Decatur is divided into land use categories that establish how land is to be used: as well as zoning districts The land use categories are:
| RL | Low Density Residential |
| RM | Medium Density Residential |
| I | Institutional |
| C | Commercial & High Density Residential |
Within each land use category are zoning districts that regulate density, intensity, and type of development. The zoning districts within each land use category are:
| RL | RM | I | C |
| R-85 - Single Family Residential | RS-17 - Single Family Residential | Institutional - Institutional | PO - Professional Office Use |
| R-60 - Single Family Residential | RM-18 - Multiple Family Residential | NMU - Neighborhood Mixed Use | |
| R-50 - Single Family Residential | RM-22 - Multiple Family Residential | C-1 - Local Commercial | |
| RM-43 - Multiple Family Residential | C-2 - General Commercial | ||
| C-3 - Heavy Commercial | |||
| MU - Mixed Use |
Amendments to the comprehensive land use map or the zoning map may be initiated by the City Commission, Planning Commission, or a property owner. Requests for a change to the comprehensive land use map and/or the zoning map must be considered by the City Commission with recommendation from the Planning Commission at public hearings.
Change in Land Use Designation
- The Comprehensive Land Use Plan may be amended regardless of the zoning district in which the subject property is located.
- To request a change to a property’s land use, contact the Planning and Zoning Division for a pre-application conference with the zoning administrator and complete the Land Use Plan amendment application.
Change in Zoning
- The zoning map may be amended without an amendment to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan if the proposed amendment would permit a use that is allowed in the existing land use category of that property.
- If a proposed amendment to the zoning map would permit a use that is not authorized within the land use category of the subject property, then the applicant must obtain an appropriate amendment to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan at the same time as applying for a zoning map amendment.
- To request a change to a property’s zoning, contact the Planning and Zoning Division for a pre-application conference with the zoning administrator and complete the zoning map amendment application.
Conditional Use Permit
- Conditional uses within each zoning district, indicated with a "C" on the Allowed Use Table, are uses that may be appropriate in a particular zoning district, but because of the increased potential for incompatibility with adjacent uses, require individual review and approval by the City Commission with a recommendation from the Planning Commission.
- A conditional use may be approved with conditions in order to mitigate impacts on nearby properties, and such conditions will be required of the current and all subsequent owners. No major amendments can occur to the conditional use permit without approval by the City Commission.
- To request a change to a property’s zoning, contact the Planning and Zoning Division for a pre-application conference with the zoning administrator and complete the conditional use permit application.