This title shall be known and cited as the "zoning ordinance of the city of Lemon Grove," or as this title.
There is adopted a zoning ordinance for the city of Lemon Grove, California, such zoning ordinance being consistent with and based on the adopted general plan for the city and the zoning ordinance consisting of the establishment of various districts within which certain regulations shall be in effect, as set forth in this title. The regulations specified in this title shall be subject to the general provisions and expectations as set forth in this chapter.
The ordinance is adopted to promote, protect and preserve the public health, safety, peace, comfort and general welfare, and to achieve the following purposes:
A. 
To promote the achievement of the policies and provisions of the Lemon Grove general plan;
B. 
To guide, control and regulate the future growth and development of the city in accordance with the adopted general plan of the city;
C. 
To protect the established character of and to enhance the social and economic stability of residential, commercial, industrial and other areas within the city, and to assure the orderly and beneficial development thereof as parts of a well-coordinated community;
D. 
To promote excellence of design in all future developments in order to preserve both the internal beauty and established character of the areas within the city.
The zoning ordinance consists of the establishment of various districts within the incorporated territory of the city of Lemon Grove. Within these districts, the following activities are regulated: the erection, construction, alteration, movement, location and maintenance of certain buildings and structures, the carrying out of certain trades or occupations, and the conduct of certain uses of land or of buildings. The form and content of the regulations and the permitted uses may vary from one district to another, as specified in Chapter 17.12.
Any building or structure set up, erected, altered, built or moved, or any use of property contrary to the provisions of this title are declared to be unlawful and a public nuisance, and the city attorney may, upon order of the city council, immediately commence action or proceedings for the abatement and removal and enjoinment thereof in the manner provided by law, and may take such other steps and may apply to such court or courts as may have jurisdiction to abate and remove such building or structure or such use of property and restrain and enjoin any person from setting up, erecting, building, or moving any such building or using any property contrary to the provisions of this title.
All remedies provided for in this title shall be cumulative and not exclusive.
A. 
Violations Charged as Misdemeanors.
Any person, whether as principal, agent, employee or otherwise, violating any of the provisions of this title, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of this title is caused, allowed or permitted by such person, and shall be punishable as herein provided.
B. 
Violations Charged as Infractions.
The city attorney shall have the discretion to charge any violation of the provisions of this title as an infraction instead of a misdemeanor. Such infraction shall be punishable by (1) a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars for the first violation; (2) a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year; (3) a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year.
All departments, officials and public employees of the city which are vested with the duty or authority to issue permits or licenses shall conform to the provisions of this title and shall issue no such permit or license for uses, buildings, or purposes where the same would be in conflict with the provisions of this title, and any such permit or license, if issued in conflict with the provisions of this title, shall be null and void.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this title is for any reason declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this title. The Lemon Grove city council declares that it would have adopted the ordinance codified in this title and each section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses and phrases might be declared invalid.
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this title, unless otherwise stated, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, peace, comfort and general welfare.
A. 
Where conflict occurs between the regulations of this title and any other regulations effective within the city, the more restrictive of any such regulations shall apply.
B. 
It is not intended that this title shall interfere with or abrogate or annul any easement, covenants or other agreements now in effect; provided, however, that where this title imposes a greater restriction upon the uses of buildings or premises or upon the height of buildings or requires larger open spaces than are imposed or required by agreements, the provisions of this title shall apply.
C. 
Nothing contained in this title shall be deemed to repeal or amend any regulation of the city requiring a permit or license, or both, to cover and business, trade, or occupation, nor shall anything in this title be deemed to repeal or amend the various building codes of the city.
The provisions of this title are applicable not only to private persons, agencies, and organizations, but also to all public agencies and organizations to the full extent that they may now or at a future time be enforceable in connection with the activities of any such public agency or organizations.