Zoning, Codes, & Ordinances

The City of Spring Valley Village, Texas, located at 1025 Campbell Road, Houston, Texas, is a zoned City. You probably considered this fact very favorably in deciding to become a resident of the City. In fact, many people feel this a major consideration in their decision to live in the City of Spring Valley Village.

Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance

The City's Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance is an exercise of the legislative power granted to Texas cities by the state. In 1927, the Texas Legislature adopted statutes authorizing zoning for Texas municipalities. The purpose of zoning is protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. Zoning regulates the use of land and buildings in the City. As a creation of state law, zoning is governed by strict procedures.

Board of Adjustment

The Board of Adjustment is an administrative body authorized by state law and City's Zoning Ordinance. Pursuant to this authorization, the Board of Adjustment has 3 major responsibilities:
  • To authorize variances
  • To hear appeals from decisions (zoning related issues only) of the Building Official of the City
  • To determine if special exceptions are authorized and required by the Zoning Ordinance.
Taking any action related to or affecting this City's zoning regulations is not a matter undertaken lightly.

Member Appointment

Members of the Board of Adjustment, and alternate Board members, are appointed by the City Council and serve on the Board for 2 years. They may be reappointed for additional terms of service.

Board Duties & Powers

A Board of Adjustment has no legislative authority to enact, amend, or alter the Zoning Ordinance - that power rests solely with the City Council. The Board of Adjustment conducts hearings and functions somewhat like a court of appeals. For example, if a citizen feels that literal interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance in their particular set of circumstances would result in unnecessary hardship, then the Board may be authorized to act to grant a variance from the terms of the Zoning Ordinance, so long as the Board determines that the variance is not contrary to the public interest; that there are special conditions applicable to the property, and it concludes that the spirit of the ordinance is observed and substantial justice is done. The burden of proof of the hardship rests with the individual, and a purely economic "hardship" alone is insufficient. A citizen also has a right to appeal to the Board if the citizen believes that a City official has interpreted the Zoning Ordinance erroneously.



Voting

A vote of 4 out of 5 Board members is required to grant a variance, decide an appeal, or take other action.

Meetings

Meetings are scheduled on an as needed basis. In order to schedule a hearing before the Board, a citizen must contact the City Secretary to file a request for the hearing and pay the required fee. This fee offsets the costs of public notices of the hearing as well as other administrative costs. The process of publishing and giving notice takes several weeks.


Applicable Codes

The City of Spring Valley Village has adopted the 2015 Edition of the following International Codes, (unless posted otherwise):
  • National Electrical Code (2014 Edition)
  • Building
  • Energy
  • Fire
  • Fuel gas codes
  • Mechanical
  • Plumbing
  • Residential
The city enforces these codes and the technical standards they reference to obtain building permits or certificates of occupancy, compliance with the City of Spring Valley Village design standards and development codes.

Licensing & Regulation

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) must review commercial projects with a valuation greater than $50,000 for accessibility standards (Texas Senate Bill No. 484). Contact TDLR at 800-803-9202. Building permit application will not be accepted for construction covered by this law unless TDLR verifies the required review.

Both commercial and residential projects must show compliance with the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code (Texas Senate Bill No. 5).

Energy Code

The City Of Spring Valley will not conduct inspections or plan reviews for compliance with the energy code; therefore, it will be up to the contractor to obtain a 3rd party inspection and plan review services. All plan review and inspections must be submitted to the permit division prior to cover up and prior to building final and a certificate of occupancy is issued.