How to Rezone a Business
Each property is zoned for a distinct purpose--there are commercial, residential, industrial and agricultural zones--so if you decide to use your property for another purpose, you must rezone and meet different zoning requirements. To rezone, you must get the approval of the authorities responsible for municipality zoning planning in your area, and business rezoning requirements and procedures vary by location.
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Things You'll Need
- Building plan
- Land-use attorney
- Payment for rezoning application and permits
Instructions
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Do your research to have an idea of what the city master plan looks like. This will enable you to know if the property you want to rezone aligns with any future plans for the city.
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Find out how a city is zoned by contacting the local zoning and planning authorities in your city.
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Get your building plan ready. If you don't have one, hire an architect or building engineer to get all the details of the building plan. There are zoning ordinances regarding the size of a building and use restrictions, so it is important to have the details ironed out before making your next move.
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Consult with a local land-use attorney who is familiar with the zoning laws of the area. The attorney will be the ideal person to assist you in the rezoning process.
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Ask the local land-use attorney for advice and assistance if you need representation when requesting the rezoning permit from the local authorities. The attorney can even help you to fill out the paperwork and assist you in writing the wording for your rezoning request.
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Contact the municipality officials in the zoning department at the local or county level in your area to learn about the application process for rezoning your business.
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Visit or call your local city council to contact the authorities in the zoning and planning department or committee for details regarding the application process for rezoning your business.
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Learn the fees for filing an application for rezoning. Pick up an application and complete it at your discretion, with or without the help of your attorney
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Schedule time for a meeting with the zoning department. You will have to go in and speak with them. You can take your attorney with you to help you during this process. Ensure that your attorney knows in advance since his schedule may get busy.
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Tips & Warnings
Remain patient and professional in your interaction with the zoning authorities. Don't expect to get your business rezoned overnight because rezoning can prove a time-consuming process.
References
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