Galax

General provisions and definitions.

The maximum lot coverage shall be 45%.

Regulates exterior signs; prohibits portable signs, billboards, flashing lights; requires permits; sets temporary sign limits; defines sign area calculation.

Residential districts: freestanding signs min 10 ft from right-of-way (street ≥50 ft) or 35 ft from centerline (street <50 ft); max height 8 ft; max 2 signs per establishment; no glare.

Downtown Tax District: only one sign permitted (corner lot up to two); suspended/projecting signs min 8 ft from ground, max 20 sq ft; signs subject to same setbacks as structures; Design Committee review.

Business districts: freestanding signs allowed based on frontage (75-150 ft: max 100 sq ft, 20 ft high; >150 ft: max 150 sq ft, 30 ft high); setback 5 ft from pavement; max 3 signs; gasoline businesses extra 9 sq ft.

Industrial districts: max 2 business signs per establishment; all signs must be attached except freestanding business signs (max 30 ft height, 100 sq ft area, requires 200 ft frontage) and industrial park identification signs (max 30 ft height, 100 sq ft area).

The purpose of conditional zoning is to provide a method for permitting the reasonable and orderly development and use of land in those situations in which peculiar specific circumstances indicate that the existing Zoning Ordinance district regulations are not adequate.

The Board shall not grant a variance unless it finds that:

Under no circumstances shall the Board of Zoning Appeals grant a variance to allow a use not permitted.

All uses existing upon June 30, 1971 (the date of original adoption), which do not conform to the zoning prescribed for the district in which they are situated may be continued so long as the use continues and such use is not discontinued for more than one year in situations not involving a structure or two years where a nonconforming building is involved.

YARD LOCATIONS OF ACCESSORY USES — An accessory use may be located in a side or rear yard if setback standards are met. A swimming pool located at below-grade level may extend to the zero rear or side yard line.

SIGN — The existing City's Sign Ordinance is hereby incorporated by reference.

SMALL CELL FACILITY — A wireless facility that meets both of the following qualifications: (1) Each antenna is located inside an enclosure of no more than six cubic feet in volume...

STORY — A portion of a building between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it... A basement or cellar if the finished floor level directly above it is not more than six feet above the average adjoining elevation of the finished grade.

YARD — An open space on the same lot with a principal building, open, unoccupied and unobstructed by buildings from the ground to the sky except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

YARD, FRONT — A yard extending along the full length of a front lot line. In the case of a corner lot, a yard of at least the full depth required for a 'front yard' in these regulations and extending along the full length of a street line shall be considered a 'front yard.'

YARD, SIDE — A yard extending along a side lot line from the required front yard to the required rear yard. In the case of a corner lot, any yard which abuts a street line and which is not designated a front yard shall be considered a 'side yard.'

The vertical distance from grade plane to the average height of the highest roof surface.

A communication tower includes any structure greater than 50 feet in height that is designed and constructed primarily for the purpose of supporting one or more antennae... When all or a portion of the tower is supported by guy wires, such wires and their anchors shall be considered a part of the tower for purposes of measuring setbacks and separations from adjacent uses.