Zoning Regulations


					Somerset Borough Inspections Department 347 W. Union Street Somerset, PA 15501 814-445-5595

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			BOROUGH OF SOMERSET ZONING ORDINANCE TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE 1 TITLE AND APPLICABILITY Section 1 Title Section 2 Applicability ARTICLE 11 PURPOSE ARTICLE 111 DISTRICTS AND DISTRICT MAP Section 1 Establishment of Districts Section 2 Reference to District Names Section 3 Establishment of District Map Section 4 Informational Copies of District Map Section 5 Periodic Review Section 6 Interpretation of District Boundaries ARTICLE IV GENERAL PROVISIONS Section 1 Compliance With Regulations Section 2 Location on Lot Required Section 3 Encroachment; Reduction of Lot Area Section 4 Accessory Building; Prior Construction Section 5 Uses Not Permitted Are Prohibited Section 6 Tables Are Part of This Ordinance Section 7 Certain Regulations Are Not Reproduced Herein Section 8 Minimum Requirements ARTICLE V DISTRICT REGULATIONS Chart (SETBACKS)











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		Section 1		R-1 Single-Family Residential District 1.1 Purpose of the District Chart of District Regulations 1.2 Permitted Uses 1.3 Permitted Accessory Uses 1.4 Permitted Signs 1.5 Height, Area and Bulk Requirements 1.6 Reference to Additional Regulations



Some pages require Acrobat Reader. Click Logo for a free download.		Section 2		R-2 Two-Family Residential District 2.1 Purpose of the District 2.2 Permitted Uses 2.3 Permitted Accessory Uses 2.4 Permitted Signs 2.5 Height, Area, and Bulk Requirements 2.6 Reference to Additional Regulations
		Section 2
		Section 3		R-3 Multi-Family Residential District 3.1 Purpose of District 3.2 Permitted Uses 3.3 Permitted Accessory Uses 3.4 Permitted Signs 3.5 Height, Area and Bulk Requirements 3.6 Reference of Additional Regulations
		Section 4		B-1 Neighborhood Business District 4.1 Purpose of District 4.2 Permitted Uses 4.3 Permitted Accessory Uses 4.4 Permitted Signs 4.5 Height, Area and Bulk Requirements 4.6 Reference to Additional Regulations
		Section 5		C-1 General Commercial District 5.1 Purpose of the District 5.2 Permitted Uses 5.3 Permitted Accessory Uses 5.4 Permitted Signs 5.5 Height, Area and Bulk Requirements 5.6 Reference to Additional Regulations
		Section 6		C-2 Central Commercial District 6.1 Purpose of the District 6.2 Permitted Uses 6.3 Permitted Accessory Uses 6.4 Permitted Signs 6.5 Height, Area and Bulk Requirements
IT'S THE LAW Call before you dig! 1-800-242-1776		Section 6
IT'S THE LAW Call before you dig! 1-800-242-1776		Section 7		C-3 Commercial District 7.1 Purpose of District 7.2 Permitted Uses 7.3 Permitted Accessory Uses 7.4 Permitted Signs 7.5 Height, Area and Bulk Requirements 7.6 Reference to Additional Regulations
		Section 7
		Section 8		M-1 Light Industrial District 8.1 Purpose of the District 8.2 Permitted Uses 8.3 Permitted Accessory Uses 8.4 Permitted Signs 8.5 Height, Area and Bulk Requirements 8.6 Reference to Additional Regulations 8.7 Industrial Park Regulations
		Section 9		M-2 Heavy Industrial District 9.1 Purpose of the District 9.2 Permitted Uses 9.3 Planning Commission Review 9.4 Permitted Accessory Uses 9.5 Permitted Signs; 9.6 Height Area and Bulk Requirements 9.7 Reference to Additional Regulations 9.8 Industrial Park Regulations
		Section 10		Flood Plain Regulations 10.1 Statement of Purpose; 10.2 Warning and Disclaimer of Liability; 10.3 Establishment of Flood-Fringe Districts; 10.31 Description of Districts; 10.42 Zoning Map; 10.43 District Boundary Changes; 10.5 District Provisions; 10.51 Applicability; 10.52 Floodway District (FW) Permitted Uses; 10.53 Floodway District (FW) Uses Permitted By Special Exceptions; 10.54 Floodway-Fringe District (FF) Permitted Uses; 10.6 Special Exceptions and Variances – Factors to be Considered; 10.7 Existing Structures – Located in Floodway (FW) and Flood-Fringe (FF) Districts


Building Permit Application, Water/Sewer Service, etc.

			ARTICLE VI GENERAL SIGN REGULATIONS Section 1 Sign Definitions Section 2 General Sign Regulations Section 3 Signs Which May Be Erected In Any District Without a Permit Section 4 Non-Conforming Signs Section 5 Special Sign Regulations for Special Sign Districts Established on the Borough Zoning Map ARTICLE VII OFF-STREET PARKING REGULATIONS Section 1 Off-Street Parking Requirements Section 2 Interpretation of the Chart of Section 1 Section 3 Joint Use and Off-Site Facilities Section 4 Design Standards ARTICLES VIII OFF-STREET LOADING REGULATIONS Section 1 Chart Section 2 Interpretation of the Chart Section 3 Mixed Uses in One Building Section 4 Design Standards ARTICLE IX CONDITIONAL USES Section 1 Purpose Section 2 Conditional Uses Enumerated Section 3 Procedures, Preliminary Site Plan Required Section 4 Approval Valid One Year Section 5 Existing Conditional Uses Section 6 Revocation of Permits ARTICLE X SUPPLEMENTARY HEIGHT, AREA, AND BULK REGULATIONS Section 1 Mixed Uses, Height, Area, and Bulk Requirements Section 2 Modification of Height Regulations Section 3 Lot Area Section 4 Yards and Open Space Generally Section 5 Front Yards Section 6 Side Yards Section 7 Rear Yards Section 8 Corner Visibility Section 9 Accessory Buildings and Structures Section 10 Special Regulations for Two-Family Dwelling and Townhouses ARTICLE XI NON-CONFORMING USES Section 1 Non-Conforming Use of Land and Buildings Section 2 Non-Conforming Signs Section 3 Destruction of a Non-Conforming Use Section 4 Intermittent Use Section 5 Existence of a Non-Conforming Use Section 6 Buildings Nonconforming in Height, Area, or Bulk Section 7 Non-Conforming Dwellings in Industrial Districts Section 8 Non-Conforming Uses Not Validated ARTICLE XII THE ZONING HEARING BOARD Section 1 Organization Section 2 Procedure Section 3 Powers Section 4 Special Exceptions


				4.1 Special Use Exceptions 4.2 Special Yard Exceptions 4.3 Special Height Exceptions
			Section 5 Variances Section 6 Conditions Attached To Approvals Section 7 Lapse of Special Exception or Variance Section 8 Amendment of Special Exception or Variance Section 9 Appeals to Courts ARTICLE XIII DEFINITIONS Section 1 General Rules of Construction Section 2 Definitions ARTICLE XIV ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS Section 1 Changes and Amendments Section 2 Procedures for Approval of Conditional Uses Section 3 Procedures for Approval of Site Plans for Conditional Uses Section 4 Site Plan Review Required for Certain Uses Section 5 Requirements of Preliminary Site Plans Section 6 Requirements for Final Plats Section 7 Amendments and Additions to Site Plans Section 8 Certificate of Occupancy Section 9 Building Permits Section 10 Plats Section 11 Filing Fees Section 12 Interpretation, Purpose and Conflict Section 13 Enforcement, Violation and Penalties Section 14 Validity Section 15 Repel of Conflicting Ordinances Section 16 Effective Immediately Zoning Map Amendments Ordinance 1039, 6/19/75; Ordinance 1050, 8/30/76; Ordinance 1060, 5/9/77 Ordinance 1080, 7/10/78, Ordinance 1110, 3/12/79; Ordinance 1110, 3/12/79 Enclosures Somerset Borough Zoning Map Ordinance No. 1172 Permit Fees for Construction Related Activity and Demolition Jan. 11, 1983