The Planning Department is responsible for administering the policies of the Board of County Commissioners regarding long-range planning (future direction of growth and facilities) and current planning (standards for growth as embodied in development ordinances).

The Planning Department focuses on:

• Implementing the Union County Comprehensive Plan, called Union County 2050
• Maintaining the Union County Unified Development Ordinance
• Participating in transportation planning initiatives 
• Monitoring federal, state, regional and other local laws that impact land use/development and transportation planning
• Continuing efficient day-to-day services through subdivision/site plan review, rezoning processing, and general inquiries of land use and transportation plans
• Administering land use processes for towns that refer to County ordinances

The Zoning Administrator is responsible for the enforcement and administration of the Union County Development Ordinance which governs the use of property, setbacks from property lines, violations of the ordinance and floodplain for unincorporated Union County. The Zoning Administrator is also part of the commercial plan review of buildings being constructed within the County's jurisdiction.

Union County’s zoning jurisdiction does not include the following cities, towns and villages:

• Fairview
• Indian Trail
• Lake Park
• Marshville
• Marvin
• Mineral Springs
• Monroe
• Stallings
• Unionville
• Waxhaw
• Weddington
• Wesley Chapel
• Wingate

For more information about zoning in those jurisdictions please contact them directly. You can find their contact information in the Development Guide.

Union County has zoning authority for the unincorporated areas of the County and Hemby Bridge. Each property in these areas is zoned for certain allowable uses – such as commercial, residential, industrial, etc. – as described in our Unified Development Ordinance. Property owners can request to change the zoning classification for their property by following either of these options: a conditional rezoning request or a straight rezoning request. Both processes involve multiple levels of review, including staff review and hearings with the Union County Land Use Board and the Union County Board of Commissioners. The final decision for rezoning a property in Union County’s jurisdiction lies with the Union County Board of Commissioners.

If your property is in the unincorporated area of Union County or inside Hemby Bridge, contact the long range planner at 704-283-3690 to learn more about rezoning your property. Use our Municipality Search tool to determine if your property is inside a municipality or in the unincorporated area; this page provides links to municipal planning departments in towns and cities throughout Union County.  

The dashboard below provides information about rezoning requests that the Union County Planning Department has received since 2017.  Click here to view it in full screen.