This chapter shall be known and cited as the City of Plymouth Zoning Ordinance.

(Ord. of 10-6-03)

The purpose of this chapter is to promote, protect, regulate, restrict and provide for the use of land and buildings within the City of Plymouth; to meet the needs of the state's residents for places of residence, recreation, industry, trade, service, and other uses of land; to insure that uses of the land shall be situated in appropriate locations and relationships; to limit the inappropriate overcrowding of land and congestion of population and transportation systems and other public facilities; to facilitate adequate and efficient provision for transportation systems, sewage disposal, water, energy, education, recreation, and other public service and facility needs; and to promote public health, safety, and welfare.

The city is divided for those purposes into districts of various number and shape, and are considered best suited to carry out this section. For each of those districts, regulations are imposed designating the uses for which buildings, structures, and land shall follow, and designating the trades, industries, and the land uses or activities that shall be permitted or excluded or subjected to special regulations.

It is also the purpose of this chapter to provide for the establishment of a zoning board of appeals and its powers and duties; to provide for the administration and enforcement hereof and for penalties for its violation; and to provide for the repeal of any and all ordinances inconsistent herewith.

(Ord. of 10-6-03)

(a)

This chapter shall be liberally construed in such manner as to best implement its purpose. In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, the requirements shall be held to be the minimum for the promotion of the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity and general welfare.

(b)

No building or structure, or part thereof, shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed or altered, and no new use or change shall be made of any building, structure or land, or part thereof, except as permitted by the provisions of this chapter.

(c)

Nothing within this chapter shall be construed to prevent compliance with an order by the appropriate authority to correct, improve, strengthen, or restore to a safe or healthy condition, any part of a building or premises declared unsafe or unhealthy.

(Ord. of 10-6-03)

If a court of competent jurisdiction shall declare any part of this chapter to be invalid, such ruling shall not affect any other provisions of this chapter not specifically included in said ruling.

If a court of competent jurisdiction shall declare invalid the application of any provision of this chapter to a particular land, parcel, lot, district, use, building, or structure, such ruling shall not affect the application of said provision to any other parcel, lot, district, use, building, or structure not specifically included in said ruling.

(Ord. of 10-6-03)

Where a condition imposed by a provision of this chapter upon the use of any lot, building, or structure is conflicting with a condition imposed by any other provision of this chapter, or by the provision of an ordinance adopted under any other law, the provision which is more restrictive shall govern.

This chapter is not intended to modify or annul any easement, covenant, or other private agreement provided that where any provision of this chapter is more restrictive or imposes a higher standard or requirement than such easement, covenant, or other private agreement, the provision of this chapter shall govern.

(Ord. of 10-6-03)

It is hereby expressly declared that nothing in this chapter be held or construed to give or grant to any person, firm, or corporation any vested right, license, privilege or permit.

(Ord. of 10-6-03)

The ordinance from which this chapter is derived is adopted pursuant to the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, Public Act No. 110 of 2006 as amended, MCL 125.3101 et seq.

(Ord. No. 2012-04, § 3, 11-5-12)