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

Town of Unionville’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within the planning jurisdiction of the Town of Unionville, North Carolina.

  • The ordinance is effective within the Town of Unionville planning jurisdiction.

  “This ordinance shall be effective within the planning jurisdiction of the Town of Unionville.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts and the official zoning map inside Unionville town limits.

  • The official map is maintained as a GIS geographic coverage layer.
  • Map amendments must be made and posted under Section 143.

  “The following residential districts are hereby established: RC-80, RA-40, RA-20, R-40, R-20, R-15, R-10, R-8, and R-6.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Private, for-profit camping and recreational-vehicle parks inside Unionville town limits.

  • A private, for-profit camping and recreational-vehicle park needs a minimum of 25 acres.

  minimum area: >= 25 acres (Private, for-profit camping and recreational vehicle park.)

  “A minimum of 25 acres is needed for a private, for profit camping and recreational vehicle park.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping in a private, for-profit camping and recreational-vehicle park inside Unionville town limits.

  • The park standard covers temporary living quarters, including tents, recreational vehicles, and travel trailers, used solely for recreation or vacation purposes.
  • A private, for-profit park needs a minimum of 25 acres.

  minimum area: >= 25 acres (Private, for-profit camping and recreational vehicle park.)

  “Camping and Recreational Vehicle Park: Land containing two or more campsites which are located, established, or maintained for occupancy by people in temporary living quarters, such as tents, recreation vehicles, or travel trailers which are solely used for recreation or vacation purposes.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Bona fide farms within the Town of Unionville planning jurisdiction.

  • Farm property used for non-farm purposes is not exempt.
  • Floodway and floodplain provisions in Article XVI, Part I apply to bona fide farms.
  • A bona fide farm is a tract or common-control tracts of 10 acres or more actively used substantially for commercial production or growing of crops, plants, livestock, or poultry.

  minimum farm tract size: >= 10 acres (Tract or tracts under common ownership or control and actively engaged in substantial commercial agricultural production.)

  “The provisions of this ordinance shall not apply to bona fide farms, except that: (1) farm property used for non-farm purposes shall not be exempt from regulation; and (2) the provisions of Article XVI, Part I regulating development in floodways and floodplains, as required for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, shall apply to bona fide farms.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Physical improvements to land to be subdivided inside Unionville town limits.

  • Major subdivisions require a major development permit issued by the Planning Board.
  • Minor subdivisions may proceed after final plat approval by the Land Use Administrator.

  “Physical improvements to land to be subdivided may not be commenced except in accordance with a major development permit issued by the Planning Board for major subdivisions or after final plat approval by the Land Use Administrator for minor subdivisions (see Part II of this article).”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town zoning, compliance, subdivision, and related permits inside Unionville town limits.

  • The fee schedule is effective July 1, 2026.
  • Engineering fees may be added where applicable to an application.

  new residential home zoning permit: 100 USD · new residential home compliance permit: 100 USD · new/replacement manufactured home zoning permit: 100 USD

  “**Plus any Engineering Fees, if applicable to any application”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town zoning permits for new RA-40 residential construction inside Unionville town limits.

  • The applicant must provide a sketch plan showing the proposed structure, lot, dimensions, location, setback lines, uses, and existing structures.
  • The Town may require other information needed to confirm compliance with its Land Use Ordinance.

  “Required Attachments: Sketch plan showing the proposed structure, lot shape, dimensions, location, setback lines, uses, and existing structures.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Unionville

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  New principal residential structures in the RA-40 residential zoning district inside Unionville town limits.

  • The posted application states that the required values are based on RA-40 zoning standards.
  • Setbacks are measured from the public street regardless of home orientation.

  front setback: >= 40 feet · rear setback: >= 40 feet · left side-yard setback: >= 15 feet · right side-yard setback: >= 15 feet

  “Front Setback 40 ft Rear Setback 40 ft Left Side Yard 15 ft Right Side Yard 15 ft Building Height (Max) 35 ft Lot Width @ Bldg Line (Min) 120 ft”

• Building heightSpecified

  New principal residential structures in the RA-40 residential zoning district inside Unionville town limits.

  • The posted application states that the required values are based on RA-40 zoning standards.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “Front Setback 40 ft Rear Setback 40 ft Left Side Yard 15 ft Right Side Yard 15 ft Building Height (Max) 35 ft Lot Width @ Bldg Line (Min) 120 ft”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Proposed lots inside Unionville that are less than 20,000 square feet and lack access to a sewage treatment facility or county sewer lines.

  • The condition applies where lots are less than 20,000 square feet and do not have access to a sewage treatment facility or county sewer lines.
  • The Union County Health Department – Environmental Health Division must review and approve proposed plans as provided in Sections 238 and 239.

  lot area threshold: < 20000 square feet (Only where the lot lacks access to a sewage treatment facility or county sewer lines.)

  “In addition, where lots of less than 20,000 square feet are proposed and such lots do not have access to a sewage treatment facility or county sewer lines, the Union County Health Department – Environmental Health Division shall review and approve proposed plans as provided in Sections 238 and 239.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building-permit requirement for construction inside Unionville town limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work on residential construction inside Unionville town limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Unionville town limits.
• Inspections — Building-code inspections inside Unionville town limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for buildings inside Unionville 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.