The Development and Construction Department includes five programs: Planning and Zoning, Community Development Block Grant, Building Safety, and Neighborhood Services. Please click on the links below to visit each section.

Planning and Zoning manages City land-use ordinances, policies and procedures governing all development within the City and its growth area; provides professional services and advice to the Board of Directors, Planning Commission, committees, and other City divisions involved in development review; manages the Historic Distric Commission, responds to public inquiries and reviews building permits each year to ensure compliance of federal and state laws as well as local ordinances; processes all property activity and complaints; performs field analysis; makes recommendations; and issues violation notices when necessary.

The Community Development department is responsible for administering the costs and charges related to the planning and implementation of community development projects funded in whole or in part by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Grant Programs. Administration activities include providing general project management, annual planning ensuring compliance with Fair Housing Standards and Environmental Review as well as other statutory requirements. Program activities include responsibility for the rehabilitation of privately owned residential properties for low and moderate households and other programs to help provide affordable housing.

The purpose of Building Safety is to protect the public's life, health, and welfare in the building environment. The department issues permits for buildings and structures and inspects buildings, structures and property for safety and health and code compliance. Permits are issued and inspections are made to the construction, enlargement, alteration, repairs on, the moving of, demolition, occupancy or change of occupancy of a building or structure and for the installment, enlargement, alteration, repair, removal, conversion of electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing systems as well as to the erection or replacement of signs, driveways and swimming pools. Drawings with construction details and specifications are submitted for review to obtain permits for construction. Properties and buildings are inspected and codes are enforced to ensure safe and healthy conditions.

The purpose of the Neighborhood Services department is to protect the public's life, health, and welfare by enforcing the requirements of Ordinance No. 3105 on all developed properties in the City. The division inspects preperties for overgrown and unkempt vegetation, trash and abandoned vehicles to ensure safe and healthy conditions. The work includes having the properties cleared by supervising contractors that mow and clean the properties.