Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Haw River, North Carolina

Town of Haw River’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction and related regulated work inside Haw River town limits.

  • A state-law exemption applies to construction, installation, repair, replacement, or alteration costing $5,000 or less in a single-family residence or farm building unless it involves the listed structural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, non-code material, or roofing work.

  single-family residence or farm-building exemption threshold: <= 5000 USD (Does not apply to the exceptions listed in § 150.25(A)(3).)

  “without first securing from the Inspection Department any and all permits required”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures erected, enlarged, altered, repaired, or reconstructed within Haw River town and its extraterritorial jurisdiction; this record concerns town limits.

  • The code incorporates the most current State Building Code edition only to the extent applicable for safe and stable design, construction methods, minimum standards, and materials.

  “is hereby adopted by reference as fully as though set forth herein as the Building Code of the town”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy or use of a building erected, altered, or moved inside Haw River town limits, and changes of use of building or land.

  • The certificate must be applied for with the building-permit application; it issues within ten days after completion in conformity with the chapter. A temporary or limited certificate may issue if safety is secured.

  issuance period after conforming completion: <= 10 days

  “A certificate of occupancy issued by the Building Official is required in advance of”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Haw River town limits.

  • The town code also describes an extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction; this claim is limited to town limits.

  “This chapter shall be known as The Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Haw River, North Carolina”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Haw River town limits.

  • The published list also covers the town's extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction; the official zoning map is posted at Town Hall and available for public inspection.

  “The Town of Haw River and its extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction is hereby divided into the following zoning districts and overlay district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwellings inside Haw River town limits subject to the town minimum-housing standards.

  minimum dwelling floor area: >= 850 square feet

  “Any dwelling must have a minimum of 850 square feet of floor area.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Temporary manufactured homes in R-18, R-12, R-7, and R-G districts inside Haw River town limits.

  • Only one may be in a rear yard as a temporary accessory use; it requires a Board of Adjustment hardship finding, a one-year temporary-use permit, approved water and sewer access, annual continuation application, and compliance with district dimensions.

  temporary permit duration: 1 year (Continuation application is required every year.)

  “Only one manufactured home may be permitted in a rear yard as an accessory use on a temporary basis”

• Septic permitRequired

  Property inside Haw River town limits where a sewage system cannot connect to the town sewer.

  • The town code calls for Local Board of Health approval of property for septic tanks only where a sewage system cannot be connected to the town sewer.

  “approval of property for septic tanks is required where a sewage system cannot be connected to the town sewer”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Septic-tank sanitation inside Haw River town limits where sewage cannot connect to the town sewer.

  • Local Board of Health approval of property for septic tanks is required where a sewage system cannot connect to town sewer.

  “property for septic tanks is required where a sewage system cannot be connected to the town sewer”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Lots in subdivisions within Haw River town limits.

  • The provision is in the subdivision regulations; the availability-cost tests expressly stated for extraterritorial water and generally for sewer accompany the town-limits connection language.

  “All lots within the town limits shall connect to the town sewer system.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development activities in special flood hazard areas inside Haw River town limits.

  • The permit application must be made before development activity in a special flood hazard area. The town appoints the County Building Inspector as Floodplain Administrator.

  “Application for a floodplain development permit shall be made to the Floodplain Administrator prior to any development activities”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Haw River town limits.

  • Written applications are required for permits required by Chapter 150 and must be made by the owner or authorized agent or representative; plans must meet the stated identification and licensed-professional conditions.

  “Written application shall be made for all permits required by this chapter”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Haw River

Town of Haw River does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings, including permitted Class A manufactured homes on individual lots, in Haw River's R-12 Medium Density Residential District.

  • The district accommodates dwellings with access to municipal water and sewer services; planned unit developments are special uses.

  minimum lot size: >= 12000 square feet

  “A minimum lot size of 12,000 square feet is required for single-family dwellings”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings, including permitted Class A and B manufactured homes, in Haw River's R-18 Low Density Residential District.

    “require a minimum lot size of 18,000 square feet”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Haw River or Alamance County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Haw River town limits.
• Inspections — Construction inside Haw River town limits.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Haw River town limits.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Haw River town limits.
• Building height — Structures inside Haw River town limits.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.