Brunswick County, NC Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- UDO § 4.3.2
- Minimum project size
- 15 dwelling units
- Workforce housing bonus
- up to 20% or 25%
- Public facility bonus
- 1-to-1 for land dedication
- Rental affordability term
- at least 15 years
- Applies only in
- unincorporated Brunswick County
Summary
Brunswick County's Unified Development Ordinance lets residential projects of 15 or more units in the unincorporated county earn a density bonus of up to 25% for workforce housing, a one-to-one bonus for dedicating land for public facilities, or up to 25% for exceptional design, under UDO Section 4.3.2. The program does not apply inside Leland, Southport, Oak Island or the county's other incorporated towns.
The Density Bonus provisions in this section are available to any project (i.e., Planned Development or Conventional) meeting the requirements as outlined herein. Density bonuses are intended to encourage work force housing, dedication of public facilities and exceptional design in development projects. ... A density bonus of up to 20% may be granted for projects providing units affordable to persons with incomes between 60% and 80% of the median household income for the jurisdiction. A density bonus of up to 25% may be granted by the Planning Board for projects providing units affordable to persons with incomes below 60% of the median household income for the jurisdiction.
Full Breakdown
The Density Bonus provisions apply to Planned Development or Conventional projects meeting the stated requirements and are meant to encourage workforce housing, public facility dedication and exceptional design. For workforce housing, a project needs at least 15 dwelling units, and at least 15% of units must be affordable at or below 60% of area median family income by HUD target limits for Brunswick County. Projects serving households between 60% and 80% of median income can receive up to a 20% density bonus; projects serving households below 60% of median income can receive up to 25%, granted by the Planning Board.
Workforce units must be dispersed and indistinguishable from market-rate units. In single-family and duplex developments, lot sizes and yard requirements on internal lots may be reduced up to 20% to fit the added units, but perimeter lots cannot be reduced. Multifamily projects may get height allowances up to 60 feet with flexible setbacks. Rental affordability must hold for at least 15 years, with an annual report to the county verifying tenant incomes and rents; for-sale units need only meet the limit at initial sale. The Public Facility Density Bonus grants a one-to-one bonus when a developer dedicates land the County accepts by deed for a school, park, fire department, police station or similar use, after the Board of County Commissioners certifies the need and the Planning Board approves the density increase. 1.
Violations & Fines
Compliance measures for approved density-bonus projects may include contracts, restrictive covenants, deed restrictions and stipulated penalties set at the time of approval. Failing to maintain the required affordability period on rental workforce units, or to file the required annual income/rent report with the County, breaches the approval and exposes the developer to those recorded restrictions and penalties, enforced through the Brunswick County Planning Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Brunswick County density bonus apply in Oak Island or Leland?
How large a density bonus can a workforce housing project get?
What does the public facility density bonus require?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brunswick County
Compare Brunswick County to another location·View the North Carolina zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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