PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT​

The Planning & Development (formally Community Development) staff works with citizens, builders and developers to encourage excellent development and maintenance of private property in Oak Ridge. The department is responsible for coordinating the City's planning and code enforcement functions, while focusing on smart growth, enhancing the tax base,  and quality of life issues. The staff oversees the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, sign regulations, planned unit developments (PUDs) and site plan reviews. Community Development also processes rezoning and permitting requests.

Our staff also provides support to the following boards and commissions: Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Oak Ridge Land Bank,  Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals and the Trade Licensing Board.

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The Planning & Development Department also administers the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a federal program whose objective is to improve communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, all principally for persons of low and moderate-income.  The City of Oak Ridge is an entitlement jurisdiction receiving an annual allocation of CDBG funds from HUD.

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The City of Oak Ridge acknowledges the importance of citizen participation in the CDBG program. Citizens are informed through public notices, public hearings, staff-attended meetings, City Council meetings, City Council work sessions and Fair Housing Month. The City's website includes a CDBG icon, with access to the CAPER, the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, the Annual Action Plan and the AI. Impediments to Fair Housing Plan. City staff attempt to stay informed about programs funded through other sources and makes every effort to inform other organizations of this information.