Community Compass library
Look it up before the meeting
Plain-language explanations and real questions from residents, volunteers, and local officials about zoning, codes, housing, neighborhoods, organizations, and local economies. Laws and programs change and vary by place, so confirm anything time-sensitive with your local office or the current official source.
Planning, zoning & codesClear search
Visitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
100 foot setback requirement for churches
Visitor Question: Our city has a 100' encroachment rule for new churches. They measure the furthest edge of the building to the nearest property line.Guide · Planning, zoning & codes
A Bikeable Community Attracts Residents, Visitors
A bikeable community offers increased quality of life for all residents. Bikes are earth-friendly, and promote health mobility for kids and seniors..Guide · Planning, zoning & codes
A Building Code Makes Residents Safer
Enacting a building code to cover new construction spells safety for current and future residents, as well as their visitors.Guide · Planning, zoning & codes
A Planning Charrette Requires Preparation and Focus
The charrette is a technique from architecture often used in planning. This page helps you succeed in design collaboration between professionals and residents.Guide · Planning, zoning & codes
A Property Maintenance Code Is Good for Your Town
Learn how to implement an appropriate property maintenance code, which promotes economic viability, safety, and attractiveness of your community.Guide · Planning, zoning & codes
A Temporary Use Permit Expands Zoning Flexibility
A temporary use permit adds flexibility to the zoning ordinance while still assuring appropriate safeguards over sales, fairs, and seasonal uses.Guide · Planning, zoning & codes
A Walkable Community Is Safe, Fun, and Healthy
Devising a walkable community promotes health, sociability, and efficient transportation. Walking also supports local businesses.Visitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Adverse Possession or Easement Road
Visitor Question: A paved road extends from two city public streets across a privately owned lot which has been used by the public, police, fire and utilityGuide · Planning, zoning & codes
Agricultural Zoning Is a Win-Win for Both Farmers and Towns
Agricultural zoning is useful to towns trying to preserve farming and fight sprawl. Beneficial to both farmer and town, learn how to apply this zoning.Guide · Planning, zoning & codes
An Introduction to Site Plan Review for Planning Commissioners
This article recommends careful pruning of site plan review requirements and good choices about who approves the application based on what criteria.Guide · Planning, zoning & codes
An Overview of How Code Enforcement Can Help You Make and Keep a Good Community
The code enforcement overview describes why and how local governments use this tool to obtain compliance with local ordinances. Typical flow is explained.Visitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Annexation and re-zoning
Visitor Question: I have a 15 acre property which is being annexed and potentially re-zoned from Pasco County, Florida to Dade City, Florida, but theGuide · Planning, zoning & codes
Approaches to Neighborhood Traffic Problems
We pose solutions to neighborhood traffic issues such as bottlenecks, speeding, problem intersections, shortcuts, and ped and bike safety..Visitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Are counties subject to municipal zoning
Visitor Question: Are counties subject to a municipality's zoning ordinance? Our county government is proposing a new recreation center, and they claimGuide · Planning, zoning & codes
Are Impact Fees A Good Way to Pay for City Expansion?
If you do not foresee both the advantages and disadvantages of impact fees, your city could create inequities and legal problems for itself.Visitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Are parks in a separate zoning district?
Visitor Question: We are redoing our comprehensive plan in our town, and I am helping with some of the outreach to our residents. I wanted to know if parksVisitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Are Townhomes Spot Zoning?
Visitor Question: There is a parcel of land, 3.3 acres on the western edge of our neighborhood. The neighborhood is all single family homes (R5). ThisVisitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Armed code enforcement
Visitor Question: Why are code enforcement carrying fire arms? This is in Riverside County, California. Editors Reply: This is not typical throughoutVisitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Auxiliary Land Improvement
Visitor Question: I live in a residential area. Across the street there is a lot that is zoned residential but classed as an auxiliary land improvement.Guide · Planning, zoning & codes
Avoid Spot Zoning To Be Seen as Fair
Learn what the term spot zoning, often heard at a public hearing on a municipal rezoning proposal, means and why it should be avoided.. .Visitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Bad idea to rezone from residential to affordable housing
Visitor Question: My family owns property in New Jersey that is currently zoned residential but is being used for business because our business has beenVisitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Ballot initiative downzoning a land parcel
Visitor Question: A ballot initiative by the citizens of Aurora, CO down zoned a 10 acre parcel of land some years ago, and now a developer wants to rezoneGuide · Planning, zoning & codes
Best City Plan: Tell Us Why It Is Excellent
Your example of the best city plan you have encountered could help others determine how to evaluate plans. Share your stories about documents you admire.Visitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Best Zoning for a Ministry
Visitor Question: Our ministry has been gifted a piece of property that currently has 3 different zonings. A small piece is 02, a section is HE and theVisitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Business Conditional Use Permit next to home and farm.
Visitor Question: I live in a rural/agricultural area. I own 55 acres of pasture and farm ground. My only visible neighbor now owns my parents' placeVisitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Can a church meet in a building that is zoned industrial?
Visitor Question: I am a member of a local church congregation (less than 100 people) that has been meeting in a school gymnasium. Due to Covid-19,Visitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Can a City Deviate from Its Future Land Use Map
Visitor Question: I'm wondering about when it is acceptable (or even legal) for a city to deviate from its adopted future land use map, which appears inVisitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Can a city itself apply for rezoning
Reviewed: May 31, 2024 Visitor Question: In our town we have a weird situation. Our city council thinks they can just fill out a rezoning applicationVisitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Can a developer's unfinished work be used against new rezoning proposal
Visitor Question: I am a resident of a multi-phase development begun in 2017. This sits on a subdivision of large private land. Huge areas of mature treesVisitor question · Planning, zoning & codes
Can Code Enforcement make me live in a home that is a health hazard?
Reviewed: June 12, 2024 Visitor Question: Hello. I live in an unincorporated city in Riverside County. I live on a property that is in probate. I took
Original guidance from A Good Community: How to Make and Keep It, owned and edited by Nancy Thompson (formerly Useful Community Development), shared with permission. Community Compass notes and updates are our own and have not been reviewed by Nancy Thompson.