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

Town of Tabor City’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building projects inside Tabor City town jurisdiction that require a building permit under the town Development Ordinance.

  • The town ordinance states that the Building Inspections Department issues building permits after issuance of a town zoning permit.

  “The permits and/or approvals listed below are required, depending upon the type(s) of development proposed: (A.) Zoning Compliance Permits (also known as Zoning Permits) are issued by the Town of Tabor City for all new or expanded use of property [...] (B.) Building Permits – Tabor City Building Inspections Department issues building permits following issuance of Zoning permit by the Town of Tabor City.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land-use and development activities inside Tabor City town's planning and regulation jurisdiction, including town limits.

  • Approval from the Town is required for activity subject to the Development Ordinance.

  “No person shall undertake any land use and/or development activity subject to this Ordinance without first obtaining approval from the Town. Upon approval by the Town, a permit shall be issued for the approved land use and/or development activity.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Tabor City town zoning jurisdiction.

  • The official Development Ordinance page publishes Article 8, Districts, and official zoning maps.

  “Official Zoning Map Town Limits 20220412”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Recreational-vehicle/campground parks inside Tabor City town jurisdiction.

  • A septic-tank option must comply with Columbus County Board of Health regulations.

  “Each Recreational Vehicle and/or Campground Park shall be provided with an adequate sewage disposal system, either by connection to a public sewer or a septic tank constructed in compliance with the regulations of the Columbus County Board of Health.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Recreational-vehicle/campground parks inside Tabor City town jurisdiction.

  • The park must obtain water from a public water supply when available; when unavailable, the source must be approved by the Columbus County Health Department.
  • Its sewage-disposal system may be public sewer or a septic tank complying with Columbus County Board of Health regulations.

  “Each Recreational Vehicle and/or Campground park shall obtain water from a public water supply when available, and when unavailable, from a source approved by the Columbus County Health Department.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions inside Tabor City town jurisdiction.

  • Final-plat approval and certificate-of-occupancy issuance await installed and approved improvements or acceptance of the specified performance guarantee.

  performance guarantee: 125 percent of estimated installation cost (May be provided in lieu of completing required improvements and utilities before final plat approval)

  “performance guarantee shall be in an amount equal to 125%”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development activities within Special Flood Hazard Areas inside Tabor City town jurisdiction.

  • The permit is required before commencement of development activities.
  • Floodplain Administrator inspections occur as necessary to ensure work follows the ordinance and permit terms.

  “prior to the commencement of any development activities within Special Flood Hazard Areas.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town zoning permits and plan approvals inside Tabor City jurisdiction.

  • No approval, permit, certificate, or variance is processed or issued until charges are paid in full.

  “The Town Council shall establish a Schedule of Fees, Charges and Expenses, and a collection procedure, for zoning permits and plan approvals issued by the Town. No approval, permit, certificate, variance, etc. shall be processed and/or issued unless or until such charges have been paid in full.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning-compliance permits for new uses, expanded uses, and changes of use inside Tabor City town jurisdiction.

  • For the expedited small-project process, applications are filed with the Planning, Zoning & Subdivision Administrator and reviewed for completeness within ten working days.
  • A zoning permit is issued only if the proposed development, use, or structure satisfies ordinance requirements.

  completeness-review period: <= 10 working days (For expedited small-project zoning-permit applications)

  “A Zoning Compliance Permit (zoning permit) is required for the construction or development of any new use within the planning and regulation jurisdiction of the Town of Tabor City. In addition to new uses, a zoning permit shall also be required for expansions of existing uses, as well as for changes of use.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Tabor City

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

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal structures in SFR-1, SFR-2, and SFR-3 inside Tabor City town jurisdiction.

  • The schedule is in addition to Article 9 lot- and building-type standards.

  SFR-1 principal front setback: 42 feet (Measured from street right-of-way) · SFR-2 principal front setback: 33 feet (Measured from street right-of-way) · SFR-3 principal front setback: 20 feet (Measured from street right-of-way) · SFR-1 principal rear and side setbacks: 16 feet · SFR-2 principal rear and side setbacks: 9 feet · SFR-3 principal rear and side setbacks: 8 feet

  “Minimum Front Street Setback measured from Street Right-of-way 42’ 33’ 20’ Minimum Rear Yard Setback 16’ 9’ 8’ Minimum Side Yard Setback 16’ 9’ 8’”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Tabor City town limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Tabor City town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Tabor City town limits.
• Lot coverage — Land inside Tabor City town limits.
• Building height — Buildings inside Tabor City 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.