Sections

• Cover
• Unified Development Ordinance Amendments
• Unified Development Ordinance User Guide
• Article 1 Introduction
  • 1.1 Purpose
    • 1.1.1 Title and Citation
    • 1.1.2 Authority and Enactment Clause
    • 1.1.3 Comprehensive Plan
    • 1.1.4 Purpose
    • 1.1.5 Jurisdiction
    • 1.1.6 Administration and Enforcement
    • 1.1.7 Applicability to Specific Development Activities
    • 1.1.8 Activities That Do Not Constitute Development
    • 1.1.9 Conflicting Provisions
    • 1.1.10 Other Town Requirements
    • 1.1.11 Relationship to Deed Restrictions and Restrictive Covenants
    • 1.1.12 Effective Date
    • 1.1.13 Severability
    • 1.1.14 Repeal of Existing Ordinances
    • 1.1.15 Prior Development Approval
• Article 2 Administration
  • 2.1 Intent & Applicability
  • 2.2 Establishment
    • 2.2.1 UDO Administrator, Boards, & Commissions.
    • 2.2.2 Boards, Commissions and Subcommittees Membership.
    • 2.2.3 Boards and Commissions Member Terms.
    • 2.2.4 Boards and Commissions Officers, Meetings and Quorums
    • 2.2.5 Territorial Jurisdiction
    • 2.2.6 Powers and Duties
• Article 3 Application Process
  • 3.1 General
  • 3.2 General Application Approval Process
    • 3.2.1 General Application and Permit Items
    • 3.2.2 Common Application Review Procedures
    • 3.2.3 Public Hearing Notice
    • 3.2.4 Public Notice for All Applications
  • 3.3 Comprehensive Plan Amendment
    • 3.3.1 Intent
    • 3.3.2 Applicability
    • 3.3.3 Application Review Criteria.
    • 3.3.4 Effect of Approval
  • 3.4 Zoning Map Amendment
    • 3.4.1 Intent
    • 3.4.2 Applicability
    • 3.4.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.4.4 Effect of Approval or Denial
  • 3.5 Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment
    • 3.5.1 Intent
    • 3.5.2 Applicability
    • 3.5.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.5.4 Effect of Approval
  • 3.6 Special Exception
    • 3.6.1 Intent
    • 3.6.2 Applicability
    • 3.6.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.6.4 Effect and Expiration of Approval
    • 3.6.5 Amendments to Approval
    • 3.6.6 Action by the Town
  • 3.7 Variance
    • 3.7.1 Intent
    • 3.7.2 Applicability
    • 3.7.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.7.4 Effect and Expiration of Approval
    • 3.7.5 Action by the Town
  • 3.8 Planned Unit Development (PUD) Concept Plan
    • 3.8.1 Intent
    • 3.8.2 Applicability
    • 3.8.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.8.4 Effect of Approval
    • 3.8.5 Amendments to Approvals
  • 3.9 PUD Master Plan
    • 3.9.1 Intent
    • 3.9.2 Applicability
    • 3.9.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.9.4 Effect of Approval
    • 3.9.5 Extensions of Approvals
    • 3.9.6 Amendments to Approvals
  • 3.10 Development Plan
    • 3.10.1 Intent
    • 3.10.2 Applicability
    • 3.10.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.10.4 Effect and Expiration of Approvals
    • 3.10.5 Extensions of Approvals
    • 3.10.6 Amendments to Approved Development Plans
  • 3.11 Subdivision Plan
    • 3.11.1 Intent
    • 3.11.2 Applicability
    • 3.11.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.11.4 Effect and Expiration of Approvals
    • 3.11.5 Extensions of Approvals
    • 3.11.6 Amendments to Subdivision Approvals
  • 3.12 Exempt Plat Stamp
    • 3.12.1 Intent
    • 3.12.2 Applicability
    • 3.12.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.12.4 Effect and Expiration of Approvals
  • 3.13 Development Surety and Stormwater Surety
    • 3.13.1 Intent
    • 3.13.2 Applicability
    • 3.13.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.13.4 Effect and Expiration of Approvals
  • 3.14 Certificate of Construction Compliance
    • 3.14.1 Intent
    • 3.14.2 Applicability
    • 3.14.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.14.4 Effect and Expiration of Approvals
  • 3.15 Street Naming
    • 3.15.1 Intent
    • 3.15.2 Applicability
    • 3.15.3 Application Review Criteria.
    • 3.15.4 Effect of Approval
  • 3.16 Street Renaming
    • 3.16.1 Intent
    • 3.16.2 Applicability
    • 3.16.3 Application Review Criteria.
    • 3.16.4 Effect of Approval
  • 3.17 Certificate of Appropriateness - Highway Corridor Overlay (HCO)
    • 3.17.1 Intent
    • 3.17.2 Applicability
    • 3.17.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.17.4 Effect and Expiration of Approvals
    • 3.17.5 Amendments to Approvals
  • 3.18 Certificate of Appropriateness - Historic District (HD)
    • 3.18.1 Intent
    • 3.18.2 Applicability
    • 3.18.3 New Construction and Alterations
    • 3.18.4 Relocation
    • 3.18.5 Demolition
    • 3.18.6 Expiration of Approvals
    • 3.18.7 Amendments to Approvals
  • 3.19 Site Feature – Historic District (HD) Permit
    • 3.19.1 Intent
    • 3.19.2 Applicability
    • 3.19.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.19.4 Effect and Expiration of Approvals
  • 3.20 Zoning Permit
    • 3.20.1 Intent
    • 3.20.2 Applicability
    • 3.20.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.20.4 Effect and Expiration of Approvals
  • 3.21 Sign Permit
    • 3.21.1 Intent
    • 3.21.2 Applicability
    • 3.21.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.21.4 Effect and Expiration of Approvals
  • 3.22 Tree Removal Permit
    • 3.22.1 Intent
    • 3.22.2 Applicability
    • 3.22.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.22.4 Effect and Expiration of Approvals
  • 3.23 Silviculture Permit
    • 3.23.1 Intent
    • 3.23.2 Applicability
    • 3.23.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.23.4 Effect and Expiration of Approvals
  • 3.24 Public Projects
    • 3.24.1 Intent
    • 3.24.2 Applicability
    • 3.24.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.24.4 Effect and Expiration of Approvals
    • 3.24.5 Extensions of Approvals
    • 3.24.6 Amendments to Approved Public Projects
  • 3.25 Contributing Resource Procedure and Criteria
    • 3.25.1 Intent
    • 3.25.2 Applicability
    • 3.25.3 Application Review Criteria
    • 3.25.4 Application Review Criteria to Remove the Designation as a Contributing Resource
    • 3.25.5 Effect of Approval
  • 3.26 Proactive Preservation and Maintenance of Contributing Structures
    • 3.26.1 Intent
    • 3.26.2 Duty of Owners of Contributing Structures
    • 3.26.3 Conditions of Neglect
    • 3.26.4 Process and Administration
    • 3.26.5 Appeal to the Historic Preservation Commission
    • 3.26.6 Other Town Powers
    • 3.26.7 Penalties and Remedies
• Article 4 Zoning Districts
  • 4.1 Establishment of Zoning Districts
    • 4.1.1 Zoning Districts
    • 4.1.2 Official Zoning Map
  • 4.2 Zoning District Provisions
    • 4.2.1 Preserve (PR)
    • 4.2.2 Agricultural (AG)
    • 4.2.3 Rural Mixed Use (RMU)
    • 4.2.4 Residential General (RG)
    • 4.2.5 Neighborhood Core (NC)
    • 4.2.6 General Mixed Use (GM)
    • 4.2.7 Light Industrial (LI)
    • 4.2.8 Riverfront Edge Historic District (RV-HD)
    • 4.2.9 Neighborhood Conservation Historic District (NCV-HD)
    • 4.2.10 Neighborhood General Historic District (NG-HD)
    • 4.2.11 Neighborhood Center Historic District (NCE-HD)
    • 4.2.12 Neighborhood Core Historic District (NC-HD)
    • 4.2.13 Planned Unit Development (PUD)
    • 4.2.14 Highway Corridor Overlay (HCO)
    • 4.2.15 Planned Unit Development (PUD) for Bluffton Village
  • 4.3 Uses by Districts
  • 4.4 Conditional Use Standards
    • 4.4.1 Residential
    • 4.4.2 Commercial Services
    • 4.4.3 Lodging
    • 4.4.4 Recreation/Entertainment
    • 4.4.5 Industrial
  • 4.5 Special Exception Use Standards
    • 4.5.1. Animal Hospital, Veterinary Clinic, Kennel
    • 4.5.2. Seafood/Shellfish Packaging/Processing
    • 4.5.3. Adult Oriented Business
    • 4.5.4. Concrete and Asphalt Plants
• Article 5 Design Standards
  • 5.1 General
  • 5.2 Natural Resources: Silviculture
    • 5.2.1 Intent
    • 5.2.2 Applicability
    • 5.2.3 Standards
  • 5.3 Natural Resources: Tree Conservation, Planting & Landscaping
    • 5.3.1 Intent
    • 5.3.2 Applicability
    • 5.3.3 Tree Conservation
    • 5.3.4 General Tree & Landscape Material Standards
    • 5.3.5 General Tree & Landscape Installation Standards
    • 5.3.6 General Tree & Landscape Maintenance Standards
    • 5.3.7 Specific Landscaping Standards
    • 5.3.8 Fee In Lieu of Tree Replacement and/or Specific Landscaping
  • 5.4 Reserved
  • 5.5 Natural Resources: River Buffer
    • 5.5.1 Intent
    • 5.5.2 Applicability
    • 5.5.3 Standards
  • 5.6 Open Space
    • 5.6.1 Intent
    • 5.6.2 Applicability
    • 5.6.3 Open Space Requirement – All Development
    • 5.6.4 Open Space Requirement – Residential Development
    • 5.6.5 Types of Land Included
    • 5.6.6 Ownership and Maintenance
  • 5.7 Lot and Block Patterns
    • 5.7.1 Intent
    • 5.7.2 Applicability
    • 5.7.3 Block and Roadway Layout & Design.
    • 5.7.4 Lot Layout and Design.
    • 5.7.5 Lot Orientation.
    • 5.7.6 Additional standards.
  • 5.8 Lot and Building Standards
    • 5.8.1 Intent
    • 5.8.2 Applicability
    • 5.8.3 Standards
    • 5.8.4 Planned Unit Development for Bluffton Village
  • 5.9 Transportation Network and Design
    • 5.9.1 Intent
    • 5.9.2 Applicability
    • 5.9.3 Standards
    • 5.9.4 Access Management Standards
  • 5.10 Stormwater
    • 5.10.1 General provisions
    • 5.10.2 Stormwater Management Program
    • 5.10.3 Standards
    • 5.10.4 Maintenance
    • 5.10.5 Illicit Discharges and Connections
    • 5.10.6 Inspections
    • 5.10.7 Wetlands
    • 5.10.8 Violations, Enforcement, and Penalties
  • 5.11 Parking
    • 5.11.1 Intent
    • 5.11.2 Applicability
    • 5.11.3 Parking Space Calculations
    • 5.11.4 Standards: Design Standards for Parking Areas and Parking Lots
    • 5.11.5 Off-Street Loading Requirements
    • 5.11.6 Standards: Bicycle Parking
  • 5.12 Lighting
    • 5.12.1 Intent
    • 5.12.2 Applicability
    • 5.12.3 Standards
  • 5.13 Signs
    • 5.13.1 Intent
    • 5.13.2 Applicability
    • 5.13.3 Exempt Signs
    • 5.13.4 Prohibited Signs
    • 5.13.5 General Requirements
    • 5.13.6 Permanent Signs
    • 5.13.7 Temporary Signs
    • 5.13.8 Off-Premises Signs
    • 5.13.9 Master Sign Plan
    • 5.13.10 Sign Maintenance
    • 5.13.11 Severability
  • 5.14 Highway Corridor Overlay District
    • 5.14.1 Intent
    • 5.14.2 Applicability
    • 5.14.3 Architectural Design Guidelines
    • 5.14.4 Drive-Thru Facilities
  • 5.15 Old Town Bluffton Historic District
    • 5.15.1 Intent
    • 5.15.2 Applicability
    • 5.15.3 Regulating Districts
    • 5.15.4 Urban Standards
    • 5.15.5 General Standards
      • 5.15.5.A. Neighborhood Core Historic District (NC-HD)
      • 5.15.5.B. Neighborhood Center Historic District (NCE-HD)
      • 5.15.5.C. Neighborhood General Historic District (NG-HD)
      • 5.15.5.D. Neighborhood Conservation Historic District (NCV-HD)
      • 5.15.5.E. Riverfront Edge Historic District (RV-HD)
      • 5.15.5.F. General Standards
    • 5.15.6 Architectural Standards
      • 5.15.6.A.
      • 5.15.6.B.
      • 5.15.6.C. Special Building Elements & Appurtenances
      • 5.15.6.D. Architectural Elements
      • 5.15.6.E. Special Building Elements and Appurtenances
      • 5.15.6.F. Architectural Elements
      • 5.15.6.G. Building Walls
      • 5.15.6.H. Columns, Arches, Piers, Railings, Balustrades
      • 5.15.6.I. Windows and Doors
      • 5.15.6.J. Roofs and Gutters
      • 5.15.6.K. Garden Walls, Fences, and Hedges
      • 5.15.6.L. Opacity and Facades
      • 5.15.6.M Shutters
      • 5.15.6.N. Corners and Water Tables
      • 5.15.6.O. Skirting & Underpinning
      • 5.15.6.P. Cornice, Soffit, and Frieze
      • 5.15.6.Q. Architectural Standards, Signs
    • 5.15.7 Parking
    • 5.15.8 Building Types
      • 5.15.8.A. Main Street Building
      • 5.15.8.B. Commercial Cottage
      • 5.15.8.C. Live-Work Sideyard
      • 5.15.8.D. Duplex/Triplex
      • 5.15.8.E. Mansion Apartment House
      • 5.15.8.F. Carriage House
      • 5.15.8.G. Bungalow Court
      • 5.15.8.H. Cottage
      • 5.15.8.I. Medium House
      • 5.15.8.J. Village House
      • 5.15.8.K. Sideyard House
      • 5.15.8.L. Vernacular House
      • 5.15.8.M. Center Hall House
      • 5.15.8.N. River House
      • 5.15.8.O. Civic Building
      • 5.15.8.P. Church Buildings
      • 5.15.8.Q. Manufactured Homes
      • 5.15.8.R. Carports
• Article 6 Sustainable Development Incentives
  • 6.1 Introduction and the Growth Framework Map
    • 6.1.1 Intent
    • 6.1.2 Applicability
    • 6.1.3 Approval Authority
    • 6.1.4 Calculation of Fee(s), Refund(s), Waiver(s)
  • 6.2 Design Parameters
  • 6.3 Sustainable Neighborhood Design
    • 6.3.1 Intent
    • 6.3.2 Applicability
    • 6.3.3 Standards
    • 6.3.4 Incentives
  • 6.4 Sustainable Building Design
    • 6.4.1 Intent
    • 6.4.2 Applicability
    • 6.4.3 Standards
    • 6.4.4 Incentives
  • 6.5 Workforce/Affordable Housing
    • 6.5.1 Intent
    • 6.5.2 Applicability
    • 6.5.3 Standards
    • 6.5.4 Incentives
  • 6.6 Development Agreement Transfer of Development Rights
    • 6.6.1 Intent
    • 6.6.2 Applicability
    • 6.6.3 Standards
    • 6.6.4 Incentives
• Article 7 Nonconformities
  • 7.1 Purpose
  • 7.2 Applicability
    • 7.2.1 Legal Nonconformities
    • 7.2.2 Illegal Nonconformities
  • 7.3 Burden of Proof
  • 7.4 Repairs and Maintenance
    • 7.4.1 Repairs and Normal Maintenance
    • 7.4.2 Public Safety
  • 7.5 Nonconforming Uses
    • 7.5.1 Continuation of Nonconforming Uses
    • 7.5.2 Abandonment of Nonconforming Uses
    • 7.5.3 Accessory Nonconforming Use
    • 7.5.4 Single Family Dwelling Unit Exception
  • 7.6 Nonconforming Structures
    • 7.6.1 Nonconforming Structures
    • 7.6.2 Nonconforming Façade Design
    • 7.6.3 Expansion of Nonconforming Structures
  • 7.7 Nonconforming Sites
    • 7.7.1 Nonconforming Sites
  • 7.8 Nonconforming Lots
  • 7.9 Nonconforming Sites Resulting from Right-Of-Way Dedication or Acquisition
  • 7.10 Nonconforming Signs
    • 7.10.1 Nonconforming Signs
    • 7.10.2 Continuance
    • 7.10.3 Signs Made Nonconforming Due to Condemnation
• Article 8 Penalties and Enforcement
  • 8.1 Intent
  • 8.2 Applicability
  • 8.3 Violations
  • 8.4 Enforcement Responsibility; Complaints
  • 8.5 Enforcement Actions by the Town
  • 8.6 Enforcement Actions by Others
  • 8.7 Contempt and Penalty
  • 8.8 Signs
  • 8.9 Tree Protection and Replacement
    • 8.9.1 Tree Replacement
    • 8.9.2 Permit Suspension
• Article 9 Definitions and Interpretation
  • 9.1 General Interpretation
    • 9.1.1 Rules of Construction.
    • 9.1.2 Graphics, Commentary, and Notes.
    • 9.1.3 Intent, Applicability, and Standards.
    • 9.1.4 Computations of Time.
    • 9.1.5 Conflicts.
  • 9.2 Defined Terms
    • 100 Year Flood
    • Access
    • Accessory Use
    • Addition (to an existing building)
    • Affordable Housing
    • Alleé
    • Appurtenances
    • Arcade
    • As-built/Record Drawings
    • Awning
    • Balcony
    • Baluster
    • Balustrade
    • Baseflood
    • Basement
    • Best Management Practices (BMP)
    • Better Site Design
    • Better Site Planning
    • Bicycle Facilities
    • Bicycle Lane or Bike Lane
    • Bicycle Path or Bike Path
    • Block
    • Buffers:
    • Build-to Line
    • Build-to Zone
    • Building
    • Building, Principal:
    • Building, Frontage
    • Building Height
    • Caliper
    • Certificate of Appropriateness
    • Channel
    • Clean Water Act
    • Clear and Convincing Evidence
    • Clearing
    • Clear–cutting
    • Colonnade
    • Commercial Message
    • Conditional Uses
    • Contributing Resource
    • Contributing Structure
    • Cornice
    • Critical Line
    • Cupola
    • Curb Radius
    • DBH or dbh
    • Density
    • Department
    • Detention
    • Developer
    • Development:
    • Disconnected Impervious Areas or Disconnected Impervious Surfaces
    • Discharge Rate
    • District
    • Easement
    • Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan
    • Existing Conditions
    • Existing Grade
    • Expression Line
    • Extreme Flood Protection
    • Façade
    • Family:
    • Fee-in-lieu
    • Fence
    • Flag
    • Flood Hazard District
    • Flood
    • Flooding
    • Floodplain
    • Floor-Area Ratio
    • Freeholder
    • Frontage
    • Frontage Line
    • Frontage Street
    • Garden Wall
    • Grade
    • Grading
    • Grading Plan
    • Greenspace
    • Gross Acre
    • Habitable Space
    • Hedge or Hedgerow
    • Historic Integrity
    • Historic Resource
    • Home Occupation
    • Household
    • Hydrologic Soil Group (HSG)
    • Illicit Connection
    • Illicit Discharge:
    • Impaired Waters
    • Impervious Surface
    • Improper Disposal
    • Improvement:
    • Infill Development
    • Infiltration
    • Infiltration Practice
    • Inspection and Maintenance Agreement and Covenant
    • Land Disturbance or Land Disturbing Activity
    • Larger Common Plan of Development:
    • Limits of Disturbance (LOD)
    • Liner Building
    • Lintel
    • Local Fire Official
    • Lot
    • Lot of Record
    • Low Impact Development
    • Low Speed Recreational Vehicle
    • Maintenance
    • Major Substantial Improvement:
    • Marquee
    • Mass Grading
    • Material
    • Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP)
    • Maximum Extent Technically Feasible
    • MS4
    • Mullions
    • Non-commercial Message
    • Nonconforming Use
    • Nonpoint Source Pollution
    • Nonstructural Stormwater Management Practice or Nonstructural Practice
    • NPDES
    • Nuisance
    • Off-Site
    • On-Site
    • Open Space
    • Outfall
    • Overbank Flood Protection
    • Owner
    • Parapet
    • Pathway
    • Permanent Structure
    • Person:
    • Pollutant:
    • Post-development
    • Pre-development
    • Primary Entrance
    • Principal Façade (For purposes of placing buildings along build-to lines or build-to zones)
    • Project
    • Porch
    • Property
    • Proportion
    • Public Parking
    • Real Property
    • Receiving Waters
    • Recharge
    • Redevelopment
    • Regional Stormwater Management Facility or Regional Facility
    • Regulation
    • Retention
    • Right-of-Way
    • Riparian Buffer
    • Roadway/ Street
    • Roadway / Street,Private
    • Roadway / Street, Public
    • Runoff
    • Runoff Reduction
    • Setback
    • Shared Parking
    • Sharrows
    • Shed
    • Shopfront:
    • Sign
    • Sign, Animated
    • Sign, Banner
    • Sign, Canopy
    • Sign, Changeable Copy
    • Sign, Freestanding
    • Sign, Nonconforming
    • Sign, Portable
    • Sign, Projecting
    • Sign, Roof
    • Sign, Suspended
    • Sign, Temporary
    • Sign, Wall
    • Sign, Window
    • Sign Area
    • Single Household Unit
    • Silviculture
    • Special Exception
    • Special Watershed Protection Area
    • Stoop
    • Stop Work Order
    • Stormwater
    • Stormwater Hotspot
    • Stormwater Management
    • Stormwater Management Facility
    • Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP)
    • Stormwater Retrofit
    • Stormwater System
    • Streetwall
    • Street Frontage
    • Structural BMP
    • Structural Stormwater Management Practice
    • Structure, Accessory
    • Structure, Alteration
    • Structure, Garden
    • Structure
    • Subdivision:
    • Stucco
    • Surety
    • TotaI Impervious Surface
    • Transient Guest
    • Tree
    • Tree, Hardwood
    • Tree, Large
    • Tree,Medium
    • Tree, Small
    • Tree protection zone (TPZ)
    • Turret
    • Undercroft
    • Upland:
    • Use
    • Variance
    • Vegetation
    • VernacularArchitecture
    • Volume
    • Waiver
    • Watercourse
    • WaterQuality
    • Water Quality Design Storm Event
    • Water Quantity
    • Watershed Management Plan
    • Watershed Protection Area
    • Wetland Delineation:
    • Wetlands
    • Workforce Housing
  • 9.3 Interpretation of Dimensional Standards
  • 9.4 Description of Uses of Land and Buildings
    • 9.4.1 Residential Uses
    • 9.4.2 Agriculture/Conservation Uses
    • 9.4.3 Commercial Services
    • 9.4.4 Lodging
    • 9.4.5 Office
    • 9.4.6 Health/ Human Care
    • 9.4.7 Recreation/ Entertainment
    • 9.4.8 Civic/ Institutional
    • 9.4.9 Industrial
  • 9.5 Interpretation of Maps and Boundaries
  • 9.6 Resources, Guides, Manuals and Industry Standards
• Appendices
  • Appendix A: Planned Unit Development for Bluffton Village
    • Cover Page
    • Vicinity Map
    • Building Type and Maximum Square Footage
    • Regulating Map
    • Building Types
      • Corner Buildings
      • Vista Buildings
      • Civic Buildings
      • Street Front Buildings
    • Building Elements/Guidelines
    • Materials
    • Signage
    • Placement of Signs
    • Size of Signs
    • Sign Materials