In order to classify, regulate and restrict the locations of trades, industries and the location of buildings designed for specific uses, to regulate and limit the height and bulk of buildings hereafter erected or structurally altered, to regulate and limit the intensity and use of the lot areas and to regulate and determine the areas of yards, courts and open spaces within and surrounding such buildings, the City of Riverdale, Iowa, is hereby divided into districts of which there shall be seven (7) in number, known as:

"HCOD"    Highway Corridor Overlay District

"R-1"   Single-Family Residential District

"R-2"   Multi-Family Residential District

"C-1"   Local Shopping District

"C-2"   Community Shopping District

"M-1"   Light Industrial District

"M-2"   Heavy Industrial District

The boundaries of the districts are shown upon the map which is made a part of this Ordinance, which map is designated as the "District Map." The district map and all the notations, references, and other information shown thereon are a part of this Ordinance and have the same force and effect as if the district map and all the notations, references and other information shown thereon were all fully set forth or described herein, the original of which district map is properly attested and is on file with the City of Riverdale, Iowa.

Whenever any street, alley, or other public way is vacated by official action of the Council of the City of Riverdale, the zoning district adjoining each side of such street, alley, or public way shall be automatically extended to the center of such vacation and all area included in the vacation shall then and henceforth be subject to all appropriate regulations of the extended district.

Except as hereinafter provided:

33.01   No building shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed or structurally altered, nor shall any building or land be used except for a purpose permitted in the district in which the building or land is located.

33.02   No building shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed or structurally altered to exceed the height limit herein established for the district in which the building is located.

33.03.   No building shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed or structurally altered except in conformity with the area regulations of the district in which the building is located.

33.04.   The minimum yards and other open spaces, including lot area per family, required by this Ordinance for each and every building existing at the time of passage of this Ordinance or for any building hereafter erected shall not be encroached upon or considered as yard or open space requirements for any other building.

33.05.   No farm poultry or farm animals such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine shall be kept on any property other than a farm. Domestic animals such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets and pot bellied pigs may be kept provided no more than three (3) are kept on anyone property. On property of at least one and one-half (1-1/2) acres in size, residents may keep a total of no more than three (3) domestic animals which may include pygmy goats.

Exotic animals which are normally found in the wild or considered potentially dangerous are not allowed. Exotic animals shall include but not limited to skunks, raccoons, wolves, bears, wild cats (tiger, lion, etc.) or their cubs, monkeys, pythons and normally poisonous snakes.

33.06.   Every building hereafter erected or structurally altered shall be located on a lot herein defined and in no case shall there be more than one (1) main building on one (1) lot unless otherwise provided in this Ordinance.

34.01.   There shall be two (2) parking spaces provided on the lot for each dwelling unit.

34.02.   Whenever a structure is erected or reconstructed for any commercial purposes, there shall be provided off-street parking spaces in the ratio of not less than one (1) parking space for each two hundred (200) square feet of floor space in the building which is used for commercial purposes, except that any restaurant or establishment whose primary use is to serve meals, lunches or drinks to patrons, either in their cars or in the building, shall provide parking spaces on the lot in the ratio of not less than one (1) parking space for each one hundred (100} square feet of floor space in the building. Such parking space shall be located on the same lot as the building or on an area within three hundred (300) feet of the building. Two or more owners of buildings may join together in providing this parking space.

Fences within the "R-1" and "C" districts:

35.01.   Height. Fences developed within the front yard may be constructed to a height not to exceed forty-two (42) inches. Fences developed within the side or rear yards may be constructed to a height not to exceed six (6) feet. In all cases, the smooth, finished nonstructural or dressed side of the fence, if any, shall be directed toward the neighboring property of properties. The height limits shall be reduced by the height on any artificial berm on which the fence is constructed, except pertaining to swimming pools. (See paragraph 4)

35.02.   Construction. Within front yards, where the property takes its identity and address, only open fences (fences having openings between the material of which the fence is constructed representing more than seventy percent (70%) of the total surface of the fence), or solid fences (fences having openings between the material of which the fence is constructed representing more than twenty percent (20%) of the total surface of the fence) with a total length not exceeding fifty percent (50%) of the lineal frontage of the front yard, may be constructed. Barbed wire or similar fencing will not be allowed in established residential areas.

35.03.   Setback. Fences shall not be constructed within a thirty foot visibility triangle at the intersection of two streets (measured along the right-of-way lines of the two streets). Fences shall not be constructed within a ten foot visibility triangle at the intersection of a street and a private driveway (measured along the street right-of-way line). Subject to the two previous restrictions, fences may be constructed along the boundaries of a lot without setback. No fence shall be constructed within drainage easements or designated floodways. Fences which enclose agricultural, livestock or row crop operations and do not exceed forty-two (42) inches in height may be constructed along all boundaries of a lot without setback, and are exempt from the visibility triangle restrictions, as long as the fence is an open fence.

35.04.   Swimming Pools. Any swimming pool with the design capacity of more than 5,000 gallons shall obtain a building permit and have a continuous barrier of building and/or protective fence of at least five (5) feet in height but not to exceed six (6) feet.

35.05.   Permits Required. A zoning permit must be obtained from the City of Riverdale Zoning Inspector before any fence may be constructed or erected on any property.