TITLE
Title
UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE (UDO) TEXT AMENDMENT CASE #26-09-PLBD-00036: AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 3 (PERMITS AND PROCEDURES); ARTICLE 4 (ZONING DISTRICTS); ARTICLE 5 (DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR INDIVIDUAL USES); ARTICLE 6 (GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS); ARTICLE 8 (SUBDIVISIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE STANDARDS); ARTICLE 9 (ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS); ARTICLE 12 (DEFINITIONS); AND APPENDIX 2 - MAP STANDARDS OF THE UDO TO REMOVE OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND ALIGN WITH RECENT CHANGES TO NCGS 160D-702 PER NC HOUSE BILL 162/SESSION LAW 2026-39 TO BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2027
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
J. Leslie Bell, Planning and Zoning Department Director
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BACKGROUND
Background
Proposed Text Amendment Case #26-09-PLBD-00036 (attached) amends Article 3 (Permits and Procedures); Article 4 (Zoning Districts); Article 5 (Development Standards For Individual Uses); Article 6 (General Development Standards); Article 8 (Subdivisions and Infrastructure Standards); Article 9 (Environmental Regulations); Article 12 (Definitions); and Appendix 2 - Map Standards of the Guilford County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
The proposal was initiated in response to the adoption of House Bill 162/Session Law 2026-39 on July 6, 2026, with an effective date of January 1, 2027. The bill revised NCGS 160D-702 to eliminate North Carolina local governments' authority to require a minimum number of off-street parking spaces for any development, regardless of use. Therefore, this amendment removes the minimum parking requirements found throughout the Guilford County UDO. Additionally, clerical revisions to some UDO sections are proposed, which include technical corrections and clarifications.
At its October 14, 2026 regular meeting (minutes enclosed), the Guilford County Planning Board unanimously recommended (5-0) to the Board of Commissioners that Text Amendment Case #26-09-PLBD-00036 be adopted, as presented herein.
The full text of the proposed amendment is attached. Text to be deleted is shown with a strikethrough and text to be added is underlined.
Consistency with Adopted Plans:
The proposed Text Amendment is consistent with the following elements of the Guiding Guilford Moving Forward Together Comprehensive Plan:
• Policy 3, Action T3.1 of the Diversified Transportation and Mobility Planning Theme which encourages Guilford County to “Consider evaluating parking and land use development requirements to reflect the future land uses identified in the FLUM [Future Land Use Map] to respond to changing development patterns and mobility needs.”;
• Policy 3, Action C3.2 of the Planning Theme for Community Character which supports “focusing on creating active, walk-able, and universally accessible public realms in all new Activity Centers. Incentivize existing activity centers and private developments to retrofit accessibility features.”; and
• Policy 1, Action H1.4 of the Attainable Housing Planning Theme which encourages Guilford County to “Incentivize development of housing located within ¼ mile of transit services, such as a simplified review process, reductions in required parking, or additional height allowances.”
This proposed Text Amendment also aligns the UDO with recent amendments to State law (House Bill 162/Session Law 2026-39).
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Hold a legislative hearing and adopt Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Case #26-09-PLBD-00036 and the aforementioned statement of plan consistency, as presented herein, to amend Article 3 (Permits and Procedures); Article 4 (Zoning Districts); Article 5 (Development Standards For Individual Uses); Article 6 (General Development Standards); Article 8 (Subdivisions and Infrastructure Standards); Article 9 (Environmental Regulations); Article 12 (Definitions); and Appendix 2 - Map Standards of the Guilford County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
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