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Earlier editions: 2026-09

Title 17 — ZONING›Chapter 17.40 — GENERAL REGULATIONS

Lancaster Municipal Code Art. II Required Area

Lancaster Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Lancaster

Cite as: Lancaster Municipal Code Article II · Text as of 2026-10-04

17.40.050 - Defined.

See definition in Section 17.04.240.

(Prior zoning ord. § 702.1)

Exceptions & meaning →

17.40.060 - Undersized sections.

If as a result of the normal division of an undersized section of land, a parcel of land would be created having less than the required area, such parcel of land shall be considered as having the required area provided:

A. That in no event shall more parcels be created under this section than would result from the breakdown of a normal section of land in the same zone; and

B. That this section shall apply only to parcels of land when division of a normal section would create parcels of land having not less than a minimum gross area of 2½ acres; and

C. That the total reduction of all parcels in a division of an undersized section shall not exceed 10%; and

D. That no lot or parcel of land shall be created which contains less than a minimum gross area of 2¼ acres; and

E. That the creation of such parcels shall meet all the requirements of Ordinance 4478 entitled "Subdivision Ordinance," adopted March 19, 1945.

(Prior zoning ord. § 702.2)

Exceptions & meaning →

17.40.070 - Required area reduced by public use.

If a lot or parcel of land has not less than the required area and after creation of such lot or parcel of land a part thereof is acquired for public use other than for highway purposes, in any manner including dedication, condemnation or purchase, and if the remainder of such lot or parcel has not less than the 80% of the required area, such remainder shall be considered as having the required area.

(Prior zoning ord. § 702.3)

Exceptions & meaning →

17.40.080 - Required area reduced for highway purposes.

If a lot or parcel of land has not less than the required area, as defined in Section 17.40.050, and after the creation of such lot or parcel of land a part thereof is acquired for highway purposes exclusively in any manner including dedication, condemnation or purchase, and if the remainder of such lot or parcel has not less than 75% of the required area, then such remainder shall be considered as having the required area, provided the remaining portion of said lot or parcel of land has an area of less than 2,500 square feet, or an area as is otherwise provided herein. The director, without notice or hearing, may approve a reduction of lot area to 75% of the required area where the remaining parcel would have less than 2,500 square feet, but not less than 2,000 square feet, where topographic features, subdivision design or other conditions create an unnecessary hardship or unreasonable limitation making it obviously impractical to comply with the stated minimum.

(Prior zoning ord. § 702.4)

Exceptions & meaning →

17.40.090 - Required width of depth reduced by public use.

A. If a lot or parcel of land has not less than the required width and after the creation of such lot or parcel of land a part thereof is acquired for public use in any manner including dedication, condemnation or purchase if the remainder of such lot has a width of not less than 40 feet, such remainder shall be considered as having the required width.

B. If a lot or parcel of land has not less than the required depth and after the creation of such lot or parcel of land a part thereof is acquired for public use in any manner including dedication, condemnation or purchase, if the remainder of such lot or parcel has not less than 75% of the required depth, then such remainder shall be considered as having the required depth.

(Prior zoning ord. § 702.5)

Exceptions & meaning →

17.40.093 - Reduction of required yards for street widening.

Where the provisions of Section 17.40.070, 17.40.080 or 17.40.090 are applied on a property adjoining any arterial street, the director may reduce the amount of yard required on a 1:1 basis, provided that the yard may not be reduced to less than 10 feet.

(Ord. 711 § 40, 1995; prior zoning ord. § 702.6)

Exceptions & meaning →

17.40.095 - Reduction of required yards to accommodate transit stops.

Where the city has deemed it necessary to locate a transit stop within a turnout which requires an additional easement or right-of-way, the director may reduce the amount of yard required on a 1:1 basis, provided that the yard may not be reduced to less than 10 feet.

(Ord. 711 § 41, 1995; prior zoning ord. § 702.7)

Exceptions & meaning →

17.40.097 - Reduction of required yards where widening of an arterial street exceeds city standards.

Where the city has deemed it necessary to widen an arterial street in excess of the city standard, the director may reduce the amount of yard required as necessary, provided that the yard may not be reduced to less than 5 feet.

(Ord. 711 § 42, 1995; prior zoning ord. § 702.8)

Exceptions & meaning →

17.40.100 - Contiguous narrow lots.

Where, prior to the territory being zoned R-1, R-2, R-A, A-1, A-2 or A-2-H, lots exist not less than 100 feet deep but less than 50 feet wide, if 2 or more such contiguous lots, or one or more such contiguous lots and one or more lots also contiguous thereto which have a depth of not less than 100 feet, have a total frontage of not less than 50 feet, such lots may be treated and considered as one parcel.

If such parcel is in the RR, SRR or R zones, 2 single-family residences may be constructed thereon and so used. If such parcel is in zone MDR, 2 single-family dwellings or 2 2-family dwellings or one single-family dwelling and one 2-family dwelling may be constructed thereon and so used.

(Prior zoning ord. § 702.13)

Exceptions & meaning →

17.40.110 - Sale.

Where a portion of a lot or parcel of land is sold or transferred and as a result of such sale or transfer one or more parcels are created of such an area that the number and location of the buildings thereon no longer conform to the requirements of this article, then, in the determination of the permissible number and location of any buildings on any other parcel so created by such sale or transfer, the portion sold or transferred and the remainder shall be considered as one parcel.

(Prior zoning ord. § 702.16)

Exceptions & meaning →

17.40.120 - Area or width diminished by public use.

Where a building or structure is lawfully located on property acquired for public use (by condemnation, purchase or otherwise) such building or structure may be relocated on the same lot or parcel of land, although such building or structure is existing as nonconforming use or although the area or width regulations of this title or both cannot be complied with. Where any part of such building or structure is acquired for public use, the remainder of such building or structure may be repaired, reconstructed or remodeled, with the same or similar kind of materials as used in the existing buildings.

(Prior zoning ord. § 702.18)

Exceptions & meaning →

17.40.130 - Reduction of lot area or width.

Except for a conveyance for public use, a person shall not divide any lot or parcel of land or any portion thereof, if as a result of such division or conveyance the area, depth or width of any lot or parcel of land is so reduced, or a lot or parcel of land is created, which lot or parcel of land has an area, depth or width less than the required minimum lot area, depth or width specified for the zone in which the property is located and except for public use no such reduction shall occur in a residential planned development or commercial planned development, without a new public hearing on the case. If the zone does not specify a minimum lot area, depth, or width then the minimum lot area shall be 5,000 square feet, the minimum lot depth shall be 100 feet, and the minimum lot width shall be 50 feet.

(Prior zoning ord. § 702.19)

Exceptions & meaning →

17.40.140 - Rescission.

Any deed of conveyance, sale or contract to sell made contrary to the provisions of this article is voidable at the sole option of the grantee, buyer or person contracting to purchase, his heirs, personal representative, or trustee in insolvency or bankruptcy within one year after the date of execution of, the deed or conveyance, sale or contract to sell, but the deed of conveyance, sale or contract to sell is binding upon any assignee or transferee of the grantee, buyer or person contracting to purchase, other than those above enumerated, and upon the grantor, vendor or person contracting to sell, his assignee, heir or devisee.

(Prior zoning ord. § 702.20)

Exceptions & meaning →

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