Public Works Planning and Building Divisions oversee development in the City (commercial/residential plan review, permits and inspections). Both divisions are involved in a wide range of physical planning and development review activities (see Development Review Guide). Please contact us if you have any questions about planning or the development review process.

The Planning Division reviews annexations, street vacations, rezoning requests, conditional use permits and subdivisions of land within the City of Janesville and within the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Review Boundary Area. The division also works to develop and maintain the City's Comprehensive Plan (Master Plan) which identifies Janesville's 25-year growth limits, prepares fiscal impact reports, drafts Zoning Ordinance amendments, prepares long range plans to assist the Council in the growth of the City, assists with downtown development projects, assigns addresses to properties and provides projections on population, housing, land use, environment, utilities, community facilities and the economy.

The Planning Division provides staff support for the Plan Commission, Historic Commission, City Council, Janesville Committee, Janesville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Technical and Policy Committees. In addition, staff reviews site plans to determine compliance with zoning and development code requirements. The division provides information to private developers and members of the development community conducting market analyses for clients as well as advice on site design and layout. The division maintains an excellent base of information for this purpose including neighborhood plans, aerial photographs and socio-economic/demographic data for sub-areas of the city.

Helpful Links 

• U.S. Census Bureau 
• U.S. Census Bureau's Data Tool  
• Wisconsin Department of Administration - Demographic Services Center 

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