What is LUMO?

LUMO, or Land Use Management Ordinance, is a set of rules that govern how we use and develop land in Chapel Hill.

Why are we updating it, and who is doing the work?

We haven't done a comprehensive update in over 20 years. We're overdue for a new ordinance that meets our current and future goals based on the many plans we've created and adopted since 2003.
Planning staff are leading the work. Other departments, a consultant team, Council, and community members also have a hand in shaping an updated LUMO.

When is this work happening?

We've received and reviewed a lot of information and input over the last several years. We're excited to head for the finish line, bringing it all together this year.

Our project engagement page is currently under construction. We'll let you know when it's up and running so you can follow along with the project and the process, engage with materials, and answer some questions.

Are you interested in past plans and LUMO updates that are helping inform this process? Check them out:

Previously Adopted Plans

Many plans helped us get where we are today. We want to incorporate their work into the current LUMO update.

2003 - Land Use Management Ordinance adopted
- This document is the land development ordinance that sets the rules and uses for the built environment: buildings, streets, lighting, parking lots, and more.
2012 - Chapel Hill 2020 Comprehensive Plan adopted
- This plan defines the long range vision for the town. It is the overarching vision for the future of Chapel Hill that reflects the community's values, aspirations, and ideas.
2017 - Mobility & Connectivity Plan adopted
- This plan expands our vision for the transportation and recreation system in Chapel Hill as it relates to transit and non-motorized travel.
2020 - Charting Our Future Land Use Initiative adopted
- This initiative charted the next course for us to the year 2050. It also made our land use tools more predictable, functional, and intentional.
2021 - Climate Action and Response Plan adopted
- This plan describes climate goals, challenges and opportunities, and the highest impact actions the Town and community can begin to take over the following five years to lower carbon emissions and address the effects of climate change.
2023 - Shaping Our Future Transportation and Land Use Initiative
- This plan offers a vision of how development, public spaces, sidewalks, streets, and bike routes will connect to new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations across the Martin Luther King North, Martin Luther King South, Downtown, and South Columbia Focus Areas.
2023 - Complete Community Strategy adopted
- This strategy assesses capacity throughout the entire town to determine where and how to meet current and future housing needs.
2023 - Affordable Housing Plan & Investment Strategy
- This plan outlines focus areas for the Town's affordable housing work over the next five years, including reducing barriers to building homes and expanding and preserving affordable homeownership and rental housing.

Previous LUMO Processes

2015 LUMO Update

On November 23, 2015, the Town Council received a series of recommendations regarding possible amendments to the Land Use Management Ordinance. The Council took the following action:

Enacted changes to the existing regulations for Accessory Apartments (Ordinance) and adopted a resolution for a three-year monitoring and reporting program (See page 210 for Resolution)
Enacted changes to the existing regulations for Water Quality (Ordinance)
Enacted changes to the existing regulations for Parking Lot Landscaping (Ordinance)
Referred the Public Hearing for Bed and Breakfasts to the Historic District Commission and Planning Commission
Closed the Public Hearing and took no action on Neighborhood Character Standards
Continued the Public Hearing for Signage and later enacted the changes (6/27/16 Ordinance and 12/19/16 Revised Ordinance)

Project Overview

Why are we updating the LUMO?

The goal of this project was to once again align town development regulations with the community's vision for the future of Chapel Hill. The new community vision is expressed in the recently adopted (June 2012) Chapel Hill 2020 Comprehensive Plan. Between September 2013 and June 2014, several sections of the LUMO, called "Topic Areas," went go through an update process that includes opportunities for public input and comment.

Phase 1 Topic Areas

What design elements or "Topic Areas" were being considered up to June 2014?

Major Update Types and Topic Areas

1. Reformatting and Reorganization of the Regulations Document

(Click here to find the page for this topic area)

2. 2020 Future Focus Areas

Ephesus Church Fordham Form District (completed)

3. Text Amendments

Water Quality (completed)

Parking Lot Landscaping (completed)

Signage (completed)

Bed and Breakfast Establishments (referred)

Neighborhood Character Standards (no action)

Accessory Apartments (completed)

Project Background

As part of the Town Council goal to improve Chapel Hill’s development review system, town staff began internal improvements to the development review process in 2008.

A key element of the first phase of improvements was the application of technology for increased transparency, accountability, and enhanced work flow. Town staff implemented the new permitting software with the opening of the new Permit Center in September of 2011.

Phase 2 of the improvement process began with the hiring of technical assistance to identify which parts of the Land Use Management Ordinance are working well, where there are conflicts between the LUMO and other goals, where changes in other regulations or conditions impact the LUMO, and where changes in community values may affect the Ordinance. The Land Use Management Critique and Technical Report is available for review.

A team of Town staff from several departments, including Planning, Public Works and the Office of Sustainability, helped coordinate and implement the project with the consultant team from Code Studio.

Project Documents and Resources

Town of Chapel Hill Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO)

Land Use Management Ordinance Critique and Technical Report 11.11.11

Land Use Management Ordinance Revisions Update, 5.8.2013 (Council Work Session)

Land Use Management Ordinance Project Update, 9.11.13 (Council Work Session)

LUMO Update Schedule, 9.11.13 (Council Work Session)

Phase 1 LUMO Update Schedule, 5.27.15

Public Council Hearing for

All Topics

(Click here to view calendar item)

Public Council Hearing for

All Topics

(Click here to view calendar item)

Public Council Hearing for

All Topics

(Click here to view calendar item)

Public Council Hearing for

All Topics

(Click here to view calendar item)

Public Council Hearing for

All Topics

(Click here to view calendar item)

Public Council Hearing for

All Topics

(Click here to view calendar item)

Public Council Hearing for

All Topics

(Click here to view calendar item)

Public Council Hearing for

All Topics

(Click here to view calendar item)

Public Council Hearing for

All Topics

(Click here to view calendar item)

Public Council Hearing for

All Topics

(Click here to view calendar item)

Public Council Hearing for

All Topics

(Click here to view calendar item)

Public Council Hearing for

All Topics

(Click here to view calendar item)

Planning Commission Considers a Recommendation for

Neighborhood Character Standards
Signage
Water Quality

Previous LUMO Versions

Below are the 1984 and 1987 Article 10, to be used in determining the RCD Buffer width for properties platted before 2003.

Article 10 from the 1984 LUMO

Article 10 from the 1987 LUMO

2021 - 2023 Update

LUMO Update 2021 - 2023

CHARTING OUR FUTURE - LAND USE MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE REWRITE PROJECT

Protect what the community loves and add what it needs

On April 5, 2017, the Town Council initiated a project to protect what the community loves and add what it needs by re-writing its Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO) and creating a new Future Land Use Map.

On December 9, 2020, the Town Council adopted the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) - Update to Chapel Hill 2020.

A separate project for updating the LUMO, called 160D after the North Carolina General Statue, is in its initial stages, and a separate web page for that project will be established in the near future. If you are interested in proposed LUMO revisions as a result of 160D, please check back regularly for updates on this project.

Project Activity

December 9, 2020: Adoption of the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) - Update to Chapel Hill 2020
May 10, 2018: Kickoff & Idea Exchange
December 5, 2017: LUMO Rewrite Project Briefing for Development Review Advisory Boards and Commissions.
November 29, 2017: Town Council considers adoption of LUMO Rewrite Project Charter.
November 14, 2017: Request for Proposals Issued. The Town of Chapel Hill, NC is soliciting proposals for professional services (Consultant) to assist the Town in refining its Future Land Use Map (FLUM). The refined FLUM will be an amendment to the Town’s existing Comprehensive Plan, Chapel Hill 2020, adopted in June of 2012.
November 7, 2017: Planning Commission discusses DRAFT LUMO Rewrite Project Charter.
October 17, 2017: Planning Commission receives overview and DRAFT LUMO Rewrite Project Charter.
September 18, 2017: Town Council receives LUMO Rewrite Project Initiation Report.
May 17, 2017: Town Council receives an overview of project plans for LUMO Rewrite Project
April 5, 2017: Town Council initiates Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO) Rewrite Project
LUMO Update: After the adoption of Chapel Hill 2020, the Council initiated updates to the Land Use Management Ordinance to address specific topics.

Project Documents

What is a future land use map?

Context Documents and Websites

Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO), Appendix A, Chapel Hill Code of Ordinances
Chapel Hill 2020: The Town's Comprehensive Plan adopted by the Town Council in 2012.
Chapel Hill 2020 Future Land Use Map: Adopted as a component of Chapel Hill 2020, the Future Land Use Map is a tool to communicate the community's vision for the future of land use in Chapel Hill.
Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO) Update: After the adoption of Chapel Hill 2020, the Town Council initiated updates to the Land Use Management Ordinance on specific topic areas. This website is a portal to those efforts that took place between the years 2013-2014.
LUMO Rewrite Project Initiation Final Report: a report about the efforts to gather perspectives from stakeholders on the priorities and outcomes for the project. September 13, 2017.

2015 Update

For the most recent information on rewriting the Land Use Management Ordinance, please see the Land Use Management Ordinance Rewrite Project.

Background | Documents | Public Participation

LUMO Icon

To access the Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO), see Appendix A in of the Chapel Hill Code of Ordinances http://www.townofchapelhill.org/town-hall/government/code-of-ordinances

Project Status

On November 23, 2015, the Town Council received a series of recommendations regarding possible amendments to the Land Use Management Ordinance. The Council took the following action:

Enacted changes to the existing regulations for Accessory Apartments (Ordinance) and adopted a resolution for a three-year monitoring and reporting program (See page 210 for Resolution)
Enacted changes to the existing regulations for Water Quality (Ordinance)
Enacted changes to the existing regulations for Parking Lot Landscaping (Ordinance)
Referred the Public Hearing for Bed and Breakfasts to the Historic District Commission and Planning Commission
Closed the Public Hearing and took no action on Neighborhood Character Standards
Continued the Public Hearing for Signage and later enacted the changes (6/27/16 Ordinance and 12/19/16 Revised Ordinance)