A detached building subordinate to the principal building that is used for purposes customarily incidental to the principle use on the lot. The gross usable floor area of accessory buildings shall not exceed 25% of the gross usable floor area of the principle building.

A use that is subordinate and customarily incidental to the principle use on the lot.

A measure of land area containing 43,560 square feet.

Any type of activity where money is exchanged for sexually oriented materials, activities, entertainment and contact of any nature.

Residences subject to the Fair Housing Act.

Growing, producing or raising of livestock, poultry, crops or produce typical to farm activity in the County of Montgomery and the related activities and buildings necessary for these purposes.

Perkiomen Valley Airport.

The highest point of an airport's useful landing area measured in feet from sea level. For purposes of this chapter, airport elevation shall be 277 feet above sea level.

All the land lying beneath the approach surfaces, transitional surfaces, horizontal surfaces and conical surfaces as they apply to the Perkiomen Valley Airport. An area located in more than one of the following zones and/or in another zone established by this chapter is considered to be only in the zone with a more restrictive height limitation. The various zones are hereby established and defined as follows:

Any establishment where three or more amusement devices are located.

Any machine, apparatus or assemblage of materials for entertainment that is available for use in exchange for a fee.

See "dwelling" and "dwelling unit types."

A surface longitudinally centered on the extended runway center line, extending outward and upward from the end of the primary surface and at the same slope as the approach zone height limitations slope set forth in this chapter. The perimeter of the approach surface shall coincide with the perimeter of the approach zone.

These zones are set forth in Article IX of this chapter.

The elevation for which there is a one-percent chance in any given year that flood levels will equal or exceed it. The BFE is determined by statistical analysis of stream flow records for the watershed and rainfall and runoff characteristics in the general region of the watershed.

A floor level partially below grade but having at least 1/2 of its height measured from the finished floor to the finished ceiling above the average grade level adjoining the floor level.

Any light with one or more beams, capable of being focused in several directions and rotated or revolved automatically.

A single-family dwelling providing short-term lodging (less than one month), including breakfast, but no other meals, to lodgers, in not more than five guest bedrooms. The facility shall be owner-operated, and the owners shall reside in the single-family dwelling.

An area of land set aside specifically for the purpose of insulating and protecting one land from another. Required buffers in this chapter shall not serve as open space. Buffers may consist of developable and/or undevelopable land. In all cases, this definition shall take precedence over any language that might appear in the regulations for individual districts.

Any structure having either enclosing walls or a roof intended for supporting or sheltering a use or occupancy and attached to the land. "Building" shall be construed as if followed by the words, "or parts thereof," including all types of manufactured homes and trailers for human occupancy.

The aggregate of the maximum horizontal cross-section areas of the main and accessory buildings taken at the greatest outside dimensions on the ground floor, including all attachments except steps, chimneys and uncovered porches.

The percentage expression of the maximum allowable amount of developable area that may be covered by a building or buildings, the buildings being measured at their greatest outside dimension, including all covered appurtenances, such as porches or the like.

The two-dimensional area of a lot within which a principal structure is permitted to be built and which is defined by the required yard setbacks.

A portion of any exterior elevation of a building extending from grade to the top of the parapet wall, or eaves, and the entire width of the building elevation.

The vertical distance from the average grade of the ground surrounding a building to the mean of the roof. Chimneys, stair towers and mechanical equipment may project above the highest point of the roof to a maximum of 10 feet before being considered a part of the height measurement. Where the grade is above the entry/main floor level, the height shall be measured from the entry/main floor level. All building height restrictions shall apply to all structures.

A line within a property equidistant from the property line or, in the case of street frontages, from the ultimate right-of-way to the nearest point of a building on the lot, extending the full length of that portion of the lot.

A line extending the full width of a lot, which is parallel to the ultimate street right-of-way at an equidistant distance therefrom, equal to the required front yard for the district in which said lot is located. The location of this line determines the closest point to the street that any building may be located.

A facility providing residence for a minimum of three but no more than eight persons and which may include specialized services and qualified staff who provide care, supervision and services for such residents exclusively. In order to qualify for assignment to a community residential facility, mentally ill persons shall be certified by county mental health/mental retardation programs as capable of residing in a community residential facility and be receiving services from a local community mental health program. No person receiving treatment under Article III, Involuntary Examination and Treatment, or Article LV, Determinations Affecting Those Charged with Crime or Under Sentence, of the Act of July 9, 1976, P.L. 817, No. 143, known as the "Mental Health Procedures Act,"[1] shall be eligible for such facility.

A use permitted in a particular zoning district pursuant to the provisions in this chapter and the provisions in the PA MPC.

A surface extending outward and upward from periphery of the horizontal surface at a slope of 20 to one for a horizontal distance of 4,000 feet.

A facility or institution designed to provide living accommodations for persons who are incarcerated.

The number of dwelling units per developable acre.

A man-made feature of the land intended to impound and control stormwater runoff. The portion of the detention basin regulated by this chapter shall be a ten-foot perimeter measured as a horizontal extension to the surface created by the one-hundred-year storm event elevation.

A building occupied principally for residential purposes of a nontransient nature. See "dwelling types."

Without regard to tenure, dwelling types and dwelling unit types are regulated in this chapter pursuant to the following specific meanings. See also "family."

One or more rooms designed and occupied as a complete housekeeping facility for only one family. Living, sleeping, cooking, dining, bathing and sanitary facilities shall be provided within the unit.

Any physical object placed in a floodplain that hinders the passage of water or otherwise affects flood flows.

Any number of individuals living together as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit and doing their cooking on the premises, when said individuals are related by blood, marriage or adoption, including any number of foster children under the care of same; or no more than five unrelated individuals living together as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit. This definition excludes the occupants of a club, fraternity or sorority house, community residential facility, transient establishment, such as a halfway house for recovering drug addicts and alcoholics, lodge, residential club, boardinghouse or rooming house; and also excludes unrelated mentally ill persons unless certified by county mental health/mental retardation programs as capable of residing in a dwelling; and further excludes unrelated persons receiving treatment under Article III, Involuntary Examination and Treatment, or Article IV, Determinations Affecting Those Charged with Crime or Under Sentence, of the Act of July 9, 1976, PL. 817, No. 143, known as the "Mental Health Procedures Act".[2]

An official map of a community, issued or approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, on which floodplain and floodway boundaries have been designated.

A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas. Flooding results from the overflow of inland or tidal waters or the unusual or rapid accumulation of surface water runoff from any source.

The area within the floodplain (as determined by the reach of the one-percent probability flood) that is outside the floodway.

An official map of a community, issued or approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on which the boundaries of the floodplain and special flood hazard areas have been designated. This map is prepared according to the best flood data available at the time of its preparation, and is superseded by the Flood Insurance Rate Map after more detailed studies have been completed.

An official map of a community, issued or approved by the Federal Insurance Administration, which delineates both the special hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.

A study, funded by the Federal Insurance Administration and carried out by any of a variety of agencies and consultants, to delineate the special flood hazard areas, base flood elevations, and National Flood Insurance Program (NIFP) actuarial insurance rate zones. The study is based on detailed site surveys and analysis of site-specific hydrologic characteristics.

Any normally dry land area that is susceptible to being inundated by water from any natural source. This area is usually low land adjacent to a river, stream, watercourse, ocean or lake.

The operation of a program of corrective and preventive measures for reducing flood damage, including but not limited to flood control projects, floodplain land use regulations, floodproofing of buildings and emergency preparedness plans.

Any combination of structural provisions and/or other modifications incorporated into individual buildings or properties primarily for the purpose of reducing or eliminating flood damages.

The channel of a river or watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved to discharge the one-percent probability flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than a designated height, generally one foot.

An accessory building or a part of a principal building used for the storage of motor vehicles owned and used by the owner or tenant of the premises, and for the storage of not more than one motor vehicle owned and used by persons other than the owner or tenant of the premises. Not more than one commercial vehicle or truck may be stored in a private garage.

A building, other than a private or storage garage, one or more stories in height, used solely for the commercial storage, service or repair of motor vehicles.

A facility used for the sale of vehicle fuel that may include service facilities and the sale of convenience items but which shall not include bodywork, painting or automated car wash facilities of any kind.

An obstruction determined to have a substantial adverse effect on the safe and efficient utilization of the navigable airspace.

For the purpose of determining height limitations in all zones set forth in Article IX of this chapter and shown on the Zoning District Map, the datum shall mean sea level elevation unless otherwise specified.

See "building height."

A secondary and incidental use to a single-family detached dwelling, pursuant to the supplemental provisions of this chapter.

A horizontal plane 150 feet above the established airport elevation, the perimeter of which in plan coincides with the perimeter of the horizontal zone.

See "motel."

See "swimming pool."

Any surface which does not consist of grass, mulch, soil or body of water with a natural bottom. This term shall be used to address the intensity of use from a zoning perspective and shall not be used for stormwater runoff calculations.

Any scrap, waste, reclaimable material or debris, whether or not stored or used in conjunction with dismantling, processing, salvage, baling, disposal or other use or disposition.

An area of land, with or without buildings, used for the storage outside of a completely enclosed building, or used for discarded materials, house furnishings, machinery, vehicles, or parts thereof, with or without the dismantling, salvage, sale, or other use or disposition of the same. The deposit or storage of two or more motor vehicles or trailers, in an inoperative condition and/or not having current inspection stickers issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for vehicles or issued by the United States Department of Transportation for trailers, except farm vehicles, shall be deemed to constitute a junkyard. Auto salvage yards, and junk on individual lots constitute a junkyard.

The improvement of one lot, or two or more contiguous lots, tracts, or parcels of land for any purpose involving:

The legal or beneficial owner or owners of land, including the holder of an option or contract to purchase (whether or not such option or contract is subject to any condition), a lessee if authorized under the lease to exercise the rights of the landowner, or other person having a proprietary interest in the land.

A space accessible from a street or way, in a building or a lot, for the temporary use of vehicles while loading or unloading merchandise or materials.

A parcel of land described in a deed or other instrument recorded pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but not including any part of a public right-of-way.

The total horizontal area of the lot lying within the lot lines, excluding any area of land lying within any street line.

The minimum required area for a lot as regulated in each district. Floodplain, wetlands, waters of the commonwealth and underground easements shall encumber not more than 50% of the required minimum.

The ratio of the total ground floor area of all buildings on a lot to the area of the lot on which they are located.

A lot that has less than the required width at the street line. The supplemental provisions of this chapter regulate interior lots.

A property boundary line of any lot held in single and separate ownership, except that, in the case of any lot abutting a street, the lot line for such portion of the lot as abuts the street shall be deemed to be the same as the street line, and shall not be the center line of the street, or any other line within the same line, even though such may be the property boundary line.

Any lot line that also divides attached dwellings by common vertical walls.

The horizontal distance between side lot lines measured at right angles to the lot depth, and at the building setback line.

The average height of the sea for all stages of the tide, usually determined from hourly height observations over a nineteen-year period on an open coast or in adjacent waters having free access to the sea.

A voluntary negotiating process in which parties in a land use dispute mutually select a neutral mediator to assist them in jointly exploring and settling their differences, culminating in a written agreement which the parties themselves create and consider acceptable.

A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for permanent occupancy, office or place of assembly contained in one unit, or in two units designed to be joined into one integral unit capable of again being separated for repeated towing, which arrives at a site complete and ready for occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations, and constructed so that it may be used within a permanent foundation.

A parcel of land in a mobile home park, improved with the necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary for the erection thereon of a single mobile home.

A parcel of land under single ownership that has been planned and improved for the placement of mobile homes for nontransient use, consisting of two or more mobile home lots.

Also "hotel." A facility providing separate, temporary, transient sleeping accommodations for 10 or more individuals, including accessory services such as a restaurant or conference center for the general public.

A legitimate principle land use characterized by the lack of improvements and activities that are other than natural.

A lot, the area or dimension of which was lawful prior to the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance, but which fails to conform to the requirements of the zoning district in which is it located by reasons of such adoption or amendment.

A structure or part of a structure manifestly not designed to comply with the applicable use or extent of use provisions in a zoning ordinance or amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such structure lawfully existed prior to the enactment of such ordinance or amendment or prior to the application of such ordinance or amendment to its location by reason of annexation. Such nonconforming structures include, but are not limited to, nonconforming signs.

A use, whether of land or of structure, which does not comply with the applicable use provisions in a zoning ordinance or amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such use was lawfully in existence prior to the enactment of such ordinance or amendment, or prior to the application of such ordinance or amendment to its location by reason of annexation.

Any structure, growth or other object, including a mobile object, which exceeds the limiting height set forth in Article IX of this chapter.

See "special flood hazard areas."

Lands from which the potential for development has been permanently removed as a result of land development or subdivision process under the zoning regulations of Skippack Township. Open space may be made up of both undevelopable land and previously developable land. The open space may be active or passive in nature, and improvements may be made on the property to facilitate the use and enjoyment of the land, whether on a private or public basis. Provision for the ownership and maintenance of the open space shall be made at the time of the land development approval in a manner so as to ensure its preservation. The specific manner shall be subject to approval by the Township Solicitor; it may be accomplished by dedication to the Township (at the Township's option), by deed restriction with conveyance to an acceptable association, condominium, conservancy, corporation, funded community trust, individual or other legal entity.

The keeping in an unenclosed area of any goods, junk, material, merchandise, or inoperable vehicles or trailers.

The Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

See "satellite use."

The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as reenacted and amended by Act 170 of 1988, as amended, of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

An area of land on a lot set aside specifically to be used for the temporary parking of motor vehicles.

A reasonably level space, available for the parking of one motor vehicle, not less than nine feet wide and having an area of not less than 162 square feet exclusive of passageways, driveways, or other means of circulation or access. (Refer to the off-street parking article of this chapter for regulations.[3])

A strip of plantings sufficient to provide an effective screen, having an initial height of not less than five feet, the ultimate heights and widths of which shall not be less than 10 feet, and consisting of not less than 50% evergreen vegetation distributed throughout the length of the strip.

A building in which is conducted, or is intended to be conducted, the principal use of the lot on which it is located.

The primary or predominant use of a lot.

Shall refer to personal use by and for the residents on a property.

A building or structure and its equipment, used for the transmission and exchange of telephone, radio telephone, gas, power, sewer, and water facilities; provided, however, that in a residential district these shall not include public business facilities, storage of materials, trucks, or repair facilities or housing of repair crews. Such facility must be certified by and operated under the jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

A lot extending between and having frontage on two generally parallel streets, with vehicular access only from one street, generally those having the least traffic flow. Refer to the supplemental provisions of this chapter.

The juncture of the roof and the perimeter wall of the structure.

A defined area on an airport prepared for landing and takeoff of aircraft along its length. Types of runway capacity slated by FAA design standards are more specifically defined as follows:

A surface longitudinally centered on a runway. When the runway has a specifically prepared hard surface, the primary surface extends 200 feet beyond each end of that runway; the elevation of any point on the primary surface is the same as the elevation of the nearest point on the runway center line.

These surfaces extend outward at ninety-degree angles to the runway center line and the runway center line extended at a slope seven feet horizontally for each foot vertically from the sides of the primary and approach surfaces where they interject the horizontal and conical surfaces. Transitional surfaces for those portions of the precision approach surfaces, which project through and beyond the limits of the conical surface, extend the distance of 5,000 feet measured horizontally from angles to the extended runway center line.

The Skippack Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, as amended and codified into Chapter 169 of the of the Code of the Township of Skippack.

Also "pad site." A commercial establishment in a planned shopping center, located independent of other buildings, and frequently near the road frontage of the center. A satellite use is often ancillary to large stores in the center, but may also include a commercial use such as a fast-food restaurant, gas station or bank.

A private educational institution that provides educational programming or instruction centered upon religious principles, ideals, or teachings. The school need not have a formal corporate affiliation with a place of worship.

A sign with action or motion, flashing or color changes requiring electrical energy, but not including wind-actuated elements such as flags, banners or novelty items.

The area of a sign shall mean the area of all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background on which they are displayed (whether such background is open or enclosed), but excluding any supporting framework and bracing which are solely incidental to the display itself, provided the same do not contain any lettering, wording or symbols.

A sign painted, printed or affixed to an awning over windows or doors of a building. The surface of the sign must be flush with the surface of the awning.

The entire background area of a sign upon which copy could be placed. In computing the area of a sign background, only that face or faces which can be seen from any one direction at one time will be counted.

Any sign intended to be hung with or without frames, possessing characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentations applied to paper, plastic, or fabric of any kind, but a single United States national flag of reasonable size shall not be considered a "banner" for the purpose of this section unless its use or purpose is that of advertising the location or business at which it is flown.

An on-premises sign which advertises or otherwise directs attention to a business, commodity, service, industry or activity which is sold, offered or conducted, other than incidentally, on the premises upon which the sign is located or to which it is affixed.

An on-premises sign that advertises or otherwise directs attention to a business, commodity, service, industry or other activity which is sold, offered or conducted, other than incidentally.

Any sign giving the name or names of principal contractors, architects and lending institutions responsible for construction on the site where the sign is placed.

Incidental sign designed to guide or direct pedestrians or vehicular traffic, for the convenience or safety of the public while on private property. No advertising shall appear on a directional sign.

A sign on which the names and location of the occupants or the use of a building is given, including office building and church directories.

A self-supporting sign resting on or supported by means of poles or standards, either on the ground or on the roof of a building.

The distance from the highest portion of the sign to the mean grade at the base of the sign.

A sign in which a source of light is uses in order to make the message readable. This definition shall include internally and externally lighted signs.

A sign that advertises or otherwise directs attention to an activity not on the same lot where the sign is located.

A sign that advertises or otherwise directs attention to an activity on the same lot where the sign is located.

A sign mounted parallel to a wall or other vertical building surface, but does not extend beyond the edge of any wall, roofline or other surface to which it is mounted, and does not project more than one foot from the surface to which it is mounted.

Any sign mounted to a wall or other vertical surface other than a parallel sign, but does not project more than four feet from the surface to which it is mounted, nor project above the wall, roofline or surface to which it is mounted, nor in any way interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

Any sign that is used to offer for sale, lease or rent the property on which the sign is placed.

A sign that revolves 360°.

A sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet wall of a building, and which is wholly or partly supported by that building.

Any structure which supports or is capable of supporting a sign, whether or not an integral part of a building.

A sign which advertises community or civic projects, construction projects, real estate for sale or lease or other special events on a temporary basis.

Any sign that is erected upon a structure having wheels or rollers facilitating movement from one location to another.

Any vehicle to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that the carrying of the sign is no longer incidental to the vehicle's purpose, but becomes a primary purpose in itself. An example is an empty tractor-trailer with advertising painted on its side, left for an extended period of time in front of the business premises that is advertised on the trailer.

Any sign affixed to or visible through a window.

A use permitted in a particular zoning district pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the PA MPC.

Areas in a community that have been identified as susceptible to a one-percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. A one-percent probability flood is also known as the "one-hundred-year flood" or the "base flood." Special flood hazard areas are usually designated on the Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) as Zone A. After detailed evaluation of local flooding characteristics, the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) will refine this categorization into Zones A, A0, A1-30 and V1-30.

Includes substantial improvement, and means the date the building permit was issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, placement or other improvement was within 180 days of the permit date. The actual start means either the first placement of permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as the pouring of the slab or footings, the installation of piers, the construction of columns, or any work beyond the stage of excavation; or the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling, nor does it include the installation streets and/or walkways; nor does it include excavation for a basement, footings, piers or foundations or the erection of temporary forms; nor does it include the installation on the property of accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main structure. Time extension shall be granted only if the applicant, who sets forth sufficient and reasonable cause for the Building Inspector to approve such a request, submits a written request.

Detention basins and all parts thereof; retention basins and all parts thereof. Underground elements are not included.

See the SALDO for all street type definitions.

The dividing line between a lot and the outside boundary or right-of-way line on a public street, road, or highway legally opened or officially plotted, or between a lot and a privately owned street, road, or way over which the owners or tenants of two or more lots each held in single and separate ownership have the right-of-way.

Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationery location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land. Any form or arrangement of building materials involving the necessity of providing proper support, bracing, tying, anchoring, or other protection against the forces of the elements.

Any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water greater than 24 inches deep. This includes in-ground, aboveground and on-ground swimming pools, hot tubs and spas.

Any object of natural growth.

The expected future right-of-way width computed from the center line of an established right-of-way, as shown on the Ultimate Right-of-Way Map for Skippack Township adopted by the Township Board of Supervisors as a part of the Official Map of Skippack Township.

An area from which water drains to a single point; in a natural basin, the watershed is the area contributing flow to a given place or a given point on a stream.

The uppermost zone of water saturation in the ground.

One or more rods, panels, disks or similar devices used to radiate or capture a transmission of all types of wireless communications signals.

Building or existing structure which is suitable for the support of a wireless communications facility, but which has been designed and constructed for another purpose.

Any unstaffed facility for the transmission and/or reception of wireless communication services, not including amateur radio station facilities.

A wireless communications facility, some component of which is attached to an attachment structure.

Any unmanned structure or enclosure used to contain ancillary equipment as a component of a wireless communication facility.

When referring to a wireless communication facility tower or other structure, the distance measured from the finished grade (immediately adjacent to the tower or structure) to the highest point on the tower or other structure.

Any design intended to conceal a wireless communication facility.

A structure constructed to support any antenna array.

A space on a lot that is open and unoccupied from the ground to the sky, except for utility lines, landscaping and parking as permitted by the applicable zoning district.

The portion of a lot extending the full width of any street line, or along the front lot line for interior lots, extending in depth from said line to the nearest point of any building on the lot.

The portion of a lot extending the full depth of the lot along any side lot line and extending in width from said line to the nearest point of any principle building on the lot.

The portion of a lot extending the full width of the lot along the rear lot line and extending in depth from said line to the nearest point of any principle building on the lot.

The portion of a lot from the respective lot lines to the minimum required depth or width as regulated in each zoning district.