Town of Rome

Administrative Appeal

Description: An administrative appeal is a legal process in which a property owner or a concerned party challenges an administrative decision the Zoning Administrator made as authorized by the Town's zoning regulations. By their very nature, administrative decisions are purely ministerial, meaning the administrator applies the existing regulations with very little room for discretion. Therefore, an appeal generally alleges that the administrator misapplied the wrong code requirements or reached a decision contrary to the code requirements.

The Board of Zoning Appeals conducts a public hearing to review the administrator’s decision and to listen to arguments from both parties, review evidence, and make a decision. The board may uphold the original decision, modify it, or reverse it entirely. Because a decision can be overturned, the administrative appeal application must be submitted soon after the decision being appealed was made. During the review period, the administrative decision is put on hold.

The administrative appeals process is an important tool for ensuring that administrative decisions are fair, transparent, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Decision-maker: Zoning Board of Appeals makes the final decision

Application Fee

$350

Upcoming Meetings

September 2025 Plan Commission Meeting

Date Reviewed:

2025-09-09T21:00:00Z

Filing Deadline:

2025-08-19T17:00:00Z

October 2025 Plan Commission Meeting

Date Reviewed:

2025-10-14T21:00:00Z

Filing Deadline:

2025-09-23T17:00:00Z

November 2025 Plan Commission Meeting

Date Reviewed:

2025-11-11T22:00:00Z

Filing Deadline:

2025-10-21T17:00:00Z

Show more dates

Calendar Notes

1. In order for an application to be heard on a given meeting date, the application (including forms, fees, plans, reports, etc.) must be submitted AND deemed complete by Town staff on or before the corresponding submittal date. Because of that, you may want to submit your application before the submittal date. That way, we may be able to let you know if anything is missing and you'll have some time to perhaps get it done before the deadline.

2. Meeting dates and their corresponding submittal dates are subject to change.

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Application Materials

Administrative Appeal

Submit Application

Are you Ready?

Do you have a PDF of your completed application form and other required materials?

Yes No

If no, the application form is posted on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

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If I submit an application and it is not approved, can I get my application fee back?

Application fees are not refundable. They are intended to cover the costs necessary to review the application.

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Can a decision made by the Zoning Administrator be appealed?

The Zoning Administrator is authorized to make various decisions which are administrative in nature. Those decisions can be appealed to the Board of Appeals. An appeal must be made soon after the decision. Details about the procedures and other details are posted Here.

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Can a decision of the Board of Appeals be appealed?

Yes; appeals are made to the circuit court and generally must be filed with the court soon after the decision has been made.

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What is a determination of completeness?

As part of the development review process, staff will review the materials that have been submitted to make sure the application submittal is complete and ready for formal review. If an application submittal is not complete, staff will notify the applicant and describe the parts that are not complete.

A determination that an application is complete means the application is ready for formal review and does not suggest the applicant has provided sufficient information in all regards or preclude the reviewing authority from requesting additional information it deems appropriate.

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My application was denied. Can I resubmit another application?

As described in §360-21 of the zoning code, an application which has been dismissed or denied may not be considered again without material alteration or revision within one year of the decision, except on the grounds that substantial new evidence or proof of change to comply with the applicable conditions is included in the resubmitted application. Go to §360-21.

View all Frequently Asked Questions

Primary Staff Contact

Zoning Administrator

(715) 325-8019

[email protected]

About Reviewers

The following are involved in the review of this type of application.

The Zoning Board of Appeals includes 5 members and 2 alternates who are appointed by the Town Chair. The board reviews variance applications and administrative appeals.

Below are the ways we notify the public when someone submits this type of application. (ID: 207)

Meeting Agenda Meeting agendas are considered a form of public notice because they provide advance information about the topics a public body will review and may take action on during a meeting.

Mailed Notice A written notice is mailed to all property owners within 300 feet of the subject property. The notice informs nearby residents of the proposed application and provides information on how to participate in the process.

Published Notice A formal notice is published in the municipality’s official newspaper as required by state law. This notice includes key details about the proposed application, such as the type of request, the applicant, location, and the date/time of the public hearing.

ZoningHub The application and related documents are posted on the Town's ZoningHub site on the Pending Applications page. This digital posting ensures 24/7 public access to information and may include the petitioner's application, staff reports, dates for upcoming meetings, decision documents, and more.

In addition, we'll notify eAlert subscribers on the first day the application is first posted online. Sign up for eAlerts.

Zoning Code | Permit Center | Administrative Appeal