(a) 
The City of Lancaster is hereby divided into zones, or districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared a part of this ordinance. The zones, or districts, hereby established are and shall be known and cited as: This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Map referred to an ARTICLE III of the zoning ordinance, Ordinance No. 13- 84, as amended, of the City of Lancaster Texas together with the date of adoption of this ordinance as amended."
Zoning Districts
Abbreviated Designation
Zoning District Name
"AO"
Agricultural Open
"SF-E"
Single-Family Estate
"SF-2"
Single-Family Residential-2
"SF-4"
Single-Family Residential-4
"SF-5"
Single-Family Residential-5
"SF-6"
Single-Family Residential-6
["ZL-7"]
[Zero Lot Line Single-Family Residential]
"2F-6"
Two-Family (or Duplex) Residential
"SFA-16"
Single-Family Attached Residential-16
"TH-16"
Town House Residential-16
"MH"
Mobile Home Residential
"MF-16"
Multi-Family Residential District-16
"NS"
Neighborhood Service
"R"
Retail
"CH"
Commercial Highway
"CS"
Commercial Service
"TC"
Town Center District (Reserved)
"ORT"
Office Research Technology
"LI"
Light Industrial
"MI"
Medium Industrial
Special Districts
Abbreviated Designation
Special District Name
"PD"
Planned Development
"HPO"
Historic Preservation Overlay
"NPO"
Neighborhood Preservation Overlay
"NPO-1
Enchanted Forest Neighborhood Preservation Overlay-1
"MBO"
Mills Branch Overlay
"LCD"
Lancaster Campus District
"MD"
Medical District
"LD"
Lanport District
"DD"
Downtown District
(b) 
The Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Mayor attested by the City Secretary, under the following words:
"This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Map referred to in ARTICLE III of the zoning ordinance, Ordinance No. 13-84, as amended, of the City of Lancaster, Texas together with the date of adoption of this ordinance, as amended."
(c) 
When changes are made in district boundaries or other matter portrayed on the Official Zoning Map, such changes shall be entered on the Official Zoning Map by the City Secretary promptly after the amendment has been approved by City Council, and the change shall note the ordinance number and date that the change was approved.
(d) 
No changes of any nature shall be made in the Official Zoning Map or matter shown thereon except in conformity with the procedures set forth in this ordinance. Any unauthorized change of whatever kind by any person or persons shall be considered a violation of this ordinance.
(e) 
The original reproducible tracing of the Official Zoning Map shall be located in the Office of the Director of Community Development and shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land and water areas, building[s] and other structures in the City of Lancaster.
(f) 
City Council may, by ordinance, adopt a new Official Zoning Map should the original reproducible tracing of the Official Zoning Map be damaged, destroyed, lost or become ambiguous because of the nature or number of changes and additions. The new Official Zoning Map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior Official Zoning Map, but no other correction shall have the effect of amending the original Official Zoning Map or any subsequent amendment thereof. The new Official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the Mayor attested by the City Secretary, under the following words:
"This is to certify that this Official Zoning Map supersedes and replaces the Official Zoning Map adopted as a part of the Lancaster Development Code of the City of Lancaster, Texas, as amended."
(g) 
Unless the prior Official Zoning Map has been lost, or has been totally destroyed, the prior map or any significant parts thereof remaining, shall be preserved, together with all available records pertaining to its adoption or amendment.
(Ordinance 2006-04-13, sec. 14.301, adopted 4/24/06; Ordinance 2006-08-28, sec. 2, adopted 8/28/06; Ordinance 2007-06-23, sec. 3, adopted 6/11/07; Ordinance 2007-07-37, sec. 2, adopted 7/23/07; Ordinance 2008-01-02, sec. 2, adopted 1/28/08; Ordinance 2008-02-11, sec. 2, adopted 2/25/08; Ordinance 2019-06-21 adopted 6/10/19; Ordinance 2022-12-55 adopted 12/12/2022)
(a) 
Boundaries.
Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of zoning districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map, the following rules shall apply:
(1) 
The district boundary lines shown on the zoning district map are usually along streets, alleys, property lines or extensions thereof.
(2) 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following streets, highways or alleys shall be construed to follow the centerlines of such streets, highways or alleys.
(3) 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines shall be construed as following such lines.
(4) 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following city limits shall be construed as following city limits.
(5) 
Boundaries indicated as following railroad or utility lines shall be construed to be the centerline of the right-of-way or, if no centerline is established, the boundary shall be interpreted to be midway between the right-of-way lines.
(6) 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following the centerlines of streams, drainage ways or other bodies of water shall be construed to follow such centerlines.
(7) 
Whenever any street, alley or other public way is vacated by official action of the city council, or whenever a street or alley area is franchised for building purposes, the zoning district line adjoining each side of such street, alley or other public way shall be automatically extended to the centerline of such vacated street, alley or way, and all area so involved shall then and henceforth be subject to all regulations of the extended districts.
(8) 
Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of features indicated in Subsections A through C [(1) through (3)] above shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map;
(9) 
Where physical features of the ground are at variance with information shown on the official zoning district map, or if there arises a question as to how or whether a parcel of property is zoned and such question cannot be resolved by the application of subsections A through J [(1) through (8)], or the zoning of property is invalidated by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, the property shall be considered as classified AO, Agricultural Open District, temporarily.
(Ordinance 2006-04-13, sec. 14.302, adopted 4/24/06)
The following regulations shall apply to all zoning districts listed in this Article and further defined in Article 4.00 Permissible Uses and Article 5.00 District Development Standards.
(1) 
No land or building shall be used or intended for any use other than those permitted in the district wherein such land or building is located.
(2) 
No building shall be erected, reconstructed, enlarged, structurally altered, or moved in such manner as to evade conformity with height, bulk, yard, lot area, use, and other regulations for the district wherein such building is located.
(3) 
No yard provided adjacent to a building for the purpose of complying with provisions of this zoning code shall be considered as providing any part of a yard for another building on the same lot or on an adjacent lot.
(4) 
No street or walkway shall serve as any part of a required yard or minimum lot area although street rights-of-way and open space may be used in determining allowable units per acre in residential subdivisions.
(Ordinance 2006-04-13, sec. 14.303, adopted 4/24/06)
Planned Developments that have been approved and appear on the zoning maps are referenced by a Planned Development Number (PD #) and the zoning district classification and/or uses authorized by the particular zoning case. The listing of approved Planned Developments will be documented in Appendix A of this Code.
Editor's note–The listing of approved planned developments is not printed herein, but is available for public inspection at the city offices.
(Ordinance 2006-04-13, sec. 14.304, adopted 4/24/06)
Specific Use Permits that have been approved shall be referenced by a Specific Use Number (SUP #) and the type of use authorized by those permits. The listing of approved Specific Use Permits will be documented in Appendix B of this Code.
Editor's note–The listing of approved specific use permits is not printed herein, but is available for public inspection at the city offices.
(Ordinance 2006-04-13, sec. 14.305, adopted 4/24/06)
(a) 
Annexed Lands.
All territory hereinafter annexed to the City of Lancaster shall be temporarily classified as AO, agricultural open district, until permanent zoning is established by the city council of the City of Lancaster. The procedure for establishing permanent zoning on annexed territory shall conform to the procedure established by law for the adoption of original zoning regulations.
(b) 
In an area temporarily classified as AO, agricultural open district:
(1) 
No person shall erect, construct or proceed or continue with the erection or construction of any building or structure or cause the same to be done in any newly annexed territory to the City of Lancaster without first applying for and obtaining a building permit or certificate of occupancy from the building official or the city council as may be required.
(2) 
No permit for the construction of a building or use of land shall be issued by the building official other than a permit which will allow the construction of a building permitted in the AO, agricultural open district, unless and until such territory has been classified in a zoning district other than the AO, Agricultural Open District, by the city council in the manner prescribed by law except as provided in subsection 6.2.C [3.06(b)(3)] following.
(3) 
An application for a permit for any other use than that specified in paragraph B [(2)] above shall be made to the building official of the City of Lancaster and by him referred to the planning and zoning commission for consideration and recommendation to the city council and the action and recommendation of each body concerning any such permit shall take into consideration the appropriate land use for the area. The city council, after receiving and reviewing the recommendations of the planning and zoning commission may by majority vote authorize the issuance of a building permit or certificate of occupancy or may disapprove the application.
(Ordinance 2006-04-13, sec. 14.306, adopted 4/24/06)