SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance ch. 3, art. 3

in effect

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance § 3.300 APPLICATION REQUIRED.

§ 3.300 APPLICATION REQUIRED. Every proposal for special exception review shall be filed with the board of adjustment, in accordance with the board of adjustment’s established rules of procedure. An application may be filed by the owner of property or an authorized agent, or by the planning and development department upon recommendation of the zoning commission, plan commission, board of adjustment or city council. (Ord. 13896, passed 10-12-1999; Ord. 17522, § 5, passed 4-24-2007)

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance § 3.301 FEE REQUIRED.

§ 3.301 FEE REQUIRED. Every application shall be accompanied by the appropriate filing fee as provided in the schedule of fees and charges contained in Chapter 2 of the city code. No fee shall be charged for special exception review applications filed upon recommendation of the zoning commission, plan commission, board of adjustment or city council. (Ord. 13896, passed 10-12-1999)

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance § 3.302 NOTICE.

§ 3.302 NOTICE. (a) Written notice. Written notice of all public hearings before the board of adjustment on proposed special exceptions shall be sent to owners of real property lying within 300 feet of the subject property. Such notice shall be given not less than ten days before the date set for hearing to all such owners who have rendered their property for city taxes, as the ownership appears on the last approved city tax roll. Such notice may be served by depositing the same, properly addressed and postage paid, in the United States mail. When property lying within 300 feet of the subject property is located in territory which was annexed to the city after the final date for making the renditions which are included on the last approved city tax roll, at least 15 days’ notice of the time and place of the public hearing shall be published in an official newspaper or a paper of general circulation in the city. (b) Posted notice. (1) The city manager or a designee shall direct the erection of at least one sign upon the premises upon which a special exception use has been requested. Where possible such sign or signs shall be located in a conspicuous place or places upon such property at a point or points nearest any right-of-way, street, roadway or public thoroughfare adjacent to such property. (2) Such sign(s) shall be so erected not less than ten days before the date set for the public hearing before the board of adjustment. Any such sign(s) shall be removed subsequent to final action by the board of adjustment on the special exception application. (3) Such sign(s) shall substantially indicate that a special exception use has been requested and shall further set forth that additional information can be acquired by telephoning the number indicated thereon. (4) The erection and/or the continued maintenance of any such sign shall not be deemed a condition precedent to the holding of any public hearing or to any official action concerning such special exception use. (Ord. 13896, passed 10-12-1999)

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance § 3.303 BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ACTION.

§ 3.303 BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ACTION. (a) In taking action on an application for special exception, the board of adjustment shall grant the application only when the board determines that: (1) The use is specifically permitted under this ordinance; (2) The location of proposed activities and improvements is clearly defined on the site plan by the applicant; and (3) The exception will be wholly compatible with the existing use and permitted development of adjacent properties either as filed, or subject to such requirements as the board finds necessary to protect and maintain the stability of adjacent properties. (b) The burden of proof regarding all conditions is on the applicant. Any site or floor plan will become part of the approval of the special exception. [image omitted; see the official code] Board of Adjustment Procedure (Ord. 13896, passed 10-12-1999)

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance § 3.304 APPEAL.

§ 3.304 APPEAL. Any person aggrieved by any decision of the board of adjustment may present to a court of record a petition duly verified, setting forth that such decision is illegal, in whole or in part, and specifying the grounds of such illegality. The petition shall be presented to the court within ten days after the filing of the decision in the planning and development department in accordance with the procedures in Tex. Local Government Code § 211.011, as amended. (Ord. 13896, passed 10-12-1999; Ord. 17522, § 5, passed 4-24-2007)

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance § 3.305 LIMITATION ON REAPPLICATION.

§ 3.305 LIMITATION ON REAPPLICATION. When a proposal is denied by the board of adjustment or when the applicant has withdrawn a proposal after the giving of public notice, no new applications of like nature shall be accepted by the city or scheduled for a hearing by the board of adjustment within a period of 24 months of the date of denial or withdrawal unless the proposal is denied without prejudice; provided, however, on receipt of written request by the original applicant describing substantially changed conditions in the community since prior consideration of the proposal so as to justify an earlier review of this matter, the mandatory delay period may be waived and a new application accepted. (Ord. 13896, passed 10-12-1999)

Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance § 3.306 EXPIRATION OF SPECIAL EXCEPTION.

§ 3.306 EXPIRATION OF SPECIAL EXCEPTION. (a) A special exception shall expire and have no further effect 180 days after the board of adjustment approval, or at such alternative time as specified in the approval, unless: (1) A building permit has been issued; (2) A certificate of occupancy has been issued; or (3) The development services director grants a one-time extension for a maximum of 180 days upon written request of the applicant prior to the original expiration date. (b) Any special exception granted by the board of adjustment shall terminate automatically when the period of use specified in the board of adjustment's order has expired, or when the use ceases to be in full compliance with any condition imposed by the board of adjustment. (Ord. 23566-02-2019, § 1, passed 2-5-2019, eff. 5-28-2019; Ord. 24030-02-2020, § 22, passed 2-4-2020)

Source: City of Fort Worth, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Zoning Ordinance (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-33181Fetched: 10/26/2026