Model Ordinances

The Planning Department has developed several model ordinances. Staff is available to work with your municipality to provide you with these examples or assist you in drafting regulations for your municipality:  

  • Agricultural Series - Accessory Agriculturally Related Enterprises, Community Gardens, Farmer's Markets, Non-Commercial Keeping of Livestock/Beekeeping
  • Electronic Variable Message Signage 
  • Energy Series - Outdoor Wood-Fired Boilers, Solar Energy, Wind Energy
  • Wireless Communication Facilities
  • Short Term Rentals

Agricultural Series

In today’s agricultural world, many farmers need to have income other than their livestock and crops. Municipalities may need to consider how to allow business opportunities and agritourism activities on a farm without impacting the rural character of the community. With the increased demand for fresh local food, urban and rural areas need to consider provisions for non-commercial keeping of livestock, community gardens, farmers markets, and roadside stands. Many local ordinances are not prepared to deal with these issues. The following information will offer guidance and model regulations for use in regulation in your municipality. These documents were developed using input from industry associates, municipal ordinances in the county, and examples within and outside of the state.

Electronic Variable Message Signage

Sign types are constantly changing. Accompanying that change, municipalities must regulate signage to prevent distraction of motorists and deterioration of the landscape. A majority of the municipalities in Cumberland County have a sign ordinance, but few ordinances regulate the latest technology, which includes electronic variable message signs. This model ordinance was developed by the Cumberland County Planning Department using a variety of ordinances from municipalities in the county and around the state and from ordinances in other states. The model is intended to provide an overview of how electronic variable message signs could be regulated.

Model Ordinance

Energy Series

Alternative energy is quickly emerging in the county and some local ordinances are not prepared to deal with the associated issues. The following information will offer guidance and model regulations on outdoor wood-fired boilers, wind energy, and solar energy for use in regulation in your municipality. These documents were developed using input from industry associates, municipal ordinances in the county, and examples within and outside of the state.

Outdoor Wood-Fired Boilers 

Fact Sheet (PDF)         Model Ordinance (PDF) 

Solar Energy 

Fact Sheet (PDF)         Model Ordinance 2023 (PDF) 

Wind Energy 

Fact Sheet (PDF)         Model Ordinance (PDF) 

Wireless Communications Facilities

For years, demand and advances in technology have produced large wireless communication towers throughout Cumberland County. These large communication towers are typically located on peaks, hilltops and ridges, and often attached to water towers, church steeples, or other tall structures. Per regulations set forth by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), these towers are not allowed to be prohibited, but they can be controlled through municipal zoning regulations. Some of the methods used to control these large communication towers include limiting them to certain zoning districts, dimensional requirements and buffer/screening requirements. These requirements are found in a majority of Zoning Ordinances.

While the large communication towers continue to be constructed, recent technology has changed the atmosphere surrounding wireless communication facilities. Technologies such as Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and Data Collection Units (DCU) have generated the need for updated zoning requirements. It is recommended that municipal officials review this document to familiarize themselves with this technology and potential impacts to the residents.
 
Model Ordinance (PDF)