Planning & Zoning

Responsibilities

The Planning and Zoning Division is responsible for long-range planning pertaining to growth and development in the city, particularly around land use, neighborhoods, commerce, industry, infrastructure, natural resources, transportation, and recreation. 

The division also maintains and provides information relative to land use regulations, including allowable uses and development regulations. Staff review building and zoning (fence/signs) permit applications, various licensing applications, and site plans for all multi-family residential, commercial, and industrial expansions and new projects to ensure compliance with the zoning ordinance. Planning staff provides support to the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Historic District Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Zoning Ordinance and Map

The Zoning Ordinance regulates the use and form of each lot or parcel in the community by dividing properties into zoning districts. Updates to the City of Battle Creek Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map occur through text amendments and property rezoning as needed. The most recently adopted Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map can be accessed through the links below.

Those updates appear here, in our city ordinances.

Interactive zoning map

Current Projects

Non-Motorized Transportation Plan update
The city is updating the 2006 Non-Motorized Transportation Plan to ensure bicyclists, walkers, kayakers/canoers, joggers, and others continue to have safe, accessible, and well-maintained routes around town and beyond. Over the last 13 years, new routes and infrastructure have been established. Additional routes, signage, and community needs have been discussed, but we need a plan for implementation. To accomplish this, the city led a comprehensive community engagement process and, with the support of a consultant, drafted an updated Non-Motorized Transportation Plan. Learn more here. Planning staff are tentatively scheduling to take the plan for approval by the Planning Commission at their Nov. 15 meeting, with final approval of the plan by the City Commission at one of their December meetings.