The regulations set by this chapter within each district shall be minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each class or kind of structure or land, and particularly, except as hereinafter provided:

1.   No building, structure, or land shall hereafter be used or occupied, no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered except in conformity with all the regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located.

2.   No part of a yard, or other open space, or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this chapter, shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.

3.   No yard or lot existing as of the effective date of this chapter shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth herein. Yards or lots created after the effective date of this chapter shall meet at least the minimum requirements established by these regulations.

4.   Whenever the requirements of this chapter are at variance with the requirements of any other lawfully adopted rules, regulations, ordinances, deed restrictions, or covenants, the most restrictive or that imposing the higher standards shall govern.

1.   Official Zoning Map. The City shall be divided into districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, shall be adopted by ordinance.

2.   The Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Mayor, attested by the City Clerk, under the following words: “This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Map referred to in Section 165.04 of Ordinance No. ___ of the City of West Bend, Iowa,” together with the date of adoption.

3.   If, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 414 of the Code of Iowa, changes are made in district boundaries or other matter portrayed on the Official Zoning Map, such changes shall be entered on the Official Zoning Map promptly after the amendment has been approved by the City Council, with an entry on the Official Zoning Map as follows: “By official action of the City Council, the following changes were made to the Official Zoning Map.” (Indicating the changes by ordinance numbers and date of publication.)

4.   No amendment of these regulations which involves matter portrayed on the Official Zoning Map shall become effective until after such change and entry has been made on said map.

5.   Annexation of New Land. Any land annexed to the City after the effective date of this chapter shall be zoned [AG] Agricultural until the Zoning Commission and City Council shall have studied the area and adopted a final zoning plan for the area in accordance with this chapter.

6.   Replacement of the Official Zoning Map. In the event that the Official Zoning Map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost, or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of changes and additions, the City Council may by ordinance adopt a new Official Zoning Map which shall supersede the prior Official Zoning Map. The new Official Zoning Map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior Official Zoning Map, but no such correction shall have the effect of amending the original Official Zoning Map or any subsequent amendment thereof.

7.   The new Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Mayor, attested by the City Clerk, and bearing the Seal of the City under the following words: “This is to certify that this Official Zoning Map supersedes and replaces the Official Zoning Map adopted as part of Ordinance No. ___ of the City of West Bend, Iowa.”

8.   Unless the prior Official Zoning Map has been lost, or has been totally destroyed, the prior map or any significant parts thereof remaining, shall be preserved, together with all available records pertaining to its adoption or amendment.

Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map, the following rules shall apply:

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

2.   Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines;

3.   Boundaries indicated as approximately following City limits shall be construed as following such City limits;

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

5.   Boundaries indicated as following shorelines shall be construed to follow such shorelines, and in the event of change in the shoreline shall be construed as moving with the actual shoreline; boundaries indicated as approximately following the center lines of streams, rivers, or other bodies of water shall be construed to follow such center lines;

6.   Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of features indicated in Subsections 1 through 5 above shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map;

7.   Where physical or cultural features existing on the ground are at variance with those shown on the Official Zoning Map, or in other circumstances not covered by Subsections 1 through 6 above, the Board of Adjustment shall interpret the district boundaries;

8.   Whenever the Council vacates and disposes of a street or alley, adjacent districts shall extend to the center line of the vacation;

9.   Whenever a variance exists between the Zoning Map and the legal description on an amendment to this chapter, the legal description applies.