York County citizens living in residential areas can now have larger accessory apartments on their land without acquiring a special-use permit.
The York County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 Tuesday to change the size of separate living spaces allowed on land zoned for residential use from 600 square feet or 25 percent of the floor area of the residence to 1,000 square feet or 35 percent of the floor area.
In changing the standards, the county has removed the $400 application fee, as well as the estimated three months it takes to approve the application and the public hearings in front of both the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.
Now, only administrative permits are required, and county inspectors will not need to inspect the accessory apartment annually.
The county has received 34 special-use permit applications for accessory apartments in the past 15 years, with all but two approved, Zoning Administrator J. Mark Carter said. “It’s meant to be a secondary dwelling unit.”
Under the new ordinance, homeowners are limited to one accessory apartment per parcel. The apartment is limited to one bedroom; cannot exceed 75 percent of the lot coverage of the main residence; and must be occupied by family members, guests, medical or health caretakers or a domestic employee.
Homeowners wishing to have an accessory apartment that are 49 percent of the principal dwelling, but still 1,000 feet or less, must apply for a special-use permit.
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