This chapter shall be known as and may be cited and referred to as the "Zoning Ordinance of the City of El Reno, Oklahoma."

This chapter is enacted for the purposes of promoting the health and general welfare of the community, including the peace and quality of life of the districts; lessening congestion in the streets, securing safety from fire, panic, and other dangers; providing adequate light and air; preventing the overcrowding of land; avoiding undue concentration of population; facilitating the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks, and other public requirements; conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the community; promoting the development of the community in accordance with a Comprehensive Plan and promoting historical preservation.

As concerns interpretation and application, the provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements. Where this chapter imposes a greater restriction than is imposed or required by other provisions of law or by other rules or regulations or ordinance, the provisions of this chapter shall control. Terms and words are to be used and interpreted as defined in Article III of this chapter. Words used in the present tense include the future; the singular shall include the plural, and the plural the singular; the word "building" shall mean as well the word "structure"; the word "used" shall include "arranged," "designed," "constructed," "altered," "converted," "rented," "leased," or "intended to be used"; and the word "shall" is mandatory and directory, except where the natural construction of the writing indicates otherwise.

This chapter shall be in full force and effect in the corporate limits of the City of El Reno, Oklahoma. Territory annexed to the corporate limits of the City of El Reno, Oklahoma, subsequent to the effective date of this chapter shall immediately be subject to the provisions of this chapter and shall be deemed to be designated as A-1 Rural Agricultural District until altered or reclassified in the manner provided by law.