Zoneomics Logo
search icon

Southbridge City Zoning Code

SECTION 5

DIMENSIONAL REGULATIONS

5.1 Schedule of Dimensional and Density Regulations.

[Amended 5-22-2023]
No building or structure in any district shall be located, constructed, changed, enlarged or permitted and no use of premises or land in any district shall be permitted which does not conform to the density and dimensional regulations set forth in Table 2: Table of Dimensional and Density Regulations.
Table 2
Table of Dimensional and Density Regulations
Per Unit
Minimum Lot Area
Minimum Frontage
Minimum Setback (Ln. Ft.)b
Maximum Building Height
Maximum Lot Coverage
DISTRICT
Sq. Ft.
Lin. Ft.
Fronta
Side
Rear
Feet
Stories
Percent
SINGLE FAMILY - R1
Lot with water and sewer
22,500
125
30
20
35
35
—
30%
Lot without water and sewer
43,560
175
50
20
35
35
Rear lot with water and sewer
43,560
50 (driveway)/175 interior width
50
20
35
35
Rear lot without water and sewer
130,680
50 (driveway)/250 interior width
50
20
35
35
Accessory structure
30/50
10
10
35
—
TWO-FAMILY - R2
Lot
12,500
125
30
10
30
35
—
30%
Accessory structure
20
10
10
35
—
MULTIFAMILY - R3
Allowed residential use
5,000
15,000
125
30
10
30
50
4
30%
CENTRAL CORE - CC
Multifamily/Residential
10,000
100
10
10
20
50
4.0
50%
Mixed-use building
5,000
80
0
0
0
60
5.0
100%
All other uses
5,000
80
0
0
0
60
5.0
100%
RETAIL BUSINESS - RB, GENERAL BUSINESS - GB
All uses
10,000
125
30
20
20
35
2.5
50%
Mixed-use building
10,000
125
30
20
20
50
4.0
50%
OFFICE-RESEARCH - OR, MANUFACURING - M
Any allowed use
40,000
125
30
10
20
60
5.0
50%
Existing sewer
Multifamily or other permitted residential use
5,000
25,000
125
30
10
20
50
4.0
40%
All other uses
20,000
125
30
10
20
60
5.0
50%
Table 2
Table of Dimensional and Density Regulations
Per Unit
Minimum Lot Area
Minimum Frontage
Minimum Setback (Ln. Ft.)b
Maximum Building Height
Maximum Lot Coverage
DISTRICT
Sq. Ft.
Lin. Ft.
Fronta
Side
Rear
Feet
Stories
Percent
SINGLE FAMILY - R1
Lot with water and sewer
22,500
125
30
20
35
35
—
30%
Lot without water and sewer
43,560
175
50
20
35
35
Rear lot with water and sewer
43,560
50 (driveway)/175 interior width
50
20
35
35
Rear lot without water and sewer
130,680
50 (driveway)/250 interior width
50
20
35
35
Accessory structure
30/50
10
10
35
—
TWO-FAMILY - R2
Lot
12,500
125
30
10
30
35
—
30%
Accessory structure
20
10
10
35
—
MULTIFAMILY - R3
Allowed residential use
5,000
15,000
125
30
10
30
50
4
30%
CENTRAL CORE - CC
Multifamily/Residential
10,000
100
10
10
20
50
4.0
50%
Mixed-use building
5,000
80
0
0
0
60
5.0
100%
All other uses
5,000
80
0
0
0
60
5.0
100%
RETAIL BUSINESS - RB, GENERAL BUSINESS - GB
All uses
10,000
125
30
20
20
35
2.5
50%
Mixed-use building
10,000
125
30
20
20
50
4.0
50%
OFFICE-RESEARCH - OR, MANUFACURING - M
Any allowed use
40,000
125
30
10
20
60
5.0
50%
Existing sewer
Multifamily or other permitted residential use
5,000
25,000
125
30
10
20
50
4.0
40%
All other uses
20,000
125
30
10
20
60
5.0
50%

5.2 General Provisions.

[Amended 5-22-2023]
In residential zones (R1, R2, R3) more than one principal use on a lot is prohibited.
Computation of Lot Area. In computing the area of any nonresidential lot, no part of a public or private way shall be included. For every lot laid out for residential use, at least 50% of the required lot area shall be land exclusive of area subject to protection under the Wetlands Protection Act, G.L. c. 131, § 40.
No lot shall be so reduced as to fail to satisfy any minimum dimension, area, or yard required for a permitted principal use except as provided in Section 8.1, Open Space Residential Development.
5.2.1 
Supplemental Lot Regulations.
A. 
Lot Frontage.
1. 
Minimum Lot Frontage Required. Every newly created lot must have at least the minimum frontage set forth in Table 2 for the district in which the lot is located on a street as defined in Section 10 of this By-law. Required frontage for rear lots shall be a minimum of 50 feet (R1), front setback begins where the lot meets the minimum lot frontage requirement in Table 2.
2. 
Measurement of Lot Frontage. Frontage is measured in a continuous line along the street right-of-way between the points of intersection of the side lot lines with the street right-of-way line. The measurement of lot frontage excludes jogs in the street width and other irregularities in the street line.
3. 
Access. An owner shall provide a means of access for vehicles from the frontage to a principal building for emergency services, deliveries, and off-street parking. All access to lots shall be through the lot frontage. No more than two rear lots shall have contiguous frontage.
B. 
Lot Width. No lot shall at any point between the front building line of the principal building and the lot frontage have less width than 75% of the required lot frontage for the district in which the frontage is located.
C. 
Yard Requirements.
1. 
No part of a yard or other open space required in connection with any building shall be used to meet the requirements for any other building unless specifically permitted in this By-law.
2. 
No required yard abutting a public street shall be used for the storage or display or abandonment of merchandise, lumber, building material, equipment, salvable secondhand items, or any type of junk, scrap, trash, rubble, or discarded or abandoned equipment or materials unless specifically permitted in this By-law.
D. 
Corner Visibility.
1. 
Buildings. On a corner lot, there shall be erected no building or structure, fence, foliage, or other obstruction so as to impede traffic visibility within the space bounded as follows:
a) 
In a residence district, the two intersecting street lines and a circular curve about the point of intersection of the two street lines and having a radius equal to one and two-thirds times the setback required in that district; and
b) 
In a business or industrial district, the two intersecting street lines, and a straight line connecting the points on both street lines 10 feet from their point of intersection.
2. 
Provided, that where the interior angle between the intersecting street lines is greater than 105 degrees, or where the street lines intersect in a curve having a radius greater than twice the setback required in that district, these regulations shall be waived, and the setback line established parallel to or concentric with the street lines.
3. 
Vegetation. Between the street lines of intersecting streets, and a circular curve about the point of intersection of the two street lines and having a radius equal to twice the setback required in that district, no vegetation other than shade trees may be maintained in any residence district above a height three feet above the plane through the established grades at the street lines; nor in any other district, within the corner space as described in the foregoing paragraph.
E. 
Maximum Building Height. Building height shall be determined by Table 2 in this section. Limitations of height shall not apply to cupolas, belfries, chimneys, flag (limited to 110% of the height of the structure on the property) or radio poles, grain elevators/silos, water towers, elevator enclosures, or water tanks, nor to municipal or institutional buildings.
F. 
Appurtenant Open Space. No building setback area or other open space required for a building under this Section 5 shall, during the life of such building, be occupied by or counted as open space for another building.
5.2.2 
Transition Between Districts. Proper buffering either by a ten-foot planted strip and/or adequate fencing is required. See Section 7.2.4D.