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Zoning Permits
Q. What
is a Zoning Permit?
A. A Zoning Permit is a form that an
applicant must fill out and submit to the Zoning
Office for approval.
Generally, any construction that requires a Building
Permit will also require a Zoning Permit. Zoning
permits are required for new construction, additions
to existing buildings, swimming pools, sheds,
detached garages, fences, decks and signs. This
list is not exclusive, but does indicate the most
common projects that will require a Zoning Permit.
Zoning Permits are usually not required for
interior remodelling projects or maintenance
projects such as a new roof.
Q.
How do I get
a Zoning Permit?
A. Application for Zoning Permit forms
are available at the Zoning Office or on our
website.
Click here to download an Application for
Zoning Permit.
Q.
How long does it take to get an approved Zoning
Permit?
A. An approved Zoning Permit is usually
available within 2-3 days from the day it is
submitted provided that all of the information is
correct and the project meets the ordinance
requirements.
Q.
How much
do Zoning Permits cost?
A.
Click here to download the fee schedule.
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Building
Click here to download Article 18, General
Provisions regulating accessory buildings, swimming
pools, fences and walls.
Q.
When do I need a Building Permit along with a Zoning
Permit?
A. A Building Permit is required when an
applicant is building an addition to their house or
business, a detached garage, a swimming pool or, in
some cases, a deck. A Zoning Permit is needed
before a Building Permit can be issued by Greene
County Office of Building Regulation. See the
Zoning page for their contact information.
Q.
Do I need a Zoning Permit to build a fence, wall,
swimming pool, deck, detached garage or shed?
A. Yes, a Zoning Permit is required.
Q.
Do I need a Zoning Permit to replace a fence, wall,
deck, detached garage or shed?
A. A Zoning Permit is required when the
structure on the property is being moved, new
materials are being used or the footprint of a
building is being expanded or contracted.
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Signs
Click here to download Article 18, General
Provisions regulating permitted signs (Sec. 18.20 A
& B)
Q.
When do I need a Zoning Permit for a sign?
A. A Zoning Permit is required for
permanent and some temporary signs. Signs that are
exempted from the ordinance and do not
require a permit include governmental signs for
public safety, installation of a flagpole to fly an
American flag, real estate signs and political
signs.
Q.
What are the regulations for garage sale,
contractor, real estate signs and political signs?
A. Garage Sale- One sign may be
placed on the property where the garage sale is
being held. Lead-in signs at street corners or on
other properties are not permitted and will be
removed.
Contractor- One sign may be
placed on the property where the contractor is
working for a maximum of three days per quarter of a
calendar year.
Real Estate- One real estate
sign may be placed on the property which is for
sale. Corner lots with two street frontages may
have two signs, one sign for each street frontage.
Lead-in signs at street corners or on other
properties are not permitted and will be removed.
Political Signs- Signs are
permitted on private property in residential and
business districts.
Political signs must be placed outside the limits of
the public right-of-way on private property. In neighborhoods where sidewalks are present, the sign
should be placed on the property side of the
sidewalk, not the street side. In
neighborhoods that do not have sidewalks, the sign
should be placed a minimum of 10’ off the edge of
the pavement or roadway.
Sign sizes shall not exceed 6 square feet total sign
area in residential districts and 16 square feet in
business districts. Political signs should be
removed seven (7) days after an election. Please
contact the Zoning Office for additional
information.
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Variances
Q.
What is a variance?
A. A variance is a request to “vary” the
law in order to provide relief from existing
regulations that may impose undue hardship or
practical difficulty by their strict
interpretation. Variances are granted by the
Bellbrook Board of Zoning Appeals through a public
hearing process. Please contact the Zoning Office
for more information regarding the variance process.
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Conditional Uses
Q.
What is a conditional use?
A. A conditional use is a special or
unique use which is not classified as a permitted
principal use but may be allowed if it conforms to
applicable standards and conditions. Conditional
uses are granted by the Bellbrook Board of Zoning
Appeals through a public hearing process. Please
contact the Zoning Office for more information
regarding the conditional use process.
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Nuisance Issues
Q.
What
is considered a nuisance issue?
A. The most frequent nuisance issues
include inoperable and/or unlicensed vehicles, junk
or trash that may attract pests, grass/weeds in
excess of twelve inches**, or a structure that is
damaged or left vacant and open for unauthorized
access. This list is not comprehensive and only
points out common nuisance issues.
** City Council is considering changing the
height from twelve to eight inches. If this change
goes into effect, it would be October 13th,
2009.
Q.
How do I submit a complaint about a nuisance issue?
A. A complaint about a nuisance issue or
property may be submitted by completing a
Complaint form. Forms are available online or
at the Zoning Office, 15 E Franklin Street, 2nd
floor.
Click
here for the Online Complaint Form
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Other
Q.
What are vehicle parking requirements in residential
districts?
A. Two car spaces are required for each
dwelling unit. All new driveways must be comprised
of a hard surface (asphalt, concrete or brick
pavers). All vehicles must be parked on a hard
surface, not in the grass.
Click here to download Article 5, One Family
Residential District, regulating residential
accessory parking.
Q.
How do I obtain a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) for
my business?
A. New businesses or existing businesses
that do not have a Certificate of Occupancy must
first obtain a Zoning Permit. Business owners
should take the approved Zoning Permit to the Greene
County Office of Building Regulation, who will issue
the CO upon a final fire inspection by the Bellbrook
Fire Department. See the Zoning page for the Office
of Building Regulation contact information.
Q.
How many cats and dogs am I allowed to keep on my
property?
A.
On May 26, 2010, the City Council approved an
amendment to the Zoning Code (Article 3:
Definitions) to change the definition of a kennel.
In the definition, no individual property in the
City can keep
more than four (4) animals which are over the age of
four (4) months and which are either dogs or cats.
An excess number of dogs and/or cats on premises
that exist as of the effective date of the ordinance
(May 26, 2010) may remain without penalty until the
permitted number of dogs and/or cats is achieved on
the premises. No additional dogs and/or cats may be
added to any such lot or premises until the number
of dogs and cats is reduced to three (3) or less.
Q.
Which animals or pets are not permitted to be kept
in the City?
A.
Prohibited animals or pets included horses, cows,
pigs, goats, bees or chickens on any parcel of
property, except in agricultural zoning districts on
parcels over five acres. (Municipal Code 618.15)
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Please contact the Zoning Inspector for additional
information regarding your specific case. The
Zoning Office is located at 15 E Franklin St, 2nd
Floor, Bellbrook OH 45305
Phone: (937) 848-8477
Fax: (937) 848-5190
Email the
Zoning Department
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