Zoning - What is the Board of Zoning Appeals?

The Plain Township Board of Zoning Appeals consists of six (6) legal residents of the township that are appointed by the Township Trustees to serve a five (5) year term with one (1) term expiring every year. There are five (5) permanent positions and one (1) alternate position.

The Plain Township Board of Zoning Appeals is a quasi-judicial body whose duties are imposed by statute. The Board’s powers include the following:

Hearing appeals of alleged errors made by an administrative official in the enforcement of the Zoning Resolution of the Ohio Revised Code pertaining to Township Zoning
Granting Variances (area or use) from the Zoning Resolution
Granting Conditional Use Zoning Certificates
Regulating Nonconforming Uses
The authority to Revoke a granted Variance or Conditional Use Zoning Certificate if any conditions attached to the certificate have been violated.

Area Variances may be granted only if the applicant can show Practical Difficulties.
Use Variance may be granted only if the applicant can show Special or Unnecessary Hardship, and is not merely presenting disguised rezoning.
Conditional Use Certificates may be granted only if the applicant can meet all of the legislatively prescribed standards and conditions provided in the Zoning Resolution.

In order to appeal the Board’s decision, a Notice of Appeal must be filed with the Court of Common Please within thirty (30) days of the Board’s decision.

The Plain Township Board of Zoning Appeals does NOT make Zoning Regulations or Zoning Districts; that is the function of the Plain Township Zoning Commission.

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Zoning Department
2600 Easton St. NE
Canton, Ohio 44721

Monday-Friday
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contact Information
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Related Documents

Zoning Resolution

Mini-Master Plan

2023 Zoning Annual Report

Zoning Fees

Interactive Zoning Map