The process begins with submitting an application on any business day at the Intake Center, 4th floor, One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, and may be found at (link to application). Each zoning application is assigned to a Case Manager and a review team. Once your application has been submitted, any questions, problems, conflicts, etc. should be directed to the Case Manager, who will serve as the liaison between you and the City of Austin and be your main point of contact. If you need to see your Case Manager, it is suggested an appointment be made in advance. A written report from staff will be available to the applicant and the public several days before the item is scheduled for review by the Land Use Commission.

Zoning requests are typically heard by the assigned Land Use Commission on the fourth or fifth Tuesday of the month following the date of submittal (approximately 6 to 7 weeks), and by the City Council on the fourth Thursday following the Commission’s recommendation. City Council approvals or approvals with conditions result in a city ordinance which must be voted on and approved by the City Council in three readings (2nd and 3rd readings can be combined). Adopted city ordinances are available at the Public Records Search.

In an area with a neighborhood plan, a zoning or rezoning within a neighborhood planning area follows the same procedure as cases outside of the planning areas as long as the application is not amending the neighborhood plan or the Future Land Use Map for that area. You would need to file a neighborhood plan amendment case if you are seeking a land use designation that is different from the Future Land Use Map for the neighborhood plan where the subject property is located. To determine if you need a neighborhood plan amendment, please follow the instructions on the Plan Amendment Process application.