Frequently Asked Questions

The structures that can be built on any property are determined by its zoning jurisdiction. You can find the zoning jurisdiction of your property by looking at GIS. After you've determined the zoning jurisdiction of your property then you can look at the County's Table of Uses to determine if what you want to do, and what you want to build, is allowed. You can always call our office at 980.484.4979 as well.

A zoning permit is needed for:

• Any new residential or business construction or use
• Any new accessory structure you wish to put on your property that is bigger than twelve (12) feet on any side (ie storage building, garage, workshop, swimming pool, etc.)
• Any addition to your business, house, or accessory building in which you're adding square footage to the structure or adding a roof onto a deck.  
• Any new or change of use in an existing structure (ie starting a new business, care home, daycare, etc.)

The most up to date zoning map is found on the County's GIS site.  Use the Layers menu on the left and select "County Zoning"

Section 12-172 of the Cleveland County Unified Development Ordinance states that "only one (1) principal dwelling unit shall be erected on any lot." There are exceptions listed in this section of the code.  

If your property does not meet one of the exceptions it may be possible to subdivide your property. You can find more information on property subdivision in the FAQ question on subdivisions.

To subdivide your property you must:

1. Determine if your land is big enough to subdivide. Section 12-171 details minimum lot size for all zoning districts. If your property falls within the critical area of a watershed the minimum lot size is one (1) acre and if your property is in the Rural Agriculture District it is three (3) acres. The minimum acreage must be met by all newly created parcels.  
   
2. Hire a professional surveyor. The surveyor will draw a plat (survey) showing the boundaries of the newly subdivided lots. 
3. The survey is approved by the County's Planning Department.
4. The survey, along with newly written deeds, are turned into the Register of Deeds office.  
5. Once the survey and deeds are turned into the Register of Deeds then the subdivision is complete.

Section 12-173 and 174 of the Cleveland County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) details setbacks for principal and accessory buildings. Principal buildings are considered those that house a princpal use, like a house or main business building. Accessory buildings are those that are accessory to the princpal use, like a storage building, carport, etc.  

If you cannot meet the required setbacks then a permit will not be granted.

The short answer to this question is no. Recreational Vehicles (RV) or campers do not meet either North Carolina state building code or Federal HUD standards. Therefore they cannot cannot be permitted as permanent living structures.

Some uses are only allowed in certain zoning districts by Special Use Permit (SUP). SUP's are zoning permits that are granted by the Board of Adjustment, not the Planning office. If the use you are interested in requires an SUP then you have to submit an application and a surveyed site plan to the Planning Office and have your case heard by the Board of Adjustment for a decision.

The Planning Office has no authority to enforce HOA rules or deed restrictions. The Planning Office is only allowed to enforce the Cleveland County Unified Development Ordinance and the rules contained within.

If you are unsatisfied with a zoning decision made by the Planning Office you have the right to appeal that decision, within thirty (30) days of that decision, to the Board of Adjustment. An appeal application must be filed and the cost for an appeal is $200. Once an application is filed the case will go before the Board at their next scheduled meeting.

Article XIV of the Cleveland County Unified Development Ordinance pertains to signs.  This article discusses off premise signs, sign exemptions and on premise signs.

Zoning complaints are filed with the Planning Office. All zoning complaints must be written and cannot be anonymous. If you wish to submit a zoning complaint please use this form and get it to our office by email, fax or in person. Code enforcement will go to the property in question after a complaint has been filed and will determine what, if any, action is needed.  

Article VII of the Cleveland County Unified Development Ordinance details zoning violations and what can happen if a zoning violation is filed against you.
In short if a zoning complaint is filed against you the Planning Office will come to the property in question and determine if there is a zoning violation. If there is a violation the property owner and/or tenant will receive a letter of violation giving sixty (60) days to correct the violation. If the violation is not corrected after sixty days then the Planning Office can issue a daily compounding citation until the issue is resolved. The Planning Office, as a last resort, can pursue legal action against the violator as well.

If you know of a damaged or missing street sign please call the Planning Office at 980.484.4979 to report it. It takes 6-8 weeks for a new sign to be put up.

The office of Environmental Health keeps septic tank records for the County.  Please contact that office by email at env.permit@clevelandcountync.gov for septic records and/or questions.  

Please refer to the Cleveland County Table of Uses to see what business types, if any, are allowed on your property.

GIS is an interactive map of Cleveland County designed to provide you with information such as zoning, flood plains and property lines. Please see the site's help page for more information on how to utilize the site.

Cleveland County can inspect a house for unsafe conditions through a process called Minimum Housing. If there is a dwelling within our jurisdiction you would like for the Building Inspections office to look at please fill out our minimum housing form and turn it back into our office.