Go Home

View and
Download
Plans

Additions

Sheds

Decks

Remodeling

Houses

Apartments

Office Bldg

Dental Office

Warehouse

Church

Carwash

Send us an Email

Sponsored By: Please Visit our Sponsor


Copyright © 2011
Total Construction Help, LLC
TotalConstructionHelp.com
All rights reserved

If you Find Our Site
Helpful to You,
We would Appreciate
Any Donations to
Help Us Continue to
Provide You with Free
Up-To-Date
Information
Zoning Department
Building Code Building Department Zoning Department Builder-Contractor Architect Engineer Draftsman
Calculate Beams Calculate Footings Calculate Joists Calculate Columns Calculate Areas Calculate Volume
Calculate Board Feet Calculate Moment of Inertia Calculate Section Modulus Calculate Deflection
Calculate A/C (Heating-Cooling) Calculate Plumbing Calculate Electrical Cad Drawings
Sheds & Work Shop Design Windloads ADA - Handicap Survey and Site Requirements Building Occupancy
Doors Windows Floors Walls Roofs How to Draw Your Own Plans Miscellaneous Free Software

Please Visit Our Sponsors
What is the Zoning Department?
(You can contact the Zoning Department by calling your Local City Hall, and ask for the Zoning Department)

Zoning is the segregation of uses that are thought to be incompatible.

In practice, zoning is used to prevent new development from interfering with existing residences or businesses and to preserve the "character" of a community.

Zoning is commonly controlled by local governments such as counties or municipalities, though the nature of the zoning regime may be determined or limited by state or national planning authorities or through enabling legislation.

Basically, urban zones fall into one of five major categories:
  1. Residential
  2. Mixed residential-commercial
  3. Commercial
  4. Industrial
  5. Special (e. g. power plants, sports complexes, airports, shopping malls etc.).
Each category may have a number of sub-categories.

The Zoning Department implements the Zoning Laws or Codes. The Zoning Department Regulate setbacks, height limitation, floor area ratios, land use, lot coverage, landscaping, parking, etc.
Residential Projects:
If you intend to build or install a Shed or build an Addition or Residence, you will need to verify with the Zoning Department what the setback requirements are. You should have a survey to verify that you project does not encroach into any easement. Please visit the section identified "Building Code" for what should be done regarding obtaining or updating a Survey.
Zoning Department requirements vary from City to City and County to County and needs to be checked, where you live.
Each Municipality has their own specific requirements. Please check with your local Zoning Department for their requirements.
Non-Residential Projects:
Verify that your property is properly Zoned for your intended use. This is done by checking with the Zoning Department.
If you intend to construct a new building, then your Architect and/or Engineer will need to design your building to comply with the Florida Building Code and the Zoning Requirements.
If the Building is a new building, then the setbacks, height limitations, landscaping, lot coverage, etc. will need to be verified. Usually, this work is done by a Civil Engineer. Currently, Civil Engineers handle all of the Site Improvements, while Architects and other Engineers handle the construction of the building.
If you intend to occupy an existing building, it will require that the existing building be inspected and verified that it complies with the Current Florida Building Code and the Zoning Requirements. If it does not, then it will require that the building be modified to comply with the current Florida Building Code, similarly, any Zoning issues will need to be addressed.


Survey with Existing Building and Site Plan with Proposed Addition


A Survey will have the Building Perimeter Dimensions, the Distances from the Building to the Property Lines, Easements (utilities, such as, water, gas, electric & sewer), North Arrow, Dimensions of the Property. It will have a Legal Description and the Owners Name and Address of the Property.

If your Property has Trees that you want to save, you can request that the Survey show the location of the Trees (which usually costs extra).

A Survey is prepared by a Surveyor (licensed), and for it to be Legal, it will need to be Certified by the Surveyor.

If you are planning to build an Addition, then you will need first to get a Survey. This shows the Zoning or Building Department Official what all is existing on your property. If you already had a Survey prepared in the past, then you can save money, by asking the Surveyor to Update (Recertify) your previously done Survey. Most Zoning and Building Departments require that the Survey be dated no more than 1 year old, some a little longer (verify with you Local Agency).

Once you have verified the Setback (based on a review of your Survey) and other requirements with the Zoning and Building Department, you can proceed with getting plans prepared.


A Site Plan is a drawing that is prepared from the information that is taken from a Survey.

The Site Plan contains the basic information shown on the Survey, plus the location and size of the Addition.

The Site Plan can be prepared by you, the Builder or Contractor, or Architect or Engineer, and is included with the Drawings for you Addition, for Residential Projects.



Survey with Existing Building

Example of Typical Survey Plan
Site Plan with Proposed Addition

Example of Typical Site Plan


If you are planning to Construct a Building on an empty lot, you still need a Survey and a Site Plan.