any property line.
(2) A mausoleum, crematory, or other structure shall not be within three hundred feet of any property line.
(f) Associated Sales. Associated sales as accessory to and in association with an agricultural permitted use, such associated sales to cease upon cessation of the agricultural activity. This shall include, but is not limited to, garden supplies with a nursery or greenhouse, milk products with a dairy, or imported produce with a permitted produce stand.
(g) Boarding and Care of Animals. Office of veterinarian and animal hospital, kennel, or other facilities for care or boarding of animals, provided it occupies a lot of not less than five acres, and building pen or other enclosure so used shall not be within two hundred feet of any property line.
(h) Commercial Grain Elevator Operations. Commercial grain elevator operations, provided that the Board of Zoning Appeals determines adequate lot area is available for such operation.
(i) Bed and Breakfasts.
(j) Home Occupation. Home occupation in association with a permitted dwelling, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 1183.13.
(k) Accessory Dwelling Unit. Accessory dwelling units may be constructed in accessory structures provided they meet the requirements of Section 1183.05 and other additional requirements determined appropriate by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(Ord. 4-16. Passed 6-27-16.)
(Ord. 4-16. Passed 6-27-16.)
1145.04 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
In addition to the provisions of Chapter 1183, the following standards for arrangement and development of land and buildings are required for permitted uses in the RU Rural District.
(a) Lot Area and Coverage. For agricultural purposes in determination of accessory and associated uses, the lot area shall be five acres or more. But this shall not exclude agricultural use of any smaller lot.
(1) For each dwelling unit there shall be a lot area not less than 43,560 square feet (1 acre) per dwelling unit.
(2) For each permitted and conditional use the lot area shall be adequate to meet the sanitation requirements of the County Board of Health, but shall not be less than that prescribed for such use.
(3) One principal use shall be permitted on a lot, and such lot shall not be covered more than thirty percent (30%) by structure.
(b) Lot Width. For a single-family dwelling there shall be a lot width of 150 feet or more at the front building line. All lots within the RU Rural District shall abut on a public right of way. On a curving street or cul-de-sac sixty-five (65) feet of frontage on an improved public right-of-way is required and lot width shall be one hundred and fifty (150) feet at the minimum building line.
(c) Front Yard Setback. For dwellings there shall be a front yard setback of seventy-five (75) feet as measured from the street right of way line.
(d) Side Yard Setback. For dwellings or associated accessory buildings there shall be a side yards setback of twenty feet or more on each side as measured from the side lot line.
(e) Rear Yard Setback. For dwellings, there shall be a rear yard setback of fifty feet or more as measured from the rear lot line. For associated accessory buildings there shall be a rear yard setback of 20 feet or more as measured from the rear property line.
(f) Maximum Height. No dwelling structure shall exceed thirty-five feet in height. Maximum height for other structures shall not exceed a safe height as determined by the Fire Chief and as reviewed and accepted by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
(g) Minimum Dwelling Structure Size. No dwelling unit shall have less than 1,900 square feet of finished floor area.
(Ord. 05-08. Passed 2-25-08.)