Carlisle has several zoning districts that provide the basis for determining the permitted uses and development of the property within each zone.

Zoning Districts

Single Family Residential Districts (Chapter 1262)
  • R-1 Low Density Single-Family District is established to encourage the creation and preservation of low-density single-family residential neighborhoods and to limit the establishment of non-residential uses to those that are compatible with the intended low-density neighborhood character. The stipulated density is intended to provide for areas of suburban character in the community.  ​
  • R-2 Single-Family District is established to promote, preserve and protect medium-low density predominantly single-family neighborhoods in Carlisle. 

Multi-Family Residential Districts (Chapter 1264)
  • R-3 Multi-Family District is established to provide, preserve and protect medium density residential areas for attached single-family dwellings arranged to provide good building site design and effective open space in areas adequately served by municipal sewer, water and streets.​
  • ​R-4 Multi-Family District is established to provide, preserve and protect locations for high-density apartment style development in areas with appropriate levels of service. 

Business Districts (Chapter 1268)
  • B-1 Neighborhood Business District.  The purpose of the B-1 Neighborhood Business District is to encourage the establishment of areas for convenience business uses which tend to meet the daily needs of the residents of an immediate neighborhood. Such Districts shall be strategically located with access to a collector street. Marginal strip development is prohibited.
  • ​B-2 General Business District.  The purpose of the B-2 General Business District is to encourage the establishment of areas for general business uses to meet the needs of a regional market area. Activities in this District are often large space users and the customers using these facilities generally do not make frequent purchases. Shopping centers shall be the predominant building approach. Strip development is prohibited. B-2 Districts shall be located on arterial streets.
  • ​B-3 Central Business District. The purpose of the B-3 Central Business District is to accommodate and encourage further expansion and renewal in the historical core business area of the community. A variety of business, institutional, public, quasipublic, cultural, residential and other related uses are encouraged in an effort to provide the mix of activities necessary to establish a truly urban character.

Industrial Districts (Chapter 1270)
  • ​M-1 Light Manufacturing District is for office and industrial uses in areas suitable for such development by reason of location, topography, soil conditions and the availability of adequate utilities and transportation systems.  The intent is to permit office and other uses such as limited light industrial and warehouse activities that are office-like in physical appearance, service requirements, and operational characteristics; uses that can be carried on wholly within enclosed buildings and subject to those regulations necessary to reduce congestion and for the protection of adjacent residential and business activities. This district also permits accessory retail and service uses to serve as support services for the adjacent office/industrial uses.  The uses allowed are those that because of their normally unobjectionable characteristics can be operated in relatively close proximity to residential districts.  The M-1 District is designed to encourage the development of office/light industrial parks/subdivisions by including reduced standards for lots that are part of a development and which have access onto a new internal street.
  • M-2 General Manufacturing District is for industrial and other uses that by virtue of their external effects, noise, glare, fumes, smoke, dust, odors, truck and/or rail traffic, should be isolated from residential and commercial uses.  These uses perform essential functions for the Municipality, including employment, and should be provided for in areas that are best suited for industrial development by reason of location, utilities and transportation systems. Uses in the M-2 Districts typically generate outdoor activities and outdoor storage in association with permitted principal uses. ​

Planned Overlay Development District (Chapter 1266) 
  • Planned Overlay Development District ("PDOD") is a zoning district which is applied over one or more previously established zoning districts, creating  additional or stricter standards and criteria for the covered properties in addition to those of the underlying zoning district.

Permitted Use

This is a use which may be lawfully established in a particular zoning district(s), provided it conforms with all requirements, regulations and standards of the applicable zoning district. Although allowed by the Zoning Ordinance, many permitted uses require submission of an application and detailed plans, prior to the issuance of a permit.  A complete list of permitted uses in contained in the Zoning Ordinance, which is located in section 12 of the Codified Codes of Ordinances.

Conditional Use

This is a use that because of its unique characteristics cannot be classified as a permitted use in a particular zoning district.  If certain standards are met, however, a conditional use may be granted by the Planning Commission. A Conditional Use requires submission of an application along with adequate plans and documentation showing that the proposed conditional use will conform to applicable standards. The Conditional Use application will be reviewed and approved, denied, or approved with conditions by the Planning Commission in a public hearing format.

Variance

A variance is designed to afford a property owner the opportunity for relief from a particular hardship or practical difficulty which the Zoning Ordinance may impose upon a particular parcel of land making compliance with the regulations in a zoning district extraordinarily difficult or impossible. The owner of a property, or the owner's agent, for which a variance is sought, must initiate a request for a variance. The variance application shall be completed by the applicant with any information as a justification for the variance, a site plan of the proposal for which the variance is being sought, a list of names and property owners within five hundred (500) feet, a filing fee, and other information as the Village may reasonably require. A public hearing for variance requests is conducted by the Planning Commission. A variance application will be reviewed and approved, denied, approved with conditions, or recommended that the applicant modify and resubmit the request.

Rezoning

The owner of a property, the owner's agent, or the Village must initiate a request for a rezoning. The rezoning application must be completed by the applicant with any information as a justification for the rezoning, a site plan of the proposal for which the rezoning is being sought, a list of names and property owners within five hundred (500) feet, a filing fee, and other information as the Village may reasonably require. The rezoning application will be reviewed, and either approved or denied by the Planning Commission in a public hearing format.