This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Zoning Ordinance for Greenville, North Carolina” and may be referred to as the Zoning Ordinance or this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991)

   These regulations are adopted to promote development of the land within the city and within the extraterritorial area of the city in a manner which will best promote the health, safety and the general welfare of the people, and for the following specific purposes:

   (A)   To provide for efficiency and economy in the process of development;

   (B)   To make adequate provisions for traffic;

   (C)   To secure safety from fire, panic and other hazards;

   (D)   To provide for light and air;

   (E)   To prevent the overcrowding of land;

   (F)   To avoid undue concentration of population;

   (G)   To facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewage, schools, parks and other public requirements;

   (H)   To promote desirable living conditions and the sustained stability of neighborhoods;

   (I)   To protect property against blight and depreciation;

   (J)   To promote the aesthetic quality of the community; and

   (K)   For other purposes in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan for the city and its extraterritorial area.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991)

   (A)   In interpreting and applying these regulations, the requirements contained herein are the minimum requirements necessary to carry out the purpose of this chapter.

   (B)   Except as provided herein, these regulations shall not be deemed to interfere with, abrogate, annul or otherwise affect in any manner whatsoever any easements, covenants, deed restrictions or other agreements between parties.

   (C)   Wherever the provisions of these regulations impose greater restrictions upon the use of land or buildings or require a larger percentage of lot to be left unoccupied than other provisions of this Code or other ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, or any easements, covenants, deed restrictions or other agreements between parties, the provisions of these regulations shall govern.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991)

   These regulations shall govern the use and the development thereon of all lands within the city and within the extraterritorial area of the city as defined in this chapter and shown on the official zoning map for the city; provided, however, these regulations shall not apply to bona fide farm activities, in accordance with applicable State laws.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991; Ord. No. 21-032, § 1, passed 6-21-2021)

   This is to certify that this is the official zoning map referred to in the Zoning Ordinance for the City of Greenville, North Carolina, the date of adoption, as amended, together with all notes officially entered thereon, is hereby adopted by reference as the official zoning map of the city and the extraterritorial area within the zoning jurisdiction of the city, and it is hereby incorporated in and made a part of this section as though it were fully set out herein.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991; Ord. No. 97-85, § 3, passed 8-14-1997; Ord. No. 21-032, § 1, passed 6-21-2021)

   The official zoning map shall remain on file in the office of the City Clerk and shall be available to the public for inspection and use during all regular business hours.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991)

   The Director of Planning and Development Services shall be responsible for the maintenance and revision of the official zoning map in print and digital format by the director's designated Geographic Information System (GIS) operator. Upon notification by the City Council that a zoning change has been made, the Director of Planning and Development Services shall make the necessary changes on the official zoning map within a reasonable time. Failure to make the changes in a timely manner shall not affect the validity of the zone change.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991; Ord. No. 06-75, § 1, passed 8-10-2006; Ord. No. 19-045, § 1, passed 9-12-2019 ; Ord. No. 21-032, § 1, passed 6-21-2021)

   In the event that the official zoning map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret, the City Council may by ordinance adopt a new official zoning map which shall be the same in every detail as the map it supersedes. The new map shall bear the signatures of the same officials as the original and shall bear the seal of the city under the following words: “This is to certify that this official zoning map supersedes and replaces the official zoning map adopted [date of adoption of map replaced] and referred to in the Zoning Ordinance for the City of Greenville, North Carolina.” The date of adoption of the new official zoning map shall be shown also.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991)

   No land, building or structure shall be used, no building or structure shall be erected, and no existing building or structure shall be moved, added to, enlarged or altered, except in conformity with these regulations or any other applicable regulations. However, the application of these regulations shall not affect agricultural cultivation.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991)

   There shall be no more than one principal use upon any lot in a residential district, or on a lot with a permitted residential use, except as expressly provided in these regulations.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991)

   No lot shall be reduced or changed in size so that the total area; minimum frontage; front, side or rear setbacks; lot area per dwelling unit; or other dimensions, areas or open spaces required by these regulations are not maintained. No lot shall be subdivided so as to produce an additional lot which is not in conformity with these or other applicable regulations, unless the lot is combined with other land to produce a conforming lot or unless the lot is deeded, dedicated and accepted for public use.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991)

   No yard shall be encroached upon or reduced in any manner except in conformity with these regulations. No yard for any principal building shall be considered as a yard for any other principal building.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991)

   Unless a use of land is specifically allowed in a zoning district, either as a matter of right or as a special use, then the use shall be prohibited in the district.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991)

   All uses, including agricultural cultivation, made of land within any zoning district established by the Pitt-Greenville Airport zoning ordinance shall be in conformance with the use restrictions set forth in Title 9, Chapter 3 of the City Code.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991)

   (A)   This chapter in part carries forward by reenactment some of the provisions of the prior zoning ordinance of the city (adopted by the City Council, as amended), and it is not the intention of the City Council to repeal, but rather to reenact; and continue in force all provisions adopted May 8, 1969 so that all rights and liabilities that have accrued thereunder are preserved and may be enforced. All provisions of the zoning ordinance of the city enacted on June 17, 1947, as amended, which are not reenacted herein are hereby repealed.

   (B)   All suits at law or in equity and all prosecutions resulting from the violation of any zoning ordinance heretofore in effect, which are now pending in any of the courts of North Carolina or of the United States, shall not be abated or abandoned by reason of the adoption of this chapter but shall be prosecuted to their finality the same as if this chapter had not been adopted; any and all violations of the existing Zoning Ordinance, prosecutions for which have not yet been instituted, may be hereafter filed and prosecuted; and nothing in this chapter shall be construed as to abandon, abate or dismiss any litigation or prosecution now pending or which may heretofore have been instituted or prosecuted.

(Ord. No. 2337, § 1, passed 6-13-1991)

   The provisions of Article B of Chapter 5 of Title 6 of the Greenville City Code shall apply to undeveloped property.

(Ord. No. 07-33, § 3, passed 3-8-2007)