Missouri City City Zoning Code

Within the districts established by this ordinance or amendments that may later be adopted, there may exist uses of land or buildings, structures, characteristics of use, and/or lots, which were lawful before this ordinance was passed or amended, but which would be prohibited, regulated, or restricted under the terms of this ordinance or future amendments. It is the intent of this section to permit those nonconformities to continue until they are removed, but not to encourage their survival. It is the declared purpose of this section that nonconforming uses or nonconforming structures be eventually discontinued and the use of the premises or the structure be required to conform to the regulations prescribed herein having due regard for the investment in such nonconforming uses or structures. It is further the intent of this ordinance that nonconformities shall not be enlarged upon, expanded or extended, nor be used as grounds for adding other structures or uses prohibited elsewhere in the same district.

Nonconforming uses are declared by this section to be incompatible with permitted uses in the districts involved. A nonconforming use of land or a building, or of a structure, or of a structure and land in combination shall not be extended, enlarged, altered or repaired except in accordance with this section.

(Ord. No. O-01-23, § 3, 5-21-2001)

A.

There are two types of nonconformity as follows:

1.

Uses. Any use of land or buildings which were in existence and lawfully operating on the effective date of this section or amendments hereto, and has since been in regular and continuous use, but which does not conform to the use regulations prescribed in the City of Missouri City Zoning Ordinance or amendments thereto shall be deemed a nonconforming use.

2.

Structures. Any building or structure which was in existence and lawfully constructed and located on the effective date of this section or amendments hereto, and has since been in regular and continuous use, but which does not conform to the lot area, lot dimensions, front yard, side yard, rear yard, height, parking, landscaping, buffer yards, screening, architectural design, exterior construction materials or other regulations as prescribed in this section shall be deemed a nonconforming building or structure, except as otherwise provided in the City of Missouri City Zoning Ordinance.

(Ord. No. O-01-23, § 3, 5-21-2001; Ord. No. O-05-15, § 9, 4-18-2005)

A.

Nonconforming status. A nonconforming status under the provisions of this section shall exist when:

1.

A use of land, a use of a building, or a structure, which does not conform to the regulations prescribed for the district in which such use or structure is located, was in existence and lawfully constructed, located or operating on the effective date of this section or amendments hereto and has since been in regular and continuous use; or

2.

A use of land, a use of a building, or a structure, which does not conform to the regulations prescribed in the district in which such use or structure is located, was in existence at the time of annexation into the City of Missouri City and has since been in regular and continuous use.

(Ord. No. O-01-23, § 3, 5-21-2001)

A.

Applicability. This subsection applies to nonconforming structures.

B.

Termination. A nonconforming structure may be allowed to remain subsequent to the effective date of this section or amendments hereto, provided that such structure is constructed in accordance with the provisions of this section and all other applicable codes of the City of Missouri City necessary to ensure adequate protection and safety of adjacent property and the users and occupants of such nonconforming structure. However, this right shall cease and shall be terminated under any of the following circumstances:

1.

Abandonment. When a nonconforming structure is abandoned, all nonconforming rights shall cease, and the structure itself shall henceforth be required to comply with this section. Abandonment shall be the voluntary act of the user or owner to discontinue occupancy of the structure for a period of 120 consecutive days or more.

2.

Total destruction. When a nonconforming structure is totally destroyed, its nonconforming status terminates and a subsequent structure can be rebuilt, and occupancy established, only in accordance with the current zoning regulations which have been applied to the land.

3.

Partial destruction. When a nonconforming structure is damaged or partially destroyed to the extent of more than 50 percent, but less than the total, of the replacement cost of the structure on the date of the damage, the right to rebuild and occupy such nonconforming structure shall cease. If the damage or destruction does not exceed 50 percent of the replacement cost of the structure on the date of the damage, the structure may be rebuilt upon the condition that the cubic content of the original structure is not increased and upon approval of a building permit by the building official.

C.

Changes in regulation. A nonconforming structure may be changed to a conforming structure by a change of zoning so as to achieve compliance with the provisions of a new or different zoning district under the City of Missouri City Zoning Ordinance.

(Ord. No. O-25-31, § 2, 10-20-2025)

Editor's note— Ord. No. O-25-31, § 2, adopted Oct. 20, 2025, amended § 16.4 in its entirety, in effect repealing and reenacting said § 16.4 to read as set out herein. The former § 16.4, pertained to nonconforming uses involving structures, nonconforming structures or a combination thereof and derived from Ord. No. O-01-23, § 3, adopted May 21, 2001.

A.

Applicability. This subsection applies to nonconforming uses of land or buildings.

B.

Termination. Except as provided herein, a nonconforming use may be continued or allowed to remain subsequent to the effective date of this section or amendments hereto, provided that such use is continued in accordance with the provisions of this section and all other applicable codes of the City of Missouri City necessary to ensure adequate protection and safety of adjacent property and the users of such nonconforming use. The right to continue a nonconforming use shall cease and shall be terminated if:

1.

Abandonment. A nonconforming use shall cease and be terminated if such use is abandoned. Abandonment shall be the voluntary act of the user or owner to discontinue a use of the land or building for a period of six months.

2.

Change. A nonconforming use shall cease and be terminated if such use is changed to a conforming use.

3.

City requirement. A nonconforming use shall cease and be terminated if the city requires the cessation or termination of such use pursuant to either of the following:

a.

An official action by the city council; or

b.

A determination by the city council that the nonconforming use has an adverse effect or other necessary determination that the city must make before imposing a requirement to stop a nonconforming use under applicable law.

C.

Changes in use regulation. A nonconforming use may be changed to a conforming use so as to achieve compliance with the City of Missouri City Zoning Ordinance.

(Ord. No. O-25-31, § 2, 10-20-2025)

Editor's note— Ord. No. O-25-31, § 2, adopted Oct. 20, 2025, amended § 16.5 in its entirety, in effect repealing and reenacting said § 16.5 to read as set out herein. The former § 16.5, pertained to nonconforming uses of land not involving structures and derived from Ord. No. O-01-23, § 3, adopted May 21, 2001.

A.

Construction approved prior to this ordinance. Nothing contained herein shall require any change in the plans, construction, or designated use of a building legally under construction, or for which a permit for construction has been issued, at the time of passage of this ordinance or amendment hereto.

B.

Noncompliance due to outside action. Where a lot, tract, or parcel is occupied by a lawful use or structure, and where the acquisition of right-of-way, by eminent domain, dedication or purchase, by a city, county, state, or federal agency creates noncompliance of the use or structure regarding any requirement of this section, such use or structure shall be deemed a lawful use or structure. Such designation shall apply only to noncompliance that results directly from the acquisition of right-of-way. Any new construction on the lot, tract, or parcel, including expansion of any existing structure, shall comply with all applicable zoning standards, and building setbacks of the expansion or new construction shall be measured relative to the new right-of-way line.

C.

Repairs and maintenance. A structure or building within which a nonconforming use is located or a nonconforming structure shall be maintained to ensure the safety and welfare of the occupants. Ordinary repairs, or the repair or replacement of nonbearing walls, fixtures, wiring, or plumbing may be permitted provided that the cubic content existing when it became nonconforming is not increased.

D.

Notice. In addition to any other notice required by law, the city council or the planning and zoning commission, as applicable, shall provide written notice in accordance with V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 211.006(a-1), as amended, of each public hearing regarding any proposed adoption of or change to a zoning regulation or boundary under which a current conforming use of a property will become a nonconforming use if the regulation or boundary is adopted or changed.

(Ord. No. O-01-23, § 3, 5-21-2001; Ord. No. O-25-31, § 2, 10-20-2025)

A.

A requirement to stop a nonconforming use, including a determination by the city council that a nonconforming use has an adverse effect or other necessary determination that the city must make before imposing a requirement to stop a nonconforming use under applicable law, shall be provided by an ordinance of the city council.

B.

The city, in accordance with V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 211.019, as amended, shall comply with the procedures and compensation criteria set forth in said section in the event the city requires a property owner or lessee to stop a nonconforming use of property.

C.

Not later than the tenth day after the date on which the city requires the cessation or termination of a nonconforming use on property, the city shall give to each owner or lessee of such property, as indicated by the most recently approved city tax roll, notice of the requirement to cease or terminate the use and of the remedies to which the owner or lessee is entitled under V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 211.019.

(Ord. No. O-25-31, § 3, 10-20-2025)