As the ecommerce boom continues to grow and thrive in America today, most businesses have found themselves in need of new warehousing space.

A task that, in this crowded marketplace, is often easier said than done. Existing warehouse space tends to be gobbled up faster than it can become available, and it leaves many businesses in the position of needing to find alternative solutions – typically involving the construction of all-new warehousing space.

Building a new warehouse has its ups and downs. It can give you access to a space custom-designed for your needs, and can allow you to get things done better than before – but it can come at a pretty high price tag, both financially and time-wise.

Out of everything that needs to go into the design and construction of new warehousing space are the various local zoning ordinances. All throughout the country, from the highest to the lowest levels, various regulations are in place to make sure businesses adhere to the needs of the community they’re working in, as well as making sure the neighborhoods they occupy aren’t disrupted by their presence.

It can be a lot to understand at first, but there’s a few things to keep in mind to help make the process easier. The first (after you’ve chosen a potential location, obviously) is to understand the zone your business is located in. Cities, municipalities, and the like are typically broken up into different zones – commercial, residential, manufacturing, and the like. Before proceeding any further with your warehouse design, make sure you know the needs of the zone you’re looking to expand into, and see what you can do to bring your business up to code as needed.

Understanding the difference between the different types of zones – agricultural, manufacturing, residential, historical, etc. – will make the next few months of the process much easier.

Next, you’ll need to understand the building requirements. New buildings, even if they’re being built in a zone already designated for such usage, will have certain requirements for their design. Overall size, shape, accessibility options, and even color of materials used can all be specified by zoning boards before construction can begin, and this will have a huge impact on the design of your building. On top of balancing your need for warehouse shelving like rivet shelving or wire shelving, you need to make sure the design of your building adheres to any local requirements or standards. It can be tough to strike this balance, but it will be worth it to avoid any issues with your community down the road.

By now, you hopefully have an idea of what your warehouse is going to look like – or are working with someone to determine – and the final step now is to work with the community. It may be the most time-consuming part of the process, but it’s a necessary step for making sure your proposals don’t get rejected or denied. By promptly submitting all needed designs and paperwork as requested, you can both move the project forward more smoothly, and show your dedication to the community.

With a little understanding of the various challenges and requests you’re going to face, the zoning process may go better than you expect – and can help you get to work even quicker.