The City of Bells is divided into the following zoned districts.
Symbol
District Name
Regulated in
SF-1
Single Family Residential
Article 3
SF-2
Double Family Residential
Article 4
MF
Multiple Family Residential
Article 5
MH
Manufactured Home Park
Article 6
C1
Neighborhood Commercial
Article 7
C2
General Commercial
Article 7
M1
Light Manufacturing/Industrial
Article 8
PD
Planned Development District
Article 9
(Ordinance 99-0928-A adopted 10/12/21)
(a) 
An official Zoning Map is adopted as a part of this Ordinance, and hereby incorporated in this Article by reference. The Zoning Map shows the boundaries of the zoning districts and the applicable zoning district that regulates each parcel of land. The official zone map is on file and available for inspection and copying during regular business hours at: The Bells City Hall.
(b) 
The Planning and Zoning Commission may amend the Zoning Map for land located within the boundaries of the City.
(Ordinance 99-0928-A adopted 10/12/21)
Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the various districts as shown on the Zoning Map, the following rules shall apply:
(a) 
When the exact boundaries of a district are uncertain, they shall be determined by use of the scale on the Zoning Maps.
(b) 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following the centerlines of streets, highways, or alleys, shall be construed to follow the centerlines.
(c) 
Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines shall be construed as following the lot lines.
(d) 
Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed to be the midway between the main tracks.
(e) 
Boundaries indicated as following shorelines shall be construed to follow the shoreline, and in the event of change in the shoreline shall be construed as moving with the actual shoreline; boundaries indicated as approximately following the centerline of streams, rivers, canals, lakes or other bodies of water shall be construed to follow the centerline. Any use or structures extending into or over a lake or other water body shall be subject to the same zoning restrictions as the adjoining land.
(f) 
When a right-of-way is vacated, the districts adjoining each side are respectively extended to the center of the area so vacated.
(Ordinance 99-0928-A adopted 10/12/21)
Zoning of vacated areas means whenever any road, alley or other public way shall be vacated, the road, alley or other public way or portion thereof shall automatically be classified in the same zoning district as the property to which it attaches.
(Ordinance 99-0928-A adopted 10/12/21)
Where land within Bells is Annexed to another municipality or County it shall retain its existing zoning until such time as the other municipality takes action to rezone the land to another district.
(Ordinance 99-0928-A adopted 10/12/21)
Each zoning district article includes a schedule of permitted uses indicating uses that are permitted by right and allowed by Special uses. A use that is not listed as [a] permitted or Special use in a district shall not be permitted in that district. A use that is not listed in any zoning district may be permitted upon determination by the Planning and Zoning Commission that the use is clearly similar in nature and compatible with a use that is listed in a particular district. In making this determination, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall consider the following:
(a) 
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall consider specific characteristics of the proposed use and compare them to the characteristics of the uses that are listed in the zoning ordinance. Characteristics considered shall include, but are not limited to, traffic generation, types of services offered, types of goods produced, methods of operation, noise, hours of operation and building characteristics.
(b) 
If the Planning and Zoning Commission determines that the proposed use is consistent and compatible with a permitted use, the use shall be permitted under that use category. If the Planning and Zoning Commission determines that the proposed use is consistent and compatible with a conditional use, the use shall be allowed with a conditional use approval. The use shall be subject to all requirements of the similar use.
(c) 
A proposed use shall not be permitted in a district where the use is specifically listed in any other district, as shown within the Schedule of Use Tables, or where the Planning and Zoning Commission determines that the use is more similar in nature and compatible with uses listed in another district.
(d) 
The use determination of the Planning and Zoning Commission may be appealed to the City Council for an interpretation of the use provisions of the zoning ordinance.
(Ordinance 99-0928-A adopted 10/12/21)
(a) 
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Ordinance, no lot may contain more than one (1) principal habitable building, structure, or use.
(b) 
Shopping centers, groups of multiple-family buildings, condominiums, retail business buildings, multi-tenant offices, leased industrial space, or other groups of buildings contained within a single integrated complex are deemed to be a principal use collectively. To be considered as an integrated complex, the site shall share parking, signs, access, or other similar features, which together form a unified function and appearance.
(c) 
Cellular Tower facilities, including 5G “Small Cell” may be located on a lot that contains another use, except one-family and two-family dwelling units.
(d) 
There shall be no more than one (1) dwelling per lot, except for two-family dwellings, attached single-family dwellings, multiple-family dwellings or accessory dwellings approved under the requirements of this ordinance.
(Ordinance 99-0928-A adopted 10/12/21)
(a) 
No portion of a lot shall be used more than once for determining initial compliance with the provisions for lot area and yard dimensions (greenspace and impervious surface) for construction or alteration of buildings.
(b) 
No lot, adjacent lots in common ownership, required yard, parking area, or other required open space shall be created, divided, or reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements of this Ordinance. Lots or yards created after the effective date of this Ordinance shall comply with the requirements of this Ordinance. If already less than the minimum requirements of this Ordinance, a lot, adjacent lots in common ownership, required yard, parking area, or other open space shall not be divided or reduced in dimension or area so as to increase its noncompliance with the minimum requirements of this Ordinance.
(Ordinance 99-0928-A adopted 10/12/21)
(a) 
The following structures may exceed the building height restrictions of the zoning district in which they are located:
(1) 
Belfries,
(2) 
Chimneys,
(3) 
Church spires and steeples,
(4) 
Cooling towers,
(5) 
Cornices,
(6) 
Cupolas,
(7) 
Electric and telephone service poles,
(8) 
Elevator bulkheads,
(9) 
Fire towers,
(10) 
Flagpoles,
(11) 
Grain elevators,
(12) 
Parapet walls,
(13) 
Public monuments,
(14) 
Radio and television aerials,
(15) 
Roof structures housing necessary mechanical appurtenances,
(16) 
Silos,
(17) 
Stacks,
(18) 
Water tanks,
(19) 
Mechanical equipment,
(20) 
Solar Power equipment[.]
(b) 
The structures listed in (a) above may exceed the height limits of the district in which they are located as follows:
(1) 
On single-family detached, single-family attached and double-family dwellings, the structures may exceed the height limits of the district by no more than five (5) feet.
(2) 
On multiple-family residential (apartment buildings), mixed-use and nonresidential buildings, the structures may exceed the height limits of the district by no more than 25 feet.
(c) 
The exceptions to height shall only apply to non-habitable architectural features, mechanical and utility structures. The exceptions shall not permit any habitable building space of a building to exceed the height limits of the district.
(Ordinance 99-0928-A adopted 10/12/21)
Certain structures and architectural features may project into the required yard setbacks as follows:
Projection
Front Yard
Rear Yard
Interior Side Yard
Corner Side Yard
Awnings and canopies
3 ft.
5 ft.
3 ft.
3 ft.
Chimneys
2 ft.
2 ft.
2 ft.
2 ft.
Cornices and similar architectural features
3 ft.
3 ft.
3 ft.
3 ft.
Balconies
5 ft.
5 ft.
3 ft.
5 ft.
Barrier-free ramps and other facilities
16 ft.
16 ft.
3 ft.
16 ft.
Bay windows
3 ft.
3 ft.
3 ft.
3 ft.
Eaves, overhanging
3 ft.
3 ft.
3 ft.
3 ft.
Fire escapes, open or enclosed
5 ft.
5 ft.
5 ft.
5 ft.
Gutters
3 ft.
3 ft.
3 ft.
3 ft.
Decks, unroofed porches and stoops
10 ft.
10 ft.
–
10 ft.
Window air conditioning units
2 ft.
2 ft.
2 ft.
2 ft.
Window wells
4 ft.
4 ft.
4 ft.
4 ft.
(Ordinance 99-0928-A adopted 10/12/21)
(a) 
No privacy fence, wall, structure, or planting shall be erected, established, or maintained on any lot if the structure or planting will obstruct the view of drivers in vehicles approaching the intersection adjacent to a corner lot or a driveway on any lot.
(b) 
Fences, walls, structures, or plantings located in the clear vision triangle, as depicted, shall not be permitted to exceed a height of three (3) feet above the street curb, or pavement edge if no curb. The unobstructed triangular area is described as follows:
(1) 
The area formed at the corner intersection of two (2) street rights-of-way or easement lines, the two (2) sides of the clear vision triangle being 25 feet in length measured along abutting public right-of-way lines, and third side being a line connecting these two (2) sides, or
(2) 
The area formed at the corner intersection of a street right-of-way, easement, or alley and a driveway, the two (2) sides of the triangular area being 15 feet in length measured along the right-of-way line and edge of the driveway, and the third side being a line connecting these two (2) sides.
(Ordinance 99-0928-A adopted 10/12/21)