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Chatham County delays UDO effective date to 12/31/2026 amid state 'downzoning' restrictions
Summary
Planning staff recommended moving the unified development ordinance effective date to Dec. 31, 2026 because recent state laws restricting local down‑zoning and other legislative changes block implementation; staff said they will revisit the date if the legislature restores local authority.
County planning staff asked the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 15 to postpone the effective date of Chatham County’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) from Dec. 31, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2026, citing state legislation that limits local down‑zoning authority and other recent bills that complicate UDO implementation.
Planner Chance Mullis told the board that the legislature has enacted measures affecting rezoning timelines and voluntary agricultural‑district processes, and that the county’s consultants and staff recommend allowing another year for potential state fixes and for the necessary implementation work (mapping, outreach and administrative preparation). "We're recommending to move it to next year, 12/31/2026," Mullis said.
Commissioners asked whether the county could implement parts of the UDO sooner if the state restores authority; staff said staff and consultants could accelerate work and move the effective date earlier if the legislature acts. The board closed the public hearing and referred technical and implementation questions to the Planning Board, which will continue work on mapping and legal adjustments needed to put the UDO into effect once state constraints are resolved.
