THE ZONING CODE OF
THE TOWN OF ROCK HALL, MARYLAND
ORDINANCE # 92-9

NOTE: This document has been separated into sections corresponding to the 14 "Articles" listed below. Some of these sections are large (especially Articles V and VI) and may take a minute or so to download completely (depending on time of day and modem speed).

ARTICLE I. TITLE AND APPLICABILITY
(2 kb)
    SECTION 1. TITLE - 5
    SECTION 2. APPLICABILITY - 5

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
(3 kb)

ARTICLE III. DISTRICTS AND DISTRICT MAPS
(12 kb)

    SECTION 1. DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED - 7
    SECTION 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICT MAP - 7
    SECTION 3. COPIES OF MAP - 8
    SECTION 4. PERIODIC REVIEW OF REGULATIONS - 8
    SECTION 5. INTERPRETATION OF BOUNDARIES - 8
    SECTION 6. UNDERWATER AREAS - 9
    SECTION 7. OFFICIAL CRITICAL AREA OVERLAY DISTRICT MAPS - 9
    SECTION 8.  CHANGING THE OFFICIAL CRITICAL AREAS
                OVERLAY DISTRICT MAPS - 10

ARTICLE IV. GENERAL PROVISIONS
(8 kb)


    SECTION 1.  COMPLIANCE REQUIRED - 11
    SECTION 2. LOCATION ON LOTS REQUIRED - 11
    SECTION 3. ENCROACHMENTS AND REDUCTIONS OF LOT AREA PROHIBITED - 11
    SECTION 4. PRIOR CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESSORY STRUCTURES 11
    SECTION 5. USES NOT PERMITTED ARE PROHIBITED - 11
    SECTION 6. TABLES ARE PART OF THIS ORDINANCE - 11
    SECTION 7. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE - 12
    SECTION 8. MODIFICATION TO SETBACK REQUIREMENTS - 12
    SECTION 9. DENSITY DETERMINATION - 12
    SECTION 10. NON-TIDAL WETLAND DETERMINATION - 12
    SECTION 11. USES SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED - 12

ARTICLE V. DISTRICT REGULATIONS
(292 kb)


    SECTION 1. R-1 LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL - 13
    SECTION 2. R-2 MIXED RESIDENTIAL - 19
    SECTION 3. R-3 HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL - 26
    SECTION 4. C-1 COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL - 33
    SECTION 5. C-2 HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL - 39
    SECTION 6. C-3 TOWN CENTER COMMERCIAL - 45
    SECTION 7. MCI MIXED COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL - 51
    SECTION 8. MRec MARITIME RECREATIONAL - 59
    SECTION 9. MC MARITIME COMMERCIAL - 64
    SECTION 10. MWD MARITIME WATER-DEPENDENT - 69
    SECTION 11. 0 CRITICAL AREA OVERLAY - 74
    SECTION 12. GA GROWTH ALLOCATION - 92

ARTICLE VI. USES SUBJECT TO PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
(109 kb)


ARTICLE VII. SIGN REGULATIONS
(39 kb)


    SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS - 124
    SECTION 2. GENERAL SIGN REGULATIONS - 125
    SECTION 3. PERMITTED SIGNS - 130

ARTICLE VIII. OFF-STREET PARKING; OFF-STREET LOADING
(34 kb)


    SECTION 1. TABLE OF PARKINGS REQUIREMENTS - 135
    SECTION 2. INTERPRETATION OF PARKING TABLE138
    SECTION 3. JOINT USE AND OFF-SITE FACILITIES: PARKING - 139
    SECTION 4. DESIGN STANDARDS: PARKING - 139
    SECTION 5. TABLE OF LOADING REQUIREMENTS - 141
    SECTION 6. INTERPRETATION OF LOADING TABLE - 142
    SECTION 7. MIXED USE REQUIREMENTS: LOADING - 142
    SECTION 8. DESIGN STANDARDS: LOADING - 142
    SECTION 9. MODIFICATION TO PARKING AND UNLOADING REQUIREMENTS - 143

ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTARY HEIGHT, AREA, AND BULK REGULATIONS
(13 kb)


    SECTION 1.    PURPOSE - 144
    SECTION 2. MIXED USES - 144
    SECTION 3. HEIGHT MODIFICATIONS - 144
    SECTION 4. LOT AREA - 144
    SECTION 5. LOT AVERAGING - 145
    SECTION 6. GENERAL YARD AND OPEN SPACE REGULATIONS - 145
    SECTION 7. FRONT YARDS - 146
    SECTION 8. SIDE YARDS - 147
    SECTION 9. REAR YARDS - 147
    SECTION 10. VISIBILITY AT INTERSECTIONS - 147

ARTICLE X. NONCONFORMING USES
(9 kb)


    SECTION 1. NONCOMFORMING LAND AND STRUCTURES - 148
    SECTION 2. NONCONFORMING SIGNS - 148
    SECTION 3. DISCONTINUANCE - 148
    SECTION 4. CONDITIONS FOR RESTORATION - 149
    SECTION 5. INTERMITTENT USE - 149
    SECTION 6. DETERMINATION OF NONCONFORMANCE - 149
    SECTION 7. CONTINUANCE OF NONCONFORMING HEIGHT, AREA, OR BULK - 149
    SECTION 8. DWELLINGS IN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS - 149
    SECTION 9. PRE-EXISITING USES AND LOTS OF RECORD IN THE CRITICAL AREA                   DISTRICT - 149

ARTICLE XI. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
(48 kb)


    SECTION 1. CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS - 151
    SECTION 2. SPECIAL AMENDMENT REQUIREMENTS IN THE CRITICAL AREA                   DISTRICT - 152
    SECTION 3. PROCEDURES FOR APPROVAL OF USES WITH PERFORMANCE                   STANDARDS - 154
    SECTION 4. PROCEDURES FOR APPROVAL OF CONDITIONAL USES - 154
    SECTION 5. PROCEDURES FOR APPROVAL OF PRELIMINARY AND FINAL SITE                   PLANS - 155
    SECTION 6. SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR CERTAIN USES - 155
    SECTION 7. REQUIREMENTS OF PRELIMINARY SITE PLANS - 156
    SECTION 8. REQUIREMENTS FOR FINAL SITE PLANS - 160
    SECTION 9. AMENDMENTS AND ADDITIONS TO SITE PLANS - 162
    SECTION 10. CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY - 163
    SECTION 11. INTERPRETATION, PURPOSE, AND CONFLICTS - 163

ARTICLE XII. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
(12 kb)


    SECTION 1. STATEMENT OF INTENT - 164
    SECTION 2. GENERAL - 164
    SECTION 3. PERMITS - 164
    SECTION 4. ENFORCEMENT - 165
    SECTION 5. FEES - 167

ARTICLE XIII. BOARD OF APPEALS
(28 kb)


    SECTION 1. CREATION; ORGANIZATION; RULES OF CONDUCT - 168
    SECTION 2. APPEALS PROCEDURE - 168
    SECTION 3. POWERS AND DUTIES - 169
    SECTION 4. VARIANCES - 170
    SECTION 5. CONDITIONS ATTACHED TO APPROVALS - 171
    SECTION 6. LAPSE OF VARIANCE - 172
    SECTION 7. AMENDMENTS TO VARIANCES - 172
    SECTION 8. APPEALS TO COURTS - 172
    SECTION 9. VARIANCE FROM CRIT AREA OVERLAY DISTRICT PROVISIONS - 172

ARTICLE XIV. DEFINITIONS
(70 kb)


    SECTION 1. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION - 176
    SECTION 2. GENERAL DEFINITIONS - 176
    SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE CRITICAL AREA OVERLAY - 191