Article 03-Construction & Definitions
(132) SIGN, BILLBOARD, OFF-SITE, OR OFF-PREMISE: A sign that directs attention to a
business, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered at a location other than
the premises on which the sign is located.
(133) SIGN, GROUND: A sign, other than a pole sign, in which the entire bottom is in contact with
or is close to the ground and is independent of any other structure.
(134) SIGN, HOME OCCUPATION: A sign containing only the name and occupation of a
permitted home occupation.
(135) SIGN, ILLUMINATED: A sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting either by lights on
or in the sign or directed toward the sign.
(136) SIGNS, ON-SITE: A sign relating in its subject matter to the premises on which it is located,
or to products, accommodations, services, or activities on the premises. On-site signs do not include
signs erected by the outdoor advertising industry in the conduct of the outdoor advertising business.
(137) SIGN, POLE: A sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole or other support so that the
bottom edge of the sign face is six feet or more above grade.
(138) SIGN, POLITICAL: A temporary sign announcing or supporting political candidates or
issues in connection with any national, state, or local election.
(139) SIGN, PROJECTING: A sign that is wholly or partly dependent upon a building for support
and projects more than twelve inches from such building.
(140) SIGN, REAL ESTATE: A sign pertaining to the sale or lease of the premises, or a portion of
the premises, on which the sign is located.
(141) SIGN, TEMPORARY, PORTABLE: A sign, flag, banner, pennant or valance constructed of
lightweight material which is not permanently attached to building or land and which is intended for
display for a limited period of time.
(142) SIGN, WALL: a sign fastened to or painted on the wall of a building or structure in such a
manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for, or forms the background surface of, the
sign and that does not project more than twelve inches from such building, or structure.
(143) SIGN AREA: The entire face of a sign, including the advertising surface and any
framing, trim, or molding but not including the supporting structure. In the event of a
double-faced (back-to-back) sign, the area is calculated using the largest face only. If there
are multiple faces visible from any one point, the area shall be calculated by adding together
the area of all visible sign faces.
(144) SORORITY shall mean a building or structure housing a group of women associated for their
common interest. Such group may eat, sleep, and otherwise use facilities as are provided on the
premises.
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(145) STORAGE UNITS, MINI: Storage units primarily for the storage and housing of personal
property including but not limited to household goods, boats, motor vehicles, with each unit
generally not exceeding two hundred (200) square feet.
(145.1) STORAGE, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR: Storage, either inside a building or group of
buildings, or outside, used for the storage and housing of personal property including but not limited
to boats, motor vehicles and recreational vehicles, containing controlled access units or delineated
open areas for individual use. Outdoor storage shall be enclosed by a fence or wall at least six (6)
feet in height. Items stored outdoors must be designed for outdoor use.
(146) STORY shall mean a space in a building between the surface of any floor and the surface of
the floor above, or if there be no floor above, then the space between such floor and the ceiling or
roof above. The basement as defined herein shall not be considered as a story of the building.
(147) STREET shall be defined as meaning a public thoroughfare or right-of-way, dedicated,
deeded or condemned for use as such, other than an alley, which affords the principle means of
access to abutting property, including avenue, place, way, drive, lane, boulevard, highway, road or
any other thoroughfare except as excluded herein.
(148) STREET LINE shall mean the boundary line between the street right-of-way and the abutting
property.
(149) STREET, LOOP: A street having both ends terminating on another single street.
(150) STREET, MARGINAL: A minor street which is parallel to and adjacent to an arterial street
and which serves to reduce the number of access points to the arterial street and thereby increase
traffic safety.
(151) STREET NETWORK:
a. EXPRESSWAY: A street which provides fast and efficient movement of large volumes
of traffic between areas and does not provide a land service function.
b. ARTERIAL: A street which provides for through traffic movement between and around
areas with direct access to abutting property, subject to necessary control of entrances, exits,
and curb use.
c. COLLECTOR: A street which provides for traffic movement between arterials and local
streets, with direct access to abutting property.
d. LOCAL: A street which provides direct access to abutting land, and local traffic
movement whether in business, industrial, or residential land.
(152) STRUCTURE: Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires permanent
location on the ground or attachment to something having a permanent location on the ground, but
not including fences or retaining walls, or public items such as utility poles, street light fixtures,
City of Blair Zoning Regulations Article 3, page 20
street signs and outdoor areas such as paved areas, driveways or sidewalks.
(153) STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS: Any change in the supporting members of a building,
such as bearing walls or partitions, columns, beams, or girders, or any complete rebuilding of the
roof or the exterior walls. For the purpose of this regulation, the following shall not be considered as
structural alterations:
a. Attachment of a new front where structural supports are not changed.
b. Addition of fire escapes where structural supports are not changed.
c. New windows where lintels and support walls are not materially changed.
d. Repair or replacement of non- structural members.
(154) STRUCTURE, TEMPORARY shall mean a structure which is readily movable.
(155) TAVERN: An establishment in which the primary function is the public sale and serving of
alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, including establishments, commonly known as
key clubs, which are open, and in which alcoholic beverages are served, only to members and their
guests.
(155.1) TENT STRUCTURE OR CANOPY TENT shall mean any fabric-covered structure meant
for temporary or permanent storage and are considered accessory structures.
(156) VISUAL OBSTRUCTION shall mean any fence, hedge, tree, shrub, wall or structure
exceeding three (3) feet in height, measured from the crown of intersecting or intercepting streets,
alleys, or driveways, which limit the visibility of persons in motor vehicles on said streets, alleys or
driveways. This does not include trees kept trimmed of branches below a minimum height of eight
(8) feet.
(157) VARIANCE: A variance is a waiver of the terms of the Zoning Ordinance where such
variance will not be contrary to the public interest and where, owing to conditions peculiar to the
property and not the result of the actions of the applicant, a literal enforcement of the Ordinance
would result in unnecessary and undue hardship. As used in this Ordinance a variance is authorized
only for height, area, and size of structure or size of yards and open spaces; establishment or
expansion of a use otherwise prohibited shall not be allowed by variance, nor shall a variance be
granted because of the presence of non-conformities in the zoning district or uses in an adjoining
zoning district or because of conditions created by the landowner.
(158) WALL shall mean any structure or device forming a physical barrier, which is so constructed
that fifty (50) percent or more of the vertical surface is closed and prevents the passage of light, and
vision through said surface in a horizontal plane.
(159) YARD: A required open space, other than a court, unoccupied and unobstructed by any
structure or portion of a structure provided, however, that fences, walls, poles, posts, and other
customary yard accessories, ornaments and furniture may be permitted in any yard subject to height
City of Blair Zoning Regulations Article 3, page 21
limitations and requirements limiting obstructions of visibility and subject to the district regulations.
In the case of corner lots that have streets on two or more sides, front yards of the required depth
shall be provided on all street frontages.
In the case of through lots, unless the prevailing front yard pattern on adjoining lots indicates
otherwise, front yards shall be provided on all frontages. Where one (1) of the front yards that
would normally be required on a through lot is not in keeping with the prevailing yard pattern, the
zoning administrator may waive the requirement which shall not exceed the average of the yards
provided on adjacent lots.
In the case of interior lot, a front yard of the required depth shall be provided, except the zoning
administration may waive the requirement in keeping with the prevailing yard pattern of the adjacent
lots. The waiver shall not exceed the average of the yards provided on adjacent lots.
(160) YARD, FRONT: A yard extending from the front lot line adjoining a public street to the front
of the building between side lot lines.
In the case of corner or side frontage lots, a front yard of the required depth shall be provided on
either frontage, or a second front yard of half the depth required generally for front yards in the
district shall be provided on the other frontage unless otherwise provided in the district regulations.
In the case of corner lots with more than two (2) frontages, the zoning administrator shall determine
the front yard requirements, subject to the following limitations:
1. In the case of corner lots with more than two frontages existing and platted before to July 1, 1994:
A. At least one front yard shall be provided having the full depth required generally in the district.
B. No other front yard on such lot shall have less than one half the full depth required generally.
2. In the case of all such corner lots platted or re-platted after to July 1, 1994, both of the front yards
shall have the full depth required generally in the district. Depth of required front yards shall be
measured at right angles to a straight line joining the foremost points of the side lot lines. The
foremost point of the side lot line, in the case of rounded property corners at street intersections,
shall be assumed to be the point at which the side and front lot lines would have met without such
rounding. The front lot line and the inner edge of the front yard shall be parallel.
(161) YARD, REAR: A yard extending from the rear lot line to the rear of the building between
inner side yard line. Depth of a required rear yard shall be measured in such a manner that the yard
established is a strip of the minimum width required by district regulations with its inner edge
parallel with the rear lot line. In the case of through lots and corner lots, there will be no rear yards,
but only front and side yards.
(161.1) YARD, REVERSED FRONT or THROUGH LOT: The yard adjoining a public street
opposite the front yard on a through lot. In the case of a corner lot, this would be the third front or
third-frontage yard. The setbacks are the same as the front-yard setbacks. There is no rear yard.
(161.2) YARD, SECOND FRONT: The area extending from the front corner of the house to the
rear lot line on the side of the lot immediately adjacent to the City Street.
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(163) YARD, SPECIAL: A yard behind any required yard adjacent to a public street, required to
perform the same function as a side or rear yard, but adjacent to a lot line so placed or oriented that
neither the term "side yard" nor the term "rear yard" clearly applies. In such cases, the zoning
administrator shall require a yard with minimum dimensions as generally required for a side yard or
a rear yard in the district, determining which shall apply by the relation of the portion of the lot on
which the yard is to be located to the adjoining lot or lots, with due regard to the orientation and
location of structures and buildable areas thereon.
(END OF SECTION)
City of Blair Zoning Regulations Article 3, page 23