Trenton City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 4
Residential Districts
§ 315-4.1 PURPOSE STATEMENTS.
A.
RL-1 Low Density Single-Family Residential District.
The RL-1 Low Density Single-Family Residential District is intended to accommodate those areas comprising single-family dwellings on large lots at the lowest densities within the City of Trenton. The district seeks to protect the established development pattern within these existing residential areas. Select compatible nonresidential uses are also permitted within the district.
B.
RL-2 Low Density Single-Family Residential District.
The RL-2 Low Density Single-Family Residential District is intended to accommodate those residential neighborhoods within the City of Trenton characterized by single-family dwellings on lots a minimum of 6,000 square feet in area. The district seeks to protect the established development pattern within these existing residential areas. Select compatible nonresidential uses are also permitted within the district.
C.
RL-3 Low Density Single-Family Residential District.
The RL-3 Low Density Single-Family Residential District is intended to accommodate those areas of the City that are characterized by a predominant neighborhood pattern of single-family dwellings on lots a minimum of 4,000 square feet in area. Select compatible nonresidential uses are also permitted within the district.
D.
RM-1 Medium Density Residential District.
The RM-1 Medium Density Residential District accommodates those areas of the City characterized by moderately dense single-family, single-family attached, two-family, and rowhouse dwellings. Select compatible nonresidential uses are also permitted within the district.
E.
RM-2 Medium Density Residential District.
The RM-2 Medium Density Residential District accommodates those areas of the City characterized by moderately dense single-family, single-family attached, two-family, and rowhouse dwellings, as well as small-scale commercial uses that serve the neighborhoods. Select compatible institutional uses are also permitted within the district.
F.
RH-1 High Density Residential District.
The RH-1 High Density Residential District is intended to accommodate those areas of the City comprising a heterogeneous mixture of housing types at relatively high densities. A mix of all housing types is permitted within the district, as well as small-scale commercial uses that serve the neighborhoods. Select compatible institutional uses are also permitted within the district.
G.
RH-2 High Density Residential District.
The RH-2 High Density Residential District is intended to accommodate a development pattern composed of a mixture of housing types at the highest densities within Trenton for the residential districts. It is designed to reflect the development pattern existing in many of Trenton's oldest neighborhoods, and to encourage well-designed high-density residential development where appropriate within the City that includes small-scale commercial uses that serve the neighborhoods. Select compatible institutional uses are also permitted within the district.
§ 315-4.2 USES.
Article 8 lists permitted, conditional, and temporary uses for the residential districts.
§ 315-4.3 DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS.
A.
Table 4-1: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards establishes the dimensional standards for the residential districts. These regulations apply to all uses within each district unless a different standard is listed for a specific use.
B.
For rowhouse dwellings, where the district permits two-family and multi-family dwellings, one or more of the rowhouse buildings in the overall rowhouse development may contain more than one dwelling unit in accordance with the standards in Article 8 for rowhouse dwellings.
C.
Within an existing rowhouse development, one or more rowhouses within the structure may be replaced or reconstructed in accordance with the standards in Article 8 for rowhouse dwellings.
D.
For rowhouse development, where a minimum square footage for lot area and a minimum lot width is indicated, minimum lot area and minimum lot width are calculated cumulatively on the basis of each rowhouse structure within the overall rowhouse development to determine the minimum lot area and minimum lot width for the overall development. The minimum lot area and minimum lot width do not apply to the minimum area or width of the individual rowhouse structure.
E.
For multi-family development where a minimum square footage for lot area is indicated, the minimum lot area is calculated cumulatively on the basis of the number of dwelling units in the structure to determine the minimum lot area for the overall development. The minimum lot area does not apply to the minimum dwelling unit size of the units within the development.
F.
Mixed-use development in the residential districts, when permitted, is subject to the standards for a nonresidential use in the district.
Table 4-1: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
RL-1 | RL-2 | RL-3 | |
Bulk | |||
Minimum Lot Area | 8,000 sqft | 6,000 sqft | 4,000 sqft |
Minimum Lot Width | 50' | 45' | 40' |
Maximum Building Coverage | 40% | 35% | 35% |
Maximum Impervious Surface Coverage | 45% | 45% | 45% |
Maximum Building Height | 40' | 40' | 40' |
Setbacks | |||
Minimum Front Setback | 30' or average of front setback of abutting structures In no case is a setback greater than 45' required | 30' or average of front setback of abutting structures In no case is a setback greater than 45' required | 25' or average of front setback of abutting structures In no case is a setback greater than 35' required |
Minimum Interior Side Setback | 8' | 8' | 7' |
Minimum Corner Side Setback | 15' For residential uses, required corner side setback may be reduced to maintain a minimum buildable width of 35', but in no case may be less than 8' | 12' For residential uses, required corner side setback may be reduced to maintain a minimum buildable width of 32', but in no case may be less than 8' | 10' For residential uses, required corner side setback may be reduced to maintain a minimum buildable width of 30', but in no case may be less than 7' |
Minimum Rear Setback | 35' | 35' | 35' |
Table abbreviations found at § 315-2.2. |
Table 4-1: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards | ||
|---|---|---|
RM-1 | RM-2 | |
Bulk | ||
Minimum Lot Area (RH, MF: See Sections 4.3.D and 4.3.E) | SF, SF-A: 2,500 sqft 2F: 5,000 sqft RH: 1,500 sqft NR: 5,000 sqft | SF, SF-A: 2,500 sqft 2F: 5,000 sqft RH: 1,500 sqft NR: 5,000 sqft |
Minimum Lot Width (RH: See Section 4.3.D) | SF, SF-A: 25' 2F, NR: 50' RH: 15' | SF, SF-A: 25' 2F, NR: 50' RH: 15' |
Maximum Building Coverage | SF, SF-A, 2F: 50% RH, NR: 60% | SF, SF-A, 2F: 50% RH, NR: 60% |
Maximum Impervious Surface Coverage | 70% | 70% |
Maximum Building Height | 40' | 40' |
Setbacks | ||
Minimum Front Setback | 5' or average of front setback of abutting structures, whichever is less | 5' or average of front setback of abutting structures, whichever is less |
Minimum Interior Side Setback | 5' | 5' |
Minimum Corner Side Setback | 5' For residential uses, required corner side setback may be reduced to maintain a buildable width of 20', but in no case may be less than 2' | 5' For residential uses, required corner side setback may be reduced to maintain a buildable width of 20', but in no case may be less than 2' |
Minimum Rear Setback | 25' | 25' |
Table abbreviations found at § 315-2.2. |
Table 4-1: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards | ||
|---|---|---|
RH-1 | RH-2 | |
Bulk | ||
Minimum Lot Area (RH, MF: See Sections 4.3.D and 4.3.E) | SF, SF-A: 2,500 sqft 2F: 5,000 sqft RH: 1,500 sqft MF: 750 sqft NR: 5,000 sqft | SF, SF-A: 2,500 sqft 2F: 5,000 sqft RH: 1,200 sqft MF: 600 sqft NR: 5,000 sqft |
Minimum Lot Width (RH: See Section 4.3.D) | SF, SF-A: 25' RH: 15' 2F, MF, NR: 50' | SF, SF-A: 25' RH: 12' 2F, MF, NR: 50' |
Maximum Building Coverage | SF, SF-A, 2F: 50% RH, MF, NR: 65% | SF, SF-A, 2F: 50% RH, MF, NR: 65% |
Maximum Impervious Surface Coverage | SF, SF-A, 2F: 60% RH, MF, NR: 70% | SF, SF-A, 2F: 65% RH, MF, NR: 75% |
Maximum Building Height | 40' | SF, SF-A, 2F, RH, NR: 40' MF: 65' |
Setbacks | ||
Minimum Front Setback | Structures 35' or less in height: 5' or the average front setback of abutting structures, whichever is less Structures over 35' in height: 20' | Structures 35' or less in height: 5' or the average front setback of abutting structures, whichever is less Structures over 35' in height: 20' |
Minimum Interior Side Setback | SF, SF-A, 2F, RH: 5' MF 35' or less in height: 12' or 15% of lot width, whichever is less MF greater than 35' in height: 12' plus 1' of additional setback for each 2' of structure above 35' NR: 8' | SF, SF-A, 2F, RH: 5' MF 35' or less in height: 12' or 15% of lot width, whichever is less MF greater than 35' in height: 12' plus 1' of additional setback for each 2' of structure above 35' NR: 8' |
Minimum Corner Side Setback | Structures 35' or less in height: 5' Structures over 35' in height: 12' | Structures 35' or less in height: 5' Structures over 35' in height: 12' |
Minimum Rear Setback | Structures 35' or less in height: 25' Structures over 35' in height: 35' | Structures 35' or less in height: 25' Structures over 35' in height: 35' |
Table abbreviations found at § 315-2.2. |
§ 315-4.4 DESIGN STANDARDS.
The following design standards apply to nonresidential, including mixed-use, development when allowed within the residential districts. Standards apply to new construction and to expansions that exceed 30% or more of the existing structure's square footage.
A.
All buildings must be oriented toward a public street.
B.
All public entrances must include direct pedestrian connections between street facing doors to adjacent sidewalks. All buildings must have a public entrance from the sidewalk along the primary building facade. Public entrances must be visually distinctive from the remaining portions of the facade along which they are located.
C.
Building facades that abut a right-of-way, excluding alleys, and/or abut a park cannot contain blank wall areas that exceed 30 linear feet, measured per story parallel to the street.
D.
Building materials and visual elements used on the primary building frontage must continue on all building facades that abut a right-of-way, excluding alleys, and/or abut a park.
E.
For commercial uses, the ground floor of any facade facing a right-of-way, excluding alleys, must maintain a minimum transparency of 50%, measured between two and ten feet in height.
F.
Large expanses of highly reflective wall surface material and mirror glass on exterior walls are prohibited.
G.
Sites must be designed to ensure safe pedestrian access from the public right-of-way, and safe pedestrian circulation on-site, minimizing potential conflicts with automobile traffic.
NONRESIDENTIAL/MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT DESIGN STANDARDS  |
§ 315-4.5 SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING CONVERSIONS IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
A.
Residential conversions of single-family dwellings to two or more dwelling units are allowed within the residential districts that allow two-family and multi-family dwellings as follows.
B.
Residential conversions require approval of a conditional use permit by the Planning Board. As part of the submittal for Planning Board review, construction drawings and plans that describe the proposed conversion are required.
C.
The existing dwelling must be a structure originally constructed as a single-family dwelling and must be 2,000 square feet or more in gross floor area, excluding any basement area.
E.
The dwelling must continue to conform to all applicable zoning district regulations for a single-family dwelling.
F.
No residential conversion may violate any occupancy regulations.
G.
One off-street parking space must be provided for each additional dwelling unit created.
H.
The residential structure must meet the following standards:
1.
The structure must be designed so that the appearance mimics that of a single-family detached dwelling.
2.
The structure must have a primary entrance from a facade facing the street. The front entry must be a dominant feature on the front elevation of a home and an integral part of the structure, using features such as porches, raised steps and stoops, or decorative railings to articulate the front facade.
3.
Any additional entrances to dwelling units must be located to the side or rear of the structure and designed in a manner as to be visually unobtrusive when viewed from the primary facade of the dwelling.
4.
Windows, doors, porches, or other architectural features are required on all street-facing facades to avoid the appearance of blank walls.
§ 315-4.6 GENERAL STANDARDS OF APPLICABILITY.
A.
Site Development Standards.
See Article 9 for additional on-site development standards and requirements, such as exterior lighting, accessory structures and uses, and permitted encroachments.