Jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of this chapter shall apply to all structures, lands, water and air within the corporate limits of the City of Princeton.

Compliance. No new structure, new use of land, water or air or change in the use of land, water or air shall hereafter be permitted and no structure or part thereof shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered without a zoning permit and without full compliance with the provisions of this chapter and all other applicable local, county and state regulations.

District regulations to be complied with. Except as otherwise provided, the use and height of buildings hereafter erected, converted, moved, enlarged or structurally altered and the use of any land shall be in compliance with the regulations established herein for the district in which such building or land is located.

Yard reduction or joint use.

One main building per lot. Every building hereafter erected, converted, enlarged or structurally altered shall be located on a lot and in no case shall there be more than one main building on one lot.

Lots abutting more restrictive district. Any side yard, rear yard or court abutting a district boundary line shall have a minimum width and depth in the less restricted district equal to the average of the required minimum widths and depths for such yards and courts in the two districts which abut the district boundary line.

Permitted uses. Permitted uses, being the principal uses, specified for a district.

Accessory uses. Accessory uses and structures as specified are permitted in any district but not until their principal structure is present or under construction.

Conditional uses.

Temporary uses. Temporary uses, such as real estate sales field offices or shelters for materials and equipment being used in the construction of a permanent structure, may be permitted by the Zoning Administrator.

Uses not specified in code.

Street frontage. All lots shall abut upon a public street or other officially approved means of access, and each lot shall have a minimum frontage of 60 feet; however, to be buildable, the lot shall comply with the frontage requirements of the zoning district in which it is located.

Principal structures. All principal structures shall be located on a lot. Only one principal structure shall be located, erected or moved onto a lot. The Common Council may permit as a conditional use more than one principal structure per lot in any district where more than one such structure is needed for the orderly development of the parcel. Where additional structures are permitted, the Common Council may impose additional yard requirements, landscaping requirements or parking requirements, or require a minimum separation distance between principal structures.

Dedicated street. No zoning permit shall be issued for a lot which abuts a public street dedicated to only a portion of its proposed width and located on that side thereof from which the required dedication has not been secured.

Lots abutting more restrictive districts. Lots abutting more restrictive district boundaries shall provide side and rear yards not less than those required in the more restrictive abutting district. The street yard setbacks in the less restrictive district shall be modified for a distance of not less than 60 feet from the more restrictive district boundary line so such street yard setbacks shall be no less than the average of the street yards required in both districts.

Site suitability. No land shall be used or structure erected where the land is held unsuitable for such use or structure by the Common Council by reason of flooding, concentrated runoff, inadequate drainage, adverse soil or rock formation, unfavorable topography, low percolation rate or bearing strength, erosion susceptibility or any other feature likely to be harmful to the health, safety, prosperity, aesthetics and general welfare of this community. The Common Council, in applying the provisions of the section, shall, in writing, recite the particular facts upon which it bases its conclusion that the land is not suitable for certain uses. The applicant shall have an opportunity to present evidence contesting such unsuitability if he so desires. Thereafter, the Common Council may affirm, modify or withdraw its determination of unsuitability.

Preservation of topography. In order to protect the property owner from possible damage due to change in the existing grade of adjoining lands and to aid in preserving and protecting the natural beauty and character of the landscape, no change in the existing topography of any land shall be made which would result in increasing any portion of the slope to a ratio greater than 1 1/2 horizontal to one vertical, within a distance of 20 feet from the property line, except with the written consent of the owner of the abutting property and with the approval of the Common Council, or which would alter the existing drainage or topography in any way as to adversely affect the adjoining property. In no case shall any slope exceed the normal angle of slippage of the material involved, and all slopes shall be protected against erosion.

Decks; porches. For purposes of this chapter, decks and porches shall be considered a part of a building or structure. However, unenclosed porches not exceeding 50 square feet in area, whether covered or uncovered, may project up to six feet into a required front setback area.

Churches, schools, hospitals, sanitoriums and other public and quasi-public buildings may be erected to a height not exceeding 36 feet nor three stories, provided the front, side and rear yards required in the district in which such building is to be located are each increased at least one foot for each foot of additional building height above the height limit otherwise established for the district in which such building is to be located.

Chimneys, cooling towers, elevator bulkheads, fire towers, monuments, penthouses, stacks, scenery lofts, tanks, water towers, ornamental towers, spires, wireless, television or broadcasting towers, masts or aerials; microwave radio relay structures; telephone, telegraph and power poles and lines and necessary mechanical appurtenances are hereby excepted from the height regulations of this code and may be erected in accordance with other regulations or codes of the City.

Residences in the Residential District may be increased in height by not more than 10 feet when all yards and other required open spaces are increased by one foot for each foot when such building exceeds the height limit of the district in which it is located.

Buildings on through lots and extending from street to street may have waived the requirements for a rear yard by furnishing an equivalent open space on the same lot in lieu of the required rear yard provided that the setback requirements on both streets be complied with.

Every part of a required yard shall be open to the sky, unobstructed, except for accessory buildings in a rear yard, and the ordinary projections of sills, belt courses, cornices and ornamental features projecting not more than 24 inches.

Open or enclosed fire escapes and fire towers may project into a required yard not more than five feet and into a required court not more than 3 1/2 feet, provided it be so located as not to obstruct light and ventilation.