These regulations shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance of Effingham County, Georgia."

Whereas the board of commissioners of Effingham County has acted pursuant to the authority granted to it by Article IX, Section IV, paragraph II of the 1976 Constitution (O.C.G.A. § 2-6102) [art. IX, § II, ¶ IV of the 1983 Constitution], the following ordinance to be known as the "Zoning Ordinance of Effingham County, Georgia," is hereby adopted and ordained effective April 6, 1999. As part of this ordinance so enacted into law is the "Official Zoning Map of Effingham County," said map being identified by the inscription "Zoning Map of Effingham County" adopted on March 2, 1992; and signed by Sandra Andrews, Clerk of the Board of Commissioners of Effingham County, and Phillip E. King, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Effingham County.

The zoning regulations and districts as herein set forth are made with consideration for the character of Effingham County, its various parts and the suitability of the various parts for particular uses and structures, and in order to promote, protect, and facilitate the public health, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants of Effingham County, and of the public generally. The provisions are designed to prevent overcrowding of land, danger and congestion in travel and transportation, loss of health, life, or property, or other dangers. The ordinance is also intended to support the following community development objectives:

Appearance. To improve the appearance and utility of the land and structures in Effingham County and to control the filling of floodplains, misuse of marshlands and stream banks, use of signs, and screening of junkyards and other areas of bad appearance.

Education. To help maintain public and private school systems, capable of maximizing a student's potential, including large administrative districts with diversified educational opportunities. To better educate people of all ages, races, incomes, mental capacities, and physical handicaps.

Transportation. To create an integrated transportation system, by using public transportation to its maximum effectiveness, and integrating it with private transportation, and to prepare and obtain acceptance of a continuing transportation system for Effingham County, and particularly to assist low income groups and elderly citizens in obtaining better transportation to jobs and shopping areas.

Recreation and tourism. To provide sufficient recreation facilities, particularly at the community level, to meet Bureau of Outdoor Recreation national standards, and promote tourism to the greatest extent possible.

Pollution. To eliminate or reduce major sources of pollution.

Flooding. To provide additional flood protection for critical areas, and to discourage development in floodprone areas that would be damaged by flooding.

Housing. To provide an adequate supply of safe and sanitary housing in a decent environment for all income groups, regardless of race, color, or background, including the rehabilitation of existing structures.

Crime prevention. To reduce the incidence of crime to the extent possible.

Economics. To increase the tax base by providing land for commercial and industrial growth where feasible, and minimize the conflict between industrial and commercial growth and residential or public development.

Utilities. To promote the provision of public and private utilities.

Land use and comprehensive plan. To use the zoning ordinance as a tool to help implement the land use and comprehensive plans.

Health. To improve the health of the residents of Effingham County by controlling pollution, separating new residences for adequate light, sun, and air, and providing adequate treatment facilities at the lowest possible cost.

Compliance. Except as hereinafter provided, no land, building, structure, or premises shall hereafter be used, and no building or part thereof or other structure shall be located, erected, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, altered, or moved except in conformity with the regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located, and in conformity with all duly ordained ordinances, resolutions, and subdivision regulations of Effingham County. No yard space or minimum area required for a building or use shall be considered as any part of the yard space or minimum area for another building or use.