Springfield Township York County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
General Provisions
§ 500-90 Purpose of general provisions.
The regulations for each district pertaining to minimum lot size, minimum lot width, maximum building coverage, maximum height, and minimum setbacks shall be as specified in Article III, District Regulations. The purpose of this article is to amplify and clarify those regulations.
§ 500-91 Lot size.
A.
Lot area or setback required. The lot or setback requirements for any new building or use shall not include any part of a lot that is required by any other building or use to comply with the requirements of this chapter. No required lot or area shall include any property, the ownership of which has been transferred subsequent to January 27, 1996, if such property was a part of the area required for compliance with the dimensional requirements applicable to the lot from which such transfer was made.
B.
Minimum lot area and minimum lot width. Where minimum lot areas and minimum lot widths are specified for each zoning district in Article III of this chapter, no principal building or use shall be erected or established on any lot of lesser size, except under circumstances specified in § 500-91C of this chapter.
C.
Exceptions to minimum lot area and minimum lot width. The minimum lot area and minimum lot width provisions contained in Article III of this chapter for each zoning district shall not prevent the construction of a single-family dwelling on any lot which was lawful when created and which, prior to January 27, 1996, was in separate ownership duly recorded by plan or deed subject to the provisions of § 500-113 of this chapter.
D.
Flag lots. Flag lots shall be permitted only in the C and A Districts and must comply with the following:
(1)
No other reasonable lot configurations are possible.
(2)
The narrow "staff" portion of any such lot connecting the "flag" to the street shall not be less than 50 feet in width.
(3)
Minimum lot width and minimum building setbacks shall be measured along the lot line (other than the street line) most nearly parallel to the street from which access is taken.
(4)
The "staff" portion of a flag lot shall serve only the lot upon which it is located; any subsequent proposals to serve one or more additional lots shall require the construction and dedication of a public street.
§ 500-92 Building coverage and floor area.
A.
Maximum building coverage. For any building or group of buildings on a lot, the percentage of the lot area covered by buildings shall not exceed the maximum specified in Article III for each zoning district.
B.
Habitable floor area. The minimum habitable floor area of a dwelling unit or any building or structure hereafter erected or used for living purposes shall be 600 square feet.
§ 500-93 Height regulations.
No building shall be erected to a height in excess of that specified in Article III of this chapter for each zoning district; provided, however, that this height may be increased one foot for each additional foot that the width of each setback exceeds the minimum required.
A.
Height regulations do not apply to any of the following, provided the use is not for human occupancy: agricultural buildings, spires, belfries, cupolas, domes, chimneys, ventilators, skylights, water tanks, bulkheads, silos, and ornamental or necessary mechanical appurtenances, including radio and TV reception antennas.
B.
Communication facilities shall not exceed 50 feet in height. Communication towers shall not exceed 160 feet in height including antennas, in the HC, I and CI Districts. Communication towers shall not exceed 100 feet in height, including antennas, in the A District.
§ 500-94 General yard and setback regulations.
A.
Traffic visibility across corners.
(1)
No walk, fence, sign, or other structure shall be erected or altered, and no hedge, trees, shrubs, or other growth shall be maintained or permitted which may cause danger to traffic on any street by obscuring the view.
(2)
At all intersections of streets and/or access drives, a clear sight triangle shall be maintained within which there shall be no visual obstructions, such as a wall, fence, sign, or other structure, hedge, shrub or other growth, of more than three feet above the grade of the street and/or access drive as the case may be; however, public utility poles and trees with a diameter of one foot or less shall be allowed within the clear sight triangle if such poles and trees do not obstruct the safe clear view in the clear sight triangle.
(3)
The clear sight triangle shall be as required by § 425-25L(6) of Chapter 425, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of Springfield Township, and § 500-111F of this chapter.
B.
Fences and walls. Fences and walls (including retaining walls) may be erected, altered and maintained within the setbacks and open spaces and have a maximum height of six feet. A fence may be installed on top of a retaining wall but shall be measured for maximum height from the lowest ground level side of the wall. When located in a yard, but not within a required setback, that portion of the fence that exceeds four feet in height shall have openings equal to 50% of the area of the fence over four feet in height. When located in a required setback, a fence shall not exceed a height of four feet in a front setback and shall not exceed six feet in a side or rear setback. Height shall be determined by measuring from the ground to the highest point of the fence, which shall include any material above the traditional fence, such as barb wire or other material, excluding however any surveillance devices. Any fence in excess of six feet constitutes screening and is subject to compliance with § 425-37H of Chapter 425, Subdivision and Land Development. Buffering pursuant to § 500-100 of this chapter shall not constitute a wall.
C.
Interior setbacks for residential buildings. Except in mobile home parks, which shall be regulated by § 500-28 of this chapter and by Article IX, Mobile Home Parks, of Chapter 425, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of Springfield Township, when two or more principal residential buildings are located upon the same lot, the following spaces between such buildings shall be provided; however, any interior setback specifications contained in §§ 500-24 through 500-32 for a particular residential use shall take precedence:
(1)
When front to front, rear to rear, or front to rear, parallel buildings shall have 50 feet between faces for one story in height, plus five feet for each additional story. If the front or rear faces are obliquely aligned, the above distance may be decreased by as much as 10 feet at one end. Where service drives, bank grade changes, or collective walks are introduced in this space, the separation distance shall be at least 25 feet.
(2)
Between end walls of buildings, a space of 25 feet for each one-story building, plus five feet for each additional story, shall be required.
(3)
Between end walls and front or rear faces of buildings, 30 feet for one story, plus five feet for each additional story, shall be required.
(4)
When two adjacent buildings differ in the number of stories, the spacing shall be not less than 1/2 of the sum of the required distance between two buildings of lower height, plus that between two buildings of the greater height.
(5)
Outer and inner courts shall be permitted when the distance between such courts is not less than 50 feet or is equal to the dimensions of the full height of the building walls enclosing the court, whichever is greater.
(6)
The minimum distance separating multifamily dwellings from nonresidential uses shall not be less than 75 feet between buildings.
D.
Interior setbacks for nonresidential buildings. Where two or more principal buildings for nonresidential uses are proposed to be built upon property in one ownership, front, side and rear setbacks are required only at lot lines abutting other properties.
§ 500-95 Front setbacks.
A.
Front setback requirements.[1]
(1)
Where a minimum front setback is specified for each zoning district in Article III of this chapter, an open space of at least the specified depth shall be provided between the street line or lines and the nearest point of any building or structure, except as may be permitted hereafter.
(2)
Street lines, as defined in § 500-7 of this chapter, are considered to be established by future rights-of-way when so designated. The purpose of this provision is to avoid interferences with anticipated future street widening and improvements. Thus, for the purpose of determining front setback requirements, all front setbacks shall be measured from the future right-of-way, which shall be:
(3)
The class of any street shall be as designated in the Township Comprehensive Plan Update.
[1]
Editor's Note: See diagrams included as attachments to this chapter.
B.
Corner lot. On a corner lot, a front setback shall be required from each street.
C.
Reverse frontage lot or through lot. On a reverse frontage lot or through lot, a front setback shall be required from each street.
D.
Exceptions for existing alignment.
(1)
When an unimproved lot is situated between two improved lots, each having a principal building which extends into the required front setback and has been so maintained since January 27, 1996, the setback in the front yard of such unimproved lot may be the same depth as the front setbacks of such two adjacent improved lots, notwithstanding the setback requirements of the district in which it is located.
(2)
Where an unimproved lot adjoins only one improved lot having thereon a principal building, within 25 feet of the common side lot line, which extends into the required front setback of such improved lot and which extension existed on January 27, 1996, the front setback of such unimproved lot may be the average depth of the front yard of such adjacent improved lot and the front setback required for the district in which such unimproved lot is located, notwithstanding the setback requirements for such district. Where the width or depth of the unimproved lot exceeds 60 feet, the front setback may be so reduced to said average depth for a distance not to exceed 60 feet. The setback on the portions of the unimproved lot beyond the first 60 feet and/or the second unimproved lot from the original improved lot must have at least the minimum front setback required in the district in which located.
E.
Projections into setbacks.
(1)
Cornices, eaves, gutters, bay windows, chimneys, or uncovered steps may project not more than 24 inches into the front or rear setback of a lot.
(2)
Covered porches, whether enclosed or unenclosed, shall be considered as part of the principal building and shall not project into any required setback, except that roofs designed to cover the landing or steps immediately in front of an exterior door may project not more than 48 inches into the front setback.
(3)
Patios, driveways, walks, parking areas, stairs, window wells, and such other structures customarily incidental to the principal building may project into front, side, or rear setbacks of a lot, providing the grade elevation shall not be more than 12 inches above the yard grade.
F.
Fences, walls, hedges, and terraces in front setbacks. Subject to § 500-94A of this chapter, the provisions of § 500-95A of this chapter shall not apply to fences, hedges, or walls less than four feet high above the natural grade in the required front setback, nor to terraces, steps, uncovered porches, unenclosed porches, nor to other similar features less than three feet above the level of the floor of the ground story.
G.
Accessory buildings or structures in front setbacks. Accessory buildings or structures shall not be permitted within a required front setback, unless otherwise permitted by this chapter.
§ 500-96 Side setbacks.
B.
Projections into side setbacks. Incidental structural parts and lot improvements may project into any side setback but not exceeding the requirements of § 500-95E of this chapter.
C.
Fences and terraces in side setbacks. Subject to § 500-94A of this chapter, the provisions of § 500-96A of this chapter shall not apply to fences or hedges less than eight feet above the natural grade, nor to terraces, steps, uncovered porches, or other similar features less than three feet above the floor of the ground story.
§ 500-97 Rear setbacks.
B.
Projections into rear setbacks. Incidental structural parts and lot improvements may project into any rear setback but not exceeding the requirements of § 500-95E of this chapter.
C.
Accessory buildings in rear setbacks. Completely detached accessory buildings may occupy a required rear setback, but shall not be located closer than 10 feet to any rear property line.