Zoning compliance permits are issued for changes of use, such as moving a business into an existing non-residential retail or office space.

Before starting a home business, contact planning staff to describe the business you plan to open. Staff will help determine if the type of business you want to open meets conditions for a zoning compliance permit.

The regulations guide and checklist below lists businesses prohibited from home occupation permits.

• Home Occupation FAQs
• Starting a Home Occupation Local Regulations Guide and Checklist

Zoning compliance permits are issued for site changes, such as relocating or expanding an existing structure or constructing a new building, accessory building, deck or fence.

See a sample plot plan.

Zoning compliance permits are issued before installing new signs or changing the location, sign face or message of an existing sign.

Accessory dwelling units are secondary dwellings added to the property of a main dwelling. A dwelling unit must contain cooking, sleeping and bathing facilities.

• A kitchen must have cooking equipment and a sink.
• A bathroom must have a sink, toilet and shower or bathtub.

Some neighborhoods have covenants that restrict multiple units. Property owners are responsible for checking with their homeowners association before applying for permits.

Types of Accessory Units

The town has defined two types of accessory units.

Freestanding Units

These include garage apartments or "granny flats."

The parcel must be zoned Residential 10, 15 or 20 (R-10, R-15 or R-20). These designations are common to neighborhoods built before the town implemented special use zoning around the year 2000.

Neighborhoods in special use zoning districts are not able to build freestanding units. They are built to higher densities and often don’t have lots large enough to accommodate a freestanding unit. These neighborhoods include Collins Ridge, Fiori Hill, Forest Ridge and Waterstone Estates.

In-home Units

These are fully attached to the main dwelling, such as an efficiency or basement apartment. 

The accessory unit must have its own exterior access. If interior access to the principal dwelling is provided, it must be lockable from both dwellings.

Building permits deal with compliance with the state building code for structural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work. Orange County issues these permits and enforces these codes.

The Town of Hillsborough issues zoning permits to verify that the use of a structure is allowed in a given district and that structures are not too tall or too close to the property line. Any project that changes the footprint of a structure or adds a new structure or fence requires a zoning permit if the lot is within the town’s planning jurisdiction.

For detailed zoning information, use the town's interactive zoning map. See the guide for instructions.

Applications can be submitted:

• By email to planning@hillsboroughnc.gov.
• In person at Town Hall, 101 E. Orange St.
• By mail to Planning and Economic Development Division, PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278.

Staff typically process permit applications in one to two business days.