The Durham City-County Planning Department is the planning agency for the City and County of Durham. The department works with the community to develop long-range and special area plans containing policies to direct growth. Guided by the City’s
Strategic Plan, the department helps to make Durham a great place to live, work and play by working to create a strong and diverse economy, thriving and livable neighborhoods.
Planners develop policies addressing:
• Land use
• Open space
• Historic resources
• The environment
• Housing
• Transportation
• Economic development
• Government services and facilities
The Comprehensive Plan is Durham’s statement of how we want to grow and develop. The plan guides where and how private development should occur. It also guides how the City and County should provide public facilities and services to support future growth.
Adopted in 2006, the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) lays out the rules for the physical development of property. The UDO designates zoning of properties in Durham, and is crafted to result in a built environment that meets the goals of the
Comprehensive Plan. The UDO superseded the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances.
Development TrackingThe department has added an interactive map called the
Development Tracker to our webpage. This new development activity tracking system provides the ability to view development currently being reviewed in the city and county, and it allows access to a listing of development that has been approved within the last 12 months. Click on the development that is of interest and the mapping system will zoom to the property on the map and provide access to all of the relevant information regarding the case.
The City-County Planning Department is on the ground floor of City Hall, 101 City Hall Plaza. For information, call (919) 560-4137 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or
email.
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