The general purpose of this Unified Development Ordinance, also known as the UDO, is to guide and manage the development of Morrisville in a way that takes into account present and future needs and resources and that protects the health, safety, prosperity, and general welfare of the Town’s citizens and landowners. The UDO is also intended to implement the goals, objectives, and policies in the Land Use Plan, Transportation Plan, and other plans adopted by Town Council to guide the Town’s growth and development.

UDO Administrative Manual

Developers, designers, property owners, and other applicants can access information and guidance about review procedures and applications. Please click on the button below to view and browse the manual.

UDO Text Amendments

Amendments to the UDO are often necessary to make minor corrections or clarifications or to account for changes in state or federal law or updates to the Comprehensive Plan.  Text amendments can only be initiated by the Planning Director, the Planning and Zoning Board, or the Town Council. 

For more information about UDO text amendments, please contact Planning Director Michele Stegall at mstegall@morrisvillenc.gov.

July 9, 2024 UDO Text Amendments

At the July 9, 2024 meeting, the Town Council approved the following amendments to the UDO:

Tobacco and/or Hemp Use: The Tobacco and/or Hemp retailer use is now permitted in the Regional Activity Center (RAC) zoning district only. The use refers to retailers the main purpose of which is the sale of tobacco and/or hemp products. This does not include other retailers such as convenience stores. Additional information can be found here. 

Masonry Painting: Exterior facade brick and factory tinted/textured concrete masonry units are now permitted to be painted on structures in all zoning districts except the Historic Crossroads Village (HCV). Language was also added to UDO Section 5.9.4.C.1.b(1) stating the following: "Facade colors, including permitted painted masonry, shall be of low reflectance earth one, muted, subtle, or neutral colors. When part of a common development, buildings shall utilize colors that are consistent with or complement surrounding development. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to maintain a painted facade and keep it in good condition to prevent a public nuisance." Painted wall signs are not permitted. 

Government accessory buildings Architectural Exemptions: The following language was added to UDO Section 4.2.5.D.1.c(1): "Government maintenance, storage, or distribution facilities and administrative government service uses shall not be subject to the accessory uses and structure standards in UDO Section 4.3.3.A.4." The following language was also added to UDO Section 5.9.2.C, as an exemption from the standards in UDO Section 5.9, Building Configuration and Design: "The standards in this section shall  not apply to accessory buildings and structures associated with Government Maintenance, Storage, or Distribution Facility and Administrative Government Service uses." These amendments were prompted by the future accessory storage building need associated with the new planned Public Works facility.

Stormwater Management: Revisions were made to UDO Section 7.4, Stormwater Maintenance, in order to comply with the recently passed Session Law 2023-108 that prohibits the collection of stormwater maintenance security cash payments and caps the amount that can be collected for associated escrows.

For more information about the July 9, 2024 UDO amendments, please contact Planning Manager Eliot Ward at eward@morrisvillenc.gov.