1.1 A - ZONING CODE ANALYSIS Flashcards
Ordinance
A municipal law in addition to the standard building code.
Non-Conforming Use
Where the current use of the building is no longer permitted by the zoning ordinance (but once was). The use is typically allow to continue unless it’s unsafe.
Conditional Use
A building use that’s permitted in an area that it is not zoned for, in order to benefit the public (for example: allowing a school in a neighborhood zoned for residential use.
Variance
A request applied for by a building owner to the Planning Department for the permission to deviate from an ordinance. This is typically done in order to avoid economic hardship, such as requesting to avoid certain parking requirements in order to eliminate a costly excavation that would surpass the project budget.
Easements
The legal right of the government or another land owner to use one’s property for a specific purpose (such as an access road or running a power line through a property to reach a neighbor).
Scenic Easement
An ordinance preventing development that would block or ruin a scenic view for the public.
Spot Zoning
A change in the zoning ordinance for a particular area.
Setbacks
the dimension, expressed in feet, of how far the building should be “set back” from the property line. Setback dimensions may increase in upper floors of a building similar to the profile of a wedding cake. It’s also important to verify setbacks for all sides of the property as the front, rear, and side setbacks often vary from each other.
Building Line or Buildable Are
The imaginary line beyond which a structure is not allowed to extend.
Property Line
The legal boundary of a site outlining the ownership of the property. Property lines are used as the starting point of certain setbacks to determine the buildable area on a site.
