Zoning

Frequently Asked Questions (Zoning Administration Procedures)

Select a question below:

• Who may submit an application?
• What information must be submitted with an application?
• What is the deadline for submitting an application?
• Are the surrounding property owners notified of the application?
• What happens at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission meeting?
• What happens to the application following the planning commission meeting?
• What happens at the legislative body meeting?
• What are the development review fees?
• What is the basic zoning process?

Who May Submit an Application?

The owner(s) or an appointed representative shall submit an application to the Operations office of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency, 1250 Market Street, Suite 2000, Chattanooga, TN  37402-2713.

The appointed representative is a person authorized by the legal current property owner to represent the case as the applicant.  As part of the application, the representative shall submit a SIGNED document by the current property owner stating knowledge of the request and acknowledging that the applicant is representing the owner.

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What Information Must be Submitted With an Application?

• Rezoning Application- In addition to the information contained on the application form the applicant must submit a copy of the recorded deed of the property; a site plan, boundary plan, plat, etc. showing the exact acreage of the property to be rezoned, and a check, cash, or money order in an amount specified on the last page of this booklet.
   
• Street or Alley Closure & Abandonment- In addition to the completed application form the following information is requested:
   
  1. Signatures, when applicable, on the application and copies of deeds of individuals who own the properties adjoining the street or alley easement effected.
      
  2. Check, cash or money order in an amount specified on the last page of this booklet.
      
• Other Permits- In addition to the completed application form, the applicant must submit a copy of the recorded deed of the property and a check, cash, or money order in the amount specified on the last page of this booklet.

Additional information may be required as a part of the application or hearing process.  Please see zoning ordinances or regulations for those requirements.

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What is the Deadline for Submitting an Application?

Applications received by the 10th of the month shall be heard at the next regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting. If the 10th falls on a non-working day, the deadline shall be the last working day preceding the 10th. The deadline for Signal Mountain Planning Commission is the 10th of the month, or the last working day preceding the 10th.

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Are the Surrounding Property Owners Notified of the Application?

In addition to all public utilities, notices are sent to the surrounding property owners for Street and Alley Easement Closures. Notices are sent to the property owners whose properties are considered to be affected by the abandonment or closure.

Signs are posted for all petitions.

• Signs must be posted at the right-of-way of the street or road

• Signs should be mounted on a hard surface that will prevent curling or bending of the sign. Signs may be mounted on a structure and should be visibly free from obstruction.

• Signs improperly displayed may be considered a violation of a zoning process.

• Signs must be posted no later than the 11th of the month and maintained throughout the entire process.

• The applicant is responsible for replacing notice signs which are damaged or lost.

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What happens at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission meeting?

• All applicants will be given a public hearing.
   
• The applicant and interested citizens will be given an opportunity to express their feelings on the proposed change.
   
• Following the public hearing on each case, the Planning Commission will act on each application.
   
• The Planning Commission may recommend either approval, approval with conditions, denial or deferral of an application.

THE APPLICANT OR A REPRESENTATIVE NEEDS TO BE PRESENT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND ALL MEETINGS!!!

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What Happens to the Application Following the Planning Commission Meeting?

• A resolution of the Planning Commission’s action will be mailed to the proper legislative body.
   
• The applicant will receive a letter informing him of the Planning Commission’s action and what, if anything should be done to get the application heard by the legislative body.
   
• Where applicable, a legal notice will be published in the newspaper.  (As required by Tennessee State Law.) The ads for the City and County cases are automatically placed in the paper.  For other jurisdictions the applicant must contact that City or Town to have their case advertised.
   
• Final action on SPECIAL PERMITS FOR SINGLE WIDE MANUFACTURED HOMES is by the Planning Commission.  An appeal of the Planning Commission action may be made to the County Commission.  The appeal will be heard at the 2^nd County Commission meeting of the following month.  A request for an appeal to the Planning Commission action must be made within 7 days to the Operation’s Office of the Planning Agency.

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What Happens at the Legislative Body Meeting?

• Applications are given another public hearing.  The applicant and interested citizens will be given an opportunity to express their feelings on the proposed change.
  
  
• The legislative body will act on the application and the decision rendered is final.  In some instances, a legislative body might postpone action until a later date.
  
  
• Once an application is heard by the Planning Commission and denied by the appropriate legislative body, that application, or any part or combination of the same tract shall be eligible for another rezoning request only under terms as outlined in the jurisdiction’s zoning ordinance.

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What are the Development Review Fees?

Zoning Fees
		Fee	Advertising Fee
Residential / Agricultural Zones
	Single lot <= 1 acre	$100.00		$50.00
	1.1 to 5 acres	$245.00		$50.00
	5.1 - 20 acres	$585.00		$50.00
	20.1+ acres	$720.00		$50.00
All Other Zones
	up to 5 acres	$585.00		$50.00
	5.1 - 20 acres	$655.00		$50.00
	20.1+ acres	$720.00		$50.00
	Lifting Conditions on Previous Case	$100.00		$50.00
Special Use Permits
	Special / Conditional / Special Exceptions Permit	$200.00		$50.00
	Special Use Permit (MH)	$50.00
	Planned Unit Development (PUD)	$400.00
Subdivision and Planned Unit Development Signature Fees
	Subdivision Plat Signing Fee (including PUDs)	$200.00
Other Fees
	ROW Name Change	$200.00		$50.00
	Municipal Street, Sewer, and Alley Closure and / or Abandonment	$350.00
	Hamilton County Road Closure and / or Abandonment (advertising fee only)			$50.00

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What is the Basic Zoning Process?

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