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

Town of Chocowinity’s own rules

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Chocowinity town limits.

  • The official Planning/Zoning page lists a current zoning map and an updated February 1, 2022 zoning ordinance, but district names and dimensional standards were not retrievable through the permitted web tool.

  “Zoning Ordinance - Updated February 1, 2022”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  New subdivisions inside Chocowinity town limits.

  • A water connection is required when any perimeter property line is within 200 feet of an existing Town water line.
  • A sewer connection is required when any perimeter property is within 200 feet of an existing Town sewer line.
  • Each connection is at the subdivider's expense.

  water-line availability distance: <= 200 feet (Measured from any perimeter property line to an existing water line) · sewer-line availability distance: <= 200 feet (Measured from any perimeter property to an existing sewer line)

  “All new subdivisions shall connect to the Town of Chocowinity's Public Sewer System if any perimeter property is within two hundred (200) feet”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions of land inside Chocowinity town limits.

  • Written Town approval and Beaufort County Register of Deeds recording are required before a subdivision is made.
  • A plat may not be filed or recorded until approved under the regulations and other applicable municipal ordinances.

  “such subdivision has been approved, in writing, by the Town of Chocowinity and recorded with the Beaufort County Register of Deeds”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town planning and zoning approvals inside Chocowinity town limits.

  • The official page labels the list '2021 Planning & Zoning Fees.'
  • Amounts shown include residential and commercial zoning compliance applications and subdivision review fees.

  residential zoning compliance application fee: 75 USD · commercial zoning compliance application fee: 100 USD · preliminary plat review fee: 300 USD (Plus $25.00 per lot)

  “Zoning Compliance Applications - Residential $75 - Commercial $100”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town zoning-compliance and subdivision approvals inside Chocowinity town limits.

  • Subdivision approval requires written Town approval and recording with the Beaufort County Register of Deeds.
  • The Town's Planning/Zoning page publishes a zoning-compliance application.

  “No plat of any subdivision within the jurisdiction of the Town shall be filed or recorded by the Register of Deeds until it has been approved”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Chocowinity

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

• Building permitRequired

  Construction inside Chocowinity town that is within the activities listed in G.S. 160D-1110(a).

  • Statutory exemptions apply under G.S. 160D-1110(c) and G.S. 160D-1110.1(h).
  • The listed activities include construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement, removal, or demolition of a building or structure.

  “no person shall commence or proceed with any of the following without first securing all permits required by the North Carolina State Building Code”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  An owner seeking a building permit for construction inside Chocowinity town where the cost is $40,000 or more.

  • Applicant must claim the G.S. 87-1(b)(2) licensure exemption.
  • Applicant must execute a verified affidavit.
  • Applicant must be the owner, personally superintend and manage construction, and be personally present for required inspections unless plans were drawn and sealed by a licensed architect.
  • The building inspector or authority transmits the affidavit to the Board for verification; a permit is revoked if the Board finds the applicant was not entitled to the exemption.

  construction cost threshold: >= 40000 USD (Statutory building-permit application provision)

  “If an applicant claims an exemption from licensure pursuant to G.S. 87-1(b)(2), the applicant for the building permit shall execute a verified affidavit”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Chocowinity town, subject to the North Carolina State Building Code and applicable local laws.

  • The statutory permit rule contains exemptions in G.S. 160D-1110(c) and G.S. 160D-1110.1(h).

  “The North Carolina State Building Code shall consist of the following Code volumes:”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work inside Chocowinity town performed pursuant to a building permit.

  • Inspection frequency is limited to the inspections necessary to satisfy inspectors that the work complies with applicable laws and permit terms.
  • For an owner exempt from licensure, no inspection occurs without the owner present unless plans were drawn and sealed by a licensed architect.

  “as the work pursuant to a building permit progresses, local inspectors shall make as many inspections thereof as may be necessary”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New, added, enlarged, altered, or moved buildings inside Chocowinity town that are subject to G.S. 160D-1116.

  • A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued for a stated period if the inspector finds safe occupancy before final completion and State Building Code conditions are met.

  “no new building or part thereof may be occupied, [...] until the inspection department has issued a certificate of compliance.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Proposed individual septic systems serving lots in new subdivisions inside Chocowinity town limits.

  • The preliminary plan must include County Health Department preliminary-evaluation documentation.
  • The final plan must include certification that all intended development lots have been approved for septic tank usage.

  “the Preliminary Plan shall be accompanied by documentation that the site has undergone a preliminary evaluation by the County Health Department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Chocowinity town limits.
• Minimum lot size — Residential districts inside Chocowinity town limits.
• Setbacks — Residential districts inside Chocowinity town limits.
• Lot coverage — Residential districts inside Chocowinity town limits.
• Building height — Residential districts inside Chocowinity 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.