Unified Development Ordinance

The Unified Development Ordinance applies to all properties within Hillsborough's Planning Jurisdiction, which includes properties in the town limits and in the extraterritorial jurisdiction. The Adminstrative Manual includes application requirements, deadlines, fees and forms.  Visit the Zoning Information page to view the Zoning Map and Zoning Search tables 

Section 1 provides the legal framework for the ordinance.

Section 2 discusses the various boards and their authority.

Section 3 details the variety of review processes and steps. The chapter is organized from most intensive to simplest process. 

Section 4 contains a description of each zoning district. New districts have been created but not applied. 

Section 5 contains the specific standards for all uses requiring permits — from fences and home occupations to telecommunication towers and schools. The Permitted Use Table, which lists all the uses and what districts they are allowed in, is in this section.

Section 6 contains the development requirements that apply to all uses, including parking, lighting, signage, landscaping, design standards, tree preservation, steep slope provisions, and stormwater provisions.  The Dimensional Requirements (setbacks and lot size) are in this section.

Section 7 discusses nonconformities. This is also referred to as "grandfathering." This section details how the town will look at situations that do not conform to the standards of this ordinance.

Section 8 discusses enforcement procedures and steps, including prevention of demolition by neglect.

Section 9 provides general guidance on using the document, including rules of measurement. The definitions are also this section. Definitions describe terms that don't necessarily follow the standard dictionary definition.