This Ordinance shall be known as the Zoning Ordinance for the Town of Hamilton, Virginia.

This Ordinance shall apply to the incorporated territory of the Town of Hamilton, Virginia. It is the intent of this Ordinance that the extent of its applicability be automatically changed in accordance with the provisions hereof or provisions of Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia 1950, as amended, which may affect the applicability of this Ordinance. Anything not specifically permitted by this Ordinance is considered to be prohibited.

The zoning regulations and districts as herein established have been made in accordance with a comprehensive plan, to promote, in accordance with present and future needs, the health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare of the citizens of Hamilton, Virginia, and to provide for efficiency and economy in the process of development, for the appropriate and best use of land, for convenience of access and of traffic and circulation of people and goods, for the appropriate use and occupancy of buildings, for healthful and convenient distribution of population, for protection against overcrowding of land, undue density of population in relation to the community facilities existing or available, obstruction of light and air, or loss of life, health, or property from fire, flood, panic or other dangers, to encourage good civic design and arrangement, to facilitate the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community, to protect against destruction of or encroachment upon historic resources, and to facilitate the provision of adequate public utilities, public services and other public facilities, by regulating and limiting or determining the height and bulk of buildings and structures, the area of yards and other open spaces, and the type and density of use.

They have been made with reasonable consideration, among other things, for the existing use and character of property, the Comprehensive Plan, to the character of the district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses, to trends of growth or change, and with a view to conserving natural resources and the value of land and buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the incorporated territory of Hamilton, Virginia.

In interpreting and applying the provisions of this Ordinance, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public safety, health, convenience, comfort, prosperity, or general welfare. It is not intended by this Ordinance to interfere with, or abrogate or annul any easements, covenants, or other agreement between parties, provided, however, that where this Ordinance imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings or premises or upon height of buildings, or requires larger open spaces than are imposed or required by other resolutions, ordinances, rules, regulations, or by easements, covenants, or agreements, the provisions of this Ordinance shall govern.

In any case of difference between the purpose statements and the use regulations, the use regulations shall control.