Overview
Worth knowing
- LDO (2010) completely replaced the prior UDO (1992-2010). The naming system changed: new R districts encode density (R-3, R-5, R-7) rather than lot size; new RM districts for multi-family encode density (RM-5 through RM-40).
- RM-8 is the ONLY RM district explicitly excluded from cluster development regulations. All other RM districts permit cluster development.
- RM-40 is RESTRICTED to Activity Centers and major thoroughfares only; not available as a base district in general residential areas.
+ 7 more in Quirks & notes
Districts
res_mf 6mu 6com 4res_sf 3ind 3cbd 1off 1ag 1spec 1res_th 1
| Code | Name | Category | Min lot | Height | Coverage | FAR | Du/ac | Parking | Setbacks F/S/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-3 | Single-Family Residential - Low Density | res_sf | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — / — / 30[1] |
| R-5 | Single-Family Residential - Medium Density | res_sf | — | — | 0.4[4] | — | 5 | — | — / 15[2] / 20[3] |
| R-7 | Single-Family Residential - Higher Density | res_sf | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — / — / — |
| RM-5 | Multi-Family Residential - Low Density | res_mf | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — / — / — |
| RM-8 | Multi-Family Residential - Low-Medium Density | res_mf | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — / — / — |
| RM-12 | Multi-Family Residential - Medium Density | res_mf | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | — / — / — |
| RM-18 | Multi-Family Residential - High Density | res_mf | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — / — / — |
| RM-26 | Multi-Family Residential - Very High Density | res_mf | — | — | — | — | 26 | — | — / — / — |
| RM-40 | Multi-Family Residential - Highest Density | res_mf | — | — | — | — | 40 | — | — / — / — |
| MU-L | Mixed-Use - Low Density | mu | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| MU-M | Mixed-Use - Medium Density | mu | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| MU-H | Mixed-Use - High Density | mu | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| AO | Activity Center Mixed-Use | mu | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| UMU | Urban Mixed-Use | mu | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| NS | Neighborhood Services | mu | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| C-N | Neighborhood Commercial | com | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| C-L | Local Commercial | com | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| C-M | Medium Commercial | com | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| C-H | High-Intensity Commercial | com | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| CB | Central Business | cbd | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| O | Office | off | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| BP | Business Park | ind | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| LI | Light Industrial | ind | — | 50 ft[5] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| HI | Heavy Industrial | ind | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| AG | Agricultural | ag | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| PUD | Planned Unit Development | spec | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| TN | Townhouse | res_th | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
Confidence: confirmed partial under review not found
Overlays
-ACO
Activity Center Overlay
MILDesignated activity centers and major nodes on the future land use map
| scope | Mixed-use development with enhanced density bonuses and parking reductions |
|---|
-AO
Airport Overlay
APProperties within PTI Airport noise contours and approach zones
| scope | Noise and height restrictions; use limitations near runways |
|---|---|
| note | PTI Overlay amended at least twice in recent years; current version in effect through 2024 |
-CBO
Central Business Overlay
DTDowntown Greensboro core commercial area
| scope | Build-to-line and mixed-use standards for downtown revival |
|---|
-DDO
Downtown Design Overlay
DTDowntown core area
| scope | Pedestrian-oriented design standards, frontage, transparency, parking placement |
|---|
-GO
Greenway Overlay
CONProperties along greenway corridors and stream buffers
| scope | Stream buffer protection; no structures in buffer zones; passive recreation permitted |
|---|
-HDO
Historic District Overlay
HPLocally designated historic districts
| scope | Design review and Certificate of Appropriateness required for exterior changes |
|---|
-MHO
Manufactured Housing Overlay
SPDProperties where manufactured housing parks are permitted
| scope | Manufactured housing park development standards |
|---|
-NCO
Neighborhood Conservation Overlay
CONNeighborhoods designated for conservation of character
| scope | Infill standards and scale compatibility; setback and massing controls |
|---|
-PSO
Pedestrian Scale Overlay
CORDesignated pedestrian corridors and town centers
| scope | Ground-floor transparency, active use, parking placement, and pedestrian access standards |
|---|
-SCO, -SCO-1, -SCO-2, -SCO-3, -SCO-4
Scenic Corridor Overlay
CORScenic corridors identified on future land use map (multiple named segments)
| scope | Landscaping, screening, setback, and building design standards to preserve views and visual quality |
|---|
-VCO
Visual Corridor Overlay
CORCorridors with significant visual impact
| scope | Sign, screening, and design visibility standards |
|---|
-OWAO
Owassa Watershed Overlay
ENVProperties in Owassa watershed
| scope | Water quality protection; riparian buffer; development restrictions |
|---|
-WCA
Wellhead Capture Area Overlay
ENVProperties within wellhead protection areas
| scope | Drinking water wellhead protection; use and storage restrictions |
|---|
-GWA
Groundwater Recharge Area Overlay
ENVProperties in groundwater recharge areas
| scope | Groundwater quality protection; impervious surface limitations |
|---|
Adopted building codes
Statewide
Click a code label to open its state-by-state adoption atlas.
Quirks & notes
- LDO (2010) completely replaced the prior UDO (1992-2010). The naming system changed: new R districts encode density (R-3, R-5, R-7) rather than lot size; new RM districts for multi-family encode density (RM-5 through RM-40).
- RM-8 is the ONLY RM district explicitly excluded from cluster development regulations. All other RM districts permit cluster development.
- RM-40 is RESTRICTED to Activity Centers and major thoroughfares only; not available as a base district in general residential areas.
- C-N is the most restrictive commercial district with building size cap of 8,000 sf and prohibition on drive-through uses.
- Good Repair Regulations are embedded in the CB (Central Business) district zoning code (§30-7-5.2.E) as a zoning requirement, not a separate building or nuisance code. Exterior maintenance is therefore a zoning compliance matter.
- Cluster development flexibility: standard development lot sizes and setbacks can be reduced when dwellings adjoin permanent open space at least 30 ft wide; this flexibility preserves overall density.
- PTI Airport Overlay has been amended at least twice in recent years; code status through 2024 confirmed but further amendments possible.
- Five named Scenic Corridor overlay districts (-SCO-1 through -SCO-4 plus base -SCO) with detailed visual quality standards.
- ADU amendment (April 2024) permits accessory dwelling units in all residential districts with no owner-occupancy requirement; max 50% of primary dwelling floor area.
- LDO is 600+ pages; full Article 7 dimensional tables (Tables 7-1 through 7-15) not extracted in this research session.
Formulas
Definitions
- cluster_development
- Reduced lot sizes and setbacks permitted when clustered dwellings adjoin permanent open space (minimum 30 ft width) with density preserved on remainder of lot.
- height_setback_slope
- In LI district, building height up to 50 ft unrestricted; above 50 ft requires additional 1 ft setback per 1 ft of height above 50 ft.
- good_repair_regulations
- CB district embedded regulation (§30-7-5.2.E) requiring exterior building maintenance as zoning code requirement, not separate code.
Massing explorer
Interactive 3D comparison across every district. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, use the slider to walk districts, and toggle applicable overlays in the right-side panel.
Sort by
Max height
— ft
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Floor area ratio
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Lot coverage
—%
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Setbacks (F / S / R)
— ft
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Parking
— /unit
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Max density
— du/ac
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Min lot size
— sf
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| District | Category | Height | FAR | Coverage | Setbacks | Parking | Density | Min lot | Overlays |
|---|
Sources & references
Citations
- [1] §30-7 Board of Adjustment Nov 2020
- [2] §30-7 Board of Adjustment Nov 2021
- [3] §30-7 Board of Adjustment Nov 2021
- [4] §30-7 Board of Adjustment Nov 2021
- [5] §30-7 Board of Adjustment Nov 2021
Research status
Data quality
45%completeness35 confirmed8 partial2 inferred
Documented gaps
- Full Article 7 dimensional standards tables (Tables 7-1 through 7-15) not extracted; requires direct access to online LDO PDF
- Minimum lot areas for all R and RM districts not extracted
- Height limits for R-3, R-5, R-7, and all RM districts not confirmed
- FAR, coverage ratios, and setbacks for commercial and mixed-use districts incomplete
- Industrial district setback and height standards not extracted
- Parking ratio by use type not documented
- Specific Activity Center and major thoroughfare locations for RM-40 restriction not enumerated
- Scenic Corridor specific street segments not detailed
- Current historic district list (named HDO sites) not complete
- Use table modifications by individual UNO corridor districts not documented
Known issues
schema:v1-legacypriority:lowdata:gaps-present
Other cities in this state
Nearest-alphabetical profiles. Click through to compare zoning patterns side-by-side.