Cherokee County Zoning Ordinance Table of Contents September 17, 2009 Table of Contents Article 1 – Title 1-1 Article 2 – Purpose 2-1 Article 3 – Short Title 3-1 Article 4 – Rules and Definitions
4.1 Rules 4-1
4.2 Use of Definitions 4-1
4.3 Definitions 4-2
4.4 Junk Vehicles 4-14
Article 5 – General Provisions
5.1 Interpretation 5-1
5.2 Scope of Regulations 5-1
5.3 Building Permits 5-1
5.4 Access to Public Street 5-1
5.5 Subdivision and Plat Approval 5-2
5.6 Accessory Uses and Structures 5-21
5.7 Vision Clearance at Intersections 5-24
5.8 Approvals for Developments along Interstates, State Highways 5-24
and County Roads
5.9 Use Occupancy and Erection 5-24
5.10 Classifications of Streets 5-25
5.11 Connecting Access Among Adjoining Businesses 5-25
5.12 Requirements of the Cherokee County Development Standards, 5-25
the Cherokee County Soil Sedimentation and Control Ordinance and the Cherokee County Flood Plain Regulation Ordinance 5.13(A) Mailbox Supports 5-25 5.13(B) Encroachment on Public Rights-of-Way 5-25 5.13(C) Pre-existing Structures 5-25 Article 6 – Zoning Districts and Boundaries
6.1 Establishment of Districts 6-1
6.2 Zoning District Map 6-1
6.3 District Boundaries 6-2
Article 7 – District Uses and Regulations
7.1 Purpose 7-1
7.2 Development Standards 7-3
7.3 Application of Standards 7-3
7.4 Development Standards Additional Requirements 7-5
7.5 Site Plan Requirements 7-9
7.6 Permitted Uses 7-18
7.7 Permitted Uses Additional Requirements 7-18
7.8 Prohibited Uses 7-40
Table 7.1 Minimum District Development Standards Table 7.2 Permitted Uses Table Cherokee County Zoning Ordinance Table of Contents September 17, 2009 Article 8 – Traditional Neighborhood Development
8.1 Purpose 8-1
8.2 Findings For Project Approval 8-2
8.3 General Standards & Requirements 8-3
8.4 Neighborhood Plans 8-4
8.5 TND Planning Process 8-6
8.6 Density Calculations 8-7
8.7 Streetscape Requirements 8-7
8.8 Civic Functions 8-8
8.9 Special Requirements 8-9
8.10 Specific To Neighborhood Edge Zone 8-9
8.11 Specific To Neighborhood General Zone 8-13
8.12 Specific To Neighborhood Center Zone 8-17
8-13 Standards & Tables 8-21
8-14 Pre-Existing Conditions 8-40
8-15 Application Submission 8-40
8-16 Preliminary Neighborhood Plan Review And Action 8-42
8-17 Submission Of The Final Neighborhood Plan 8-42
8-18 Control Of The Development Plan After Completion 8-42
8.19 Variances 8-43
8.20 Glossary 8-44
Credits And Acknowledgements 8-51 Article 9 – Home Occupations
9.1 Intent 9-1
9.2 Performance Criteria 9-1
9.3 Development Standards 9-1
9.4 Permitted Home Occupations 9-2
9.5 Prohibited Home Occupations 9-3
9.6 Unspecified Home Occupations 9-4
9.7 Permit Application Procedure 9-4
9.8 Other Provisions 9-5
Article 10 – Buffer Requirements
10.1 Intent 10-1
10.2 Purpose 10-1
10.3 Title 10-1
10.4 Definitions 10-1
10.5 Applicability 10-3
10.6 Standards for Permanent Buffers 10-3
10.7 Standards for Construction Buffers 10-5
10.8 Compliance 10-6
10.9 Enforcement 10-7
10.10 Violation and Penalty 10-7
10.11 Appeals and Waivers 10-7
10.12 Repeal Clause 10-7
10.13 Severability 10-8
10.14 Amendment 10-8
10.15 Effective Date 10-8
Table 10.1 - Minimum Buffer Width Between Abutting Districts Cherokee County Zoning Ordinance Table of Contents September 17, 2009 Article 11 – Signs & Outdoor Advertising
11.1 Objectives and Purpose 11-1
11.2 Jurisdiction and Applicability of Code Requirements 11-2
11.3 Variances 11-2
11.4 Definitions 11-2
11.5 General Provisions 11-8
11.6 Prohibited Signs 11-11
11.7 Exempt Signs 11-12
11.8 Permitted Signs by Type and Zoning District... 11-15
11.9 Appeal 11-16
11.10 Severability and Amendment 11-17
Table 11.1 - District Requirements for Permanent Signs Article 12 – Off Street Parking Regulations
12.1 Off-Street Parking Requirements by Use 12-1
12.2 Interpretation of Parking Requirements Chart 12-11
12.3 Joint Use and Off-Site Facilities 12-11
12.4 Design Standards 12-12
12.5 Off-Street Loading Requirements by Use 12-13
Table 12.2 – Minimum Off-Street Loading Requirements 12-14 Article 13 – Non-Conforming Uses
13.1 Purpose 13-1
13.2 Definition 13-1
13.3 Continuance of Non-Conforming Uses 13-1
13.4 Continuance of a Non-Conforming Building 13-1
13.5 Discontinuance of Non-Conforming Uses 13-2
13.6 Change of Non-Conforming Use 13-2
13.7 Discontinuance of Non-Conforming Building 13-2
13.8 Enlargement of Non-Conforming Uses 13-2
13.9 Enlargement of Non-Conforming Buildings 13-2
13.10 Repair and Alteration 13-2
13.11 Moving 13-2
13.12 Non-Conforming Use 13-3
13.13 Sale of Merchandise 13-3
13.14 Exempted Building, Structures and Uses 13-3
Article 14 – Administration
14.1 Administration 14-1
14.2 Permit Procedure 14-1
14.3 Issuance 14-2
14.4 Duration of Permit Validity 14-2
14.5 Certificate of Occupancy 14-2
14.6 Fees 14-3
14.7 Appeals from Decisions of the Zoning Administrator 14-3
14.8 Zoning Administration Process 14-3
Table 14.1 Zoning Board of Appeals Process Table 14.2 Rezone Application Process Article 15 – Zoning Board of Appeals
15.1 Creation and Membership 15-1
15.2 Term of Office 15-1
Cherokee County Zoning Ordinance Table of Contents September 17, 2009
15.3 Compensation 15-1
15.4 Rules and Procedure 15-1
15.5 Administrative Assistance 15-2
15.6 Public Hearing 15-2
15.7 Powers and Duties 15-2
15.8 Appeals 15-5
15.9 Administrative Variance 15-5
Article 16 – Overlay Zoning District Regulations
16.1 Highway 92 Village Ordinance 16-1
16.2 Bells Ferry Community Design District 16-8
Article 17 – Interpretation, Purpose And Conflict 17-1 Article 18 – Amendments and Zoning Procedures
18.1 Zoning Decision 18-1
18.2 Amendments 18-1
18.3 Zoning Procedures 18-1
18.4 Resubmission 18-18
18.5 Copies of Policies and Procedures 18-18
18.6 Zoning Standards 18-18
Article 19 – Remedies and Enforcement
19.1 Violation 19-1
19.2 Remedies 19-1
19.3 Cumulative Remedy 19-2
Article 20 – Severability 20-1 Article 21 – Conflicting Ordinances 21-1 Article 22 – Effective Date 22-1 Article 23 – Conservation Design Community
23.1 Purpose 23-1
23.2 General Regulations 23-1
23.3 Use Regulations 23-3
23.4 Dimensional Standards and Density Determination of Allowed Lots 23-4
23.5 Conservation Community Design Standards 23-6
23.6 Greenspace 23-6
23.7 Procedure 23-10
23.8 Four Step Design Process 23-12
23.9 Road Specification 23-13
23.10 Buffer Requirement 23-13
Appendix A: Conservation Design Community Process Flow Chart 23-15 Table 23-1 Conservation Design Community Density and Lot Size Requirements 23-5 Table 23-2 Conservation Design Community Setback Requirements 23-5 Table 23-3 Minimum Exterior Boundary Buffer 23-14 Cherokee County Zoning Ordinance Table of Contents September 17, 2009 Article 24 - Cemetery Preservation Division 1 - Generally
24.1 Definitions 24-2
24.2 Findings and Intent 24-3
24.3 Exemption for Identification of Burial Grounds 24-3
24.4 Notification of Disturbed Burial Ground. 24-3
24.5 Prohibited Acts 24-4
24.6 Permit Application 24-4
24.7 Same Fees 24-6
24.8 Violations and Penalties 24-6
Division 2.- Cemetery Preservation Committee
24.9 Purpose 24-8
24.10 Created; Appointment of Members 24-8
24.11 Position within County Government 24-8
24.12 Composition; Terms & Compensation 24-8
24.13 Powers Enumerated 24-8
24.14 Rules of Procedure 24-10
24.15 Funding 24-10
24.16 Records; Meetings 24-10
Article 25 - Outdoor Lighting and Road Glare Ordinance
25.1 Purpose and Intent 25-1
25.2 Definitions 25-1
25.3 Light Trespass 25-3
25.4 Glare Control on Roadways 25-3
25.5 Luminaire Source Types Regulated 25-3
25.6 Restrictions of Various Outdoor Lighting 25-4
25.7 Prohibited Lights 25-7
25.8 Approved Materials and Methods 25-7
25.9 Permits and Development Plan Reviews 25-8
25.10 Petitions for Street Lighting in Subdivisions containing lots 25-9
which are 1.1 acres in size or larger
25.11 Temporary Lighting Permits 25-9
25.12 Variances 25-10
25.13 Non-Conforming Uses 25-10
25.14 Exceptions 25-11
25.15 Violations and Enforcement 25-11
25.16 Luminaires Funded by County 25-12
Article 26 - Part V DNR Environmental Protection Measures
26.1 Purpose 26-1
26.2 Definitions 26-1
26.3 Protected Mountain Corridor 26-3
26.4 Etowah/Little River Protection Corridor 26-8
26.5 Groundwater Recharge Areas 26-10
26.6 Water Supply Watersheds 26-13
26.7 Wetlands 26-15
26.8 Permit Requirements & Enforcement 26-18
26.9 Separability & Abrogation 26-19
26.10 Effective Date 26-19
Cherokee County Zoning Ordinance Table of Contents September 17, 2009 Article 27 - Tree Preservation and Replacement
27.1 Title 27-1
27.2 Purpose and Intent 27-1
27.3 Definitions 27-1
27.4 Violations & Penalties 27-3
27.5 Applicability 27-4
27.6 Exemptions 27-4
27.7 Permitting Applications 27-6
27.8 Density Requirements 27-6
27.9 Mitigation Measures 27-7
27.10 Tree Preservation and Replacement Plan Requirements 27-9
27.11 Tree Preservation Standards During Construction 27-12
27.12 Tree Replacement Standards 27-13
27.13 Parking Lot Planting Requirements 27-14
27.14 Compliance 27-15
27.15 Technology Ridge Tree Buffer Zone 27-16
27.16 Variances 27-16
27.17 Non-liability of County 27-16
27.18 Adoption and Amendment 27-17
Appendix A – Specimen Trees 27-18 Appendix B – Heritage Trees 27-20 Appendix C – Site Density Requirements 27-22 Appendix D – Recommended Species List 27-27 Appendix E – Standard Details 27-33 Acknowledgements & Special Thanks Appendix A A-1