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Shrewsbury Township
City Zoning Code

PART 6

RURAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT RR

§ 27-601 Purpose.

[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
1. 
The Rural Residential District is intended to acknowledge and protect existing rural development concentrations, and provide limited opportunities for additional low-density residential uses. Rural Residential Districts are located in areas of the Township without access to public water or sewer service. Only on-lot septic waste disposal systems and on-lot water wells shall be permitted in this zone. Except where mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, no public or community waste disposal and water systems shall be permitted outside the growth boundary line established by the Southern York County Regional Comprehensive Plan. These regulations are designed to exclude activities of a commercial or industrial nature and any activities not compatible with low-density residential development; to provide for the public convenience and avoid undue congestion on the roads; and to otherwise create conditions conducive to carrying out the purposes of this chapter.
2. 
It is the further intent of the Board of Supervisors to encourage flexibility, economy and ingenuity in the development of lots within this district.

§ 27-602 Use Regulations.

[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
A structure may be erected or used and a lot may be used or occupied for any of the following purposes and no other, except as provided for in § 27-304 of this chapter.
1. 
Permitted Principal Uses.
Agriculture (see § 27-1404)
Forestry (see § 27-1404)
Group home (see § 27-1404)
[Amended by Ord. No. 2021-03, 10/6/2021]
Single-family detached dwelling
2. 
Permitted Accessory Uses.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2017-07, 12/6/2017; and by Ord. No. 2022-01, 3/2/2022]
Accessory dwelling unit (see § 27-1404)
Alternative energy system (private use) (see § 27-1404)
Bed-and-breakfast (see § 27-1404)
Buildings and uses customarily incidental to a permitted principal use
Family day-care home (see § 27-1404)
Home occupation (see § 27-1404)
No-impact home-based business (see § 27-1404)
Outdoor furnace or heating device (see § 27-1404)
Portable storage unit (see § 27-1404)
Swimming pool, private (see § 27-1404)
3. 
Principal Uses Permitted as Special Exceptions by the Zoning Hearing Board.
Adult day-care center (see § 27-1404)
Camp and campground (see § 27-1404)
Cemetery (see § 27-1404)
Child day-care center (see § 27-1404)
Cultural facilities (see § 27-1404)
(Reserved)[1]
Group quarters (see § 27-1404)
House of worship (see § 27-1404)
Municipal park and playground (see § 27-1404)
Nursery school (see § 27-1404)
Nursing home/personal care home (see § 27-1404)
Park, nonmunicipal (see § 27-1404)
School, public or private (see § 27-1404)
Public utility building or facility (see § 27-1404)
[1]
Editor's Note: The former entry for "group homes" was repealed Ord. No. 2021-03, 10/6/2021.
4. 
Accessory Uses Permitted by Special Exception by the Zoning Hearing Board.
Detention or retention basin
Exotic wildlife (see § 27-1404)
Temporary structure or use (see § 27-1404)
Buildings and uses customarily incidental to any of the principal uses permitted by special exception
5. 
Prohibited Construction: No permanent buildings may be constructed or placed in a critical environmental area (see Part 13).

§ 27-603 Dimensional Requirements.

[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
In this district, any structure hereafter erected or any lot hereafter used or occupied for any lawful purpose shall provide the minimum dimensions specified below. Should these requirements conflict with the requirements of Part 14 or 15, as applicable, for any specified use, the requirements of Part 14 or 15, as applicable, shall take precedence.
1. 
Principal and Accessory Dimensions, Rural Residential District.
Single-Family Detached Dwellings
Uses Permitted as Special Exception
Minimum lot area
50,000 square feet
50,000 square feet
Minimum lot width
200 feet
200 feet
Minimum front setback
35 feet
35 feet
Minimum side setback*
20 feet
15 feet
Minimum rear setback*
10 feet
25 feet
Maximum building height
40 feet
40 feet
Maximum lot coverage
30%
NA
NOTES:
*
The side and rear setback for accessory buildings and structures may be reduced to 10 feet.

§ 27-604 Approved Subdivision.

[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
Each principal use shall be located on a separate, approved lot. Such lots must meet all the requirements of this chapter, the Shrewsbury Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance,[1] and all requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 22, Subdivision and Land Development.

§ 27-605 Standards for Uses.

[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
In addition to the standards set forth in this Part, all uses permitted within the Rural Residential District shall also comply with:
1. 
Landscape, Buffering and Screening. As required in the Shrewsbury Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 22, Subdivision and Land Development.
2. 
Off-Street Parking and Loading. All uses in the Rural Residential District shall provide off-street parking spaces and off-street loading space according to the provisions set forth in Part 16 of this chapter.
3. 
Signs. Signs may be erected and maintained only when in compliance with the provisions of the Shrewsbury Township Sign Ordinance[2] and landscaping requirements in the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-01, 8/5/2020]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 19, Signs.
4. 
All proposed subdivisions and developments shall satisfy the requirements of Part 13, Critical Environmental Areas and Wellhead Protection.
5. 
Environmental Performance Standards. All uses in the Rural Residential District shall comply with the environmental protection standards provided for in Part 15 of this chapter.