Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).
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The Board of Zoning Appeals is a 5 -member body responsible for hearing appeals from individuals who are requesting exceptions or variations for City Ordinances in regard to land use and building requirements or from individuals appealing to decisions from the Architectural Design Review Board.
Questions? Contact:
Andrew J Schweier, Secretary (Planning & Zoning Specialist)
Email: aj.schweier@hamilton-oh.gov | Phone: (513) 785-7373
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Read the Board of Zoning Appeals Rules and Procedures/BZA By-Laws online.
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The Board of Zoning Appeals meets the first Thursday of every month at 9:00 a.m. in City Council Chambers (345 High Street, Hamilton1 OH 45011).
Spam, Scams, and Spoof Alert:
The City of Hamilton is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your digital safety. We have recently seen an increase in "spoofing" attempts—fraudulent emails designed to look like official city communications to trick you into sharing personal data or making unauthorized payments.
To help you protect yourself, please keep the following guidelines in mind when reviewing any email claiming to be from the city.
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How to Verify an Official City Email
Check the Sender Address: Official correspondence from the City of Hamilton will always come from an address ending in @hamilton-oh.gov. Any email address that deviates from ending in @hamilton-oh.gov should raise suspicion, even if only by one character.
Payment Requests: The city will never ask you to pay utility bills, property taxes, code enforcement, permits, or parking fines via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
Request for Sensitive Data: We will never ask for your full Social Security Number, bank PINs, or passwords over email.
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What to Do If You’re Unsure
If you receive an email regarding a late payment or a legal notice that seems suspicious:
Do Not Click Links: Avoid clicking any buttons or downloading attachments.
Verify via the Official Portal: Log in directly to your account.Call Us Directly: When in doubt, call our main office at 513-785-7000. Do not use any phone numbers provided within the suspicious email.
The "Hover" Rule: Move your mouse cursor over a link (without clicking) to inspect the true destination URL, which often appears in the bottom-left corner of your browser. This technique validates if the link is safe or a phishing attempt.
Note: Scammers often use a "sense of urgency," claiming your water will be shut off or legal action is imminent. Please stay calm and verify the claim through official channels first.
Variance Request.
The Hamilton Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) hears appeals for variances from the Hamilton Zoning Ordinance (HZO) provisions. A variance is a request for an exception to the zoning regulations.
Exceptions to the rules of the Zoning Ordinance can be allowed only when there are unique and exceptional circumstances related to a particular property. If strictly following the Zoning Ordinance would cause significant problems or unfairness, then exceptions might be considered. This is to ensure that the intention behind the Ordinance is respected, and that public safety and well-being are protected, while also ensuring fairness.
A variance of the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance shall not be authorized by the Board unless the Board finds that practical difficulties exist to justify a variance.
In making a determination to allow a variance, the Board considers and weighs the following factors:
Will the property yield a reasonable return or can there be a beneficial use of the property without the Variance?
Is the Variance substantial?
Would the Variance cause a substantial alteration in the essential character of the neighborhood or cause a substantial detriment to the adjoining properties?
Would the Variance adversely affect the delivery of governmental services?
Did the property owners purchase the property with the knowledge of the zoning restriction?
Could the problem be solved in some other manner other than the granting of the Variance?
Would the Variance preserve the spirit and intent of the zoning requirement and substantial justice be done by granting the variance?
Upcoming BZA Meeting
Questions concerning upcoming meetings, cases, or other inquiries can be directed to the Planning Department.
Email: planning@hamilton-oh.gov | Phone: (513) 785-7350