Winston-Salem Zoning Regulations & Building Permits
Key Zoning Facts
Winston-Salem is a city in Forsyth County, North Carolina, with a 2020 Census population of 249,545. As part of the Piedmont Triad region, Winston-Salem manages land use and development through its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which divides the municipality into residential, business, and industrial zoning districts.
Winston-Salem's residential zoning districts include RS-9 (9,000 sq ft minimum lots), RS-12 (12,000 sq ft), and RS-20 (20,000 sq ft) for single-family homes. Multi-family districts include RM-8 (8 units per acre) and RM-12 (12 units per acre). The city also has business districts (LB, GB, HB) and industrial districts (LI, HI).
Key Residential Zoning Districts
| District | Min Lot Size | Front Setback | Side Setback | Rear Setback | Max Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RS-9 | 9,000 sq ft | 25 ft | 5 ft | 20 ft | 35 ft |
| RS-12 | 12,000 sq ft | 30 ft | 8 ft | 25 ft | 35 ft |
| RS-20 | 20,000 sq ft | 35 ft | 10 ft | 30 ft | 35 ft |
ADU Regulations
Winston-Salem allows accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Property owners should consult the Winston-Salem Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) for specific provisions regarding ADU size limits, setback requirements, parking, and permitting procedures. Contact Winston-Salem Planning for guidance on ADU applications.
Development Process
Development in Winston-Salem generally requires obtaining the appropriate permits from the city's planning and building departments. The process typically involves:
- Zoning Verification -- Confirm that your proposed use is permitted in the applicable zoning district
- Site Plan Review -- For commercial and multi-family projects, submit a site plan for review
- Building Permit -- Apply for a building permit with construction documents
- Inspections -- Schedule required inspections during construction
- Certificate of Occupancy -- Obtain final approval before occupying the structure
Key Considerations
Before starting any development project in Winston-Salem, property owners should:
- Verify the zoning classification of their property
- Review setback, height, and lot coverage requirements
- Check for any overlay districts or special regulations
- Determine if the property is in a flood zone using FEMA's flood map service
- Confirm whether HOA covenants or deed restrictions apply
- Contact the planning department for pre-application guidance
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about zoning in Winston-Salem and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Zoning codes are subject to change. Always verify current regulations with the City of Winston-Salem planning department or municipal code before making development decisions.
Regulatory Layers That Apply in Winston-Salem
Your property is subject to ALL of these regulatory layers. Each one can impose additional requirements beyond the others.
Federal
- FEMA flood mapping: check parcel-specific flood-zone status
- View FEMA Flood Map
State — North Carolina
- Building Code: NC State Building Code (IBC/IRC based)
County — Forsyth County
- Role: County-level property records, tax assessment, unincorporated area planning
City / Municipal
The municipality's zoning ordinance, building-code enforcement, and local permits form the primary local layer of land-use regulation for your property.
Overlay Districts
No overlay districts identified.
Private Restrictions
- Private covenants, deed restrictions, condominium rules, or association rules can impose requirements beyond zoning.
- Check HOA CC&Rs and deed restrictions for additional requirements.
Primary Zoning Districts
- Min Lot
- 9,000 sq ft
- Max Height
- 40 ft
- Front Setback
- 20 ft
- Side Setback
- 7 ft minimum; 20 ft combined
- Rear Setback
- 25 ft
- Min Lot
- 12,000 sq ft
- Max Height
- 40 ft
- Front Setback
- 20 ft
- Side Setback
- 7 ft minimum; 20 ft combined
- Rear Setback
- 25 ft
- Min Lot
- 20,000 sq ft
- Max Height
- 40 ft
- Front Setback
- 30 ft
- Side Setback
- 7 ft minimum; 20 ft combined
- Rear Setback
- 30 ft
- Min Lot
- Varies
- Max Height
- Varies
- Front Setback
- Varies
- Side Setback
- Varies
- Rear Setback
- Varies
- Min Lot
- Varies
- Max Height
- Varies
- Front Setback
- Varies
- Side Setback
- Varies
- Rear Setback
- Varies
- Min Lot
- Varies
- Max Height
- Varies
- Front Setback
- Varies
- Side Setback
- Varies
- Rear Setback
- Varies
- Min Lot
- Varies
- Max Height
- Varies
- Front Setback
- Varies
- Side Setback
- Varies
- Rear Setback
- Varies
- Min Lot
- Varies
- Max Height
- Varies
- Front Setback
- Varies
- Side Setback
- Varies
- Rear Setback
- Varies
- Min Lot
- Varies
- Max Height
- Varies
- Front Setback
- Varies
- Side Setback
- Varies
- Rear Setback
- Varies
- Min Lot
- Varies
- Max Height
- Varies
- Front Setback
- Varies
- Side Setback
- Varies
- Rear Setback
- Varies
Permit Costs & Timelines
Check Current Permit Fees & Timelines
Permit fees and review times can vary by project type, scope, valuation, and required approvals. Check the current schedule with the local permitting authority before filing.
Check current Winston-Salem permit information →Official Sources
City-specific