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

Town of River Bend’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Proposed development, including new construction, renovation, and additions, inside River Bend's jurisdictional area.

  • The stated purpose is conformity with the Town Zoning Ordinance.

  “A permit is required for proposed developments (new construction, renovation, additions, and the like) located within the jurisdictional area of the Town of River Bend to assure conformity with the requirements of the Town’s Zoning Ordinance.”

• InspectionsRequired

  A manufactured home installed on a lot inside River Bend town limits.

  • Inspection follows completion of installation and precedes the Town's certificate of zoning compliance.

  “Upon completion of the installation of a manufactured home on a lot, the Zoning Administrator shall inspect the property and, when approved, shall issue a certificate of zoning compliance.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A manufactured home installed on a lot inside River Bend town limits.

  • After Town zoning-compliance approval, the applicant must apply to Craven County for a final electrical permit and/or certificate of occupancy.

  “The applicant shall then apply to Craven County for a final electrical permit and/or certificate of occupancy.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside River Bend town limits, North Carolina.

  • The zoning chapter also applies within the Town's extraterritorial limits shown on the zoning map.

  “The provisions of this chapter shall apply within the territorial and extraterritorial limits of the Town of River Bend, North Carolina, as now or hereafter fixed and shown on the zoning map as from time to time amended.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside River Bend town limits.

  • District boundaries are defined by the adopted Town zoning map.

  districts listed in requirements schedule: R-20; R-20A; R-15; PDR-MF; PDR-SF; ID; BD; WP; AGR; PD-BD

  “The districts are bounded and defined as shown on a map entitled map of the Town of River Bend, Craven County, North Carolina which, with all explanatory matter thereon, hereby is adopted and made a part of this chapter.”

• Off-grid sanitationProhibited

  New private waste-disposal systems in parts of River Bend where sewer service is available.

  • The prohibition is limited to areas where sewer service is available.

  “Private wells will only be permitted for non-potable water use, and no new private waste disposal systems will be permitted in areas where sewer service is available.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  New construction inside River Bend town limits where the Town water supply and/or sewer disposal system is available.

  • Existing customers must maintain the connection as the sole means of potable-water supply and/or wastewater removal.
  • Private wells are permitted only for non-potable use.
  • No new private waste-disposal systems are permitted where sewer service is available.

  “All new construction, in accordance with § 15.02.066 of this Code, shall be connected to the water supply and/or sewer disposal system if available.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions inside River Bend town limits.

  • The regulation applies to divisions into two or more lots or building sites for sale or building development, subject to stated exclusions.
  • Each subdivision plat requires Town Council approval before recording.

  “The regulations contained herein as provided in G.S. §160D, Article 8 shall govern each and every subdivision within the territorial and extraterritorial jurisdiction of the Town of River Bend as the areas of the jurisdiction from time to time are determined.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways constructed within a Town street right-of-way or across an adjacent drainage ditch inside River Bend town limits.

  • Construction and installation must strictly conform to the referenced Town-provided information.
  • The driveway portion between the front lot line and street pavement must be paved.

  “All driveways constructed within the right-of-way of any street or over any adjacent drainage ditch and all drainage tiles or pipes installed within the right of way of any street or within any drainage ditch shall be constructed and/or installed in strict conformity with the information provided as aforesaid.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town subdivision and zoning applications inside River Bend town limits.

  • The Town Council may modify the fee schedule from time to time.
  • The schedule is kept on file with the Town Clerk for public inspection during normal office hours.

  subdivision application for 10 or fewer lots: 300 USD · subdivision preliminary plat: 100 USD · special exception use permit: 200 USD (plus required legal-advertisement and abutting-owner postage costs)

  “There shall be levied and collected fees as are specified in the schedule of fees established (and as modified from time to time) by the Town Council.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Subdivision plat approval inside River Bend town limits.

  • The Town Council must approve the plat, and the Mayor enters approval in writing on the face of the plat before filing or recording.

  “After the effective date of this chapter, no subdivision plat of land within the jurisdiction of the Town of River Bend shall be filed or recorded until it has been submitted to and approved by the Town Council as set forth in § 15.01.015 of this chapter, and until this approval is entered in writing on the face of the plat by the Mayor.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of River Bend

Town of River Bend 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 sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-20, R-20A, R-15, PDR-SF, ID, BD, and PD-BD districts inside River Bend town limits.

  • The schedule states that district requirements are subject to all provisions of the zoning chapter and are minimum requirements unless otherwise indicated.

  R-20 minimum lot area: 20000 square feet · R-20A minimum lot area: 20000 square feet · R-15 minimum lot area: 15000 square feet · PDR-SF minimum lot area: 6500 square feet · ID minimum lot area: 20000 square feet · BD minimum lot area: 20000 square feet · PD-BD minimum lot area: 20000 square feet

  “Minimum Lot Area (SF) 20,000 20,000 15,000 - 6,500 20,000 20,000 - - 20,000”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Lot-suitability certification for proposed water and sewer facilities serving a manufactured home inside River Bend town limits.

  • The certification must be secured before placement of the manufactured home.

  “Before a manufactured home may be placed on a lot, an initial zoning permit shall be secured from the Town Zoning Administrator, a building permit shall be secured from the Craven County Building Inspector and a certificate attesting to the suitability of the lot to accommodate proposed water and sewer facilities shall be secured from the Craven County Health Department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside River Bend town limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside River Bend town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside River Bend town limits.
• Lot coverage — Land inside River Bend town limits.
• Building height — Land inside River Bend 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.