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Tiverton
Town of Tiverton Zoning Ordinance
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§ VII-4

Applicable dimensional requirements

  • a. No parcel, tract or lots of land contiguous to each other and under single ownership shall be subdivided in a manner where the lot width or area shall be below the dimensional requirements of article V of this ordinance.

  • b. Residential structures. Where a substandard lot of record exists, the side yard and rear yard dimensional requirements for a residential structure may be reduced, and the maximum lot coverage for a residential structure may be increased, both in the proportion that the area of such substandard lot is less than the minimum area requirements of the district in which the lot is located. However, the resulting changes shall not create setbacks less than and lot coverage greater than the average setbacks and lot coverage, respectively, of adjacent properties within 200 feet; in no case shall the side yard be less than five feet nor the rear yard be less than ten feet, nor shall the maximum lot coverage exceed 25 percent. Also, the resulting changes shall not adversely alter the character of the neighborhood, or adversely affect neighboring properties. In addition, where any substandard lot is less than 10,000 square feet in area, the maximum building height shall be 25 feet. The necessary computations and determination of the modifications for building setback and lot coverage requirements for each substandard lot will be made by the town zoning officer at the time of the application for a building permit.

  • c. All structures other than residential structures. Notwithstanding the failure of a single substandard lot of record or contiguous lots of record to meet the dimensional and/or quantitative requirements of this zoning ordinance, and/or road frontage or other access requirements applicable to the district as stated in the ordinance, a substandard lot of record shall not be required to seek any zoning relief based solely on the failure to meet minimum lot size requirements of the district in which such lot is located. The setback, frontage, and/or lot width requirements for a structure under this section shall be reduced and the maximum building coverage requirements shall be increased by the same proportion as the lot area of the substandard lot is to the minimum lot area requirement of the zoning district in which the lot is located. All proposals exceeding such reduced requirement shall proceed with a modification request under appendix A, Zoning, article X, section 7, or a dimensional variance request under appendix A, Zoning, article VII, whichever is applicable.

  • d. Where a lot of record is substandard in area and is proposed to be increased by the adjustment of boundaries with an adjoining lot or lots (as a subdivision under the provisions of the land development and subdivision regulations) but remains non-conforming in area, the applicant shall be relieved of the need to request a dimensional variance under article XVII, provided however there is no increase in the degree of nonconformity or in the intensity of use as a result of the subdivision.

(Ord. of 6-4-01(5); Ord. of 5-23-05; Ord. of 11-30-23(12))