Fresno is updating parts of its zoning code with an eye toward helping small businesses open and grow, particularly the neighborhood shops and eateries that give districts their character. Simpler, clearer rules are a central goal.
Entrepreneurs have long cited confusing regulations and slow approvals as barriers to getting started. Officials say modernized zoning can reduce guesswork and make it easier to reuse existing storefronts.
City staff plan to gather feedback from business owners before finalizing the changes, noting that small businesses are a major source of local jobs.
