Upper Darby Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IV
Residential Districts
§ 550-9 Intent.
It is the intent of this article to provide for the establishment of residential districts which will provide safe and healthful locations for homes of the citizens of Upper Darby Township. To this end, these regulations:
A.
Establish standards by which a wide variety of housing types can be provided in appropriate locations to meet the housing needs of all residents;
B.
Protect land values by prohibiting incompatible development;
C.
Prevent overcrowding of the land and congestion;
D.
Provide sufficient space for the needs of residents and assure light, air and privacy; and
E.
Regulate the density of development.
§ 550-10 Single-family detached residential district development standards.
The following lot, area and bulk standards shall be required for every building or structure hereinafter erected, altered or used in the R-C, R-C-1, R-1, and R-2 Zoning Districts:
Table 4-1: Single Family Detached Residential District Development Standards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
District | R-C | R-C-1 | R-1 | R-2 |
Minimum lot size | 15,000 square feet with public sewer service; 20,000 square feet without public sewer service | 10,000 square feet with public sewer service; 20,000 square feet without public sewer service | 6,500 square feet | 5,000 square feet |
Minimum street frontage (feet) | 50 | 50 | 35 | 30 |
Minimum lot width at building line (feet) | 70 | 80 | 65 | 50 |
Minimum front yard (feet) | *35 | *35 | *25 | *20 |
Minimum side yard (feet) | 35 aggregate; 15 feet minimum | 35 aggregate; 15 feet minimum | 25 aggregate; 10 feet minimum | 22 aggregate; 10 feet minimum |
Minimum rear yard | 30 feet | 30 feet | 20 feet | 20 feet |
Maximum building height (feet) | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 |
Maximum building coverage (percent) | 25% for 15,000 square feet lot; 20% for 20,000 square feet lot | 20% | 30% | 30% |
NOTE: | |
|---|---|
* | When as a result of the construction of a building, the building line is established at a distance greater than that of the minimum required front yard in the district, the minimum required front yard shall thereafter be the distance from the front property line to the building line; however, an existing covered porch, patio or deck which was legally existing prior to this chapter's adoption and is in compliance with the minimum front yard setback for new construction is permitted to be enclosed. Covered porches, patios or decks include those constructed with hard surface materials and do not include awnings. |
§ 550-11 R-C Residential Conservation District.
A.
Intent. R-C Residential Conservation Districts provide for the special needs of environmentally sensitive areas of the Township, encourage the conservation of areas where limitations exist for development by reason of slope, unfavorable soil conditions or topography, and facilitate the control of soil erosion, surface water and flooding.
§ 550-12 R-C-1 Special Residential Conservation District.
A.
Intent. R-C-1 Special Residential Conservation Districts provide for the special needs of environmentally sensitive areas of the Township, encourage the conservation of areas where limitations exist for the development by reason of slope, unfavorable soil conditions or topography, and facilitate the control of soil erosion, surface water flooding.
§ 550-13 R-1 Residential District.
A.
Intent. The R-1 Residential District is intended to maintain the low intensity character of the neighborhoods with single-family detached dwellings on larger lots with generous setbacks.
§ 550-14 R-2 Residential District.
A.
Intent. The R-2 Residential District is intended to maintain the medium intensity character of the neighborhoods with single-family detached dwellings on smaller lots and with moderate setbacks.
§ 550-15 R-3 Residential District.
A.
Intent. The R-3 District is intended to maintain the medium intensity character of the neighborhoods with single-family and two-family detached dwellings and single-family and two-family attached dwellings, providing transitional neighborhoods between the single-family and multifamily neighborhoods.
C.
D.
Development standards. The following lot, area, and bulk standards shall be required for every building or structure hereinafter erected, altered or used:
Table 4-2: R-3 District Development Standards | |
|---|---|
Single-Family Detached Dwelling | |
Minimum lot size | 5,000 square feet |
Minimum street frontage | 30 feet |
Minimum lot width at building line | 50 feet |
Minimum front yard | *20 feet |
Minimum side yard | 22 feet aggregate; 10 feet minimum |
Minimum rear yard | 20 feet |
Maximum building height | 35 feet |
Maximum building coverage | 30% |
Single-Family Semidetached Dwelling | |
Minimum lot size | 3,000 square feet |
Minimum street frontage | 20 feet |
Minimum lot width at building line | 30 feet, 35 feet with side yard driveway |
Minimum front yard | 20 feet |
Minimum side yard | 10 feet |
Minimum rear yard | 20 feet |
Maximum building height | 35 feet |
Maximum building coverage | 40% |
Single-Family Attached Dwelling | |
Minimum lot size | 3,000 square feet |
Minimum street frontage | 16 feet |
Minimum lot width at building line | 16 feet |
Minimum front yard | **20 feet |
Minimum side yard | 10 feet |
Minimum rear yard | **20 feet |
Maximum building height | 35 feet |
Maximum building coverage | 40% |
Maximum number of attached units | 6 |
Two-Family Detached Dwelling | |
Minimum lot size | 3,000 square feet per unit; 6,000 square feet per 2-family dwelling |
Minimum street frontage | 20 feet |
Minimum lot width at building line | 60 feet |
Minimum front yard | *20 feet |
Minimum side yard | 25 feet aggregate; 10 feet minimum |
Minimum rear yard | 20 feet |
Maximum building height | 35 feet |
Maximum building coverage | 30% |
Two-Family Semidetached Dwelling | |
Minimum lot size | 3,000 square feet per unit; 6,000 square feet per 2-family dwelling |
Minimum street frontage | 20 feet |
Minimum lot width at building line | 30 feet, 35 feet with side yard driveway |
Minimum front yard | *20 feet |
Minimum side yard | 10 feet |
Minimum rear yard | 20 feet |
Maximum building height | 35 feet |
Maximum building coverage | 40% |
Two-Family Attached Dwelling | |
Minimum lot size | 3,000 square feet per unit; 6,000 square feet per 2-family dwelling |
Minimum street frontage | 20 feet |
Minimum lot width at building line | 20 feet |
Minimum front yard | **20 feet |
Minimum side yard | 10 feet |
Minimum rear yard | **20 feet |
Maximum building height | 35 feet |
Maximum building coverage | 30% |
Maximum number of attached units | 6 |
NOTES: | |
|---|---|
* | When as a result of the construction of a building the building line is established at a distance greater than that of the minimum required front yard in the district, the minimum required front yard shall thereafter be the distance from the front property line to the building line; however, an existing porch, patio or deck which was legally existing prior to this chapter's adoption and is in compliance with the minimum front yard setback for new construction is permitted to be enclosed. Covered porches, patios or decks include those constructed with hard surface materials and do not include awnings. |
** | When as a result of the construction of a building the building line is established at a distance greater than that of the minimum required front and/or rear yard in the district, the minimum required front and/or rear yard shall thereafter be the distance from the front and/or rear property line to the building line. |
§ 550-16 R-4 Residential District.
A.
Intent. The R-4 District is intended to allow for diversity in housing types and densities, including multifamily dwellings and senior housing, while preserving the overall character of the Township and surrounding residential neighborhoods and to permit a limited mix of commercial and residential uses for convenience and accessibility.
C.
Special exception uses.
(2)
Special exception uses must meet the general criteria for review specified in § 550-54J of this chapter.
(3)
Special exception uses in residential districts must meet the standards located in § 550-17 of this article.
(4)
Special exception standards for mobile home parks.
(a)
Internal roadways must be at least 24 feet wide.
(b)
Access to individual lots must be from internal roads.
(c)
There will be a four-foot-wide planted buffer strip around the perimeter of the site.
(d)
Accessory uses normally associated with a mobile home park are permitted, provided they are for the use of the mobile home park residents only. These accessory uses include administration or office space, laundry and recreation facilities.
Table 4-3A: Development Standards for Mobile Home Parks | ||
|---|---|---|
Minimum lot size | 1 acre | |
Minimum lot area per dwelling | 3,000 square feet gross; 2,000 square feet net | |
Requirements for individual lots | ||
Minimum lot width | 24 feet | |
Front yard | *28 feet | |
Side yard | 16 feet aggregate; 6 feet minimum | |
Rear yard | 20 feet | |
Street frontage | 24 feet | |
Maximum building height | 12 feet | |
Maximum building coverage | 20% | |
NOTES: | |
|---|---|
* | When as a result of the construction of a building the building line is established at a distance greater than that for the minimum required front yard in the district, the minimum required front yard shall thereafter be the distance from the front property line to the building line. However, any existing porch or patio attached to the structure in the front yard, and which must be demolished and replaced because of damage, may be rebuilt to the same depth as the existing porch or patio. |
D.
Development standards. The following lot, area, and bulk standards shall be required for every building or structure hereinafter erected, altered or used:
Table 4-3B: R-4 District Development Standards | |
|---|---|
Single-family and two-family dwellings (including independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, congregate care facilities in single-family and two-family structures: All single-family and two-family detached, semidetached, and attached dwellings must meet the development standards for the R-3 District as specified in Table 4-2 of this article. | |
Multifamily dwellings (including senior independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, congregate care facilities in multifamily structures and nursing/convalescent homes: | |
Minimum street frontage | 50 feet |
Minimum lot width at building line | 100 feet |
Minimum front yard | *40 feet |
Minimum side yard | 25 feet aggregate, 10 feet minimum |
Minimum setback between buildings | 25 feet between buildings, plus 1 foot additional for each 2 feet over 35 feet of building height |
Minimum rear yard | *Same as side yard requirement |
Maximum building height | 65 feet |
Maximum building coverage | 40% |
Not more than 20% of multifamily dwellings may be efficiency | |
NOTES: | |
|---|---|
* | When as a result of the construction of a building the building line is established at a distance greater than that of the minimum required front and/or rear yard in the district, the minimum required front and/or rear yard shall thereafter be the distance from the front and/or rear property line to the building line. |
§ 550-17 Special exception use standards in residential districts.
A.
Special exception use development standards. Special exception uses must meet the development standards for the zoning district within which they are located, except as required for cemeteries in § 550-17C below.
B.
Accessory dwellings.
(1)
The accessory dwelling unit shall be physically connected to the principal dwelling unit or shall be a converted existing detached building which maintains the same footprint.
(2)
The occupancy of the accessory dwelling unit shall be limited to persons who are related by blood, adoption or marriage to the occupants of the principal dwelling unit.
(3)
The accessory dwelling unit may be located in a single-family detached dwelling or a single-family semidetached dwelling only.
(4)
The accessory dwelling unit shall share the same sewage disposal and water supply systems as the principal dwelling unit.
(5)
The accessory dwelling unit shall be occupied by a maximum of two people.
(6)
The accessory dwelling unit shall comply with the minimum space and habitable living area requirements of any applicable housing or building codes.
(7)
If the accessory dwelling unit is located in a detached building, the accessory dwelling unit must utilize the existing driveway for the principal dwelling on the property, and no new driveways shall be created or installed.
C.
Cemeteries.
(1)
The following lot and area standards shall be required for every building or structure in a cemetery, not including tombstones, hereinafter erected, altered or used.
(2)
Office, garage and equipment storage and retail sale of plants/flowers for use in the cemetery shall be permitted as accessory uses.
D.
Group living quarters. Group living quarters shall meet the standards and requirements of § 550-43 of this chapter.
E.
Wireless communications towers and antennas. The standards for wireless communications towers and antennas are located in § 550-38.
F.
Religious assembly.
(1)
The minimum lot size shall be one acre.
(2)
The property shall have primary access to a collector or arterial street as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Roadway Functional Classification. Primary vehicular access to the property shall not be provided by way of a residential local street, as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Roadway Functional Classification.
(3)
A minimum fifteen-foot-wide planted buffer strip is required along all property lines.
§ 550-18 Accessory uses in residential districts.
A.
For the purpose of this chapter, all swimming pools and tennis courts are considered accessory structures in residential districts.
B.
Accessory recreational uses may not be located in the required front yard or within five feet of any property line, provided that ,on any lot which is less than 40 feet in width, the Zoning Hearing Board may by special exception reduce this rear and side yard requirement to not less than two feet if fencing and landscaping are provided to protect adjoining properties.
C.
Storage of flammable liquids shall be limited to a maximum of 10 liquid gallons, and said liquids must be stored in accordance with the International Fire Code. Storage of combustible liquids shall be limited to 30 liquid gallons, and said liquids must be stored in accordance with the International Fire Code. This section shall not apply to any aboveground or underground storage tanks for home heating oil.