About the Department

The mission of the Department of Land Use & Planning is to prompt and support the responsible and intelligent growth of communities throughout the city. The Division of Land Use ensures that all development processes are properly integrated to allow the efficient review and response to all appropriate requests to develop land in Wilmington, which includes reviewing plans and specifications for renovations and new construction. The Division of Planning provides and promotes creative and thoughtful prospective direction on how broader urban planning issues and priorities can be identified, researched, and implemented.

The Department of Land Use and Planning is responsible for guiding construction and development through the issuance of permits, licenses, certificates, and appropriate inspections to facilitate compliance. The Department is tasked with preparing, modifying, and maintaining neighborhood comprehensive development plans, land use regulations, and demographic and social impact studies. In addition, the Department serves as the principal liaison between city government, community organizations, and planning councils and works in partnership with these groups in developing neighborhood plans. The Department assists in the identification of community needs, the determination of governmental priorities, and the design of programs.

Major activities pursued by officials in this department include:

• Plan reviews, building permits, and inspections
• Business licenses and sign permits
• Administration of Zoning Code, Zoning Map, and Code amendments
• Preparing the annual capital budget and capital improvement programs
• Proposing amendments to the capital budget, zoning code, urban renewal plan, and comprehensive plan
• Processing site plan applications, street and public facility naming/renaming, street removals, major and minor subdivisions, demolition requests, and annexations
• Overseeing the City's 12 City Historic Districts
• Conducting environmental and historic reviews of federally funded projects
• Providing staff support to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, City Planning Commission, Design Review and Preservation Commission, and the Neighborhood Planning Council Leadership
• Compiling and disseminating economic and demographic data
• Conducting historic & cultural preservation planning activities
• Preparing land and use planning studies and policy research

Recent Planning Efforts

• Wilmington 2028 A Comprehensive Plan for Our City and Communities (2019)

• Moving Us Forward: A Plan for Biking in the City of Wilmington (2019)

• 12th Street Connector Transportation Improvement Study (2019)

• East 7th Street Peninsula Study (2019)

• Appendix A – PEL Checklist

• Appendix B – Flood Hazards

• Appendix C – Workshop Summary