What are my chances of getting a rezoning, and how long does the rezoning take?

The amount of time it may take to get a rezoning, as well as your chances of being successful, will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and can also vary depending on your situation and the type of rezoning you are seeking.

The Rezoning Process

In most communities, the local government has a zoning commission that handles the applications for a rezoning in a hearing or a public hearing format. When you file your application with the city hall, the zoning commission receives your application and determines whether or not you’re the property owner. They also review the type of rezoning you’re requesting, and how it might affect the neighboring properties that are close to the one for which you’re seeking the rezoning. They then post a notice in a public forum for the hearing to take place. Usually this process takes anywhere from 90 to 180 days.  

The likelihood of obtaining a rezoning on any given property depends on how you’d like the property in question to be rezoned and what the local government has planned for the surrounding properties in the future. If the neighboring property owners have any objections to the rezoning of the property you’ve applied for, they will have the opportunity (in most communities) to speak their piece and be heard before the zoning commission makes its decision. Because there aren’t many instances where a rezoning application contains the same exact parameters, the likelihood for the application’s allowance depends on each individual case.

Getting Help - Rezoning

If you wish to have the best chances of having your property successfully rezoned, you should seriously consider speaking with a lawyer. Your attorney can help you prepare your initial application and can assist you throughout the process, including helping you to make a convincing argument to the zoning board for why your request should be granted.