Orange County NC Website
Article 5: Uses <br /> Section 5.5: Standards for Residential Uses <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Orange County, North Carolina – Unified Development Ordinance Page 5-36 <br /> <br />(b) The temporary building shall not be used by operations offering drive-in <br />services. <br />(c) The use of the building shall be only for the period of time specified and <br />for the use specified. <br />(d) The proposed use is a permitted use in the district in which it is located. <br />SECTION 5.5: STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL USES <br />5.5.1 Accessory Structures and Uses <br />(A) General Standards of Evaluation <br />(1) Accessory structures and uses, including recreational uses and amenities, shall <br />not be located in any required front open space and shall conform to the principal <br />setbacks of the district where located unless otherwise provided in this Section. <br />(2) An attached private garage, or carport, not exceeding 12 feet in height, may <br />occupy a portion of the required side open space, provided that this does not <br />result in a required side open space of less than 7% of the lot width, nor a total, <br />when combined with the required side open space of the lot immediately <br />adjacent, of less than eight feet. <br />(3) Mobile homes as accessory structures to residential uses are prohibited. <br />5.5.2 Efficiency Apartment <br />(A) General Standards of Evaluation <br />(1) Efficiency apartments shall be allowed only as an accessory use to a single- <br />family residence.11 <br />(1)(2) There shall be no more than one efficiency apartment, whether detached or <br />attached, on any lot. <br />(2)(3) The efficiency unit shall contains no more than 1,000 square feet of gross floor <br />area with a maximum limit of 800 square feet of heated/cooled, gross floor <br />areahabitable living space.12 <br />(3)(4) The residential lot shall meet the minimum lot sizeall dimensional requirements of <br />the zoning district in which it is located. <br />(4)(5) The efficiency unit shall comply with the N.C. Residential Building Code including <br />minimum light/ventilation and room sizes. <br />(5) The efficiency unit shall be accessory to the principal dwelling unit and may be <br />attached or detached.13 <br />(6) The efficiency unit shall be served by an approved water supply and sanitary <br />facilities. <br />(7) The efficiency unit shall remain in the same ownership as the primary residence. <br /> <br />11 There has been a long standing Department interpretation that an efficiency apartment shall be allowed only as  <br />a customary accessory use to a single‐family residence.  The rationale is to ensure we are complaint with  <br />established density and lot size requirements already detailed within the UDO.  This amendment merely seeks to  <br />incorporate this interpretation into the UDO.  <br />12 Staff has heard concerns that 800 square feet of gross floor area does not afford sufficient space for both  <br />storage and living space.  Staff is recommending adding clarifying language allowing for a maximum of 200 square  <br />feet of storage space and 800 square feet of heated/cooled living space.  <br />13 Given the proposed modification detailed in number 1 of this section, this standard is redundant.  <br /> 47