§14-204. "R-3" Residential District.


(1) Use Regulations.[21] The specific uses permitted in this district shall be the erection, construction, alteration or use of buildings and/or land for:

(a) Detached single-family dwellings;

(b) Semi-detached single-family dwellings;

(c) Agriculture or horticulture, except the commercial keeping or handling of farm stock or poultry; and except commercial greenhouses or establishments for sale of farm or horticultural products;

(d) Office of doctors of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, chiropractic or optometry, podiatry; minister; lawyer; licensed psychologist; or architect provided that such office:

(.1) Shall be situated in the dwelling of such practitioner;

(.2) Shall be incidental to the main purpose of the residence;

(.3) Shall have no more than one assistant regularly employed therein;

(.4) Shall not be used by any colleagues or associates;

(e) Private dwelling garage and/or stable as an accessory use;

(f) Accessory uses, as defined;

(g) The following uses, in completely enclosed, detached buildings only, provided that any existing building which is proposed to be converted into one of the following uses shall comply with the area regulations and the off-street parking regulations of the district; and further provided that off-street parking shall not be located between the street line and the front wall of any existing building;

(.1) Churches, chapels, convents, monasteries, or other places of worship and their adjunct residential dwellings;

(.2) Municipal art galleries, municipal museums or municipal libraries;

(.3) Railroad passenger stations;

(.4) Telephone exchange buildings; water booster or sewer booster substations; electric transforming or gas regulating substations provided, the exterior architectural design shall be of a residential character, in conformity with all the regulations of the district, and shall at no time be used for the storage of equipment or vehicles or for other commercial purposes;

(h) The providing of family day care to six (6) or fewer children (except that for properties within the Sixth and Tenth Councilmanic Districts, family day care may only be provided to four (4) or fewer children) for periods of less than twenty-four (24) consecutive hours, provided that such day care providers conform to all relevant licensing and/or registration requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia, and further provided that such day care be conducted in completely enclosed structures containing no more than one (1) family and in a manner incidental to the main purpose of the residences. However, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to restrict uses customarily and traditionally conducted in dwellings as an accessory to the main purpose of the residences, including the providing of day care for less than ten (10) hours per week or the providing of day care without charge or without reimbursement.

(i) Signs, to the extent permitted in "R-2" Residential Districts;

(j) The following non-residential uses shall be permitted only if a Board of Adjustment certificate is obtained and provided that they are conducted in completely enclosed detached buildings:

(.1) Art galleries, museums and/or libraries; provided, that any sales shall be accessory and incidental thereto, and limited to catalogues, books, prints, postcards, and kindred items;

(.2) Charitable institutions;

(.3) Club houses, lodges, fraternity houses in which the service conducted is solely for the use of members and guests and is not a business operation for gain;

(.4) Fire stations;

(.5) Home occupations, customarily and traditionally conducted in a dwelling as an incidental use, subject to all of the following limitations and restrictions:

(.a) It shall be conducted solely by members of the family residing in the same dwelling without the employment of other persons;

(.b) It shall not be permitted any display sign or public advertising, exterior storage of materials or any other exterior indications of the home occupation, or variation from the residential appearance of the structure;

(.c) It shall not be conducted between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 8:00 A.M.;

(.d) It shall not be permitted the use of equipment producing offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odors, heat or glare;

(.e) It shall be limited to the use of not more than 25% of the total floor area of the building, including basements, or 250 square feet, whichever is less;

(.f) It shall not be permitted the storage of a stock in trade nor the sale of commodities on the premises;

(.6) Medical and surgical hospitals and medical centers, and sanitaria;

(.7) Police stations;

(.8) Rest, old age, nursing or convalescent homes, and nurseries;

(.9) Water or sewage pumping station;

(k) The following non-residential uses shall be permitted only if a Board of Adjustment certificate is obtained:

(.1) Electric transforming or gas regulating substations; provided, that any facilities used in connection therewith and located in the open air shall: (1) not be within 50 feet from any lot line; (2) have a green belt at least 4 feet high containing evergreens, shrubbery and/or trees to be planted and maintained in an area at least 10 feet in depth around the entire inside perimeter of the lot, except at points of ingress or egress; (3) shall not be used for the storage of equipment or vehicles;

(.2) Municipal recreational facilities owned and operated by the City of Philadelphia, and the buildings adjunct to the same;

(.3) Schools, colleges, universities, and other institutions of learning, adjunct dormitories and adjunct play and recreation grounds;

(.4) Waiting rooms or shelters for the use of bus or trolley passengers;

(.5) Water storage tanks or reservoirs.

(2) Area Regulations.

(a) Lot Width and Area. The minimum lot width shall be 50 feet, and the minimum lot areas shall be 5,000 square feet.

(b) Occupied Area. Not more than 30% of the lot area shall be occupied by buildings.

(c) Open Area. The open area shall be not less than 70% of the lot area, and shall consist of front, side and rear yards of at least the minimum dimensions herein designated.

(d) Building Set-back Line. The building set-back line shall be 25 feet from all street lines.

(e) Front Yards. The minimum depth of a front yard shall be the depth required between the street line and the building set-back line, as herein specified.

(f) Side Yards.

(.1) Every detached dwelling shall have two side yards, the aggregate width of which shall be not less than 25 feet, and neither of which shall be less than 10 feet wide; provided, that every such dwelling located on a corner lot shall have the building set-back on the intersecting street adjudged a side yard (which shall not be less than the set-back required), and the other or inside yard may be reduced to a width of not less than seven feet;

(.2) Every semi-detached dwelling shall have a side yard not less than 25 feet wide; provided, that every such dwelling located on a corner lot shall have the building set-back on the intersecting street adjudged a side yard and its width shall not be less than the set-back required;

(.3) Every building other than a dwelling shall have two side yards, neither of which shall be less than 15 feet; provided, that every such building located on a corner lot shall have the building set-back on the intersecting street adjudged a side yard which shall be not less than the set-back required.

(g) Courts. Courts when used shall be in addition to the open area required. The minimum widths of courts shall be the same as the minimum widths required for side yards, except inner courts and open courts between wings of the same building, which are governed by the provisions of § 14-231(1).

(h) Rear Yards. The minimum depth of a rear yard shall be 25 feet.

(3) Height Regulations.

(a) The maximum height of a dwelling shall be 35 feet above the average ground level at the base of the building, but in no case over three stories.

(b) The permitted height of non-residential buildings shall be 35 feet, except that one foot of additional height may be added for each additional foot the building sets back from all lot lines; provided, however, that the maximum height of any such building shall be 60 feet (subject to the provisions of § 14-231(2)).

(4) Off-street Parking. See § 14-1400 of this Title.