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

Town of Biscoe’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  New or expanded uses, building projects, and development projects inside Biscoe town subject to the Biscoe Development Ordinance.

  • A Town zoning permit is issued for new or expanded use of property and building/development projects.
  • The Montgomery County Building Inspections Department issues building permits following issuance of the Town zoning permit.
  • Whether a building permit is required depends on the project type.

  “Building Permits – Montgomery County Building Inspections Department issues building permits following issuance of Zoning permit by the Town of Biscoe.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Building projects inside Biscoe town for which the Town and Montgomery County Building Inspections Department issue a certificate of occupancy.

  • Certificate issuance is upon final building inspections and Town site-plan-compliance approval.
  • The Town and Montgomery County also issue temporary certificates of occupancy and certificates of floor elevation/flood proofing upon completion or partial completion of a building project.

  “Certificate of Occupancy – The Montgomery County Building Inspections Department issues upon final building inspections and site plan compliance approval by the Town.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land and development inside Biscoe town's planning and regulation jurisdiction.

  • The ordinance establishes districts and associated standards and specifications.

  “In order to provide for the orderly development of Biscoe, preserve existing development patterns that contribute to the character and sense of place of the community, and to allow for creativity in the planning for future development, the Town hereby establishes districts and their associated standards and specifications.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Biscoe town.

  • The ordinance creates primary general-use districts and overlay districts.

  “In addition to the Primary General-Use Districts above, the following Overlay Districts are created to provide for more creativity in the development of land and/or to protect unique environmental features of the Town.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Major and minor subdivisions inside Biscoe town.

  • A major-subdivision final plat must be recorded within 60 days following Town approval.
  • A minor-subdivision review process is required for divisions meeting the ordinance definition.
  • No lot may be sold before Town approval and plat recordation.

  major subdivision plat recordation deadline: <= 60 days (following approval by the Town of Biscoe) · minor subdivision plat recordation deadline: <= 60 days (following approval by the Planning, Zoning & Subdivision Administrator)

  “A Final Plat for Major Subdivisions shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds for the county in which the subject property is located in compliance with North Carolina General Statutes within 60 days following approval by the Town of Biscoe.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town zoning-compliance permits for small construction projects, new uses, expansions, and changes of use inside Biscoe town.

  • An authorized agent must document owner authorization.
  • The application must provide required information and any additional information needed to demonstrate compliance.
  • The administrator must determine completeness within 10 working days, including payment of applicable fees.

  completeness review: <= 10 working days (from submittal, including applicable fees duly paid)

  “The Planning, Zoning & Subdivision Administrator shall review the application and determine whether it is complete within ten (10) working days of its submittal, including the fulfillment of applicable fees duly paid.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Biscoe

Town of Biscoe 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)

  Single-Family Residential districts SFR-1, SFR-2, and SFR-3 inside Biscoe town.

  • Standards are gross square feet and differ by residential district.

  SFR-1 minimum lot size: 34900 square feet · SFR-2 minimum lot size: 17450 square feet · SFR-3 minimum lot size: 11600 square feet

  “Minimum Lot Size (gross square feet) | 34,900 | 17,450 | 11,600”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal structures in Biscoe's Single-Family Residential districts SFR-1, SFR-2, and SFR-3.

  • Measurements are from the street right-of-way where the table says so.
  • Accessory structures and required parking have separate setbacks in the same table.

  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 setback: 16 feet · SFR-2 principal rear setback: 9 feet · SFR-3 principal rear setback: 8 feet

  “Minimum Front Street Setback measured from Street Right-of-way | 42’ | 33’ | 20’”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-site wastewater systems serving residences, businesses, or places of public assembly inside Biscoe town when not served by an approved wastewater system.

  • The State statute assigns inspection and operation-permit functions to the local health department.
  • Alternative inspection routes may use an Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator, licensed engineer, or qualifying Private Compliance Inspector as provided by statute.

  “No system of wastewater collection, treatment and disposal shall be covered or placed into use by any person until an inspection by the local health department has determined that the system has been installed or repaired in accordance with any conditions of the Improvement Permit, the Construction Authorization, the rules, and this Article.”

• Septic permitRequired

  On-site wastewater systems associated with construction, location, or relocation of a residence, business, or place of public assembly inside Biscoe town.

  • A construction authorization, an authorization under G.S. 130A-337(c), or a local-health-department completeness decision for an eligible alternative process is required before other specified construction permits issue.

  “Where construction, location or relocation is proposed to be done upon a residence, place of business or place of public assembly, no permit required for electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning or other construction, location or relocation activity under any provision of general or special law shall be issued until a construction authorization has been issued under G.S. 130A-336, or authorization has been obtained under G.S. 130A-337(c), or a decision on the completeness of the notice of intent to construct is made by the local health department pursuant to G.S. 130A-336.1(c) or G.S. 130A-336.2(c).”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  On-site wastewater systems inside Biscoe town before they are covered or placed into use.

  • An applicant may use an Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator or licensed engineer for required verification or inspection, subject to the statutory verification and submission requirements.
  • A qualifying Private Compliance Inspector is another statutory route for eligible systems.

  “No system of wastewater collection, treatment and disposal shall be covered or placed into use by any person until an inspection by the local health department has determined that the system has been installed or repaired in accordance with any conditions of the Improvement Permit, the Construction Authorization, the rules, and this Article.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Curb cuts in Biscoe's suburban scenic corridors.

  • The Planning, Zoning & Subdivision Administrator may waive the separation requirement if property-frontage width would preclude a second curb cut meeting the spacing requirement.

  minimum curb-cut separation: >= 500 feet (in suburban scenic corridors)

  “There shall be a minimum separation of 500’ between curb cuts in the suburban scenic corridors. This separation requirement may be waived by the Planning, Zoning & Subdivision Administrator if the width of the property frontage would preclude a second curb cut meeting this spacing requirement.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder treatment for construction inside Biscoe town.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption applicable inside Biscoe town.
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Biscoe town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Biscoe town.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Biscoe 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.