Planning Services

The Planning Services Department facilitates review and approval of site plans and subdivisions for projects that include residential, office, commercial, institutional, and industrial developments while meeting community goals through an open, transparent process. 

The Planning Services Department concentrates on three major activities: City Planning, Development Services, and Historic Preservation.

Programs provided by the Planning Services Department include:

• Community Planning
• Development Site Planning & Review
• Historic Preservation
• Land Use Regulation
• Zoning Enforcement

The department also facilitates weekly meetings of the interdepartmental Development Review Team. Development approval can take as little as seven days with this team meeting with owners, developers, engineers, architects, and design professionals to review proposals in the context of all relevant City Codes. 

View a handout on the Development Review Process.

Site Plan Resources:

• Major Site Plan Review Procedures
• Minor Site Plan Review Procedures
• Simple Site Plan Review Procedures 

Developments in Dubuque must adhere to the Unified Development Code, which regulates zoning, subdivisions, signs, site development, and historic preservation. Developments are also subject to additional city, state, and federal regulations.

The Planning Services Department provides professional development planning services to the City Council and Zoning Advisory Commission for: 

• Rezonings  
• Planned Unit Developments 
• Major Subdivision Review Procedures
• Minor Subdivision Review Procedures
• Simple Lot Split - Lot Consolidation Plat
• Zoning and Subdivision Text Amendments
• Interactive Zoning Map

The Planning Services Department also provides professional development planning services to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for: 

• Variances
• Conditional Uses
• Special Exceptions
• Appeals