Planning & Zoning

Council adopts important change in Dunn’s land development code

With a unanimous vote, the Dunn City Council adopted a new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) at their meeting April 11, 2023. The new UDO consolidates three chapters of City ordinances into a single “unified” ordinance containing the rules for land development within the City’s zoning jurisdiction. You can access the new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).

The adoption of the UDO culminates a nearly two-year process of writing, reviewing, revising, and researching by consultants from the Stewart Company working with City staff. This work included public meetings with the Planning Board and City Council. The UDO adopted April 11^th, incorporates recommendations of both the Planning Board and the City Council into the document.

As of April 12^th, the UDO became the land development ordinance of the City of Dunn, replacing in its entirety Chapters 9: Flood Damage Prevention; 20: Subdivision of Land; and 22: Zoning of the Dunn City Code.

Any development that did not have approved development or construction permits as of April 12^th must conform to the requirements contained in the UDO.

The UDO contains several improvements:

• A new mixed-use zoning district is created.
• Review time for some development decisions is reduced to streamline administrative processes.
• The language is updated, making it easier to read.
• The organization is improved, with the different articles grouped by category:
  • Administrative: Articles 1-3
  • Design: Articles 4-7
  • Regulatory: Articles 8-11
• There are tables that present essential information in one place. Examples include:
  • The Review Authority Table on page 3-2, which displays the review procedures for all types of development;
  • The Table of Permitted Uses on page 5-2, which displays the uses permitted in all zoning districts.
• There are more graphics and illustrations to help explain design requirements, from the siting of a structure to the design of parking (“a picture is worth a thousand words!”).
• And many more improvements!

You can access the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).

If you have any questions on the new ordinance, please call the Planning & Inspections Department at 910-230-3505 or visit their offices at 102 North Powell.