Code of the City of Washington, North Carolina
Chapter 27 - Zoning
The Contents of the Zoning Ordinance are listed at the bottom of this page. Click on your selection to retrieve the  version of the sections:
Sections 1 - 13
Sections 14 - 43
Sections 44 - 49
Sections 50 - 61
Sections 62 - 122
Sections 123 - 183
Sections 184 - 237
Table of Uses
NOTE: The on-line version may vary from the official version of the Washington City Code. Please contact:
Department of Planning and Development
102 E. 2nd St.
Washington, NC, 27889
252-975-9383
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday to obtain the most current version of this ordinance.
City of Washington Zoning Ordinance
Article I. General Provisions
Sec. 27-1. Title.
Sec. 27-2. Purpose.
Sec. 27-3. Interpretation and Application.
Sec. 27-4. Jurisdiction.
Sec. 27-5. Zoning Map.
Sec. 27-6. Land and Buildings Regulated.
Sec. 27-7. Relationship of Building to Lot.
Sec. 27-8. Reduction or Change in Lot Size Prohibited.
Sec. 27-9. Maintenance of Open Space.
Sec. 27-10. Uses Prohibited.
Sec. 27-11. Reenactment of Prior Zoning Provisions; Saving Provisions.
Article II. Definitions
Sec. 27-12. Usage.
Sec. 27-13. Words and Terms Defined.
Article III. Nonconforming Situations
Sec. 27-14. Continuation of Nonconforming Situations and Completion of Nonconforming Projects.
Sec. 27-15. Extension or Enlargement of Nonconforming Situation.
Sec. 27-16. Repairs, Maintenance, and Reconstruction.
Sec. 27-17. Change in Use of Property Where a Nonconforming Situation Exists.
Sec. 27-18. Abandonment and Discontinuance of a Nonconforming Use.
Sec. 27-19. Nonconforming Lots.
Sec. 27-20. Completion of Nonconforming Projects; Vested Rights.
Sec. 27-21. Removal of Certain Nonconforming Uses Required.
Article IV. Zoning Districts
Sec. 27-22. Location and Boundaries of Districts.
Sec. 27-23. Rules for Interpretation of Boundaries.
Sec. 27-24. Vacation, Abandonment, or Withdrawal of Streets and Alleys.
Sec. 27-25. Further Interpretation by Board of Adjustment.
Sec. 27-26. Zoning Districts Established.
Sec. 27-27. RA20 Residential Agricultural District.
Sec. 27-28. R15S Residential Single Family.
Sec. 27-29. R9S Residential Single Family.
Sec. 27-30. R6S Residential Single Family.
Sec. 27-31. RMF Residential Multi Family.
Sec. 27-32. RMH Residential Mobile Home.
Sec. 27-33. RHD Residential Historic District.
Sec. 27-34. PUD Planned Unit Development.
Sec. 27-35. O & I Office and Institutional District.
Sec. 27-36. B1H Central Business Historic District.
Sec. 27-37. B2 General Business District.
Sec. 27-38. B3 Shopping Center District.
Sec. 27-39. B4 Neighborhood Business District.
Sec. 27-40. I1 Heavy Industrial District.
Sec. 27-41. I2 Light Industrial District.
Sec. 27-42. AP Airport District.
Sec. 27-43. Table of Uses.
Article V. Standards and Criteria for Special Uses
Sec. 27-44. General Criteria.
Sec. 27-45. Additional Restrictions.
Sec. 27-46. Revocation of Permits after Notice and Opportunity to be Heard.
Sec. 27-47. Specific Criteria.
Sec. 27-48. Index to Listed Uses.
Sec. 27-49. Listed Uses; Specific Criteria.
Article VI. Dimensional Standards, Modifications, and Special Standards
Sec. 27-50. Applicability.
Sec. 27-51. Schedule of Development Standards by Zoning District.
Sec. 27-52. Measuring Setbacks.
Sec. 27-53. Lot Frontage Requirements.
Sec. 27-54. Airport Zoning; Height Restrictions.
Sec. 27-55. Height Exemptions.
Sec. 27-56. Visibility at Intersections; Sight Distances Maintained.
Sec. 27-57. Residential Accessory Structure and Building Standards.
Sec. 27-58. Commercial, Industrial, and Office Accessory Structure and Building Standards.
Sec. 27-59. Projections into Required Yards.
Sec. 27-60. Reserved.
Sec. 27-61. Special Standards for Certain Permitted Uses.
Article VII. Bufferyards, Landscaping Requirements
Sec. 27-62. Bufferyards; General.
Sec. 27-63. Bufferyards - Site Plan Required, Approval, Timing of Permits.
Sec. 27-64. Bufferyard Use Classification List.
Sec. 27-65. Bufferyard Chart.
Sec. 27-66. Bufferyard Illustrations.
Sec. 27-67. Bufferyard Standards.
Sec. 27-68. Maintenance of Bufferyard Areas.
Sec. 27-69. Acceptable Vegetation.
Sec. 27-70. Nonconforming Bufferyards.
Article VIII. Mobile Home Parks
Sec. 27-71. Conformance with Regulations.
Sec. 27-72. Procedures; Required Review, Contents.
Sec. 27-73. Permitted Uses.
Sec. 27-74. Development Standards.
Sec. 27-75. Garbage/Trash Container Pad Locations.
Sec. 27-76. Compliance with Subdivision Standards.
Article IX. Airport Zoning
Sec. 27-77. Definitions
Sec. 27-78. Administration of Article.
Sec. 27-79. Establishment and Designation of zones.
Sec. 27-80. Height Limitations.
Sec. 27-81. Use Restrictions.
Sec. 27-82. Nonconforming Uses, Structures, and Trees.
Sec. 27-83. Variances.
Sec. 27-84. Permits required for Future and Nonconforming Uses.
Sec. 27-85. Board of Appeals.
Sec. 27-86. Appeal from Decision of Board of Appeals.
Sec. 27-87. Penalty for Violation
Sections 27-88. --27-101.
Reserved.
Article X. Flood Zoning.
Sec. 27-102. Statutory Authorization, Findings of Fact, Purpose, and Objectives.
Sec. 27-103. Definitions.
Sec. 27-104. General Provisions.
Sec. 27-105. Administration.
Sec. 27-106. Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction.
Sec. 27-107. Legal Status Provisions.
Article XI. Multi-Family Development
Sec. 27-108. Applicability.
Sec. 27-109. Procedures; Required Review, Contents.
Sec. 27-110. Density.
Sec. 27-111. Open Space.
Sec. 27-112. Development Standards.
Sec. 27-113. Recreation Area Requirement (Private).
Sec. 27-114. Bufferyard Requirements.
Sec. 27-115. Parking Requirements.
Sec. 27-116. Private Streets.
Sec. 27-117. Compliance with Subdivision Standards.
Sec. 27-118. Applicability.
Sec. 27-119. Development Standards in B1H Zoning District.
Sec. 27-120. Residential Density Bonus Provisions.
Sec. 27-121. Schedules of Residential Bonuses.
Sec. 27-122. Reserved.
Article XII. Planned Unit Development
Sec. 27-123. Purpose and Intent; Definition.
Sec. 27-124. Area; Regulation of Uses; Density; Open Space; Recreation; Parking; Landscape; Density Bonus
Requirements.
Sec. 27-125. Planned Unit Development; Residential Uses Dimensional Standards.
Sec. 27-126. Planned Unit Development Non-Residential Use Dimensional Standards.
Sec. 27-127. Zero Side or Rear Yard Setbacks for Detached and Attached Building Or structures.
Sec. 27-128. Planned Unit Development District (PUD) Zoning Map Amendments.
Sec. 27-129. Special Use Permit; Application, Land Use Plan, Preliminary Plat-Site Plan, and Final Plat Requirements.
Sec. 27-130. Design Criteria; General.
Sec. 27-131. Street Design Criteria.
Sec. 27-132. Utility Services.
Sec. 27-133. Homeowner's Association.
Sec. 27-134. Amendment to Land Use Plan Special Use Permit.
Article XIII. Land Use Intensity (LUI) Development
Sec. 27-135. --27-146.
Reserved.
Article XIV. Telecommunication Towers and Antennas
Sec. 27-147. Purpose and Intent
Sec. 27-148. Definitions
Sec. 27-149. General Requirements
Sec. 27-150. Location
Sec. 27-151. Dimensional Requirements
Sec. 27-152. Landscaping
Sec. 27-153. Visual aspects
Sec. 27-154. Signs
Sec. 27-155. Lighting
Sec. 27-156. Maintenance
Sec. 27-157. Abandonment
Sec. 27-158. Statutory Severability
Sec. 27-159. --27-161.
Reserved.
Article XV. Special Districts
Sec. 27-162. Historic District and Commission.
Article XVI. Signs
Sec. 27-163. Purpose.
Sec. 27-164. Definitions.
Sec. 27-165. Permit Required.
Sec. 27-166. Signs Excluded from Regulation.
Sec. 27-167. Temporary Signs, Permit Exemptions and Additional Regulations.
Sec. 27-168. Determining the Number of Signs.
Sec. 27-169. Computation of Sign Area.
Sec. 27-170. Total Allowable Sign Surface Area.
Sec. 27-171. Freestanding Sign Surface Area.
Sec. 27-172. Wall Sign Surface Area.
Sec. 27-173. Number of Freestanding and Wall Signs.
Sec. 27-174. Location and Height Requirements.
Sec. 27-175. Special Provisions for Certain Signs.
Sec. 27-176. Sign Illumination.
Sec. 27-177. Miscellaneous Restrictions and Prohibitions.
Sec. 27-178. Nonconforming Signs.
Sec. 27-179. Shopping Center Signs.
Sec. 27-180. Reserved.
Sec. 27-181. Sign Maintenance.
Sec. 27-182. Sign Removal and Discontinued Signs.
Sec. 27-183. Amortization of Certain Signs.
Article XVII. Parking
Sec. 27-184. Purpose.
Sec. 27-185. Off-Street Parking and Loading Required.
Sec. 27-186. Exemptions.
Sec. 27-187. Parking Plan Required.
Sec. 27-188. Compliance with Bufferyards.
Sec. 27-189. Combination of Required Parking Spaces.
Sec. 27-190. Nonconforming Parking; Expansion of Floor Area, Other Units of Measurement.
Sec. 27-191. Surface Material.
Sec. 27-192. Cross District Parking.
Sec. 27-193. Parking Area Location Criteria.
Sec. 27-194. Improvement Standards.
Sec. 27-195. Schedule of Required Parking Spaces.
Sec. 27-196. Unlisted Uses.
Article XVIII. Site Plan Review
Sec. 27-197. Purpose.
Sec. 27-198. Applicability.
Sec. 27-199. Procedures; Required Review; Contents.
Sec. 27-200. Issuance of Permits; Enforcement.
Sec. 27-201. Appeals.
Sec. 27-202. Compliance with Subdivision Standards.
Article XIX. Board of Adjustment
Sec. 27-203. Establishment, Membership, Appointment, and Term.
Sec. 27-204. Vacancies and Compensation.
Sec. 27-205. Attendance.
Sec. 27-206. Rights, Privileges, and Duties of Extraterritorial and Alternative Members.
Sec. 27-207. Organization.
Sec. 27-208. Minutes, Written Orders.
Sec. 27-209. Quorum.
Sec. 27-210. Conduct of Meetings.
Sec. 27-211. Appeals to the Board.
Sec. 27-212. Stay of Proceedings.
Sec. 27-213. Powers and Duties of Board.
Sec. 27-214. Decisions.
Sec. 27-215. Voting.
Sec. 27-216. Notice of Hearing Before the Board of Adjustment.
Sec. 27-217. Appeals from Decision of Board.
Article XX. Amendments
Sec. 27-218. Who May Petition for Amendment.
Sec. 27-219. Fee.
Sec. 27-220. Procedure.
Sec. 27-221. Withdrawal of Zoning Amendment Petition from Planning Board Consideration.
Sec. 27-222. Withdrawal of Zoning Map or Text Amendment Petition from Consideration Following Planning Board Recommendation.
Sec. 27-223. Effect of Denial of Zoning Amendment Petition on Subsequent Similar Petition.
Sec. 27-224. Recordation of Amendments.
Sec. 27-225. Appeal to Decision of City Council.
Article XXI. Administration, Enforcement, Penalties
Sec. 27-226. Interpretation of Chapter.
Sec. 27-227. Duties of City Council.
Sec. 27-228. Permits Required.
Sec. 27-229. Certificate of Occupancy.
Sec. 27-230. Enforcement and Appeals.
Sec. 27-231. Enforcement Procedure.
Sec. 27-232. Remedies.
Sec. 27-233. Civil Penalties - Assessments and Procedures.
Sec. 27-234. Other Powers and Actions.
Sec. 27-235. Remedies - Cumulative and Continuous.
Sec. 27-236. Validity.
Sec. 27-237. Effective Date.
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