Zoning Hearing Board

The Zoning Hearing Board is a quasi-judicial body that hears and renders decisions regarding specific types of land use actions, as established by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.  The primary purpose of the Zoning Hearing Board is to ensure the fair and equitable application of the Zoning Ordinance. It has jurisdiction to hear and decide the following, but it is not limited to: applications for Variances, applications for Special Exceptions, procedural challenges to the Zoning Ordinance and appeals from the determination of the Zoning Officer.

The most common request before the Zoning Hearing Board is a Variance Request:  When an applicant believes the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance inflict unnecessary hardship, the applicant may request the Zoning Hearing Board grant a variance.  Click here for the hardship criteria.

Another request before the Zoning Hearing Board is a Special Exception Request:  A special exception is a use permitted or denied by the Zoning Hearing Board provided certain standards are met.