Wake Forest's 419-page draft development ordinance is open for comment before a Nov. 10 Planning Board session. Commissioners could adopt it in January 2027.

The rulebook for everything built in Wake Forest is being rewritten, and the latest draft is now open for public comment.

The Town of Wake Forest released the 2026 draft Unified Development Ordinance on Wednesday. The Planning Board will hear public comment on it and make a recommendation on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Town officials expect the Board of Commissioners to hold a public hearing and vote on adoption in January 2027.

What the UDO covers

The UDO, first adopted in 2013, puts the town’s zoning, subdivision, land use, grading, stormwater and historic preservation rules in one document. It sets the requirements for all development in town, the town said.

The 419-page draft, dated Oct. 12, has chapters on:

  • zoning districts and what can be built in each
  • building design, including materials, windows and roofs
  • tree preservation, buffers and landscaping
  • parking, driveways, sidewalks and greenways
  • outdoor lighting
  • signs
  • stormwater, flooding and stream buffers

The draft sets out 11 base zoning districts, from General Residential to Downtown and Industrial. It adds four overlay districts with extra rules, including the Local Historic and Mill Village overlays.

It also offers builders more room in exchange for affordable housing. Downtown, for example, apartment or retirement buildings that meet the affordability terms could rise to 85 feet.

Why the town is starting over

The town began the rewrite in summer 2022. A draft was proposed for adoption in December 2024. That same month, a new state law limited the power of local governments across North Carolina to make certain zoning map and ordinance amendments, the town said.

After reviewing the law, the town chose to repeal the current UDO outright and adopt a fully rewritten one instead of amending the existing ordinance. Since 2025, staff have updated the 2024 draft to match changes in state and federal law and fixed smaller issues.

A new zoning map comes after that. Once the UDO is adopted, the town will draw a map that matches the new districts and put it out for public input before adoption.

What it means for you

  • Read the draft and comment on the town’s UDO rewrite page, using its “Share Your Feedback” form.
  • Talk to a planner in person. Planning staff will hold drop-in office hours in the ground floor meeting room at Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Use the Taylor Street entrance. No appointment is needed.
Day Time
Monday, Oct. 26 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27 7 to 9 a.m.
Monday, Nov. 2 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
  • Speak at the Planning Board on Tuesday, Nov. 10, when it takes comment on the draft.
  • The zoning map comes later. The town will draw the new map after the UDO is adopted and take public input on it before a vote. Our building permits and zoning guide explains how zoning works in town now.
  • A second chance to weigh in the same day: the town is updating its Strategic Plan and holds an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.
  • Questions: Senior Planner Tim Richards at trichards@wakeforestnc.gov.