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ARTICLE I:  PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY
1‑1 SHORT TITLE 1‑1
1‑2 REPEALS AND ENACTMENT 1‑1
  1‑2.1 Repeal of Inconsistency 1‑1
  1‑2.2 Enactment 1‑1
  1‑2.3 Effective Date 1‑1
1‑3 PURPOSE 1‑1
  1‑3.1 General Purpose 1‑1
  1‑3.2 Manufactured Housing Regulation Purpose 1‑2
  1‑3.3 Sign Regulation Purpose 1‑2
  1‑3.4 Off-Street Parking, Stacking, and Loading Regulation Purpose 1‑2
  1‑3.5 Buffer Yard Purpose 1‑3
1‑4 JURISDICTION 1‑3
1‑5 AUTHORITY 1‑4
1‑6 ABROGATION 1‑4
1‑7 COMPLIANCE 1‑4
  1‑7.1 Compliance 1‑4
  1‑7.2 Voluntary Compliance 1‑4
1‑8 RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1‑4
1‑9 FEES 1‑4
1‑10 SEVERABILITY 1‑5
  1‑10.1 Invalidation 1‑5
  1‑10.2 Prejudicial Application 1‑5
  1‑10.3 Lawful Presumption 1‑5
     
ARTICLE II     INTERPRETATIONS AND DEFINITIONS
2‑1 INTERPRETATION OF ORDINANCE 2‑1
  2‑1.1 Minimum Requirements 2‑1
  2‑1.2 Greater Restrictions Govern 2‑1
  2‑1.3 Rounding of Numbers 2‑1
  2‑1.4 Figures and Tables 2‑1
2‑2 RULES OF CONSTRUCTION 2‑1
  2‑2.1 Word Interpretation 2‑1
  2‑2.2 Rules of Construction 2‑1
2‑3 DEFINITIONS 2‑2
     
ARTICLE III    ADMINISTRATIVE MECHANISMS
3‑1 PLANNING BOARD 3‑1
  3‑1.1 Authority 3‑1
  3‑1.2 Appointment and Terms of Planning Board Members 3‑1
  3‑1.3 Meetings of the Planning Board 3‑2
  3‑1.4 Quorum and Voting 3‑2
  3‑1.5 Planning Board Officers 3‑3
  3‑1.6 Powers and Duties of Planning Board 3‑3
  3‑1.7 Advisory Committees 3‑3
3‑2 BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT 3‑4
  3‑2.1 Authority 3‑4
  3‑2.2 Appointment and Terms of Board of Adjustment 3‑4
  3‑2.3 Meetings of the Board of Adjustment 3‑5
  3‑2.4 Quorum 3‑5
  3‑2.5 Voting 3‑5
  3‑2.6 Board of Adjustment Officers 3‑7
  3‑2.7 Powers and Duties of Board of Adjustment 3‑7
3‑3 ZONING INSPECTOR 3‑8
  3‑3.1 Establishment 3‑8
  3‑3.2 Duties of the Zoning Inspector 3‑8
3‑4 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 3‑8
3‑5 TOWN CLERK 3‑9
     
ARTICLE IV:  PERMITS AND PROCEDURES
4‑1 PERMIT REQUIRED 4‑1
4‑2 PERMIT EXEMPTIONS 4‑1
  4‑2.1 Zoning Permit Exemptions 4‑1
4‑3 PERMIT APPLICATIONS AND PLANS 4‑2
  4‑3.1 General Requirements 4‑2
  4‑3.2 Site Plan and Plot Plan Procedures 4‑2
4‑4 PERMIT ISSUANCE 4‑3
  4-4.1 Display of Zoning and Building Permits 4-3
4‑5 INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS 4‑4
  4‑5.1 Periodic Inspections 4‑4
  4‑5.2 Investigations 4‑4
  4‑5.3 Written Statements 4‑4
4‑6 ZONING PERMITS 4‑4
4‑7 SPECIAL USE PERMITS 4‑6
  4‑7.1 Special Use Permit Review Process 4‑6
  4‑7.2 Recommendations on Special Use Permits 4‑6
  4‑7.3 Public Hearing Requirements and Procedures 4‑6
  4‑7.4 Board of Commissioners Action on Special Use Permits 4‑8
  4‑7.5 Additional Requirements on Special Use Permits 4‑9
4‑8 AUTHORIZING USE OR OCCUPANCY BEFORE COMPLETION OF
DEVELOPMENT UNDER ZONING AND SPECIAL USE  PERMITS		 4‑11
4‑9 COMPLETING DEVELOPMENTS IN PHASES 4‑11
4‑10 EXPIRATION OF PERMITS 4‑11
4‑11 EFFECT OF PERMIT ON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS 4‑12
4‑12 AMENDMENTS TO AND MODIFICATIONS OF PERMITS 4‑13
4‑13 RECONSIDERATION OF BOARD ACTION ON SPECIAL USE PERMITS 4‑14
4‑14 MAINTENANCE OF COMMON AREAS, IMPROVEMENTS, AND FACILITIES 4‑14
4‑15 ZONING VESTED RIGHTS 4‑14
4‑16 CERTIFICATE OF ZONING COMPLIANCE 4‑17
     
ARTICLE V:  ENFORCEMENT
5‑1 VIOLATIONS 5‑1
  5‑1.1 Development Without Permit 5‑1
  5‑1.2 Development Inconsistent With Permit 5‑1
  5‑1.3 Violation by Act or Omission 5‑1
  5‑1.4 Use in Violation 5‑1
  5‑1.5 Continue a Violation 5‑1
5‑2 ENFORCEMENT INTENT 5‑1
5‑3 ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES 5‑2
  5‑3.1 Notice of Violation 5‑2
  5‑3.2 Appeal 5‑2
  5‑3.3 Order of Corrective Action 5‑2
  5‑3.4 Failure to Comply with an Order 5‑2
5‑4 PENALTIES AND REMEDIES 5‑2
  5‑4.1 Injunction 5‑3
  5‑4.2 Civil Penalties 5‑3
  5‑4.3 Denial of Permit or Certificate 5‑3
  5‑4.4 Conditional Permit 5‑3
  5‑4.5 Revocation of Permits 5‑3
  5‑4.6 Criminal Penalties 5‑3
  5‑4.7 State and Common Law Remedies 5‑3
5‑5 CIVIL PENALTIES - ASSESSMENT AND PROCEDURES 5‑3
  5‑5.1 Penalties 5‑3
  5‑5.2 Notice 5‑4
  5‑5.3 Responsible Parties 5‑4
  5‑5.4 Continuing Violation 5‑4
  5‑5.5 Demand for Payment 5‑4
  5‑5.6 Nonpayment 5‑4
5‑6 PERMIT REVOCATION 5‑4
  5‑6.1 General 5‑4
  5‑6.2 Special Use Permit Revocation 5‑5
  5‑6.3 Zoning Permit Revocation 5‑5
5‑7 JUDICIAL REVIEW 5‑5
  5‑7.1 Appeal to Superior Court 5‑5
  5‑7.2 Timing of Appeal 5‑5
     
ARTICLE VI:  NONCONFORMING SITUATIONS
6‑1 GENERAL 6‑1
6‑2 NONCONFORMING LOTS 6‑1
  6‑2.1 Single Lot of Record with Lot Area and/or Lot Width Nonconformity 6‑1
  6‑2.2 Lots with Contiguous Frontage in One Ownership 6‑1
  6‑2.3 Reduction of a Lot of Record 6‑2
  6‑2.4 Lot of Record with Setback Nonconformity 6‑2
6‑3 NONCONFORMING USE OF LAND 6‑2
  6‑3.1 Continuance of Nonconforming Use of Land 6‑2
  6‑3.2 Conditions for Continuance 6‑2
  6‑3.3 Extension, Enlargement or Replacement of a Nonconforming Use 6‑3
6‑4 NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES 6‑4
  6‑4.1 Continuance of Nonconforming Structure 6‑4
  6‑4.2 Conditions for Continuance 6‑4
  6‑4.3 Preservation of Safe or Lawful Conditions 6‑5
6‑5 MISCELLANEOUS NONCONFORMING SITUATIONS 6‑5
  6‑5.1 Nonconforming Situation Resulting From Governmental Acquisition 6‑5
  6‑5.2 Nonconforming Parking Created By Change of Use 6‑5
6‑6 NONCONFORMING PROJECTS 6‑6
6‑7 NONCONFORMING SIGNS 6‑6
  6‑7.1 Continuance of Nonconforming Signs 6‑6
  6‑7.2 Violations of Nonconforming Sign Provisions 6‑7
     
ARTICLE VII:  APPEALS, VARIANCES, INTERPRETATIONS
7‑1 APPEALS 7‑1
7‑2 VARIANCES 7‑1
7‑3 INTERPRETATIONS 7‑2
7‑4 REQUESTS TO BE HEARD EXPEDITIOUSLY 7‑2
7‑5 BURDEN OF PROOF IN APPEALS AND VARIANCES 7‑3
7‑6 BOARD ACTION ON APPEALS AND VARIANCES 7‑3
7‑7 HEARING PROCEDURES REQUIRED ON APPEALS AND VARIANCES 7‑3
7‑8 NOTICE OF HEARING 7‑4
7‑9 EVIDENCE 7‑4
7‑10 MODIFICATION OF APPLICATION AT HEARING 7‑5
7‑11 RECORD 7‑5
7‑12 WRITTEN DECISION 7‑5
     
ARTICLE VIII:  AMENDMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT MORATORIA
8‑1 AMENDMENTS IN GENERAL 8‑1
8‑2 INITIATION OF AMENDMENTS 8‑1
8‑3 PLANNING BOARD REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION 8‑2
8‑4 PUBLIC HEARINGS 8‑2
8‑5 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REVIEW AND ACTION 8‑4
8‑6 ULTIMATE ISSUE BEFORE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ON AMENDMENTS. 8‑4
8‑7 QUALIFIED PROTESTS TO ZONING DISTRICT CHANGES 8‑5
8-8 NOTICE TO NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OF ESTABLISHMENT OR REVISION OF INDUSTRIAL ZONES ALONG
INTERSTATE OR PRIMARY HIGHWAYS		 8-6
8-9

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON CHALLENGES TO ORDINANCE ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS

 8-6
8-10 DEVELOPMENT MORATORIA 8-6
     
ARTICLE IX:  ZONING DISTRICTS AND ZONING MAP
9‑1 ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONING DISTRICTS 9‑1
  9-1.1 RA Residential-Agricultural Zone 9-1
  9‑1.2 R-1 Permanent Residential Zone 9‑1
  9‑1.3 R-1A Permanent Residential Zone 9‑1
  9‑1.4 R-2 Recreational Residential Zone 9‑1
  9‑1.5 B Business Zone 9‑2
9‑2 ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICIAL ZONING MAP 9‑2
  9‑2.1 Official Zoning Map 9‑2
  9‑2.2 Map Certification 9‑2
  9‑2.3 Map Changes 9‑2
  9‑2.4 Unauthorized Changes 9‑2
  9‑2.5 Map Location 9‑2
  9‑2.6 Map Damage and Replacement 9‑2
  9‑2.7 Replacement of Official Zoning Map 9-3
9‑3 INTERPRETATION OF DISTRICT BOUNDARIES 9‑3
  9‑3.1 Boundary Interpretation 9‑3
  9‑3.2 Interpretation by Board of Adjustment 9‑4
  9‑3.3 Annexation 9‑4
     
ARTICLE X:  PERMITTED USES
10‑1 PERMITTED USES 10‑1
  10‑1.1 Permitted Use Table 10‑2
  10‑1.2 Permissible Uses Not Requiring Permits 10‑6
  10‑1.3 Change in Use 10‑6
  10‑1.4 Combination Uses 10‑7
  10‑1.5 Mixed Uses 10‑7
  10‑1.6 Accessory Uses 10‑7
     
ARTICLE XI:  DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR INDIVIDUAL USES
11‑1 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS 11‑1
  11‑1.1 Application of Development Standards 11‑1
  11‑1.2 Standards for All Uses 11‑1
  11‑1.3 Adult Bookstore, Adult Theater, Adult Massage Parlor 11‑1
  11‑1.4 Animal Feeder/Breeder Operations 11‑2
  11‑1.5 Athletic Fields 11‑2
  11‑1.6 Automobile Repair/Towing Services 11‑3
  11‑1.7 Batting Cages 11‑3
  11‑1.8 Bed and Breakfast 11‑3
  11‑1.9 Boat Sales 11‑4
  11‑1.10 Building Supply Sales 11‑4
  11‑1.11 Carnivals and Fairs 11‑5
  11‑1.12 Church and Other Places of Worship 11‑5
  11‑1.13 Club 11‑5
  11‑1.14 Communication Tower Under 50 Feet In Height 11‑6
  11‑1.15 Condominiums 11‑6
  11‑1.16 Day Care Center, Child or Adult 11‑7
  11-1.17 Equestrian Facility 11-7
  11‑1.18 Fences 11‑7
  11‑1.19 Fuel Oil Sales 11‑8
  11‑1.20 Go-Cart Raceway 11‑9
  11‑1.21 Golf Course 11‑10
  11‑1.22 Golf Driving Range 11‑10
  11‑1.23 Group Care Facility 11‑10
  11‑1.24 Home Occupations 11‑10
  11‑1.25 Kennels or Pet Grooming; Veterinary Clinic 11‑11
  11-1.26 Manufactured Homes (Class B and C) on Individual Lots 11-12
  11‑1.27 Manufactured Home Park 11‑12
  11‑1.28 Marina 11‑16
  11‑1.29 Massage Parlor 11‑17
  11-1.30 Mining, Quarrying, Sand Pits, and Mineral Extraction 11-17
  11‑1.31 Motor Vehicle, Recreational Vehicle, and Boat Sales 11-18
  11‑1.32 Nursing and Convalescent Home 11‑18
  11‑1.33 Outdoor Events, Other 11‑19
  11‑1.34 Private Campground/RV Park 11‑19
  11‑1.35 Private Club or Recreation Facility, Other 11‑23
  11‑1.36 Public Park or Recreational Facility, Other 11‑24
  11‑1.37 Radio, Television or Communication Tower Over 50 Feet In Height 11‑24
  11‑1.38 Recreational Vehicle Sales 11‑25
  11‑1.39 Retreat Center 11‑25
  11‑1.40 Satellite Dish Antenna 11‑25
  11‑1.41 Service Station, Gasoline Sales 11‑25
  11-1.42 Single-Family Detached Dwelling; Manufactured Home, Class A 11-26
  11‑1.43 Swim and Tennis Club, Country Clubs with Golf Course 11‑26
  11‑1.44 Swimming Pool 11‑27
  11‑1.45 Temporary Emergency, Construction, and Repair Residence 11‑27
  11‑1.46 Tourist Cottages 11‑28
  11-1.46.1 Townhouse Dwelling 11-28
  11‑1.47 Utility Related Appurtenances, Substations 11‑29
  11‑1.48 Veterinary Clinic 11‑29
       
ARTICLE XII:  DENSITY AND DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
12‑1 MINIMUM LOT AREA 12‑1
12‑2 RESIDENTIAL DENSITY 12‑1
12‑3 MINIMUM LOT WIDTH 12‑2
12‑4 LOT ACCESS REQUIREMENTS 12‑3
12‑5 BUILDING SETBACK REQUIREMENTS 12‑3
12‑6 BUILDING HEIGHT LIMITATIONS 12‑5
12‑7 DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCESSORY BUILDINGS,
STRUCTURES, AND USES		 12‑5
12‑8 SUPPLEMENTARY DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS 12‑5
     
ARTICLE XIII:  SIGNS
13‑1 PURPOSE 13‑1
13‑2 DEFINITIONS 13‑1
13‑3 SIGN STANDARDS 13‑5
13‑4 EXEMPT SIGNS 13‑6
13‑5 PROHIBITED SIGNS 13‑7
13‑6 SIGN PLACEMENT, SIZE, HEIGHT, SETBACK, SEPARATION, CLEARANCES AND CONSTRUCTION BY SIGN TYPE 13‑7
13‑7 TABLE OF PERMITTED SIGNS 13‑10
13‑8 NONCONFORMING SIGNS 13‑10
     
ARTICLE XIV:  OFF-STREET PARKING, STACKING, AND LOADING AREAS
14‑1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 14‑1
14‑2 PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR CHANGE IN USE 14‑2
14‑3 NUMBER OF PARKING AND STACKING SPACES REQUIRED 14‑2
14‑4 DESIGN STANDARDS FOR PARKING, STACKING AND LOADING AREAS 14‑6
14‑5 LOCATION 14‑8
14‑6 COMBINED PARKING 14‑8
14‑7 LOADING AREAS 14‑9
14‑8 PARKING AND LOADING AREA LANDSCAPING 14‑9
14‑9 EXCESSIVE ILLUMINATION IN PARKING LOTS AND LOADING AREAS 14‑10
     
ARTICLE XV:  LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING
15‑1 PURPOSE 15‑1
15‑2 PARKING AND LOADING AREA LANDSCAPING 15‑1
15‑3 SCREENING OF DUMPSTERS 15‑3
15‑4 SCREENING OF ADJOINING INCOMPATIBLE LAND USES 15‑3
15‑5 ALTERNATIVE SCREENING METHODS 15‑4
15‑6 MAINTENANCE 15‑6
15‑7 USE OF EXISTING SCREENING 15‑6
15‑8 OBSTRUCTIONS PROHIBITED 15‑6
15‑9 GUARANTEE IN LIEU OF IMMEDIATE INSTALLATION OF LANDSCAPING
AND SCREENING MATERIALS		 15‑7
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 Street Classifications for Purposes of Administering the Zoning Ordinance 2-10
Figure 2 Process for Reviewing Requests for Zoning Permits 4-5
Figure 3 Process for Reviewing Requests for Special Use Permits 4-10
Figure 4 Process for Reviewing Requests for Rezonings and Text Amendments 8-7
Figure 5 Encroachments Permitted in Setbacks 12-6
Figure 6 Flag Lots 12-9
Figure 7 Exclusive Access Easements 12-11
Figure 8 Planting Requirements for Buffer Yards 15-2
Figure 9 Example of the Application of Buffers and Screens 15-5
     
APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Information Required With Applications A-1-1
Appendix 2: Vested Right Certification A-2-1
     
INDEX
General Index I-1
   
LIST OF TEXT AMENDMENTS