Holiday closure schedules
Most City offices, including City Hall, will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holiday. Emergency services will be available as usual.See details
Pre-Development Conference (PDC) Process Chart(PDF, 131KB)
Pre-Development Conferences are generally scheduled in ½ hour increments and are held twice weekly. Monday conferences are scheduled between 1 and 3 p.m., and Thursday meetings are held between 9 a.m. and noon.
Pre-Development Conferences with city staff are offered for applicants to learn more about city development policies and procedures and to address site specific issues.
These meetings are meant to be a “discovery” type meeting designed to help developers in their project due diligence. These meetings cannot be serve as a comprehensive questions and answer sessions; rather they are useful in uncovering potential issues, are a good platform to create a common understanding amongst all city departments, and help to streamline the development process.
Representatives from development related city departments such as Transportation & Public Works, Water, Planning & Development and Fire are present to evaluate the project to aid the developer in their project planning.
The following items will be discussed as requested at the Pre-Development Conference:
Before land in the city of Fort Worth can be developed, it must be properly zoned and platted. Land outside the city limits but within the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is subject to platting, but not to zoning.
The public hearings for Zoning cases are typically scheduled for the Council meeting held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. Some cases may request an for alternate Council hearing date. These dates are provided on the notification and the Zoning Commission agenda.
The scheduled dates for continued cases are announced at the Zoning Commission or City Council at the time of continuance. A fee is charged for cases continued by the applicant. Visit the Zoning website for more information.
Please note the Following Requirements:
A. Persons filing an application to amend the zoning ordinance must be fully prepared to present their proposal at the Zoning Commission and City Council public hearings.
B. An application denied by the City Council cannot be accepted as a new request until one year from the date the original application was denied.
Protection and preservation of a portion of the existing trees on each site helps to achieve a multi-aged urban forest and maintain ecological balance. Urban Forestry ordinance.
The Subdivision Ordinance is Chapter 31 in the City Code. The City Code can be found on this page by scrolling to the very bottom of this page and clicking on "City Code & Charter." For additional information regarding platting in the City of Fort Worth please email the platting team, or call 817-392-8027.
The plats necessary for a project depend on the project itself and the stage of development.
A community facilities agreement (CFA) is a contract between the city and a developer that is required whenever the construction of public infrastructure is funded entirely or in part by a private developer. It ensures that new development is adequately served by public infrastructure and that the infrastructure improvements are constructed according to city standards. For more information, visit the CFA website.
Stormwater Process Chart (PDF, 186KB)
A Grading Permit is required for land disturbing activity impacting one (1.0) acre or more, or land disturbing activity less than one (1.0) acre that is part of a Common Plan of Development that equals one (1.0) acre or more. Visit the Grading Permit website for more information.
The Board of Adjustment is responsible for the hearing and deciding of appeals to the Zoning Ordinance and applications listed below, and has the necessary authority to ensure compliance. Due to case load, the cases are divided into Residential and Commercial (non-residential) boards.
Visit the Variance website for more information.
Permits are the means by which the City of Fort Worth regulates construction. There are several different types of permits, based on the type of construction: building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical. In addition, the complete demolition and relocation of buildings also requires permits. Visit the Permit webpage for more information.
An inspection is required for all construction or work for which a permit is required and shall be subject to inspection by the building official and all such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved by the building official. For more information, visit the Inspection website.
Water Miscellaneous Process Chart(PDF, 173KB)
The City's Water Department offers an in-house option for designing and constructing water or wastewater infrastructure through the miscellaneous contract process. This process is included in the City's Installation Policy and Design Criteria for Water, Wastewater, and Reclaimed Water Infrastructure. This ensures that the City's infrastructure is designed and constructed according to established guidelines and standards.
Certificate of Occupancy Change of Use Process Chart(PDF, 180KB)
If the proposed business is a different type of business than what currently operates in the space, then a new Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is needed to legally operate the business within the City of Fort Worth. A change of use permit can be applied for with or without associated remodeling. Once the permit is issued and all necessary inspections are finalized, a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued.