Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Durham, NC (2026)
2 verified zoning overlays & bonuses rules for Durham, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Density Bonus Law
Durham's Unified Development Ordinance lets residential projects add units above the base zoning cap by setting aside affordable homes. Projects of at least 15 units that make 15% of units affordable to households at 60% of AMI or below can build up to 75 units per acre, or the district's permitted density if higher.
Durham Affordable Housing Density Bonus
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO Sec. 6.6, Affordable Housing Bonus
6.6.1. General requirements The bonus can be utilized at the time of site plan or subdivision for new projects subject to the additional regulations of this section. Minimum lot area and width requirements can be reduced by a maximum of 20%. [Single-family and Two-family lots in RU-5, RU-5(2), and the Small Lot Option] ... Minimum lot area and width requirements can be reduced by a maximum of 3...
Downtown Design Guide
Durham's Downtown Design (DD) District regulates building form, not just use, across the city's Downtown Tier under UDO Article 16. Ground-floor residential space must sit at least 30 inches above street grade, buildings with only one or two dwelling units generally need a separate nonresidential use, and the city's Durham Design Manual yields whenever it conflicts with the UDO's own codified Design District standards.
Durham Downtown Design (DD) District Rules
Some RestrictionsUDO §§ 16.1.1-16.1.2 (see also § 4.5.1, Downtown Design (DD))
Design District standards shall be established to regulate the physical form of specific areas within the community... Standards within this Article shall apply to any property with a Downtown Design District (DD), Compact Design District (CD), or Compact Suburban Design District (CSD) zoning designation and applicable sub-district zoning designations. The DD zoning district and sub-districts s...
Looking for Durham County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Durham city rules.
Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Durham County →