Sections 1000 through 9999 of this [ordinance] shall be known as the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas.

The purpose of this zoning ordinance shall be to promote the public health, safety, morals and the protection and preservation of places and areas of historical, cultural, or architectural importance and significance or general welfare of the city and residents thereof; and to attain the objectives of the Wichita Falls Comprehensive Plan. It has been designed to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to promote health and general welfare; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of population; and to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements.

It is the intent of the city that this zoning ordinance shall be consistent with the Wichita Falls Comprehensive Plan, and with any supplemental land use and community development policies which may be adopted by the city council. In the event this zoning ordinance becomes inconsistent with the Wichita Falls Comprehensive Plan or with any supplemental land use and community development policies of the city, by reason of the adoption of a new plan or by amendment of the existing plan or supplemental policies, it is the intent of the council that this zoning ordinance be amended within a reasonable time so as to become or remain consistent with the revised or amended comprehensive plan and land use and community development policies.

Additionally, it is the intent of the council that all amendments to this zoning ordinance shall maintain and enhance the consistency between this zoning ordinance and the Wichita Falls Comprehensive Plan.

This zoning ordinance shall apply to all of the incorporated areas of the city. The use of all land and any buildings or structures located upon the land, and the construction, reconstruction, alteration, expansion, or relocation of any building or structure upon the land shall conform to all regulations applicable to the district in which the land is located except as otherwise provided below. No land, building, structure or premises shall be used for any purpose or in any manner other than is permitted in the district in which such land, building, structure or premises is located except as provided below. The provisions of this zoning ordinance shall be applied to all land, buildings, structures and premises of the incorporated areas of the city on the 23rd day of April 1985. However, the provisions of this ordinance shall not apply to buildings, structures, or land under the control, administration, or jurisdiction of any federal or state agency, or the city where properly exempted by law.

This zoning ordinance shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare. It is not the intent of this ordinance to interfere with or abrogate or annul any easement, covenant, or other deed restriction or agreement between parties. When this zoning ordinance imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings or land, or upon the height of buildings, or requires larger open spaces than are imposed or required by other ordinances, rules, regulations, or by easements, covenants or agreements, the provisions of this zoning ordinance shall control.

Except as otherwise specifically provided, no provision of this zoning ordinance shall be construed as relieving any party to whom a site plan approval, permit or variance is issued from any other provision of state or federal law or from any provision, ordinance, rule, or regulation of the city requiring a license, franchise, or permit to accomplish, engage in, carry on or maintain a particular business, enterprise, occupation, transaction or use.

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this ordinance, it being hereby expressly declared that this ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase hereof would have been prepared, proposed, adopted, approved and ratified irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.

Nothing herein contained shall require any change in the plans, construction or designated use of a building for which a building permit has been heretofore issued, and plans for which are on file with the director of community development at the time of the passage of this ordinance [April 23, 1985,] and the construction of which in either case shall have been started and diligently prosecuted within six months of the date of such permit, and the ground story framework of which, inclusive of walls, shall have been completed within such time, and which entire building shall be completed, according to such plans as filed, within two years from the date of the passage of this ordinance.

Any person who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses to comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor offense, punishable by a fine as provided in section 1-14 of the Wichita Falls Code of Ordinances. The imposition of one penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation nor permit it to continue, and each day that the violation is maintained shall constitute a separate offense. The application of such penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.

All territory hereafter annexed to the City of Wichita Falls shall be temporarily classified as SF-1

Single-Family Residential District, until a permanent zoning classification is given to the area by the city council.

The procedure for establishing a permanent zoning classification shall be the same as is provided by law for amendment of this zoning ordinance.