West Cocalico Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 20
ACCESSORY USE REGULATIONS
§ 27-2001 General Intent and Application.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 2000]
It is the intent of these requirements that certain accessory uses be regulated for the purpose of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare.
§ 27-2002 Detached Private Garages and Other Accessory Buildings.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 2001; Ord. No. 154, 4/18/2023]
1.
Detached private garages and other residential accessory buildings shall be permitted in any zoning district provided the following requirements are met:
A.
Detached private garages and other residential accessory buildings may be constructed on any residential lot on which a dwelling is constructed.
B.
Maximum Height. Within the A-1 and A-2 Agricultural Districts, the ES - Ecologically Sensitive District, and the OS - Woodland District, 35 feet. Within all other zoning districts, 18 feet. However, the height may be increased to no greater than 24 feet, provided that the required distance for each front, side, and rear yard setback is increased one foot for each one foot of additional building height above 18 feet.
2.
Residential Accessory Buildings. The following regulations apply to residential accessory buildings which typically include unattached accessory storage sheds, provided that the shed does not exceed a maximum of 288 square feet, and a height of eight feet to the square.
A.
No residential accessory buildings shall be located between the front wall of the principal building and the building setback line of the subject parcel.
B.
Minimum side and rear yard setbacks: four feet.
C.
No exterior storage of any material shall be permitted between the residential accessory building and the adjoining property line(s).
3.
Detached residential accessory buildings having a maximum gross floor area of 100 square feet or less are permitted on lots containing semi-detached dwellings, attached dwellings, and apartment houses homes provided that:
4.
Detached residential accessory buildings having a maximum gross floor area of 100 square feet or less are permitted on lots containing mobile homes provided that:
5.
Detached Accessory Buildings on Nonconforming Lots. On existing lots of record where the existing lot width is less than the minimum lot width required in the prevailing zoning district, the minimum distance between a detached accessory building and the side property line may be reduced by the same ratio as the existing lot width is to the minimum required lot width. (Example: on an existing 50-foot wide lot located in a zoning district with a 100-foot minimum width, the minimum side setback would be 50/100, or 50% of the normal minimum side yard.) In no case, however, shall this minimum distance be less than five feet, unless otherwise provided for in this section.
§ 27-2003 Animals and Animal Shelters.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 2002]
1.
The following standards shall apply within all zoning districts for the keeping of animals. However, these standards shall not be interpreted as applying to animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, kennels, riding stables, or normal farming operations.
A.
It is permitted to maintain up to three each of dogs and cats and litters of puppies or kittens up to six months in age as domestic animals provided the following conditions are met:
(1)
Maintaining dogs and cats shall be on a noncommercial basis with the exception for the sale of the litters as permitted by this section.
(2)
The area on which a shelter and/or exercise run area is maintained must be suitably enclosed and located in the rear yard at least 10 feet from any lot line, and is not closer than 50 feet to the nearest dwelling other than that of the owner.
(3)
The area around which a shelter and/or exercise pen is maintained shall be kept in suitable grass cover and shall not be allowed to degrade to an erodible condition.
(4)
The owner of the animals shall exercise suitable control over the animals and shall not allow a nuisance condition to be created in terms of excessive noise, dirt, or odor.
(5)
The owner of the animals shall exercise suitable control over the routine and proper disposal of all animal waste so as not to become a nuisance to adjoining properties.
B.
It is permitted to maintain small domestic animals, up to a total of 12, provided the following conditions are met:
(1)
Maintaining small domestic animals shall be within the rear yard area.
(2)
Maintaining small domestic animals shall be on a noncommercial basis and be strictly as an incidental use.
(3)
The area within which small domestic animals are kept shall be enclosed by a fence designed for containment.
(4)
Such fence shall be at least 50 feet from any lot line and not closer than 100 feet to the nearest dwelling other than that of the owner.
(5)
The area within which small domestic animals are maintained shall be kept in a suitable grass cover and shall not be allowed to degrade to an erodible condition.
(6)
The owner of the small domestic animals shall exercise suitable control over the animals and shall not allow a nuisance condition to be created in terms of excessive noise, dirt, or odor.
For the purposes of this paragraph, small domestic animals shall include animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchilla, and fowl such as chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and pigeons, but shall not include wild or exotic animals held in captivity. |
C.
The ownership of large domestic animals shall not exceed 1 1/2 animal units per acre provided the following conditions are met:
(1)
Maintaining large domestic animals shall be within the rear yard area.
(2)
Maintaining large domestic animals shall be on a noncommercial basis and be strictly as an incidental use.
(3)
The area within which large domestic animals are kept shall be enclosed by a fence designed for containment.
(4)
No building, corral, fence, or stable shall be closer than 100 feet to the nearest dwelling other than that of the owner.
(5)
The area within which large domestic animals are maintained shall be kept in a suitable grass cover of at least two acres in area and shall not be allowed to degrade to an erodible condition.
(6)
The owner of the large domestic animals shall exercise suitable control over the animals and shall not allow a nuisance condition to be created in terms of excessive noise, dirt, or odor.
For the purposes of this paragraph, large domestic animals shall include animals of the bovine, equine, porcine (swine), and sheep families, but shall not include wild or exotic animals held in captivity. |
D.
Wild or exotic animals held in captivity shall be limited to lots located in the ES, OS, A-1 and A-2 zoning districts with a minimum lot area of two acres or greater, and shall be subject to the following additional requirements:
(1)
The number of such animals shall not exceed the equivalent of one animal unit per acre.
(2)
Said animals shall be maintained only within the rear yard area.
(3)
The building or area within which such animals are kept shall be enclosed by a fence or other form of enclosure designed for containment.
(4)
Such fence or other form of enclosure shall be at least 50 feet from any lot line and not closer than 100 feet to the nearest dwelling other than that of the owner.
(5)
The area within which such animals are maintained shall be kept in a suitable grass cover and shall not be allowed to degrade to an erodible condition.
(6)
The owner of such animals shall exercise suitable control over the animals and shall not allow a nuisance condition to be created in terms of excessive noise, dirt, or odor.
(7)
All such animals shall be maintained in accordance with the regulations and/or permit requirements of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and other applicable agencies.
§ 27-2004 Fences and Walls.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 2003]
No permanent fence or wall shall be erected which is over six feet in height, and no fence or wall exceeding three feet in height shall be erected within the required front yard setback unless higher screening or fencing is required by other provisions of this chapter. No fence or wall shall block motorist view of vehicles entering or exiting any property. No aboveground electrified or barbed wire fencing shall be permitted between two non-farm properties.
§ 27-2005 Patios, Paved Terraces, Decks, and Open Porches.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 2004]
No patio, paved terrace, deck, or open porch shall be located within five feet of any property line or between the building setback line and the street line. In the case of attached or semi-detached dwellings, this distance may be reduced to not less than three feet from a side property line formed by a building wall.
§ 27-2006 Swimming Pools, Spas and Whirlpools; In-Ground and Above-Ground.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 2005]
2.
No swimming pool, spa or whirlpool shall be permitted without an operable filtering system.
3.
No swimming pool, spa or whirlpool with a surface area of 150 square feet or more or a depth in excess of two feet shall be permitted unless it is completely enclosed by a permanent fence with a self-closing, lockable gate which is at least four feet in height and conforms to other requirements listed in § 27-2004. This requirement shall not apply to aboveground pools, spas or whirlpools having a wall measuring four feet in height and have a retractable ladder. Such fence shall be erected before any swimming pool, spa or whirlpool is filled with water.
4.
No swimming pool, spa or whirlpool shall be within 10 feet of any property line.
5.
No water discharge from any swimming pool, spa or whirlpool shall interfere with any domestic water facilities or discharge directly into any sanitary sewage facilities on the lot where such swimming pool, spa or whirlpool is located or any adjacent neighboring properties. Additionally, no water shall be discharged directly onto or within 20 feet of any streets or upon any neighboring properties without the owner's consent.
6.
No swimming pool, spa or whirlpool shall be located closer to the front of the lot than the front wall of the principal building.
7.
Swimming pools, spas or whirlpools shall be secured from unauthorized access by means of a lockable door, gate, cover or similar control device.
§ 27-2007 Permanent Sports Courts, Volleyball and/or Basketball Courts.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 2006]
1.
A permanent open mesh fence 10 feet in height shall be provided behind each baseline for all areas specifically designated for and improved as permanent sports courts, volleyball, and/or basketball courts. This fence shall be parallel to the baseline and at least 10 feet beyond the playing surface unless the entire court is enclosed.
2.
No sports courts, volleyball and/or basketball courts specifically designated for and improved to be permanent shall be within 10 feet of any property line, and shall not be located between the front lot line and the front wall of the principal building.
3.
Lighting fixtures, if provided, shall not create objectionable glare on abutting properties.
§ 27-2008 Independent Contractor Truck Driver Vehicle Storage as Accessory Use.
[Ord. No. 154, 4/18/2023]
An independent contractor truck driver (single vehicle owner-operator use) vehicle storage is permitted as an accessory use to a dwelling subject to all of the following regulations:
1.
The owner-operator shall reside on the property where the use is conducted.
2.
The use is limited to one commercial vehicle not exceeding 80,000 pounds gross weight.
3.
The parking area, queuing area, storage/maintenance building, and any other facilities, including, but not limited to, fuel storage tanks, for the independent contract truck driver operation shall be subject to the principal building setbacks for the district in which the use is located.
4.
When making an application for a zoning permit to establish an independent contractor truck driver storage use, the applicant shall present a plan of the property indicating vehicle turning movements. Such plan shall demonstrate that all movements onto or off of the property to or from any public street shall be in a forward direction. The plan shall demonstrate an adequate queuing area off of the street or road right-of-way to allow the vehicle to exit the lot in a forward direction.