Land use and zoning policies adopted by the City Commissioners have been designed to protect, preserve and enhance the city's residential neighborhoods and to encourage higher density residential and mixed-use development in downtown Decatur and the city's other commercial areas.
Decatur has had some form of zoning restrictions since 1925. In 1988 a comprehensive land use and zoning plan was prepared by the Planning Commission and approved by the City Commissioners. This plan is designed to serve as a guide for future land use and zoning decisions. The comprehensive land use and zoning plan is reviewed and amended periodically to reflect changing conditions and community goals.