For the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the township, the township is hereby divided into the following zoning districts. The number of districts and the shape, kind and area of each district, are deemed to be most suitable to carry out the purposes of this ordinance.

AB—Agricultural business district.

RR—Rural residential district.

RA—Low-density residential district.

RB—Medium-density residential district.

MH—Manufactured/mobile home park district.

MF—Multiple family district.

LC—Local commercial district.

GC—General commercial district.

RC—Regional commercial district.

LI—Light industrial district.

IP—Industrial park district.

OC—Open space and water body conservation district.

These districts, so established, are bounded and defined as shown on the map entitled "Zoning District Map of the Charter Township of Emmett," adopted by the township board, and which, with all notations, references and other information appearing thereon or applicable thereto, is hereby declared to be a part of this ordinance and of the same force and effect as if the districts shown thereon were fully set forth by metes and bounds therein.

If, in accordance with the procedures of this ordinance and of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, 2006 PA 110, as amended, (MCL 125.3101, et seq.) a change is made in a zoning district boundary, such change shall be made by the zoning administrator or deputy zoning administrator, or, in their absence, the building inspector, promptly after the ordinance authorizing such change shall have been adopted and published by the township board. No change of any other nature shall be made unless authorized by the planning commission.

Regardless of the existence of purported copies of the official zoning map, which may, from time to time, be made or published, the official zoning map shall be located in the office of the zoning administrator. In the absence of the zoning administrator, the building inspector shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of any land, parcel, lot, district, use building or structure in the township.

In the event that the official zoning map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of changes made thereto, the township board may by ordinance adopt a new official zoning map which shall supersede the prior official zoning map. The new official zoning map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions on the prior official zoning map, but no such correction shall have the effect of amending the zoning ordinance or the prior official zoning map. The new official zoning map shall be identified by the signature of the township supervisor, attested by the township clerk, and bear the seal of the township under the following words:

"This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Map referred to in the Zoning Ordinance of the Charter Township of Emmett on October 18, 2015."

Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of zoning districts as shown on the official zoning map, the following rules for interpretation shall apply:

a.

A boundary indicated as approximately following centerline of a highway, street, alley, railroad or easement shall be construed as following such centerline.

b.

A boundary indicated as approximately following a recorded lot line, bounding a parcel, section line, quarter section line, or other survey line shall be construed as following such line.

c.

A boundary indicated as approximately following the corporate boundary line of a city, village or township shall be construed as following such line.

d.

A boundary indicated as following a shoreline shall be construed as following such shoreline, and in the event of change in a shoreline shall be construed as following the actual shoreline.

e.

A boundary indicated as following the centerline of a stream, river, canal, lake or other body of water shall be construed as following such centerline.

f.

A boundary indicated as parallel or an extension of a feature indicated in paragraphs a. through e. shall be so construed.

g.

A distance not specifically indicated on the official zoning map shall be determined by the scale of the map.

The regulations established by this ordinance with respect to the use of land, types of buildings or structures or the use of building and structures within each zoning district are the minimum regulations necessary for the promotion and protection of the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the township and its residents and are uniform for each class of land or buildings, dwellings and structures and uses thereof throughout each district, except as hereinafter specifically provided:

a.

No building, structure or land shall be used or occupied, and no building or structure or any part thereof shall be erected, moved, or altered unless in conformity with the regulations specified for the district in which it is located.

b.

No building or structure shall be erected or altered in violation of the lot area, lot width, lot coverage, minimum floor area, front, side and rear yard, height, off-street parking, open space, interior living space, setback, greenbelt buffer, accessory building or structure, lot-building relationship, water supply and sanitary sewerage facilities, street access, fences, walls and screens, swimming pools, signs, and other regulations of such building or structure as provided in this ordinance for the district in which such building or structure is located.

c.

No building or structure shall be erected or altered to accommodate or house a greater number of persons or families than is provided for by the regulations of this ordinance for such building or structure for the district in which such building or structure is located.

d.

A legal use of land not expressly permitted within a zoning district is prohibited, except when a proposed use of structure, building or land is not mentioned in any district within the ordinance. The board of appeals shall have the power to classify a use of structure or building or land which is not specifically mentioned in this ordinance along with a comparable permitted or prohibited use, structure or building for the purpose of regulating such unclassified use, structure or building in any district in which such is located or proposed to be located.