The zoning regulations and districts as herein established have been made in accordance with a comprehensive plan for the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the city. They have been designed to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land to avoid undue concentration of population; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements. They have been made with reasonable consideration, among other things, for the character of the district and its peculiar suitability for the particular uses, and with a view of conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the city.

(Code 1962, § 11-2-1)

State Law reference— Purposes of zoning authority, Vernon's Ann. Civ. St. Arts. 1011a, 1011c.

(a)

Zoning districts and regulations, as herein set forth, are established. The city is hereby divided into four (4) types of districts:

(b)

The four (4) types of districts are further divided into the following fourteen (14) districts:

(Code 1962, § 11-2-2; Ord. of 10-14-69, § 3; Ord. No. 87-45, § 1, 11-25-87)

State Law reference— Zoning districts, Vernon's Ann. Civ. St. Art. 1011b.

(a)

Property in the City of Del Rio is zoned according to the maps referred to herein and made a part of this chapter by reference.

(b)

The boundaries of the districts are as shown on the "district map" referred to herein and made a part of this chapter by reference.

(c)

Copies of said maps referred to in subsections (a) and (b) shall be and remain on file in the office of the city secretary.

(Code 1962, § 11-2-3)

Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the various districts as shown on the map referred to in section 30-18(b) herein, the following rules apply:

(1)

The district boundaries are street, alley and property lines unless otherwise shown, and where the districts designated on the map are bounded approximately by street, alley or property line, the street, alley or property line shall be construed to be the boundary of the district.

(2)

Where the district boundaries are otherwise indicated, and where the property has been or may hereafter be divided into blocks and lots, the district boundaries shall be construed to be property lines and where districts designated on the map are bounded approximately by lot lines, the lot lines shall be construed to be the boundary of the districts, unless the boundaries are otherwise indicated on the map.

(3)

In unsubdivided property, the district boundary lines on the map shall be determined by use of the scale appearing on the map.

(4)

In the case of a district boundary line dividing a property into two (2) parts, the district boundary line shall be construed to be the property line nearest the less restricted district.

(5)

Whenever the city council vacates a street or alley, adjacent districts shall extend to the centerline of the vacation.

(Code 1962, § 11-2-4)

(a)

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) hereof, all new territory or land hereafter annexed to the City of Del Rio, Texas, shall be classified for zoning purposes as located in a "R-S Single-Family District" and subject to the provisions contained in Article IV of this chapter.

(b)

Any territory or land currently devoted to agricultural uses and thereafter annexed to the City of Del Rio, Texas, shall be classified for zoning purposes as located in the "Agriculture-Open District" and subject to the regulations contained in Article III of this chapter The phrase "agricultural uses" shall have the same meaning ascribed to such phrase by section 30-36 of this chapter.

(c)

Any land or territory annexed to the City of Del Rio shall be classified for zoning purposes as specified in subsections (a) and (b) hereof until rezoned in the manner specified herein. The planning and zoning commission shall, within thirty (30) days from the date of annexation of any new territory or land, begin to hold public hearings on the proposed zoning classification of any new land or territory annexed to the City of Del Rio, Texas. Notice of such hearings and the procedure for rezoning of such property shall be in accordance with the procedures detailed in Article XVIII of this chapter as well as the applicable provisions of state law.

(Code 1962, § 11-2-5; Ord. No. 86-02, § 1, 1-14-86)

The owner, lessee or any other person, firm or corporation owning, controlling, constructing, supervising of directing the construction of any building or structure which may be in the process of construction and which is incomplete at the time the land upon which it is situated is annexed to the City of Del Rio, Texas, before proceeding further with construction, alteration or completion thereof, shall apply to the building inspector [building official] for a permit authorizing further work and shall attach to his application plans and specifications for the construction of such building or structure. The building inspector [building official] shall immediately refer such application to the city planning and zoning commission for their consideration. The city planning and zoning commission shall grant such permit if the application shows that such building will comply with the building code and other ordinances, rules and regulations of the City of Del Rio, except zoning, or the construction of such building or structure would not be to the detriment or against the general welfare of the citizens of the City of Del Rio. Construction work shall be suspended until the necessary permit has been issued.

(Code 1962, § 11-2-6)

(a)

No vacant land (property) shall be occupied or used, except for a farm, ranch, dairy, nursery, or similar agricultural use, until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the chief building official. Any owner, authorized agent, or contractor is required to have a structure, permanent or temporary, which conforms to the Technical Code before conducting a business upon or occupying all or a portion of the property and, shall first make application to the chief building official and obtain the required permit for the use or occupancy of that property. All applications for a certificate of occupancy shall be accompanied by an affidavit stating that the proposed use meets all conditions imposed by the planning and zoning commission, city council, or other public body.

(b)

Every building shall be on a lot. Except as provided in the R-M district regulations, there cannot be more than one principal building on a lot and all residential buildings shall face a public street.

(c)

Yards, parking space, or lot area required for one building cannot be used for another building; nor can the size of a lot be reduced below the requirements of this chapter.

(Code 1962, § 11-2-7; Ord. No. 98-14, § 4, 4-28-98)

Land or premises in each of the classified districts in the City of Del Rio shall be used for the purposes listed in Articles III through X only. Any other use of such land or premises in such district or districts shall be unlawful and in violation of this chapter. All uses of land or premises shall comply with the conditions, limitations and requirements as to yards, open space, lot coverage, spacing and as may otherwise be set forth in this chapter.

(Code 1962, § 11-2-8)

(1)

The fee for requesting zoning verification letters shall be ten dollars ($10.00);

(2)

The fee for customer service inspections shall be thirty dollars ($30.00); and

(3)

The fee for site plan review of the following structures shall be:

(a)

Commercial structures shall be fifty dollars ($50.00);

(b)

New residential structures shall be thirty dollars ($30.00);

(c)

Fences shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00);

(d)

Signs shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00); and

(e)

Change of occupancy shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00).

(Ord. No. 2009-043, § 1, 7-14-2009, eff. 10-1-2009)