No building, structure, or land shall hereafter be used or occupied, and no building or structure or part thereof shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or structurally altered except in conformity with the regulations of this Ordinance, or amendments thereto, for the district in which it is located. Said conformity shall be demonstrated by the issuance of a valid building permit, certificate of occupancy, or certificate of zoning exception or variance.

Except as hereinafter provided in this Ordinance, no building shall hereafter be erected, constructed, or altered so as to exceed the height limits, or density limits, or to accommodate or house a greater number of families than are specified or required in the regulations herein for the district in which it is located.

(a)

Exceptions to Height Limits. The height limits listed in this Article shall not apply to structures not intended for human occupancy such as church spires, flagpoles, chimneys, monuments, radio or television towers or aerials, water towers, or similar structures. The height limits shall apply to signs. The heights of telecommunications towers and antennas are governed by the provisions of Article VIII.

Except as hereinafter provided, no lot existing at the time of passage of this Ordinance, even though it may consist of one or more adjacent lots of record, shall be reduced in size so that lot width or depth, front, side or rear yard, inner or outer courts, lot area per family or other requirements of this ordinance are not maintained. Lots created after the effective date of this Ordinance shall meet at least the minimum requirements established by this Ordinance. This section shall not apply when a portion of a lot is acquired for public use within Cordele, Georgia.

Except as hereinafter provided, no part of a minimum yard or other open space required for any building for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this Ordinance shall be included as part of a minimum required yard or other open space similarly required for another building, nor shall any building have narrower or smaller front, side, or rear yards or courts than are required in this Ordinance. Every part of a required yard or court shall be unobstructed and open from its lowest point to the sky, except for the ordinary projection of sills, cornices, buttresses, ornamental features, chimneys, flues, and eaves, provided such projections shall not extend more than two (2) feet into the yard area or open space requirements. Right-or-way easements for streets and roads shall not be considered a part of a lot or open space, or front, rear, or side yard for the purpose of meeting required minimum yard regulations.

The front yard setback requirements of this Ordinance for dwellings shall not apply on any lot where the average setback of existing buildings located wholly or in part within 100 feet on each side of such lot within the same block and zoning district and fronting on the same side of the street is less than the minimum required setbacks of that district. In such cases, the front yard setback may be less than the required setback, but not less than the average of the existing setbacks on the adjacent developed lots, and in no case shall the setback be less than 15 feet from the street right-of-way upon which said lot fronts.

On lots having frontage on more than one street at an intersection, the minimum front yard requirement may be reduced to one-half the regulated distance on the portion of the lot fronting on the street or streets of lesser importance. However, in no case shall the setback be reduced to less than fifteen (15) feet. The minimum front yard for the portion of the lot fronting on the street of greater importance shall be provided in accordance with the provisions established by the Ordinance for the district in which the lot is located.

At each end of a lot that lies between and abuts two parallel streets, there shall be a front yard of the depth required by this Ordinance for the zone in which each street frontage is located, provided that one of the front yards may serve as a rear yard.

Except as otherwise permitted by this Ordinance, only one principal building and its permitted customary accessory buildings may hereafter be erected on any lot.

No building shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed, moved or structurally altered except upon application for and issuance of a building permit by the Chief Codes Official.

Except as hereinafter provided, nothing herein contained shall require any change in the plans, construction, size, design, or use of any building, structure, or part thereof, for which a building permit has been issued prior to the adoption or amendment of this Ordinance, provided that construction shall start within 6 months after the issuance of such building permit.

No housing unit shall hereafter be constructed, located, erected, or otherwise situated in the City of Cordele, Georgia, which does not meet building, fire, electrical, gas, plumbing and other then existing codes of the City and all other then applicable government laws and regulations.

Each principal use shall be located on a lot or parcel that provides at least twenty-five (25) feet of frontage onto a public street or approved private street.

Except as hereinafter provided, no existing building or other structure shall be moved into any zone except in conformity with the provisions of this Ordinance and other applicable codes and ordinances, and not before a permit has been granted by the Chief Codes Official. Any such relocated building shall meet the applicable standards of the building codes as required for new construction.