This ordinance shall be known, and may be cited as, the City of Rockford Zoning Ordinance. The map referred to shall be known as the "The Official Zoning Map of the City of Rockford, Michigan" and shall be maintained by the zoning administrator.

This ordinance, enacted under the authority of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, is intended to ensure that uses of 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 of transportation systems, sewage disposal, water, energy, education, recreation, and other public service and facility needs; and to promote public health, safety, and welfare.

A.

Applicability. This ordinance:

1.

regulates the location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures; the percentage of lot which may be occupied; the sizes of yards and other open spaces; and the density and distribution of population;

2.

regulates the uses of buildings, structures and lands for trade, industry, residence, recreation, conservation, water supply, sanitation, public safety, and public activities;

3.

provides for the preservation of scenic areas and protection against floods, rising waters, and erosion;

4.

creates districts for these purposes and establishes the boundaries for those districts;

5.

defines certain terms used in the ordinance; and

6.

provides for the method of administration, appeal and amendment, enforcement, duties and the provision of penalties for violation.

B.

Interpretation and Application. In its interpretation and application, the provisions of this ordinance shall be held to be minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, or general welfare. It is not intended by this ordinance to impair or interfere with any other existing provision of law or ordinance. However, where this ordinance imposes a greater restriction than is required by existing ordinance or by rules, regulations, or permits, the provisions of this ordinance shall control.

C.

Compliance with Provisions. Except as otherwise specified in this ordinance, no building, structure, or premises shall be used or occupied, and no building or part of any building or other structures shall be erected, razed, moved, placed, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, or altered, except in conformity with the provisions of this ordinance.

D.

Vested Rights. Nothing in this ordinance shall be interpreted or construed to give rise to any permanent vested rights in the continuation of any particular use, district, zoning classification, or any permissible activities therein; and all rights are hereby declared to be subject to such subsequent amendment, change, or modification hereof as may be necessary to the preservation or protection of public health, safety, and welfare.

Sections of this ordinance shall be considered to be severable and should any section, paragraph, or provision of the ordinance be declared by the courts to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holdings shall not affect the validity of this ordinance as a whole or any part thereof, other than the part declared to be unconstitutional or invalid.

A.

The adoption of this zoning ordinance shall have the effect of repealing the prior Zoning Ordinance of the City of Rockford and replacing all ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance.

B.

The repeal of any language within the ordinance, or any expiration by virtue of any provision contained within the ordinance, shall not affect any right accrued, any offense committed, any penalty or punishment incurred, or any proceeding commenced before the repeal took effect or the regulation expired.

C.

When any language which repealed another shall itself be repealed, the previous language shall not be revived without being approved as a text amendment to this ordinance, as detailed in Chapter 18.

The provisions of this ordinance are hereby adopted, and this ordinance shall take effect on the 23 ^rd day of February 2025.