Building, Planning and Zoning
Start with a zoning permit from the City. No building permit is issued until the City has your zoning permit.
Building permits
The City contracts with PCI (Professional Code Inspections) for all building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits. Before PCI will issue building permits, you must obtain a zoning compliance permit from the City.
If the property is zoned Commercial or Industrial, you may be required to submit a site plan. Contact City Hall at 269-685-6821 if you have any questions.
No building permits will be issued until a zoning permit has been submitted to the City.
Building department forms
- Zoning Compliance Permit Application
- Plan Review Submittal Form
- Application for Building Permit
- Electrical Permit
- Plumbing Permit
- Mechanical Permit
Planning and zoning
Step 1: Pre-development meeting
Prior to beginning any development process in the City, applicants are encouraged to meet with City staff for a conceptual review meeting. This meeting can help promote a smooth approval process once a formal application is submitted. To request a conceptual review meeting, please call (269) 685-6821, or email jleonard@plainwell.org.
For more information, see our Guide to Development. Download the Zoning Compliance Permit Application and bring it with you to the meeting.
To make the best use of the meeting, the following should be known or available:
- Location
- Existing use and zoning district
- Intended development (residential, office, retail, manufacturing, and so forth)
- Preliminary sketches (hand-drawn are sufficient)
- Surrounding land uses
Any other additional information such as professional service providers, flood zone status, expected parking, and so forth are helpful but not required.
At the meeting, City staff will cover the following:
- Review the proposed use for general conformance with existing zoning
- Provide initial feedback on design (if applicable)
- Identify the correct process (site plan review, special land use, variance and so forth) and walk the applicant through what to expect
- Cover potential options for incentives through local, county or state programs
- Answer any additional questions you may have pertaining to development in Plainwell
Planning and zoning topics
- Fence permit
- New building construction
- Existing building addition or alteration
- Address ordinance questions
- Building demolition
- Moving a building
- Signs
Please refer to our
Criteria for submitting a site plan
- Schedule a meeting with city staff for preliminary review.
- Determine the zoning of the property: zoning map (PDF).
- Review ordinance district regulations. Download zoning district files: C1, C2, I, R1C, R2, CBD, R1A and B, Subdivision.
- Planning and Zoning Fees (fees are paid in office with check, cash or credit card).
- Create a site plan: Site Plan Review requirements.
- Submit a Zoning Permit application to the City.
- Submit the site plan to the Community Development Manager for departmental review and submission to the Planning Commission.
- The site plan goes to City Council with a recommendation from the Planning Commission: view Planning Commission meeting minutes.
- Email any questions to contactus@plainwell.org.
To confirm with the City: step 7 sends site plans to the Community Development Manager, a position that is open (see Job openings). Who receives site plans now?