The Madison County Zoning Department serves the growing planning and development needs of the unincorporated areas of Madison County. The Zoning Department is responsible for the Madison County Zoning Ordinance, Madison County Flood Plain Regulations, Madison County 9-1-1 Ordinance and Maps:

The staff provides services and assistance regarding subdivision review, rezoning, building permits, code enforcement, conditional use permits, floodplain management, issuance

of addresses and other matters that come before the Zoning Commission, the Board of Adjustment, and the Madison County Board of Supervisors. By providing these services the Zoning Department is able to provide for and manage growth in Madison County’s unincorporated areas. The department is involved in a variety of activities associated with land development in Madison County.

This process involves meeting with developers, realtors, consultants, and citizens interested in development in the county and guiding them through the preparation and processing

of applications for zoning, platting or subdivision of property, site plans, and permitted conditional use permits.

The department is responsible for the coordination of the review by the various county departments and outside agencies. Department staff serve as the hub for the processing

of development applications, communication of the review comments, and resolution

of issues raised with development applications and the preparation of staff reports for the Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and the Board of Supervisors.

The regulations set by this Ordinance within each district shall be minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each class or kind of structure or land, as hereinafter provided:

1. No building, structure or land shall hereafter be used or occupied and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered unless in conformity with all of the regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located except agricultural uses are exempt. 

2. No building or other structure shall hereafter be erected or altered: 

 To exceed the height; 
  To accommodate or house a greater number of families; 
 To occupy a greater percentage of lot area;  To have narrower or smaller rear yards, front yards, side yards, or other open spaces; 
  In any other manner contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance. 

3. No part of a yard or other open space or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this Ordinance shall be included as part of a yard, open space or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building. 

4. No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this Ordinance shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth herein.

Yards or lots created after the effective date of this Ordinance shall meet at least the minimum requirements established by this Ordinance, except as set forth herein. 

Section 15: Zoning Certificates (click on this link to read Section 15 in its entirety)