Washington Grove City Zoning Code

No satellite antennae, as hereinafter defined, is to be erected, constructed, maintained or operated except in conformance with the following regulations:

(a) A satellite antenna is defined for the purpose of these regulations as any device used or designed for receiving electromagnetic signals from one or more orbitally based satellites and is external to or is attached to the exterior of any building.

(b) Such satellite antennas are to be located only in the rear yard of any lot or upon a building on said lot. If a usable satellite signal cannot be obtained in a rear yard due to obstruction of the antenna’s reception window, then the antenna may be located in any side yard of the property. All installations must be located so as to prevent obstruction of the antenna’s reception window from potential permitted development on adjoining property.

(c) A satellite antenna must not be located within any yard setback area or cross the vertical plane of the property line.

(d) Not more than one satellite antenna is allowed on any lot less than one acre in size.

(e) No satellite antenna may:

1. exceed four meters in diameter;
2. exceed height restrictions as specified in Section 3.312 of this Article.

(f) All satellite antennas must be located and designed so as to minimize visual impact on surrounding properties and from public avenues and streets. All satellite antenna installations must employ (to the extent possible) materials and colors that blend with the surroundings. All satellite antenna installations, including wires, supporting structures and accessory equipment must be screened by architectural or landscape treatments so as to provide maximum opacity from the ground level, yet not interfere with signal reception.

(g) All satellite antennas and the construction and erection thereof must conform to applicable building and electrical code regulations and requirements. A building permit is required for the location, relocation, erection, and installation of any satellite antenna.

(h) Satellite antennas must meet all manufacturers’ specifications, be of noncombustible and corrosion-resistant material, and be erected in a secure, wind-resistant manner. Every satellite antenna must be adequately grounded for protection against a direct strike of lightning.

In any case where public or other central water and sewerage facilities are not available the minimum lot area required for construction of a dwelling or commercial building shall be as determined by the Planning Commission, which shall ask the advice of the County Health Officer in arriving at its decision; but in no case less than 20,000 square feet.

(a) For dwellings on a lot containing 5,000 square feet or less, the maximum enclosed area shall be: 500 square feet, plus 0.40 times the total lot area.

(b) For dwellings on a lot containing 7,500 square feet or less, the maximum enclosed area shall be: 500 square feet, plus 0.40 times the portion of the lot area less than 5,000 square feet, plus 0.20 times the portion of the lot area between 5,000 square feet and 7,500 square feet.

(c) For dwellings on a lot containing 11,250 square feet or less, the maximum enclosed area shall be:

• 500 square feet,
• plus 0.40 times the portion of the lot area less than 5,000,
• plus 0.20 times the portion of the lot area between 5,000 square feet and 7,500 square feet,
• plus 0.10 times the portion of the lot area between 7,500 square feet and 11, 250 square feet.

(d) For dwellings on a lot containing more than 11,250 square feet, the maximum enclosed area shall be:

• 500 square feet,
• plus 0.40 times the portion of the lot area less than 5,000 square feet,
• plus 0.20 times the portion of the lot area between 5,000 square feet and 7,500 square feet,
• plus 0.10 times the portion of the lot area between 7,500 square feet and 11,250 square feet,
• plus 0.05 times the portion of the lot area exceeding 11,250 square feet.

In interpreting and applying this Article, the requirements contained herein are declared to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the purposes set forth in Section 1 and elsewhere in the Article.

Whenever in any area, any provision of this Article imposes a lower height limitation, less percentage of lot occupancy, wider, larger, or deeper yards, or other more strict limitations than those provided by state, county, municipal, or other local regulations, the provisions of this Article shall prevail over such other regulations within the said area.

Lots which appear on record plats duly recorded prior to July 1, 1964, but have an area or width below the minimum requirements of this Article may be used for the construction of one family detached dwellings provided they are in a residential zone, and are in compliance with all other applicable requirements of the Article; except that where land of sufficient area or width is in common ownership on July 1, 1964, or at any subsequent time, no construction shall take place on any parcel or tract of land of less area or width than otherwise specified in the Article.

3.141 Renovation of Existing Main Building
To enlarge, structurally alter, move, or replace an existing main building in any residential zone, the minimum setback requirements from a lot line adjacent to publicly-owned land is established by the lesser of:

(a) the shortest perpendicular measurement from the lot line to the existing main building, or

(b) the average setback distance using the measurements of the shortest perpendicular line from the lot line to the existing main building to be enlarged, structurally altered or moved and all other main buildings within 200 feet of the proposed construction, if:

1. the main buildings are in the same zone, and
2. the main buildings are on the same side of the publicly-owned land as the construction.

3.142 New Main Buildings

For a new main building, the average setback distance using the measurements of the shortest perpendicular line from the lot line to all existing main buildings within 200 feet of the proposed construction, if:

(a) the main buildings are in the same zone, and
(b) the main buildings are on the same side of the publicly-owned land as the new construction.

3.143 Applicability

Section 3.14 applies to new and existing main buildings, but does not apply to accessory buildings. In no event, however, may a new building be constructed on a corner lot within 25 feet of a lot line adjacent to a street or avenue.

The provisions of Section 3.14 prevail over those of Section 9.

If all or any portion of any public street, right-of-way, easement or other public land shall ever come into private ownership or be used for any purpose other than a public purpose, the said land together with any buildings or structures upon it shall thereafter be considered as classified in the zone immediately adjacent thereto.

3.311 Structures Excluded

The building height limits set forth in this Article do not apply to church spires, belfries, cupolas, chimneys, or flag poles; nor do they apply to water tanks, air conditioning equipment or other roof structures provided that such structures:

(a) occupy not more than 10 percent of the roof area of any building,
(b) are covered with exterior materials having an appearance similar to or harmonious with the remainder of the building, and
(c) are not used for residential purposes.

3.312 Antennas and Towers

A radio or television antenna or tower, or any other structure used as a radio or television antennae, must be no taller than the shortest perpendicular measurement from the base of the structure to the nearest lot line.

3.321 Cornices, ornamental courses, sills and similar features may extend not more than one foot into any required yard.

3.322 Balconies, unenclosed stairs and fire escapes may extend not more than five feet into a required front or rear yard.

3.323 Patios, decks, uncovered porches and steps more than three feet above grade, may extend into a required front or rear yard not more than nine feet, and into a required side yard, not more than three feet.

3.324 Awnings, overhanging roofs, and roofs over steps, porches, or similar features may extend into any required yard not more than three feet.

3.325 Bay windows, vestibules, chimneys, or similar vertical features, not more than 10 feet wide, may extend not more than three feet into a required front or rear yard. Covered porches more than 10 feet wide are considered part of the main building and may not extend into a required yard.

3.326 Patios, decks, uncovered porches, and steps, not more than three feet above grade, are exempt from the setback and lot coverage provisions of this Article if the structure is a distance of at least two times the height above grade from the lot line.

3.327 Fences

(a) Fences and masonry walls not above four feet in height may be erected on a lot line. A fence and masonry wall not exceeding six feet in height, however, may be erected on any lot line separating privately owned land from the rear lot line to the main building line extended. However, when two privately owned lots are adjoining, with rear yards oriented such that the side lot line of one is the rear lot line of the other, both lots will be allowed the higher six-foot fence height on the shared boundary lot line. Where a six-foot fence would meet a street line or an avenue line, a sloped or scalloped transition from the six-foot to four-foot fence height for a least seven feet is required.

Fences abutting the Town-owned access path to the following properties may be six feet in height only in the areas specified:

315 Grove Avenue – rear only

319 Grove Avenue – rear and south side only

203 2nd Avenue – rear only

8 The Circle – rear only

6 The Circle – rear only

(b) No wall, fence, shrubbery or other obstruction to vision over three feet in height above the curb level may be constructed, planted, or maintained within 25 feet of the intersection of two street lines, measured from the center of the two intersecting streets.

(c) A swimming pool requires a five foot fence (this does not supersede Section 3.327(a)).

(d) A fence may be up to six feet in height if it meets the main building front set back requirements and accessory building side set back and rear set back requirements.

(e) A fence may be up to ten feet in height if it meets accessory building set back requirements and is an open-mesh deer fence if it is a minimum 25 feet from the front lot line and seven feet from the rear lot line and 10 feet from the side lot line.

(f) An open-mesh protective barrier closely enclosing a tree is not subject to setback requirements.

(g) An open-mesh protective barrier seasonally erected no earlier than March 1st and taken down no later than November 30th that closely encloses and covers a garden plot, or other landscaping feature, with no side facing a lot line longer than one-third the length of the lot line, is not subject to setback requirements.

3.328 Open Porches

Open porches may extend up to 10 feet beyond the required front setback line. Up to 15% of a 7,500 square foot or smaller lot located in the RR-1 Zone may be occupied by an open porch and not be counted as building coverage; however, the total lot coverage percentage may not exceed 40% as set forth in Section 9.

3.329 Carports

An open, covered carport may extend to the side lot line, provided that:

(a) the adjacent area of the adjoining lot is occupied by similar structure,
(b) both structures are built at the same time,
(c) the structure does not extend into the required front or rear yard,
(d) the structure does not exceed 15 feet in height, and
(e) the structure does not touch the neighboring structure.

This Article does not apply to publicly-owned or leased land used for a public purpose or benefit.