Attorney Neil Lindberg provides an introduction to special or conditional use permits, and the role they play in local zoning ordinances. I want to briefly discuss just what special permits are, and then comment on some of the standards local boards employ when reviewing special permit applications.
Special permits appear in various forms.
The same device may be termed a conditional use permit, or a special use permit in your community. Special permits are approvals given to uses that meet certain standards or conditions which are listed in the local zoning ordinance. The conditions are often designed to ensure that the use will not adversely affect nearby, existing uses. For this reason, uses such as gas stations and convenience stores often require special permits. Local governments are also increasingly coming to require special permits for major development proposals.