WELCOME!

We have launched a new page for reading the Charlotte UDO - please visit read.charlotteudo.org to use this new page. 

Read.CharlotteUDO.org

 

adopted_coverDOWNLOAD THE FULL ADOPTED UDO

If you would like to download the full text of the UDO (as amended on May 15, 2023), we invite you to do so here

DISCLAIMER: This is a large file. 

Read the UDO by Article

Zoning Districts and Overlay Articles 

Article 1. Title, Purpose, & Applicability

Article 2. Rules of Construction, Abbreviations, & Definitions

Article 3. Zoning Districts, Zoning Maps, & Frontages

Article 4. Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts

Article 5. Neighborhood 2 Zoning Districts

Article 6. Commercial Zoning DIstricts

Article 7. Campus Zoning Districts

Article 8. Manufacturing & Logistics Zoning Districts

Article 9. Innovation Mixed Use Zoning District

Article 10. Neighborhood Center Zoning Districts

Article 11. Community Activity Center Zoning Districts

Article 12. Regional Activity Center Zoning Districts

Article 13. Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Zoning Districts

Article 14. Special Purpose & Overlay Zoning Districts

 

 

Uses and Development Standards 

Article 15. Uses Regulations

Article 16. General Development Standards

Article 17. Accessory Structures

Article 18. Architectural Features

Article 19. Off-Street Vehicle & Bicycle Parking

Article 20. Landscaping, Screening, & Tree Protecton

Article 21. Loading Spaces & Service Areas

Article 22. Signs

Stormwater

Article 23. Water Supply Watershed Protection

Article 24. Drainage

Article 25. Post Construction Stormwater Regulations

Article 26. Surface Water Improvement, & Management (SWIM) Buffers

Article 27. Floodplain Regulations

Article 28. Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control

 

 

Subdivision, Streets, & Other Infrastructure

Article 29. Introduction to Subdivision, Streets, & Infrastructure

Article 30. Subdivision

Article 31. Network, Cross-Access, & Driveway Regulations

Article 32. Required New Streets & Transportation Improvements

Article 33. Standards for Streets, Off-Street Public Paths, & Cross Access

Article 34. Other Infrastructure

  

Administration

Article 35. Ordinance Bodies & Administrators

Article 36. General Processes

Article 37. Amendments & Development Approvals

Article 38. Nonconformities

Article 39. Enforcement

 

 

 

 

 

UDO SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

The UDO has several accompanying documents and manuals to provide additional standards that support the UDO. View these documents by topic area here.

Read supporting documents/manuals

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Each draft of the UDO incorporated public input to ensure alignment with the community's vision. Staff gathered and considered feedback on the first draft UDO from the time of its initial release on October 7, 2021 until March 18, 2022. This comment period generated over 1,200 public comments and many more comments from elected and appointed officials as well as City and County staff. Many of these comments were incorporated into the second draft UDO, also known as the public hearing draft, which was released for public review and comment from June 3, 2022 through June 30, 2022. 

In addition to public comments on the second draft, community members also had the opportunity to provide public comment before the City Council at the UDO Public Hearing on July 11, 2022. Staff has since responded to all comments and recommended changes for Planning Committee consideration, where appropriate. 

Staff prepared and presented these recommended changes to the Planning Committee of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission on July 19,2022. At this meeting, the Planning Committee recommended, with changes, the Charlotte UDO for adoption by City Council. 

City Council adopted the UDO on Monday, August, 22, 2022. The adopted UDO is available on this site above. 

TEXT AMENDMENTS

Two text amendments to the UDO were approved by the Charlotte City Council on May 15, 2023. They are:

Clean Up Text Amendment (Rezoning Petition 2023-058TEXT

Land Clearing and Inert Debris (LCID) Landfill Text Amendment (Rezoning Petition 2023-056TEXT

 

ARCHIVE: FIRST, SECOND, & ADOPTION DRAFT UDO

First draft UDO (Full PDF)

Second draft UDO (Full PDF)

UDO Adoption Draft (Full PDF)

 

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PROJECT TIMELINE

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First Draft UDO Release

OCT 7, 2021

The first public draft was developed by the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County staff, with feedback from its Ordinance Advisory Committee and consultant support from Camiros, Ltd.

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First Draft UDO Review Period

OCT 7, 2021 - MAR 18, 2022

Comments on the first draft of the UDO were accepted through March 18, 2022.

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Second Draft UDO Release (Public Hearing Draft)

JUN 3, 2022

The second draft was released on June 3, 2022. This was also referred to as the public hearing draft that was open for community public comment before City Council and the Planning Commission.

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Second Draft UDO Comment Period

JUN 3- JUN 30, 2022

The second draft of the UDO was open for public comments through June 30, 2022.

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Public Hearing

JUL 11, 2022

The public hearing on the Public Hearing Draft of the UDO was held on July 11, 2022.

 

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Planning Committee Recommendation

JUL 19, 2022

The Planning Committee of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission recommended the Public Hearing Draft with Recommended Changes for Planning Committee Consideration to City Council on July 19, 2022.

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City Council Decision

AUG 22, 2022

The adoption draft was considered and approved by City Council on August 22, 2022.

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UDO Text Amendments

MAY 15, 2023

The UDO was amended on May 15 when City Council approved two text amendment petitions. The following text amendments were approved:

Rezoning Petition 2023-058 – Clean Up Text Amendment  

Rezoning Petition 2023-056 – Land Clearing and Inert Debris (LCID) Landfill Text Amendment  

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UDO Effective Date

JUN 1, 2023

The new ordinance is now in effect. Conventional zoning districts under the old ordinance translated to a UDO zoning district on this date. To learn more about whether your zoning changed on June 1 please visit: CharlotteUDO.org/June1Zoning