This Ordinance is known as the "Zoning Ordinance of the City of Oxford, Alabama" and the Official Zoning Map herein referred to, known as the "Zoning Map of the City of Oxford, Alabama," is further identified by the signature of the mayor and attested by the city clerk. The Zoning Map of Oxford and all explanatory matter thereon is hereby adopted and made a part of this Ordinance. The map is filed in the office of the city clerk and shows the date of adoption of this Ordinance.

The purpose of this Ordinance is to influence the use of property within the City of Oxford in accordance with Title 11, Chapter 52, of the Code of Alabama, 1975 Compilation, as amended; and generally to implement and support the Comprehensive Plan and the developmental policies of the City of Oxford.

The provisions of this Ordinance apply to all property located within the Corporate boundary of the City of Oxford. All uses, structures, sites, lots and parcels must comply with the provisions of this Ordinance.

The provisions of this Ordinance are considered minimum requirements to promote the public health, safety, and welfare. The provisions of this Ordinance may not lower the restrictions of plats, deeds or private contracts, if greater than the provisions of this Ordinance. That which is more restrictive applies.

No business license will be issued for the use of a property unless the use and property are in compliance with this Ordinance.

Wherever there is a conflict between the provisions of this Ordinance, and those of any statute, or any local law or regulation, the most restrictive of such provisions applies and will be enforced.

If any clause, portion, provision, or section of this Ordinance is held to be invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding may not render invalid any other clause, portion, provision, or section.

On the effective date of this Ordinance, all other local ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict or inconsistent with this Ordinance, and all amendments thereto, are hereby repealed to the extent necessary to give this Ordinance full force and effect.

The City is hereby subdivided into residential, commercial, industrial and special districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map. The Official Zoning Map, together with all explanatory materials it contains, is made a part of this Ordinance.

For the purpose of this Ordinance the City of Oxford is divided into districts as follows:

The district boundaries shown on the Official Zoning Map are intended, as far as possible, to follow lot lines; the centerlines of streets, alleys, railroad tracks, streams and watercourses; and the corporate boundary. Where a district boundary cannot be accurately determined from the Map, the Board of Adjustment determines where the boundary is officially located.

Following the adoption of this Ordinance, any property annexed into the City will be immediately and automatically placed in the E-1 District, or another district(s) determined by the City Council to be compatible with the intent of the Comprehensive Plan. Any subsequent rezoning of the property will follow the procedures for amendments in this Ordinance.

Whenever any street, alley or other public way is vacated or abandoned by official action of the City the zoning district adjoining each side of the street, alley or public way will be automatically extended to the center of same and all area included will be subject to the regulations of the extended district.

This Ordinance applies to applications accepted on or after the effective date of this Ordinance. This Ordinance will not affect any complete application accepted for review, but for which no final action has been taken, prior to this date. The application will be acted on under the law in effect at the time the completed application is accepted.

When a development plan has been started or approved under a previous version of this Ordinance, it may be completed only as follows:

1.

If development, for which a site plan, subdivision plat or building permit was approved prior to the effective date of this Ordinance, fails to meet any time frames in effect for that development at the time of approval, the approval will expire; and future development will be subject to this Ordinance.

2.

No amendment of this Ordinance will affect a development or Master Development Plan within a Cluster District or Planned Development District approved prior to such amendment. Any such development may continue in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance in effect at the time of its prior approval. Should the development approval expire or be voided, any newly submitted Master Development Plan must conform to the regulations in effect at the time of the new submittal.

3.

Any violation of the previous ordinance is a violation under this Ordinance and subject to the penalties set out in §11.09 Penalties and §11.10 Remedies, unless the development, use or other activity complies with this Ordinance.