The Zoning office is currently in the process of revising the Zoning Regulations for the unincorporated area of Douglas County. Sections of the current Zoning Regulations go back to the original adoption in 1966. Various edits and additions have been made through the years with text amendment changes. Zoning (not to be confused with building codes) is a method of land use regulation designed to minimize the negative impacts of certain types of land use by separating them from one another. This is achieved by restricting uses to classified districts, such as residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial zones. The regulations are intended to allow these different land uses to be located and organized in a manner that promotes the public health, safety, comfort and general welfare, to conserve property values, and to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewage, schools, parks, and other public requirements.
Most of the laws and regulations we live by are determined at the federal and state level. States recognize, however, that the regulation of land-use is better understood and controlled at the local level. Therefore, under state-delegated authority, Douglas County has its own document which contains the Zoning (property and land use) Regulations.
The County Zoning Regulations is a legal document, but it will not be upheld in a court of law unless its regulations show a direct relationship to a rational planning process. As a result, most municipal governments develop living comprehensive planning documents, our current plan is Horizon 2020. Plan 2040 has been in the review process for several years and is nearing adoption at the city and county level.
The Planning and Zoning offices have two primary purposes: to administrate the regulations and to maintain a planning process that reflects the evolving needs of Douglas County, often utilizing the comphrensive plan to identify those needs.
The draft Zoning Regulations, to provide many needed updates, are posted below on this webpage along with public township meetings. We invite anyone from the public to attend these meetings. We want to hear your comments!
2019 Proposed Zoning Regulations and informational material for public review
Common Questions and Answers - 2019 Proposed Zoning Regulations
Information Sheet for Proposed Zoning Regulations
Link to Video Presentation for 2019 Proposed Zoning Regulations
2019 Proposed Zoning Regulations Powerpoint Presentation
Chapter 1. Introductory Provisions
Chapter 2. Zoning Districts, Zoning Map, and General Provisions
Chapter 3. Zoning Districts
Chapter 4. Permitted Use Table
Chapter 5. Additional Dimensional Standards
Chapter 6. Use Specific Standards
Chapter 7. Development Review Procedures
Chapter 8. Nonconformities
Chapter 9. Board of Zoning Appeals
Chapter 10. Building Permits
Chapter 11. Parking and Loading
Chapter 12. Floodplain- No Proposed Changes
Chapter 13. Violations
Chapter 14. General Regulations and Standards
Your feedback matters!
Please fill out the feedback form or email us at zoning@douglascountyks.org
Public comment period ends November 15th, but comments may continue to be provided as the project moves to the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners
