Unified Development Ordinance

The purpose of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is to protect the

• public health,
• safety,
• and general welfare

of the citizens and landowners of Currituck County; and to implement the policies and objectives of county-adopted plans addressing the county’s growth and development.

Currituck County current Unified Development Ordinance was last amended on March 5, 2018.

• Table of Amendments
• Table of Contents
• Chapter 1 – General Provisions
• Chapter 2 – Administration
• Chapter 3 – Zoning Districts
• Chapter 4 – Use Standards
• Chapter 5 – Development Standards
• Chapter 6 – Subdivision and Infrastructure Standards
• Chapter 7 – Environmental Protection Standards
• Chapter 8 – Nonconformities
• Chapter 9 – Enforcement
• Chapter 10 – Definitions and Measurements

Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendments

The following ordinances have recently been adopted by the Board of Commissioners but have not yet been incorporated into the published Unified Development Ordinance.

• PB 19-06 Currituck County – Text Amendment
  Amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 2: Administration, to increase public notice mailing requirements from 200’ to 500’ from the property lines of land subject to a requested change and to modify expiration dates of planned developments and subdivisions with use permits to three years from the approval date with no opportunity to request extension of the approval.
  Adopted: April 1, 2019
  Effective Date: July 1, 2019
• PB 19-01 Currituck County – Amendment
  Amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 4: Use Standards, to allow freestanding telecommunication towers in the Single Family Residential Outer Banks Remote zoning district with a use permit.
  Adopted: March 4, 2019
• PB 19-02 Hunter Stuart
  Amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 4: Use Standards, to allow crab shedding within a fully enclosed building in the General Business zoning district.
  Adopted: March 4, 2019
• PB19-04 Currituck County – Revised Solar Text Amendment
  Amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 4: Use Standards, to add clarification regarding size limits on solar energy facilities, certifications for required landscaping, ditch maintenance, inverter building door placement, and updating the decommissioning plan when property changes ownership beyond two degrees of kinship.
  Adopted: March 4, 2019
• PB 17-14 Solar Energy Facilities
  Amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance Chapter 4:  Use Standards, and Chapter 10: Definitions and Measurements, to add solar energy facilities as an allowable use and remove wind energy facility, large, as an allowable use.
  Adopted January 22, 2019
• PB 18-24 Currituck County Flood Ordinance and Maps
  Text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance Chapter 1:  General Provisions, Chapter 2:  Administration, Chapter 7:  Environmental Protection, Chapter 9:  Enforcement, and Chapter 10: Definitions and Measurement with an effective date of November 15, 2018, to be consistent with the National Flood Insurance Program and  the Coastal Model Flood Ordinance.
  Adopted: November 5, 2018
• PB 18-18 David Stumph Veterinary Clinics
  Text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance Chapter 4:  Use Standards, to allow veterinary clinics with no outdoor facilities to locate on lots meeting the minimum requirements for the zoning district in which they are proposed.  Outdoor facilities include, but are not limited to, runs, kennels, and training areas.
  Adopted: September 4, 2018
• PB 18-15 Eagle Creek Golf Club-&-Grill
  Text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 5. Development Standards, to modify off-premise directional sign standards.
  Adopted:  August 6, 2018
• PB 18-17 Jay Winslow-Jason Graham
  Text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance Chapter 4:  Use Standards, to allow an automotive paint/body shop in the General Business Zoning District.
  Adopted: August 6, 2018
• PB 18-10 Clifford  C. Byrum Jr.
  Text amendment to modify the Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10. Definitions and Measurements, regarding the craft distillery definition to regulate the use by production volume instead of building size.
  Adopted: June 4, 2018
• PB 18-11  Julie Christian
  Text amendment to modify the Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10. Definitions and Measurements, to allow cosmetic tattooing in the General Business Zoning District.
  Adopted: June 4, 2018
• PB 18-12 Currituck – Sign Illumination
  Text amendment submitted by the Currituck County Planning and Community Development Department to update Chapter 5: Development Standards, Subsection 5.12.7:  Signs, to clarify illumination of signs.
  Adopted: May 21, 2018

Administrative Manual

The administrative manual is intended to assist in the administration of the Unified Development Ordinance.  The manual consolidates information in the development review process and helps applicants understand the procedures and requirements.  In an effort to ease the review process, the manual also includes:

• application forms,
• review checklists,
• and submittal and fee schedules.

NOTICE:  The Administrative Manual is currently being updated for the following:

• Chapter 2 – Procedures and Applications
• Chapter 3 – Appendices
• All links within the manual.

Please reference the updated applications or call Planning & Community Development 252-232-3055  for additional information.

Stormwater Manual

The stormwater manual is intended to provide guidance in appropriate BMP selection, design criteria to meet stormwater regulations, and proper BMP maintenance.  The manual also includes:

• required forms,
• submittal checklists for stormwater plans,
• and guidance for determining runoff rates.

*Note: the items under the Design Checklists is in Excel.