1.   General. This Code is enacted for the purposes of promoting the health, safety, peace, morals, comfort, convenience, prosperity, order, and general welfare; lessening danger and congestion of public transportation and travel; securing safety from fire and other dangers; preventing overcrowding of land; avoiding undue concentration of population; providing adequate light and air, police protection, transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks, forests, recreational facilities, military and naval facilities, and other public requirements, and preventing undue encroachment thereon; conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land; encouraging the industrial, commercial and residential growth of the community; and promoting the development of the community in accordance with a comprehensive plan.

2.   Signs. Signs are used to inform and persuade the general public. All signs not exempted shall be regulated in accordance with the standards of this Code. The general objectives of these standards are to promote the health, safety, welfare, convenience and enjoyment of the public, and, in part, to achieve the following.

   a.   Safety. To promote the safety of persons and property by providing that signs:
       (1)   do not create a hazard due to location, collapse, fire, collision, decay or abandonment; or
       (2)   do not obstruct fire fighting or police surveillance, or
       (3)   do not create traffic hazards by confusing or distracting motorists, or by impairing the driver's ability to see pedestrians, obstacles, or other vehicles, or to read traffic signs.

   b.    Communications Efficiency. To promote the efficient transfer of information in sign messages.

   c.   Landscape Quality and Preservation. To protect the public welfare and to enhance the appearance of the City of Tulsa."

1.   Validity of Other Laws: Where this Code imposes a greater restriction upon the use of structures or land or upon height or bulk of structures, or requires larger open spaces or yards than are imposed by other ordinances, laws, or regulations, the provisions of this Code shall govern. However, nothing in this Code shall be construed to prevent the enforcement of other ordinances, laws, or regulations which prescribe more restrictive limitations. The provisions of this code providing for the residential use of property, and providing for limitations on occupancy, density and intensity of such uses, shall be applied equally and without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin consistent with the provisions of the Federal Fair Housing Act.

2.   Severability: In case any portion of this Code shall be invalid or unconstitutional, as declared by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the Code shall not thereby be invalid, but shall remain in full force and effect.

3.   Tense and Definition: For the purpose of the Code certain terms and words are to be used and interpreted as defined in Chapter 18 of this Code, words used in the present tense shall include the future tense; words in the singular number include the plural and words in the plural number include the singular, except where the natural construction of the writing indicates otherwise. The word 'shall' is mandatory and not directory. All references in this title to "Board of Commissioners", "Board of City Commissioners", "City Commissioners", "City Commission" shall be construed to mean City Council of the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

1.    Territorial Jurisdiction: This Code shall be in full force and effect in the corporate limits of the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and any other area of jurisdiction as permitted by the Statutes of the State of Oklahoma. Property owned, leased, or operated by the City of Tulsa, or any other public or governmental body or agency, shall be subject to the terms of this Code.

2.    Annexed Territory: When any territory shall be brought into the zoning jurisdiction of the City of Tulsa, by annexation or otherwise, such territory shall be deemed to be an AG Agriculture District. This provision shall not operate to preclude subsequent rezoning of such property by amendment in the manner set forth in Chapter 17.

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