Zoning Official

If a jurisdiction has a zoning ordinance in place, the city, town, or village board will appoint a zoning official to handle enforcement. In many cases, the building code official also fills the role of zoning official. For smaller and straightforward construction projects, such as a single-family home or even a single multifamily building, the zoning official will determine whether the proposed project complies with local ordinances, such as occupancy, use, setbacks, and so on. For subdivisions and other large projects, the project must be presented to the planning board. Such projects often trigger a SEQR or environmental impact assessment. Assuming no significant environmental issues exist, the SEQR is usually not lengthy but does require the applicant to file an environmental assessment form and often a draft environmental impact statement. After the public notice is made about the project, a 30-day (usually) public comment period ensues. If objections are raised, the planning board is likely to hold a public hearing before making its final decision regarding approval of the project. You can obtain a copy of the local zoning ordinance on your municipality’s website or through your local building department.