Potential Impacts of Zoning Ordinances on Your Project

Just as you want to make sure that all aspects of your project are compliant with the relevant building code, you also want to be sure you are in compliance with local zoning ordinances. Your design professional will usually take primary responsibility for this step, but depending on the characteristics of your project and the design development process, you, or your representative, may want to discuss your plans with the local zoning official or building code official and your own legal counsel early in the conceptual phase. It will nearly always be necessary to obtain formal site plan approval and it is wise to do this step before the details of the building/project design get too far along. For instance, a few examples of how a local zoning ordinance might affect your building design or even your entire project concept include—

• Setbacks from the lot lines affect the size or shape of the building.
• Space for offstreet parking must be adequate for proposed number of units/occupants.
• Proposed occupancy or use may require a variance.
• Project may be in a wetlands or 100-year flood zone.
• Building footprint and required green space.