Vernal City Zoning Code

1. The provisions of this title and the City’s land use regulations may be amended from time to time in accordance with Utah Code, this title, and other applicable law. Amendments may include amendments to the text of this title, land use regulations, zoning district standards, permitted or conditional uses, definitions, development standards, review procedures, application requirements, the General Plan when applicable, the Official Zoning Map, and other planning or land use matters authorized by Utah Code or this title.
2. Amendments to the Official Zoning Map, including changes to the number, shape, boundaries, or classification of any zoning district, shall be processed in accordance with Chapter 16.07 of this title. Except as otherwise provided in Chapter 16.07 for amendments to the Official Zoning Map, proposed amendments shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council in accordance with applicable Utah Code requirements.
3. The City Council may approve, approve with modifications, deny, continue, or remand a proposed amendment in accordance with applicable law. Approval of an amendment shall be by ordinance unless another form of action is authorized or required by Utah Code.
4. The City Council shall prescribe, by resolution, the fees required to process applications to amend this title, the Official Zoning Map, or other land use regulations administered by the City.

(PZSC § 03-02-001)
(Ord. 2013-09, Amended, 05/15/2013; Ord. 2012-16, Amended, 05/16/2012; Ord. 2007-33, Amended, 10/17/2007; Ord. 2005-07, Amended, 06/01/2005)

1. The Planning Director of the City is charged with the administration and enforcement of this title.
2. The Planning Director shall enforce all of the provisions of this Title. He or she shall cause to be inspected any change in the use of land. If, in the course of such inspection or otherwise, it shall come to his or her attention that any such use, contemplated use of land or development activity is in violation of the provisions of this Title, he or she shall cause to be issued a written order to the person to cease and desist such development activity or use. He or she shall report violations of this title to the City Attorney for prosecution and make complaint thereof before the court or courts having jurisdiction over such violation.
3. The Planning Director may call for assistance of law enforcement personnel whenever, in his or her opinion, such assistance is necessary in the investigation of a suspected violation of this Title.
4. The Planning Director may establish reasonable rules and regulations necessary or desirable in the administration of this Title. Three (3) copies of such rules and regulations shall be filed with the City Recorder and such rules and regulations shall become effective when so filed.
5. The City Council may, by resolution, prescribe an exact payment of reasonable fees to cover the expense of examining plans and inspecting development activities and uses and may determine the method of collecting such fees.

(PZSC § 03-02-002)
(Ord. 2017-10, Amended, 06/21/2017; Ord. 2016-13, Amended, 11/02/2016)

No land shall be used or occupied and no building hereafter structurally altered or erected shall be used or changed in use until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the Building Official, stating that the building or structure or the proposed use thereof or the use of the land complies with the provisions of this title. A like certificate of occupancy shall be issued for the purpose of maintaining, renewing, changing or extending a nonconforming use.

(PZSC § 03-02-004) (Ord. No. 95-15, Amended, 09/06/95)

The land use authority for application to Vernal City shall be as follows:

1. Master site plans: Planning director;
2. Conditional use permit: Planning Commission;
3. Subdivision preliminary plat: Planning Commission;
4. Subdivision; final plat: Zoning Administrator
5. Flood plain development permit: Planning director;
6. General plan amendment; City Council;
7. Zoning ordinance amendment (to include zoning map amendment): City Council;
8. Variance: Appeals and variances hearing officer.

(PZSC § 03-02-005) (Ord. No. 94-06, Amended, 3/24/94; Ord. No. 94-22, Amended, 11/10/94; Ord. No. 95-20, Amended, 11/02/95; Ord. No. 96-27, Amended, 11/20/96)
(Ord. 2015-09, Amended, 05/06/2015; Ord. 2005-03, Amended, 02/02/2005; 99-07, Amended, 07/21/1999)

All department officials and public employees of the City vested with the duty or authority to issue permits shall conform to the provisions of this title and shall issue no permit, certificate of license for uses, building or purposes in conflict with the provisions of this title, and any such permit, certificate or license issued in conflict with the provisions of this title, intentionally or otherwise, shall be null and void. No sewer service line, no water service line or electrical utilities shall be installed if such use will be in violation of this title.

(PZSC § 03-02-007)