An accessory dwelling is defined as either a freestanding single-family home or garage apartment/loft located on an individual residential lot in a City of Paris zoning district and which is separate from the primary residence on said lot.

A use subordinate to and incidental to the primary of the main building or to the primary use of the premises.

The conversion of obsolescent or historic buildings from their original or most recent use to a new use. For example, the conversion of former hospital or school buildings to residential use, or the conversion of an historic single-family home to office use.

Alcohol or any beverage containing more than one-half (1/2) of one (1) percent of alcohol by volume which is capable of use for beverage purposes, either alone or when diluted.

A public space or thoroughfare which affords only secondary means of access to property abutting thereon.

A room or suite of rooms in a multifamily dwelling or apartment house arranged, designed or occupied as a place of residence by a single family, individual or group of individuals.

Any building or portion thereof, which is designed, built, rented, leased or let to be occupied as three (3) or more dwelling units or apartments or which is occupied as a home or place of residence by three (3) or more families living in independent dwelling units.

The area of the lot shall be the net area of the lot and shall not include portions of streets and alleys.

Any visual work of art, accessible to public view, on public or private property within the city neighborhood environs including residential, business, or industrial buildings, apartment and condominium complexes, parks, multiple-use structures, and similar facilities. The work of art may include but need not be limited to sculptures, murals, monuments, frescoes, fountains, paintings, stained glass, or ceramics. Media may include, but need not be limited to, steel, bronze, wood, plastic, stone, and concrete.

Any sale where tangible personal property is sold by an auctioneer who is either the agent for the owner of such property or is in fact the owner thereof.

A facility which provides automobile-related services such as applying paint protectors, interior and exterior cleaning and polishing as well as installation of after-market accessories such as tinting, auto alarms, spoilers, sunroofs, headlight covers, and similar items. Typically equipment used includes a power washer and a shop vacuum for detailing.

A building story which is partly underground but having at least one-half (1/2) of its height above the average level of the adjoining ground. A basement shall be counted as a story in computing building height.

An area enclosed by streets and occupied by or intended for buildings; or if said word is used as a term of measurement, it shall mean the distance along a side of a street between the nearest two (2) streets which intersect said street on the said side.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment established in Section 17 [16].

The act of penetrating the skin to make, generally permanent in nature, a hole, mark, or scar. Body piercing does not include the use of mechanized, pre-sterilized ear-piercing system that penetrates the outer perimeter or lobe of the ear or both. Body piercing is generally for the purpose of allowing the insertion of earrings, jewelry, or similar objects into the body.

Any structure built for the support, shelter and enclosure of persons, animals, chattels or movable property of any kind. When subdivided in a manner sufficient to prevent the spread of fire each portion so subdivided may be deemed a separate building.

A line parallel or approximately parallel to the street line at a specified distance therefrom marking the minimum distance from the street line that a building may be erected.

Chief Building Official of the City of Paris.

A building story with more than one-half (1/2) its height below the average level of the adjoining ground. A cellar shall not be counted as a story in computing building height.

An official certificate issued by the City through the Building Official which indicates conformance with or approved conditional waiver from the Zoning Regulations and authorizes legal use of the premises for which it is issued.

The governing body of the City of Paris, Texas.

The chief city administrator.

A group of offices for one (1) or more physicians, surgeons or dentists to treat sick or injured outpatients who do not remain overnight.

A form of planned residential development that concentrates buildings in specific areas on the site (the cluster area) to allow the remaining land (the open space) to be used for recreation, common open space, or preservation of historically, culturally and/or environmentally sensitive areas. The open space may be owned by either a private or public entity.

A wholly or principally residential subdivision that permits a reduction in lot area, setback, or other site development regulations, provided there is no increase in the overall density permitted for a conventional subdivision in a given zoning district, and the remaining land area is used for common space.

A private or public facility for cultivation of fruits, flowers, vegetables, or ornamental plants by more than one (1) person or family.

Any structure used for or customarily occupied by persons recovering from illness or suffering from infirmities of age.

An open, unoccupied space, bounded on more than two (2) sides by the walls of a building. An inner court is a court entirely surrounded by the exterior walls of a building. An outer court is a court having one side open to a street, alley, yard or other permanent space.

The mean horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines.

The situation in which a revision to a development that was approved through a permit or tentative map complies with the objectives, standards, guidelines, and conditions for that permit or tentative map.

A section of the City of Paris for which the regulations governing the area, height or use of the land and buildings are uniform.

A detached building having accommodations for and occupied by not more than one (1) family, or by one (1) family and not more than four (4) boarders and lodgers.

A detached building having separate accommodations for and occupied by not more than two (2) families, or by two (2) families and not more than four (4) boarders and lodgers (two (2) boarders or lodgers to each unit).

Any building or a portion thereof, which is designed, built, rented, leased, or let to be occupied as three (3) or four (4) dwelling units or apartments or which is occupied as a home or residence of three (3) or four (4) families.

Any building or portion thereof, which is designed, built, rented, leased or let to be occupied as five (5) or more dwelling units or apartments or which is occupied as a home or residence of five (5) or more families.

A building or portion of a building which is arranged, occupied, or intended to be occupied as living quarters and includes facilities for food preparation and sleeping.

Floor space increase of twenty-five (25) percent or new materials or processes not normally associated with the existing use.

A number of individuals living together as a single housekeeping unit, in which not more than four (4) individuals are unrelated by blood, marriage or adoption.

An interstate network of fiber optic cables and all related property including conduit, carrier pipe, cable fibers, repeaters, power sources, and other attachments and appurtenances necessary for fiber optics communication.

The total square feet of floor space within the outside dimensions of a building including each floor level, but excluding cellars, carports, garages, storage areas, stairwells, elevator shafts, equipment rooms, interior vehicular parking or loading; and excluding all floors below the first or ground floor, except when used or intended to be used for human habitation or service to the public.

An indicated ratio between the number of square feet of total floor area in the main building(s) on a lot and the total square footage of land in the lot; it is the number resulting from dividing the main building floor area by the lot area. (See appendix illustration 10.)

Residential areas that restrict access to normally public spaces. The type of gates can range from elaborate guard houses to similar electronic arms. Residents may enter by electronic cards, identification stickers, codes, or remote control devices. Visitors must stop to be verified for entry.

Any inscription, word, figure, marking, or design that is marked[,] etched, scratched, drawn, or painted on any building, structure, fixture, or other improvement, whether permanent or temporary, including by way of example only and without limitation, fencing surrounding construction sites, whether public or private, without the consent of the owner of the property or the owner’s authorized agent, and which is visible from the public right-of-way. Said display may also, under certain circumstances, be unauthorized and/or be in violation of other governmental jurisdictional laws, codes, and/or ordinances.

Describes the status accorded certain properties, uses, and activities that are legally existing prior to the date of adoption of the zoning ordinance or provisions of the zoning ordinance.

Structures that incorporate the principles of sustainable design - design in which the impact of a building on the environment will be minimal over the lifetime of that building. Green buildings incorporate principles of energy and resource efficiency, practical applications of waste reduction and pollution prevention, good indoor air quality and natural light to promote occupant health and productivity, and transportation efficiency in design and construction, during use and reuse.

A hardship by reason of exceptional shape of a lot, exceptional topographic conditions, or other exceptional physical conditions of a parcel of land. “Unnecessary hardship” shall not include personal or financial hardship or any other hardship that is self-imposed.

The outermost perimeter of the area within a hazardous waste disposal facility that is permitted to receive hazardous waste for disposal.

The vertical distance of a building measured from the average established grade at the street line or from the average natural front yard ground level, whichever is higher, to (1) the highest point of the roofs surface if a flat surface, (2) to the deck line of mansard roofs or (3) to the mean height level between eaves and ridge for hip and gable roofs and, in any event, excluding chimneys, cooling towers, elevator bulkheads, penthouses, tanks, water towers, radio towers, ornamental cupolas, domes or spires, and parapet walls not exceeding ten (10) feet in height. If the street grade has not been officially established, the average front yard grade shall be used for a base level.

Any coordinated program of home care with provision for inpatient care for terminally ill patients and their families. This care is provided by a medically directed interdisciplinary team, directly or through an agreement under the direction of an identifiable hospice administration. A hospice program of care provides palliative and supportive medical and other health services to meet the physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and special needs of patients and their families, which are experienced during the final stages of terminal illness and during dying and bereavement.

The development of vacant or partially developed parcels which are surrounded by or in close proximity to areas that are substantially or fully developed.

Measure of development impact as defined by characteristics such as, but not limited to, the number of dwelling units per acre, amount of traffic generated, and amount of site coverage.

The number of dwelling units per acre for residential development and the floor area ratio (FAR) for nonresidential development, such as commercial, office, and industrial.

A temporary use of property until a particular date, until the occurrence of a particular event, or until zoning regulations no longer permit it.

A zoning designation that temporarily reduces or freezes allowable development in an area until a permanent classification can be fixed; generally assigned during Comprehensive Plan preparation to provide a basis for permanent zoning.

The characteristics of different uses or activities that permit them to be located near each other in harmony and without conflict. Some elements affecting compatibility include, but are not limited to: intensity of occupancy as measured by dwelling units per acre; floor area ratio; pedestrian or vehicular traffic generated; volume of goods hauled; and such environmental effects as noise, vibration, glare, air pollution, or radiation.

(Same as: “incompatible land use”) The transfer over a property line of negative economic or environmental effects, including, but not limited to: traffic, noise, vibration, odor, dust, glare, smoke, pollution, water vapor, mismatched layout of adjacent uses, loss of privacy, and unsightly views. Also, a conflicting or incompatible land use can occur within a given lot, based on the negative criteria mentioned herein, in comparison to adjacent and/or nearby areas.

New development separated from existing development by substantial vacant land.

Any legal parcel of land already in existence, recorded, or authorized before the adoption of the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances or amendments thereto that would not have been permitted to become established under the terms of the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances as now written if said ordinances had been in effect prior to the date the lot was established, recorded or authorized.

The room or rooms occupied by a family and must include cooking facilities.

A building where lodging for five (5) or more persons is provided for compensation.

Land occupied or to be occupied by a building and its accessory buildings, and including such open spaces as are required under this ordinance, and having its principal frontage upon a public street or officially approved place.

The percentage of the total area of a lot occupied by the base (first story or floor) of buildings located on the lot.

A lot which is part of a subdivision, the plat of which has been recorded in the office of the County Clerk of Lamar County or a parcel of land, the deed for which is recorded in the office of the County Clerk of Lamar County prior to the adoption of this ordinance.

The lines bounding a lot as defined herein.

The mean distance between the front and rear lot lines. (See appendix illustration 2.)

The width of a lot at the front building line. (See appendix illustration 1.)

The building or buildings on a lot which are occupied by the primary use.

A manufactured movable or portable dwelling built on a permanent metal vehicular chassis, connected to utilities and designed for year-round living on wheels or rigid supports.

A manufactured home park conforming to Article III, within Chapter 22 [Article 4.08] in the City Code of Ordinances, “Manufactured Home Parks,” where multiple manufactured homes are placed on a single lot approved under the City’s subdivision regulations.

Is a development where manufactured homes are placed as [on] individual lots approved under the City’s subdivision regulations.

A project which integrates at least two (2), or a variety of land uses including residential, office, commercial, service, and employment and may result in measurable reductions in traffic impacts.

A temporary food service structure that is a vehicle-mounted food service establishment designed to be readily movable.

An inn or group of cabins designed for occupancy by paying guests, a hotel.

Same as apartment house.

A graphic displayed on the exterior of a building, generally for the purposes of decoration or artistic expression, including, but not limited to, painting, fresco, or mosaic. A mural shall not meet the definition of an advertisement of [or] a sign.

A building, structure or use of land lawfully occupied at the time of the effective date of this ordinance or amendments thereto, and which does not conform to the use regulations of the district in which it is situated.

The general pressure and frequency level of noise in the vicinity of the premises on which a use is located including traffic noise from nearby streets.

The use or intended use of the land or buildings by proprietors or tenants.

A large tract of land that has been planned, developed, and operated as an integrated facility for a number of separate office buildings and supporting ancillary uses with special attention to circulation, parking, utility needs, aesthetics, and compatibility.

Area included in any side, rear or front yard or any unoccupied space on the lot that is open and unobstructed to the sky except for the ordinary projections of cornices, eaves and porches.

An enclosed or unenclosed dust-free, all-weather surface of concrete, asphalt, seal coat in accordance with 1982 Standard Specifications for Construction of Highways, Streets and Bridges of the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation and subsequent editions or equivalent approved by the City Engineer. All-weather, surfaced area of not less than one hundred eighty (180) square feet (measuring approximately nine (9) feet by twenty (20) feet) not on a public street or alley, together with a dust-free, all-weather surfaced driveway connecting the area with a street or alley, permitting free ingress and egress without encroaching on the street or alley. Any parking adjacent to a public street wherein the maneuvering is done on the public street shall not be classified as off-street parking in computing the parking area requirements for any use.

A description of a proposed unified development, consisting at a minimum of a plan map and adopted ordinance requirements setting forth the regulations governing, and the location and phasing of all proposed uses and improvements to be included in the development. May include a combination of open space, residential, commercial, industrial and recreational, etc. land uses.

The agency appointed by the City Council as an advisory body to it and which is authorized to recommend changes in the Zoning Ordinance.

An accessory building housing vehicles owned and used by occupants of the main building; if occupied by vehicles of others, it is a storage space.

Reusable materials including, but not limited to, metals, glass, plastic, and paper which are intended for reuse, remanufacture, or reconstitution for the purpose of using the altered form. The term “recyclable materials” does not include refuse or hazardous materials.

Same as a dwelling; also when used with District, an area of residential regulations.

A building or portion of a building which is arranged, occupied or intended to be occupied as living or sleeping quarters but not including toilet or cooking facilities.

(See Lodging House).

Any person engaged in the selling, or offering for sale, of food, beverages, merchandise, or services for immediate delivery from a vendor stand or from his or her person that is not located in, or in association with, a building.

An outdoor advertising that is a structure or that is attached to or painted on a building or that is leaned against a structure or displayed on a premises.

The height between the successive floors of a building or from the top floor to the roof.

Any thoroughfare or public driveway, other than an alley, which has been dedicated or deeded to the public for public use.

A dividing line between a lot, tract or parcel of land and a contiguous street, the right-of-way line.

Any change in the supporting member of a building, such as a bearing wall, column, beams or girders.

(Same as building.)

Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvements of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty (50) percent of the market value of the structure before the start of construction of the improvement. Includes structures that have incurred substantial damage regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:

A change that significantly alters the impacts or character of a structure, development, or activity.

Use of natural resources in a way that does not jeopardize the ability of future generations to live and prosper.

Development that maintains or enhances economic opportunity and community well-being while protecting and restoring the natural environment upon which people and economies depend. Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Any method of placing permanent designs, letters, scrolls, figures, symbols, or any other marks upon or under the skin, resulting in either the coloration of the skin, or the production of scars or scarring, other than by branding. The creation, insertion, or application of permanent cosmetics shall not be classified as Tattooing.

(Same as street.)

Moderate and high density housing concentrated in mixed-use developments located along transient routes. The location, design, and mix of uses in a TOD emphasize pedestrian-oriented environments and encourage the use of public transportation.

A compatible use is a property, use, or service which is capable of direct association with certain other uses because it is complementary, congruous, or otherwise not detrimental.

Any use of a structure or land that is a permitted or approved provisional or special use in the district in which the structure or land is situated and which conforms to the regulations of that district and all other regulations, ordinances, codes, and/or policies as applicable to said property.

A use or service that is incapable of direct association with certain other uses because it is contradictory, incongruous, or discordant.

A change in the use of a structure or site, where the new use is required by the City of Paris to have more off-street parking spaces than the former use; or a change in the operating characteristics of a use (for example, hours of operation), which generates more activity on the site.

A use that was valid when brought into existence but by subsequent regulation becomes no longer conforming. This may be a structure, use, or parcel of land.

A legal concept articulated by federal and state courts in regulatory taking cases. Within the context of these cases and for the purposes of this Paris Zoning Ordinance, reasonable use shall mean any use allowed by the City of Paris and shall not mean the subdivision of property.

A use, allowed in a transitional area, intended to create a gradual change in uses from industrial and commercial areas to residential areas.

An accessory use consisting of a portable stand and any related accessory appurtenances such as awning, canopy, or seating, used for the retail sales of goods including, but not limited to, beverages, food, and flowers.

Pleasing vistas or prospects or scenes, including but not limited to skylines, ridgelines, bluffs, rock outcroppings, foothills, mountain backdrop, unique vegetation, floodplains, streams, surface water, natural drainage ways, and wildlife habitat.

A set of garden design and landscape maintenance principles that promote good horticultural practices and efficient use of water. The term “xeriscape” is a registered trademark of the National Xeriscape Council and means water-conserving, drought-tolerant landscaping.

An open space other than a court, on the lot in which a building is situated and which is not obstructed from a point thirty (30) inches above the general ground level of the graded lot to the sky, except as provided for roof overhang and similar special architectural features.

An open, unoccupied space on a lot facing a street extending across the front of the lot between the side lot lines and from the main building to the front lot or street line with the minimum horizontal distance between the street line and the main building line as specified for the district in which it is located. (See appendix illustrations 3 and 5.)

An open, unoccupied space, except for accessory buildings as herein permitted, extending across the rear of a lot from one (1) side lot line to the other side lot line and having a depth between the building and the rear lot line as specified in the district in which the lot is situated. (See appendix illustration 3.)

An open, unoccupied space or spaces on one (1) or two (2) sides of a main building and on the same lot with the building, situated between the building and a side line of the lot and extending through from the front yard to the rear yard. Any lot line not the rear line or a front line shall be deemed a side line. (See appendix illustrations 3 and 4.)

The official certified map upon which the boundaries of the various Zoning Districts are drawn and which is an integral part of the Zoning Ordinance.

Grounds as well as all of the buildings, vehicles, and appurtenances pertaining thereto, and shall also include any adjacent premises, if directly or indirectly under the control of the same person.

means a state licensed garage, parking lot, or any type of facility owned by a person other than a governmental entity for storing or parking vehicles as defined by state law, where no vehicle repairs or dismantling of parts is permitted.