General requirements
a. The requirements and regulations in section 1 of this article are presented only as minimum standards for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare. The owner of any tract or parcel of land may exceed the minimum requirements if he or she so desires. However, in the general commercial zone, a recommended "build-to" line will be established through development plan review based on context and/or future plans for the area.
b. In any district, not more than one structure housing a permitted use, or principal use allowed by special use permit, may be erected on a single lot, except however, more than one principal building and/or principal use, may be allowed on a lot within a commercial, waterfront or industrial district provided the project undergoes review, including design review, as a land development project in accordance with Appendix B, Land Development and Subdivision Regulations. Where more than one principal structure is allowed, the maximum building coverage and all other dimensional standards shall otherwise be complied with.
c. If 25 percent or more of the buildings fronting on a street do not have the minimum front yard depth, then the required front yard for a building hereafter erected shall be the average of the front yards of the lots having buildings thereon, except that all subsequent front yards shall not be less than 25 feet.
d. Lot frontage shall not be less than 120 feet in all zoning districts, except as follows or otherwise permitted:
i. General Commercial Zone: no less than 100 feet;
ii. Traditional Main Street Zone: no less than 40 feet;
iii. Pedestrian Friendly Destination zone: no less than 75 feet;
iv. Neighborhood Business Zone: no less than 75 feet.
v. Where a lot fronts on a cul-de-sac, with no defeasible easement for future street extension, the frontage shall not be less than 75 feet, provided however that the lot width at the front yard depth be a minimum of 120 feet. The cul-de-sac shall conform to the standards in the Tiverton land development and subdivision regulations.
e. The front lot line on lots fronting on more than one street, such as through lots and corner lots, shall be that along the street line which is the greater of the two, and shall conform with the front yard requirements as provided in section 1. In the general commercial zone, the front yard will be considered to be that of the primary street (that street of higher traffic volume or intensity of classification).
f. Where a rear yard, as defined, is not possible for a given lot, one side yard as designated may be considered to be a rear yard, and shall conform with the rear yard requirements as provided in section 1.
g. Where the location of a lot width or lot depth line, or a front, side or rear yard, is otherwise uncertain, the zoning officer shall determine their position in a manner complying as closely as possible with the requirements of this ordinance.
(Ord. of 4-23-01(2); Ord. of 6-4-01(4); Ord. of 11-23-09; Ord. No. 2024-0008, 6-24-24; Ord. No. 2025-0001, § 5, 2-24-25)