The Durham City-County Planning Department is in the processing of writing a New UDO along with a new zoning map. This zoning map will help the Durham community review what upcoming changes may occur and allow public participation throughout the process. This zoning map will be revised throughout the drafting process and may change without public notice until the adoption of the New UDO and Zoning Map. For more questions about the New UDO and the New Zoning Map, contact the Planning Department at NewUDO@DurhamNC.gov

Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), base zoning districts. Crucial data for zoning and plan amendment cases and public information. The location and boundaries of zoning districts shall be as shown on a geographic coverage layer entitled “Zoning” that is maintained as part of the City's and County's geographic information system (GIS) under the direction of the Planning Director, or designee. This depiction of zoning boundaries as shown on the GIS system shall constitute the Official Zoning Map for the City's and the County's zoning jurisdiction, and is adopted into this Ordinance by reference. The City or County Clerk, as applicable, may upon validation by the Planning Director, or designee, certify a paper copy of the Official Zoning Map, or portions of the map, as a true and accurate copy of the Official Zoning Map, or a portion thereof, under the authority of NCGS §160A-79(b) and NCGS §153A-50.

This data layer is used to located and filter development cases submitted to the case management system, Land Development Ordinance (LDO). Case types include Annexation Petitions, Board of Adjustment Cases, Commons Signage Plan Review, Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Home Occupation Permit, Major Special Use Permit, Site Plans and Preliminary Plats, Statutory Vested Rights Determination, Street Closing or Renaming, Subdivisions, Variance, and Zoning Map Changes. Cases can be viewed back to 2007 when the system was activated.

This data layer provides a comprehensive view of all permits within the jurisdiction. This layer is utilized by the City-County Inspections Department to monitor ongoing construction and development activities, ensuring compliance with local codes and regulations. Each permit is linked to a specific location, allowing inspectors and other officials to track the progress of projects, address any potential issues, and maintain up-to-date records. This data supports an essential service to residents and businesses across Durham, North Carolina.

The Development Tier layer is intended to ensure that development reflects the character of the area within which it occurs and to minimize the cost of extending infrastructure into areas inappropriately. The tiers shown on the map shall function as overlays, establishing guidelines within which different development patterns, intensities, and densities shall be utilized.

The Urban Growth Boundary is adopted as a part of the Durham Comprehensive Plan and defines the geographic limit of the City and County utility service area. It is referenced in both the Durham Unified Development Ordinance and the Durham City Code. Changes to the Urban Growth Boundary can only be approved by a vote of the City Council and/or Board of County Commissioners.

This data layer provides a comprehensive view of all permits within the jurisdiction. This layer is utilized by the City-County Inspections Department to monitor ongoing construction and development activities, ensuring compliance with local codes and regulations. Each permit is linked to a specific location, allowing inspectors and other officials to track the progress of projects, address any potential issues, and maintain up-to-date records. This data supports an essential service to residents and businesses across Durham, North Carolina.

This data layer provides a comprehensive view of all driveway permits within the jurisdiction. This layer is utilized by the City-County Inspections Department to monitor ongoing construction and development activities, ensuring compliance with local codes and regulations. Each permit is linked to a specific location, allowing inspectors and other officials to track the progress of projects, address any potential issues, and maintain up-to-date records. This data supports an essential service to residents and businesses across Durham, North Carolina.

Adopted in 2006, the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) lays out the rules for the physical development of property. The UDO designates zoning of properties in Durham, and is crafted to result in a built environment that meets the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. The UDO superseded the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances.

A local historic district is a type of zoning applied by the City Council or the Board of County Commissioners to an area of special significance in terms of its history, prehistory, architecture, and/or culture that possesses integrity of design, setting, materials, feeling, and association (as per N.C.G.S. § 160D-944). Currently Durham has 8 designated local historic districts: Cleveland Street, Downtown Durham, Fayetteville Street, Golden Belt, Holloway Street, Morehead Hill, Trinity Heights, and Watts-Hillandale.

The purpose of the Watershed Protection Overlay is to preserve the quality of the region's drinking water supplies through application of the development standards in Article 8, Environmental Protection. In general, water supply protection will be accomplished by establishing and maintaining low intensity land use and development on land near the region's water supply rivers and reservoirs. Where high density development is desired, water supply protection will be accomplished through the use of engineered stormwater controls.

Transportation Corridors used for reference in the review of zoning map changes and annexations.

Planning Jurisdictions in Wake County, NC. Planning Jurisdictions are areas over which municipalities and the County have planning authority (either official ETJ and/or corporate limits). This dataset is updated monthly and is maintained by the Wake County Planning Department.GIS metadata is available here.