Zoning Ordinance
SPIRIT LAKE ZONING ORDINANCE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.1. Short Title 2
1.2. Jurisdiction 2
1.3. Purpose 2
1.4. Repeal and Saving Clause 3
1.5. Validity and Severability Clause 3
1.6. Interpretation of Regulations 3
ARTICLE II: DEFINITIONS/USE CLASSIFICATIONS
2.1. Definitions 4
2.2. Use Classifications 17
ARTICLE III: ZONING DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED
3.1. Zoning Districts 30
3.2. Boundaries and Official Map 30
3.3. Interpretation of District Boundaries 31
3.4. Road or Public Right-of-Way Vacation 31
3.5. Annexed Territory 32
3.6. General Regulations 32
ARTICLE IV: AGRICULTURE DISTRICT (A-1)
4.1. Intent 33
4.2. Principal Permitted Uses 33
4.3. Special Exception Uses 33
4.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 34
4.5. Bulk Regulations 35
4.6. Off-Street Parking 35
4.7. Sign Regulations 35
4.8. Zoning/Building Permits Required 35
ARTICLE V: CONSERVATION DISTRICT (A-2)
5.1. Intent 36
5.2. Principal Permitted Uses 36
5.3. Special Exception Uses 36
5.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 37
5.5. Special Conditions 37
5.6. Bulk Regulations 37
5.7. Zoning/Building Permits Required 38
ARTICLE VI: SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (R-1)
6.1. Intent 39
6.2. Principal Permitted Uses 39
6.3. Special Exception Uses 39
6.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 40
6.5. Bulk Regulations 40
6.6. Off-Street Parking 41
6.7. Sign Regulations 41
6.8. Zoning/Building Permits Required 41
ARTICLE VII: SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (R-2)
7.1. Intent 42
7.2. Principal Permitted Uses 42
7.3. Special Exception Uses 42
7.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 43
7.5. Bulk Regulations 43
7.6. Off-Street Parking 44
7.7. Sign Regulations 44
7.8. Zoning/Building Permits Required 44
ARTICLE VIII: MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (R-3)
8.1. Intent 45
8.2. Principal Permitted Uses 45
8.3. Special Exception Uses 45
8.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 46
8.5. Bulk Regulations 46
8.6. Off-Street Parking 47
8.7. Sign Regulations 47
8.8. Zoning/Building Permits Required 47
ARTICLE IX: LAKE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (R-4)
9.1. Intent 48
9.2. Principal Permitted Uses 48
9.3. Special Exception Uses 48
9.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 48
9.5. Bulk Regulations 49
9.6. Lakeshore Landscaping Regulations 50
9.7. Off-Street Parking 51
9.8. Sign Regulations 51
9.9. Zoning/Building Permits Required 51
ARTICLE X: HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (R-5)
10.1. Intent 52
10.2. Principal Permitted Uses 52
10.3. Special Exception Uses 52
10.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 53
10.5. Bulk Regulations 53
10.6. Off-Street Parking 54
10.7. Sign Regulations 54
10.8. Zoning/Building Permits Required 54
ARTICLE XI: MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOUSING DISTRICT (R-6)
11.1. Intent 55
11.2. Principal Permitted Uses 55
11.3. Special Exception Uses 55
11.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 56
11.5. Bulk Regulations 56
11.6. Mobile or Manufactured Home Park Requirements 57
11.7. Zoning/Building Permits Required 60
ARTICLE XII: GOLF RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (R-7)
12.1. Intent 61
12.2. Principal Permitted Uses 61
12.3. Special Exception Uses 61
12.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 62
12.5. Bulk Regulations 62
12.6. Buffer Requirements 63
12.7. Off-Street Parking 64
12.8. Sign Regulations 64
12.9. Zoning/Building Permits Required 64
ARTICLE XIII: GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (C-1)
13.1. Intent 65
13.2. Principal Permitted Uses 65
13.3. Special Exception Uses 66
13.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 66
13.5. Bulk Regulations 67
13.6. Off-Street Parking 67
13.7. Sign Regulations 67
13.8. Zoning/Building Permits Required 67
ARTICLE XIV: HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (C-2)
14.1. Intent 68
14.2. Principal Permitted Uses 68
14.3. Special Exception Uses 69
14.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 69
14.5. Bulk Regulations 70
14.6. Off-Street Parking 70
14.7. Sign Regulations 70
14.8. Zoning/Building Permits Required 70
ARTICLE XV: LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (I-1)
15.1. Intent 71
15.2. Principal Permitted Uses 71
15.3. Special Exception Uses 72
15.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 71
15.5. Bulk Regulations 73
15.6. Off-Street Parking 73
15.7. Sign Regulations 73
15.8. Zoning/Building Permits Required 73
ARTICLE XVI: HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (I-2)
16.1. Intent 74
16.2. Principal Permitted Uses 74
16.3. Special Exception Uses 74
16.4. Permitted Accessory Uses 75
16.5. Bulk Regulations 76
16.6. Additional Regulations 76
16.7. Off-Street Parking 76
16.8. Sign Regulations 76
16.9. Zoning/Building Permits Required 76
ARTICLE XVII: SUPPLEMENTARY DISTRICT REGULATIONS
17.1. Intent 78
17.2. Lot of Record 78
17.3. Multiple Principal Structures per Lot 78
17.4. Yard Regulations 79
17.5. Steps, Decks and Patios 79
17.6. Fences and Hedges 80
17.7. Buildings to Have Access 80
17.8. Use of Public Right-of-Ways 80
17.9. Block Frontage Continuity 80
17.10. Building Height Modifications 81
17.11. Maximum Ground Cover (Impervious Surfaces) 81
ARTICLE XVIII: ADDITIONAL USE REGULATIONS
18.1. Intent 82
18.2. Accessory Buildings 82
18.3. Portable Accessory Buildings and Storage Structures 83
18.4. Temporary Buildings and Uses 84
18.5. Service Station/Gas Station/Convenience Stores 85
18.6. Recreational Vehicles 85
18.7. Home Occupations 86
18.8. Sexually Oriented Businesses 87
18.9. Minimum Requirements for Residential Structures 91
18.10. Wind Turbines 92
18.11. Small Wind Turbines for Residential or Private Use 94
18.12. Minor Modification to District Regulations 97
ARTICLE XIX: ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS, GENERAL LANDSCAPING & BUFFER REQUIREMENTS
19.1. Architectural Standards 99
19.2. Statement of Intent 99
19.3. Architectural Standards by Zoning District and Use 99
19.4. General Landscaping & Buffer Requirements (In C-2, I-1, & I-2 Districts) 101
20.1. Intent 104
20.2. Scale 104
20.3. Legal Information 104
20.4. Site Plan 104
ARTICLE XXI: OFF STREET PARKING
21.1. Intent 105
21.2. General Parking Area and Surface Requirements 105
21.3. Off Street Parking Requirements 106
21.4. Computation of Parking Spaces 107
21.5. Location and Type of Parking 108
21.6. Off Street Loading Requirements 108
ARTICLE XXII: SIGN REGULATIONS
22.1. Intent 109
22.2. Definitions 109
22.3. Exempt Signs 113
22.4. Requirements for Signs in Residential Districts 114
22.5. Requirements for Signs in Commercial Districts 114
22.6. Requirements for Signs in Industrial Districts 115
22.7. Special Exceptions 116
22.8. General Sign Regulations 116
22.9. Prohibited Signs 117
22.10. Specific Sign Requirements 117
22.11. Temporary Signs 119
22.12. Master Plan for Development Complexes 122
22.13. Unsafe Signs and Removal of Signs 122
22.14. Nonconforming Signs 123
ARTICLE XXIII: NONCONFORMING USES
23.1. Intent 124
23.2. Nonconforming Lots of Record 124
23.3. Nonconforming Uses or Structure in All Zoning Districts 124
23.4. Nonconforming Uses of Structures and Land in Combination 125
23.5. Repairs or Replacing Damaged Buildings 126
23.6. Uses under Special Exception Provisions 126
23.7. Change of Tenancy or Ownership 126
ARTICLE XXIV: ZONING ENFORCEMENT
24.1. Zoning Administrator 127
24.2. Zoning/Building Permit Required 127
24.3. Zoning and Sign Compliance 127
24.4. Application for Zoning/Building Permit 128
24.5. Site Plans and Plats 128
24.6. Construction and Use to be provided in Application, Plans, and Permit 128
24.7. Fees 128
24.8. Special Exceptions 128
ARTICLE XXV: VIOLATION AND PENALTY
25.1. Violation and Penalty 129
25.2. Restraining Order 129
ARTICLE XXVI: BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
26.1. Confirmation of Existing Board of Adjustment 130
26.2. Proceedings of the Board of Adjustment 130
26.3. Hearings, Appeals and Notice 130
26.4. Stay of Proceedings 131
26.5. Powers and Duties 131
26.6. Variances 131
26.7. Decisions of the Board of Adjustment 133
26.8. Appeals from the Board of Adjustment 133
ARTICLE XXVII: SPECIAL EXCEPTION USES
27.1. Requirements 134
27.2. Jurisdiction 134
27.3. Application for a Special Exception Permit 134
27.4. Procedures 135
27.5. Standards 136
27.6. Revocation 137
27.7. Supplemental Standards 137
27.8. Planned Unit Development – As a Special Exception 140
ARTICLE XXVIII: CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS
28.1. Procedures 145
28.2. Initiation 146
28.3. Application for Change in Zoning District Boundaries 146
28.4. Protest Provision 147
28.5. New Application 147
29.1. Effective Date 148
Editor’s Note (Ordinance Amendments) 149