Reports on Surveys of North Carolina Zoning Practices

The School of Government periodically surveys all cities and counties in North Carolina regarding their experience with varies zoning and other land development regulations. Surveys are sent to all local governments and reports on the result, which usually include both legal analysis and survey results, are published. Information on the surveys and links to the various reports based on them are set out below. Click the highlighted report for the online edition of the report. Each linked report is available for free viewing or download (and print copies are available from the SOG Publications office). Some of the studies also collected sample forms used by cities and counties. The survey reports are listed below with the most recent reports at the top of the list.

 

Development Moratoria

The School of Government conducted a survey in 2008-09 of all North Carolina local governments regarding their use of development moratoria. The report review the law on use of development moratoria and summaries the experience with use of the tool (with a focus on moratoria adopted or extended after the state adopted a statute on this in 2005.

The report is Development Moratoria in North Carolina (Special Series No. 26, December 2009, view-only PDF available, and hard copy format available for purchase.)

 

Development Agreements

The School of Government conducted a survey in 2008-09 of all North Carolina local governments regarding their use of development agreements, a tool initially authorized for use in the state by the General Assembly in 2005. The report review the law on use of development agreements, summaries the experience with use of the tool, and has brief case studies of three adopted agreements (with links to complete copies of those agreements.

The report is The Use of Development Agreements to Manage Large-Scale Development:  The Law and Practice in North Carolina (Special Series No. 25, October 2009, view-only PDF available, and hard copy format available for purchase.)

 

Zoning Amendments

The School of Government conducted a survey in 2006-07 of all North Carolina local governments regarding the number and nature of text and map amendments to zoning ordinances and their experience with hearings, public comments, decisions made, plan consistency, and other aspects of the amendment process.

The report is Zoning Amendments in North Carolina (Special Series No. 24, February 2008).

 

Zoning Districts

The School of Government conducted a survey in 2006-07 of all North Carolina local governments regarding the number and nature of their zoning districts, their experience with design standards, and the treatment of traditional neighborhood design.

The report is An Overview of Zoning Districts, Design Standards, and Traditional neighborhood Design in North Carolina Zoning Ordinances (Special Series No. 23, October 2007).

 

Special and Conditional Use Permits

The School of Government conducted a survey of all North Carolina local governments regarding their experience with special and conditional use permits. This survey was mailed in 2004-05 to 548 incorporated cities and 100 counties in the state, with follow-ups to those who had not responded in November and January 2005. 407 jurisdictions in the state responded, a 63% response rate. Survey respondents represent a broad cross section of the entire state's political jurisdictions. The combined 2003 population of all responding jurisdictions totaled 7,612, 972, some 90% of the state's total population.

The project report is Special Use Permits in North Carolina Zoning (Special Series No. 22, April 2007).

 

Inventory of Ordinances Adopted

The School of Government conducted a survey of all North Carolina local governments asking about the development related ordinances they had adopted. This same survey instrument collected information for the special use permit report noted above. This survey was mailed in 2004-05. In addition to the survey, additional information on ordinances adopted was secured in the summer and fall of 2005 from telephone interviews and web site reviews to verify survey reports and gain information regarding non responding jurisdictions.

The project report: An Inventory of Local Government Land Use Ordinances in North Carolina (Special Series No. 21, May 2006).

 

Extraterritorial Jurisdiction

The School of Government conducted a survey of all North Carolina local governments regarding their experience with special and conditional use permits. This 2004-05 survey instrument collected information for the special use permit report noted above.

The project report: The North Carolina Experience with Municipal Extraterritorial Planning Jurisdiction (Special Series No. 20, January 2006).

 

Zoning Variances

The School of Government conducted a survey of all North Carolina local governments regarding their experience with zoning variances. The survey was mailed in 2002-03 to all cities and counties in the state. The links below contain information based on this survey.

  • The project report is A Survey of Experience with Zoning Variances (Special Series No. 18, February 2004). It includes an overview and analysis of responses, a copy of the survey mailed to NC cities and counties, and a complete list of responding jurisdictions.
  • Sample Forms -- Sample variance application forms provided by N. C. local governments.
  • Sample Instructions to Petitioners -- Sample pamphlets and handouts provided by local governments to those seeking a zoning variance
  • Sample Statements and Orders -- Sample statements read at the outset of the hearing on variances, sample hearing procedures, and sample orders regarding BOA decision