SERVICES:
Planning & Zoning
The Community & Economic Development Department (CED) is the first stop to getting a building permit in the City of Ferndale. Approval by CED is required for all new construction and for any changes in the use of property.
Project Highlight: ZoneFerndale
The City of Ferndale is in the process of rewriting the Zoning Ordinance to make it a more modern, sustainable, and inclusive document. Please visit our project page for more information.
Small Business Approval Process
To determine if a site or building is appropriate for your proposed use, complete and fill out a Zoning Determination (ZDR) form prior to leasing or completing a purchase. The ZDR determines if the site is zoned correctly for the proposed use. It also determines if there are any additional special approvals required.
Following ZDR Approval, the applicant may proceed directly to the Certificate of Occupancy process through the Permit Center. A Certificate of Occupancy is necessary prior to opening any business in the City
Residential Approval Process
Building Department approval is needed for all exterior construction and most interior work. Examples of projects requiring building and zoning approval include:
- Extensions/additions
- Garages
- Parking pads
- Parking lot improvements
- Fences
- Decks
- Swimming pools
- Signs
- New building construction
A stamped survey is required for approval of all new construction, extensions/additions, and renovations.
Development
PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS
Prior to beginning any development process in the City, applicants are encouraged to meet with City staff for a conceptual review of the proposed project. This meeting can help promote a smooth approval process once a formal application is submitted. Please call the Community and Economic Development Department to schedule a meeting and view the Pre-Application checklist for information about what to bring to the meeting and what to expect.
If a site plan approval is required, the applicant must submit plans in conformance with Article 11, Site Plan Review of the City’s Zoning Ordinance.
Complete site plan packages are submitted to the CED department for review. Plans are reviewed and a determination is made regarding the plan's compliance with applicable requirements. The plan may be approved by Planning Staff or forwarded to the Planning Commission for approval.
SPECIAL LAND USE (SLU)
The City’s Zoning Ordinance identifies which uses are allowed within each individual zoning district. Those uses are divided into two categories: Permitted and Special Land Uses.
Permitted uses are those allowed by right within the district. An applicant must only demonstrate technical compliance with the dimensional requirements of the ordinance for approval.
Special Land Uses are those that may be allowed in the district only after review of an additional set of criteria (Article 12 of the City’s Zoning Ordinance). These criteria are established to protect districts from inaproppriate uses. SLUs require a Public Hearing in front of the Planning Commission and City Council approval. All Special Land Use requests must be accompanied by plans and information demonstrating compliance with current zoning requirements and SLU criteria.
VARIANCES
There are three types of requests: Use Variances, Dimensional Variances, and Sign Variances.
A Use Variance is a request to allow a specific use in a zoning district where it is not currently permitted. Use Variances are permitted in the City of Ferndale.
A Dimensional Variance (or Non-Use Variance) is a request to vary from a specific dimensional requirement within the Code of Ordinance. Variance requests are subject to a specific set of requirements identified in Article 18 of the City’s Zoning Ordinance. Applications must address all of the identified criteria. Dimensional Variances are heard by the City’s Board of Zoning Appeals. The board must agree that an applicant meets all of the necessary requirements prior to approving a request.
