Zoning Ordinance (City of Charlotte, NC )

Many clients ask PZR for specific information and updated regulations to zoning in a particular area. Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of those areas. This article will cover zoning ordinances as defined by the City of Charlotte, NC. Zoning rules are city dependent and some cities even like to incorporate language so that the culture and architecture of the city can be maintained as the city grows. Here is a statement from chapter 1 of the Zoning Ordinance :

“These zoning regulations have been designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare. To that end, the regulations address, among other things, the following public purposes: to lessen congestion in the streets, to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers, to promote health and the general welfare, to provide adequate light and air, to prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue concentration of population, and to facilitate the efficient and adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public facilities and services.”

The city is divided into districts which governs construction and land use. For example, a business cannot be built or opened in a residential district and specific industries (such as heavy duty factories and industrial warehouses) need to be in their own classified districts. Chapter 9 of the Zoning Ordinance describes these districts in detail and permitted use.

Zoning rules and regulations constantly change. Chapter 7 Nonconformities mentions: “The purpose of this Chapter is to regulate and limit the continued existence of uses and structures lawfully established prior to the effective date of these regulations that do not conform to these regulations. Any nonconformity created by a change in the classification of property or the text of these regulations shall be regulated by the provisions of this Chapter, with the "effective date" referenced below being the date the text of these regulations or the Zoning Maps are amended to render a particular use, structure, or lot nonconforming.”

Zoning can quickly get become complex. Companies hire us for all their zoning compliance and due diligence needs. As a Zoning Expert and Advisory firm, we help our commercial clients navigate through the complex zoning laws to ensure the project may move forward in a timely manners and the property use will be in accordance zoning laws. Call today 800-411-2010 or email questions to: info@smith-roberts.com.