Greensboro does not impose a general residential impact fee on ADUs. Following the NC Court of Appeals ruling against Greensboro on pre-2018 water/sewer impact fees, the city now charges system development fees under NCGS Ch. 162A only when a new water or sewer lateral is installed. ADU costs include standard building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit fees by valuation.
North Carolina law does not generally authorize cities to charge residential impact fees outside specific statutory authority. NC General Statutes Chapter 162A (System Development Fees) authorizes water and sewer SDFs calculated under a prescribed methodology (NCGS 162A-205). Greensboro's prior water and sewer impact-fee regime was struck down by the NC Court of Appeals (Plantation Building of Wilmington v. City of Greensboro line of cases), and the city has since revised its fee schedule under the 2017 Public Water and Sewer System Development Fee Act. Greensboro's current rule (City Code Ch. 29, System Development Fees, FY23-24 ordinance) provides that no system development fee is required for an ADU unless a new lateral line to the water main is installed; when an ADU shares the existing service connection with the primary dwelling, SDFs typically do not apply. Single-family units of 1,500 sq ft or less may be exempt by building-permit data; units over 1,500 sq ft may be exempt if the builder participates in a low-income housing production program. ADU permit costs therefore include: (1) Building permit fee by construction valuation; (2) Separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit fees; (3) Plan-review fees; (4) Stormwater/erosion-control fees if applicable; (5) Water/sewer SDF only if a new tap is installed. Greensboro does not charge a separate school, parks, or transportation impact fee.
Failure to pay permit fees prevents issuance. Unpaid water/sewer SDFs prevent service connection. No general impact-fee violation exists since no general impact fee is charged.
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro has no city ordinance regulating year-round lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays at single-family properties. The LDO sign standards ex...
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro has no zoning, building, or sign-code rule specifically targeting residential inflatable holiday displays. The LDO sign standards exempt seasonal ...
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro has no city ordinance restricting when residents may install or must remove holiday lights at single-family homes. The Greensboro LDO sign standar...
Greensboro, NC
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Greensboro require permits for gas lines, electrical, plumbing, and any roofed structure under NC General Statute 160D-1110. Bui...
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro has no ordinance specifically targeting backyard smokers, pellet grills, or wood-fired ovens at single- or two-family homes. General nuisance auth...
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro enforces the 2018 North Carolina Fire Prevention Code, which adopts IFC Section 308. NCFC 308.1.4 prohibits charcoal burners and open-flame cookin...
See how Greensboro's adu impact fees rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.