The adoption of this code shall not affect nor prevent any pending or future prosecution of, or action to abate violations of the previous City of Palmetto Zoning Code occurring prior to the effective date of this code.

This Code is enacted pursuant to the provisions of F.S. chapter 166, and chapter 63-1599, Laws of Florida, whereby authority is conferred on the Palmetto City Commission for the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the citizens of Palmetto, to permit the city commission to establish zoning classifications within the corporate limits of the City of Palmetto:

(a)

To regulate and restrict the erection, construction, alteration and repair of buildings.

(b)

To regulate and restrict the uses of land, buildings, and structures.

(c)

To regulate and restrict the percentage of lot occupancy, size of yards and open spaces, and density of population.

(d)

To preserve and facilitate transportation, water, sewerage, schools, and parks.

(e)

To lessen congestion on highways and secure safety from fires and other dangers.

(Ord. No. 2024-04, § 2, 11-18-24)

This code is adopted as one of the instruments of implementation of the public purposes and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan and is declared to be in conformance therewith.

It is the intent and purpose of the comprehensive plan and of this code, which aids in implementing the Comprehensive Plan, to promote the public health, safety, morals, convenience, comfort, amenities, prosperity, and general welfare of the citizens of Palmetto and to provide, among other matters, a wholesome, serviceable, and attractive community; to increase the safety and security of home life; to preserve and create a more favorable environment in which to rear children; to stabilize and enhance property and civic values; to develop meaningful and productive relationships between the private sector and city government; to provide for a more uniformly just land use pattern and tax assessment base; to aid in development and redevelopment of the city; to increase traffic safety and ease transportation problems; to provide more adequately for vehicular parking, parks, parkways, recreation, schools, public buildings and facilities, housing, job opportunities, light, air, water, sewerage, sanitation, and other public requirements; to lessen congestion, disorder, and danger which often occur in unplanned and unregulated suburban, urban, and rural development; to prevent overcrowding of land and undue concentration of population; to ensure compatibility of new development with existing development and open space; to conserve and enhance the manmade resources of the city; to provide for the appropriate utilization, conservation, and protection of natural resources in the city; and to provide more reasonable and serviceable means and methods of protecting and safeguarding the economic and social structure upon which the good of all depends.

To further the objective of the Comprehensive Plan and the intent and purpose of this code, the city is divided into districts of such number, shape, characteristics, area, common unity of purpose, adaptability, or use as will accomplish the objectives of the comprehensive plan and this code.

When any provision of this code imposes more stringent or less stringent requirements, regulations, restrictions, or limitations than are imposed or required by the provisions of any other ordinance or law, the provisions which are more restrictive or which impose higher standards or requirements, shall govern.

The regulations of this code shall apply throughout the corporate limits of the City of Palmetto.

No building, structure, land or water shall hereafter be used or occupied, and no building, structure, or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, reconstructed, moved, located, or structurally altered except in conformity with the regulations set out generally herein and for the district in which it is located.

In particular, no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, located, moved or structurally altered in any manner so as:

(a)

To exceed the permitted height, bulk or floor area;

(b)

To accommodate or house a greater number of families or other occupants, or to provide a greater number of dwelling units;

(c)

To occupy a greater percentage or portion of lot area;

(d)

To provide less lot area per dwelling unit or to occupy a smaller lot;

(e)

To provide narrower or smaller yards or other open spaces, or spaces of separations between buildings or portions thereof;

(f)

To provide less off-street parking or off-street loading space;

(g)

To display more signs, signs of greater area, or signs of a different character;

(h)

To permit the use of the building or structure for a use not permitted in the district in which it is located;

than herein required or limited, or in any other manner contrary to any provisions of this code.

No part of a yard, area, open space, or off-street parking or off-street loading space required for one (1) structure or use shall be included as meeting requirements for another, except where specific provisions therefor are made in this code.

No new lot shall be created after the effective date of this code except in conformity with the requirements of applicable regulations. No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of these regulations shall be reduced by private action in width, depth, or area below the minimum requirements set forth herein.

No off-street parking or off-street loading space affected by these regulations which meets all or part of the requirements of this code for such space shall be reduced or eliminated by private action, except where approved alternative off-street parking or off-street loading space meeting such requirements is provided, unless no longer required by this code.

All required accessory uses for any principal use, including, but not limited to, off-street parking and loading areas, retention or drainage areas, and private sewer or water systems shall be located on the same zoning lot as the principal use and shall have the same zoning district designation as the principal use, except as permitted elsewhere in this code.

This code may be referred to and cited as the Palmetto Zoning Code.