The City is hereby divided into zones, or districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map, which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter.[1]

The Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Mayor of the City of Taneytown attested by the City Clerk and bearing the Seal of the City under the following words: "This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Map referred to in § 205-3 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Taneytown, Carroll County, Maryland," together with the date of the adoption of this chapter.

If, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland, changes are made in district boundaries or other matter portrayed on the Official Zoning Map, those changes shall be entered on the Official Zoning Map promptly after the amendment has been approved by the Council, with an entry on the Official Zoning Map as follows: "On (date), by official action of the Council, the following (change) changes were made in the Official Zoning Map: (brief description of nature of change)," which entry shall be signed by the Mayor of the City of Taneytown and attested by the City Clerk. No amendment to this chapter which involves matter portrayed on the Official Zoning Map shall become effective until after that change and entry have been made on the map.

No changes of any nature shall be made in the Official Zoning Map or matter shown thereon except in conformity with the procedures set forth in this chapter. Any unauthorized change of whatever kind by any person or persons shall be considered a violation of this chapter and punishable as provided under § 205-90.

Regardless of the existence of purported copies of the Official Zoning Map which may from time to time be made or published, the Official Zoning Map which shall be located in the office of the Zoning Administrator shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land, water areas, buildings and other structures in the City.[2]

Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center lines of streets, highways or alleys shall be construed to follow those center lines.

Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines shall be construed as following those lot lines.

Boundaries indicated as approximately following City limits shall be construed as following those City limits.

Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed to be midway between the main tracks.

Boundaries indicated as parallel to, or extensions of, features indicated in Subsections B through D above shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map.

Where a district boundary line divides a lot which was in single ownership at the time of passage of this chapter, the Board of Appeals may permit, as a special exception, the extension of the regulations for either portion of the lot not to exceed 50 feet beyond the district line into the remaining portion of the lot.

Should any uncertainty exist, the Board of Appeals shall interpret the intent of the Official Zoning Map as to the exact location of district boundaries.

No building, structure or land shall hereafter be used, occupied, created, erected, constructed, reconstructed or altered except in conformity with the regulations of this chapter.

This chapter shall not be deemed to interfere with or abrogate or annul or otherwise affect in any manner whatsoever any ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, easements, covenants or any agreements between parties; provided, however, that where this chapter imposes a greater restriction on the use, occupancy, creation, erection, construction, reconstruction or alteration of any building, structure or land, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail, except to the extent such matter is addressed by Chapter 206 of this Code.

The regulations set by this chapter shall be minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to all buildings, structures and lands within the territorial limits of the City of Taneytown, except no permit shall be issued for any property in “Old Town” without compliance with the provisions of Section 206 of this Code.

All territory which may hereafter be annexed to the City shall remain under the jurisdiction of the Zoning Ordinance of Carroll County for a period of five years from the date of annexation or until such time as a zoning classification change is approved by the Carroll County Commissioners, whichever comes first. After the required five years or approval of the County Commissioners, all such annexed territory shall be considered to be in the R-10,000 District, unless specifically zoned otherwise, and shall be considered to be under the jurisdiction of this chapter.