Planning Ordinance

Effective Date: May 1, 2015
Last Updated: March 14, 2023
 
Click the links below to review the Town of Davidson's Planning Ordinance.

Complete Planning Ordinance: Davidson Planning Ordinance
Preface: General Planning Principles 

Section 1: Purpose and Applicability  
1.1 Title
 
Page 1-1
1.2 Authority 
 
Page 1-1
1.3 Jurisdiction 
Page 1-1
1.4 Purpose and Intent 
 
Page 1-2
1.5 Consistency with All Adopted Plan
 
Page 1-2
1.6 Required Conformance with this Ordinance
 
Page 1-3
1.7 Planning Ordinance Map                                              
 
Page 1-4
 1.8 Transitional Provisions 
 
Page 1-5
 1.9 Conflict with Other Laws 
 
Page 1-6
 1.10 Conflict of Interest 
 
Page 1-6
 1.11 Effective Date
 
Page 1-6

Section 2: Planning Areas 
2.1 General
 
Page 2-1
2.2 Planning Areas
Page 2-7
2.3 Overlay Districts                    
Page 2-80

Section 3: Additional Requirements  
3.1 Purpose and Applicability 
 Page 3-1
3.2 Additional Requirements 
Page 3-2
3.3 Temporary use Standards                         
Page 3-14

Section 4: Design Standards 
4.1 Purpose and Intention
Page 4-1
4.2 Applicability and Administration
Page 4-2
4.3 General Site Design Requirements
Page 4-2
4.4 General Building Design Requirements
 Page 4-6
4.5 Specific Building Type Requirements               
 Page 4-11
4.6 Existing Industrial Campuses
 Page 4-19
4.7 Renovation of Existing Structures
 Page 4-19
 

Section 5: Affordable Housing 
5.1 General Goals 
 Page 5-1 
5.2 Covered Development Projects                  
 Page 5-2
5.3 Affordable Housing Plan 
 Page 5-4
5.4 Approved Affordable Housing Providers              
 Page 5-6
5.5 General Provisions 
 Page 5-7

Section 6: Subdivision and Infrastructure Standards 
6.1 Purpose and Intention 
 
Page 6-1
6.2 Applicability 
 
Page 6-2
6.3 Required Improvements 
 
Page 6-2
6.4 Subdivision Standards 
 
Page 6-4
6.5 Connectivity 
 
Page 6-4
6.6 Implementation of Street Standards 
 
Page 6-8
6.7 Street Design and Classification
Page 6-9
6.8 Sidewalks & Multi-use Paths
 Page 6-20
6.9 Bicycle Facilities
 Page 6-24
6.10 Transportation Impact Analysis 
 Page 6-24
6.11 Improvement Guarantees
 Page 6-30
6.12 Easements and Dedications 
 Page 6-32
6.13 Street & Greenway Acceptance Requirements                            
 Page 6-33

Section 7: Parks and Open Space 
7.1 Purpose and Intention 
 Page 7-1
7.2 Dedication and Conservation Requirements 
 Page 7-2
7.3 Payment in Lieu of Dedication and Conservation  
 Page 7-3
7.4 Park Standards
 Page 7-4
7.5 Open Space Standards 
 Page 7-11
7.6 Ownership and Maintenance                                                
 Page 7-12

Section 8: Parking and Driveways 
8.1 Purpose and Intention 
 Page 8-1
8.2 Applicability 
 Page 8-1
8.3 Type and Amount of Parking
 Page 8-2
8.4 Parking Lot Design Standards 
 Page 8-3
8.5 Parking Standards for Detached House, Attached House 
Townhouse, and Live Work Building Types                  
 Page 8-8
8.6 Bicycle Parking Standards 
 Page 8-9
8.7 Driveways 
 Page 8-12

Section 9: Tree Preservation, Landscaping and Screening 
9.1 Purpose and Intention 
 Page 9-1
9.2 Applicability and Administration 
 Page 9-2
9.3 Tree Coverage and Preservation 
 Page 9-5
9.4 Street Tree Plantings 
 Page 9-12
9.5 Site Landscaping
Page 9-13
9.6 Parking Area Landscaping 
 Page 9-14
9.7 Screening
 Page 9-16
9.8 Installation and Maintenance Standards 
Page 9-17
 9.9 Alternative Methods of Compliance
 page 9-18
 9.10 Planting Specifications & Appendices
 Page 9-18

Section 10: Lighting 
10.1 Purpose & Intention 
Page 10-1
10.2 Applicability & Administration 
Page 10-1
10.3 Exemptions & Prohibitions 
Page 10-2
10.4 Design Standards  
Page 10-3
10.5 Street Lighting 
Page 10-6
  

Section 11: Signs 
11.1 Purpose & Intention 
 Page 11-1
11.2 Applicability & Administration           
 Page 11-2
11.3 General Provisions 
 Page 11-3
11.4 Primary Sign Types 
Page 11-5
11.5 Other Sign Types 
Page 11-14
11.6 Signs That Do Not Require a Permit         
Page 11-19
11.7 Prohibited Signs 
Page 11-21
11.8 Maintenance & Upkeep of Sign
Page 11-21

Section 12: Nonconformities 
12.1 Purpose & Applicability 
 Page 12-1
12.2 Nonconforming Uses & Structures 
Page 12-1
12.3 Nonconforming Lots 
Page 12-4
12.4 Nonconforming Signs  
Page 12-4
12.5 Nonconforming Plans 
Page 12-6
12.6 Appeals & Modifications                  
Page 12-6

Section 13: Boards and Commissions 
 
13.1 Boards and Commissions 
 Page 13-1
13.2 Planning Board/Board of Adjustment                                  
 Page 13-1
13.3 Design Review Board/Historic Preservation Commission
Page 13-3
13.4 Meetings, Hearings and Procedures of all Boards and Commissions 
Page 13-5
13.5 Staff 
Page 13-6
13.6 Attendance Policy for Boards and Commissions                                   
Page 13-6 

Section 14: Administration Procedures
 
14.1 Purpose & Intention 
Page 14-1
14.2 Conflicts of Interest 
 Page 14-1
14.3 Applicability                                       
 Page 14-2
14.4 Types of Development Proposals
Page 14-2
14.5 Required Meetings 
 Page 14-7
14.6 Conditional Planning Area 
 Page 14-11
14.7 Master Plan 
 Page 14-16
14.8 Minor Subdivision 
 Page 14-21
14.9 Site Plan 
Page 14-23
14.10 Site Construction Documents
 Page 14-24
14.11 Final Plat
 Page 14-25
14.12 Individual Building 
Page 14-26
14.13 Design Review                   
Page 14-30
14.14 Building Permits 
Page 14-31
14.15 Temporary Use Permits
Page 14-32
14.16 Required Documents for Development Proposals
Page 14-33
14.17 Termination of Applications & Approvals 
Page 14-45
14.18 Amendments to Approved Plans
Page 14-50
14.19 Vested Rights and Permit Choice Requirements                
Page 14-51
14.20 Certificate of Occupancy
 Page 14-54
14.21 Appeals and Variances
Page 14-54
14.22 Quasi-Judicial Decisions
Page 14-57
14.23 Changes & Amendments to the Planning Ordinance
Page 14-58
14.24 Changes to Municipal Extraterritorial Jurisdiction
Page 14-61
  

 Section 15: Violations and Penalties 
 
15.1 Notice To Comply 
 Page 15-1
15.2 Penalties for Violation & Enforcement Mechanisms 
Page 15-2
15.3 Specific Types of Violations                                                        
Page 15-4

 Section 16: Definitions
 
16.1 Intent
Page 16-1
 16.2 Rules of Construction
Page 16-1
16.3 Definitions
Page 16-3

 Section 17: Watershed Protection Overlay District
 
17.1 Authority and Enactment 
Page 17-1
 17.2 Jurisdiction
Page 17-1
 17.3 Definitions 
Page 17-1
 17.4 Effective Date and Adoption Date                                      
Page 17-4
17.5 Rules Governing the Interpretation of Watershed District Boundaries 
Page 17-4
17.6 Exceptions to Applicability 
Page 17-5
17.7 Watershed Areas Established 
Page 17-6
17.8 Built-upon Area Averaging (Density Averaging) 
Page 17-17

 Section 18: Floodplain Overlay District
 
18.1 General   
 Page 18-1
18.2 Definitions  
 Page 18-3
18.3 General Provisions   
 Page 18-13
18.4 Administration and Enforcement  
 Page 18-14
18.5 Appeals and Variances   
 Page 18-22
18.6 Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction   
 Page 18-25
18.7 Legal Status Provisions   
 Page 18-36

 Section 19: Erosion Control
 
19.1. Title   
 Page 19-1
19.2. Preamble  
 Page 19-1
19.3. Definitions   
 Page 19-2
19.4 Scope and Exclusions  
 Page 19-5
19.5 Forest Practice Guidelines  
 Page 19-6
19.6 General Requirements  
 Page 19-6
19.7 Basic Control Objectives  
 Page 19-6
19.8 Mandatory Standards for Land-disturbing Activity  
 Page 19-7
19.9 Design and Performance Standards   
 Page 19-8
19.10 Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plans   
 Page 19-9
19.11 Permits   
 Page 19-12
19.12 Inspections and Investigations   
 Page 19-12
19.13 Penalties   
 Page 19-14
19.14 Injunctive Relief   
 Page 19-17
19.15 Restoration of Areas Affected by Failure to Comply   
 Page 19-17
19.16 Appeals   
 Page 19-17
19.17 Severability   
 Page 19-20
19.18 Effective Date   
 Page 19-20
19.19 Revisions   
 Page 19-20

 Section 20: Post Construction Storm Water Ordinance 
 
20.1 Overview 
 Page 20-1
20.2 Administration and Procedures   
 Page 20-8
20.3 Standards 
 Page 20-16
20.4 Development and Redevelopment Mitigation   
 Page 20-24
20.5 Undisturbed Open Space 
Page 20-25
20.6 Maintenance 
Page 20-29
20.7 Violations and Enforcement                                                        
Page 20-32
20.8 Definitions 
 Page 20-38

 Section 21: Stream Buffer Overlay District

21.1 Purpose 
 Page 21-1
21.2 Stream Buffers and Stream Buffer Management Zones            Page 21-1
21.3 Land Management Practices within the Stream Buffer Management Zones 
 Page 21-3

 Section 22: Historic Preservation Ordinance   
 
22.1 Title  
Page 22-1          
22.2 Purpose
Page 22-1   
22.3 Historic Preservation Commission
Page 22-1
22.4 Inventory
Page 22-4
22.5 Historic Landmarks 
Page 22-5 
22.6 Historic Districts
Page 22-7
22.7 Certificates of Appropriateness
Page 22-9
22.8 Conflict with Other Laws
Page 22-12