Planning Services

Planning Services offers a variety of resources to help navigate the development process within the City of Waco. Access zoning regulations, permitting information, and online applications through the convenient Citizens Self-Service Portal.

• Codes and Ordinances
• Comprehensive Plan
• Development Guide(PDF, 1MB)
• Fee Schedule(PDF, 142KB)
• Planning Calendar(PDF, 212KB)

Citizens Self-Service Portal

Subscribe to the Develop Waco quarterly newsletter to receive the latest updates on ordinance changes, new developments, and resources for Waco developers.

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Planning, Inspections and Code Compliance are all divisions of Development Services. The department administers zoning, land use, and subdivision regulations to ensure the orderly, safe, and responsible development of Waco in accordance with the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

The department assists policy makers, property owners, developers, and residents in regard to zoning and development, in addition to providing information to the public regarding census and demographic information and development trends. The department also provides support to Waco City Council, Plan Commission, and Board of Adjustment.

Planners help shape the physical development of the city. Our department is responsible for reviewing development applications for compliance with the zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance, special overlay districts, historic preservation requirements, and relevant design guidelines.

• Abandonments
• Annexation
• Encroachment Agreements
• Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ)
• Historic Preservation
• Plan Review
• Subdivision Platting
• Tax Foreclosed Properties for Sale (Property Management)
• Zoning and Land Use (including special permits and PUDs)
• Zoning Special District Overlays
• Zoning District Definitions
• Zoning Verification Request

We are also responsible for ensuring compliance with the zoning ordinance. Our zoning inspector responds to complaints of alleged zoning violations and initiates fair and unbiased enforcement action to correct violations and maintain neighborhood livability.

• Inspections
• Zoning Violations

We also process permits for on-site and off-site signs, short-term rentals, Open Air Vending/Food Trucks, Street Furnishing, and Farmer’s Markets

• Sign Permits
• Short Term Rentals
• Open Air Vending/Food Truck Permits

Planners also develop policy, gather data and analyze trends, initiate and develop area plans and other special studies, and implement the vision put forth in the city’s City Plan. Long-range planning provides an opportunity for the city, in partnership with its citizens, to shape the neighborhoods where we live, work or own property, through consideration of land use, zoning, transportation, and urban design elements.

• Comprehensive Plan
• Imagine Waco Plan(PDF, 6MB)
• Transportation Planning
• Demographics and Data
• Downtown Implementation Plan(PDF, 14MB)

MGT Consulting of America was chosen to conduct an efficiency study of the Waco Development Services Department. They interviewed staff and stakeholders, reviewed permitting data, and compared Waco's services to other cities. Findings suggest that while customer service is generally positive, technological improvements and process standardization could enhance efficiency. External stakeholders expressed satisfaction with the permit application process but identified room for improvement in online resources and accessibility.

Read the Development Services Efficiency Study(PDF, 486KB)

Planned Development Services Improvements

• Replacing the existing permitting software with Maintstar. The new software will integrate the permitting process for planning and zoning, inspections, licenses, code compliance, and Waco-McLennan Public Health.
• Expand the user base of VuSpex, the virtual inspection software, so that developers can more efficiently complete the inspection process.
• Expansion of third-party inspections to support City of Waco staff.
• Public outreach efforts through the Develop Waco Newsletter, regular stakeholder meetings, trade workshops, and pre-construction meetings.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback during this study. We will continue to work to improve our processes and services to better serve the community.