The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is a quasi-legal board charged with hearing requests for variances from the standards of the zoning ordinance and appeals of administrative determinations.

It consists of resident volunteers appointed by the Mayor and City Council members.  

With regard to primary variances, the Board takes these four considerations (in total) into account when making its decisions:

1. Relief, if granted, would not offend the spirit or intent of the ordinance.
2. There are such extraordinary and exceptional situations or conditions pertaining to the particular piece of property that the literal or strict application of the ordinance would create an unnecessary hardship due to size, shape or topography, or other extraordinary and exceptional situations or conditions not caused by the variance applicant.
3. Relief, if granted, would not cause a substantial detriment to the public good and surrounding properties.
4. That the public safety, health and welfare are secured, and that substantial justice is done.

The BZA also hears sign variance considerations. Relief only to the sign ordinance may be granted where existing foliage or structures bring about a hardship such that a sign meeting minimum letter size, square footage and height requirements could not be read from an adjoining public road.

For submission guidelines and other information, please contact the City's Community Development Department.

The BZA meets the third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. in City Hall's Council Chambers. All meetings are open to the public, and anyone is welcome to attend. For the BZA's 2024 meeting schedule, click HERE.

To contact a BZA member, or the City's committee liaisons, click on their names below.

Members