Athens, AL · Limestone County
Zoning Change Application
This application lets property owners request rezoning or annexation and rezoning, and is filed with the City of Athens Planning and Zoning Department for review.
- licensed online notary
- ~15 min average
- Notarized PDF emailed
What you’ll need
- Government-issued photo ID
- Webcam-enabled device (laptop or phone)
- This form, ready to upload as a PDF
What this form is
Use this application to request a change to a property's zoning district or, for annexation, to request that property be added to Athens city limits and zoned. The form asks for owner and property details, the proposed use, traffic and utility information, and supporting documents such as a deed, legal description, and scaled map. Applicants submit the request to the Planning and Zoning Department; annexation requests also require the annexation petition and related information.
Who needs it
Property owners requesting rezoning, or annexation and rezoning, submit this application and the required supporting materials to Athens Planning and Zoning.
Why it needs a notary
The application has a sworn-to-and-subscribed-before-me jurat for each applicant; each applicant signing the application must sign and swear before a notary.
How to get this notarized
- 1
Download the Application
Get the zoning change application from the City of Athens website.
- 2
Complete the Form
Enter the applicant, property, zoning, proposed-use, traffic, and utility information. Include annexation details if applicable.
- 3
Gather Supporting Documents
Prepare the required deed, legal description, map, and any other applicable ownership or annexation documents.
- 4
Book an Online Notary
Arrange a session with a commissioned online notary for each applicant who must sign a jurat.
- 5
Sign on Video
Sign and swear to the application during the online notary session.
- 6
Submit to the City
Send the completed application and supporting materials to the Athens Planning and Zoning Department.
Preview the form
The blank PDF straight from Athens. Look it over, then upload your filled copy to start the notary session.
You’ll need ID and a webcam.
A licensed online notary will join you on video, verify your government-issued ID, witness your signature, and apply their seal. You’ll receive the notarized PDF by email when the session ends.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I submit the zoning change application?
- Submit the completed request to the Planning and Zoning Department at City Hall with the required supporting documents. The form states that the submission deadline is the last Tuesday of the month.
- Do I need to sign the application before a notary?
- Yes. The applicant signature sections include a sworn-to-and-subscribed-before-me jurat. Signers should complete those sections before a notary.
- Can I use a commissioned online notary?
- Alabama law recognizes an acknowledgment taken outside Alabama when it complies with the law where it is taken and bears the officer’s official seal. Confirm with the city or town if unsure whether it will accept your notarized application.
- What documents accompany an annexation request?
- The application checklist calls for a deed, a signed petition to annex, a digital legal description, a scaled plat or map, and other ownership documentation when applicable.