Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Richlands, North Carolina

Town of Richlands’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Richlands town limits subject to the town zoning chapter.

  • The published code identifies Chapter 153 as the town zoning chapter.

  “This chapter shall apply within the town's corporate limits and within any extraterritorial area established pursuant to G.S. § 160D-202 (or predecessor statutes).”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Richlands residential zoning districts.

  • The cited provision states that districts differ in density, dimensional requirements, and allowed uses.

  residential districts: A-5, R-20, R-15, R-10, RM-10, R-8, RM-8, R-6, RM-6

  “The following residential districts are hereby established: A-5, R-20, R-15, R-10, RM-10, R-8, RM-8, R-6 and RM-6.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in Richlands R-20 Rural Residential District.

  • Subject to § 153.145.

  minimum lot size: 20000 square feet (R-20 district; subject to § 153.145.)

  “R-6, RM-6 | 6,000 R-8, RM-8 | 8,000 R-10, RM-10 | 10,000 R-15 | 15,000 R-20 | 20,000”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in Richlands residential and commercial zoning districts.

  • The rule is except as provided in § 153.145(C).
  • A special use permit is required for buildings over 35 feet.
  • For a building over 50 feet, front-yard depth and total side-yard width increase one foot per two feet, or fraction, over 35 feet.

  height without special use permit: <= 35 feet (Residential and commercial districts; subject to § 153.145(C).)

  “no building or structure located in one of the town's residential and commercial zoning districts shall exceed a height of 35 feet”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Travel trailers and RV-type trailers inside the town zoning jurisdiction.

  • One travel trailer may be parked or stored only in a rear yard.
  • The trailer may not exceed 30 feet.
  • No living quarters may be maintained and no business conducted while the trailer is parked or stored.

  stored travel trailer maximum length: <= 30 feet (Rear-yard parking or storage only; no living quarters or business.)

  “That one travel trailer not to exceed 30 feet in length may be parked or stored in the rear yard of any lot; provided that, no living quarters shall be maintained, nor any business conducted therein while such trailer is so parked or stored;”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes within the town zoning jurisdiction.

  • Class A homes are permitted in manufactured-home parks and A-5, R-6, and RM-6 districts.
  • Class B homes are only permitted in manufactured-home parks and A-5 and RM-6 districts.
  • Class C homes are not allowed in any zoning district.
  • A building permit is required before a manufactured home is located in the town planning jurisdiction.

  “Class A manufactured homes are allowed [...] A-5, R-6 and RM-6 Zoning Districts. [...] until a building permit shall have been issued”

• Permit processPartial

  Development requiring a Richlands zoning, special-use, or sign permit.

  • Development may not commence without town approval.
  • Work under a zoning or special-use permit that constructs, erects, moves, or substantially alters buildings remains subject to obtaining a building permit.
  • No building may be occupied until all chapter and special-use-permit requirements are complied with, except as specified in §§ 153.346, 153.352, and 153.353.

  “no person shall commence or proceed with development without first securing approval from the town as herein provided.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Richlands or Onslow County directly.

• Building permit — Residential building construction inside Richlands town limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Richlands town limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Richlands town limits.
• Inspections — Building work inside Richlands town limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Completed buildings inside Richlands town limits.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Richlands means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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