Covington

It shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any building or premises, or both, or part thereof hereafter created, erected, changed, converted or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure, until a certificate of zoning compliance shall have been issued by the administrative official, stating that the proposed use of the building or land conforms to the requirements of this ordinance.

A temporary certificate of zoning compliance may be issued by the administrative official for a period not exceeding six months during alterations or partial occupancy of a building pending its completion, provided that such temporary certificate may include such conditions and safeguards as will protect the safety of the occupants and the public.

No street, park, or other public area, or public structure, or public utility, public building, or public service corporation other than railroads, whether publicly or privately owned, shall be constructed, established or authorized, unless and until the general location or approximate location, character and extent thereof has been submitted to and approved by the planning commission as being substantially in accord with the adopted comprehensive plan or part thereof.

A special exception is a conditional use that is permitted within a use district after review and recommendation by the commission and approval by the city council.

A use not provided for is a use that is not included within the text of the permitted district uses. Because of their nature and anticipated city impact, these uses require a review by the commission and governing body before approval is granted.

The lawful construction, alteration and occupancy of a single- or two-family dwelling or mobile home, with or without a garage, on a lot on which there exists no other building or use; any lawful use, alteration or construction in districts M-1 and M-2, which is more than 200 feet distant from any lot line; any lawful use, alteration or construction in any residential districts, R-1, R-2 and R-3; are exempt from the site plan requirements of this ordinance.

in case of a protest against any such proposed change signed by the owners of 20 percent or more either of the area within the boundaries of such proposed change or of the area of any lots or tracts, any part of which lies within 300 feet of such boundaries, such change or amendment shall not become effective except by the favorable vote of three-fourths of all the members of the city council

A zoning applicant may include in his request for a change in zoning, reasonable voluntary conditions, prior to a public hearing before the city council, that are in addition to the regulations provided for in the zoning classification that is sought by the applicant.

A nonconforming residential use existing within a commercial or industrial district may be permitted all the normal R-3 zone privileges subject to R-3 zone restrictions.

Upon the discovery of any violation of the provisions of this article, the city shall: (1) Notify the owner of the sign... (2) Order the correction of the violation within a reasonable time, not to exceed 30 days; (3) If the violation is not corrected within the time specified in the order, issue a citation for the violation; and (4) If the violation is not corrected within 30 days of the issuance of the citation, take such legal action as may be necessary to abate the violation.

Any person who violates any provision of this article shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2,500.00 or by imprisonment for not more than 12 months, or both. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

In any district, permitted structures may be erected or enlarged on any single lot of record, notwithstanding limitations imposed by other provisions of this ordinance.

No lot or parcel or portion thereof shall be used or sold in a manner diminishing compliance with lot width and/or area requirements established by this ordinance.

Any lot which, by reason of realignment of a federal or state highway or by reason of condemnation proceedings, has been reduced in size to an area less than that required by law, shall be considered a nonconforming lot of record.

No such nonconforming use and/or structure shall be enlarged or increased nor extended to occupy a greater area of land than was occupied at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this ordinance unless said enlargement does not result in an increase in nonconformity.

No such nonconforming use and/or structure shall be moved in whole or in part to any portion of the land or parcel other than that occupied by such use and/or structure at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this ordinance.

No additional structure not conforming to the requirements of this ordinance shall be erected in connection with such nonconforming uses of land.

Any nonconforming use may be extended throughout any parts of a building which were manifestly arranged or designed for such use at the time of adoption or amendment of this ordinance.

If no structural alterations are made, any nonconforming use of a structure, or structure and premises, may, as a special exception, be changed to another nonconforming use.

When any nonconforming use, or structure and use in combination, is superseded by a permitted use and/or structure, the use shall thereafter conform to the regulations for the district.