City of Jacksonville TX Inspections and Zoning

The Board is hereby vested with power and authority, in appropriate cases subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards to make such exemptions to the terms of this Ordinance in harmony with its where general purpose and intent and in accordance with general or special rules therein contained for the purpose of rendering full justice and equity to the general public.

To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of their Ordinance or of any Ordinance adopted pursuant thereto.
To hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of the Ordinance upon which the Board is required to pass under this Ordinance.
To authorize upon appeal in special cases, such variances from the terms of the Ordinance as will not be contrary to the public interest, where, owing to special conditions, the literal enforcement of the provisions of the Ordinance result in unnecessary hardship, and so that the spirit of this Ordinance shall be observed and substantial justice done.

Proposal Recommended for Approval
Every Proposal which is recommended favorable by the City Planning and Zoning Commission shall be forwarded to the council for setting and holding of public hearing thereon. No change, however, shall become effective until after the adoption of an ordinance for same and its publication as required by law.
Proposal Recommended for Denial
When the City Planning and Zoning Commission determines that a proposal should be denied, it shall so report and recommend to the council and notify the applicant.

The City and Planning and Zoning Commission and/or City Council may deny any request with prejudice. If a request has been denied with prejudice, the request may not be resubmitted to the City Council for one (1) year from the original date of denial.
Three-Fourths Vote
A favorable vote of three-fourths (3/4) of all members of the City Council shall be required to approve any change in zoning when written objections are received which comply with the provision of the state laws commonly referred to as the "twenty (20) percent rule." If a protest against such proposed amendment, supplement or change has been filed with the City Secretary, duly signed and acknowledged by the owners of twenty (20) percent or more, either of the area of the lots included in such a proposed change or those immediately adjacent to the area thereof extending two hundred (200) feet form the street frontage of such opposite lots, such amendments shall not become affective except by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the City Council.

A - Single Family Dwelling District
· A-1 - Single Family Dwelling District
· A-2 - Single Family Dwelling District
· A-3 - Single Family Dwelling District
· A-4 - Single Family Dwelling Residential Attached (Townhouse) District
· A-5 - Single Family Dwelling Residential Attached (Townhouse) District
B - One and Two Family Dwelling District
· B-MH1 - Mobile Home Single Units
· B-MH2 - Mobile Homes District
C - Multi-Family (Low Density) Dwelling District
D - Multi-Family (High Density) Dwelling District
E - Multi-Family (High Density) Dwelling District
F - Local Retail District
G - Commercial District
H - Central Business District
J - Wholesale, Warehouse and Manufacturing District
K - Industrial District
L - Light Manufacturing District
M - Heavy Manufacturing District
O - Agriculture Open Space District
P - Planned Development District

To determine upon and make recommendations to City Council of a City plan;
To make studies and project plans for the improvement of the City with a view to it's future development and extension;
To act with other Municipal and Governmental agencies in formulating and executing common plans of development;
To select and recommend routes for streets and boulevards, and particularly to inventigate and recommend the opening, widening or abandoning of streets, or changing thereof to conform with a system of boulevards, parks and parkways;
To consider and report upon layout or platting of new subdivisions to the City or territory adjacent to or near the City;
To recommend and plan for improving and beautifying the parkways and streams and to cooperate with the City Council in it's devising and selection of public parks, parkways, playgrounds and other places for public recreation.
To suggest plans for zoning the City; and
Generally, to give consideration to, and to file recommendations with the City Council for the development of the City's physical labor and appearance.
To make recommendations to the City Council on zone change requests, special use permits, and day-care exception.

Plumbing and Electrical Work
When new construction, remodeling or additions involve plumbing or electrical systems, validations for plumbing or electrical work must be obtained in addition to the Building permit. Technical jobs require licensed contractors. Although the individual actually doing the work is required to make application for a permit, the owner is always responsible for making sure that a permit is obtained. Our city ordinance requires that all electrical and plumbing work be done by individuals that are licensed by the city of Jacksonville or the State of Texas.

While we recommend that all plumbing work be done by a licensed tradespersons, the Law permits the owner-occupant to do their own plumbing and electrical work if their property is homesteaded. Caution should be used when embarking on any major plumbing or electrical undertaking. Make sure you know what you are doing before you start. Call or e-mail us if you need help or have any questions and of course an inspection is still required for additions to any existing or new plumbing or electrical work. Required inspections are not to give us an opportunity to find fault with your work, but rather to assure that the work when completed is safe.

Projects
There are certain other projects that require permits before being undertaken. Some of these projects are swimming pools, certain patio covers, carports, certain utility storage buildings, canopies, signs, and underground lawn sprinkler systems. To determine that any project is done legally and meets all city code requirements, contact the Building Inspection Department before beginning.

Demolitions/Moving
Permits to demolish or move structures must be obtained before any work begins. This provides notification to remove the demolished or moved structure from the tax rolls so that the property owner will not be charged taxes on a building that no longer exists. Other city deparments are notified of demolitions or moving of building to assure that all potential dangers are removed from the vacant lot. This helps to maintain health and safety standards in the neighborhood.

Application and Permits
Permit applications may be obtained and any questions concerning permits may be answered by contacting the City of Jacksonville, Building Inspection Department. 307 Commerce Street or P.O. Box 1390, Jacksonville, Texas, 586-3510.

Why are Permits required?
Permits are required before work is started in order to give the inspection personnel an opportunity to review the plans and correct any inconsistencies with the city codes before the work is started. Correcting errors after the work is completed is much more costly then correcting them on the proposed plans.

Why are City Codes Necessary?
Governmental regulation of building construction, maitenance and use is a natural consequence arising from the experience of centruries in all civilized lands, of tragedies brought about by fire, collapse and panic.

Why are inspections necessary?
The inspection of work regulated by the codes is necessary to give the city an opportunity to assure that the work, when completed:

is built according to the plans approved when the permit application was made.
utilizes materials and equipment of approved quality.
meets minimum acceptable standards of construction.

Where did codes come from?
The requlations of building and construction through codes is not a new idea. Historians have found regulations of building construction as far back as the Babylonian Empire of Hammurabi, about 1700 B.C. through Nero's Rome and into 12th century Europe, in England in the 1600's and in America, as soon as urban life indicated the need.