Zoning Regulations and Land Use Ordinances
What is zoning? What are land use ordinances?
Zoning refers to regulations that guide how land is used in different geographies. Zoning, along with other regulations such as building codes, subdivision regulations, environmental considerations, or historic preservation measures, make up a community's land use ordinance.
Why are land use ordinances important?
Land use ordinances dictate how land can be used, ensure development aligns with community needs, safeguard property rights, promote environmental conservation, and uphold public health and safety standards. Land use ordinances are one of the major tools for implementing comprehensive plans, open space plans, and housing plans.
Why update your land use ordinances?
- Your community just adopted a Comprehensive Plan, and it suggests needed ordinance changes;
- Your ordinances are not producing the type of development that your community needs;
- Your ordinances are confusing or difficult to navigate;
- You want to comply with new State legislation; or,
- Your ordinances do not account for modern trends, technologies, or practices.
How can SMPDC help?
SMPDC supports communities with zoning and land use ordinances in a variety of ways depending on the needs of the community. As a fee-for-service contract, prices vary according to the amount of assistance needed.
SMPDC can help you with any or all of the following:
- Write or update zoning regulations or other land use ordinances;
- Create or update zoning maps;
- Lead the public process to update zoning regulations or other land use ordinances;
- Write or update land use ordinances to reflect new State legislation;
- Conduct ordinance audits for content, clarity, and/or organization; and,
- Lead and facilitate planning board trainings on land use ordinances.