This Ordinance shall be known as and may be referred to as the "Northport Zoning Ordinance," and includes maps of the City that depict the boundaries of zoning districts.

(Ord. No. 2249, 1(Exh. A), 12-16-24)

1.02.01.

The purpose of this Ordinance is the promotion of the health, safety, and general welfare of the present and future inhabitants of Northport by:

A.

Providing methods to preserve and maintain a healthful environment for the benefit of present and future generations by providing standards to control the amount of open space and impervious surfaces within a development; to control the intensity of development in areas of sensitive natural resources or natural features to reduce or eliminate adverse environmental impacts.

B.

Controlling and regulating the growth of Northport, concentrating development in areas where adequate water and sewer infrastructure, roads, and schools can be provided, and limiting development in areas where these facilities are not and should not be provided.

C.

Regulating and restricting the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residences, and other uses.

D.

Providing standards for all types of dwelling units so that all the people may have access to decent, sound, and sanitary housing in accordance with the goals of the Federal Housing Act of 1949, among which is the provision of adequate zoning to meet a fair share of the region's housing needs.

E.

Lessening the danger of congestion of traffic on the roads and highways, limiting excessive numbers of intersections, driveways, and other friction points, minimizing other hazards, and insuring the continued usefulness of all elements of the existing highway system for their planned function.

F.

Securing safety from fire, panic, flood, and other dangers.

G.

Providing adequate privacy, light, and air.

H.

Securing economy in local governmental expenditures.

I.

Conserving property values throughout Northport.

J.

Protecting landowners from adverse impacts of adjoining developments.

K.

Dividing the incorporated area of Northport into districts according to the use of land and buildings, the intensity of such uses (including bulk and height) and surrounding open space.

1.02.02.

Each purpose listed above serves to balance the interest of the general public of Northport and those of individual property owners. Decisions made through the application of this Ordinance are made in conjunction with the Northport Comprehensive Plan.

(Ord. No. 2249, 1(Exh. A), 12-16-24)

This Ordinance applies to all areas within the corporate limits of the City of Northport, Alabama.

(Ord. No. 2249, 1(Exh. A), 12-16-24)

The City of Northport, Alabama is hereby divided into zoning districts of such number and character as are necessary to achieve compatibility of uses within each district, to implement the Official Zoning Map of Northport, and to serve the other purposes of this Ordinance.

1.04.01.

General Districts.

1.04.02.

Special Purpose Districts.

1.04.03.

Carryover Districts. The following are zones shown on the Zoning Map, however, they may not be expanded and no new areas may be assigned these zoning designations. Existing properties within these zones may continue as they exist subject to the regulations applicable to them at the time they were assigned such zoning classifications.

A.

Residential RS-4.

B.

Mobile Home Park MHP.

C.

The following Downtown Core Districts: Light Industrial, Working Riverfront, Multifamily, Neighborhood Center, New Urban Neighborhood, River's Edge.

1.04.04.

Zoning Map.

A.

Zoning districts established by this Ordinance are bounded and defined as shown on the Official Zoning Map of Northport, which, together with all explanatory materials contained thereon, is hereby made a part of this Ordinance.

B.

Official Zoning Map.

1.

The Official Zoning Map is kept in the office of the Director and is available at all times for inspection by the general public. An online version of the zoning map is available for public inspection; however, the Official Zoning Map is the final authority as to the current zoning status of properties in the City.

2.

The official zoning map, plus official records of the City Clerk regarding actions of the City Council, hereinafter "the Council," to amend district boundaries constitutes the only official delineation of zoning district boundaries.

1.04.05.

Interpretation of District Boundaries.

A.

In the event of uncertainty regarding the location of a zoning district boundary, the Director interprets the location of zoning district boundaries. Such determination may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, hereinafter "the Board," in accordance with Sec. 14.02 Administrative Appeals.

B.

The following rules are used to determine the precise location of any zone boundary shown on the Official Zoning Map:

1.

Boundaries shown as following, or approximately following, the limits of any municipal corporation are construed as following such limits.

2.

Boundaries shown as following, or approximately following, streets are construed to follow the centerlines of such streets.

3.

Boundary lines which follow, or approximately follow, platted lot lines or other property lines are construed as following such lines.

4.

Boundaries shown as following, or approximately following, section lines, half-section lines, or quarter-section lines are construed as following such lines.

5.

Boundaries shown as following, or approximately following, railroad lines are construed to lie midway between the main tracks of such railroad lines.

6.

Boundaries shown as following, or approximately following, shorelines of any lakes are construed to follow the mean high waterlines of such lakes, and, in the event of change in the mean high waterline, are construed as moving with the actual mean high waterline.

7.

Boundaries shown as following, or approximately following, the centerlines of streams, rivers, or other continuously flowing water courses are construed as following the channel centerline of such water courses taken at mean low water. In the event of a natural change in the location of such streams, rivers, or other watercourses, the zone boundary is construed as moving with the channel centerline.

8.

Boundaries shown as separated from, and parallel or approximately parallel to, any of the features listed in the preceding paragraphs are construed to be parallel to, and at such distances from, such features as are shown on the map.

(Ord. No. 2249, 1(Exh. A), 12-16-24)

1.05.01.

These Regulations apply to applications submitted and accepted on or after the effective date of this Ordinance. This Ordinance will not affect any complete application submitted and accepted for review, but for which no final action has been taken by the appropriate decision-making body, prior to this effective date provided that applicable permits are issued within 180 days of the effective date of this Ordinance. Such applications are subject to the zoning regulations in effect at the time of their acceptance for consideration unless the applicant chooses to proceed under the amended regulations.

1.05.02.

Unless complying with these Regulations, any violation of the previous ordinance is a violation under this Ordinance and is subject to the penalties set out in Section 13.04 Penalties.

(Ord. No. 2249, 1(Exh. A), 12-16-24)