Throughout our 50-plus-year journey doing church design and construction, we’ve observed a range of pitfalls that church leaders have encountered—many of which could have been avoided with proper foresight. One preventable problem is in the realm of community relations. A positive relationship with local government, municipal services, and surrounding church neighbors can lead to smoother, more cost-effective church building projects. Here are some examples that explain why.

The Long Memory of Zoning Issues

A common challenge we’ve seen churches face relates to zoning. Over the course of years, a church’s leadership has likely changed, but cities and municipalities have long memories when it comes to zoning compliance. We’ve worked with churches that, 20 years prior, failed to meet all the zoning requirements in their church design. Fast forward to today: when these churches sought approval for new projects, they found themselves facing excessive scrutiny and delays because of what past leadership had done. The city, still remembering the past issues, was less inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt that things would now be different. This made the process of obtaining necessary approvals more challenging and time-consuming.

Maintain Neighborly Relations

Another issue arises when churches do not align with the desires and expectations of their neighbors. In one case, a church we worked with had neglected to follow through on previous agreements related to landscaping, lighting, and other exterior church building elements. Over the years, neighbors repeatedly voiced their concerns. When the church finally embarked on a new project, these unresolved issues led to significant community resistance, which further complicated the zoning approval process. The lesson here is clear: good relations with your community are invaluable. Addressing concerns proactively not only fosters goodwill, but also smooths the path for future projects.

Fire Code Violations: A Costly Oversight

Fire code violations are another area where churches can find themselves in hot water. Sometimes, minor violations are overlooked or ignored, leading to compounded issues down the road. We’ve seen situations where a church, in need of expanding or remodeling, faced strict pushback from inspectors who remembered past violations. This not only delayed the project, but also resulted in additional costs to bring the current building up to code.

Be a Community Asset

One way to measure a church’s value and goodwill is for church leaders to consider how their community would react if the church were no longer there. Would anyone notice? Would the town miss the church’s presence? Building strong relationships with local authorities and being a positive force in the community can ensure goodwill.

We once worked with a church that became an essential part of the community after a severe tornado. The tornado knocked out power lines and caused significant disruption in the area. Fortunately, the church was not heavily damaged, which allowed it to mobilize immediately. It provided meals, water, and shelter, working hand-in-hand with the city to support recovery efforts. This act of service won the church immense gratitude from local authorities and the community alike. When the time came for the church to seek approvals for a new project, the city was more willing to work with the church for a smooth approval process.

 Completing a successful church building requires more than a great church design and an experienced construction company. Strong ties in the community and with local government can make the process much smoother, also allowing for a quicker completion.

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