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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.
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 Plans 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 |