Zoning - What is it?

Presently, your property is located within a zoning district and governed by a zoning ordinance. Examples of some zoning districts are agriculture, single family residential, office, and business. The zoning ordinance regulates what types of uses are permitted and how a property can be developed within a particular district. The zoning ordinance has requirements such as building height, minimum lot area, setback lines, off-street parking, landscaping, signage, and other related considerations.

You have several options to determine the zoning of a piece of property:

  • View the  Zoning Map;
  • Visit our office to locate your property on the zoning map;
  • Fax us the address and parcel ID number so we can locate the property correctly.  We will fax the reply back to you so you have a written record of the correct zoning. Our fax number is (618) 624-4534.

Zoning is one of the most important tools for promoting orderly development. It is the City's zoning that determines the location and the type of commercial and residential development that can be located on a piece of property. By predetermining the placement of certain types of developments through the Comprehensive Plan, zoning code, and subdivision code, the City tries to prevent potential conflicts, declining property values, traffic problems, and safety hazards.

Before beginning construction on any building or structure, the building and site development plans need to be reviewed by the City to ensure compliance to the zoning requirements. Property owners must complete and submit a Building Permit application to the Planning & Zoning Department. In addition to the application, property owners are asked to submit information about the use of the building, legal description of the property, and site plan showing the layout of the structure on the lot. A "Certificate of Zoning Compliance" will be issued if the proposed building or structure meets the land use requirements of the zoning ordinance. The building permit application cannot be approved if the proposed structure does not meet the requirements stated in the zoning ordinance. However, the applicant does have the option of applying for a variance, special use permit or a rezoning. Assistance is available from Planning & Zoning personnel to help you determine which course of action would be most appropriate.