Building Setbacks & Zoning in Union County, NC (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Union County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
In unincorporated Union County, the Unified Development Ordinance sets minimum yard setbacks by residential zoning district in Table 5-2, from 40 feet in the RA-200 and R-40 districts down to 20 feet in R-4. Side setbacks run 15 feet to 5 feet and rear setbacks 40 feet to 25 feet, measured under Section 100.050.
Union County Yard Setback Minimums by Zoning District
Some RestrictionsUnion County Unified Development Ordinance § 5.030, Table 5-2
Table 5-2: R District Lot and Building Regulations--Conventional Development (amended 8-6-2018) ... Minimum Setbacks (feet) 40 40 40 30 30 30 25 20 Street/front [2] Side [3] 15 15 12 10 10 10 8 5 Rear 40 40 40 30 30 30 25 25 Corner Side 20 20 20 15 15 15 12.5 12.5 ... [2] Corner lots – one street side yard shall be ½ of the required street/front setback [3] For townhouses, side setbacks apply t...
Structure Height Limits
In unincorporated Union County, the Unified Development Ordinance caps residential building height at 35 feet in the RA-200 through R-10 districts and 50 feet in R-8, R-6 and R-4 under Table 5-2, measured under Section 100.050 from grade to the roof's highest point.
Union County Residential Building Height Limit
Some RestrictionsUnion County Unified Development Ordinance § 5.030, Table 5-2; § 100.050
Max. Building Height (feet) 35 35 35 35 35 50 50 50 ... [4] Non-residential uses allowed in residential districts may exceed the 35 ft. height limitation, but shall not exceed 50 ft. in overall height. ... Building Height Measurement Building height is measured as vertical distance from grade to the highest point of coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or to the average h...
Lot Coverage Limits
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.
Union County Residential Lot Coverage Cap
Some RestrictionsUnion County Unified Development Ordinance § 5.030, Table 5-2; § 35.020
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.
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