This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance of the City of Dover, New Hampshire."

This chapter is adopted pursuant to the authority granted by RSA 674:16.

This chapter is an element of the Dover Master Plan and is designed to promote the health, safety, and the general welfare of Dover's residents by serving to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewer, schools, parks and other public requirements; to encourage the maintenance of Dover's economic and aesthetic quality of life; and to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the City of Dover.

The provisions of this chapter shall be interpreted to be the minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the City of Dover. The provisions of this chapter are not intended to repeal or in any way impair or negate any other lawfully adopted ordinance, regulation or rule. Whenever the regulations made under the authority hereof differ from those prescribed by any ordinance or regulation, that provision which imposes the greater restriction shall govern.

All buildings or structures hereafter erected, reconstructed, altered, enlarged or relocated or all future use of premises in the City of Dover shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. This chapter shall not apply to existing buildings or structures, nor to the existing use of any building or structure or of land to the extent to which it is used at the time of enactment of this chapter. Furthermore, if the Planning Board has formally accepted an application for development prior to the first legal notice of a proposed change to this chapter, the Building Official shall not withhold a building permit, and the proposed regulation shall not affect the accepted application.