This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "City of Bay City Zoning Ordinance."

(Ord. No. 2005-11, 11-21-05)

This chapter is enacted in accordance with the authority granted cities under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, PA 110 of 2006 as amended.

(Ord. No. 2005-11, 11-21-05; Ord. No. 2008-17, § 1, 12-15-08)

The purpose of this chapter is to promote public health, safety or welfare; to regulate the use of land, buildings and structures; to meet the needs of the state's residents for food, fiber, energy and other natural resources, places of residence, recreation, commerce, industry, trade, service, and other uses of land; to insure that the uses of land shall be situated in appropriate locations and relationships; to limit inappropriate overcrowding of land and congestion of population and transportation systems and other public facilities; to facilitate adequate and efficient provision for transportation systems, sewage disposal, water, energy, education, recreation, and other public service and facility needs; to establish zoning districts in which the use of land, buildings and structures, the area and width of lots and the height, area, size and location of buildings and structures may be regulated, and for which zoning district regulations shall be established for light and ventilation of buildings, and for which zoning districts the density of population may be regulated; to designate the use of certain state licensed residential facilities; to provide by ordinance for the acquisition by purchase, condemnation or otherwise of private property that does not conform to the regulations of the various zoning districts provided; to provide for the administration of Public Act 207 of 1921, as amended, and the administration of this chapter; to provide for amendments, supplements or changes in the regulations of this chapter and the zoning map; to provide for conflict with other acts, ordinances and regulations; and to provide sanctions for violations of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2005-11, 11-21-05; Ord. No. 2008-17, § 2, 12-15-08)

In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, such provisions shall be held to be the minimum regulations for the promotion of the public safety, health, convenience, morals, prosperity and general welfare. It is not intended by this chapter to interfere with or abrogate or annul any ordinance, rules, regulations or permits which were previously adopted or issued, and are not in conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter, or which shall be adopted or issued pursuant to law relating to the use of buildings or premises, and likewise not in conflict with this chapter; nor is it intended by this chapter to interfere with or abrogate or annul any easements, covenants or other agreements between parties; provided, however, that where this chapter imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings, structures or land, or upon the height of buildings, or requires larger yards and other open spaces, or larger lot areas and lot widths, or wider or narrower streets and sidewalks than those or required by such ordinance, covenants or other agreement, the provisions of this chapter shall control.

(Ord. No. 2005-11, 11-21-05)