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Home My WebLink AboutWSMU_GRAN_WSWP Other Info_20200911ZONING ORDINANCE TOWN OF GRANITE FALLS, NORTH CAROLINA TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE L AUTHORITY AND ENACTMENT CLAUSE .................................................... 1 ARTICLE II: SHORT TITLE...................................................................................................... 1 ARTICLE III: APPLICATION.................................................................................................... 1 Section 301 Territorial Jurisdiction............................................................................... 1 Section 302 Incorporation of Zoning Map.................................................................... 1 Section 303 Bona Fide Farms Exempt........................................................................... 1 ARTICLE IV: DEFINITION OF TERMS.................................................................................... 2 Section 401 Interpretations and Definitions of Certain Words and Terms .................... 2 Section 402 Definitions................................................................................................. 2 ARTICLE V: ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS................................................................ 26 Section 501 Use Districts............................................................................................. 26 Section 502 District Boundaries Shown on Map........................................................26 Section 503 Due Consideration Given to District Boundaries .................................... 26 Section 504 Rules Governing Boundaries................................................................... 26 ARTICLE VI: USE REQUIREMENTS BY DISTRICTS ..................................... Section 601 RSF-15 Residential Single Family District ......................... Section 602 R-8 Residential Medium -High Density District ................. Section 603 R-8A Residential High Density District ............................. Section 604 R-MH Residential Mobile Home District ........................... Section 605 O-I Office and Institutional District .................................... Section 606 N-B Neighborhood Business District ................................. Section 607 C-B Central Business District ............................................. Section 608 H-B Highway Business District .......................................... Section 609 M-1 General Manufacturing District .................................. Section 610 R-20 Residential Low Density District ................................ Section 611 R-20A Residential Medium Density District ...................... Section 612 TND Traditional Neighborhood Design District ................ Section 613 RSF-15A Residential Single Family District ...................... Section 614 R-8SF Residential Single Family District ........................... ARTICLE VII: GENERAL PROVISIONS ................................................. Section 701 Application......................................................................... Section 702 Relationship of Building to Lot ......................................... Section 703 Reduction of Lot and Yard Areas Prohibited .................... Section 704 Location of Building Lines on Irregularly Shaped Lots ...... Section 705 Visibility of Intersections..................................................... Section 706 Regulations for Specific Uses .............................................. Section 707 Accessory Buildings/Structures........................................... Section 708 Nonconforming Uses.......................................................... ................. 27 ................. 27 ................. 31 ................. 32 ................. 33 ................. 33 ................. 36 ................. 39 ................. 40 ................. 43 ..................45 ................. 47 ................. 49 ................. 66 ................. 66 ................. 81 ................. 81 ................. 81 ................. 81 ..................81 ..................81 ..................81 ..................82 ................. 83 Section 709 Appearance Criteria for Manufactured Homes ....................................... 85 Section 710 Regulations Governing Mobile Home Parks....................................86 Section 711 Site Plan Requirements........................................................................... 89 Section 712 Home Occupations.....................................................................................91 ARTICLE VIIL EXCEPTIONS AND MODIFICATIONS ........................................... 101 Section 801 Lot of Record........................................................................................ 101 Section 802 Front Yard for Dwellings....................................................................... 101 Section 803 Wireless Communication Facilities..............................................101 Section 804 Planned Development............................................................................ 113 Section 805 Special Use Permit...................................................................................119 ARTICLE IX: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS...................................................................... 131 Section 901 Off -Street Parking....................................................................................131 Section 902 Bicycle Parking........................................................................................133 Section 903 Overflow Parking.....................................................................................133 Section 904 Landscaping of Parking Lots...................................................................133 Section905 Lighting....................................................................................................134 Section906 Solid Waste..............................................................................................134 Section907 Access......................................................................................................134 Section 908 General Landscaping...............................................................................135 Section 909 Utility Wiring...........................................................................................136 Section910 Sidewalks.................................................................................................136 Section 911 Buffer Strips and Screening.....................................................................136 ARTICLE X: ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT ................................................ 146 Section 1001 Zoning Administrator............................................................................. 146 Section 1002 Zoning Permit Required......................................................................... 146 Section 1003 Application for Zoning Permit.............................................................. 146 Section 1004 Certificate of Occupancy Required........................................................ 147 Section 1005 Conditional Use Permits....................................................................... 147 ARTICLE XI: BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT................................................................ 148 Section 1101 Establishment of Board of Adjustment .................................................. 148 Section 1102 Decision of the Board of Adjustment ................................................... 148 Section 1103 Proceedings of the Board of Adjustment ............................................... 148 Section 1104 Appeals, Hearings, and Notice.............................................................. 149 Section 1105 Stay of Proceedings............................................................................... 149 Section 1106 Powers and Duties of the Board of Adjustment ..................................... 149 Section 1107 Decisions of the Board of Adjustment ................................................... 152 Section 1108 Duties of the Zoning Administrator, Board of Adjustment, Courts and Town Council on Matters of Appeal.................................................152 ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES ..................................................... 152 Section 1201 Procedure for Amendments................................................................... 152 Section 1202 Protest Petition...................................................................................... 153 Section 1203 Procedure for Resubmission of a Proposed Amendment ...................... 154 ARTICLE XIII: LEGAL PROVISIONS......................................................................... 154 Section 1301 Interpretation, Purpose, and Conflict .................................................... 154 Section 1302 Town Attorney May Prevent Violation ................................................. 154 Section 1303 Reenactment and Repeal of Existing Zoning Ordinance ....................... 155 Section 1304 Validity.................................................................................................. 155 Section 1305 Penalties................................................................................................ 155 ARTICLE XIV: SIGN REGULATIONS Section1401 Purpose................................................................................................ 161 Section 1402 Classification and Definition of Signs .................................................. 161 Section 1403 Sign Definition-General...........................................................................162 Section 1404 General Regulations.............................................................................. 162 Section 1405 Nonconforming Signs..............................................................................163 Section 1406 Amortization of Nonconforming Signs...................................................164 Section 1407 Signs Prohibited In All Districts..............................................................165 Section 1408 Illuminated Signs.................................................................................. 165 Section 1409 Flashing, Blinking, Animated, Pulsating Signs.......................................165 Section 1410 Billboards.................................................................................................165 Section 1411 Measurement of Sign Size.......................................................................166 Section 1412 Maintenance Required.............................................................................166 Section 1413 Removal of Obsolete Signs......................................................................166 Section 1414 Political Signs..........................................................................................167 Section 1415 Real Estate Signs......................................................................................167 Section 1416 Temporary Signs......................................................................................167 Section 1417 Measurement of Sign Height...................................................................167 Section 1418 Front Yard for Ground Signs and Outdoor Advertising Signs ................167 Section 1419 Signs Over Public Right-of-Way.............................................................168 Section 1420 Side Yard for Ground Signs and Outdoor Advertising Signs..................168 Section 1421 Signs Associated With A Business..........................................................168 Section 1422 Signs Posted on Private Property.............................................................168 Section 1423 Number of Free Standing Signs...............................................................168 Section 1424 Number of Signs on Corner Lots.............................................................168 Section 1425 Number of Signs on Lots Having Access from Two Streets ...................168 Section 1426 Number of Signs on Double Frontage Lots.............................................169 Section 1427 Signs in the Central Business District......................................................169 Section 1428 Signs Permitted In All Districts...............................................................169 Section 1429 Illumination........................................................................................... 170 Section 1430 Animated Signs........................................................................................170 Section 1431 Canopy Signs...........................................................................................170 Section 1432 Electronic Message Signs..........................................................171 Section 1433 Flashing Signs..........................................................................................171 Section 1434 Ground Signs...........................................................................................171 Section 1435 Marquee Signs...................................................................................... 171 Section 1436 Portable Signs....................................................................................... 171 Section 1437 Projection Signs................................................................. Section 1438 Roof Signs.......................................................................... Section 1439 Shingle Signs..................................................................... Section 1440 Suspended Signs................................................................ Section 1441 Time/Date/Temperature Signs ........................................... Section 1442 Wall Signs............................................................................ Section 1443 Window Signs.................................................................... Section 1444 Sign Regulations for Specific Commercial and Office Situations.......................................................... Section 1445 Sign Regulations for Each Specific District ...................... ............. 172 ............. 173 ZONING ORDINANCE TOWN OF GRANITE FALLS, NORTH CAROLINA An ordinance regulating the uses of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, commerce, residence, recreation, public activities or other purposes; the size of yards, courts and other open spaces; the location, height, bulk, number of stories and size of buildings and other structures, the density and distribution of population; creating districts of said purposes, and establishing the boundaries thereof, defining certain terms used herein; providing for the method of administration, amendment and enforcement; providing penalties for violations; providing for a Board of Adjustment and defining the duties and powers of said Board; repealing conflicting ordinances; and for other purposes. ARTICLE I AUTHORITY AND ENACTMENT CLAUSE The Town Council of the Town of Granite Falls, in pursuance of the authority granted by the General Statutes, particularly Chapter 160A, Article 19, Part 3, hereby ordains and enacts into law the following Articles and Sections. ARTICLE II SHORT TITLE This ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the "Official Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Granite Falls, North Carolina" and the map referred to is identified by the title "Official Zoning Map, Granite Falls, North Carolina," and they may both be known as the "Zoning Ordinance" and the "Zoning Map." ARTICLE III APPLICATION Section 301. Territorial Jurisdiction. For the purposes of this ordinance, the zoning jurisdiction shall apply within the corporate limits of the Town of Granite Falls and that land as designated by the Zoning Map as authorized by North Carolina G.S. 160A-360, to be known as extraterritorial area. Section 302. Incorporation of Zoning Map. The Official Zoning Map, Granite Falls, North Carolina, and all notations, references and other information shown on the map are hereby incorporated by reference and made part of this ordinance. Section 303. Bona Fide Farms Exempt. This ordinance shall in no way regulate, restrict, prohibit or otherwise deter any bona fide farm and its related uses.