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Chatham County seeks another delay to Unified Development Ordinance amid state down-zoning law uncertainty
Summary
Planning staff asked commissioners to move the UDO's effective date from Dec. 31, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2026 because state legislation restricting down-zoning has blocked implementation; board referred the amendment to the planning board for study.
Chatham County planning staff asked the Board of Commissioners on Monday to postpone the effective date of the county's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) by one year, citing state-level legislation that curtails local down-zoning authority and other recently enacted provisions that complicate implementation.
Planner Chance Mullis told the board that Senate Bill 382 and related measures have limited the county's ability to implement parts of the UDO as originally scheduled. "There has been no movement regarding the legislature on the down-zoning issues that are prohibiting us from being able to implement our UDO," Mullis said. Staff recommended changing the effective date from Dec. 31, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2026 to allow time for legislative developments and additional preparation.
Mullis also cited another recent statutory change that requires local review by agricultural advisory committees for rezoning of properties enrolled in voluntary agricultural districts and imposes review timelines (the presentation referenced the new review requirement and a 180-day period before decisions can proceed). Staff said that, together with other enacted bills, the new provisions present additional procedural steps and timing constraints the county must plan around.
Commissioners asked whether the UDO could be implemented sooner if the legislature changes course. Mullis said the county can accelerate implementation if state law is amended, but staff also cautioned the board that UDO implementation itself requires months of mapping, public review and planning-board work even after a statutory change.
The board closed the public hearing on the matter and referred the amendment to the Chatham County Planning Board for further consideration.
Ending: Planning staff will continue to monitor state legislation; if the General Assembly modifies the down-zoning restrictions, the county said it can accelerate UDO implementation but otherwise will proceed with a one-year effective-date extension to Dec. 31, 2026 and coordinate necessary procedural updates with the planning board.
