Welcome!
We're excited to share progress on the UDO and receive your feedback.
This site is primarily for providing comments on draft documents. For additional information, visit the Town's UDO Project Page.
Upcoming Events | Past Events | UDO Drafts | FAQs
See you in 2026!
Board of Commissioners Work Session (10/27/25)
When: Monday, October 27, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
Where: Beaufort Train Depot, 614 Broad Street
Why: To observe the Board of Commissioners' discussion of the Final Draft Coastal Resilience Overlay District
Meeting Materials: View the agenda packet and slide deck from the BOC's Work Session
UDO Steering Committee Meeting (10/20/25)
When: Monday, October 20, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 874 6957 4043
Passcode: 649049
Why: To observe the UDO Steering Committee's discussion of the Preliminary Discussion Draft of UDO Section 4.3: Landscaping & Tree Preservation
Meeting Materials: View the agenda packet for the Committee's meeting
Planning Board Regular Meeting (9/15/25)
When: Monday, September 15, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Beaufort Train Depot, 614 Broad Street
Why: To observe the Planning Board's discussion of the Final Draft Coastal Resilience Overlay District
Meeting Materials: View the agenda packet and slide deck from the Planning Board meeting
UDO Panel Q&A (8/26/25)
When: Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Beaufort Train Depot, 614 Broad Street, and online via Facebook Live
What: Panel discussion and Q&A Session
Why: To ask questions and share ideas about the UDO project, the proposed Coastal Resilience Overlay District, and current Town regulations
Meeting Materials: Watch the meeting recording
Joint Board of Commissioners & Planning Board Work Session (8/25/25)
When: Monday, August 25, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
Where: Beaufort Train Depot, 614 Broad Street
Why: To observe the Board of Commissioners' and Planning Board's discussion of the Draft Coastal Resilience Overlay District
Meeting Materials: View the agenda packet and slide deck from the Joint Work Session
UDO Steering Committee Meeting (8/18/25)
When: Monday, August 18, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 869 5885 4313
Passcode: 229747
Why: To observe the UDO Steering Committee's discussion of the next drafting topic: Trees, Landscaping, and Bufferyards
Meeting Materials: View the agenda packet, slide deck, and minutes from the Committee's meeting
UDO Steering Committee Meeting (8/4/25)
When: Monday, August 4, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 844 1047 2240
Passcode: 584418
Why: To observe the UDO Steering Committee's continued discussion of the Coastal Resilience Overlay District Preliminary Discussion Draft
Meeting Materials: View the agenda packet, slide deck, and minutes from the Committee's meeting
Community Conversations: Strengthening Community Resilience (7/22/25)
See the posterboards from our conversation.
When: Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: One Harbor Church, 105 Professional Park Drive
What: Informal drop-in style meeting
Why: To learn about the proposed Coastal Resilience Overlay District
UDO Steering Committee Meeting (7/22/25)
When: Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Where: Beaufort Train Depot, 614 Broad Street
Why: To observe the UDO Steering Committee's continued discussion of the Coastal Resilience Overlay District Preliminary Discussion Draft
Meeting Materials: View the agenda packet, slide deck, and minutes from the Committee's meeting. The Impervious Surface Analysis provided to the Committee is part of the agenda packet.
Olde Beaufort Farmers Market (6/21/25)
When: Saturday, June 21, 2025, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Olde Beaufort Farmers Market, 300 Courthouse Square
What: Information booth
Why: To learn about the UDO project, provide your input, and score some Beaufort swag
Community Conversations: Strengthening Community Resilience (6/20/25)
See the posterboards and slide deck from our conversation.
When: Friday, June 20, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Beaufort Train Depot, 614 Broad Street
What: Informal drop-in style meeting
Why: To learn about the proposed Coastal Resilience Overlay District
UDO Steering Committee Meeting (6/20/25)
When: Friday, June 20, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Where: Beaufort Train Depot, 614 Broad Street
Why: To observe the UDO Steering Committee's discussion of the Coastal Resilience Overlay District Preliminary Discussion Draft
Meeting Materials: View the agenda packet, slide deck, and minutes from the Committee's meeting.
UDO Steering Committee Meeting (4/16/25)
When: Monday, April 16, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom
Why: To observe the UDO Steering Committee's continued discussion of the Draft UDO Vision, Principles, & Goals and consideration of additional information regarding Resilience Point Systems
Meeting Materials: View the agenda packet, slide deck, and minutes from the Committee's meeting.
UDO Steering Committee Meeting (3/10/25)
When: Monday, March 10, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Where: Town Hall Conference Room, 701 Front Street
Why: To observe the UDO Steering Committee's discussion of the UDO Drafting Rules and Style Guide, UDO Outline, Draft UDO Vision Statement, and Proposed Resilience Approach
Meeting Materials: View the agenda packet, slide deck, and minutes from the Committee's meeting.
Section 4.3: Landscaping & Tree Preservation Preliminary Discussion Draft
This is the Preliminary Discussion Draft of UDO Section 4.3: Landscaping & Tree Preservation. It incorporates the Committee's feedback provided on the Preliminary Drafting Questions, which the Committee discussed on August 18, 2025. The Committee will discuss this first draft at its meeting on October 20.
Revised Draft Coastal Resilience Overlay District 09-05-25
The latest version of the Draft Coastal Resilience Overlay District reflects input received from the Board of Commissioners and Planning Board at a Joint Work Session on August 25. This version shows deletions in red text and additions in blue text.
The Planning Board will review and discuss this draft at its meeting on September 15 at 6:00 p.m.
Coastal Resilience Overlay District Map 09-05-25
The proposed boundaries of the CR-O have not changed. This map simply removes the shading from water areas and the Rachel Carson Reserve. The CR-O is comprised of two subdistricts:
- CR-NIZ, Non-Intensification Zone Subdistrict, which has the same boundary as the current Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identifies and maps the SFHA which, in Beaufort, includes the AE and VE Zones.
- These areas are commonly referred to as the 100-year floodplain or the 1% annual chance flood hazard area.
- CR-M, Moderate Hazard Subdistrict, which has the same boundary as the current Shaded X Zone within the Non-Special Flood Hazard Area.
- This area is commonly referred to as the 500-year floodplain or the 0.2% annual chance flood hazard area.
Draft Coastal Resilience Overlay District 08-15-25
This version of the Draft Coastal Resilience Overlay District reflects input received from the UDO Steering Committee. The Board of Commissioners and Planning Board will review and discuss this draft at their Joint Work Session on August 25 at 4:00 p.m.
REVISED Coastal Resilience Overlay District Preliminary Discussion Draft
The revised Coastal Resilience Overlay Preliminary Discussion Draft incorporates input received from the Steering Committee. It shows deletions in red text and additions in blue text.
Coastal Resilience Overlay District - Preliminary Discussion Draft
This is the Preliminary Discussion Draft of the Coastal Resilience Overlay District (CR-O). It implements the proposed approach discussed at the UDO Steering Committee’s meeting on March 10, 2025. This preliminary draft—along with the UDO Vision, Principles, & Goals and Codes Assessment—establishes the general direction for the district regulations.
Coastal Resilience Overlay District Map
The proposed boundary of the CR-O is shown on this parcel map and this aerial map. The CR-O proposes two subdistricts:
- CR-NIZ, Non-Intensification Zone Subdistrict, which is coterminous with the Special Flood Hazard Area (100-year floodplain); and
- CR-M, Moderate Hazard Subdistrict, which is coterminous with the Shaded X Zone within the Non-Special Flood Hazard Area (500-year floodplain).
What is a Unified Development Ordinance?
The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) implements the policies in the new Comprehensive and CAMA Land Use Plan and other policy documents like Resilient Beaufort, Watershed Restoration Plan, Beaufort Small Area Plan, Walk+Bike, and Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan.
The UDO combines zoning- and development-related regulations into a single document to make regulations easier to navigate, ensure consistency, and avoid redundancies.
Beaufort’s UDO will combine and update the Town’s zoning, subdivision, flood damage prevention, and minimum housing ordinances into a single document in alignment with new legislation and current best practices in North Carolina as well as nationally.
Since the UDO will guide development, redevelopment, and growth for our community for years to come, public engagement is a critical part of this process.
Who is involved in the UDO?
The UDO process is designed to reflect the inputs and points of view of the entire Beaufort community. Commissioners, staff, Town officials, and stakeholders are all active participants in the UDO project. In addition, in 2025, Mayor Harker appointed a UDO Steering Committee to guide the process.
White Smith Cousino, a national planning firm, is assisting the Town of Beaufort with development of the UDO.
Opportunities for community engagement will be provided throughout the project.
How long will the project take?
The project is broken up into two phases:
Phase 1 - Codes Assessment (completed in 2024)
Phase 2 - Development of the UDO (Approximately 3 years, 2025 to 2027)
The UDO will be drafted in five modules. See the overall timeline and topics here.
Under the new UDO, will I be able to rebuild after an event like a storm?
Yes, for single-family houses, you may rebuild the house after it is damaged or destroyed by an event like a storm. If your house is nonconforming (see explanation below), it may be rebuilt to the pre-event dimensions and footprint. If a property owner wants to rebuild differently from the pre-event size and bulk of the home, they would have to meet all applicable UDO requirements.
For other building types, you may rebuild the structure in the event it is damaged or destroyed but the new building will be subject to UDO requirements, such as setbacks and height. A nonconforming structure (other than a detatched single-family house) that is destroyed or damaged to an extent greater than 50% of its replacement cost can be repaired or rebuilt, but it must meet all applicable UDO requirements in effect at the time of repair/rebuilding.
What does “nonconforming” mean?
When a property is referred to as “nonconforming” it means there is at least one aspect of the lot or structures that does not meet the current land development code. An existing development may be nonconforming to the code in regards to lot size, building dimensions, setbacks, lot coverage, or use, for example. Existing nonconformities are grandfathered unless the property owner proposes a substantial change to the property that might require the development meet current codes.
While the UDO will revisit standards governing nonconforming structures, lots, and uses, we do not anticipate any changes to the current standards for nonconforming single-family homes. See Section 11.D.6 of the current Land Development Ordinance which allows a nonconforming single-family house “damaged by fire, flood, wind, or act of God . . . [to] be repaired and restored to its pre-event dimensions on the pre-event flootprint provided the structre meets all applicable building codes.”
Will the new UDO prohibit construction of new infrastructure or the extension of existing infrastructure in the Non-Intensification Zone?
This is a current topic of discussion. At its August 4 meeting, the Steering Committee discussed the definitions for infrastructure and critical facilities and whether to have regulations for infrastructure that differ from the rest of the UDO. The CAMA Land Use Plan states “[the] Non-Intensification Zone describes an area where future development should be limited and public infrastructure should not continue to be intensified unless significant protective measures are put in place to ensure infrastructure and investments are adapted to probable future conditions.” The current draft of the CR-O proposes to limit Critical Facilities (e.g. hospitals, schools, power generation plants, fire/police stations) from being constructed within the CR-NIZ subdistrict, but does not place restrictions on infrastructure (e.g. roads, utility lines and connections, lift stations) because these are already being installed to the highest standards for flood-prone areas.