Explore zoning districts and recent rezoning activity in St. Joseph County, IN. ZoneWire monitors council meetings to track every zoning change.
Live records updated through October 27, 2026
Updated with meetings through October 27, 2026.
The zoning information on this page comes from official sources. Confirm the zoning of a specific parcel with the St. Joseph County planning department.
Zoning classifications used in this jurisdiction, from the adopted local code.
Preserves prime agricultural land and rural/agricultural areas beyond the periphery of incorporated areas, protecting them from encroachment of scattered urban-type uses and urban sprawl.
Protects and maintains development of single-family dwellings, plus limited compatible residential, public and institutional uses, located at the periphery of an urban area.
Provides for a wide range of housing from single-family dwellings to multifamily complexes, along with limited compatible residential, public and institutional uses.
Allows only certain limited offices and, excluding retail, clinics and commercial uses with extensive screening, serves as a buffer between residential areas and business/commercial development.
Allows only certain limited offices and businesses, excluding retail and commercial uses, serving as a transitional buffer between residential areas and commercial developments.
Provides for businesses offering the full range of convenience uses needed to meet the daily needs of residential neighborhoods, regulated to assure harmony with nearby residential districts.
Provides locations for retail sales and service uses characterized by outdoor display or sales, major vehicle repair, commercial amusement/recreation, or operations in structures not completely enclosed.
Provides for development of industrial uses that tend to generate heavy traffic, require extensive community facilities, and may require outdoor storage and operation with substantial screening.
A flexible district permitting planned mixed development under an approved PUD plan, including special regulations for mobile home parks.
An overlay (secondary) district intended to preserve and protect historic or architecturally worthy buildings, structures, sites, streetscapes and neighborhoods within the county.
Promotes development, expansion and modernization of a major college or university campus, permitting a diversity of educational and accessory campus-related commercial uses.
Floodplain regulations governing development within regulatory flood areas, including improvement location permits, regulatory flood elevation, and flood damage prevention standards.
Promotes the responsible development and expansion of solid and liquid waste disposal facilities, landfills, and comparable facilities.
These parcels came up for a zoning decision in St. Joseph County in the last 30 days, often before they hit the market. See what changed, how the vote went, and hear the moment it happened. According to ZoneWire's analysis of official public meeting records, each decision below links to its timestamped source.
St. Joseph County · Oct 20, 2026
ApprovedNW corner of Main St and State Road 23 / SW corner of Main St and Beckley St, Granger
Zoning change from B to C (1 acres), approved on Oct 20, 2026 in St. Joseph County.
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
Applicant
Unlock who filed this with ProSt. Joseph County · Oct 14, 2026
Approved · 4-3Lot area and lot width variances for 5-acre parcel north of 63727 Orange Road, approved by a 4-3 vote on Oct 14, 2026 in St. Joseph County.
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
St. Joseph County · Oct 20, 2026
Approved · 5-1Variances 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 for car wash, APC 3092-26, approved by a 5-1 vote on Oct 20, 2026 in St. Joseph County.
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
St. Joseph County · Oct 20, 2026
Approved · UnanimousVariance 2 approved; variances 3 and 5 amended and approved, APC 3092-26 (unanimous) on Oct 20, 2026 in St. Joseph County.
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
St. Joseph County · Oct 14, 2026
Approved · UnanimousRear setback variance at 128 East Cripe Street, Roseland, approved unanimously on Oct 14, 2026 in St. Joseph County.
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
In St. Joseph County, 81% of land-use board decisions were approved over the last 24 months. Variance clear 84%, Commercial / office / retail 68%. ZoneWire analyzed 91 land-use board decisions in St. Joseph County over the last 24 months. Here are the most active project types and how often each one clears.
| Project type | Decisions | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|
| Variance | 31 | 84% |
| Commercial / office / retail | 22 | 68% |
| Multifamily / attached housing | 9 | 100% |
| Subdivision / plat | 6 | 67% |
| Mixed-use | 5 | 100% |
These are the denials and deferrals in categories that usually sail through, the deals worth understanding before you commit capital.
Get free county alertsThe official St. Joseph County zoning map is maintained by the local planning department. The zoning information on this page comes from official sources, and ZoneWire monitors council meetings for rezoning activity and zoning changes in St. Joseph County.
Zoning districts in St. Joseph County include A (Agricultural District), R (Single-Family District), R-2 (Residential District), O/B (Office/Buffer District), O (Office District), B (Business District), C (Commercial District), I (Industrial District). Each district has specific permitted uses, setbacks, and density requirements set by the local code.
ZoneWire reads every council meeting in St. Joseph County to detect rezoning discussions, variances, and zoning amendments. Start a free trial to receive alerts when rezoning activity is detected.
The Area Plan Commission of St. Joseph County, through its Division of Planning & Zoning, reviews rezonings, subdivisions, and zoning matters for unincorporated St. Joseph County and its member towns. The Commission is made up of nine members representing its six member units of government: St. Joseph County and the Towns of Lakeville, New Carlisle, North Liberty, Osceola, and Roseland.
No. The City of South Bend established its own Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals effective December 1, 2019, and beginning January 1, 2020 the Area Plan Commission no longer services rezonings, subdivisions, or variances for property within South Bend. The cities of Mishawaka and the Town of Walkerton likewise handle their own local planning and zoning rather than going through the county Area Plan Commission.
A property owner files a rezoning petition and ordinance with the Area Plan Commission. The Commission holds a public hearing on the request and then forwards it to the applicable legislative body (the County Council for unincorporated areas, or the relevant Town Council) with or without a favorable recommendation. That Council holds its own public hearing and makes the final decision to approve or deny the petition. A typical rezoning takes roughly three months from filing to the final legislative decision.
The county zoning ordinance (Chapter 154, Ordinance No. 51-05, effective June 13, 2005) establishes districts including A: Agricultural, R: Single-Family, R-2: Residential, O/B: Office/Buffer, O: Office, B: Business, C: Commercial, I: Industrial, and the Planned Unit Development (PUD) district, along with special and overlay districts such as the HP: Historic Preservation Overlay, the U: University District, and the Landfill Overlay District. Each district lists its intent, permitted uses, and general development standards.
The Area Board of Zoning Appeals hears requests that fall outside a straight rezoning, including variances from the development standards and special or conditional uses that the zoning ordinance allows only with Board approval. The A: Agricultural district, per the ordinance, is established to allow agricultural uses in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan, to preserve prime agricultural land, and to protect rural and agricultural areas beyond the periphery of the incorporated municipalities from the encroachment of scattered urban-type uses and urban sprawl.
Yes. ZoneWire Free sends New Meeting Alerts for St. Joseph County at no cost, with the agenda for each meeting. ZoneWire Pro adds full transcripts, zoning and development analysis, and keyword alerts for $39 per market per month.
Our St. Joseph County record holds 13 land-use decisions heard in the last 60 days, with the vote where one was recorded.
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