The City of Haltom City, through its Planning & Zoning Department, provides an important service to citizens and developers by helping to ensure that new construction and new businesses are in compliance with the City zoning and development ordinances and that land within the City is platted in accordance with the adopted subdivision ordinance. Also, it is through this department that these ordinances are updated periodically and assistance with zoning or other development questions is provided.

Questions regarding zoning and other development related issues may be discussed in more detail through the recommended pre-application conference provided by the City at no cost to the citizen or developer. The purpose of this service is to determine which development regulations will apply to specific properties. The City recommends this process prior to the property owner or proposed owner hiring and engineer or surveyor.

Zoning regulates how land is used and protects the character of each district. Zoning helps protect property values and the overall quality of the community, as a whole, through controlling density of construction and intensity of land use, as well as setting standards for landscaping, screenings, building setbacks and height. Certain qualifications & procedures must be met when applying for a zoning change.

Platting is the way in which property is divided through laying out on paper or mapping each piece of land. A recorded plat indicates lots, building lines, easements, right-of-way, flood areas, boundary markers and other permanent attachments to the land. The platting process also requires that certain procedures be followed.