Brunswick County, NC

1 Unified Development ordinance 7/30/2021 Brunswick County, North Carolina i Brunswick County, NC Unified Development ordinance Revised and Readopted March 16, 2015 7/30/2021 Unified Development ordinance ii Brunswick County, North Carolina Unified Development ordinance 7/30/2021 Brunswick County, North Carolina iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE 1. General Provisions .. 1-1 .. 1-1 Authority ..1-1 Jurisdiction .. 1-1 .. 1-1 Relationship to Adopted Plans .. 1-1 Matters regulated .. 1-2 Effective Date .. 1-2 Relation to Other Codes and Ordinances .. 1-2 Repeal of Conflicting ordinance .. 1-2 General Rules of Construction .. 1-2 Transitional Provisions.

2 1-3 Separability .. 1-4 Technical Corrections .. 1-4 Commentary .. 1-5 ARTICLE 2. Decision-Making and Administrative Bodies .. 2-1 .. 2-1 Board of County Commissioners .. 2-2 Planning Board .. 2-2 Zoning Board of Adjustment .. 2-3 Agricultural Advisory Board .. 2-3 Planning Director .. 2-5 Zoning Administrator .. 2-6 Building Inspector .. 2-6 Director of Engineering Services .. 2-6 Utilities Director .. 2-7 Director of Emergency Management Services .. 2-7 Technical Review Committee .. 2-8 Other Departments .. 2-9 Summary of Review Authority .. 2-10 ARTICLE 3. Common Review and Approval Procedures .. 3-1 Site Plan Approval Procedures .. 3-7 Subdivision and Planned Development Approval Process.

3 3-10 Subdivision Approval .. 3-10 Special Use 3-28 .. 3-28 ordinance Text Amendment .. 3-34 Rezoning ..3-36 Permits and Certificates .. 3-39 ARTICLE 4. Zoning Districts .. 4-1 Zoning Districts Established .. 4-1 Grouping of Districts .. 4-1 Development Types .. 4-2 7/30/2021 Unified Development ordinance iv Brunswick County, North Carolina Residential Zoning Districts .. 4-9 Commercial Zoning Districts .. 4-11 Industrial Zoning Districts .. 4-14 Special Purpose Base Districts .. 4-16 General Overlay Districts .. 4-18 Voluntary Agricultural District Program .. 4-24 General Provisions .. 4-30 Rules for Interpreting District Boundaries .. 4-30 Classification of Areas Under Water and of Areas not Elsewhere Classified.

4 4-31 Measurement and 4-31 Blocks & Lots .. 4-34 Housing Types .. 4-38 ARTICLE 5. Permitted Uses .. 5-40 Use Interpretation .. 5-40 Use Table .. 5-21 Limited Use Standards .. 5-32 Accessory Structures and Uses .. 5-86 Temporary 5-88 ARTICLE 6. Design and Performance Standards .. 3 Site Design .. 3 Buffering.. 3 Required Buffers .. 6-11 Screening .. 6-10 Historic Resources .. 6-10 Suitability of Land .. 6-10 Appearance .. 6-11 Building Fa ade .. 6-13 Outdoor Lighting .. 6-10 Fences and Walls .. 6-11 Vehicular .. 6-28 Off-Street Parking and Loading .. 6-30 .. 6-49 Emergency Management Standards .. 6-52 Sight Triangles .. 6-52 Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) .. 6-53 Infrastructure.

5 6-56 Miscellaneous .. 6-58 Name Duplication .. 6-58 Addressing .. 6-58 Performance Standards .. 6-58 Outdoor Display and Storage .. 6-59 ARTICLE 7. Flood Damage Prevention .. 7-1 Flood Damage Prevention ordinance (December 6, 2019) .. 7-1 ARTICLE 8. Signs .. 8-1 Purpose and Intent .. 8-1 Permits and Plans .. 8-1 Constrcution and Maintenance Provisions .. 8-1 Unified Development ordinance 7/30/2021 Brunswick County, North Carolina v Definitions .. 8-1 Sign Measurement and Computation .. 8-2 Prohibited Signs .. 8-1 Signs Allowed in All Districts without a 8-2 Signs Requiring Permits .. 8-3 ARTICLE 9. Administration and Enforecment .. 9-1 Notice and Public Hearings .. 9-1 Neighborhood Meeting.

6 9-1 Development Permit Requirements .. 9-2 Other Permits and Certificates .. 9-1 Determination of Zoning Vested Right .. 9-2 Administrative 9-5 Written Interpretation .. 9-6 Appeal of Administrative Decision .. 9-1 RESERVED .. 9-2 Enforcement and Penalties .. 9-1 Enforcement Procedures .. 9-1 ARTICLE 10. Nonconformities .. 10-1 .. 10-1 Nonconforming Lots .. 10-1 Nonconforming Uses of Land .. 10-1 Nonconforming Structures .. 10-2 Nonconforming Signs .. 10-3 Appendix A Approved Landscaping Species .. 10-10 Appendix B Parking for the Disabled .. 29 Appendix C Final Plat Certificates and Endorsements .. 30 Appendix D Improvement Guarantee Agreement .. 25 Appendix E Exceptional Design Guide and Resource Reference.

7 10-28 Appendix F Requirements for Large Events with 1,000 Guests or More .. 10-33 Unified Development ordinance 7/30/2021 Brunswick County, North Carolina 1-1 ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS TITLE These regulations shall be known and may be cited as the Unified Development ordinance of Brunswick County, North Carolina and may be referred to as this UDO or this ordinance .

8 AUTHORITY These regulations are adopted pursuant to the authority granted to Brunswick County by Chapter 160D of the General Statutes of North Carolina. JURISDICTION These regulations govern the development and use of all land, waters, and structures in Brunswick County which are outside of the zoning jurisdiction of any other governmental unit having equal land use regulatory authority. PURPOSE It is the purpose of this ordinance to: promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of Brunswick County; implement the policies and goals contained with officially adopted plans, including the Brunswick Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan, Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Land Use Plan, any other adopted County land use documents; preserve the overall quality of life for residents and visitors; protect the character of established residential neighborhoods; maintain economically vibrant as well as attractive business and commercial areas; retain and expand the County s employment base; maintain orderly and compatible land-use and development patterns.

9 Lessen congestion in the streets and accommodate the use of alternatives to the private automobile including public transportation, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities; ensure adequate light, air, privacy, and access to property; encourage environmentally responsible development practices; promote rehabilitation and reuse of older buildings; maintain a range of housing choices and options; establish clear and efficient development review and approval procedures; and accommodate growth and development that complies with the preceding stated purposes. RELATIONSHIP TO ADOPTED PLANS The administration, enforcement, and amendment of this ordinance shall be accomplished with consideration of recommendations presented in the documents comprising the Comprehensive Plan.

10 These documents include, but are not limited to, the following: the Brunswick Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan, the CAMA Land Use Plan, thoroughfare plan, collector street plan, neighborhood plans, small area plans, community facilities plan, capital improvement program, economic development strategies, housing assistance plan, recreation plan, greenways plan, drainage way and open space plan, and watershed Article 1 General Provisions Matters Regulated 7/30/2021 Unified Development ordinance 1-2 Brunswick County, North Carolina management plan. A copy of the adopted Brunswick Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan shall be filed with the County Clerk. MATTERS REGULATED Matters regulated include, but are not limited to: Use of land and water for trade, industry, residence, parking, and other purposes; Size of lots, yards, and other spaces; Maximum coverage of lots by buildings and other structures, and by uses; Height, size, location, erection and construction, reconstruction, alteration and use of buildings and other structures for trade, industry, residence, and other purposes; Density of population; and Division and subdivision of land.