The official map, regardless of the existence of copies, is located in the borough planning department. In case of doubt, the administrator shall determine the status of land within the borough as depicted on the official map.

In making determinations under this title, the borough may also use the Northwest Arctic Borough 1":200' and 1":50' regional land status maps and relevant U.S. Geological Survey 1:63,360 series quadrangle maps as of the date of this title and as hereafter revised, corrected or updated as supplements to determine the location of the village district and of uses within the village district.

To the extent practicable, district boundaries shall be construed to follow elevation contours, section lines, lease area boundaries, lot lines, municipal boundaries or platted lines. Tidelands, submerged lands, waters and ice seaward to the borough boundary of an adjoining district are within the subsistence conservation district unless otherwise mapped. Boundaries indicated as following shorelines are construed to follow such shorelines, and in the event of change of the shoreline shall be construed as moving with the actual shoreline.

Changes to land use district boundaries or other information portrayed on the zoning map shall be made on the date the zoning ordinance amendment becomes effective. If the zoning map contains drafting errors or is damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret, the assembly may by ordinance adopt a new zoning map or maps which shall supersede the prior zoning map and correct drafting errors and other errors or omissions. Such an ordinance may be adopted after review and recommendation of the planning commission, but the other requirements of Chapter 9.20 NABC shall not apply.

The limits of the village district for each village, except Noorvik, Noatak and Kiana, coincide with the corporate city limits of each respective municipality as determined by the state of Alaska. The limits of the village districts for Noorvik, Noatak and Kiana shall consist of the following:

Purpose. The village district governs the sites and immediate environs of each village in the borough except Kotzebue. The intent of the village district is to accommodate uses which:

Minor Use in the V District. The administrator may approve the following activities without a public notice after reviewing the permit application:

Major Use Permits in the V District. The following activities may be established upon approval of the administrator after public review of the permit application:

Conditional Use Permit in the V District. The planning commission may approve the following activities after public review of the permit application:

Purpose. Subsistence use of lands and waters within the borough has traditionally been the primary and highest priority use. The subsistence conservation (SC) district encompasses certain undeveloped areas of the borough that have been determined to have high importance to borough residents for subsistence resources or activities. Recognizing SC districts provides a foundation for health, social and cultural well-being for borough residents. The SC district is intended to:

Subdistricts. In addition to general areas zoned as the SC district, the following subdistricts are established as priority subsistence resource areas due to the sensitivity of the area and/or high subsistence use. The boundaries of the subdistricts, other than the Pah River subsistence conservation subdistrict, are depicted on the zoning district map.

Minor Use Permits in the SC District. The administrator may approve the following activities without public notice after reviewing the permit application:

Major Use Permits in the SC District. The administrator may approve the following activities after public review of the permit application:

Conditional Uses in the SC District. The planning commission may approve the following activities after public review of the permit application:

Purpose. The habitat conservation (HC) district is a district that encompasses areas of the borough that provide habitat essential for the maintenance of subsistence species and have high importance to borough residents for subsistence resources. These areas are not appropriate for development activities. The HC district is intended to ensure that such areas are protected from development and to protect the health, social, and cultural well-being of borough residents. These areas may include denning, calving, feeding, molting, brooding, migrating, fish habitat, whale resting and feeding areas and other areas that are critical to subsistence resources. Subsistence activities may be conducted in the HC district without a permit. Uses and activities will only be allowed in these areas if it is determined they will not interfere or conflict with subsistence uses or the maintenance of the habitat functions related to the productivity of the habitat. Uses with the potential for a significant adverse effect to the habitat are not allowed without a zone change including:

Minor Use Permits in the HC District. The administrator may approve the following activities without public notice with such conditions as the administrator determines to be appropriate to avoid interference or conflicts with subsistence uses:

Major Use Permits in the HC District. The administrator may approve the following activities after public review of the permit application if it is determined there will be no adverse effects to the functions related to the productivity of the habitat:

Conditional Uses in the HC District. The planning commission may approve the following activities after public review of the permit application if it determines there will be no adverse effects to the functions related to the productivity of the habitat:

Purpose. The general conservation (GC) district encompasses the undeveloped areas of the borough outside the boundaries of the other districts. The general conservation district is intended to conserve the natural ecosystem for all the various plants and animals used for subsistence. Major resource extraction will not be allowed without a zone change. Uses will only be allowed in the GC district if the administrator or planning commission determines such uses will not unreasonably interfere or conflict with access to or use of the environment or subsistence resources. Subject to this overall intent, the GC district can accommodate mineral and oil and gas exploration projects, minor resource extraction, and development projects on a limited scale. Applicants for major development projects, including oil and gas development, must apply for rezoning to the resource development district. Except where excluded as a "use" under NABC § 9.04.070, land use in the GC district is prohibited, unless permitted or approved as required by this title.

Minor Use Permits in the GC District. The administrator may approve the following activities without public notice after review of the permit application:

Major Use Permits in the GC District. The administrator may approve the following activities after public review of the permit application:

Conditional Use Permits in the GC District. The planning commission may approve the following activities after public review of the permit application:

Purpose. The resource development (RD) district is designed and intended to address the individual and cumulative effects of major developments and to offer developers efficient and predictable permit approvals. The purpose of the RD district is to accommodate major development projects and major resource extraction including mineral development, oil and gas development, and similar activities which:

To accommodate types of development and development needs that differ from one development to another, RD districts may be given distinguishing designations and may have areas within an RD district designated as subdistricts in which specific master plans, standards and policies are applicable.

Except where excluded as a "use" under NABC § 9.04.070, land use in the RD district is prohibited, unless permitted or approved as required by this title.

Minor Use Permits in the RD District. If not identified in an approved master plan, the administrator may approve the following activities without public notice after review of the permit application:

Major Use Permits in the RD District. If not identified in an approved master plan, the administrator may approve the following activities after public review of the permit application:

Conditional Use Permits in the RD District. If not identified in an approved master plan, the planning commission may approve the following activities after public review of the permit application:

Resource Development Areas. The following areas are included in the resource development district as existing development:

Purpose. The transportation corridor (TC) district is established to provide a strip of land or body of water to accommodate linear transportation facilities such as roads, railroads, pipelines, and barge and ship activities. The TC district will ensure that such transportation uses comply with all borough policies including those that apply specifically to transportation corridors in Chapter 9.25 NABC. The TC district provides an area for development associated with the use of a transportation corridor. Development within this corridor is intended to minimize the negative effects of the transportation corridor (such as increased access and effects on fish and wildlife), accommodate industrial development and enhance economic opportunities for residents of the borough by means of an approved master plan, under Chapter 9.20 NABC, with provisions made for all necessary public and private facilities associated with the proposed transportation corridor. The regulations in this section apply to uses and activities within and along transportation corridors. Except where excluded as a "use" under NABC § 9.04.070, land use in the TC district is prohibited, unless permitted or approved as required by this title.

Some uses not associated with a development, such as single-family residential housing, schools, churches, child care facilities, and health care facilities, are not allowed unless the area is rezoned.

Minor Use Permits in the TC District. If not identified in an approved master plan, the administrator may approve the following activities without public notice after review of the permit application:

Major Use Permits in the TC District. If not identified in an approved master plan, the administrator may approve the following activities after review of the application:

Conditional Use Permits in the TC District. If not identified in an approved master plan, the planning commission may approve the following activities after public review of the permit application:

Transportation Corridor. The following areas are included in the transportation corridor district as existing development.