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

Town of Bunn’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy or use of a building erected, altered, or moved in Bunn, and changes of use of buildings or land.

  • The certificate must be applied for with the certificate of zoning compliance.
  • The proposed use must conform to the zoning ordinance.

  issuance period after conforming completion: <= 10 days

  “A certificate of occupancy issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer is required in advance of: a. Occupancy or use of a building hereafter erected, altered, or moved; b. Change of use of any building or land. A certificate of occupancy, either for the whole or a part of a building shall be applied for coincident with the application for a certificate of zoning compliance and shall be issued within ten (10) days after the erection or structural alteration of such building, or part, shall have been completed in conformity with the provisions of this ordinance.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Bunn's zoning jurisdiction.

  • Uses and structures must comply with the applicable zoning-district regulations.

  “The regulations presented in this ordinance shall comply to all property within the corporate limits of the Town of Bunn, North Carolina, and within the territory beyond such corporate limits as now or hereafter fixed, for a distance of approximately one (1) mile in all directions”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land in Bunn's zoning jurisdiction.

  • The official zoning map is the final authority for current zoning status.

  “For the purpose of this ordinance, the Town of Bunn, North Carolina, is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: [...] the official Zoning Map which shall be normally located in the office of the Zoning Administrator and/or Town Clerk and which shall bear his written certification shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land, buildings or other structures in the affected territory, as described in Article II.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Use of travel trailers, campers, and recreational vehicles as accessory dwelling units in Bunn.

  • A camper or recreational vehicle may be used following a catastrophic event if the principal dwelling is deemed uninhabitable or unsafe by Franklin County Inspections or another governmental unit.
  • The temporary use is allowed up to 12 months and may be extended after planning-board review and approval.
  • The zoning permit is subject to current zoning fees.

  catastrophe-related RV use duration: <= 12 months (may extend upon planning-board review and approval)

  “The use of manufactured dwellings, mobile homes, travel trailers, campers, or similar units as an Accessory Dwelling Unit is prohibited. A camper or recreational type vehicle may be used in the event of a catastrophic event such as a fire, tornado or other event in which the principal dwelling is deemed uninhabitable or unsafe by the Franklin County Inspections Department or other governmental unit. This would be allowed up to twelve months and may extend upward upon review and approval by the planning board. The zoning permit would be subject to current zoning fees as stated in the schedule of fees.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes on individual lots where indicated by Bunn's district-use regulations.

  • All single-family-dwelling location requirements apply.
  • Only Class A and Class B manufactured homes are permitted.
  • Franklin County Health Department requirements apply.

  “Manufactured homes on individual lots shall be a permitted use where indicated in Article V of this Ordinance. Requirements. All requirements for the location of a single-family dwelling on an individual lot shall be met. Only Class A and B manufactured homes are permitted. [...] All the appropriate Franklin County Health Department requirements shall be met.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units in R-1, R-2, and R-3 single-family zoning districts in Bunn.

  • Only one ADU is permitted on a lot containing one principal dwelling and conforming accessory structures.
  • Maximum gross floor area is 900 square feet or 40% of the principal structure, whichever is less.
  • A variance cannot exceed 1,200 square feet or 50% of principal-dwelling gross floor area.

  maximum ADU gross floor area: <= 900 square feet (or 40% of principal-structure gross floor area, whichever is less)

  “Zoning Districts where additional standards below apply: R-1, R-2, and R-3 [...] One (1) Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be permitted only on a lot containing a single dwelling unit (the principal dwelling) and conforming accessory structures in any single-family zoning district. [...] The maximum gross floor area for the Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be 900 SF or forty percent (40%) of the gross floor area of the principal structure, whichever is less. Variances shall not allow the gross floor area of the Accessory Dwelling Unit to exceed 1200 SF nor shall the size of the Accessory Dwelling Unit exceed fifty percent (50%) of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling unit.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Individual sewage-disposal systems at manufactured-home spaces in manufactured-home parks in Bunn.

  • The system is subject to Franklin County Health Department approval.
  • Each space using an individual sewage-disposal system must contain at least 20,000 square feet; larger lots may be required for subsoil conditions.

  minimum manufactured-home space with individual sewage disposal: >= 20000 square feet (subject to Franklin County Health Department approval)

  “However, if individual sewage disposal systems (septic tanks) are used, each manufactured home space shall contain at least twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of ground area, subject to approval by the Franklin County Health Department. If subsoil conditions dictate, larger lots may be required by the Franklin County Health Department.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Vehicular access to an accessory dwelling unit in Bunn.

  • The ADU must use the principal structure's drive unless it is on a corner or through lot.
  • A secondary drive on a corner or through lot cannot be on the same street as the principal-structure drive.

  “Vehicular access to the Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be via the same drive that provides access to the principal structure unless the Accessory Dwelling Unit is located on a corner or through lot. If located on a corner or through lot, a secondary drive may provide access to the Accessory Dwelling Unit. but the secondary drive shall not be on the same street as the drive providing access to the principal dwelling.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Bunn

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

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  A homeowner acting as own general contractor in Franklin County's building-permit process for a project inside Bunn town limits.

  • An owner general contractor affidavit is required.
  • Town zoning approval must be secured and uploaded for projects located in Bunn.

  “If a homeowner is acting as their own general contractor an owner general contractor affidavit is required.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Individual sewage-disposal systems serving manufactured-home spaces in manufactured-home parks within Bunn's jurisdiction.

  • Larger lots may be required if subsoil conditions dictate.

  “However, if individual sewage disposal systems (septic tanks) are used, each manufactured home space shall contain at least twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of ground area, subject to approval by the Franklin County Health Department. If subsoil conditions dictate, larger lots may be required by the Franklin County Health Department.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Franklin County's online permit-application sequence for projects located in Bunn.

  • Town zoning approval must be secured and uploaded before the building-permit application for projects in Bunn.
  • The guide directs septic and/or well applications before the building-permit application when applicable.

  “Permit applications must be submitted in the following order: 1. Zoning Permit a. Town zoning approval must be secured and uploaded to the building permit application for projects located in the towns of Bunn, Louisburg, Franklinton, and/or Youngsville. [...] 2. Septic and/or Well Permits [...] 3. Building Permit”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Bunn town limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption applicable inside Bunn town limits.
• Inspections — Residential building inspections inside Bunn town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Bunn town limits.
• Minimum lot size — Main single-family residential districts inside Bunn 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.