(A)

Application of district regulations. The regulations set by this ordinance within each district shall be minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each class kind of structure or land, and particularly, except as hereinafter provided:

(1)

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

(2)

No building or other structure shall hereafter be erected or altered:

(a)

To exceed the height or bulk;

(b)

To accommodate or house a greater number of families;

(c)

To occupy a greater percentage of building site area;

(d)

To have narrower or smaller rear yards, front yards, side yards or other open spaces than herein required; or in any other manner contrary to the provisions of this ordinance.

(3)

No part of a yard or other open space or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any structure for the purpose of complying with this ordinance shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.

(4)

No yard or building site existing on the effective date of this ordinance shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth herein. Yards or building sites created after the effective date of this ordinance shall meet at least the minimum requirements established by this ordinance.

(5)

Every principle building hereafter erected, altered or moved shall have provided and continuously maintained for it a separate building site as herein defined.

(B)

Provisions declared to be minimum requirements. In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this ordinance shall be held to be minimum requirements, adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety, morals and general welfare. Wherever the requirements of this ordinance are at variance with the requirements of any other lawfully adopted rules, regulations or ordinances, the most restrictive or those imposing the higher standards, shall govern.

(C)

Official zoning map. The City of Florence and it's extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction (Alabama Act 2135, H.2612, October, 1971) is hereby divided into zones, or districts, as shown on the official zoning map, as amended, which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this ordinance. The official zoning map is maintained and displayed in the city planning department at City Hall.

(1)

Changes in map. If, in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance and applicable state laws, changes are made in district boundaries or other matter portrayed on the official zoning map, then such changes shall be shown on the official zoning map promptly after the amendment effecting such changes has been adopted.

(2)

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

(a)

Boundaries indicated as approximately following the centerlines of streets, highways or alleys shall be construed to follow such centerlines;

(b)

Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines;

(c)

Boundaries indicated as approximately following city limits shall be construed as following such city limits;

(d)

Boundaries indicated as following shorelines shall be construed to follow such shorelines and, in the event of change in the shoreline, shall be construed as moving with the actual shoreline; boundaries indicated as following the centerlines of streams, rivers, canals, lakes, or other bodies of water shall be construed to follow such centerlines;

(e)

Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of features indicated in (a) through (d) above shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the official zoning map shall be determined by the scale of the map;

(f)

Where physical or cultural features existing on the ground are at variance with those shown on the official zoning map, or in other circumstances not covered by (a) through (e) above, the board of zoning adjustment shall interpret the district boundaries;

(g)

In the case of a street vacation, where a district boundary is indicated as following the right-of-way line at the edge of the street, such boundary shall be construed as moving to the centerline of the street.

(D)

Annexed territory and extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction areas. All territory which may hereafter be annexed to the city or any area placed under the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of the city shall be considered to be an R-1 district, single-family residence district/conventional lots, until otherwise classified through a proper rezoning.