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City of Florence Building Department - Zoning
Ordinance
Sec. I.
Definitions
Sec. II. General
Regulations
Sec. III. District
Regulations
Sec. III-100. Sign
Regulations
Sec. IV.
Supplementary Regulations
Sec. IV-100 Home
Occupation Regulations
Sec. V. Multi-Family
Development Regulations
Sec. V-100 Commercial
Development Regulations
Sec. VI.
Off-Street Parking and Off-Street Truck Loading
Sec. VI- 100. Planned
Residential Development
Sec. VII.
Nonconformities
Sec. VIII.
Administration and Enforcement
Sec. IX. Amendments
Sec. X.
Separability, Repeal of Existing Ordinance, and Effective Date
Sec. XI. Alcoholic
Beverage Sales
AN
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING COMPREHENSIVE ZONING REGULATIONS FOR
THE CITY OF FLORENCE, ALABAMA, AND PROVIDING FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION, ENFORCEMENT AND AMENDMENT THEREOF, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF ALA. 1975, TITLE
11, CHAPTER 52 ( 11-52-1 ET SEQ.), AND FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL
ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH.
PREAMBLE
WHEREAS, Code of Ala. 1975, Title 11, Chapter 52 (11-52-1 et
seq.), empowers the City to enact a Zoning Ordinance and to
provide for its administration, enforcement and amendment, and
WHEREAS the City Council deems it necessary, for the purpose
of promoting the health, safety, morals, or general welfare of
the city to enact such an ordinance, and
WHEREAS the City Council, pursuant to the provisions of Code
of Ala. 1975, Title 11, Chapter 52 ( 11-52-1 et seq.), has
appointed a Zoning Commission, which Zoning Commission is the
City Planning Commission of the City of Florence, to recommend
the boundaries of the various original districts and
appropriate regulations to be enforced therein, and
WHEREAS the Planning Commission has divided the city into
districts and has prepared regulations pertaining to such
districts in accordance with the comprehensive plan (Master
Plan) heretofore made and adopted by the City Planning
Commission, such regulations being designed to lessen
congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic,
and other dangers; to promote health and the general welfare;
to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding
of land; to avoid undue concentration of population; to
facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water,
sewerage, schools, parks, and other public requirements, and
WHEREAS the Planning Commission has given consideration to the
character of the districts and their peculiar suitability for
particular uses with a view to conserving the value of
buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land
throughout the city, and
WHEREAS the Planning Commission has made a preliminary report
and held public hearing thereon, and submitted its final
report to the City Council, and
WHEREAS the City Council has given due public notice of
hearing relating to zoning districts, regulations, and
restrictions, and has held such public hearing, and
WHEREAS all requirements of Code of Ala. 1975, Title 11,
Chapter 52 ( 11-52-1 et seq.), with regard to the preparation
of the report of the Planning Commission and subsequent action
of the city Council have been met;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF FLORENCE, ALABAMA:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
(A) GENERAL RULES
The following general rules shall govern the interpretation of
words and phrases used in this ordinance:
The word "person" includes a firm, association, organization,
partnership, trust, company or corporation as well as an
individual.
The present tense includes the future tense, the singular
number includes the plural, and the plural number includes the
singular.
The word "shall" is mandatory; the word "may" is permissive.
The words "used or occupied" include the words "intended,
designed, or arranged to be used or occupied.
The words "erected or altered" include the words "constructed,
reconstructed, restored, extended or structurally altered. "
(B) WORDS AND PHRASES
Words and phrases used in this ordinance are defined as
follows:
Accessory structure. A detached subordinate building located
on the same building site with the main building the use of
which is incidental to that of the main building.
Accessory use. A use customarily incidental to the principal
use of a building site or to a building and located upon the
same building site with the principal use.
Alley. Any public space or thoroughfare twenty (20) feet or
less in width which has been dedicated or deeded for public
use.
Alteration. Any structural change in the supporting or
load-bearing members of a building such as bearing walls,
columns, beams or girders.
Boarding house. A building where, for compensation and by
prearrangement, five or more persons other than occasional or
transient customers are provided with meals.
Buildable area. The portion of a building site remaining after
required yards have been provided.
Building. Any covered structure intended for the shelter,
housing or enclosure of persons, animals or chattels.
Building height. The vertical distance from grade to the
highest finished roof surface in the case of flat (or nearly
flat) roofs, or to a point at the average height of roofs
having a pitch of more than one (1) foot in four and one-half
(4 1Ö2) feet.
Building site. The land occupied or to be occupied by a
principal building and its accessory buildings and including
such open spaces, yards, minimum area, off-street parking
facilities and off-street truck loading facilities as are
required by this ordinance; every building site shall abut
upon a dedicated street for at least thirty (30) feet. Any
building site established after the effective date of this
ordinance which occupies only a portion of a lot of record may
be established only in accordance with the requirements of the
Subdivision Regulations.
Church. A building, together with its accessory buildings and
uses, where persons regularly assemble for religious worship,
and which building, together with its accessory building, and
uses, is maintained and controlled by a religious body
organized to sustain public worship.
Clinic, dental or medical. A building in which a group of
physicians, dentists, and allied professional assistants are
associated for the purpose of carrying on their profession;
the clinic may include a dental or medical laboratory but it
shall not include in-patient care or operating rooms for major
surgery.
Completely enclosed structure. A building enclosed by a
permanent roof and by solid exterior walls pierced only by
windows and customary entrance and exit doors.
Dead storage. The keeping of goods not in active use for
residential, business or industrial purposes.
Dwelling unit. One room, or rooms connected together,
constituting a separate, independent housekeeping
establishment for owner occupancy, or rental or lease on a
weekly, monthly or longer basis, and physically separated from
any other rooms or dwelling units which may be in the same
structure, and containing independent cooking and sleeping
facilities.
Dwelling, single-family. A residential dwelling unit, other
than an apartment or a mobile home, designed for or occupied
by one family only.
Dwelling, mobile home. A detached residential dwelling unit
designed for transportation after fabrication on streets or
highways on its own wheels or on a flatbed or other trailers,
and arriving at the site where it is to be occupied as a
dwelling complete and ready for occupancy except for minor and
incidental unpacking and assembly operations, location on
jacks or other temporary or permanent foundations, connections
to utilities, and the like. A travel trailer is not to be
considered as a mobile home.
Dwelling, multi-family. A residential building designed for or
occupied by two (2) or more families, with the number of
families in residence not exceeding the number of dwelling
units provided.
Family. Any persons living together related by blood,
marriage, adoption or guardianship ¿plus oneî. A maximum of 5
unrelated individuals may occupy a single dwelling unit in the
same manner and to the same extent as any family unit as
defined herein provided the occupants are handicapped as
defined in Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 as
amended by the Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988 and the
Alabama Fair Housing Law, Code of Alabama 24-8-1, et seq., or
if they are disabled.
Gross floor area. The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the
several floors of a building, including interior balconies and
mezzanines; all horizontal dimensions shall be measured
between the exterior faces of walls, including the walls of
roofed porches having more than one wall. The gross floor area
of a building shall include the floor area of accessory
buildings on the same building site, measured the same way.
Home Occupation. A Home occupation is an occupation for gain
or support conducted in a dwelling unit only by members of a
family residing in the dwelling unit and not including the
employment of any additional persons. The occupation is
incidental to the residential use of the dwelling unit and
does not utilize more than twenty-five percent of the floor
area, and no part of the occupation is conducted in an
accessory building. No traffic shall be generated by such home
occupation in greater volumes than would normally be expected
in a residential neighborhood.
There shall be no sign, and no visible evidence of the conduct
of a home occupation. Home Occupations shall be regulated in
accordance with Section IV-100 of these regulations.
Hotel. A building containing guest rooms in which lodging is
provided, with or without meals, for compensation, and which
is open to transient or permanent guests, or both; the term
includes "motel," "tourist home" and "rooming house".
Hospital. An institution providing health services, primarily
for in-patients, and medical and surgical care of the sick or
injured, including as an integral part of the institution,
such related facilities as laboratories, out-patient
department, training facilities, central service facilities,
and staff offices.
Mobile home park. Any plot of ground on which two or more
mobile homes are located for long-term occupancy (for periods
of thirty [30] days or more) for use as dwellings. Mobile home
parks shall not be occupied by travel trailers.
Nonconforming structure. A building or part thereof lawfully
existing on the effective date of this ordinance and which
does not conform to all of the regulations of the district in
which it is located. A lawful structure is one which was not
illegal pursuant to any comprehensive zoning ordinance
heretofore adopted by the City of Florence.
Nonconforming use. A use which lawfully occupies a building or
land on the effective date of this ordinance and which does
not conform to the regulations of the district in which it is
located. A lawful use is one which was not illegal pursuant to
any comprehensive zoning ordinance heretofore adopted by the
City of Florence.
Permitted structure. A structure meeting all the requirements
established by this ordinance for the district in which the
use is located.
Permitted use. A use meeting all the requirements established
by this ordinance for the district in which the use is
located.
Restaurant, automobile oriented. Any establishment that is
principally involved in the sale of foods, frozen desserts, or
beverages to the customer in a ready to consume state and
whose method of operation includes one or both of the
following characteristics:
(1) The product(s) is normally served in edible containers,
paper, plastic, or other disposable containers.
(2) The product may be consumed inside the building, or inside
a motor vehicle parked on the premises, or removed from the
premises.
Restaurant, conventional. Any establishment that is
principally involved in the sale of food, frozen desserts, or
beverages to the customer in a ready to consume state, and
whose method of operation includes one or both of the
following characteristics:
(1) Customers are normally provided a printed menu, are served
by an employee of the restaurant at a table or counter; the
product is served in reusable containers and is consumed
inside the building.
(2) A cafeteria-style operation where the food is served in
reusable containers and the product is consumed inside the
building. The area devoted to food preparation shall be no
more than forty-five (45) percent of the total floor area.
Self-storage facility. A building or group of buildings that
contain varying sizes of individual, compartmentalized,
controlled access storage units for purposes of dead storage
service to the general public.
Street. A public right-of-way more than twenty (20) feet in
width which provides vehicular access to adjacent properties.
Street Line. The line or boundary separating the public
right-of-way from the land or property adjoining.
Structure. Anything constructed or erected which requires
fixed location on the ground or attached to something having a
fixed location on the ground.
Trailer park. Any plot of ground on which two (2) or more
travel trailers are located for short-term (less than thirty
[30] days) occupancy during travel, recreational or vacation
use. Trailer parks shall not be occupied by any travel trailer
for thirty (30) days or more nor by any mobile home.
Travel trailer. A vehicular portable structure built on a
chassis, designed to be used as a temporary dwelling for
travel and recreational purposes, having a body width not
exceeding eight (8) feet. For purposes of these regulations,
the term includes pickup campers, camping trailers, and
motorized homes (living facilities constructed as integral
parts of self-propelled vehicles).
Yard. A required open space unoccupied and unobstructed by any
structure or portion of a structure from three (3) feet above
the general ground level of the building site upward;
provided, however, that fences, walls, poles, posts and other
customary yard accessories, ornaments and furniture may be
permitted in any yard subject to height limitations and
requirements limiting obstruction of visibility contained
herein, and further provided that:
(1) Ordinary projections of sills, belt courses, cornices,
buttresses, eaves and similar architectural features, and
necessary mechanical features may project not more than two
(2) feet into any yard and;
(2) Open fire escapes may extend not more than three and
one-half (3 1Ö2) feet into any yard.
Yard, front. A yard extending the full width of the building
site across its front, with required depth measured at right
angles to the front street line of the building site.
Yard, rear. A yard extending the full width of the building
site across its rear, with required depth measured at right
angles to the rear line of the building site.
Yard, side. A yard extending from the rear line of the front
yard to the front line of the rear yard, with required width
measured at right angles to the adjacent side line of the
building site. If no front and/or rear yard is provided, the
front and/or rear lines of the building site shall be
construed as front and/or rear boundaries of the side yard.

SECTION II. GENERAL REGULATIONS
(A) APPLICATION OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS
The regulations set by this ordinance within each district
shall be minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each
class kind of structure or land, and particularly, except as
hereinafter provided:
(1) No building, structure, or land shall be used or occupied,
and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter
be erected altered or moved except in conformity with all of
the regulations herein specified for the district in which it
is located.
(2) No building or other structure shall hereafter be erected
or altered:
(a) To exceed the height or bulk;
(b) To accommodate or house a greater number of families;
(c) To occupy a greater percentage of building site area;
(d) To have narrower or smaller rear yards, front yards, side
yards or other open spaces than herein required; or in any
other manner contrary to the provisions of this ordinance.
(3) No part of a yard or other open space, or off-street
parking or loading space required about or in connection with
any structure for the purpose of complying with this
ordinance, shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or
off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any
other building.
(4) No yard or building site existing on the effective date of
this ordinance shall be reduced in dimension or area below the
minimum requirements set forth herein. Yards or building site
created after the effective date of this ordinance shall meet
at least the minimum requirements established by this
ordinance.
(5) Every principle building hereafter erected, altered or
moved shall have provided and continuously maintained for it a
separate building site as herein defined.
(B) PROVISIONS DECLARED TO BE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
In
their interpretation and application, the provisions of this
ordinance shall be held to be minimum requirements, adopted
for the promotion of the public health, safety, morals or
general welfare. Wherever the requirements of this ordinance
are at variance with the requirements of any other lawfully
adopted rules, regulations or ordinances, the most restrictive
or that imposing the higher standards, shall govern.
(C) OFFICIAL ZONING MAP
The city and its police jurisdiction is hereby divided into
zones, or districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map, as
amended, which, together with all explanatory matter thereon,
is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of
this ordinance. The Official Zoning Map is displayed in the
City Planning Department, City Hall.
(1) Changes in Map. If, in accordance with the provisions of
this ordinance and applicable state laws, changes are made in
district boundaries or other matter portrayed on the Official
Zoning Map, promptly after the amendment effecting such
changes has been adopted.
(2) District Boundaries. Where uncertainty exists as to the
boundaries of districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map,
the following rules shall apply:
(a) Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center
lines of streets, highways or alleys shall be construed to
follow such center lines;
(b) Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted
lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines;
(c) Boundaries indicated as approximately following city
limits shall be construed as following such city limits;
(d) Boundaries indicated as following shore lines shall be
construed to follow such shore lines and, in the event of
change in the shore line, shall be construed as moving with
the actual shore line, boundaries indicated as following the
center
lines of streams, rivers, canals, lakes, or other bodies of
water shall be construed to follow such center lines;
(e) Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of
features indicated in (a) through (d) above shall be so
construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the
Official Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the
map;
(f) Where physical or cultural features existing on the ground
are at variance with those shown on the Official Zoning Map,
or in other circumstances not covered by (a) through (e)
above, the Board of Zoning Adjustment shall interpret the
district boundaries.
(g) In case of a street vacation, where a district boundary is
indicated as following the right-of-way line at the edge of
the street, such boundary shall be construed as moving to the
center line of the street.
(D) ANNEXED TERRITORY AND EXTRATERRITORIAL ZONING JURISDICTION
AREAS
All territory which may hereafter be annexed to the city or
any area placed under the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction
of the city shall be considered to be in the R-1 District,
Single-Family Residence District / Conventional lots, until
otherwise classified.

SECTION III. DISTRICT REGULATIONS
(A) GENERAL PROVISIONS
(1) Creation of Districts. For the purpose of
this ordinance, the city and its zoning jurisdiction is
divided into the following districts:
R-1 Districts: Single-Family Residence Districts/Conventional
Lots
R-2 Districts: Single-Family Residence Districts/Small Lots
R-3 Districts: Multi-Family Residence Districts
B-1 Districts: Neighborhood Business Districts
B-2 Districts: General Business Districts
B-3 Districts: Central Business Districts
I-1 Districts: Light Industry Districts
I-2 Districts: Heavy Industry Districts
R-B Districts: Residence-Business Districts
FAR Districts: Floodway-Agricultural-Recreational Districts
R-D Districts: Redevelopment Districts
H-1 District: Florence Harbor District
(2) Districts and Other Regulations. The
regulations relating to each type of district are set out in
this section. Additional use, area, height, yard and other
regulations applicable to particular or special situations are
set out in Section IV, Supplementary Regulations, Section V,
Multi-family Development Regulations, and Section V-100
Commercial Development Regulations. Other regulations
applicable to particular uses or classes of use are set out in
other sections of the ordinance.
(B) RESIDENCE DISTRICTS
(1) R-1 Districts: Single-Family Residence
Districts/Conventional Lots.
These
districts are composed mainly of areas containing
single-family dwellings and open areas where such residential
development seems likely to occur. The district regulations
are designed to protect the residential character of the
district by
prohibiting all commercial activities and to encourage a
suitable neighborhood environment for family life; and to
preserve the openness of the districts by requiring certain
minimum yard and area standards to be met.
(a)
Permitted Uses. See Chart at end of this section.
(b)
Building Site Area. Except as provided in Section IV, the
minimum building site area shall be:
For a
single-family dwelling.......................................
10,000 sq. ft.
For any
other permitted use.......................................
10,000 sq. ft.
(c)
Building Site Coverage. The maximum building site coverage by
all buildings shall be thirty-five (35) percent.
(d)
Building Height Limit. Except as provided in Section IV, no
structure shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height.
(e)
Yards Required. Except as provided in Section IV, the minimum
dimensions of yards shall be:
Front
Yard.............................................................................30
feet
Side
Yard..............................................................................
8 feet
Rear
Yard..............................................................................10
feet
(2)
R-2 DISTRICTS: Single Family Residence District/Small Lots.
These districts are composed mainly of areas in which the
typical lot contains less than10,000 square feet. The district
regulations are designed to protect the residential character
of the districts by prohibiting all commercial activities, and
to encourage a suitable neighborhood environment for family
life.
(a)
Permitted Uses. See Chart at end of this section.
(b)
Building Site Area. Except as provided in Section IV, the
minimum building site area shall be:
For a
one-family
dwelling............................................... 7,200
sq. ft.
For any
other permitted
use..........................................10,000 sq. ft.
(c)
Building Site Coverage. The maximum building site coverage by
all buildings shall be forty-five (45) percent.
(d)
Building Height Limit. Except as provided in Section
IV, no structure shall exceed forty-five (45) feet in height.
(e)
Yards Required. Except as provided in Section IV, the minimum
dimensions of yards shall be:
Front
Yard......................................................................................25
feet
Side
Yard........................................................................................
8 feet
Rear
Yard.......................................................................................10
feet
(3)
R-3 DISTRICTS: Multi-Family Residence Districts.
These
districts are composed mainly of areas supporting a mixture of
single-family and multi-family dwellings and in which the
typical lot contains less than 10,000 sq. ft. The district
regulations are primarily designed to allow for controlled
multi-family development by requiring certain minimum yard and
open spaces for all buildings; and to avoid excessive
population density by requiring a specific building site area
for each dwelling unit; and to prohibit all commercial
activities.
(a)
Permitted Uses. See Chart at end of this section.
(b)
Building Site Area. Except as provided in Section IV,
Supplementary Regulations, the minimum building site area
shall be:
For a
single-family dwelling.....................................
7,200 sq. ft
For a
multi-family dwelling
- first
two units................................................
8,000 sq. ft.
- for
any additional dwelling unit............(per unit) 2,500 sq.
ft.
- for
any other permitted use........................ 10,000 sq. ft.
For
developments intended for mixed-use occupancy, i.e.,
dwellings, church, day care, etc. 10,000 sq. ft. per use
shall be added to the total building site area in addition to
the above requirements for dwelling uses.
(c)
Building Site Coverage. The maximum building site
coverage by all buildings shall be forty-five (45) percent.
(d)
Building Height Limit. Except as provided in Section IV no
structure shall exceed forty-five (45) feet in height.
(e)
Yards Required. Except as provided in Section IV.
Supplementary Regulations, Section V, Multi-Family Development
Regulations and Section V-100, the minimum dimensions of yards
shall be:
Front
Yard.........................................................................................
25 feet
Side
Yard..........................................................................................
8 feet
Rear
Yard.........................................................................................
10 feet
(C) BUSINESS DISTRICTS
(1) B-1 Districts: Neighborhood Business Districts.
These
districts are composed of land and structures occupied by, or
suitable for, uses furnishing the retail goods, such as
groceries and drugs, and services, such as barbering and shoe
repairing, to satisfy the daily household needs of the
surrounding residential neighborhoods. Often located on a
thoroughfare or near the intersection of two thoroughfares,
these districts are small and within convenient distance of
most of the areas they serve. The district regulations are
designed to permit the development of the districts for their
purpose and to protect the abutting and surrounding
residential areas by requiring certain minimum yard, coverage
and other standards to be met, standards that are comparable
to those called for in the residence districts.
It is
intended that additional Neighborhood Business Districts will
be created, in accordance with the Amendment Procedure of this
ordinance, as they are needed to
serve
new residential areas. To insure that such new districts are
actually developed to supply the business needs of the
neighborhoods, the amendment creating the district may set
time limits for its development.
(a)
Permitted Uses. See Chart at end of this section.
(b)
Building Site Area. Except as provided in Section IV,
Supplementary Regulations and Section V-100, Commercial
Development Regulations, the minimum required building site
area shall be 5,000 square feet.
(c)
Building Site Coverage. The maximum building site coverage by
all buildings shall be fifty (50) percent.
(d)
Building Height Limit. Except as provided in Section
IV, no structure shall exceed fifty (50) feet in height.
(e)
Yards Required. Except as provided in Section IV,
Supplementary Regulations and Section V-100, Commercial
Development Regulations, the minimum dimensions of yards shall
be:
Front
Yard..........25 feet (There are no minimum required side or
rear yard)
(2)
B-2 Districts: General Business Districts
These
districts are composed of land and structures occupied by or
suitable for uses furnishing, in addition to the retail goods
and services supplied by the Neighborhood Business Districts,
the wider range of retail goods and services required by
residents of a group or community of neighborhoods and by the
city generally. Usually located on a thoroughfare or highway
or near the intersection of principal thoroughfares or
highways, these districts are large and within convenient
distance of the area they serve. The district regulations are
designed to permit the development of the districts for their
purpose in a spacious arrangement of uses and structures. To
protect the abutting and surrounding residential areas,
certain restrictions are placed on uses.
It is
intended that additional General Business Districts will be
created, in accordance with the Amendment Procedure of this
ordinance, as they are needed to serve groups of new
neighborhoods of the city generally. To insure that such new
districts are actually developed to supply the business needs
of the groups of neighborhoods or the city generally, the
amendment creating the district may set a time limit for its
development.
(a)
Permitted Uses. See chart at end of this section.
(b)
Building Site Area. There is no minimum required
building site area with the exception of self-storage facility
developments which require a minimum of two (2) acres.
(c)
Building Site Coverage. The maximum building site coverage by
all buildings shall be fifty (50) percent
(d)
Building Height Limit. Except as provided in Section
IV, no structure shall exceed fifty (50) feet.
(e)
Yards Required. Except as provided in Section IV.
Supplementary Regulations, no yards are required.
(3)
B-3 District: Central Business District.
This
district is composed of land and structures occupied by or
suitable for uses furnishing the wide range of retail goods
and services required by residents of the metropolitan area
and of the trade area. Located at the convergence of the
principal thoroughfares and highways, as well as transit
lines, the Central Business District is the focus of commerce
and administrative business activities of the trade area. The
district regulations are designed to permit the further
development of the district for its purpose in a compact and
convenient arrangement of uses and structures that is highly
urban in character.
(a)
Permitted Uses. See chart at end of this section.
(b)
Building Site Area. There is no minimum required
building site area.
(c)
Building Site Coverage. No limit.
(d)
Building Height Limit. Except as provided in Section
IV, Supplementary Regulations, no structure shall exceed one
hundred (100) feet in height.
(e)
Yards Required. Except as provided in Section IV.
Supplementary Regulations, no yards are required.
(D) INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS
(1) I-1 Districts: Light Industrial District.
These districts are composed of land and structures occupied
by, or suitable for, light manufacturing, wholesaling and
similar uses. Located for convenient access from existing and
future arterial thoroughfares, highways and railway lines,
these districts are usually separated from residential areas
by business districts or by natural barriers. The district
regulations are designed to permit a range of light industrial
activities subject to limitations intended to protect nearby
residential and business districts.
(a) Permitted Uses. See chart at end of this section.
(b) Building Site Area. Except as provided in Section IV, the
minimum building site area shall be ten thousand (10,000)
square feet.
(c) Building Site Coverage. The maximum building site coverage
by all buildings shall be seventy-five (75) percent.
(d) Building Height Limit. Except as provided in
Section IV, no structure shall exceed fifty (50) feet in
height.
(e) Yards Required. Except as provided in Section IV, the
minimum dimensions of yards shall be:
Front
Yard.................................................................
25 feet
(There are no minimum required side or rear yards)
(2) I-2 Districts: Heavy Industrial District.
These districts are composed of land and structures occupied
by, or suitable for, heavy manufacturing and related
activities. Located for convenient access from existing and
future arterial thoroughfares, highways, railway lines or
waterways, these districts are usually separated from
residential areas by business or light industry areas or by
natural barriers; where they are adjacent to residential areas
some type of artificial separation may be required. The
district regulations are designed to permit the development of
the districts for their purpose, including almost any
industrial uses, but subject to conditions necessary for the
mutual protection of the uses and the city generally.
(a) Permitted Uses. See Chart at end of this section.
(b) Building Site Area. Except as permitted in Section
IV, the minimum building site area shall be 10,000 square
feet.
(c) Building Site Coverage. The maximum building site coverage
by all buildings shall be seventy-five (75) percent.
(d) Building Height Limit. Except as provided in Section IV,
no structure shall exceed one hundred (100) feet in height.
(e) Yards Required. Except as provided in Section IV, the
minimum dimensions of yards shall be:
Front
Yard...............................................................................25
feet
(There are no minimum required side or rear yards)
(E) SPECIAL DISTRICTS:
(1) R-B Districts: Residence-Business District.
These districts are composed of areas containing a mixture of
residential, public and semi-public and light commercial uses.
Although usually located between residential areas and
business areas, these districts are in some instances
freestanding and may include hospital, college or similar
building groups and related uses or land suitable for such
uses. The district regulations are designed to encourage
further appropriate development by limiting the permitted uses
to dwellings and uses of a public, semi-public or light
commercial nature and to protect the abutting and surrounding
residential areas by requiring certain minimum yard, area and
other standards to be met, standards that are comparable to
those called for in the residence districts.
(a) Permitted Uses. See Chart at end of this section.
(b) Building Site Area. Except as provided in Section
IV, Supplementary Regulations and Section V-100, Commercial
Development Regulations, the minimum building site area shall
be:
For a single-family
dwelling.............................................. 7,200
sq. ft.
For a multiple-family dwelling
-
First two dwelling
units............................................... 8,000 sq.
ft.
-
Any additional dwelling unit..............................(per
unit) 2,500 sq. ft.
For any other permitted
use............................................. 10,000
sq. ft.
For developments intended for mixed-use occupancy, 10,000 sq.
ft. per use
shall be added to the total building site area in addition to
the above requirements for dwelling uses.
(c) Building Site Coverage. The maximum building site
coverage by all buildings shall be forty-five (45) percent
(d) Building Height Limit. Except as required in
Section IV, Supplementary Regulations, no structure shall
exceed thirty-five (35) feet.
(e) Yards Required. Except as provided in Section IV,
Supplementary Regulations, Section V, Multi-Family Development
Regulations, and Section V-100, Commercial Development
Regulations, the minimum dimensions of yards shall be:
Front
Yard...................................................................
25 feet
Side
Yard....................................................................
8 feet
Rear
Yard....................................................................
10 feet
(2) FAR Districts: Floodway-Agricultural-Recreational
District.
These districts are composed of land that is used for, or is
suitable for, agriculture, forestry, recreational or other
open space activities. Although usually characterized by
terrain that is subject to flood or that is steep or otherwise
unsuitable for building development, these districts may in
some instances include land that is buildable but that should
be retained as open space. The district regulations are
designed to encourage the retention of the land as open space
and to prohibit its use for purposes that would be hazardous
to life and structures because of flooding.
(a) Permitted Uses. See Chart at end of this section.
(b) Building Site Area. Except as provided in Section
IV, the minimum building site area shall be 10,000 square
feet.
(c) Building Site Coverage. The maximum building site coverage
by all buildings shall be thirty-five (35) percent.
(d) Building Height Limit. Except as provided in Section IV,
no structure shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height.
(e) Yards Required. Except as provided in Section iv, the
minimum dimensions of yards shall be:
Front
Yard.........................................................................
30 feet
Side
Yard..........................................................................
8 feet
Rear
Yard.............................................................................
10 feet
(3) R-D Districts: Redevelopment Districts
This zone may be adopted by recommendation of the Planning
Commission to the City Council for safeguarding existing
zone(s) against deleterious development during the formulation
of development or redevelopment plan for a specific district
of portion of a designated district. The function of the R-D
zone is to overlay existing zone(s) of the development
district and restrict the use(s) to specific use(s) in the
existing zone which are determined not to be in conflict with
the objectives of the development or redevelopment program
during the planning period prior to the adoption of the
development plan.
Determination of restrictive use(s) permitted during this
period shall be recommended to the City Council by the
Planning Commission at the same time the R-D zone designation
is recommended. The only exception from the use(s) which have
been enacted shall be through submission of additional
development plans or zones for Planning Approval by the
Planning Commission during the effective period of the R-D
zoning.
Action to initiate development or redevelopment of a district
shall be initiated by the Planning Commission after
consideration and determination in accordance with powers and
duties stipulated in Section 11-52-6, 11-52-7 and 11-52-70
Code Alabama.
The R-D zone shall be in effect from the time of designation
of a development district by the Planning Commission until
disposal of by City Council adopting, amending or rejecting
the adoption of said plan, provided; however, that there is
evidence that the planning process is continuous and without
undue interruption. At such time as the planning program may
be abandoned or becomes inactive for an unreasonable period of
time, the R-D zone shall be extinguished and use(s) reverted
to their previous status.
(4) H-1 District: Florence Harbor District
This district is intended to guide land use in a way that
recognizes the waterfront's value as a natural resource and
celebrates its diversity, and to offer the citizens of
Florence and surrounding areas access to a lively mix of
waterside activities; The district is composed of land and
structures occupied, or suitable for, uses that will enhance
the development of the Florence Harbor and the McFarland Park
area, and revitalize property where land uses have recently
changed or where vacant and under-utilized properties suggest
potential for beneficial change. The ultimate goal of the
establishment of the Florence Harbor District is the
elimination of existing undesirable land uses and conditions
with regard to such things as, but not limited to, outdoor
storage, off-site advertising, portable signs, highway
oriented commercial development and industrial oriented uses,
and to create an attractive riverfront area as a focal point
and activity center for the citizens of Florence and the
surrounding region.
(a) Permitted Uses. See chart at the end of this section
(b) Building Site Area. The minimum building site area shall
be ten thousand (10,000) square feet.
(c) Building Site Coverage. The maximum building site coverage
by all buildings shall be forty five (45) percent.
(d) Building Height Limit. Except as provided in Section IV,
Supplementary Regulations no structure shall exceed
thirty-five (35) feet in height.
(e) Yards Required.: Front Yard - 25 feet
Side Yard - 8 feet
Rear Yard - 10 feet
(F) CHART OF PERMITTED USES
(1) Conditions Governing Permitted Uses. Permitted uses shall
be governed by conditions set out in the three (3) categories
following:
(a) Uses by Right. The uses listed below are permitted subject
to the conditions specified. (R)
(b) Uses Requiring Planning Approval. The uses listed below
are permitted upon approval of location and the site plan
thereof by the planning commission as being appropriate with
regard to transportation and access, water supply, waste
disposal, fire and police protection, and other public
facilities, as not causing undue traffic congestion or
creating a traffic hazard, and as being in harmony with the
orderly and appropriate development of the district in which
the use is located. (P)
(c) Special Exception Uses. The uses listed below are subject
to the same approval of location and site plan as uses
requiring planning approval; in addition, these uses are
declared to possess such characteristics of unique or special
form that each specific use shall be considered an individual
case and shall be subject to approval of the Board of Zoning
Adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Section VII
governing Special Exceptions. (X)
(d) Enclosure of Uses. Every use in any district, except an
1-1 or 1-2 Districts, shall be conducted entirely within an
enclosed structure unless expressly exempted from enclosure
requirements.
(2) Schedules of Uses. The uses permitted in each of the types
of districts are as follows:
(R) Uses permitted by right.
(P) Uses permitted by planning approval.
(X) Uses permitted by special exception.
(*) Need not be conducted entirely within a completely
enclosed structure.
(a) R-I Districts: Single-Family Residence District /
Conventional Lots
RESIDENTIAL:
Dwelling, one-family (R)
Home Occupation (X)
SERVICES:
*Cemetery (P)
Church: Including educational and accessory buildings and
parking areas (P)
Fire Station (P)
Nursery, Day care, or Kindergarten (X)
Parochial and / or private schools (P)
Public Schools, elementary and / or secondary (P)
CULTURAL / ENTERTAINMENT / RECREATION:
*Park or playground, Public (R)
TRANSPORTATION / COMMUNICATION / UTILITIES:
*Electric substation: See specified conditions, Section IV (P)
Gas regulator station (P)
Parking, shared and off-premises (P)
*Pipeline or electric transmission line: rights-of-way for
pipelines or electric transmission lines of forty-four (44) kv
potential and above, over or across private property (P)
*Railroad right-of-way: But not including shops, yards, team
tracks (P)
*Waterstorage(P)
Water or sewage pumping station (P)
OTHER:
Accessory use (R)
(b) R-2 Districts: Single-Family Residence Districts /
Small Lots.
RESIDENTIAL:
Dwelling, single family (R)
Bed and Breakfast Inn (P)
Home occupation (X)
SERVICES:
*Cemetery (P)
Church: Including educational and accessory buildings and
parking areas (P)
Fire station (P)
Nursery, day care or kindergarten (X)
Parochial and / or private schools (P)
Public schools, elementary and/or secondary (P)
CULTURAL / ENTERTAINMENT / RECREATION:
Art gallery or museum (P)
*Golf course: But not including commercial miniature courses
or commercial driving ranges (P)
Library or reading room (P)
*Park or playground, public (R)
Recreation center, public (P)
TRANSPORTATION / COMMUNICATION / UTILITIES:
*Electric substation: See specified conditions, Section IV (P)
Gas regulator station (P)
Parking, shared and off-premises (P)
*Pipeline or electric transmission line: Rights-of-way for
pipelines or electric transmission lines of Forty-four (44) kv
potential and above over and across private property (P)
*Railroad right-of-way: But not including shops, yards, team
tracks (P)
*Water storage (P)
Water or sewage pumping station (P)
OTHER:
Accessory use (R)
(c) R-3 Districts: Multi-Family Residence Districts.
RESIDENTIAL:
Apartment complex (R)
Dwelling, single-family (R)
Home occupation (X)
Mobile home park: Mobile home parks shall conform to the
Mobile Home Park Subdivision Regulations as outlined in
Appendix B of the Code of the City of Florence (P)
Rooming or boarding house (R)
SERVICES:
*Cemetery (P)
Church: Including educational and accessory buildings and
parking areas (P)
Fire station (P)
Nursery, day care or kindergarten (X)
Parochial and/or private schools (P)
Public schools, elementary and/or secondary (P)
CULTURAL/ENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION:
Art gallery or museum (P)
*Golf course: But not including commercial miniature courses
or commercial driving ranges (P)
Library or reading room (P)
*Park or playground, public (R)
Recreation center, public (P)
TRANSPORTATION/COMMUNICATION/UTILITIES:
*Electric substation: See landscaping requirements, Section IV
(P)
Gas regulator station (P)
Parking, shared and off-premises (P)
*Pipeline or electric transmission lines: Rights-of-way for
pipelines or electric transmission lines of forty-four (44) kv
potential and above, over and across private property (P)
*Railroad right-of-way: But not including shops, yards, and
team tracks (P)
*Water storage (P)
Water or sewage pumping station (P)
OTHER:
Accessory use (R)
(d) R-B Districts: Residence - Business Districts.
RESIDENTIAL:
Apartment complex (P)
Fraternity house (P)
Dwelling, single-family (R)
Home occupation (X)
Residence hall, dormitories (R)
Rooming or boarding house (R)
Sorority House (P)
RETAIL AND WHOLESALE TRADE:
Antique store, retail (R)
Bookstore (R)
Camera and photographic supplies (R)
Clothing, wearing apparel and accessories, retail (R)
Delicatessen (R)
Floral shop (R)
Gift shop (R)
Hobby supply store (R)
Home Medical Equipment rental and retail ( including, but not
limited to, oxygen and respiratory therapy equipment,
wheelchairs, hospital beds, ambulatory aids, etc.) (R)
Music store (R)
Pharmacy (R)
Restaurant, conventional (P) (nonalcoholic)
SERVICES:
Bank (R)
Barber or beauty shop (R)
Church: Including educational and accessory buildings and
parking areas (P)
College student center (P)
Fire station (P)
Funeral home or mortuary (P)
Interior decorating shop (R)
Nursery, day care or kindergarten (X)
Office (R)
Parochial and or private schools (P)
Photographic studio (R)
Public schools, elementary and or secondary (P)
Studio for dance or music (R)
University, College, Schools of higher learning (P)
CULTURAL / ENTERTAINMENT / RECREATION:
Art gallery or museum (R)
Club or lodge, private (R)
Library or reading room (R)
Park or playground, public (R)
Recreation center, public (R)
Studio for professional work or teaching (R)
Theater, indoor (R)
TRANSPORTATION / COMMUNICATION/UTILITIES:
*Electric substation: See specified conditions, Section IV (P)
Gas regulator station (P)
Parking, shared and off-premises (P)
*Pipeline or electric transmission line: Rights-of-way for
pipelines or electric transmission lines of Forty-four (44) kv
potential and above over and across private property (P)
Railroad right-of-way: But not including shops, yards, team
tracks (P)
Water stor |