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Board adopts zoning text amendments: triplex/quad density, larger residential solar arrays, higher sound limit for indoor firing ranges
Summary
The Davidson County Board amended its zoning ordinance to (1) allow triplexes and quadplexes at 20,000 square feet per dwelling in RM1, (2) remove a 400‑sq‑ft cap on residential solar and set production/roof‑line limits, and (3) raise allowable property‑line noise for indoor firing ranges to 60 dB day/55 dB night.
The Davidson County Board of Commissioners approved three zoning text amendments affecting housing density, residential solar installations and indoor firing‑range noise standards.
1) Multifamily density (triplex/quadplex): The board approved a change to the RM1 (medium density) district that treats triplexes and quadplexes as apartments with the same 20,000 square foot per dwelling standard previously used for duplexes. Staff noted that environmental health rules can still require larger lot sizes for septic where necessary.
2) Residential solar panels: County code previously limited residential solar installations to 400 square feet. The board removed that strict cap. Under the revised standard, roof‑mounted systems must remain within the roof area; ground‑mounted residential systems are limited to a maximum sized to produce up to 125% of the average electrical demand for a residence of similar square footage (a formula submitted with permit applications will be used to calculate the allowable array).
3) Indoor firing range noise limits: The board relaxed a strict 40‑decibel property‑line standard for indoor firing ranges to a more typical standard used elsewhere—60 decibels during daytime hours and 55 decibels at night—after the Davidson‑Davie Community College and a consultant explained 40 decibels is unusually strict and would hinder feasible range design.
Staff and commenters said the amendments were intended to reduce repetitive variance requests (solar) and bring local standards in line with regional practice (indoor range decibels) while allowing the county’s environmental and health codes to control location‑specific requirements.
Each amendment passed on separate motions and will be incorporated into the county zoning ordinance; staff will update permit guidance and application forms to reflect the changes.
