Through zoning, a community is divided into districts or zones, each of which has a set of regulations governing land use and the height, size, spacing and layout of buildings, and other essential elements of developments. Zoning is a means of promoting the public health, safety, morals and general welfare and protecting areas or places of historical or cultural significance. The authority to zone is granted to Texas cities by the state, and the process by which zoning is accomplished is spelled out in the Texas statutes.

• Special Permits are required for certain uses, depending on the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance requirements or base zoning district regulations.
• Certain Planned Development Districts provide for the ability to request a modification to any of the standards of the district's code. Special Development Plans and Major Modifications are processed as an amendment to the district zoning ordinance.

The interactive Zoning Atlas map shows current zoning districts and Special Permits for property within the City of Richardson as approved by the Richardson City Council. A zoning atlas PDF is available for download, but is only updated on an annual basis.

Click within the districts (blue polygons) or on the Special Permit marker (red points) for more information. Additional search functionality is available when the map is opened in full screen.

Property owners may apply for special permits and changes to zoning on their property.

The following information is provided for each district and Special Permit:

Zoning Districts

• Zoning — The base zoning district for the property as described in the Richardson Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.
• Ordinance — The amending ordinance number for the zoning approval, listing the legal description of the property, the zoning district for the property, and any additional conditions and requirements beyond the base zoning regulations.
• Approved — The date that the Richardson City Council approved the amending ordinance. If multiple amending ordinances are listed, the approval date for the most recent ordinance is listed.
• CZO Chapter PDF — A downloadable PDF of the chapter of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for the base zoning district.
• Amending Ordinance PDF — A downloadable PDF of the amending ordinance(s) for the district as approved by the City Council. If multiple amending ordinances are in effect, each ordinance is included in the packet in descending order.

Special Permits

• Ordinance — The amending ordinance number for the Special Permit. The ordinance includes the location for the use, the use for the property, along with any additional conditions and requirements.
• Approved — The date that the Richardson City Council approved the amending ordinance. If multiple amending ordinances are listed, the approval date for the most recent ordinance is listed.
• Amending Ordinance PDF — A downloadable PDF of the amending ordinance(s) for the Special Permit as approved by the City Council. If multiple amending ordinances are in effect, each ordinance is included in the packet, in descending order.

Development Plans

• District — The name of the District the development plan is located in. 
• Plan Type — Whether the development plan is a Major Modification or a Special Development Plan, as designated by the District's code.  
• Ordinance — The amending ordinance number for the Development Plan.
• Approved — The date that the Richardson City Council approved the amending ordinance. If multiple ordinances are listed, the approval date for the most recent ordinance is listed.
• District Regulations PDF — A downloadable PDF of the overall planned development district regulations, along with all amending ordinances for the district.
• Amending Ordinance PDF — A downloadable PDF of the amending ordinance(s) for the Development Plan as approved by the City Council. If multiple amending ordinances are in effect, each ordinance is included in the packet in descending order..