Township of Easttown

Accessory buildings or structures

ACCESSORY BUILDING
A building that is not a principal building or structure and which is used for purposes that are entirely incidental and subordinate to those of the principal building or structure and located on the same lot. For purposes of this chapter, structures such as but not limited to tennis courts, swimming pools, bathhouses, carports, breezeways and garages shall be considered accessory structures.

ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A structure subordinate to the principal use or structure on the lot and used for purposes customarily incidental to those of the principal use or structure.

Vehicle Parking:
No part of a yard, or other open space, or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this chapter shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.
All off-street parking, loading and access facilities and service areas used by motor vehicles shall comply with the provisions of Article X: Off-Street Parking and Loading of this chapter, except that parking within front yard setbacks shall be permitted by conditional use.

Development Requirements:

Accessory buildings or structures shall be permitted when in accordance with the standards set forth below.
A. Accessory buildings and structures must comply with all minimum yard setbacks for the district in which the lot is located.
B. Accessory buildings and structures which are used for active recreational uses, such as swimming pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, riding rinks and other similar uses, shall not be located in the front yard of the principal building on a lot.
C. Except in the case of unenclosed tennis courts and unenclosed swimming pools, the gross floor area of accessory buildings and structures shall not exceed 40% of the footprint of the principal building.
D. The following structures shall be permitted when incidental and subordinate to an existing residential use, and when located on the same lot as the principal use:

(1) Flagpole.
(2) Private antenna or microwave dish, in accordance with the radio or television antenna provisions of this chapter.
(3) Signs associated with the occupants of a residence and home occupation.

In the PBO District:

The following accessory uses, buildings, and structures (including signs and parking associated with the accessory use) are permitted on the same lot with, and customarily incidental to, this use.

(1) Accessory uses, buildings and structures in accordance with § 455-47: Accessory buildings or structures and § 455-48: Accessory uses.
(2) Outdoor cafe in accordance with § 455-66: Outdoor cafes.

Accessory uses

A use of a building, structure or land that is not a principal permitted use, but which is entirely incidental and subordinate to the principal permitted use on the same lot.

Vehicle Parking:
No part of a yard, or other open space, or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this chapter shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.
See Article X: Off-Street Parking and Loading for more detailed information.

Development Requirements:

Accessory uses shall be permitted when in accordance with the standards set forth below.
A. Uses accessory to residential use. The following uses shall be permitted when incidental and subordinate to an existing residential use, and when located on the same lot as the principal use:

(1) Off-street parking.
(2) Home occupation, as permitted in § 455-61: Home occupations.
(3) Bed-and-breakfast, as permitted by § 455-52: Bed-and-breakfasts.
(4) Keeping of farm animals and poultry as pets, subject to the following provisions:

(a) The lot housing large animals of 600 pounds or more shall have not more than one large animal per two net lot acres.
(b) Lots housing small farm animals or poultry shall have a minimum net lot area of two acres; such lots shall not have more than eight small animals.
(c) Lots housing beehives have a minimum of two acres based on net lot area; such lots shall not have more than two beehives.
(d) Stables, hives, and shelters shall be set back at least 100 feet from any property line. Uncovered manure storage shall be located at least 100 feet from any lot line or stream. No manure may be stored within a swale or drainageway, nor located so as to drain onto adjacent land.

(5) Garage or yard sales. Garage or yard sales shall be subject to the following provisions:

(a) Such uses shall be limited to occurrences of not more than four times within one calendar year. There shall be at least a thirty-day period between such occurrences, and each occurrence shall last no more than three consecutive days.
(b) Signs advertising garage or yard sales shall be posted no more than two days prior to the first day of the sale and shall be removed on the final day of the sale. No more than two off-premises signs shall be permitted to advertise the sale. Such signs shall only be placed with the permission of the applicable property owners.

(6) Parking or storage of commercial vehicles. See § 455-41B(4).
(7) Swimming pools shall be considered a permissible accessory use, subject to the following standards:

(a) A swimming pool constructed either above or below ground level, designed to hold more than 10,000 gallons of water and installed after the effective date of this chapter shall require a permit issued by the Zoning Officer.
(b) The swimming pool shall meet accessory structure setback requirements in § 455-47: Accessory buildings or structures. All mechanical equipment for the purposes of filtering, heating, pumping, cleaning, filling, draining, or any other maintenance-related activity shall meet the required side yard setbacks for the applicable district and in no case shall be less than 10 feet from any property line.
(c) All swimming pools shall be completely enclosed by a permanent fence or wall at least four feet in height with no openings larger than four inches in width. Any building or structure meeting the height and opening requirement may be included as part of the required enclosure. All gates and door openings through the enclosure shall be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching device for keeping the gate/door securely latched at all times when not in use.
(d) The provisions regulating fencing in § 455-48A(7)(c) above shall not apply to a fence having sides extending four or more feet above grade on all sides or being four or more feet above grade, provided that the stairs or other means of access to the pool are removed when the pool is not in use.
(e) The pool is intended to be used solely for the enjoyment of the occupants of a principal use of the property on which it is located.
(f) The Zoning Officer shall issue the permit upon determining from plans or specifications presented by the applicant that the pool meets all requirements.

(8) Other uses of similar character to those listed above.

B. Uses accessory to commercial and industrial uses. The following uses shall be permitted when incidental and subordinate to an existing commercial use and when located on the same lot as the principal use:

(1) Off-street parking facilities, in accordance with Article X: Off-Street Parking and Loading.
(2) Storage of materials, in accordance with § 455-41: Outdoor storage.
(3) Signs in accordance with Article XI: Signs.
(4) Day care may be permitted in conjunction with a commercial, office, or industrial use in accordance with the commercial day-care center provisions in § 455-53: Commercial day-care centers.

Not a principal land use.

Adaptive reuse

The development of a new use for an older building or for a building originally designed for a special or specific purpose.

Vehicle Parking:
All off-street parking, loading and access facilities and service areas used by motor vehicles shall comply with the provisions of Article X: Off-Street Parking and Loading of this chapter, except that parking within front yard setbacks shall be permitted by conditional use.
No part of a yard, or other open space, or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this chapter shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.

Development Requirements:

The adaptive reuse of an existing structure shall be permitted as a by-right use in the PBO, VB, VT and VR Districts and shall be in accordance with the standards set forth below:
A. General standards.

(1) The reuse of an existing structure shall comply with the use requirements of the applicable zoning district. Area and bulk requirements may be modified through the conditional use process, as applicable, where the applicant has demonstrated sensitive restoration, including preservation of facades, rehabilitation using materials and design authentic and appropriate to the architecture and preservation of the building mass as it appears from all public rights-of-way.
(2) Every effort shall be made to maintain or restore the building or structure to its original architectural style and bulk. Additions shall compliment the existing architectural style and bulk of the structure and require approval by the Board of Supervisors.
(3) Additional entrances, when required, shall be placed on the side or rear of the building to avoid disruption of the facade.
(4) Every effort shall be made so that the proposed use is compatible with the adjacent properties and surrounding neighborhood.
(5) Removal or alteration of distinctive stylistic and architectural features of the structure, which contribute to the character of the surrounding neighborhood, shall be avoided.
(6) Deteriorated architectural features, which contribute to the character of the neighborhood, should be repaired rather than replaced. Where replacement of such features is necessary, the new material should match the material being replaced in composition, color, design, texture, and other visual qualities.
(7) An application for adaptive reuse shall be accompanied by a floor plan including the following information:

(a) Revisions and modifications to the interior and exterior of the existing structure(s).
(b) Applicable information required for a conditional use.
(c) Site and architectural plans for the adaptive reuse of said building shall be submitted, as applicable, together with an application for a conditional use, in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

(8) Unless clearly impractical or inappropriate, additional parking needed for adaptive reuse projects shall be located to the rear of the structure or where such parking is least visible from public streets and rights-of-way.

B. Adaptive reuse for professional offices or commercial convenience uses. The following standards and criteria shall govern the design and review procedures for the adaptive reuse of buildings for professional office and commercial convenience uses for which conditional use approval is sought in accordance with the base zone of this chapter:

(1) Use opportunities:

(a) Professional or business office uses limited to architects, physicians, engineers, lawyers, realtors, tax consultants, and similar professional businesses.
(b) Neighborhood commercial uses, not to exceed 5,000 square feet of gross usable floor area and limited to the following:

[1] Retail commercial use for the sale of food, drugs, flowers, household goods, newspapers, stationary, art supplies, fine art, tobacco, and similar businesses.
[2] Personal service commercial use, limited to barber or beauty shops, tailor shops, photographic studios, shoe repair, and similar types of businesses.

(c) Public use, including a library, museum, or park facility.
(d) Bed-and-breakfast, subject to the provisions of § 455-52: Bed-and-breakfasts.
(e) Religious use, including church and parish house.
(f) Multifamily building or development, subject to the provisions of § 455-64: Multifamily buildings and § 455-65: Multifamily developments.

The following accessory uses, buildings, and structures (including signs and parking associated with the accessory use) are permitted on the same lot with, and customarily incidental to, this use.

(1) Accessory uses, buildings and structures in accordance with § 455-47: Accessory buildings or structures and § 455-48: Accessory uses.
(2) Outdoor cafe in accordance with § 455-66: Outdoor cafes.

Apartments accessory to nonresidential uses

An upper-floor dwelling unit within a nonresidential building connected together, constituting a separate living area containing independent cooking and sleeping facilities for one family, physically separated from any other dwelling unit, and located on the second floor or higher above a separate nonresidential use located in the same structure.

Vehicle Parking:
No part of a yard, or other open space, or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this chapter shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.
Parking requirements in accordance with Article X: Off-Street Parking and Loading shall be calculated for each use, but may be designated within a common parking lot.
All off-street parking, loading and access facilities and service areas used by motor vehicles shall comply with the provisions of Article X: Off-Street Parking and Loading of this chapter, except that parking within front yard setbacks shall be permitted by conditional use.
VB and VT Districts: See § 455-25: Off-street parking regulations; design standards for detailed information regarding parking in the VB, VT and VR Districts.

Development Requirements:

Not a principal land use.
An apartment accessory to a nonresidential use is an upper-floor dwelling unit within a nonresidential building, constituting a separate living area containing independent cooking and sleeping facilities for one family, physically separated from any other dwelling unit, and located on the second floor or higher above a separate nonresidential use located in the same structure. The following standards apply to apartments accessory to nonresidential uses:
A. Parking requirements in accordance with Article X: Off-Street Parking and Loading shall be calculated for each use, but may be designated within a common parking lot.
B. An apartment accessory to a nonresidential use shall have independent access, and no access to a residential dwelling unit shall be from the nonresidential space below.
C. The nonresidential use of the building should not be a nuisance to the dwelling unit(s).
In the PBO District:
This use shall be permitted by right, subject to compliance with the area and bulk regulations of Article III: Land Uses and Dimensional Requirements and the other applicable provisions of this chapter providing the use is on a lot no less than one acre in size, a combination of the uses enumerated in § 455-16A(1), and the following business uses, provided that business uses shall not exceed 50% of the gross floor area of all buildings constructed, erected or converted under the provisions of this article.
This use shall be permitted by right in the Village Business District (VB), subject to compliance with the area and bulk regulations of § 455-24: Area and bulk regulations. and the other applicable provisions of this chapter.
The following accessory uses, buildings, and structures (including signs and parking associated with the accessory use) are permitted on the same lot with, and customarily incidental to, this use.

(1) Accessory uses, buildings and structures in accordance with § 455-47: Accessory buildings or structures and § 455-48: Accessory uses.
(2) Outdoor cafe in accordance with § 455-66: Outdoor cafes.

In the VB and VT District:
This use shall be permitted by right in the Village Business District (VB) and the Village Transition District (VT), subject to compliance with the area and bulk regulations of § 455-24: Area and bulk regulations and the other applicable provisions of this chapter.
Apartment accessory to nonresidential uses, permitted only on the second or higher floors in the same building, in accordance with § 455-50: Apartments accessory to nonresidential uses, housing any one of the following uses, which shall be located only on the ground-level floor of the building:

(a) Retail commercial use.
(b) Personal service commercial use.
(c) Professional or business office.

In the VB District:

The following accessory uses, buildings, and structures (including signs and parking associated with the accessory use) are permitted on the same lot with, and customarily incidental to, this use:

(1) Accessory uses, buildings and structures permitted by right as per § 455-47: Accessory buildings or structures. and § 455-48: Accessory uses.
(2) Storage within a completely enclosed building.
(3) Parking as permitted by Article X: Off-Street Parking and Loading.
(4) Signs as permitted by Article XI: Signs.

(5) Outdoor cafe in accordance with § 455-66: Outdoor cafes.

In the VT District:

The following accessory uses, buildings, and structures (including signs and parking associated with the accessory use) are permitted on the same lot with, and customarily incidental to, this use:

(1) Accessory uses, buildings and structures permitted by right as per § 455-47: Accessory buildings or structures and § 455-48: Accessory uses.
(2) Storage within a completely enclosed building.
(3) Parking as permitted by Article X: Off-Street Parking and Loading.
(4) Signs as permitted by Article XI: Signs.

Automobile car wash

Vehicle Parking:
3.0 stacking spaces per bay, plus 2.0 drying spaces per bay.
No part of a yard, or other open space, or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this chapter shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.
All off-street parking, loading and access facilities and service areas used by motor vehicles shall comply with the provisions of Article X: Off-Street Parking and Loading of this chapter, except that parking within front yard setbacks shall be permitted by conditional use.

Development Requirements:

In the PBO District:
This use shall be permitted by right, subject to compliance with the area and bulk regulations of Article III: Land Uses and Dimensional Requirements and the other applicable provisions of this chapter providing the use is on a lot no less than one acre in size, a combination of the uses enumerated in § 455-16A(1), and the following business uses, provided that business uses shall not exceed 50% of the gross floor area of all buildings constructed, erected or converted under the provisions of this article.
The following accessory uses, buildings, and structures (including signs and parking associated with the accessory use) are permitted on the same lot with, and customarily incidental to, this use.

(1) Accessory uses, buildings and structures in accordance with § 455-47: Accessory buildings or structures and § 455-48: Accessory uses.
(2) Outdoor cafe in accordance with § 455-66: Outdoor cafes.

Automobile gasoline service station and convenience store

AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE SERVICE STATION
A use where the principal and accessory buildings used for sale of gasoline, oil and motor vehicle accessories and/or the servicing of motor vehicles, including washing of cars and minor repairs, but not for body and fender work or painting.

CONVENIENCE STORE

A retail activity designed to serve a local market, which involves a delicatessen, small food, and sundries market. These uses may also be accompanied by the sale of automotive fuels, subject to the applicable zoning district ordinance provisions.

Vehicle Parking:
1.0 parking space per pump, plus 2.0 stacking spaces for each pump island.
No part of a yard, or other open space, or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this chapter shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.
All off-street parking, loading and access facilities and service areas used by motor vehicles shall comply with the provisions of Article X: Off-Street Parking and Loading of this chapter, except that parking within front yard setbacks shall be permitted by conditional use.

Development Requirements:

Gasoline and service stations shall be subject to the following regulations:

A. The minimum net lot area shall be 30,000 square feet.
B. Gasoline pumps or other service appliance installed in connection with any service station may be placed within the required front yard, but in no case closer than 25 feet to any street right-of-way.
C. Each gasoline pump shall be provided with a stacking area that can accommodate a minimum of two cars. Islands that contain more than one pump shall provide a minimum of two spaces per each dispensing nozzle. For the purposes of this chapter, one pump serves two fueling positions.
D. A service station must have adequate fire extinguishers, ample no-smoking signs posted, and any other safeguards deemed necessary for the public safety in accordance with the Pennsylvania State Fire Code and any other applicable state or federal regulations.
E. Underground storage tanks shall comply with all applicable regulations of the EPA and the PaDEP, including notification and registration requirements. If warranted, as determined by the Township, the applicant may be required to place tanks in a concrete vault, install other impervious lines, and/or install monitoring devices.
F. All automotive parts, refuse, and similar articles shall be stored within a building or enclosed area screened from adjacent uses in accordance with § 274-44C, Article XI: Landscaping, of Chapter 274: Natural Resources Protection.
G. All automotive repair or service activities, except those performed at fuel pumps, shall take place within a completely enclosed building.
H. Vehicles waiting for repairs shall not be stored outside for more than 10 days. Junk vehicles may not be stored in the open at any time.
I. Trash receptacles shall be provided outside for patron use, but shall be located next to the principal structure or at gasoline pump dispensers.
J. A trash storage area shall be provided which is screened from the street and adjacent properties in accordance with § 274-44C, Article XI: Landscaping, of Chapter 274: Natural Resources Protection, to prevent trash from blowing from the area and to permit safe and easy trash removal.
K. All gasoline pump dispensers shall be covered by a canopy and shall be illuminated only during nondaylight operating hours. Canopy lighting shall be located on the undersurface of the canopy and shall be limited to flush lens fixtures mounted on the canopy ceiling. Drop lens fixtures are prohibited. Up-lens lighting fixtures mounted on the canopy structure above the level of gas pumps are permitted if they have the effect of reducing glare from the lighting fixtures mounted on the canopy ceiling. Canopy height shall be limited to 14 feet, unless otherwise approved by conditional use. Such canopies shall be limited to fuel island canopies associated with an automotive gasoline or service station or in association with a convenience store.
L. Screening and landscaping shall be in accordance with the applicable provisions within this chapter.

Convenience stores shall be subject to the following regulations:

A. Trash receptacles shall be provided immediately outside of the convenience store for patron use, but shall not be located near any adjacent residential properties.
B. A trash storage area shall be provided which shall be screened from the street and adjacent properties in accordance with § 274-44C, Article XI: Landscaping, of Chapter 274: Natural Resources Protection, to prevent trash from blowing from the area and to permit safe and easy trash removal.
C. Where applicable, the sale of gasoline in conjunction with a convenience store shall conform to the applicable regulations of § 455-51: Automobile gasoline service stations.
In the PBO District:
This use shall be permitted as a conditional use when authorized by the Board of Supervisors, subject to the procedures and requirements of Article XIV: Conditional Uses, along with any reasonable conditions that the Board shall impose under § 455-106: Review and decision process of this chapter, on a lot no less than one acre in size and in compliance with the area and bulk regulations in § 455-17: Area and bulk regulations, within Article III: Land Uses and Dimensional Requirements, and any other applicable provisions of this chapter.
The following accessory uses, buildings, and structures (including signs and parking associated with the accessory use) are permitted on the same lot with, and customarily incidental to, this use.

(1) Accessory uses, buildings and structures in accordance with § 455-47: Accessory buildings or structures and § 455-48: Accessory uses.
(2) Outdoor cafe in accordance with § 455-66: Outdoor cafes.

Automobile gasoline service stations

A use where the principal and accessory buildings used for sale of gasoline, oil and motor vehicle accessories and/or the servicing of motor vehicles, including washing of cars and minor repairs, but not for body and fender work or painting.

Vehicle Parking:
1.0 parking space per pump, plus 2.0 stacking spaces for each pump island.
No part of a yard, or other open space, or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this chapter shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.
All off-street parking, loading and access facilities and service areas used by motor vehicles shall comply with the provisions of Article X: Off-Street Parking and Loading of this chapter, except that parking within front yard setbacks shall be permitted by conditional use.

Development Requirements:

Gasoline and service stations shall be subject to the following regulations:
A. The minimum net lot area shall be 30,000 square feet.
B. Gasoline pumps or other service appliance installed in connection with any service station may be placed within the required front yard, but in no case closer than 25 feet to any street right-of-way.
C. Each gasoline pump shall be provided with a stacking area that can accommodate a minimum of two cars. Islands that contain more than one pump shall provide a minimum of two spaces per each dispensing nozzle. For the purposes of this chapter, one pump serves two fueling positions.
D. A service station must have adequate fire extinguishers, ample no-smoking signs posted, and any other safeguards deemed necessary for the public safety in accordance with the Pennsylvania State Fire Code and any other applicable state or federal regulations.
E. Underground storage tanks shall comply with all applicable regulations of the EPA and the PaDEP, including notification and registration requirements. If warranted, as determined by the Township, the applicant may be required to place tanks in a concrete vault, install other impervious lines, and/or install monitoring devices.
F. All automotive parts, refuse, and similar articles shall be stored within a building or enclosed area screened from adjacent uses in accordance with § 274-44C, Article XI: Landscaping, of Chapter 274: Natural Resources Protection.
G. All automotive repair or service activities, except those performed at fuel pumps, shall take place within a completely enclosed building.
H. Vehicles waiting for repairs shall not be stored outside for more than 10 days. Junk vehicles may not be stored in the open at any time.
I. Trash receptacles shall be provided outside for patron use, but shall be located next to the principal structure or at gasoline pump dispensers.
J. A trash storage area shall be provided which is screened from the street and adjacent properties in accordance with § 274-44C, Article XI: Landscaping, of Chapter 274: Natural Resources Protection, to prevent trash from blowing from the area and to permit safe and easy trash removal.
K. All gasoline pump dispensers shall be covered by a canopy and shall be illuminated only during nondaylight operating hours. Canopy lighting shall be located on the undersurface of the canopy and shall be limited to flush lens fixtures mounted on the canopy ceiling. Drop lens fixtures are prohibited. Up-lens lighting fixtures mounted on the canopy structure above the level of gas pumps are permitted if they have the effect of reducing glare from the lighting fixtures mounted on the canopy ceiling. Canopy height shall be limited to 14 feet, unless otherwise approved by conditional use. Such canopies shall be limited to fuel island canopies associated with an automotive gasoline or service station or in association with a convenience store.
L. Screening and landscaping shall be in accordance with the applicable provisions within this chapter.
In the PBO District:
This use shall be permitted as a conditional use when authorized by the Board of Supervisors, subject to the procedures and requirements of Article XIV: Conditional Uses, along with any reasonable conditions that the Board shall impose under § 455-106: Review and decision process of this chapter, on a lot no less than one acre in size and in compliance with the area and bulk regulations in § 455-17: Area and bulk regulations, within Article III: Land Uses and Dimensional Requirements, and any other applicable provisions of this chapter.
The following accessory uses, buildings, and structures (including signs and parking associated with the accessory use) are permitted on the same lot with, and customarily incidental to, this use.

(1) Accessory uses, buildings and structures in accordance with § 455-47: Accessory buildings or structures and § 455-48: Accessory uses.
(2) Outdoor cafe in accordance with § 455-66: Outdoor cafes.

Automobile repair

The use of any building or structure where the maintenance, servicing, repair, or painting of vehicles is conducted or rendered.

Data For Informational Use Only Got it!

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Data For Informational Use Only Got it!

Easttown Township, PA

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