3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Mecklenburg County and Charlotte setbacks vary by zoning district. Typical R-3 residential: 30 ft front, 5 to 10 ft side, 35 ft rear. Charlotte UDO 2023 rewrite reduced many setbacks to encourage infill. Corner lots have front setback on both street frontages.
Residential height limits in Mecklenburg County typically 35 to 40 ft in R zones. Charlotte N1 zones allow up to 40 ft. Accessory structures capped at 20 ft or height of primary dwelling, whichever is less. Transitional height planes protect adjacent lower-density zones.
Maximum lot coverage in Charlotte residential zones ranges 40 to 65 percent depending on district. Mecklenburg County unincorporated R-3 caps at 30 to 40 percent. Impervious surface limits apply additionally in watershed protection areas (Lake Norman, Mountain Island Lake).
4 cities in Mecklenburg County have their own building setbacks & zoning rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Mecklenburg County Ordinance Hub →