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Union County, NC Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Max building coverage
40% of the lot, every R district
Applies to
Principal house plus accessory buildings
Governing table
Table 5-2, Section 5.030
Accessory-structure restatement
Section 35.020

Summary

In unincorporated Union County, the Unified Development Ordinance caps the combined footprint of all buildings and structures on a residential lot at 40 percent under Table 5-2, the same limit across every district from RA-200 down to R-4, and Section 35.020 applies the same 40 percent cap to accessory buildings.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Union County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Table 5-2: R District Lot and Building Regulations--Conventional Development (amended 8-6-2018) Max. ... Coverage for bldgs. & structures 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 3. ... In residential zoning districts, the maximum lot coverage of all principal and accessory buildings on the lot may not exceed 40% of the lot.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Table 5-2, R District Lot and Building Regulations, sets the maximum coverage for buildings and structures at 40 percent in every conventional residential district in unincorporated Union County: RA-200, RA-40, RA-20, R-40, R-20, R-15, R-10, R-8, R-6 and R-4 all carry the identical 40 percent figure, unlike the setback and minimum-lot-size columns of the same table, which scale down as lot sizes shrink. 020, in Article 35's general regulations for accessory uses and structures, restates the limit for the whole lot rather than just the principal house: in residential zoning districts, the maximum lot coverage of all principal and accessory buildings on the lot may not exceed 40% of the lot, meaning a detached garage, workshop, pool house or accessory dwelling unit counts toward the same 40 percent ceiling as the primary residence. 020 applies specifically to the roofed footprint of principal and accessory structures.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the 40 percent building coverage cap, whether from the house alone or the house plus a garage, shed or other accessory structure, is a UDO violation under Section 95.010. The administrator and county attorney enforce it through Section 95.020's fine schedule: a 10-day warning citation to correct, then $50, $200 and $500 for repeated citations on the same offense, with continued noncompliance treated as a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 or 30 days under NCGS 14-4.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of my lot can I cover with buildings in unincorporated Union County?
40 percent, under Table 5-2 of the Unified Development Ordinance. The cap is the same 40 percent whether the lot sits in the large-lot RA-200 district or the smallest R-4 district, and it counts the combined footprint of the house and every accessory building on the property, not just the house alone.
Does my detached garage count toward the 40 percent lot coverage limit?
Yes. Section 35.020 states that the maximum lot coverage of all principal and accessory buildings on the lot may not exceed 40% of the lot, so a detached garage, workshop or accessory dwelling unit adds to the same 40 percent ceiling as the house itself, not a separate allowance.
Is lot coverage the same thing as impervious surface in Union County?
No. The 40 percent figure in Table 5-2 and Section 35.020 measures only the footprint of buildings and structures. Section 100.060 separately defines impervious coverage as the total area covered by buildings, structures, and paved or gravel surfaces such as driveways and walkways, a broader category used for stormwater rather than the building coverage cap.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Union County

Setback RulesSome RestrictionsStructure Height LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesHeavy RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingLight Restrictions

All Union County rules

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