Development Review & Zoning
The Planning & Community Development Department is responsible for coordinating the Village's Development Review and zoning processes to ensure that the goals set forth by the Village Board are achieved.
Winner of the Chaddick Municipal Development Process Award
"The award recognizes Arlington Heights for its exemplary, ongoing commitment to reviewing and improving its development approval processes. The panel was impressed by the continuous nature of Arlington Heights' development process review initiatives, and the responsiveness, highly professional quality and customer service orientation demonstrated by the initiatives. Your standout accomplishments provide a model for other communities seeking to achieve excellence in their development approval process" Chaddick Award Coordinator.
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Plan Commission
The Planning & Community Development Department oversees the review process for Plan Commission applications. The Plan Commission review is a multi-departmental collaboration in which Petitioners receive guidance from all appropriate Village departments prior to presenting the request at a formal public hearing. The projects reviewed by the Plan Commission are:
- Planned Unit Developments (PUD)
- Re-Zonings
- Special Uses
- Land Use Variations
- Plats of Subdivision
Plan Commission review can take a minimum of three to six months from the time an application is submitted. However, most new businesses do not need to go through the Plan Commission review process.
Please visit our Document Center to view and/or print the following applications, forms and other online resources:
- Arlington Heights Municipal Code, Chapter 28, Zoning Regulations (see Village Code documents)
- Arlington Heights Municipal Code, Chapter 29, Subdivision Control Regulations (see Village Code documents)
- Arlington Heights Plan Commission
Click here for more information on the Plan Commission.
Zoning Board of Appeals
The Planning & Community Development Department oversees the review process for Zoning Board of Appeals applications. The Zoning Board of Appeals reviews all requests for variations from the Zoning Regulations for projects which are not already being reviewed by the Plan Commission. The Zoning Board of Appeals also reviews applications to appeal the interpretation of the Zoning Regulations by the Zoning Administrator.
Please visit our Document Center to view and/or print the following applications, forms and other online resources:
Click here for more information on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Building Permits
The Planning & Community Development Department is responsible for reviewing all building permit applications for compliance with the Arlington Heights Municipal Code, Chapter 28, Zoning Regulations. The types of projects reviewed include:
- Single family construction, new structures and additions
- Fences
- Sheds, detached garages and other accessory structures
- Multi-family construction, new structures and additions
- Commercial construction, new structures and additions
Sign Permits
In addition, the Planning & Community Development Department is responsible for reviewing all sign permit applications for compliance with the Arlington Heights Municipal Code, Chapter 30, Signs.
Please visit our Document Center to view and/or print the following applications, forms and other online resources:
- Arlington Heights Municipal Code, Chapter 28, Zoning Regulations (see Village Code documents)
- Arlington Heights Municipal Code, Chapter 30, Signs (see Village Code documents)
- Sign permit application
- Sign Code Tool Kit
Click here to view more information about the building permit process.
Resource Guide to the Development and Permit Process
The Village has created a booklet to provide a guide to businesses which need to obtain licenses, permits or zoning approvals from the Village of Arlington Heights. This guide, published by the Arlington Heights Department of Planning and Community Development and the Arlington Economic Alliance, is aimed at help businesses through the development review and permit/license process. Please visit our Document Center to view the Resource Guide to the Development and Permit Process.
Zoning Fact Sheets
The Planning and Community Development Department has created a number of "fact sheets" that are designed to assist applicants with interpreting certain standard requirements of the Zoning Regulations. These fact sheets are not intended to replace the regulations set forth in the Arlington Heights Municipal Code. In instances where there is a conflict, the regulations set forth in the Arlington Heights Municipal Code shall apply. Please visit our Document Center to view and/or print the following applications, forms and other online resources:
- Required Minimum Setbacks
- Floor Area Ratio, Building Lot Coverage and Impervious Coverage
- Fences
- Community Residences
For more information on Development Review & Zoning in Arlington Heights, please feel free to e-mail or call the Department of Planning and Community Development at (847) 368-5200.