Trafford City Zoning Code
ARTICLE I
Title; Purpose; Definitions
§ 202-1 Title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "1960 Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Trafford," and the district map shall be known and may be cited as the "Official Zoning Ordinance Map."
§ 202-2 Purpose.
This chapter is adopted for the purpose of lessening congestion in the streets, to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers, to promote health and the general welfare, to provide adequate light and air, to prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue concentration of the population, to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewage, schools, parks and other public requirements. This chapter is inclusive zoning in that no use may be operated in a district unless it is specifically listed as a use by the right for the district.
§ 202-3 Word usage.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms or words used herein shall be interpreted or defined as follows:
A.
Words used in the present tense include the future tense.
B.
The singular includes the plural.
C.
The word "person" includes a corporation as well as an individual.
D.
The word "lot" includes the words "plot" or "parcel."
E.
The term "shall" is always mandatory; "may" is always permissive.
F.
The words "used" or "occupied", as applied to any land or building, shall be constructed to include the words "intended, arranged or designated to be used or occupied."
G.
The word "building" includes the word "structure."
§ 202-4 Definitions.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings herein indicated:
A building subordinate to the main building and used for purposes customarily incidental to those of the main building.
The Zoning Hearing Board.
The Borough of Trafford, Pennsylvania.
A boundary or limit beyond which no structure may project, usually being the face of the building, including porches but not including steps.
Engaging in a business, enterprise, activity or some other undertaking for profit.
The Council or legislative body of Trafford.
The digging or boring of a well for the purpose of exploring for, developing or producing oil and/or gas or other hydrocarbons.
[Added 4-21-2009 by Ord. No. 731]
The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance by public utilities or municipal departments or commissions, including buildings necessary for the furnishing of adequate services for the public health, safety or general welfare.
The permission or approval granted by the Board in situations where provision therefor is made by the terms of this chapter.
Any number of individuals living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit, as distinguished from a group occupying a boardinghouse.
The open space extending across the width of the lot between the front building line and the street right-of-way or front lot line.
Any fluid, either combustible or noncombustible, which is produced in a natural state from the earth and which maintains a gaseous or rarefied state at standard temperature and pressure conditions and/or the gaseous components or vapors occurring in or derived from petroleum or natural gas.
[Added 4-21-2009 by Ord. No. 731]
The drilling and/or extraction of gas or oil.
[Added 4-21-2009 by Ord. No. 731]
Any well drilled, to be drilled, or used for the intended or actual production of gas.
[Added 4-21-2009 by Ord. No. 731]
The number of square feet in the area under consideration, which will include streets, parks and other open space, business and industrial areas as well as residential areas.
For a building it shall be measured from the mean level of the ground surrounding the building to a point midway between the highest and the lowest points of the roof, provided that chimneys, spires, towers, tanks and similar projections shall not be included in the calculation.
The parcel of land on which a main building and any accessory buildings are placed, together with the required open spaces.
A building in which is conducted the principal use of the lot on which it is situated.
A building designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence for two or more families living independently of one another.
The number of square feet, excluding about 30% of the total land area which is devoted to parks, schools, churches, streets, alleys and other uses.
Hydrocarbons in liquid form at a standard temperature of 60° F. and pressure of 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute (psia).
[Added 4-21-2009 by Ord. No. 731]
Any well drilled, to be drilled, or used for the intended or actual production of oil.
[Added 4-21-2009 by Ord. No. 731]
Any area of land which is predominantly free of structures.
An area maintained in its natural state as a public property for recreation.
[Added 4-21-2009 by Ord. No. 731]
Floods experienced every 10 years or thereabouts.
An accessory building for the storage of motor vehicles owned and used by the owner or tenant of the lot for a purpose accessory to the use of the lot and for not more than one additional motor vehicle owned and used by others.
A building, not a private garage, used for the storage or repair of motor vehicles.
The required open space extending from the rear of the main building and along the rear lot line, not a street line, throughout the whole width of the lot.
A residential building, other than a hotel, in which part or parts are kept, used or held out to be a place where sleeping accommodations are offered for hire for three or more persons, but not open to transient guests.
In a single building, it is subordinate to the principal use. In this instance, such use shall include offices and apartments on the second floor of buildings in C-1 Districts. Apartments on the ground floor in a C-1 District will not be permitted.
A yard between the building and the adjacent side line of the lot extending from the front line of the building to the rear line of the building. Corner lots shall have a street side yard of the same dimensions as a front yard.
Any writing, including a letter, word or numeral; pictorial representation, including an illustration or decoration; emblem, including a device, symbol or trademark; flag, including a banner or pennant; or any other figure of similar character which is visible from outside a building, is a structure or any part thereof or is attached to, painted on or in any other manner represented on a building. An illuminated sign within a building and located in a window is a "sign."
A building designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence for only one family.
The line defining the edge of the legal width of a street right-of-way.
Any licensed or unlicensed piece of mobile equipment designed or constructed to be towed or pulled by a motor vehicle.
Any licensed or unlicensed trailer or other vehicle designed or used for living or sleeping purposes, regardless of whether the wheels are attached or unattached or a permanent or semipermanent foundation is constructed underneath or any structures of a permanent nature are attached thereto.
A lot or premises occupied or designed for occupancy by two or more house trailers.
Authorization by the Board for the use of property by an owner when, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement of this chapter would result in unnecessary hardships. All authorized variances must be forwarded to the Council and made a part of their official minutes.
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Borough of Trafford.
[Amended 10-20-1998 by Ord. No. 667]