What is 160D

 In 2019, the North Carolina General Assembly enacted a major reorganization and modernization of the planning and development statutes applicable to municipal and county governments. The revised state statutes, known as Chapter 160D, consolidates the previous sections governing such local activities as planning, zoning, subdivision, housing and building standards, historic preservation, boards which review and act on requests, administration and enforcement, and other subjects, placing them into one chapter for both cities and counties. The revision provides consistent requirements and terminology applicable statewide for many of the processes that local governments undertake as they enact and revise zoning and development regulations. Cities, towns and counties still have some discretion in the details of their individual development regulations, but the revised 160D places some limitations on how they administer and conduct their processes. 

Importantly, Chapter 160D requires all local governments to bring their current ordinances and development regulations into compliance with the revised state statutes by August 1, 2021. Also, Chapter 160D requires any localities exercising zoning authority to also have in place and maintain an adopted comprehensive plan to help guide future zoning and development decisions. The requirement for such a plan to be in place has a deadline date of July 1, 2022.

SCEI Planning can help local governments in making the updates to their ordinances, regulations and procedures needed to comply with these new requirements. Our team of planners, with decades of experience working for a variety of cities, towns and counties in North Carolina, can consult with and if desired, draft, the necessary code updates. We are part of the 160D Collaborative, a collection of planning professionals who are prepared to assist you in this effort! Please contact us so we can help you get started!