Cities and counties may enact zoning regulations which shall contain:
(1) A text, which shall list the types of zones which may be used, and the regulations which may be imposed in each zone, which must be uniform throughout the zone. In addition, the text shall make provisions for the granting of variances, conditional use permits, and for nonconforming use of land and structures, and any other provisions which are necessary to implement the zoning regulation. The city or county may regulate:

Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 100.203

  • Action: includes all proceedings in any court of this state. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Board: means the board of adjustment unless the context indicates otherwise. See Kentucky Statutes 100.111
  • City: includes town. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Commission: means planning commission. See Kentucky Statutes 100.111
  • Conditional use: means a use which is essential to or would promote the public health, safety, or welfare in one (1) or more zones, but which would impair the integrity and character of the zone in which it is located, or in adjoining zones, unless restrictions on location, size, extent, and character of performance are imposed in addition to those imposed in the zoning regulation. See Kentucky Statutes 100.111
  • Conditional use permit: means legal authorization to undertake a conditional use, issued by the administrative official pursuant to authorization by the board of adjustment, consisting of two (2) parts:
    (a) A statement of the factual determination by the board of adjustment which justifies the issuance of the permit. See Kentucky Statutes 100.111
  • Development plan: means written and graphic material for the provision of a development, including any or all of the following: location and bulk of buildings and other structures, intensity of use, density of development, streets, ways, parking facilities, signs, drainage of surface water, access points, a plan for screening or buffering, utilities, existing manmade and natural conditions, and all other conditions agreed to by the applicant. See Kentucky Statutes 100.111
  • Unit: means planning unit. See Kentucky Statutes 100.111
  • Variance: means a departure from dimensional terms of the zoning regulation pertaining to the height, width, length, or location of structures, and the size of yards and open spaces where such departure meets the requirements of KRS
    100. See Kentucky Statutes 100.111
  • Year: means calendar year. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010

(a) The activity on the land, including filling or excavation of land, and the removal of natural resources, and the use of watercourses, and other bodies of water, as well as land subject to flooding;
(b) The size, width, height, bulk, location of structures, buildings and signs;
(c) Minimum or maximum areas or percentages of areas, courts, yards, or other open spaces or bodies of water which are to be left unoccupied, and minimum distance requirements between buildings or other structures;
(d) Intensity of use and density of population floor area to ground area ratios, or other means;
(e) Districts of special interest to the proper development of the community, including, but not limited to, exclusive use districts, historical districts, planned business districts, planned industrial districts, renewal, rehabilitation, and conservation districts; planned neighborhood and group housing districts;
(f) Fringe areas of each district, by imposing requirements which will make it compatible with neighboring districts; and
(g) The activities and structures on the land at or near major thoroughfares, their intersections, and interchanges, and transportation arteries, natural or artificial bodies of water, public buildings and public grounds, aircraft, helicopter, rocket and spacecraft facilities, places having unique interest or value, flood plain areas, and other places having a special character or use affecting or affected by their surroundings;
(2) The text may provide that the planning commission, as a condition to the granting of any zoning change, may require the submission of a development plan, which shall be limited to the provisions of the definition contained in KRS § 100.111(8). Where agreed upon, this development plan shall be followed. As a further condition to the granting of a zoning change, the planning commission may require that substantial construction be initiated within a certain period of time of not less than one (1) year; provided that such zoning change shall not revert to its original designation unless there has been a public hearing;
(3) A map, which shall show the boundaries of the area which is to be zoned, and the boundaries of each zone;
(4) Text provisions to the effect that land which is used for agricultural purposes shall have no regulations except that:
(a) Setback lines may be required for the protection of existing and proposed streets and highways;
(b) All buildings or structures in a designated floodway or flood plain or which tend to increase flood heights or obstruct the flow of flood waters may be fully regulated;
(c) Mobile homes and other dwellings may be permitted but shall have regulations imposed which are applicable, such as zoning, building, and certificates of occupancy; and
(d) The uses set out in KRS § 100.111(2)(c) may be subject to regulation as a conditional use;
(5) The text may empower the planning commission to hear and finally decide applications for variances or conditional use permits when a proposed development requires a map amendment and one (1) or more variances or conditional use permits;
(6) In any regulation adopted pursuant to subsection (5) of this section:
(a) The text shall provide that the planning commission shall assume all powers and duties otherwise exercised by the board of adjustments pursuant to KRS
100.231, 100.233, 100.237, 100.241, 100.243, 100.247, and 100.251, in a circumstance provided for by subsection (5) of this section; and
(b) The text shall provide that the applicant for the map amendment, at the time of the filing of the application for the map amendment, may elect to have any variances or conditional use permits for the same development to be heard and finally decided by the planning commission at the same public hearing set for the map amendment, or by the board of adjustments as otherwise provided for in this chapter;
(7) Any judicial proceeding to appeal the planning commission action authorized by subsection (5) of this section in granting or denying any variance or conditional use permit shall be taken pursuant to KRS § 100.347(2);
(8) In urban-county governments, in addition to any other powers permitted or required to be exercised by this chapter, the text of the zoning regulations may provide, as a condition to granting a map amendment, that the planning unit may:
(a) Restrict the use of the property affected to a particular use, or a particular class of use, or a specified density within those permitted in a given zoning category;
(b) Impose architectural or other visual requirements or restrictions upon development in areas zoned historic; and
(c) Impose screening and buffering restrictions upon the subject property;
The text shall provide the method whereby such restrictions or conditions may be imposed, modified, removed, amended and enforced.
Effective: July 13, 2004
History: Amended 2004 Ky. Acts ch. 150, sec. 2, effective July 13, 2004. — Amended
1986 Ky. Acts ch. 141, sec. 16, effective July 15, 1986; and ch. 190, sec. 1, effective
July 15, 1986. — Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 360, sec. 1. — Created 1966 Ky. Acts
ch. 172, sec. 30.