Item:
Title
Ordinance - New Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Update (60min)
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: January 5, 2026
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to review and provide comments on the proposed New Unified Development Ordinance project.
Motion:
To receive a presentation regarding the New Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) project and provide any necessary direction to staff.
Summary
The creation of the new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is intended to be an important tool for the implementation of the 2023 Durham Comprehensive Plan (see Attachment A: UDO Related Actions from the Comprehensive Plan). This draft is being produced by Code Studio and a team of technical consultants. Planning & Development Department staff are leading the community-wide engagement and T.G. Allen and Associates is managing the Engagement Ambassadors' Program for the project. Staff, Code Studio, and T.G. Allen and Associates have been working collaboratively through three phases of engagement over the last 18 months to share proposed UDO content with residents for their feedback. This presentation will provide project background and an overview of the content to date, including proposed policy shifts from the existing ordinance and highlights from the engagement results.
Attachments
Attachment A: Related Actions from the Comprehensive Plan
Attachment B: Code Audit and Approach Summary
Attachment C: Draft New UDO Content
Attachment D: Quick Guide to New Zoning Districts
Attachment E: Draft Use Table (April 2025)
Attachment F: Place Type to Zoning Districts Key
Attachment G: R- Districts Map
Attachment H: R-D District Density Change Map
Attachment I: RS-20 Proposed for R-B or R-D Map
Attachment J: RX- and CX- Districts Map
Attachment K: Presentation
Alignment with Strategic Plan: This item aligns with Durham County Strategic Goal: Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment. Maintaining, protecting, and improving natural and built sy...
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