NOTE: This final article synthesizes the planning board’s discussion and the text-amendment provisions as presented by planning staff. It reports only items stated in the meeting record and does not interpret or expand on provisions beyond the transcript.

The Iredell County Planning Board on Nov. 5 voted unanimously to adopt a zoning text amendment package intended to simplify administration, clarify allowed uses, and bring parts of the county ordinance into conformance with state statute. Planning director Matthew Todd and staff outlined multiple changes including removal of confusing “common uses” tables, clarification of two‑family lot standards and setbacks, modified accessory-structure rules, conditional allowance of shipping containers on larger lots, larger accessory dwelling units, clearer home-occupation categories and limits, standards for temporary recreational-vehicle occupancy during construction, solar-facility decommissioning clarifications, and other site-plan and subdivision refinements.

Key changes discussed in the meeting (as described by staff):

- Removal of tables listing “more common uses” for zoning districts to reduce misinterpretation and simplify the ordinance. Staff said the tables caused confusion because readers sometimes assumed the table was exhaustive.

- Two-family standards: staff clarified missing lot-size and setback references for two-family dwellings where those specifications were omitted from some district tables.

- Accessory structures and shipping containers: shipping containers would be allowed as storage on parcels meeting minimum conditions (staff cited a minimum of 1 acre and allowance of only a single container, with required setbacks). Staff said the proposal aims to provide limited flexibility while retaining setback and screening requirements.

- Accessory dwelling units (ADUs): staff proposed increasing the allowed heated area from 650 square feet to 1,000 square feet to offer more flexible housing options.

- Home occupations: the ordinance will clarify three home-occupation types — customary (inside the dwelling), rural (detached building), and a third category for grading contractors and automotive repair that may include outdoor storage. Staff said outdoor storage for home-occupation uses would be capped at 5,000 square feet and a site plan and frontage on a dedicated right-of-way would be required for those cases.

- Temporary recreational-vehicle occupancy during home construction: staff described standards under which a homeowner with an active building permit may occupy an RV on-site while building the house; occupancy is allowed while the building permit is active but continuous residential occupancy where not permitted would remain restricted once construction is complete.

- Solar energy facility decommissioning: staff explained that state law places decommissioning oversight with the North Carolina Division of Waste Management for solar facilities of 2 megawatts or larger. The county will retain decommissioning and bonding authority for smaller facilities. Staff said proposals cannot count the recyclable value of materials when calculating required decommissioning security.

- Subdivision and site-plan adjustments: staff proposed allowing more flexibility for minor accessory buildings (for example, a small 12-by-12 accessory building would not trigger the full suite of site-plan requirements) and adjusting financial-guarantee language for subdivision improvements. Staff also proposed striking a special-use-permit requirement that had required proving a special use would not “substantially injure the value of adjoining property,” a provision staff said effectively required appraisals and did not align with state requirements.

Board members asked clarifying questions about shipping containers, RV time limits, and decommissioning bonds; staff provided responses consistent with the draft text. One board member moved to approve the text amendment and to find it consistent with the adopted 2045 Horizon Plan and state law. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

What happens next: The planning board’s adoption is a local action; the package will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for final consideration on Dec. 2, 2025. Staff noted applicants still must meet applicable setbacks, screening, stormwater, critical-watershed, and site-plan requirements at the time of permitting.