Planning and Zoning

The city’s Planning and Zoning division manages all major land development and use issues affecting the municipality. This includes the review and processing of new commercial and residential developments in accordance with standards set by the community and the regulation of uses on properties with existing zoning requirements. City staff work closely with several community-led boards and commissions to conduct their work. Follow the links below for more information about the duties of each entity.

Planning and Zoning Division is responsible for the following:

• Implementation of the Charles Town Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances
• Issuance of Use permits
• Variance requests
• Certificate of Appropriateness requests
• Waiver requests
• Rezoning and Annexation petitions
• Subdivision applications
• Plat administration
• Administration of federal, state and local floodplain and storm water regulations
• Community data collection
• Development and maintenance of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Plans and Plats, Design Review Standards, Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance
• Provides information to the public on regulations, zoning codes and development projects
• Reviews and administers zoning change proposals and petitions
• Reviews private development projects for design and compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance
• Other special projects

The Planning and Zoning Division is composed of the following committees, commissions, and boards. Click on the links below for more detail:

• Planning Commission
• Board of Zoning Appeals
• Historic Landmarks Commission
• Vacant Structures Board