Gate City

If at the time of enactment of this chapter, any legal activity is being pursued, or any lot or structure is being legally utilized in a manner or for the purpose which does not conform to the provisions of this chapter, such manner of use or purpose may by continued as herein provided.

All variances to this chapter shall be considered, granted or denied by the zoning board of appeals... The town council is vested with the authority to issue special exceptions...

On any corner lot in a residential district, there shall be no planting, structure, fence, retaining wall, shrubbery, or obstruction to vision more than three feet higher than the curb level within the triangle formed by the street right-of-way lines and a line connecting said street lines 25 feet from their intersection. On any corner lot in commercial or industrial district, no building or obstruction shall be permitted between a height of one foot and a height of ten feet higher than the curb level within the triangle formed by the street right-of-way line and a line connecting said street lines five feet from their intersection.

The setback and yard requirements of this chapter shall not be deemed to prohibit any otherwise lawful fence or wall which is not more than four feet high. However, a fence or wall along the rear lot line and along the side lot line to the rear of the required setback line may be erected to a height not exceeding seven feet.

There shall be provided at the time of erection of any main building, or at the time of any main building enlarged, minimum off-street parking space with adequate provision for entrance and exit by standard sized automobiles, as follows:

Automobile graveyards as defined are prohibited in all zoning districts.

On the same premises with every building, structure, or part thereof, erected and occupied for uses involving the receipt or distribution of vehicles, materials, or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained on the lot adequate space for standing, turning, loading, and unloading services in order to avoid interference with public use of the streets and alleys.

Permitted accessory uses or structures include private garages, guest houses; swimming pools, hot tubs and Jacuzzis; accessory buildings for storage of household goods and maintenance items, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball and badminton areas; home gardens and landscaping features, private security or dusk-to-dawn lighting, children's play structures, gazebos, dog houses, dog pens, private greenhouses.

A manufactured/mobile home is limited to single-family use only.

Permitted accessory uses or structures include private garages, guest houses; swimming pools, hot tubs and Jacuzzis; accessory buildings for storage of household goods and maintenance items, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball and badminton areas; home gardens and landscaping features, private security or dusk-to-dawn lighting, children's play structures, gazebos, dog houses, dog pens, private greenhouses.

Accessory use or structure... Permitted accessory uses or structures include private garages, guest houses; swimming pools... Home occupation sign... not exceeding four square feet... Dog house... No more than two such structures are permitted per lot...

Accessory use or structure means a subordinate use or structure customarily incidental to and located upon the same lot occupied by the main use or building. Permitted accessory uses or structures include private garages, guest houses; swimming pools, hot tubs and Jacuzzis; accessory buildings for storage of household goods and maintenance items, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball and badminton areas; home gardens and landscaping features, private security or dusk-to-dawn lighting, children's play structures, gazebos, dog houses, dog pens, private greenhouses.

The following signage is prohibited in all districts: 1. Billboard signs. 2. Mobile directional signs. ... Exemptions: realty signs, temporary political campaign signs, banners, posters, etc. removed within 10 days; temporary government signs removed within 10 days; temporary yard sale, garage sale, flea market or seasonal sales signs removed within 10 days; highway and street signage; other signage of one square foot or less.

If any nonconforming use (structure or activity) is discontinued for a period exceeding two years after the enactment of this chapter, it shall be deemed abandoned and any subsequent use shall conform to the requirements of this chapter.

All nonconforming uses shall be issued a zoning permit and a certificate of occupancy within 180 days after the adoption of this chapter.

work may be done in any period of 12 consecutive months on ordinary repairs ... to an extent not exceeding ten percent of the current replacement value of the structure

Whenever the boundaries of a district are changed, any uses of land or buildings which become nonconforming as a result of such change shall become subject to the provisions of this section.

A nonconforming structure to be extended or enlarged shall conform with the provision of this chapter.

Any lot of record ... which is less in area or width than the minimum required by this chapter may be used provided a showing of unnecessary and undue hardship would result if a variance is not granted

If a nonconforming activity is destroyed or damaged ... to the extent that the cost of restoration ... exceed 50 percent ... it shall be restored only if such use complies