The purpose of the City of Clayton Zoning Ordinance is to promote and protect the public health, safety and general welfare of the present and future residents of and visitors to Clayton in accordance with the comprehensive general plan by:

Where property is not specifically within a district shown on the district map, such property shall be considered as being contained within the "R-1" Large Lot Single-Family Dwelling District until or unless otherwise classified by ordinance. All territory, which may hereafter be annexed to the City, shall be classified in the "R-1" Large Lot Single-Family Dwelling District until otherwise classified by ordinance.

Whenever any public right-of-way is vacated by the Board of Aldermen, the zoning districts adjoining each side of such public right-of-way shall automatically be extended to the center of such vacation and all area included in the vacation shall be subject to the regulations of the extended districts.

In case any building or structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, converted or maintained, or any building, structure or land is used in violation of Sections 89.010 to 89.140, RSMo., or of any ordinance or other regulation made under authority conferred hereby, the proper local authorities of the municipality, in addition to other remedies, may institute any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, conversion, maintenance or use, to restrain, correct, or abate such violation, to prevent the occupancy of such building, structure, or land, or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business, or use in or about such premises. Such regulations shall be enforced by an officer empowered to cause any building, structure, place or premises to be inspected and examined and to order in writing the remedying of any condition found to exist therein or thereat in violation of any provision of the regulations made under authority of Sections 89.010 to 89.140, RSMo.

The owner or general agent of a building or premises where a violation of any provision of said regulations has been committed or shall exist, or the lessee or tenant of an entire building or entire premises where such violation has been committed or shall exist, or the owner, general agent, lessee or tenant of any part of the building or premises in which such violation has been committed or shall exist, or the general agent, architect, builder, contractor or any other person who commits, takes part or assists in any such violation or who maintains any building or premises in which any such violation shall exist shall be guilty of an ordinance violation punishable by a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) and not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each and every day that such violation continues or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 82.300, RSMo., however, for the second (2nd) and subsequent offenses involving the same violation at the same building or premises, the punishment shall be a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) or more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each and every day that such violation shall continue or by imprisonment for ten (10) days for each and every day such violation shall continue or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court.

Any such person who having been served with an order to remove any such violation shall fail to comply with such order within ten (10) days after such service or shall continue to violate any provision of the regulations made under authority of Sections 89.010 to 89.140, RSMo., in the respect named in such order shall also be subject to a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).