Establishment of districts
To achieve the purpose of this ordinance, the Town of Tiverton is hereby divided into the following zoning districts:
a. Residential R-30. This district contains areas of the town which are partially or fully developed at an approximate density of one dwelling unit per 30,000 square feet, or greater, and areas for which this density is considered appropriate. The R-30 District consists of the residential portions of the northwest corner of Tiverton, west of Fish Road and extending to Mount Hope Bay.
b. Residential R-40. This district contains areas of the town which are partially or fully developed at an approximate density of one dwelling unit per 40,000 square feet, and areas for which this density is considered appropriate. The R-40 District consists of the residential portions of Tiverton west of Fish Road, lying generally between Route 24 and Bulgarmarsh Road.
c. Residential R-60. This district contains areas of the town which are partially or fully developed at an approximate density of one dwelling unit per 60,000 square feet, and areas for which this density is considered appropriate. The R-60 District consists of the residential portion on the north side of Souza Road between Main Road and Fish Road.
d. Residential R-120. This district contains areas of the town which are characterized by farmland, forest, and low density residential uses for which development at a density at or lower than one dwelling unit per 120,000 square feet is appropriate. Most of the R-120 District lacks sewer and/or public water and relies on on-site wastewater treatments systems (OWTS) and private wells. Much of the district contains hydric or high water table soils and comprises the watershed for two public drinking water reservoirs.
e. Village Commercial VC. This district is that area of town known as Tiverton Four Corners which is characterized by small scale retail, restaurant and office uses in a compact and historic setting.
f. General Commercial GC. This district contains areas of the town which form the basic pattern of retail and service businesses serving the community, and the areas planned for expansion of such businesses. The GC District includes the major commercial area along Main Road in the northwest corner of Tiverton, and the smaller commercial area along Stafford Road, extending north from its intersection with Bulgarmarsh Road.
g. Highway Commercial HC. This district contains areas of the town where businesses which serve regional needs rely on easy vehicular access and large land areas for parking and development. The HC District includes the commercial area bordering the City of Fall River and lying between Route 24 and Stafford Road, and the commercial area at the interchange of Route 24 and Fish Road and extending west along the south side of Souza Road.
h. Waterfront W1. This district provides locations for moderate to high impact marine related commercial uses on and adjacent to the waterfront.
i. Waterfront W2. This district provides locations for a mixture of residential and low impact service, retail, commercial, and marine related uses on and adjacent to the waterfront.
j. Industrial I. This district contains that area of the town currently used for industrial and related uses, and which is considered suitable for future industrial development. The I District consists of a large land area east of Fish Road and on both sides of Route 24, and a smaller land area west of Fish Road and lying between the R-30 District and Souza Road.
k. Open Space/Conservation OS. This district includes areas of coastal land and open space which are either owned publicly or by a private land conservation entity (e.g., land trust, Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society) and which are protected for one or more of the following purposes: keeping the land in a natural undeveloped condition, providing passive recreational opportunities to the public, and preserving specific habitat areas or agricultural uses. This district does not include undeveloped land which is privately owned but unprotected or protected by means of the purchase of development rights by the town or state, nor does it include land set aside as common open space as part of a rural residential development (see article IX).
l. Neighborhood Business District NB. Transitional areas indicated by design as low density residential sections where homes have been converted to small-scale commercial and mixed uses. All structures and development in this zone are additionally subject to and governed by the Tiverton Commercial Form-Based Code, Zoning with Design Standards and Guidelines (June 30, 2014), which by reference are incorporated herein.
m. Pedestrian Friendly Destination District PFD. Clusters of businesses in new destination centers where the design of improvements within and adjacent to the property creates a comfortable and safe pedestrian environment. All structures and development in this zone are additionally subject to and governed by the Tiverton Commercial Form-Based Code, Zoning with Design Standards and Guidelines (June 30, 2014), which by reference are incorporated herein.
n. Traditional Main Street District TMS. A configuration with zero front yard setbacks, lots of pedestrian amenities, and on-street and rear-yard parking, where the first floor is assigned for retail and restaurant uses and the upper floors may be residential and commercial office. All structures and development in this zone are additionally subject to and governed by the Tiverton Commercial Form-Based Code (June 30, 2014), Zoning with Design Standards and Guidelines, which by reference are incorporated herein.
o. Watershed Protection Overlay District WP. This is an overlay district applied to those areas of Tiverton which comprise the watersheds of Stafford Pond and Nonquit Pond, public drinking water supplies. The WP Overlay District is governed by specific regulations (see article VIII).
p. Planned Development Park (PDP) Floating Zone: A development zone of one or more buildings, on one or more parcels, in accord with the use and dimensional requirements of Zoning Ordinance Article IV, Section 20. A PDP shall be considered a floating zone as defined by G.L. § 45-24-31.
(Ord. of 6-4-01(2); Ord. No. 2024-0009, 6-24-24; Ord. No. 2025-0001, § 3, 2-10-25; Ord. No. 2025-0010, § 2, 6-9-25)