This Ordinance shall be known and may be cited as “The Zoning Ordinance of the City of Jourdanton, Texas.”
(Ordinance 484 adopted 2/18/08)
The provisions of this Ordinance are deemed to be necessary to promote the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the residents of the city.
(Ordinance 484 adopted 2/18/08)
For the purpose of this Ordinance, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACCESSORY BUILDING.
A subordinate building detached from the main building without separate utilities, and not used for commercial purposes other than a home occupation unless in a commercial or industrial district and not for habitation unless otherwise specifically as an allowed use in a particular district. In districts other than residential, an ACCESSORY BUILDING is a subordinate building, the use of which is incidental to and used only in conjunction with the main building.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE.
A structure including an accessory building, the use of which is customarily incidental and subordinate to that of the main building on the same lot, such as a swimming pool, sports court, greenhouse, tool shed and the like.
ACCESSORY USE.
A use customarily incidental and subordinate to the primary use of the main building [or] to the primary use of the premises.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
Administrative and clerical offices, public contact services and incidental activities of federal, state, county and city governments. Typical uses include city halls, post offices and held offices of federal and state agencies.
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.
Uses and facilities engaged primarily in the initial processing and storage of farm and ranch products including, but not limited to crops, livestock, poultry and fish. Typical uses include cotton gins, grain elevators, hatcheries, livestock auction facilities and slaughtering facilities.
ANIMAL SERVICES.
Businesses engaged in the treatment, care and boarding of livestock and other animals including those listed under pet services, and for which an outside run is provided. The uses typically include blacksmith shops, commercial stables and veterinary hospitals with an outside run.
APARTMENT.
A suite of rooms located in an apartment house and arranged, designed or occupied as a place of residence by a single family.
APARTMENT HOUSE.
Any building thereof, which is designed, built, rented, leased or let to be occupied as a name or place of residence for any two or more families living in independent dwelling units.
BASIC INDUSTRY.
Uses engaged primarily in the basic processing and manufacturing of materials or products predominantly from extracted or raw materials, or a use engaged in storage of or manufacturing processes utilizing flammable or explosive materials or storage or manufacturing processes which potentially involve hazardous or commonly recognized offensive conditions. Typical uses include food processing and dehydrating, salvage yards, tire recapping, welding shops, shop forges, tool and die shops, machine shops and metal products, manufacturing of chemicals, acids, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers and plastic products, and mineral extraction.
BROADCAST/RECEPTION PRODUCTION.
Antennas, towers and satellite dishes used to broadcast and/or receive signals for radio, television, radar or other telecommunications for other than personal use.
BUILDING.
Any roofed structure designed or used for the housing or enclosure of persons, animals or property.
BUILDING, MAIN, PRIMARY or PRINCIPAL.
A building in which is conducted the primary use of the lot on which it is situated.
CAFE.
See “restaurant.”
CEMETERY.
Land used or intended to be used for burial of the dead. Crematoriums, columbaria, mausoleums and mortuaries are allowed when operated in conjunction with and within the boundary of the CEMETERY.
CITY.
The City of Jourdanton, Atascosa County, Texas.
CIVIC USE.
Any public or semi-public facilities, including governmental offices, police and fire facilities, hospitals, religious, public and private schools and other community facilities.
COMMERCIAL RECREATION.
Businesses engaged primarily in the provisions of facilities for sports, entertainment or recreation for participants or spectators indoors or outdoors. Typical uses include amusement arcades, billiard and pool rooms, bowling alleys, camping facilities, including hook-up facilities for recreational vehicles, canoe rentals, dance halls, golf courses, driving ranges, miniature golf courses and theaters.
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.
Businesses engaged primarily in the recording and broadcasting of information and other services. Typical uses include radio and television studios, recording studios and telecommunications service centers.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
The plan required by Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code Ch. 219. It is an independent, long-term policy document for use and development of land and the provision of facilities and services within the city’s corporate area and extraterritorial jurisdiction.
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS PRODUCTION.
Uses engaged primarily in the extraction, processing and finishing of construction materials. Typical uses include sand and gravel pits, cement manufacturing, concrete block and brick manufacturing, and steel processing plants.
COUNCIL.
The City Council of Jourdanton. Texas.
CULTURAL SERVICES.
Uses preserving and exhibiting objects of community and cultural interest in one or more of the arts and sciences. Typical uses include libraries, exhibition grounds, museums and auditoriums or similar registered nonprofit organizational uses.
DAY-CARE SERVICES.
A use designed or adapted for the care of children or adults for a set number of daytime hours, not to include overnight boarding or care. Typical uses include nursery schools, preschools, care centers for children or adults and similar uses.
DISTRICT.
A section of the city for which the regulations governing the uses of and development standards for buildings or lots are uniform.
DWELLING.
A building designed and having facilities for year-round human habitation.
(1) 
SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING.
A detached dwelling unit, including an industrialized home but not a mobile home or manufactured home, on its own lot, and designed and having facilities for year-round human habitation by only one family.
(2) 
DUPLEX or TWO-FAMILY DWELLING.
A dwelling, including an industrialized home but not a mobile home or manufactured home, on its own lot, and designed, arranged or used exclusively for the use and occupancy of two families living independently of each another.
(3) 
TRIPLEX or THREE-FAMILY DWELLING.
A dwelling, not a mobile home or manufactured home, on its own lot, and designed, arranged or used exclusively for the use and occupancy of three families living independently of each other.
(4) 
FOURPLEX or FOUR-FAMILY DWELLING.
A dwelling, not a mobile home or manufactured home, on its own lot, and designed, arranged or used exclusively for the use and occupancy of four families living independently of each other.
(5) 
MULTIPLE-FAMILY or MULTIFAMILY DWELLING.
A dwelling, not a mobile home or manufactured home, designed, arranged or used exclusively for the use and occupancy of two or more families living independently of each other.
DWELLING UNIT or DU.
Several interrelated rooms designed for human habitation by one family with facilities for living, sleeping, cooking, eating and sanitation.
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.
Public or private primary, secondary and post-secondary educational facilities offering instruction in the branches of learning and study required to be taught by the public schools of the state.
FAMILY.
An individual, or two or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption, or a group of not to exceed three persons, not any of whom are related by blood, marriage or adoption occupying the premises and living as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit.
FARMING or RANCHING.
A use engaged primarily in the raising of crops, livestock and other agricultural products, including storage and processing facilities other than those listed under “stockyard” uses.
FINANCIAL SERVICES.
Establishments engaged primarily in the provision of banking and other FINANCIAL SERVICES. Typical uses include banks, savings and loan institutions, stock and bond brokers, and loan and lending services.
FOUNDATION, PERMANENT.
A concrete slab or wooden, concrete and/or steel pier and beam substructure upon which a building is permanently fastened and attached so as to preclude the transport of the building an [on] its own chassis.
FUNERAL SERVICES.
Undertaking services engaged primarily in the preparation of the human dead for burial, including the arranging and managing of funerals. Typical uses include funeral homes and mortuaries.
GENERAL RETAIL.
Establishments serving a large market area and engaged primarily in the rental or sale of retail of goods and service commonly purchased by the general public. However, this does not include any commercial uses classified more specifically in other commercial sections. Typical uses include appliance and furniture sales and services, auction sales except livestock, building materials sales, business or trade schools, department stores, plumbing, electric, heating and air conditioning sales and service, health or athletic clubs, hotels and motels, supermarkets, pawnshops, radio and television sales and service, variety stores and upholstery stores.
GENERAL SHIPPING AND STORAGE.
Uses engaged primarily in the handling, warehousing and distribution of materials and equipment, other than live animals or plants, either in enclosed structures or open-air fenced-in areas. Typical uses include distribution centers, monument or stone yards and other storage yards.
GROUP RESIDENTIAL.
A dwelling unit designed, arranged or used for any more than six persons, not defined as a family, on a weekly or longer basis. Typical uses include fraternity or sorority houses, dormitories, residence halls and boarding houses.
HOME OCCUPATION
An occupation customarily carried on in a dwelling unit, or in an accessory building to a dwelling unit, by a resident of the premises, which occupation is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the premises for residential purposes.
INDUSTRIALIZED HOUSING.
A residential structure that is designed for the occupancy of one or more families, constructed in one or more modules or constructed using one or more modular components built at a location other than the permanent site, and designed to be used as a permanent residential structure when the module or the modular component is transported to the permanent site and erected or installed on a permanent foundation system. Industrialized housing includes the structure's plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical systems. Industrialized housing does not include:
(1) 
Housing constructed of a sectional or panelized system that does not use a modular component.
(2) 
A ready-built home constructed in a manner in which the entire living area is contained in a single unit or section at a temporary location for the purpose of selling and moving the home to another location.
(3) 
Mobile homes or HUD-code manufactured homes as defined in the Texas Manufactured Housing Standards Act (Article 5221f, V.A.C.S.).
LIGHT MANUFACTURING.
Uses engaged primarily in the processing, fabrication, assembly, treatment and packaging of finished products and parts, including the incidental storage and distribution of the products. Anything defined as “basic industry” is excluded.
LIMITED RETAIL.
Establishments, generally serving a neighborhood, local area or portion of the city, which are engaged primarily in the provision of personal services, the sale of food or household products for home consumption or the rental or retail sale of goods for personal consumption or household use. This category does not include those items specifically noted under the definitions of “general retail.” Typical uses include barber and beauty shops, book or stationery stores, camera stores, convenience stores, craft or hobby shops (without an outside garage), dressmakers and tailors, dry cleaners and laundries, fabric shops, florists, hardware and paint stores, jewelers, optical shops, photo, artistic, dance and music studios, and printing and copying shops.
LIMITED SHIPPING AND STORAGE.
Uses engaged primarily in warehousing services for household goods and wholesale distributors in enclosed structures. Typical uses include moving and storage firms and wholesale distributors.
LOT.
A designated parcel, tract or area of land, established by a plat or otherwise as allowed by law, to be used, developed or built upon as a unit.
MANUFACTURED BUILDING.
(1) 
Either an independent, individual building, combination of modules or a module for combination with other elements to form a building, not a mobile home, which has been mass-produced in a factory and designated and constructed for transportation to a site for installation and use on a permanent foundation when connected to required utilities at that site.
(2) 
All MANUFACTURED BUILDINGS must either meet the standards set by the city’s building, plumbing, electrical and energy codes as determined by an on-site inspection by the City Inspector or be certified as meeting the codes and standards established by either the Texas Department of Labor and Standards or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as appropriate.
MANUFACTURED HOUSING (HUD code).
A structure, constructed on or after June 15, 1976, according to the rules of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Article 5221f V.T.C.S., transportable in one or more sections, which, in the traveling mode, is eight body feet or more in width or 40 body feet or more in length, or, when erected on-site, is 320 or more square feet, and which is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical systems.
MEDICAL SERVICES.
Establishments providing consultation, diagnosis, therapeutic, preventive or corrective personal treatment by doctors, dentists, medical and dental laboratories and similar practitioners of medical and healing arts for humans licensed for the practice by the state. Typical uses include clinics, convalescent homes, hospitals, laboratories and sanitariums.
MOBILE HOME.
A structure that was constructed before June 15, 1976, transportable in one or more sections, which, in the traveling mode, is eight body feet or more in width or 40 body feet or more in length, or, when erected on-site, is 320 or more square feet, and which is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical systems. The term does not include a recreational vehicle.
NEIGHBORHOOD RECREATION.
Indoor or outdoor recreational facilities for use by residents and guests of a particular residential development, church, private educational facility, social club or fraternal organization. Typical uses include private parks and recreation areas and swimming pools. Uses do not include those listed under “commercial recreation.”
NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE.
Any building, or part thereof, lawfully existing or occupied at the effective date of this Ordinance that does not comply, after the passage of this Ordinance, with the height, yard, parking, loading, coverage area, or screening regulations of the district in which it is located.
NONCONFORMING LOT.
Any lot lawfully existing at the effective date of this Ordinance that does not comply, after the passage of this Ordinance, to the width, depth, and area regulations of the zoning district in which it is located.
NONCONFORMING USE.
Any use lawfully existing at the effective date of this Ordinance that does not comply, after the passage of this Ordinance, with the use regulations of the district in which it is located.
NUISANCE.
Any substance or disturbance that, if extended over a period of time or repeated at periodic intervals, would endanger the health, safety, morals or general welfare or otherwise diminish the quality of the utility afforded a person living, working or otherwise in free use, possession or enjoyment of his or her property, including but not limited to noise, dust, smoke, fumes, odor, glare, flashes, heat, electronic or atomic radiation, effluent, vibration, shock waves, bases [sic], debris and hazardous material.
OVERLAY DISTRICT.
A district which is applied in conjunction with one or more of the other districts in this Ordinance to address special circumstances which add requirements to those districts or allow alternative development standards based on specific site plans or building plans.
PARKING SPACE.
An area designated for the parking of one light-duty vehicle.
PET SERVICES.
Establishments engaged primarily in retail sales, veterinary services, grooming and boarding (when totally within the confines of a building) of small animals, customarily defined as household pets. These uses typically include veterinary offices, pet stores and kennels, but excluding those with outside runs.
PROFESSIONAL and ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE.
Establishments engaged primarily in providing professional or consulting services in the fields of accounting, architecture, design, engineering, law, management and planning. Uses may also include employment services and individual medical and dental offices.
PUBLIC RECREATION.
Publicly owned and operated parks, recreation areas and playgrounds, swimming pools, and open spaces available for use by the general public without requirement of membership or affiliation.
PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES.
Uses for the conduct of public safety and emergency services, including police and fire protection, emergency medical and ambulance services, and municipal jails.
PUBLIC UTILITY FACILITIES.
Facilities and structures relating to the provision and maintenance of various utility services to local residents. Services may include, but shall not be limited to water, wastewater, natural gas, electricity, telephone and cable communications.
QUARRYING.
The removal from the earth of stone, sand, gravel, caliche, minerals, topsoil or other natural material for the purpose of sale or another commercial purpose, other than such as may be incidental to excavating or regrading in connection with or in anticipation of building development or landscaping on the site.
RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLY.
A use located in a permanent building and providing regular organized religious worship and religious education incident thereto, but excluding private primary and secondary educational facilities, community recreation facilities and day-care services. A property tax exemption obtained pursuant to the property tax code of the state shall constitute prima facie evidence of RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLY use.
RESTAURANT.
(1) 
An establishment whose primary business is selling food for consumption at tables on the premises or for take-out.
(2) 
Establishments engaged primarily in the preparation and retail sale of food and beverages, including the sale of alcoholic beverages as allowed by § 2.46 [sic]. Service may be of a take-out or drive-in nature (excluding the sale of alcoholic beverages) or provide service for on-premise consumption. Live entertainment may also be provided.
(3) 
Typical uses include cafes, cafeterias, coffee shops, indoor and drive-in restaurants and sandwich shops.
SETBACK.
The minimum distance required between a structure and the front, side or rear boundary line of the parcel of land on which the structure is located. For parcels adjacent to an alley, the SETBACK line may be measured from the centerline of the alley.
SITE PLAN.
A development plan of one or more lots on which is shown the following:
(1) 
The existing and proposed conditions of the lot, including but not necessarily limited to topography, vegetation, drainage, floodplains and waterways;
(2) 
The location of all existing and proposed buildings, drives, parking spaces, walkways, means of ingress and egress, drainage facilities, utility services, landscaping, structures and signs, lighting and screening devices; and
(3) 
Any other information that may be reasonably required in order to determine whether the proposed development complies with the criteria and standards in this Ordinance and with the requirement of other city ordinances.
SPECIAL USE.
A use not allowed by right and not expressly prohibited that may be authorized by the City Council if the applicant can show to the satisfaction of the Council that the use may be suitable in the district if developed and operated under specific conditions and/or for a limited period of time.
STOCKYARD.
A use engaged primarily in the storage and processing of livestock for slaughter and shipment to market.
STRUCTURE.
Anything constructed or erected on the ground including, but not limited to, buildings, factories, sheds, cabins, mobile homes/manufactured homes, and other similar forms.
SUBDIVISION CHAPTER.
Chapter 9 [10] of the Jourdanton Code of Ordinances
TOWNHOUSE.
A dwelling unit occupying the entire width of the lot or constructed with common walls or walls abutting another building and located on a separate lot.
TRANSPORTATION TERMINAL.
A facility for loading, unloading and interchange of passengers and incidental baggage, freight and package express between modes of transportation, including bus depots, railroad stations, airport terminals and mass transit vehicles.
VEHICLE.
(1) 
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.
Any motorized vehicle, except as otherwise defined in this Ordinance, commonly used for the transport of persons, goods or livestock over public streets for a commercial purpose, including but not limited to dump trucks, tractor-trailer combinations, buses and commercial delivery vehicles.
(2) 
LIGHT-DUTY VEHICLES.
Any motorized vehicle, except these defined as “commercial vehicles” in this Ordinance, commonly used for the transport of persons over public streets, including but not limited to automobiles, mopeds, motorcycles, passenger trucks and vans.
VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT SALES AND SERVICE.
Businesses engaged primarily in vehicle and heavy equipment related sales and/or services. This includes, but is not limited to, any one or more of the following for vehicles, farm and implement equipment and boats, showrooms, vehicle washing, commercial off-street parking (not an accessory to another use), rentals, long-term vehicle storage and repair service. These do not include those uses specifically listed as “vehicle fuel and service stations.”
VEHICLE FUEL AND SERVICE STATIONS.
Businesses engaged primarily in the retail sale of fuel, parts, accessories and repair and maintenance services only for light-duty vehicles.
YARD.
An open, unoccupied space other than a court, on the same lot as a building and which is unobstructed from the ground to the sky and is the minimum horizontal distance from the nearest lot line and the main building or any projections thereof other than roof overhangs.
YARDS, CORNER LOT.
Corner lots shall be construed to have two front yards, in keeping with the setback requirements for corner lots. Either of the remaining two yards may be designated as the rear yard and the other side yard as appropriate to meet the setback requirements for rear and side yards.
(Ordinance 484 adopted 2/18/08; Ordinance 878 adopted 8/15/2022)
The city hereby establishes the following districts.
(A) 
A, agricultural;
(B) 
G/P, government, public and semi-public;
(C) 
SF-A, suburban single-family residential;
(D) 
SF-1, urban single-family residential;
(E) 
SF-GH, garden home single-family residential;
(F) 
MF-1, multifamily, low density;
(G) 
MF-2, multifamily, high density;
(H) 
MH, manufactured housing;
(I) 
NC, neighborhood commercial;
(J) 
CB, central business district;
(K) 
C, commercial;
(L) 
HCI, heavy commercial industrial;
(M) 
I, industrial;
(N) 
HI, heavy industrial; and
(O) 
PUD [PD], planned unit development.
(Ordinance 808 adopted 4/20/20)
(A) 
Interpretation of Zoning Map.
Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map, the following rules shall apply.
(1) 
Boundaries which appear to follow streets, roads or streams shall be construed to follow the centers thereof.
(2) 
Boundaries which appear to follow the lines of lots or other parcels of record shall be construed as following the lines.
(3) 
Boundaries which appear to follow city limit lines shall be construed as following the lines.
(4) 
In case of uncertainty as to the true location of a district boundary line not covered by the above rules, the City Council shall make a determination of the true location of the line.
(B) 
Classification of new and unlisted uses.
It is recognized that new or unlisted types of land use may seek to locate in the city. In order to provide for such contingencies, a determination of any new or unscheduled form of land use shall be made in accordance with this subsection.
(1) 
If the city manager or his/her designee is unable to classify the proposed use under any of the existing identified land uses in this ordinance, it shall be determined to be a new or unlisted land use and shall require a Special Use Permit.
(2) 
If a Special Use Permit is granted for a new or unlisted use, at the earliest convenient opportunity, the city manager should initiate a zoning text amendment to incorporate the new or unscheduled use into this ordinance.
(Ordinance 484 adopted 2/18/08; Ordinance 575 adopted 2/20/12; Ordinance 878 adopted 8/15/2022)
(A) 
Official Zoning Map.
(1) 
The locations and boundaries of zoning districts established by ordinance shall be recorded on an Official Zoning Map to be adopted by a resolution of the City Council and identified and amended in the manner specified in this Ordinance. Recording on the official map is not a prerequisite to causing the zoning Ordinance to take effect.
(2) 
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 of the City of Jourdanton, Texas, adopted by official action of the City Council on __________ (date).”
(3) 
Changes in the zoning classifications of particular parcels or areas of land, approved by the City Council in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance, shall be noted promptly on the Official Zoning Map with the following entry: “On __________ (date), by official action of the City Council, the following changes were made in the Official Zoning Map: (brief description of the nature of the changes).” The entry shall be signed by the Mayor and attested by the City Secretary.
(4) 
No changes of any nature shall be made in the Official Zoning Map, except in conformity with the procedures in this Ordinance.
(5) 
In the event that the Official Zoning Map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret, the City Council may, by resolution, adopt a new Official Zoning Map which shall exactly duplicate the original, as amended, except for corrections of errors or omissions.
(B) 
Consistency with the comprehensive plan.
(1) 
Future land use map.
(a) 
The city, as part of its comprehensive plan, shall adopt a future land use map, to be used to establish interim zoning classification, and to be used as a guideline for permanent zonings and zoning changes. Wherever practical, permanent zonings and zoning changes shall be consistent with the future land use map.
(b) 
The future land use map shall be considered a fluid document. The City Council shall consider, no less than once each calendar year, revisions to the future land use map to incorporate those permanent zonings and zoning changes that have occurred since the last revision, and further to consider other revisions as may be directed by current circumstances.
(c) 
An official copy of the current future land use map shall be maintained in clear and legible fashion in city hall, and shall be accessible for public viewing during normal business hours.
(2) 
Zoning of newly annexed areas.
(a) 
All territory hereinafter annexed to the city shall be automatically classified, on an interim basis, as in the most restrictive district consistent with the future land use map and of the comprehensive plan and shall be so noted on the Official Zoning Map in accordance with division (A).
(b) 
As soon as practical after annexation proceedings are completed, but in no event more than 120 days thereafter, unless expressly approved by the City Council, the City Council shall institute proceedings on its own motion, to give the newly annexed territory a permanent zoning classification.
(c) 
The owner of land to be annexed may submit an application to amend the zoning under consideration by the City Council simultaneously with the petition for annexation, but no annexation application may be made conditioned upon the approval of particular zoning classification.
(C) 
Building construction permits in newly annexed areas.
Upon annexation, no existing building or structure within any territory newly annexed to the city shall be altered, remodeled or constructed without a permit as required herein and without permanent zoning having been approved by the City Council.
(Ordinance 484 adopted 2/18/08; Ordinance 575 adopted 2/20/12)