Planning & Zoning « The Official Website for the City of Birmingham, Alabama

Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits
Planning and Zoning Administration

The Planning and Zoning Administration Division, following the goals and strategies of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, works to proactively guide the City’s physical development in a manner consistent with fostering equitable development and economic growth. The Planning and Zoning Administration Division works to create a vibrant City that enhances the quality of life for all of our citizens through plans, regulations, and initiatives that address zoning, land use, and planning. The Planning and Zoning Administration Division is comprised of two sections: the Zoning Administration Section (Current Planning) and the (Long Range) Planning Section.

Planning and Zoning Administration Leadership:
Tim Gambrel
Chief Planner
Timothy.Gambrel@birminghamal.gov
205-297-8059

Kim Speorl
Zoning Administrator
Kimberly.Speorl@birminghamal.gov
205-254-7712

Michael Ward
Principal Planner
Michael.Ward@birminghamal.gov
205-254-7709

Planning Section (Long Range Planning): As the primary planning entity for the City of Birmingham, the (Long Range) Planning Section promotes the comprehensive growth and development of the City and its neighborhoods by developing and working to implement the Comprehensive Plan and Community Framework Plans with and through the Birmingham Planning Commission and the Framework Plan Implementation Committees. The Planning Section also oversees the City’s zoning and land use policies and employs a variety of resources to encourage orderly business and real estate development that incorporates Comprehensive Plan policies. The Planning Section works to promote revitalization efforts outlined in the Comprehensive Plan to support a diverse and stable housing stock throughout the City. In an effort to reach the vision of the Comprehensive Plan, the Planning Section is engaged in various planning initiatives that are designed to create a more vibrant City that better supports transit and promotes more housing and business development.

Zoning Administration Section (Current Planning): The Zoning Administration Section is responsible for the overall administration of the Zoning Ordinance. The zoning ordinance serves as the City’s official policy on land use and serves to carry out the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. Implementation of the zoning ordinance also helps to ensure that the use of land does not impair the health, safety, morals, comfort, and general welfare of the citizens of Birmingham. Zoning staff has the primary responsibility of ensuring that zoning requirements are met for all residential and commercial properties and accepts zoning applications for rezoning requests, variances, and subdivision cases. Zoning Staff interacts daily with property owners, applicants, developers, elected officials, attorneys, and other various stakeholders in response to zoning inquiries, proposals, and in reviewing site plans, business licenses and other zoning related applications. The Zoning Administration Section also provides specialized support services for code enforcement personnel, regulatory agencies and the public regarding all zoning and subdivision regulations. Zoning Administration Section personnel serve as staff to three regulatory committees: The Subdivision Committee, a sub-committee of the Birmingham Planning Commission, oversees the resurvey or creation of new lots to help guide future growth and orderly development by promoting the most suitable layout and use of land according to its capacity for development and susceptibility to erosion, subsidence or environmental risk; The Zoning Advisory Committee, a sub-committee of the Birmingham Planning Commission, evaluates and makes recommendations to the City Council on the merits of applications for changes in the zoning of property based on compliance with the City’s zoning ordinance; and The Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) is a quasi-judicial board comprised of seven members, appointed by the City Council, representing such disciplines as engineering, architecture, construction and real estate. All Zoning Administration staff, serving these committees, work daily with surveyors, engineers and developers, and other City departments to implement standards of each committee or board to ensure orderly development that serves the public health and welfare.