Small Business Codes and Processes

Share Small Business Codes and Processes on Facebook Share Small Business Codes and Processes on Twitter Share Small Business Codes and Processes on Linkedin Email Small Business Codes and Processes link

The Small Business Codes and Processes project aims to support small business by evaluating a range of City Code standards. Preliminary topics or standards to be included for evaluation include exterior materials, off-street parking requirements, refuse and recycling storage standards, odor control, rooftop equipment screening, and grease interception. Links to these Code standards are provided in the important links tab on the right side of the page. There is still an opportunity to raise additional topics or questions that could be explored as part of future projects. If you have suggestions for City staff, please contact the project team members directly. You can also post questions or comments in the Q&A tool below. Staff will respond to these questions and comments at our earliest convenience.

Staff presented preliminary findings and recommendations for the project as study items at both the December 19th, 2024 Planning Commission meeting and January 5th, 2025 City Council meeting. Project documents from these meetings that outline these recommendations can be downloaded in the Project Documents tab on the right side of the project page.

Next steps for the project involve the drafting of an ordinance based on the guidance of the Planning Commission and City Council. City staff will post the draft ordinance on the project page as soon as it is available for review. It is anticipated that public hearings will be scheduled to formally consider the ordinance. The public hearings are anticipated to be held in March at Planning Commission and in April at City Council.

Decision Statement: To support small business development in Bloomington by identifying and evaluating barriers to small business creation and operation, and exploring pathways to lower these barriers, while also improving upon education to the business community on city code standards and approval procedures.

Promise to the Public: We will keep stakeholders informed, listen to, acknowledge and research concerns, and provide feedback on how issues were evaluated and prioritized. We will also provide updates on key actions and changes to codes and polices that resulted from community input.

The Small Business Codes and Processes project aims to support small business by evaluating a range of City Code standards. Preliminary topics or standards to be included for evaluation include exterior materials, off-street parking requirements, refuse and recycling storage standards, odor control, rooftop equipment screening, and grease interception. Links to these Code standards are provided in the important links tab on the right side of the page. There is still an opportunity to raise additional topics or questions that could be explored as part of future projects. If you have suggestions for City staff, please contact the project team members directly. You can also post questions or comments in the Q&A tool below. Staff will respond to these questions and comments at our earliest convenience.

Staff presented preliminary findings and recommendations for the project as study items at both the December 19th, 2024 Planning Commission meeting and January 5th, 2025 City Council meeting. Project documents from these meetings that outline these recommendations can be downloaded in the Project Documents tab on the right side of the project page.

Next steps for the project involve the drafting of an ordinance based on the guidance of the Planning Commission and City Council. City staff will post the draft ordinance on the project page as soon as it is available for review. It is anticipated that public hearings will be scheduled to formally consider the ordinance. The public hearings are anticipated to be held in March at Planning Commission and in April at City Council.

Decision Statement: To support small business development in Bloomington by identifying and evaluating barriers to small business creation and operation, and exploring pathways to lower these barriers, while also improving upon education to the business community on city code standards and approval procedures.

Promise to the Public: We will keep stakeholders informed, listen to, acknowledge and research concerns, and provide feedback on how issues were evaluated and prioritized. We will also provide updates on key actions and changes to codes and polices that resulted from community input.

  • Have you recently opened or operate a business in Bloomington? You are invited to share about your experience opening a business in Bloomington to help the City better understand the needs of local businesses as it relates to City codes, ordinances, or review processes before or after opening your business. Your survey responses will be used by the City to better understand business owner satisfaction with the City of Bloomington’s permitting, approval, and inspection processes. In addition, the responses can also inform City decision makers about potential policy or ordinance changes that could be pursued in the future. 

    Take Survey
    Share Small Business Codes and Processes Survey on Facebook Share Small Business Codes and Processes Survey on Twitter Share Small Business Codes and Processes Survey on Linkedin Email Small Business Codes and Processes Survey link
Page last updated: 08 Jan 2025, 12:09 PM