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area standards that regulate the size and location of buildings and structures in the city. Comprised of text and a map, most zoning ordinances also typically divide a city into various zoning districts, and set standards regulating uses in each district. "Area standards" are rules that constrain the size and location of building and other structures. These typically include rules about building location and size, including height, width and bulk; and the percentage of lot space that may be occupied, and required yards or open spaces. Other standards might be performance standards such as related to density,parking or lighting. Most zoning ordinances use a map to divide the community into zoning districts that establish similar compatible land uses. By creating zoning districts that separate uses, the city assures that adequate space is provide for each and that transition areas of buffers exist between distinct and incompatible uses. Examples may include, but are not limited to residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural. Larger cites will often have districts of varying density or intensity, such as single-family residential and multi-family residential, or light industrial and heavy industrial. For each district, a zoning ordinance typically sets forth uses that are allowed in each district and the performance standards that must be met. The allowed uses often are set forth in lists or use tables. Allowed uses typically include permitted uses, accessory uses and conditional uses. • A permitted use is generally the principal use of the land or building, and is allowed without a public a hearing. • An accessory use is an allowed use located on the same lot, subordinate or accessory to permitted use. • A conditional use is a use that is allowed after a public hearing only if the landowner meets the general and specific standards as set forth in the zoning ordinance. The more specific and clear the standards set forth in the ordinance, the easier it will be to administer. State law mandates a procedure for the adoption or amendment of zoning ordinances. The process includes: 1. A public hearing must be held by the council or the planning commission (if one exists) before the city adopts or amends a zoning ordinance. 2. A notice of the time, place and purpose of the hearing must be published in the official newspaper of the municipality at least 10 days prior to the day of the hearing. In addition, if an amendment to a zoning ordinance involves changes in district boundaries affecting an area of five acres or less, a similar notice must be mailed at least 10 days before the day of the hearing to each owner of affected property and property situated completely or partly within 350 feet of the property to which the amendment applies. 3. Zoning ordinances must be adopted by a majority vote of all of the members of the council. An important component of the zoning ordinance is the zoning ordinance map which assigns zoning districts to given parcels in the community. When the city changes the zoning district designation of a parcel from one zoning district to another, the process is termed rezoning, and must be done after a public hearing. Rezoning is an amendment to the actual zoning ordinance and the procedures for amendments to the zoning ordinance apply. State law, however, has a two-tiered voting requirement for rezoning of residential property. When property is rezoned from residential to commercial or industrial, a two-thirds majority of all 5 Small Cities Track-2011 Planning&Zoning 101-13