The primary purpose of the Planning Department is to implement the Comprehensive Plan and the City's Zoning Ordinance, Platting Ordinance, and other ordinances as they pertain to the City's order and growth, using the Plan as a guide to create a better place to live. Working directly with other departments such as Building, Engineering, and Health, Staff completes this in several different ways, including:

Staff also works with boards and local representatives to develop plans that directly affect the future growth and development of the City, such as the land use plan, transportation plan, and annexation plans. Planning Department Staff serves as the support for the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Historic Landmarks Commission, and other ad hoc boards and committees as needed such as the Comprehensive Planning Committee and Development Code Review Committee.

The Planning Department participates in the City's Geographic Information System to support Planning and other City activities. The City of New Braunfels Interactive GIS Website is now online. Please take a moment to see the types of information that are now available. Comal County also maintains a GIS website.

Architectural/design standards have been adopted for non-residential buildings.  View Building Design Standards here.

The City Council declared the city to have over 50,000 population on March 12, 2007. This declaration changes New Braunfels from a large rural city to a small urban city and expands the ETJ to 3 1/2 miles. Find a new map on the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction page.