Zoning Regulations
Examples and Resources
Size Limit, Skaneateles, New York (1994)
This ordinance limits the size of a shopping centers to no larger than forty five thousand (45,000) s.f., stating that the “Town Board believes that it is appropriate and in the best interest of the Town of Skaneateles to reduce the size of shopping centers,” and critical “to the future welfare…
Size Limit, Clermont, Florida (1999)
This ordinance amended the Light Commercial, General Commerical, Central Business District and Industrial District “to restrict retail businesses…provided that no establishment may occupy more than 100,000 s.f..” The Mayor of Claremont said this ordinance was “about how we can best maintain…
Size Limit, Westford, Massachusetts (1994)
This ordinance was written so that “buildings larger than 60,000 s.f. gross floor area shall be prohibited,” and to give the town more control over smaller buildings, the ordinance says “buildings between 30,000 and 60,000 s.f. gross floor area shall instead be allowed under a special permit”…
Size Cap, Walpole, New Hampshire (2000)
This ordinance states that in the commercial district size limits will allow “the sale of merchandise (to) be conducted with its inherent traffic, loading, parking and activity normally unpleasant in close proximithy to restful and comfortable residences.” In the commercial district, this ordinance…
Size Cap, Lower Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania (1993)
Even though this oridinance clearly states that “ No [retail] building, whether containing a single or several uses, shall contain a gross area greater than 6,500 square feet of floor area,” it was still challenged by a big box developer. The deveoper sued the town and lost, appealed the decision…
Size Cap, Taos, New Mexico. (1999)
The Taos zoning ordinance places a maximum square footage on size, depending on the zoning district, up to 30,000 s.f. with “any business of the same type which occurs individually or jointly in a single structure or combination of structures situated upon a single tract of land under the same ownership,…
Size Cap, Pima, Arizona (2001)
Pima, Arizona allows a single building in a regional shopping center zone to be no larger than 80,000 s.f. The aggregate buildings in a regional shopping center zone cannot exceed 150,000 s.f. In a neighborhood shopping center, the same limits apply. The city also has a small shopping center zone,…
Size Cap, Milford, Pennsylvania (2001)
The township amended its Commercial/Industrial design guidelines (e.g. “new buildings should generally be placed along the edges and not in the middle of open fields.” The ordinance specifies that “individual retail commercial structures, including membership clubs and any wholesale establishments…
Size Cap, Hood River, Oregon (2001)
The City’s zoning ordinance says that “no new buildings or contiguous groups of buildings shall exceed a footprint of 50,000 s.f. or a combined contiguous length of 300 feet. Buildings over 25, 000 s.f. are subject to design standards. It was Hood River’s intention “to protect existing businesses…
Size Cap, Boxborough, Massachusetts
Limits the size of retail buildings to 25,000 s.f. The town passed this ordinance because “this type of development was not anticipated during the initial development of the zoning bylaw…The board believes that in a town of our size and character, events that occur in our collective backyard affect…
