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

Town of Stokesdale’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Stokesdale town limits

  • Zoning is administered through the town Development Ordinance with an official zoning map.

  “within each zoning district indicated on the official zoning map and subject to all requirements and conditions specified in this ordinance, land, buildings, and structures shall only be used”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Stokesdale town

  • Table 4-3-1 lists districts AG, RS-40 through RS-5, RM-5 through RM-26, LO, GO-M, GO-H, NB, LB, GB, HB, SCC, CP, LI, HI, PI; overlay districts (scenic corridor, airport, watershed) also exist.

  “in the following districts the number refers to the minimum lot size in thousands of square feet. 1) rs-40 residential single-family district.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Customary accessory structures inside Stokesdale town; principal-building district setbacks not captured

  • No encroachment in front setback
  • Over 600 sq ft must meet principal building setbacks
  • Must be behind the front building line of principal structure with exceptions

  side/rear setback for accessory <=600 sq ft: 5 ft (over 600 sq ft uses principal setbacks)

  “(a) front. no encroachment in the front setback is permitted. (b) side and rear. if the gross floor area (gfa) of the accessory structure or building is less than or equal to 600 square feet, the structure or building may be located five feet from a side or rear line. if the gfa is greater than 600 square feet, it must meet the principal building(s) setback requirements.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Accessory structures inside Stokesdale town; numeric district heights not captured

  • Height limits vary by zoning district

  “the height of all accessory structures and buildings shall conform to the zoning district in which it is located.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units on single-family lots inside Stokesdale town (AG, residential, LO, GO-M, GO-H)

  • One ADU per lot; none with two-family or multi-family dwelling
  • Internal ADU max 25% of heated floor area, min 250 sq ft
  • Detached ADU needs approved sewage disposal, principal setbacks, 10 ft behind principal building, 1.5x (or 2x if manufactured) minimum lot area

  minimum ADU size: >= 250 sq ft

  “2) no more than one accessory dwelling unit is permitted on the same lot with a principal dwelling unit.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in special flood hazard areas inside Stokesdale town

  • Based on Guilford County FIS and FIRM dated June 18, 2007
  • Bona fide farms are not exempt in floodways and floodplains

  “bona fide farms are not exempt from the provisions of this ordinance regulating development in floodways and floodplains as required for participation in the national flood insurance program.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Stokesdale town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Stokesdale town
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Stokesdale town
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Stokesdale town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Stokesdale town

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.