Zoning Ordinance, Zoning Map & Future Land Use Plan Map

On Tuesday. April 12, 2022, the City Council adopted an update to its Zoning Ordinance, Zoning Map and Future Land Use Map in an effort to modernize and simplify the ordinance and update regulations through a strategic and community-based process. The City last updated its Zoning Ordinance in 1996 and lot has changed in that time. Cleburne has experienced significant growth and has evolved into the city it is today.

Zoning Ordinance Project Overview

This overview provides a brief walkthrough of the Zoning Ordinance and its components, including the Zoning Map and Future Land Use Plan.

The consultant for the project, Freese and Nichols, summarized the Zoning Ordinance update in this article, which details the inception, process and execution of adopting Cleburne's Zoning Ordinance. View the Zoning Ordinance, Zoning Map, and Future Land Use Plan Walkthrough here.


What is the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map?

The Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map help The Coversheet for the City of Cleburne's Zoning Ordinance shape the future development across the City. The Zoning Ordinance is a section of the City’s Code of Ordinances that regulates the development of buildings, activities, and land use. Zoning is use based; it determines what use you can have on a property such as a house or business. Zoning is regulatory; it determines how high a building can be, or how far away from the street it should be.  

The updated Zoning Ordinance reflects both current and projected market and neighborhood conditions, as well as incorporates best practices for development regulation. These regulations will serve as a tool to maintain and enhance the character of our community; promote and protect the public health, safety, and welfare of Cleburne; conserve property values; promote orderly growth; and encourage appropriate investment of land and structures throughout the city.

The updated Zoning Ordinance is user-friendly, provides clear regulations that are easy to understand and streamlines the development process for the community. A copy of the Zoning Ordinance is available here.

What is the Future Land Use Plan?

The Future Land Use Plan (FLUP), which is part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, is a high-level, 30,000-foot view of the City and serves as a guiding document, not a regulating document like a zoning map or zoning ordinance. It is a comprehensive blueprint of Cleburne’s vision for its future development pattern. The Future Land Use Plan has two components: A Map and Land Use Categories.

The Future Land Use Plan Map designates various districts within the City for particular land uses, such as residential, commercial or industrial. It is essential to note that the Future Land Use Plan Map is not a Zoning Map, which legally regulates specific development requirements on individual pieces of land. Rather, the Future Land Use Plan Map is a tool that is utilized when determining if a rezoning request is compatible with the district and neighborhood in which it is located. The Future Land Use Plan Categories designate the types of uses that are considered compatible within each district as depicted on the Future Land Use Plan Map. The Future Land Use Plan Map and Land Use Categories work in harmony to provide the City with a foundation for future development that maintains the character of Cleburne.

Have a question about the Zoning Ordinance? Give us a call at 817-645-0947 or 817-556-8811 or send us an email to [email protected]. This email is monitored by staff and will be active for questions/comments/feedback. 



Interactive Maps, Schedules and Meetings

Interactive Zoning Map

Want to find out what your property is zoned? The City of Cleburne has created a user-friendly Interactive Map where you can learn about your property’s zoning district. Click on the “Check Your Zoning Here” button below and enter in your address into the search bar to navigate to your property. A pop-up box will direct you to a pamphlet that has information about your zoning district, dimensional standards, design features and more. 

What does this mean for my property that is already developed? Your property is considered “grandfathered” which means you can continue to use your property as you are today.


A button with the text CHECK YOUR ZONING HERE