View an Ordinance

Please go to Municode Online Ordinances to view an in-depth documentation of Buncombe County Ordinances.

• Adult Entertainment Ordinance
  The Adult Entertainment Ordinance regulates adult establishments, including bookstore and entertainment businesses in the areas of Buncombe County not regulated by a municipality. The ordinance sets annual licensing requirements for both businesses and entertainers and specifies prohibited acts and behaviors. Licensing fees are currently set a $1,000 per year.
  
  
• Street Addressing
  In accordance with county policy and to enable a better emergency response, the addressing office will provide a street address for new construction, for previously existing structures which have not had a physical street address assigned, and for the naming of new roads and private drives.
  
  
• Manufactured / Mobile Home Parks
  Buncombe County has an ordinance that sets standards for Manufactured Home Parks. A Manufactured Home Park Permit is required for all new parks and expansions of existing parks. The Manufactured Home Park Permit Application should be submitted to the Planning Department for review before work is begun in the park. After all work is completed, a final inspection for compliance with the ordinance standards is required before the permit is issued.
  
  
• Off Premise Sign Ordinance
  The Off Premise Sign Ordinance sets standards and restrictions for off-premise signs erected in the areas of Buncombe County not regulated by a municipality. The ordinance establishes criteria for size, height, setbacks, and spacing of signs, and provides permitted requirements. The ordinance amortizes all signs not conforming with height and size requirements.
  
  
• Telecommunications Tower Ordinance
  The Telecommunication Tower Ordinance sets standards for the permitting and construction of telecommunication towers in the areas of Buncombe County not regulated by a municipality. Tower height and site design standards are specified, and a 30 day notification of adjoining property is required. Ham radios and AM radio antennas are exempt from the ordinance.
  
  
• Water Supply Watershed Protection
  The Buncombe County Water Supply Watershed Protection Ordinance was adopted to protect the quality of the drinking water supply by managing the development that takes place in the watersheds. The ordinance regulates all WS-1 water supply watersheds and the Ivy watershed, which is classified as a WS-2 watershed. Lot size restrictions and development standards are required.
  
  
• Land Development & Subdivision Ordinance
  The Land Development and Subdivision Ordinance regulates subdivision of land and private road construction standards in the areas of Buncombe County not regulated by a municipality. Minor subdivisions, of 3 to 10 lots, are approved by the Planning Department. Major subdivisions, over 10 lots, are approved by the Planning Board. Ten categories of exemptions to the ordinance exist.
  
  

• Junkyard Control Ordinance
  The Junkyard Control Ordinance regulates all commercial businesses owning or storing junked vehicles. Standards are established for the number of junked or inoperable vehicles a business may keep. Junkyards existing when the ordinance was adopted must meet buffering standards, and any new junkyard must meet standards for acreage, road frontage, and setbacks as well.
  
  

• Beaverdam Community Land Use Ordinance
  The Beaverdam Community Land Use Ordinance requires zoning approval for any new construction or additions within Beaverdam Valley, off Merrimon Avenue, and outside the Asheville city limits. This area is bounded by Elk Mountain Scenic Highway to the north, Town Mountain Road to the South, and the Blue Ridge Parkway to the east. The valley is zoned residential, low density, with single family homes being the only permitted use. Churches and community buildings are allowed as conditional uses, if approved by the Board of Adjustment. Lot sizes and setback requirements are divided into several categories based upon the slope of the land.

• Limestone Township Zoning Ordinance
  Buncombe County has a voluntary Farmland Preservation Program. The purpose of this program is to encourage the economic health of farming areas, to increase protection from nuisance suits and undesired non-farm development and to increase the identity and pride in the agricultural community and its way of life. To qualify for the program, the land must be in the farm present-use-value taxation program, have a conservation management plan and be fifty acres or within a mile of other qualifying farms that together total fifty acres. Please contact the Soil and Water Conservation Service at 250-4785 for an application and additional information.

For more information contact the Planning Department at 250-4830.

• Erosion & Sedimentation Control
  The County Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Office regulates certain land disturbing activity to control accelerated Erosion and Sedimentation in order to prevent the pollution of water and other damage to lakes, water courses, and other public and private property by sedimentation, and establish procedures through which these purposes can be fulfilled.

For more information contact the Erosion Control Office at 250-4848.

• Sewer & Septic Tank Services
  Septic tank permits are issued by Buncombe County Environmental Health Services. For more information, please cal 250-6900.
  
  Permits for connections and extensions to public sewer services are issued by the Metropolitan Sewerage District.

Please call 254-9646 for more information.

• Farmland Preservation
  Buncombe County has a voluntary Farmland Preservation Program. The purpose of this program is to encourage the economic health of farming areas, to increase protection from nuisance suits and undesired non-farm development and to increase the identity and pride in the agricultural community and its way of life. To qualify for the program, the land must be in the farm present-use-value taxation program, have a conservation management plan and be fifty acres or within a mile of other qualifying farms that together total fifty acres. Please contact the Soil and Water Conservation Service at 250-4785 for an application and additional information.
  
  

• Permits & Inspections Services
  A permit should be obtained before beginning construction, alteration, or repairs other than ordinary repairs. Ordinary repairs are nonstructural repairs and do not include additions to alteration of, or replacement or relocation of plumbing, electrical wiring, or mechanical or other work for which a permit is required.

For information on obtaining a permit, call Permits & Inspections at 250-5360.

You man also need to contact the Soil and Water agency at 250-4785.