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

Town of Bath’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, movement, or alteration of a building or other structure inside Bath town limits.

  • A certificate of zoning compliance approved by Bath's Zoning Administrator is required.
  • The ordinance states that a building permit must be acquired from the County.
  • The zoning certificate expires if work has not commenced within six months, or if work after commencement is discontinued for twelve months; a new certificate is then required.

  zoning-certificate commencement deadline: 6 months (Certificate expires if work specified by it has not commenced.) · work-discontinuance expiration: 12 months (Applies after commencement.)

  “No building or other structure shall be erected or moved, nor shall any existing building or structure be altered in any manner, unless a certificate of zoning compliance has been approved by the Zoning Administrator (and buildings permit acquired from the County).”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building, pier, or dock in Bath regulated as a marina under the town zoning ordinance.

  • The certificate must be issued by the Zoning Administrator in accordance with §9.08 before occupancy, structural alteration, erection, movement, or use change.

  “No building, pier or dock shall be occupied, structurally altered, erected or moved, or its use changed until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Zoning Administrator in accordance with Section 9.08 of the ordinance.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land and structures inside Bath town limits.

  • The ordinance also states that it applies in the town's extraterritorial jurisdiction; this claim is limited to land inside town limits.

  “The provisions of this ordinance shall apply to all lands and structures and uses within the town limits and its extraterritorial jurisdiction.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Bath town limits.

  • The official zoning map maintained with the Town Administrator is the final authority as to current zoning status.
  • The ordinance divides the town into zones or districts shown on the Official Zoning Map.

  “For the purpose of this ordinance, the town is hereby divided into zones or districts as shown on the “Official Zoning Map of Bath, N.C.,” which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this ordinance.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Class A and Class B mobile homes in Bath's R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  • The mobile home must be placed on a permanent brick, concrete-block, or other permanent-material foundation approved by the Zoning Administrator.
  • A mobile home manufactured before 1976 may not be set up as a residence unless it is already legally set up as a residence within the Town of Historic Bath planning jurisdiction.
  • R-1 dimensional standards also require mobile homes to have at least one acre.

  mobile-home lot size: >= 1 acre (R-1 district.)

  “Mobile Homes, Class A and Class B Provided it is placed on a permanent brick, concrete block or other type of permanent material foundation, as approved by the Zoning Administrator.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Lots created after passage of Bath's zoning ordinance and structures requiring building permits inside Bath town limits.

  • A lot created after passage of the ordinance must front on a publicly dedicated right-of-way.
  • A structure requiring a building permit may be erected only on a lot abutting a public right-of-way or a private street or easement at least 20 feet wide that was recorded by the County Register of Deeds before the ordinance's effective date.

  private street or easement width: >= 20 feet (Must have been recorded by the County Register of Deeds before the ordinance's effective date.)

  “All lots created after the passage of this ordinance must front on a publicly dedicated right-of-way. No structure requiring a building permit shall be erected on any lot which does not abut either a public right-of-way or a private street or easement at least 20 feet in width which was recorded by the County Register of Deeds prior to the effective date of this ordinance.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Bath certificates of zoning compliance.

  • The town charges the fee according to a regularly adopted fee schedule; no amount was stated in the opened ordinance.

  “A fee for the certificate shall be paid to the town according to a regularly adopted fee schedule.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Applications for Bath certificates of zoning compliance for permitted uses.

  • Applications must be accompanied by duplicate scale plans.
  • The Zoning Administrator may require additional information, including proposed uses, occupancy information, existing conditions, finished-floor elevations, and other information needed to determine conformance.

  plan copies: 2 copies (Plans must be drawn to scale.)

  “All applications for Certificate of Zoning Compliance shall be accompanied by plans in duplicate drawn to scale, showing the actual dimensions and shape of the lot to be built upon; the exact sizes and locations on the lot of buildings already existing, if any; and the location and dimensions of the proposed building or alteration.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Bath

Town of Bath 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

  Mobile homes in Bath's R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  • The one-acre standard applies to mobile homes. Other R-1 development is limited to a maximum density of two parcels per acre if setbacks and County Health Department septic rules are observed.

  minimum mobile-home lot size: >= 1 acre (R-1 district.)

  “Mobile homes shall have a lot size of at least on acre.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Development in Bath's R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  • The limit includes the principal use and all accessory structures.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent (Includes principal use and all accessory structures.)

  “Maximum allowable lot coverage by principal use and all accessory structures: 30%”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  R-1 low-density residential development inside Bath town limits using septic tanks.

  • Development must observe all Beaufort County Health Department rules and regulations concerning placement and maintenance of septic tanks.
  • The maximum density is two parcels per acre.
  • Mobile homes must have a lot size of at least one acre.

  maximum density: <= 2 parcels per acre (Provided all setbacks and county health-department septic rules are observed.) · mobile-home lot size: >= 1 acre (R-1 mobile homes.)

  “Development may occur at a maximum density of two parcels per acre, provided all setbacks and all Beaufort County Health Department rules and regulations concerning placement and maintenance of septic tanks are observed.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Bath town limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Bath town limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections for work inside Bath town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Bath's R-1 Low Density Residential District.
• Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Bath 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.