Planning/Zoning Department

The primary mission of the Planning and Zoning Department is to work with property owners to ensure their plans comply with the City's Zoning Ordinance and other local ordinances. This involves processing applications for variances, special use permits, site plan reviews and other development issues.

Under City ordinance, all applications requiring Planning Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals review must be submitted to staff, reviewed, and found to be administratively complete not less than twenty-four days before the next scheduled meeting date.  It is best to submit applications well in advance of the deadline date to provide an opportunity for staff to review the application and, if necessary, for the applicant to remedy any deficiencies and the application to be re-reviewed.  In some cases it is necessary for the application to be revised more than once before it can be found administratively complete.

Applications that are not administratively complete on the required date, for any reason, cannot be placed on the meeting agenda.   This applies to applications for Special Use Permits, Planned Unit Developments, variances, rezonings or other zoning ordinance amendments, sign variances, and sign special approvals.  We strongly encourage all applicants to contact staff at an early date to discuss the details of their request and to help the applicant understand the procedure and the possible timeline for their application.

Planning Commission.   The Planning Commission usually (but not always) meets on the first Thursday of the month at 4:30 PM in the City Commission Chambers.  See the City Calendar for the current schedule. See menu at left for minutes of past Planning Commission meetings.

    Zoning Application Forms

• Conditional Use Permit Application (PDF)
• Conditional Use Permit Application for Short Term Rentals (only) (PDF)
• Home Occupation Conditional Use Permit Application (PDF) 
• Home Occupation Registration (PDF)
• Land Division Application (PDF)
• Planned Unit Development Application (PDF)
• Rezoning Application (PDF)
• Sign Variance Application (PDF)
• Special Use Permit Application (PDF)
• Special Use Permit Application for Short Term Rentals (only) (PDF)
  
• City of St. Joseph Comprehensive Master Plan 2008

Zoning Board of Appeals  The Zoning Board of Appeals usually (but not always) meets on the third Thursday of the month at 4:30 PM in the City Commission Chambers. See the City Calendar for the current schedule. See menu at left for minutes of past Zoning Board of Appeals meetings.

• Variance Application (PDF)

Special Event Rentals [There is currently no designated Special Event period.]

• Special Event Rental Registration Form (PDF)

If you have any questions about these topics, please contact the Planning/Zoning Department and we will be glad to help you.