Board of Zoning Adjustment Choose a topic: General Information Meeting Agendas, Minutes and Staff Reports Meeting Procedure Application Descriptions Download Board of Zoning Adjustment Applications Schedule of Meeting Dates and Deadlines (pdf) Comment on Public Hearings General Information If there is a hardship associated with the development of a property which would require relief from specific Zoning Ordinance requirements, an applicant may request a variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustment. The Board of Zoning Adjustment sits as a quasi-judicial body to hear appeals from the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance and the interpretation of the Ordinance by the Land Use Administration staff. The Board consists of seven members. Each Council Person has one appointment to the Board of Adjustment. Appeals to the Board are administered by the Land Use Administration staff. The applications are reviewed, and an analysis and recommendation is prepared for the Board. The application is then heard at a public hearing at which time the Board will hear speakers and render a decision. All decisions are final. Any appeals of a Board of Zoning Adjustment decision are made to Circuit Court. (back to top) Meeting Agendas, Minutes and Staff Reports This site provides a portal to meeting and agenda items information. Please enter a phrase below to bring up search results relevant to a particular item, or you may select from the date of a specific meeting. Search For: Or, you may choose the date of a specific meeting: To view a Staff Report and/or letter of decision, click on the date you are interested in. To obtain a Meeting Agenda, click on "Meeting Agenda". To obtain minutes, click on "Meeting Minutes". Jan 07, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 04, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Mar 04, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Apr 01, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes May 06, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 03, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jul 08, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Aug 05, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Sep 09, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Oct 07, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Nov 04, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Dec 02, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jan 06, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 03, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Mar 10, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Apr 07, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes May 05, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 02, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jul 14, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Aug 04, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Sep 08, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Oct 06, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Nov 03, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Dec 08, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jan 12, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 02, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 09, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Mar 01, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Apr 05, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes May 03, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 07, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jul 12, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Aug 02, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Sep 13, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Oct 04, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Nov 01, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Dec 06, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jan 10, 2005 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 14, 2005 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Mar 07, 2005 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Apr 04, 2005 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes May 02, 2005 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 06, 2005 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jul 11, 2005 | Meeting Agenda Aug 01, 2005 | Meeting Agenda Sep 12, 2005 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Oct 03, 2005 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Nov 07, 2005 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Dec 05, 2005 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jan 09, 2006 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 06, 2006 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Mar 06, 2006 | Meeting Agenda Apr 03, 2006 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes May 08, 2006 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 05, 2006 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jul 10, 2006 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Aug 07, 2006 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Sep 11, 2006 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Oct 02, 2006 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Nov 06, 2006 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Dec 04, 2006 | Meeting Agenda Jan 08, 2007 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 05, 2007 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Mar 05, 2007 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Apr 02, 2007 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes May 07, 2007 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 04, 2007 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jul 02, 2007 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Aug 06, 2007 | Meeting Agenda Sep 10, 2007 | Meeting Agenda Oct 01, 2007 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Nov 05, 2007 | Meeting Agenda Dec 03, 2007 | Meeting Agenda Jan 07, 2008 | Meeting Agenda Feb 11, 2008 | Meeting Agenda Mar 03, 2008 | Meeting Agenda Apr 07, 2008 May 05, 2008 | Meeting Agenda Jun 02, 2008 | Meeting Agenda Jul 07, 2008 | Meeting Agenda Aug 04, 2008 Sep 08, 2008 Archives (Prior to 2002): Letters of Decision Agendas Minutes (back to top) Meeting Procedure The Board of Zoning Adjustment generally meets the first Monday of each month at 2:00 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Mobile Government Plaza (Meeting/Deadline Schedule (pdf)). Meetings are divided into two sessions. The first is the public hearing in which cases are heard and the public has an opportunity to voice their concerns and ask any questions. The Board allows four speakers in support of an application and four speakers in opposition to an application; each speaker is given five minutes to express their views. The second portion of the meeting is the discussion session. It is in this session that the Board members discuss the issues and vote. Everyone is permitted to remain and listen to the discussion and voting; however, the Board allows no additional input from the audience. Application Descriptions Administrative Review Application (pdf) A Notice of Appeal for Administrative Review may be filed by any person aggrieved, or by any officer, department or board of the City affected by any decision of the Director of the Urban Development Department or his/her agent, with respect to the administration or enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance. Appeals of the Board’s decisions are made to Mobile County Circuit Court. (back to top) Bulk or Site Variance Application Application (pdf) A Bulk or Site Variance may be requested in order to obtain relief from certain requirements of the Zoning Ordinance relating to issues such as, but not limited to, setbacks, fence height, site coverage and parking. Bulk or Site Variances should only be granted when there is a hardship related to the property, which prevents the site from being used if particular requirements are complied with. Appeals of the Board’s decisions are made to Mobile County Circuit Court. (back to top) Sign Variance Application Application (pdf) In certain instances, applicants may wish to request a Sign Variance to obtain relief from the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance pertaining to signs such as, but not limited to size, location, and number of signs allowed on a site. Sign Variances should only be granted when there is a hardship related to the property, that would necessitate additional signage. Appeals of the Board’s decisions are made to Mobile County Circuit Court. (back to top) Use Variance Application Application (pdf) An applicant may request a Use Variance to allow a specific use that would otherwise be prohibited in a particular zoning classification. Approval should only be granted in cases where there is a hardship related to the property, which prevents the site from being used as it is currently zoned; and after the applicant has shown that the proposed use is appropriate for the site and will not have a negative impact on the surrounding area. Appeals of the Board’s decisions are made to Mobile County Circuit Court (back to top) Contacts Any further questions about the Board of Zoning Adjustment can be answered by the Land Use Administration Section of the Urban Development Department by phone at (251) 208-5895 or via e-mail at palombo@cityofmobile.org. (back to top)