Zoning is the set of rules that determine how a piece of land is used. Every piece of private property in the city is assigned a zoning district. Some zoning districts restrict land to a specific type of use, such as industrial, commercial or residential. Others provide for mixed use; for example, Transit Oriented Development allows a combination of apartments, retail and office.
The City of Irving strives to ensure that the zoning of adjacent properties is generally compatible. Anyone developing a property, building a house or establishing a business must select a use allowed within the property’s zoning district. If the desired land use is not allowed, the property owner can request a zoning change from the city.
A zoning district can only be changed by Irving City Council after conducting a public hearing and allowing affected property owners to voice their opinions. The City Council will consider the applicant’s request, the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation, the staff assessment and the opinions of the public. The City Council also considers whether the existing zoning serves the needs of the city’s long-term plans for an area as shown on the Future Land Use map.