Zoning Ordinance

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.01. AUTHORITY.

An ordinance, in pursuance of the authority granted in Sections 13-7-201 through 13-7-211 Tennessee Code Annotated, to regulate the City of Athens, Tennessee, and all property which lies inside of the corporate limits of said city, the location, height, and size of buildings and other structures; the percentage of lot which may be occupied; the sizes of yards, courts, and other open spaces; the density and distribution of population; the uses of buildings and structures for trade, industry, residence, recreation, agriculture, forestry, soil conservation, water supply conservation or other purposes.

1.02. TITLE.

This ordinance shall be known as The Municipal Zoning Ordinance for the City of Athens, Tennessee. The zoning map shall be referred to as the Municipal Zoning Map of Athens, Tennessee, and all explanatory matter thereon are hereby adopted and made a part of this ordinance, subject to amendment as provided for in Section 6.09 of this ordinance.

1.03. PURPOSE.

The zoning regulations and districts as herein set forth have been made in accordance with a comprehensive plan for the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, convenience, order, and general welfare of the City of Athens. They have been designed to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fires, floods, panic and other dangers; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of population, to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, wastewater, schools, parks, and other public requirements. They have been made with reasonable consideration among other things as to the character of each district and its peculiar uses, and with a view of conserving the utility of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land within the City of Athens.

1.04. ENACTMENT.

Except as hereinafter provided, no building shall be erected or structurally altered, nor shall any building or premises be utilized for any purpose, other than permitted in the zoning district in which the building or premises is located. No land or lot area shall be so reduced or diminished that the yards or open spaces shall be smaller than prescribed herein, nor shall the lot area per family be reduced in any manner except in conformity with the area regulations hereby established for the district in which such building is located. No yard or other open space provided about any building for the purpose of complying with these regulations shall be considered as providing a yard or other open space for any other building.

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