Old Zoning Ordinance

The Durham City-County Zoning Ordinance and the Durham City-County Subdivision Ordinance were superseded by the Unified Development Ordinance on January 1, 2006. However, a number of projects submitted before to January 1, 2006 remain subject to the requirements of this ordinance. This online version of the Zoning Ordinance is for reference only. The Official Durham Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances may be found in the City and County Clerk's Offices.

Old Zoning Ordinance

• Section 1 (PDF): Purpose and authority of the Zoning Ordinance
• Section 2 (PDF): Rules of construction and definitions of terms used in the Zoning Ordinance
• Section 3 (PDF): Boards, Commissions and Agencies that enact, interpret and enforce the Zoning Ordinance
• Section 4 (PDF): General zoning districts
• Section 5 (PDF): Zoning overlay districts
• Section 6 (PDF): Table of Permitted Uses and minimum yard requirements
• Section 7 (PDF): Supplementary requirements
• Section 8 (PDF): Performance standards
• Section 9 (PDF): Standards for parking, loading, sidewalk and trash handling
• Section 10 (PDF): Buffer and landscaping requirements
• Section 11 (PDF): Natural Resource Protection Standards
• Section 12 (PDF): Regulation of signs
• Section 13 (PDF): Special Use Permits
• Section 14 (PDF): Temporary Uses
• Section 15 (PDF): Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Development Plans
• Section 16 (PDF): Variations and interpretations of the Zoning Ordinance
• Section 17 (PDF): Site Plans
• Section 18 (PDF): Vested rights of property owners
• Section 19 (PDF): Nonconforming lots, uses and buildings
• Section 20 (PDF): Zoning Enforcement
• Appendices (PDF): Appendix of the Zoning Ordinance

To reach Durham City-County Planning call 919-560-4137 or email [email protected].