This title shall be known, cited and referred to as the INVER GROVE HEIGHTS ZONING ORDINANCE, the INVER GROVE HEIGHTS ZONING CODE, or the ZONING CODE except as referred to herein, where it shall be known as this title. (Ord. 1098, 11-8-2004)

This title is adopted for the purpose of:

   A.    Protecting the public health, safety, morals, comfort, convenience and general welfare;

   B.    Dividing the city into zones and districts, restricting and regulating therein the location, construction, reconstruction, alteration and use of structures and land;

   C.    Promoting orderly development of the residential, business, industrial, recreational and public areas;

   D.    Providing adequate light, air and convenience of access to property;

   E.    Limiting congestion in the public right of way;

   F.    Preventing overcrowding of land and undue concentration of structures by regulating the use of land and buildings and the bulk of buildings in relation to the land and buildings surrounding them;

   G.    Providing for compatibility of different land uses and the most appropriate use of land throughout the city;

   H.    Providing for a more orderly transition from a rural to an urban or suburban environment; and

   I.    Implementing the policies and goals of the city comprehensive plan. (Ord. 1098, 11-8-2004)

   A.    Minimum Requirements: In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this title shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, morals and welfare.

   B.    More Restrictive Provisions Apply:

      1.    Where the conditions imposed by any provision of this title are either more restrictive or less restrictive than comparable conditions imposed by this title or any other law, ordinance, statute, resolution, or regulation of any kind, the regulations which are more restrictive or which impose higher standards or requirements shall prevail.

      2.    When any condition imposed by any provision of this title on the use of land or buildings or on the bulk of buildings is either more restrictive or less restrictive than similar conditions imposed by any provision of any other county or state ordinance, regulation, or statute, the more restrictive conditions shall prevail.

      3.    Where the conditions imposed by any section of this title are either more restrictive or less restrictive than comparable conditions imposed by another section of this title, the regulations that are more restrictive or impose higher standards or requirements shall prevail.

      4.    This title is not intended to abrogate any easements, restrictions, or covenants relating to the use of land or imposed on lands within city by private declaration or agreement, but where the provisions of this title are more restrictive than any such easement, restriction, or covenant, or the provision of any private agreement, the provisions of this title shall prevail.

   C.    Prohibited Uses: If a use is not specifically allowed as a permitted use, conditional use or an accessory use in a particular zoning district, it shall be prohibited in that zoning district unless determined to be a substantially similar use as provided for in section 10-3-6 of this title.

   D.    Validity: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this title is for any reason found to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this title. (Ord. 1098, 11-8-2004)

No structure shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed or altered, and no structure or land shall be used for any purpose nor in any manner that is not in conformity with the provisions of this title. (Ord. 1098, 11-8-2004)