[R.O. 2009 §31-1; Ord. No. 2928 §31-1, 12-22-1999; Ord. No. 3086 §I(31-1), 7-25-2001; Ord. No. 3131 §II(31-1), 12-12-2001; Ord. No. 3271 §1(31-1), 5-14-2003; Ord. No. 3298 §I(31-1), 7-23-2003; Ord. No. 3311 §II(31-1), 8-27-2003; Ord. No. 3764 §I(31-1), 12-12-2007; Ord. No. 3774 §I(31-1), 1-23-2008; Ord. No. 4817, 5-27-2025]
For the purposes of this Chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Section:
Words used in the present tense include the future; words in the singular number indicate the plural and words in the plural number indicate the singular; the word "building" includes the word "structure"; the word "shall" or the word "must" is mandatory and not directory; the word "lot" includes the word "plot"; the term "used for" includes the meaning "designed for" or "intended for."
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE OR USEA use or structure subordinate to the principal use of a building or to the principal use of land, located on the same lot as such principal use and serving a purpose customarily incidental to the use of the principal building or use of land.
ADULT ORIENTED BUSINESSAny business which offers its patrons goods of which a substantial portion are adult oriented items or services relating to such items. Any business where more than ten percent (10%) of the retail value of merchandise offered for sale consists of adult oriented items shall be presumed to be an adult oriented business. No adult oriented business shall advertise, display or promote adult oriented items so that they are visible from outside the premises. Only one (1) adult oriented business may be operated in the same structure as any other adult oriented business.
ADULT ORIENTED ITEMSShall consist of:
1. Sexual devices: Any three-dimensional object designed or marketed as useful primarily in the performance of a sexual act or to enhance or entice sexual stimulation or gratification. Such devices include any item which has no substantial non-sex related utility, such as erotic undergarments and artificial sexual organs, as well as devices with other utility when they are marketed for sexual purposes, such as chains, handcuffs or the like, but does not include devices primarily intended for protection of health or prevention of pregnancy; or
2. Sexually explicit materials: Any book, magazine, pamphlet, newspaper or other printed or written matter, picture, drawing, photograph, motion picture film, pictorial representation, statue, figure or other three-dimensional object, recording, transcription or anything which is or may be used as a means of communication that depicts, describes or portrays human sexual intercourse, sodomy, bestiality, oral copulation, masturbation, urinary and defecatory functions, sadism, masochism, sadomasochistic abuse, exhibition of the genitals or any touching of the genitals, pubic areas, buttocks of the human male or female or the breasts of the female, whether alone or between members of the same or opposite sex or between humans and animals in an act of apparent sexual stimulation or gratification.
AGRICULTUREThe use of land for agricultural purposes, including farming, dairying, pasturage, apiculture, horticulture, floriculture, viticulture and animal and poultry husbandry and the necessary accessory uses for packing, treating or storing the produce raised on the premises; provided however, that the operation of such accessory uses shall be secondary to that of normal agricultural activities and further provided that the above uses shall not include the commercial feeding of garbage or offal to swine or other animals.
ALLEYA public way which affords only a secondary means of access to abutting property and which is twenty (20) feet or less in width.
APARTMENTA room or a suite of rooms within an apartment house arranged, intended or designed for a place of residence of a single-family or group of individuals living together as a single housekeeping unit.
APARTMENT HOTELA multiple dwelling which furnishes for the use of its tenants services ordinarily furnished by hotels, but the privileges of which are not primarily available to the public.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATUREA decorative or utilitarian feature that is permanently attached to a building. Architectural features shall include roof overhangs, cornices, canopies, uncovered stairs and landings, decks, balconies, eaves, bay windows, bump-out windows, exterior flues and chimneys and other similar appurtenances.
BASEMENTA story whose floor is more than twelve (12) inches but not more than one-half (½) its clear height below the average level of the adjoining ground. A basement, when used as a dwelling, shall be counted as a story for purposes of height measurement and a half story for purposes of minimum side yard determination.
BEGINNING OF CONSTRUCTIONThe utilization of labor, equipment and materials for the purpose of erecting, modifying or altering a structure.
BLOCKA unit of property bounded by streets or by streets and/or railroad rights-of-way, waterways or other barriers.
BLOCK FRONTAGEProperty having frontage on one (1) side of the street and lying between the two (2) nearest intersecting, intercepting or intercepting extended streets or nearest intersecting or intercepting street and railroad right-of-way waterway or other barrier.
BOARDThe Board of Adjustment of the City established in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
BOARDING HOUSE OR LODGING HOUSEA building, other than a hotel, motel, apartment, apartment hotel or apartment house, containing one (1) or more housekeeping units, where temporary lodging or meals are provided for two (2) or more persons for compensation. Any building where persons are lodged for "periods of habitation" of twelve (12) weeks or less shall be deemed to be a boarding house or lodging house even if otherwise qualifying as an apartment, apartment hotel or apartment house. For the purposes of this definition, "periods of habitation" refers to the actual periods of time that different families or sets of unrelated individuals occupy housekeeping units, rather than the terms of the leases or contracts governing the lodging or boarding relationships.
BUILDINGA structure having a roof supported by columns or walls for the shelter, support, enclosure or protection of persons, animals, chattels or property. When separated by party walls, without openings through such walls, each portion of such structure shall be considered a separate building, except as regards minimum side yard requirements as hereinafter provided.
BUILDING HEIGHTThe vertical distance measured from the average elevation of the finished grade along the front of the building to the highest point of the roof surface or to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof; or to the deck line of a mansard roof; and to the mean height level between eaves and ridge for gable, hip and gambrel roofs.
BUILDING, PRINCIPALA building in which is conducted the main or principal use of the lot on which such building is situated. Where a substantial part of the wall of an accessory building is a part of the wall of the principal building or where an accessory building is attached to the main building in a substantial manner, as by roof, such accessory building shall be counted as part of the principal building.
BUSINESSThe engaging in the purchase, sale, barter or exchange of goods, wares, merchandise or services and/or the maintenance or operation of offices or recreational and amusement enterprises for profit.
CELLARA story, the floor of which is more than one-half (½) its clear height below the average level of the adjoining ground. A cellar when used as a dwelling shall be counted as a story for the purposes of height measurement.
CLUBA non-profit association of persons who are bona fide members organized for some common purposes and paying regular dues; not including a group organized solely or primarily to render a service customarily carried on as a commercial enterprise.
COMMISSIONThe Planning and Zoning Commission of the City established in accordance with Article
I of Chapter
400.
CONDITIONAL USEA use that is permitted but only by application to the Planning and Zoning Commission as designated in each specific instance. The use may be granted only after a determination by the Planning and Zoning Commission that all regulations and standards of this Chapter applying to the specific use in the particular location will be met and shall include such additional conditions or safeguards as the Commission may prescribe in the specific case and circumstances, in order to prevent harm or injury to adjacent uses, the neighborhood, and/or in order to improve the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity and general welfare and approval by Council.
COURTAn unoccupied open space, other than a yard, on the same lot with a building, which is bounded on two (2) or more sides by the walls of such building.
CURB LEVELThe mean level of the curb in front of the lot or in case of a corner lot, along the abutting street where the mean curb level is the highest.
DAY CARE CENTERA not-for-profit or commercial facility meeting the requirements of, and licensed by, the State of Missouri for the care of infants and children and shall be six (6) or more children.
DAY CARE HOMEA business for the care of infants and children having less than the number of children that would require a license from the State of Missouri and shall be five (5) or fewer children.
DISTRICTA section of the City for which uniform regulations governing the use, height, area, size and intensity of use of buildings and land and open spaces about buildings are herein established.
DISTRICT, MORE RESTRICTED OR LESS RESTRICTEDEach of the districts in the following list shall be deemed to be more restricted than any of the districts succeeding it and each shall be deemed to be less restricted than any of the districts preceding it: "N-1", "E-1", "E-2", "R-1", "R-2", "R-3", "R-4", "B-1", "B-2", "B-3", "B-4" and "I-1".
DWELLINGA building or portion thereof used primarily as a place of abode for one (1) or more human beings, but not including hotels, motels, motor hotels, boarding or lodging houses, tourist homes or, except when located in an authorized mobile home park, mobile homes.
DWELLING, MULTIPLEA building or portion thereof arranged, intended or designed for occupancy by three (3) or more families and including apartment houses and row houses.
EASEMENTA grant by a property owner to the public, a corporation or a person of the use of land for a specific purpose.
ENGINEERA professional engineer registered and licensed to practice in Missouri.
FAMILYA group of one (1) or more persons occupying a dwelling unit and living as a single housekeeping unit, as distinguished from a group occupying a boarding or lodging house or hotel.
FOOTPRINTThe construction boundaries of a structure including the foundation, garage, porch, patio, sidewalk, etc.
GARAGE, PRIVATEAn accessory building intended exclusively for the storage of the vehicles used by the family housed in the building to which such garage is accessory.
GARAGE, PUBLICAny building or premises, except those defined herein as a private garage, used for the storage or servicing of motor vehicles or where such vehicles are equipped for operation, repaired or kept for remuneration, hire or sale.
GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTUREAny structure owned by the United States of America, the State of Missouri or any and all other political subdivisions of the State.
GREEN AREAA single parcel or several separate parcels set out within a planned development area, designated and designed to be used as parks, plazas, courts, playgrounds, buffer zones or other open spaces.
GROUP HOMEA residence for eight (8) or fewer unrelated mentally or physically handicapped persons with up to two (2) additional persons acting as houseparents or guardians.
HEIGHT OF YARD OR COURTThe vertical distance from the lowest level of such yard or court to the highest point of any boundary wall.
HOME OCCUPATIONAny use conducted entirely within a dwelling or accessory building and participated in solely by members of the family, which use is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes and does not change the character thereof. No commodity shall be sold upon the premises except that which is produced thereon and no sign shall be displayed. Further, no offensive noise, vibrations, smoke or other particulate matter, odorous matter, heat, humidity, glare or other objectionable effects shall be produced.
HOSPITALAn institution licensed by the State Department of Public Health and Welfare and providing health services primarily for inpatient medical or surgical care of the sick or injured and including related facilities such as laboratories, outpatient departments, training facilities, central service facilities and staff offices which are an integral part of the facility, provided such institution is operated by or treatment is given under direct supervision of a licensed physician.
HOTELA building in which lodging is provided and offered to the public for compensation and which is open to transient guests, in contradistinction to a boarding or lodging house.
JUNK YARDAny lot on which personal property is or may be collected, accumulated, dismantled, assorted, stored or salvaged for reuse, resale or reduction or similar disposition.
KENNELAny lot on which four (4) or more dogs, cats or other domestic animals at least four (4) months of age are kept.
LAND SURVEYORA land surveyor registered in the State of Missouri.
LOTA parcel of land occupied or intended to be occupied by a principal or conditional use and uses accessory thereto together with such open spaces as required under this Chapter. A lot may be a single parcel separately described in a deed or plat which is recorded in the office of the County Recorder or it may include parts of or a combination of such parcels when adjacent to one another and used as one. In determining lot area and boundary lines, no part thereof within the limits of a street or place shall be included.
LOT, CORNERA lot abutting upon two (2) or more streets at their intersection. For building setback purposes, a corner lot is deemed to have two (2) front yards.
LOT DEPTHThe mean horizontal distance from the front lot line to the rear line.
LOT LINESThe lines bounding a lot, as defined herein.
LOT LINE, FRONTIn the case of an interior lot, the line separating the lot from the street or place. In the case of a corner lot or double frontage lot, the lot is deemed to have a front lot line on each street.
LOT LINE, REARThe lot line which is opposite and most distant from the front lot line. On a corner lot, the rear lot line shall mean the line which is opposite the front lot line that has the narrowest frontage.
LOT, THROUGHAn interior lot having frontage on two (2) streets at opposite ends of the lot.
LOT WIDTHThe minimum horizontal distance between side lot lines measured at right angles to the lot depth. On lots in a cul-de-sac or lots fronting on a street with a horizontal radius of less than two hundred (200) feet, the lot width shall be determined by measuring the chord length of the curve at the front building line.
MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDINGAny commercial office building occupied or intended to be occupied primarily by members of the medical or dental profession. This shall include buildings that contain emergency and ambulatory treatment facilities but not inpatient care.
MOBILE HOMEAny vehicle either self-propelled or propelled by means of being attached to a motor vehicle which may be used as the place of abode or sleeping place by one (1) or more persons and which has no foundation other than the wheels required for its movement from one place to another.
MOBILE HOME PARKA lot which is used or offered as a location for two (2) or more mobile homes and within which lot a mobile home may be supported either by its wheels or by a foundation of any sort.
MOTELA building or group of detached buildings containing units having bedroom, bathroom and closet space and each unit having convenient access to a parking space for the use of the units' occupants. The units, with the exception of the apartment of the manager or caretaker, are intended for the use of motor vehicle transients.
NON-CHARTERED PAYDAY LOAN BUSINESSThe business of making loans for a period of thirty (30) days or less in duration, intended to coincide with the period from one (1) payday of the borrower to the next and in principle amounts of five hundred dollars ($500.00) or less.
NON-CONFORMING USE, BUILDING OR YARDA use, building or yard existing legally at the time of the passage of this Chapter or any amendment thereto which does not, by reason of design, use or dimensions, conform to the regulations of the district in which it is situated.
PARKING LOTAny place where motorized vehicles are parked, stored or otherwise placed.
PARKING SPACEA durable, paved surfaced area, enclosed in the main building, in an accessory building or unenclosed, sufficient in size to store one (1) automobile including the necessary driveway and space between automobiles on the parking lot. The driveways connecting a parking space with street or alley shall provide satisfactory ingress and egress of automobiles and shall be a durable, paved surfaced area and shall have appropriate bumper guards where deemed necessary by the Commission.
PLACE OR ROADAn open, unoccupied space other than a street or alley permanently established or dedicated as the principal means of access to property abutting thereon.
PLANNED DEVELOPMENT AREAA private or public development or improvement of a tract of land for the purpose of creating residential, business or industrial use property. Uses may include, but are not limited to, the following: an apartment, condominium or town house complex; a shopping center (with or without a mall); a commercial business or service area; an industrial park or court; a recreational park or other open space.
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTA private or public development or improvement of a tract of land containing not less than five (5) acres for the purpose of creating residential, business or industrial use property. Uses may include, but are not limited to, the following: an apartment, condominium or town house complex; a shopping center (with or without a mall); a commercial business or service area; an industrial park or court; a recreational park or other open space.
SIGN, ADVERTISINGA sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than on the lot where displayed or only incidentally on such lot.
SIGN, BUSINESSA sign which directs attention to an activity, business or a profession conducted on the lot on which displayed. A real estate sign advertising the sale, rental or lease of the lot on which it is maintained or an institutional bulletin shall not be deemed a business sign.
STABLE, PRIVATEAn accessory building for the keeping of horses or mules by occupants of the premises and not kept for remuneration, hire or sale.
STORYThat portion of a building included between the surface of one (1) floor and the surface of the floor next above it or if there be no floor above, that part of the building which is above the surface of the highest floor thereof. A top story shall be considered a half story when the main line of the eaves is not above the middle of the interior height of such story. The first (1st) story of a building is the highest story not a basement as defined herein.
STREETA public thoroughfare forty (40) feet or more in width between property lines which affords the principal means of vehicular access to abutting property or such thoroughfare more than twenty (20) but less than fifty (50) feet in width provided it existed prior to the passage of this Chapter. The term "street" shall include avenue, drive, circle, road, parkway, boulevard, highway, thoroughfare or any other similar term.
STREET LINEThe dividing line between the street and the abutting property.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONSAny change in the supporting members of a building, such as bearing walls or partitions, columns, beams or girders or any substantial change in the exterior walls or the roof.
STRUCTUREAnything constructed or erected which requires location on the ground or attachment to something having a location on the ground including, but not limited to, advertising signs and business signs, but exclusive of customary fences or boundary or retaining walls.
TITLE LOAN BUSINESSThe business of lending money with the pledge of personal property as collateral, evidenced by a certificate of title issued by the State of Missouri and regulated under the Revised Statutes of Missouri as from time to time amended.
USEThe employment or occupation of a building, structure or land for a person's service, benefit or enjoyment.
VARIANCEA modification of the specific requirements of this Chapter granted by the Board to a property owner to relieve such owner from strict compliance upon a showing of practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship so long as public safety and welfare are not jeopardized thereby.
VETERINARY CLINIC, VETERINARIAN, or VETERINARY OFFICEThe foregoing use descriptions shall be interchangeable, and shall be defined as, a licensed facility where small animals or household pets are given medical or surgical treatment and are cared for during the time of treatment. Use as a kennel, as defined in Section
405.010, shall be limited to short time boarding, and shall only be incidental to the veterinary use. The use may also include the incidental retail sale of pet supplies. A "small animal," as used in this Chapter, shall mean a dog, cat, bird, reptile, mammal, fish or other non-human creature that can be kept in a relatively small or confined space and normally treated as a pet. The use shall not include large animals. A "large animal," for purposes of this Chapter, shall mean a horse, cow, sheep, goat, pig, ostrich or similar size fowl, or other similar creatures which are also associated with traditional farming or animal husbandry purposes.
YARDAn open space at grade between a building and the adjoining lot lines, unoccupied and unobstructed by any portion of a structure from the ground upward, except as otherwise provided herein. In measuring a yard for the purpose of determining the width of a side yard, the depth of a front yard or the depth of a rear yard, the least horizontal distance between the lot line and the main building shall be used.
YARD, FRONTA yard across the full width of the lot extending from the front line of the main building to the front lot line. On double frontage lots this is intended to mean the street address of the property.
YARD, REARA yard across the full width of the lot extending from the rear line of the main building to the rear lot line.
YARD, SIDEA yard between the main building and the adjacent side lot line and extending entirely from the front yard to the rear yard.